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): November 1, 2018

MKS INSTRUMENTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Massachusetts	000-23621	04-2277512
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
2 Tech Drive, Suite 201, Andover, Massachusetts		01810
Address of principal executive offices		Zip Code

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (978) 645-5500

(Former name or 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:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☒ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

As previously disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 30, 2018 by MKS Instruments, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“the Company” or “MKS”), on October 29, 2018, the Company and its newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary, EAS Equipment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ESI”), providing for, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the acquisition of ESI by the Company at a price of $30.00 per share in cash, without interest and subject to deduction for any required withholding tax (the “Merger Consideration”), through the merger of Merger Sub into ESI (the “Merger”), with ESI surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

On November 1, 2018, the Company and ESI made available to employees of the Company and ESI the presentation filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Presentation made available by the Company and ESI to employees of the Company and ESI on November 1, 2018.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC

ESI plans to file with the SEC and mail to its stockholders a Proxy Statement in connection with the transaction. Additionally, MKS and ESI will file other relevant documents with the SEC in connection with the transaction. The Proxy Statement and other documents to be filed with the SEC by MKS and ESI will contain important information about MKS, ESI, the transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Proxy Statement and other documents to be filed with the SEC by MKS and ESI carefully when they are available.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement and other documents filed with the SEC by MKS and ESI through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement from ESI by visiting the Investor Relations section of ESI web site (www.esi.com) or by directing a request to ESI, Attn: Investor Relations, at 13900 N.W. Science Park Drive, Portland, Oregon 97229.

MKS and ESI, and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding MKS’ directors and executive officers is contained in MKS’ Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and its proxy statement dated March 28, 2018, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding ESI’s directors and executive officers is contained in ESI’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 and its proxy statement dated July 10, 2018, which are filed with the SEC. To the extent holdings of securities by such directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts disclosed in each company’s respective proxy statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other documents to be filed with the SEC by MKS and ESI when they are available.

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this document regarding the proposed transaction between MKS and ESI, the expected timetable for completing the transaction, future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies of the transaction, future opportunities for the combined company and any other statements about MKS’ or ESI’s managements’ future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “will,” “projects,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “continues” and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on current assumptions and expectations. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: the ability of the parties to complete the transaction; the risk that the conditions to the closing of the transaction, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and approval of ESI shareholders, are not satisfied in a timely manner or at all; litigation relating to the transaction; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; the risk that disruption from the proposed transaction materially and adversely affects the respective businesses and operations of MKS and ESI; the ability of MKS to realize the anticipated synergies, cost savings and other benefits of the proposed transaction, including the risk that the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction may not be realized within the expected time period or at all; competition from larger or more established companies in the companies’ respective markets; MKS’ ability to successfully grow ESI’s business; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the transaction; the ability of MKS to retain and hire key employees; legislative, regulatory and economic developments, including changing conditions affecting the markets in which MKS operates, including the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry and other advanced manufacturing markets, the economy in general as well as fluctuations in net sales to MKS’ and ESI’s existing and prospective customers; the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of the companies we have acquired, including ESI and MKS’ most recent acquisition of Newport Corporation; potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the terms of MKS’ term loan and the availability and terms of the financing to be incurred in connection with the transaction; dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and the other factors described in MKS’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC and in ESI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 and its most recent quarterly report filed with the SEC. MKS and ESI are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this document.

SIGNATURE

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.

Dated: November 1, 2018

MKS Instruments, Inc.
By:	/s/ Seth H. Bagshaw
Name:	Seth H. Bagshaw
Title:	Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer