Filed by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,

as amended, and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

 

Subject Company: The Dow Chemical

Company; E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Commission File No.: 001-00815

 


 

TO OUR DELAWARE COMMUNITY DuPont is facing a pivotal time as we embark on a new path toward a strong and sustainable future. While change can be difficult, there are times when reinvention is necessary to compete, succeed and create long-term opportunity. DuPont has reinvented itself many times in its history, and 2016 will mark a new era for the company going forward. We recently announced two important decisions that we believe are critical for DuPont to succeed: our merger of equals with Dow and our 2016 cost reduction program. Given the close relationship the company has with Delaware, I wanted to share with you why these actions are necessary, how they will make us stronger and how they will position us to remain a vibrant member of our communities, including in Delaware. Our merger and intention to subsequently separate into three strong, independent companies will bring together the best of DuPont and Dow to create new, powerful industry leaders. Focused on markets where our innovation and science give us a clear advantage, these companies will be well positioned to thrive, grow and re-invest in innovation for the benefit of our shareholders, employees, customers and communities. I want to emphasize that DuPont will remain one of the world’s great sources of innovation, fueled by a robust R&D engine. The cost reduction program will dramatically improve our efficiency and productivity in large part by reducing our corporate overhead— a step change that is essential if we are to remain competitive in today’s global markets. The most difficult outcome of this program is the need to reduce our global workforce, including many positions in Delaware, due to the large number of corporate positions located here. We understand we are undertaking very significant change. Please know these are decisions that were made after DuPont’s Board of Directors carefully considered every possible alternative, including our previous course, and concluded that this path is our best opportunity for a successful and sustainable future. We know this is an especially challenging time for our employees and their families—and for Delaware. Together with local leaders, we will support our affected employees, their families, and Delaware through this change. Consistent with DuPont’s Core Values, we will honor each colleague’s service by providing separation packages, career placement services and training allowances to help our team members through these transitions. Even as we advance our 2016 cost reduction program, we want to assure the community that we are committed to an ongoing presence in the state. We already have announced that one of the post-merger companies we intend to create, our $13 billion Specialty Products business, will be headquartered in Wilmington. Specialty Products will be a clear technology leader using chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology to help address some of the world’s toughest challenges in growing markets such as advanced materials for electronics, renewable energy and materials, protective and building materials and healthier food ingredients. In the months ahead, we will make additional decisions regarding the companies we intend to establish, including the corporate headquarter location for our Agriculture business. I have long respected and admired DuPont’s legacy of reinvention, driven by science and innovation. DuPont’s Board of Directors and I truly believe these latest changes are necessary and right, and will bring about DuPont’s next important phase of success. Together, we will build on our history and create a new phase of progress and opportunity for DuPont. EDWARD D. BREEN Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, DuPont

GRAPHIC

 


 

Important Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the proposed transaction, The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”) will cause Diamond-Orion HoldCo, Inc. (“Diamond-Orion HoldCo”), to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Dow and DuPont and that also will constitute a prospectus of Diamond-Orion HoldCo. Dow, DuPont and Diamond-Orion HoldCo may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the joint proxy statement/prospectus or registration statement or any other document which Dow, DuPont or Diamond-Orion HoldCo may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF DOW AND DUPONT ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Dow, DuPont and Diamond-Orion HoldCo through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by contacting the investor relations department of Dow or DuPont at the following:

 

 

Dow

DuPont

 

 

2030 Dow Center

974 Centre Road

 

 

Midland, MI 48674

Wilmington, DE 19805

 

 

Attention: Investor Relations

Attention: Investor Relations:

 

 

1-989-636-1463

1-302-774-4994

 

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

Dow, DuPont, Diamond-Orion HoldCo 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 Dow’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in Dow’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its proxy statement filed on March 27, 2015, which are filed with the SEC.  Information regarding DuPont’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in DuPont’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its proxy statement filed on March 23, 2015, which are filed with the SEC.  A more complete description will be available in the registration statement on Form S-4 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Cautionary Notes on Forward Looking Statements

 

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. These and other

 


 

forward-looking statements, including the failure to consummate the proposed transaction or to make or take any filing or other action required to consummate such transaction on a timely matter or at all, are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, (i) the completion of the proposed transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining shareholder and regulatory approvals, anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the new combined company’s operations and other conditions to the completion of the merger, (ii) the ability of Dow and DuPont to integrate the business successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, risks and costs and pursuit and/or implementation of the potential separation, including timing anticipated, any changes to the configuration of businesses included in the potential separation if implemented, (iii) potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against Dow, DuPont or their respective directors, (iv) the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm Dow’s or DuPont’s business, including current plans and operations, (v) the ability of Dow or DuPont to retain and hire key personnel, (vi) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger, (vii) uncertainty as to the long-term value of Diamond-Orion HoldCo common stock, (viii) continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions, (ix) legislative, regulatory and economic developments and (x) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed merger, will be more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors to be presented in the registration statement on Form S-4 are, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Dow’s or DuPont’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. Neither Dow nor DuPont assumes any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.