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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 13, 2015

Registration No. 333-          


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



LOGO

HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Indiana
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  3841
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  35-1160484
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)



Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 4100
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 819-7200

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Susan R. Lichtenstein
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer
Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 4100
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 819-7200

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)



Copies to:

Steven J. Gavin, Esq.
Brian M. Schafer, Esq.
Winston & Strawn LLP
35 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 558-5600

 

Gregory D. Porter
Executive Vice President &
Corporate Secretary, Chief
Legal, Regulatory & Quality Officer
Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.
4341 State Street Road
Skaneateles Falls, NY 13152
(315) 685-2500

 

Susan Webster, Esq.
Richard Hall, Esq.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 474-1000



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effectiveness of this registration statement and upon completion of the merger described in the enclosed proxy statement/prospectus.

            If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.    o

            If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

            If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

            Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ý   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o

            If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

            Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)    o

            Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)    o



CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Offered

  Amount to be
Registered(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share

  Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee

 

Common Stock, without par value

  8,133,722   N/A   $0   $0

 

(1)
Represents the number of shares of common stock, no par value, of the registrant estimated to be issuable in connection with the proposed merger (the "merger") of Empire Merger Sub, Corp., a New York corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the registrant, with and into Welch Allyn Holdings Inc., a New York corporation ("Welch Allyn"). Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of the registrant's common stock as may be issuable as a result of reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividends or similar transactions or events.

(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act. Welch Allyn is a private company and no market exists for its equity securities. Pursuant to Rule 457(f)(2) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the registrant's common stock was calculated based on $561,593,000, the aggregate book value of (i) shares of common stock—Class A, no par value per share, of Welch Allyn and (ii) shares of common stock—Class B, $0.01 par value per share, of Welch Allyn, in each case, to be cancelled and exchanged for shares of the registrant's common stock in the merger, as of May 30, 2015, the latest practicable date prior to the date of filing of this registration statement. As required by Rule 457(f)(3) under the Securities Act, the estimated aggregate amount of cash to be paid by the registrant in the merger, or approximately $1,625,000,000, has been deducted from the maximum aggregate offering price. As this results in a negative number, the maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated as $0.



            The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


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The information in this proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Hill-Rom may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this document is a part, is declared effective. This proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Subject to completion, dated July 13, 2015

PROXY STATEMENT OF WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC.   PROSPECTUS OF HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.
    [·], 2015

Dear Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. Shareholder:

         On June 16, 2015, Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. ("Welch Allyn") and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. ("Hill-Rom") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as may be amended from time to time, the "merger agreement"), which provides for a merger in which Welch Allyn will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom (the "merger").

         If the merger is completed, the aggregate merger consideration to be received by holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock will consist of:

         $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, phantom stock appreciation rights and phantom share awards following the closing of the merger will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. For more information regarding the adjustments to the cash consideration and the amounts withheld under the escrow agreement, see the sections entitled "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration Adjustments" and "The Merger Agreement—Escrow" beginning on page 85 and 84, respectively, of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus and the merger agreement attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. The aggregate amount of the cash consideration will not be known until shortly before the effective time of the merger. The receipt of the merger consideration by a U.S holder in exchange for Welch Allyn common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes.

         Hill-Rom common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "HRC." On June 16, 2015, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the merger, the closing price per share of Hill-Rom common stock on the NYSE was $52.38. On July 9, 2015, the most recent practicable date prior to the filing of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, the closing price per share of Hill-Rom common stock on the NYSE was $53.38. We urge you to obtain current stock price quotations for Hill-Rom common stock and to review carefully the other information contained in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, or incorporated by reference into the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, when considering whether to vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

         After careful consideration, the board of directors of Welch Allyn has adopted and declared advisable the merger agreement, has approved the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and has determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Welch Allyn and its shareholders. Therefore, the board of directors of Welch Allyn recommends that you vote your shares "FOR" the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

         Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. The shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and Welch Allyn Class B common stock are sometimes referred to herein collectively as "Welch Allyn common stock". Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees (each, a "voting trustee") of the voting trust (the "voting trust") created under the voting trust agreement dated as of February 5, 2014 (the "voting trust agreement") by and among the voting trustees and certain holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock party thereto, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of July 9, 2015, and (ii) for purposes of the shareholders' agreement of Welch Allyn dated as of February 5, 2014, by and among Welch Allyn and certain shareholders of Welch Allyn (the "Shareholders' Agreement") consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to


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adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. No vote of Hill-Rom shareholders is required to complete the merger.

         Welch Allyn will hold a special meeting of its shareholders at which Welch Allyn's shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, and a proposal to approve one or more adjournments of the special meeting, if necessary, for the Welch Allyn board of directors to solicit additional proxies in favor of the merger agreement.

         The special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders will be held on [    ·    ], 2015, at [    ·    ] a.m., local time at The Lodge, located at 4355 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13152. All shareholders of record are cordially invited to attend the special meeting in person.

         The board of directors of Welch Allyn has set [    ·    ], 2015 as the record date for determining Welch Allyn shareholders entitled to vote at the special meeting. If you are a record holder of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock as of that date, you are urged to complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and promptly return it to Welch Allyn. See the section titled "Special Meeting" beginning on page 39 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

         The obligations of Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom to complete the merger are subject to several other conditions set forth in the merger agreement and summarized in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. More information about Welch Allyn, Hill-Rom and the merger is contained in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. You are encouraged to carefully read the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety, which includes important information about the merger, including the section titled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 29 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

         On behalf of the board of directors of Welch Allyn, thank you for your continued support.

  Sincerely,

 

Stephen F. Meyer
President and Chief Executive Officer

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") nor any state securities regulator has approved or disapproved the merger and the other transactions described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus nor have they approved or disapproved the issuance of the shares of Hill-Rom common stock to be issued in connection with the merger, or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

         The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is dated [    ·    ], 2015 and is first being mailed or otherwise delivered to Welch Allyn shareholders on or about [    ·    ], 2015.


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about Hill-Rom from documents that Hill-Rom has filed with the SEC but that have not been included in or delivered with the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. For a listing of documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, see "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

        Hill-Rom will provide you with copies of such documents (excluding all exhibits, unless Hill-Rom has specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus), without charge, upon written or oral request to:

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 4100
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 819-7200

        You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Neither Hill-Rom nor Welch Allyn has authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is dated as of [    ·    ], 2015. You should not assume that information contained in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than that date. Neither the mailing of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus to Welch Allyn shareholders nor the issuance by Hill-Rom of common stock in the merger will create any implication to the contrary.


ABOUT THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

        The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, which forms a part of a registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC by Hill-Rom, constitutes a prospectus of Hill-Rom under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the shares of Hill-Rom common stock to be issued to Welch Allyn shareholders in connection with the merger.

        Hill-Rom has supplied all information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus relating to Hill-Rom and the combined company. Welch Allyn has supplied all information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus relating to Welch Allyn. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn have both contributed to information relating to the Merger.

        You should rely only on the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus provided by Hill-Rom and on the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus provided by Welch Allyn. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this proxy statement/prospectus provided by Hill-Rom and information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus provided by Welch Allyn. This proxy statement/prospectus will be dated [    ·    ], 2015, and will be based on information as of such date or such other date as may be noted. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus provided by Hill-Rom or contained in this proxy statement/prospectus provided by Welch Allyn is accurate as of any other date. Neither the mailing of this proxy statement/prospectus to the shareholders of Welch Allyn nor the taking of any actions contemplated hereby by Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn at any time will create any implication to the contrary.

        This proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any jurisdiction in which or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.


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GRAPHIC

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held on [    
·    ], 2015

To the Shareholders of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.:

        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of shareholders of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc., a New York corporation ("Welch Allyn"), will be held on [    ·    ], 2015, at [    ·    ] a.m., local time at The Lodge, located at 4355 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13152. All shareholders of record are cordially invited to attend the special meeting in person. At the special shareholders' meeting, holders of outstanding shares of common stock—Class A, no par value per share (the "Welch Allyn Class A common stock"), of Welch Allyn will consider the following proposals, as applicable:

        The board of directors of Welch Allyn has fixed the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015 as the record date for the special meeting. Only holders of record of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock on the record date are entitled to vote on the merger proposal at the special meeting or at any adjournment(s) of the special meeting. Only holders of record of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock on the record date are entitled to vote on the adjournment proposal at the special meeting. A complete list of registered shareholders entitled to vote at the special meeting will be available for inspection at the special meeting. Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of July 9, 2015, and (ii) for purposes of the shareholders' agreement of Welch Allyn dated as of February 5, 2014, by and among Welch Allyn and certain shareholders of Welch Allyn (the "Shareholders' Agreement"), consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

        Under the New York Business Corporation Law (the "NYBCL"), holders of record of Welch Allyn common stock who do not vote in favor of the merger proposal have the right to seek and obtain payment of the "fair value," as determined pursuant to Section 623 of the NYBCL, of their shares if the merger is completed, but only if they follow the procedures and satisfy the conditions prescribed by


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the NYBCL. A copy of the applicable statutes regarding dissenters' rights is attached as Annex C to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. For an explanation of your dissenters' rights and how to exercise them, please see the discussion under the heading "The Merger—Dissenters' Rights" beginning on page 74 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

        After careful consideration, the board of directors of Welch Allyn unanimously recommends that the holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock vote "FOR" the Merger Proposal (Proposal 1) and that the holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock vote "FOR" the Adjournment Proposal (Proposal 2).

        If your shares are registered in your name as a shareholder of record of Welch Allyn, even if you plan to attend the special meeting or adjournment of the special meeting in person, we encourage you to authorize a proxy to vote your shares at the special meeting by telephone or on the Internet, or by completing, signing, dating and returning your proxy card as promptly as possible to ensure that your shares will be represented at the special meeting.

        If your shares are held in the name of a broker, trust, bank or other nominee and you receive a notice of special meeting through your broker or through another intermediary, please vote or complete and return the materials in accordance with the instructions provided to you by the broker or other intermediary or contact your broker directly in order to obtain a proxy issued to you by your nominee holder to attend the special meeting and vote in person. Failure to do so may result in your shares not being eligible to be voted by proxy at the special meeting.

        You can revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise at the meeting by following the instructions in the enclosed proxy statement/prospectus.

        IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE WELCH ALLYN SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON [    ·    ], 2015: We urge you to read the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus and the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 29 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, and its annexes carefully and in their entirety. If you have any questions concerning the merger, the merger agreement, the proposals, the special meeting or the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, would like additional copies of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus or need help voting your shares of Welch Allyn common stock, please contact Gregory Porter by email at gregory.porter@welchallyn.com or phone at 315-685-2500.

  By Order of the Board of Directors of
Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.

 

Eric R. Allyn

 

Peer A. Soderberg

 

Co-Chairman

 

Co-Chairman

[    ·    ], 2015


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

    1  

SUMMARY

   
8
 

The Companies

   
8
 

The Merger

    9  

Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration

    9  

Treatment of Welch Allyn PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards

    10  

Ownership of Hill-Rom Following the Merger

    11  

Financing for the Merger

    11  

Risk Factors

    11  

Vote Required

    11  

The Special Meeting

    12  

Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger

    13  

Stock Ownership of Welch Allyn Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners

    13  

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Welch Allyn in the Merger

    13  

Listing of Hill-Rom Common Stock

    14  

Dissenters' Rights

    14  

Expected Timing of the Merger

    15  

Regulatory Matters

    15  

Opinion of the Financial Advisor to Welch Allyn

    16  

Accounting Treatment

    16  

Exclusivity

    17  

Efforts to Complete the Merger

    17  

Conditions to Completion of the Merger

    17  

Termination of the Merger Agreement

    18  

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction

    19  

Comparison of Shareholder Rights

    19  

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF HILL-ROM

   
20
 

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF WELCH ALLYN

   
22
 

SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

   
25
 

COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA

   
27
 

RISK FACTORS

   
29
 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   
37
 

SPECIAL MEETING

   
39
 

General

   
39
 

Record Date

    39  

Matters to be Considered

    39  

Vote Required

    39  

Quorum

    40  

Voting by Welch Allyn's Directors and Executive Officers

    40  

Voting Agreement

    40  

Voting of Proxies

    40  

Revocability of Proxies

    41  

Solicitation of Proxies

    41  

Dissenters' Rights

    41  

i


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Recommendation of Welch Allyn's Board of Directors

    42  

THE COMPANIES

   
43
 

Hill-Rom

   
43
 

Merger Sub

    43  

Welch Allyn

    43  

THE MERGER

   
44
 

The Merger

   
44
 

Background of the Merger

    44  

Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration

    51  

Treatment of Welch Allyn PHASARS, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards

    52  

Ownership of Hill-Rom Following the Merger

    53  

Board of Directors and Management of Hill-Rom After the Merger

    53  

Hill-Rom's Reasons for the Merger

    53  

Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger

    54  

Opinion of the Financial Advisor to Welch Allyn

    57  

Stock Ownership of Welch Allyn Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners

    66  

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Hill-Rom in the Merger

    67  

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Welch Allyn in the Merger

    67  

Regulatory Matters

    73  

Accounting Treatment

    74  

Listing of Hill-Rom Common Stock

    74  

Dissenters' Rights

    74  

Restrictions on Sales of Shares of Hill-Rom Common Stock Received in the Merger

    77  

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction

    77  

Tax Consequences to Holders of Welch Allyn Common Stock as a Result of the Merger

    78  

Exercise of Dissenters' Appraisal Rights

    80  

Backup Withholding

    80  

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

   
82
 

The Merger

   
82
 

Completion and Effectiveness of the Merger

    82  

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

    82  

Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration

    82  

Escrow

    84  

Merger Consideration Adjustments

    85  

Treatment of PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards

    87  

Exchange Procedures

    88  

Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares

    89  

Lost, Stolen and Destroyed Certificates

    89  

Dissenting Shares

    89  

Withholding Rights

    89  

Representations and Warranties

    90  

Conduct of Business Before Completion of the Merger

    91  

Exclusivity

    93  

Welch Allyn Shareholder Approval

    93  

Efforts to Complete the Merger

    93  

Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance

    94  

Employee Matters

    94  

Financing for the Merger

    95  

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Other Covenants and Agreements

    96  

Conditions to Completion of the Merger

    96  

Indemnification

    97  

Termination of the Merger Agreement

    98  

Effect of Termination

    99  

Miscellaneous

    99  

MATERIAL CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES

   
101
 

DEBT FINANCING

   
102
 

MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION

   
103
 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   
104
 

DESCRIPTION OF HILL-ROM CAPITAL STOCK

   
118
 

COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

   
119
 

INFORMATION ABOUT WELCH ALLYN

   
131
 

LEGAL MATTERS

   
155
 

EXPERTS

   
155
 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

   
155
 

WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
F-1
 

ANNEX A

   
A-1
 

ANNEX B

   
B-1
 

ANNEX C

   
C-1
 

ANNEX D

   
D-1
 

iii


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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

        The following are some questions that you, as a shareholder of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc., which is referred to as Welch Allyn in this proxy statement/prospectus, may have regarding the merger (as defined below) and the special meeting of shareholders of Welch Allyn, and brief answers to those questions. Welch Allyn urges you to carefully read the remainder of this proxy statement/prospectus because the information in this section may not provide all the information that might be important to you with respect to the merger and the special meeting. Additional important information is also contained in the annexes to, and the documents incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement/prospectus. All references in this proxy statement/prospectus to Hill-Rom refer to Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., an Indiana corporation. Hill-Rom following the completion of the merger, is sometimes referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the combined company, and Welch Allyn following the completion of the merger, is sometimes referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the surviving corporation. In this proxy statement/prospectus, the common stock of Hill-Rom, without par value, is referred to as Hill-Rom common stock and the holders of outstanding shares thereof are referred to as Hill-Rom shareholders; the common stock—Class A, no par value per share, of Welch Allyn is referred to as Welch Allyn Class A common stock and the holders of outstanding shares thereof are referred to as Welch Allyn Class A shareholders; the Common Stock—Class B, $0.01 par value per share, of Welch Allyn is referred to as Welch Allyn Class B common stock and the holders of outstanding shares thereof are referred to as Welch Allyn Class B shareholders; and the Welch Allyn Class A common stock and the Welch Allyn Class B common stock together are referred to as the Welch Allyn common stock, and the holders of outstanding shares thereof are collectively referred to as the Welch Allyn shareholders. Welch Allyn shareholders are sometimes referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as "you."

Q:
Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus?

A:
Hill-Rom has agreed to acquire Welch Allyn under the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2015, among Hill-Rom, Empire Merger Sub Corp., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom and is referred to as Merger Sub in this proxy statement/prospectus, and Welch Allyn, which agreement, as may be amended from time to time, is referred to as the merger agreement in this proxy statement/prospectus. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Welch Allyn, with Welch Allyn continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom, which transaction is referred to as the merger in this proxy statement/prospectus. See the section titled "The Merger Agreement" beginning on page 82 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the merger agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.

Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) for purposes of the shareholders' agreement of Welch Allyn dated as of February 5, 2014, by and among Welch Allyn and certain shareholders of Welch Allyn, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the voting agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Class A common stock of Welch Allyn subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the


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Q:
What will happen to Welch Allyn as a result of the merger, and what will I receive in the merger?

A:
As a result of the merger, Welch Allyn will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom, and shares of Welch Allyn common stock will be cancelled. Upon the closing of the merger, you will be entitled to receive a combination of cash and shares of Hill-Rom common stock.

Under the merger agreement, Hill-Rom will pay to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock an aggregate amount equal to $1,625,000,000 in cash, which amount is subject to adjustments for cash and cash equivalents, indebtedness (as defined in the merger agreement), certain other adjustments (as defined in the merger agreement), including the amount of certain fees, costs and expenses of Welch Allyn and the shareholder representative, net working capital, certain change in control payments (as defined in the merger agreement), including LTIP cash incentive payments (as defined below), and payments to the holders of Welch Allyn PHASARs and PSU Awards (each as defined below) (other than any portion of such payments deposited in the escrow account), and 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock. See the sections titled "The Merger—Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration" beginning on page 51 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:
What will holders of Welch Allyn long-term incentive awards receive in the merger?

A:
Holders of Welch Allyn long-term phantom equity incentive awards, which consist of phantom stock appreciation rights ("PHASARs") and phantom share awards ("PSU Awards"), will, upon the closing of the merger, be entitled to receive from Hill-Rom a cash amount in exchange for such phantom equity incentive awards. Holders of Welch Allyn cash-based, long-term incentive awards that are not based on the value of Welch Allyn common stock ("LTIP Cash Incentive Awards") will receive an amount in cash equal to the total cash amount subject to such LTIP Cash Incentive Award (assuming satisfaction of performance goals at target levels) (the aggregate amount of such payments, the "LTIP cash incentive payments").

Under the merger agreement, the cash amount paid in respect of each PHASAR or PSU Award will generally be equal to the aggregate value of the cash and stock consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, less the value of the grant price in the case of any PHASAR. See the sections titled "The Merger—Treatment of Welch Allyn PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards" beginning on page 52 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

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Q:
Is any portion of the merger consideration otherwise payable to Welch Allyn shareholders being held back?

A:
Yes. An amount equal to $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement.

For more information, see the sections entitled "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration Adjustments" and "The Merger Agreement—Escrow" beginning on pages 85 and 84, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus and the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.

Q:
Why are Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn proposing the merger?

A:
With the complementary commercial position and product portfolios of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn, the combined company will have enhanced customer relevance and a strengthened competitive position. Together, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn will leverage their respective infrastructures and product portfolios to provide physicians and other caregivers with improved diagnostics, sensing and patient monitoring technologies, along with the market leading solutions Hill-Rom provides today in the areas of advancing mobility, wound care and prevention, clinical workflow, surgical safety and efficiency and respiratory health. With an integrated offering, the combined company will hold industry-leading positions across the care continuum, including primary and intensive care, hospital patient room, operating room and post-acute care. To review the reasons for the merger in greater detail, see the sections titled "The Merger—Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger" and "The Merger—Hill-Rom's Reasons for the Merger" beginning on pages 54 and 53, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:
Does the board of directors of Welch Allyn support the merger?

A:
Yes. The Welch Allyn Board has unanimously declared that it is advisable and in the best interests of Welch Allyn and the Welch Allyn shareholders that Welch Allyn enter into the merger agreement and that the merger and the terms thereof, together with all the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, are fair to and in the best interests of Welch Allyn and the Welch Allyn shareholders, and recommends that the Welch Allyn shareholders authorize, approve and adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement by affirmatively voting "FOR" the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders.

Q:
What happens if the merger is not consummated?

A:
If the merger agreement is not adopted by the Welch Allyn shareholders or if the merger is not completed for any other reason, you will not receive any payment for your shares of Welch Allyn common stock in connection with the merger. Instead, Welch Allyn will remain an independent company.

Q:
Who is soliciting my vote in favor of the merger?

A:
Welch Allyn is providing these proxy materials to you, and is soliciting a proxy to vote your shares at the special meeting of shareholders of Welch Allyn. These proxy materials also constitute a prospectus with respect to the shares of Hill-Rom common stock to be issued to Welch Allyn shareholders if the merger is approved and consummated.

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Q:
When and where is the special meeting?

A:
The special meeting will be held on [    ·    ], 2015, at [    ·    ] a.m., local time at The Lodge, located at 4355 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13152.

Q:
What is the purpose of the special meeting?

A:
At the special meeting, the Welch Allyn shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on the matters outlined in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders of Welch Allyn, including the following:

1.
Merger Proposal—a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 16, 2015, by and among Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Empire Merger Sub Corp. and Welch Allyn and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, which is referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the merger proposal.

2.
Adjournment Proposal—a proposal to approve one or more adjournments of the special meeting, if necessary, to permit the Welch Allyn board of directors to solicit additional proxies in favor of the merger agreement, which is referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the adjournment proposal.

Q:
What actions are required to adopt the merger agreement?

A:
Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) for purposes of the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the voting agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

Q:
What vote is required to adopt the adjournment proposal?

A:
Assuming the presence of a quorum, the affirmative vote at the special meeting of holders representing a majority of the outstanding Welch Allyn Class A common stock present at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, is required to approve the adjournment proposal.

Q:
Who is entitled to vote at the special meeting?

A:
With respect to the merger proposal, each Welch Allyn Class A shareholder as of the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015 is entitled to vote his, her or its shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock at the special meeting.

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Q:
How many votes do I have at the special meeting?

A:
With respect to the merger proposal, you are entitled to one vote for each share of Welch Allyn Class A common stock that you owned as of the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015, which is the record date.

With respect to the adjournment proposal, you are entitled to one vote for each share of Welch Allyn Class A common stock that you owned as of the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015, which is the record date.

Q:
What constitutes a quorum for the special meeting?

A:
The presence, in person by proxy, of the holders representing one half of the Welch Allyn Class A common stock as of the record date is necessary to constitute a quorum and transact business. Proxy cards that are completed and returned marked "ABSTAIN" will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present at the special meeting, the holders representing a majority of the Class A Common Stock present at the meeting, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the special meeting to another date.

Q:
What do I need to do now?

A:
After you have carefully read and considered this proxy statement/prospectus and have decided how you wish to vote your shares of Welch Allyn common stock with respect to the merger proposal and the adjournment proposal, as applicable, please respond as soon as possible by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage-paid return envelope (or in any of the other permitted manners described in this proxy statement/prospectus) so that your shares of Welch Allyn common stock will be represented and voted at the special meeting.

The Welch Allyn board of directors unanimously recommends that the Welch Allyn shareholders vote "FOR" each of the proposals on which they will be voting at the special meeting.

Q:
What is the deadline for returning my proxy card?

A:
You must complete, sign, date and return your proxy card prior to the day of the special meeting in order for your shares of Welch Allyn common stock to be represented and voted at the special meeting, unless you attend the special meeting in person. We urge you to complete, sign, date and return your proxy card as promptly as possible whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting.

Q:
What happens if I abstain from voting or fail to complete and return the proxy card?

A:
If you are a Welch Allyn Class A shareholder and mark "ABSTAIN" on your proxy with respect to the merger proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the merger proposal. If you fail to submit a proxy or vote in person at the special meeting with respect to the merger proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the merger proposal.

If you are a Welch Allyn Class A shareholder and mark "ABSTAIN" on your proxy with respect to the adjournment proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the adjournment proposal. If you fail to submit a proxy or vote in person at the special meeting with respect to the

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Q:
Can I attend the special meeting and vote my shares in person?

A:
Yes. All Welch Allyn Class A shareholders as of the record date are invited to attend the special meeting. Holders of record of Welch Allyn Class A common stock can vote in person at the special meeting. If you plan to attend the special meeting, you must hold your shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock in your own name or have a letter from the record holder of your shares confirming your ownership.

Q:
Can I change or revoke my vote after I have delivered my proxy card?

A:
Yes. If you are a holder of record of Welch Allyn Class A common stock, you may revoke any proxy at any time prior to the special meeting by providing notice in writing to Gregory Porter, at 4341 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153 (which notice must be received before [    ·    ], Eastern Time, on [    ·    ], 2015), by returning a duly executed proxy bearing a later date by mail, by logging onto the Internet website specified on your proxy card in the same manner you would submit your proxy electronically or by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card, as described on your proxy card. Your attendance at the special meeting will not constitute automatic revocation of the proxy unless you vote your shares by ballot at the special meeting to revoke your proxy.

Q:
Am I entitled to dissenter's rights in connection with the merger?

A:
Under the NYBCL, holders of record of Welch Allyn common stock who do not vote in favor of the merger proposal have the right to dissent from the merger and obtain payment of the "fair value," as determined pursuant to Section 623 of the NYBCL, of their shares if the merger is completed, but only if they follow the procedures and satisfy the conditions prescribed by the NYBCL. A copy of the applicable statutes regarding dissenters' rights is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus. For an explanation of your dissenters' rights and how to exercise them, please see the discussion under the heading "The Merger—Dissenters' Rights" beginning on page 74 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:
Do I need to send in my Welch Allyn stock certificates now?

A:
No. You should not send in your Welch Allyn stock certificates now. Following the effective time of the merger, a letter of transmittal will be sent to Welch Allyn shareholders informing them where to deliver their Welch Allyn stock certificates in order to receive the merger consideration, including any cash in lieu of a fractional share of Hill-Rom common stock and any dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Hill-Rom common stock to which Welch Allyn shareholders may be entitled under the merger agreement. You should not send in your Welch Allyn stock certificates prior to receiving the letter of transmittal.

Q:
Is the merger taxable to me?

A:
The receipt of the merger consideration by a U.S holder in exchange for Welch Allyn common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. For United States federal income tax purposes, generally you will recognize capital gain or loss as a result of the merger measured by the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the merger consideration (including the sum of cash received, the fair market value (as of the effective time of the merger) of the shares of Hill-Rom common stock received and the value of the right to receive payments pursuant to the escrow that are not treated as interest) and your

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Q:
When is the merger expected to be completed?

A:
Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn expect to complete the merger prior to September 30, 2015, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the merger contained in the merger agreement. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn could require Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn to complete the merger at a later time or not complete it at all.

Q:
Who can help answer my questions?

A:
If you have any questions about the merger or how to return your proxy card, or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or a replacement proxy card, you should contact Gregory Porter at gregory.porter@welchallyn.com or 315-685-2500.

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SUMMARY

        The following is a summary that highlights information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more complete description of the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn encourage you to carefully read this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the attached annexes. In addition, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn encourage you to read the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, which includes important business and financial information about Hill-Rom that has been filed with the SEC. You may obtain the information incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus without charge by following the instructions in the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn have included page references parenthetically to direct you to a more complete description of the topics presented in this summary.

The Companies
(see page 43)

        Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (the "Company," "Hill-Rom," "we," "us," or "our") was incorporated on August 7, 1969 in the State of Indiana and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. We are a leading global medical technology company with more than 7,000 employees worldwide. We partner with health care providers in more than 100 countries by focusing on patient care solutions that improve clinical and economic outcomes in five core areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Clinical Workflow, Surgical Safety and Efficiency, and Respiratory Health. Around the world, Hill-Rom's people, products, and programs work towards one mission: Enhancing outcomes for patients and their caregivers.

        Additional information about Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries is included in the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. See the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

        Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom, is a New York corporation that was formed on June 15, 2015 solely for the purpose of entering into the merger agreement and effecting the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Merger Sub has not engaged, and does not expect to engage, in any other business activities.

        Welch Allyn was incorporated on December 17, 1946 as Welch Allyn Corporation in the State of New York and is headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, New York. Welch Allyn is a leading global manufacturer of medical diagnostic devices and accessories and EMR-connected vital signs and cardiac monitoring solutions. Welch Allyn employs approximately 2,500 people in 26 different countries.

 

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        Welch Allyn common stock is not listed on an exchange or quoted on any automated services, and there is no established trading market for shares of Welch Allyn common stock.

        Additional information about Welch Allyn and its subsidiaries is included in the section titled "Information about Welch Allyn" beginning on page 131 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

The Merger
(see page 44)

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn agreed to the acquisition of Welch Allyn by Hill-Rom under the terms of the merger agreement described in this proxy statement/prospectus. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Welch Allyn, with Welch Allyn continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom. The merger agreement is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn encourage you to carefully read the merger agreement in its entirety because it is the legal document that governs the merger.

Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration
(see pages 51 and 82)

        At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding share of Welch Allyn common stock (other than any shares of Welch Allyn common stock as to which the holders of such shares have properly complied with the provisions of Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL as to dissenters' rights, which shares are referred to as dissenting shares in this proxy statement/prospectus, and any shares of Welch Allyn common stock owned by Hill-Rom, Merger Sub or any subsidiary of Hill-Rom) will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive the merger consideration consisting of a combination of cash and shares of Hill-Rom common stock.

        Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the merger agreement and subject to certain adjustments as described more fully in this proxy statement/prospectus, Welch Allyn shareholders will receive in the aggregate approximately:

        $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. For more information regarding the adjustments and the amounts withheld under the escrow agreement, see the sections entitled "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration Adjustments" and "The Merger Agreement—Escrow" beginning on pages 85 and 84, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus and the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. The aggregate amount of the cash consideration will not be known until shortly before the effective time of the merger.

 

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        The merger consideration will be allocated among Welch Allyn shareholders. The precise amount of the merger consideration to be paid to each Welch Allyn shareholder will vary, depending on the amount of the cash consideration and the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

        Hill-Rom will not issue fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger. As a result, Welch Allyn shareholders will receive cash for any fractional share of Hill-Rom common stock that they would otherwise be entitled to receive in the merger.

        For a full description of the merger consideration, see the section titled "The Merger Agreement—Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration" beginning on page 82 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Treatment of Welch Allyn PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards
(see page 52)

        At the effective time of the merger:

        The "Phantom Merger Consideration" is an amount in cash equal to the quotient of (a) the sum of (i) the cash consideration, subject to the adjustments to cash consideration described above, excluding the adjustment for payments of PHASAR and PSU awards, (ii) the cash value of the stock consideration at the effective time of the merger (determined pursuant to the merger agreement) and (iii) the sum of the grant prices of each outstanding PHASAR divided by (b) the sum of (i) all shares of Welch Allyn common stock, (ii) all PHASARs and (iii) all PSU Awards, in each case, outstanding at the effective time of the merger and divided by 20 in the case of any PHASAR or PSU Award granted prior to January 1, 2012.

        If Welch Allyn, on or prior to the effective time of the merger, declares any dividends or other distributions directly or indirectly on shares of Welch Allyn common stock that are paid or set-aside on or following June 16, 2015, then the Phantom Merger Consideration as defined above will be increased by the aggregate per share amount of such dividends or other distributions.

        In addition, $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger

 

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agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP Cash Incentive Awards and the merger agreement, no portion of the cash amount each individual receives in respect of his or her LTIP Cash Incentive Awards will be withheld under the escrow agreement. For more information regarding the adjustments and the amounts withheld under the escrow agreement, see the sections entitled "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration Adjustments" and "The Merger Agreement—Escrow" beginning on pages 85 and 84, respectively, and the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.

        See the sections titled "The Merger—Treatment of Welch Allyn PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards" and "The Merger Agreement—Treatment of PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards" beginning on pages 52 and 87, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus for more information.

Ownership of Hill-Rom Following the Merger
(see page 53)

        Hill-Rom expects to issue 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger in partial consideration for the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock. Based on the number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock outstanding on June 16, 2015, immediately after completion of the merger, Welch Allyn shareholders that existed immediately prior to the merger are expected to own, in the aggregate, approximately 13% of the then outstanding shares of Hill-Rom common stock.

Financing for the Merger
(see page 95)

        Under the merger agreement, following the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, Welch Allyn has agreed to allow Hill-Rom and its financing sources a period of up to 20 consecutive business days (throughout which the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part must remain effective or such period shall restart when it becomes effective) to arrange its debt financing in an amount sufficient to complete the merger. Welch Allyn also has agreed to, and to cause its officers, employees and representatives to, provide Hill-Rom all cooperation reasonably requested that is necessary or reasonably required in connection with Hill-Rom's debt financing.

Risk Factors
(see page 29)

        In evaluating the merger agreement and the merger, you should carefully read this proxy statement/prospectus and especially consider the factors discussed in the section titled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 29 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Vote Required
(see page 39)

        Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of the date

 

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of this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) for purposes of the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the voting agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the merger proposal.

        The affirmative vote, either in person or by proxy, at a special meeting of the shareholders of Welch Allyn by holders representing a majority of the outstanding Welch Allyn Class A common stock as of the record date, is required to approve one or more adjournments of the special meeting, if necessary, to permit the Welch Allyn board of directors to solicit additional proxies in favor of the merger proposal, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the adjournment proposal.

The Special Meeting
(see page 39)

        The special meeting of the shareholders of Welch Allyn will be held on [    ·    ], 2015, at [    ·    ] a.m., local time at The Lodge, located at 4355 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13152. At the special meeting:

        With respect to the merger proposal, only the holders of record of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock at the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015, the record date, will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. Each share of Welch Allyn Class A common stock is entitled to one vote on the merger proposal at the special meeting and any adjournment(s) of the special meeting.

        With respect to the adjournment proposal, only the holders of record of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock as of the record date will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. Each share of Welch Allyn Class A common stock is entitled to one vote on the adjournment proposal at the special meeting and any adjournment(s) of the special meeting. As of the record date, there were [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding, consisting of [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding and [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn Class B common stock outstanding.

        As of July 9, 2015, the directors and executive officers of Welch Allyn collectively beneficially owned 25,424,342 shares of Welch Allyn common stock (including shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and Welch Allyn Class B common stock), which represent, in the aggregate, approximately 23.6% of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock on that date.

        Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of the date

 

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of this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) for purposes of the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the voting agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Assuming the presence of a quorum, the affirmative vote at the special meeting of holders representing a majority of the outstanding Welch Allyn Class A common stock present at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, is required to approve the adjournment proposal. If you are a Welch Allyn Class A shareholder and mark "ABSTAIN" on your proxy with respect to the merger proposal or the adjournment proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the merger proposal or the adjournment proposal, as applicable. If you fail to submit a proxy or vote in person at the special meeting with respect to the merger proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote "AGAINST" the merger proposal, while shares not in attendance at the special meeting will have no effect on the outcome of any vote to adjourn the special meeting.

Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger
(see page 54)

        After careful consideration, the board of directors of Welch Allyn has adopted and declared advisable the merger agreement, has approved the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and has determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Welch Allyn and its shareholders. Therefore, the board of directors of Welch Allyn recommends that you vote your shares "FOR" the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

        For a description of various factors considered by the Welch Allyn board of directors in reaching its decision to adopt the merger agreement and approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, see the section titled "The Merger—Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger" beginning on page 54 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Stock Ownership of Welch Allyn Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners
(see page 66)

        As of July 9, 2015, the directors and executive officers of Welch Allyn collectively beneficially owned 25,424,342 shares of Welch Allyn common stock (including shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and Welch Allyn Class B common stock), which represent, in the aggregate, approximately 23.6% of the Welch Allyn common stock outstanding on that date.

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Welch Allyn in the Merger
(see page 67)

        In considering the recommendation of the Welch Allyn board of directors that the Welch Allyn shareholders vote to approve the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders, you should be aware that certain of Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers have financial interests in the merger that are different from, or are in addition to, the interests of the Welch Allyn shareholders generally, as more fully described below. The members of the Welch Allyn board of directors were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the merger agreement, and in evaluating the merger and in recommending to the Welch

 

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Allyn shareholders that they approve the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders.

        The interests of the members of Welch Allyn's board of directors generally include the right to receive, at the effective time of the merger (1) the cancellation of each outstanding PHASAR and PSU Award immediately prior to the effective time of the merger in exchange for the right to receive the Phantom Merger Consideration with respect to such PHASAR and each PSU Award (less the grant price in the case of PHASARs) and (2) accelerated cash payment of previously earned and vested amounts deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan for the Board of Directors of Welch Allyn (amended and restated as of January 1, 2012) (the "Directors Deferred Compensation Plan").

        The interests of Welch Allyn's executive officers include the rights to:

        Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers also have the right to indemnification and insurance coverage following the effective time of the merger. Please see the section below entitled "The Merger—Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Welch Allyn in the Merger" beginning on page 67 of this proxy statement/prospectus for additional information about these interests.

Listing of Hill-Rom Common Stock
(see page 74)

        Application will be made to have the shares of Hill-Rom common stock issued in the merger approved for listing on the NYSE.

Dissenters' Rights
(see page 74)

        Welch Allyn shareholders have dissenters' rights under the NYBCL in connection with the merger. Welch Allyn shareholders who do not vote in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and who otherwise comply with the applicable provisions of the NYBCL will be entitled to dissent from the merger and obtain payment of the "fair value," as determined pursuant to Section 623 of the NYBCL,

 

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of their shares if the merger is completed. Any shares of Welch Allyn common stock held by a shareholder who has not voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and who has exercised dissenters' rights for such shares in accordance with the NYBCL, will not be converted into a right to receive the merger consideration, unless such shareholder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses such shareholder's right to dissent under the NYBCL. If, after the consummation of the merger, such holder of Welch Allyn common stock fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses his or her or its rights to dissent, each such share will be treated as if it had been converted as of the consummation of the merger into a right to receive the merger consideration as shares that made no election.

        You are encouraged to read these provisions carefully and in their entirety. Due to the complexity of the procedures for exercising dissenters' rights, Welch Allyn shareholders who are considering exercising such rights are encouraged to seek the advice of legal counsel. Failure to strictly comply with these provisions will result in the loss of dissenters' rights. See the section entitled "The Merger—Dissenters' Rights" beginning on page 74 of this proxy statement/prospectus for additional information and the text of Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL reproduced in their entirety as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus.

Expected Timing of the Merger
(see page 65)

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn currently expect to complete the merger prior to September 30, 2015, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the merger contained in the merger agreement. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn could require Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn to complete the merger at a later date or not complete it at all.

Regulatory Matters
(see page 73)

        United States Antitrust.    Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and related rules, which are collectively referred to as the HSR Act in this proxy statement/prospectus, certain transactions, including the merger, may not be completed until notifications have been given and information furnished to the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, which is referred to as the Antitrust Division in this proxy statement/prospectus, and the United States Federal Trade Commission, which is referred to as the FTC in this proxy statement/prospectus, and all statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn filed Notification and Report Forms with the Antitrust Division and the FTC on June 25, 2015, and early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the merger was granted effective as of July 8, 2015.

        At any time before or after the effective time of the merger, the Antitrust Division, the FTC or others (including states and private parties) could take action under the antitrust laws, including seeking to prevent the merger, to rescind the merger or conditionally approve the merger upon the divestiture of assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn or subject to other remedies. There can be no assurance that a challenge to the merger on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if such a challenge is made, that it would not be successful.

        Germany Antitrust.    Under the German Act against Restraints of Competition (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen) as amended, and related rules, which are collectively referred to as the ARC in this proxy statement / prospectus, certain transactions, including the merger, may not be completed until a valid notification has been submitted to the German Federal Cartel Office, which is referred to as the FCO in this proxy statement / prospectus, and all statutory waiting period

 

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requirements have been satisfied (or the FCO has confirmed its approval of the merger prior to the expiry of any statutory waiting period). A notification regarding the merger was filed with the FCO on June 29, 2015.

        As part of its review of the merger, the FCO could decide to prohibit the merger or to conditionally approve the merger upon the divestiture of assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn, or subject the parties to other remedies. There can be no assurance that the FCO will not prohibit the merger or to conditionally approve the merger upon the divestiture of assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn, or subject the parties to other remedies.

        In addition, at any time during the ARC's statutory waiting period, third parties may apply to the FCO to join the proceedings as "intervening parties" should the FCO decide that the interests of such third parties are materially affected by the merger. Intervening parties are entitled to appeal decisions of the FCO. There can be no assurance that an appeal of the FCO's decision about the merger will not be made or, if such an appeal is made, that it would not be successful.

        The foregoing is a summary of the material regulatory requirements for the merger, satisfaction or waiver of certain of which requirements is a condition to the completion of the merger. There can be no guarantee as to if and when any of the consents or approvals required for the merger will be obtained or as to the conditions that such consents and approvals may contain. For further information, see the section titled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 29 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Opinion of the Financial Advisor to Welch Allyn
(see page 57)

        In connection with the merger, Barclays Capital Inc. ("Barclays") delivered to the Welch Allyn board of directors its written opinion dated June 16, 2015, to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to the various assumptions, matters considered and limitations described in its opinion, from a financial point of view, the merger consideration offered to the Welch Allyn shareholders was fair to the Welch Allyn shareholders. The full text of the written opinion of Barclays, which sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on the review undertaken by Barclays in rendering its opinion, is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D. The opinion was addressed to, and for the benefit and use of, the Welch Allyn board of directors, was limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the merger consideration, expressed no opinion as to the merits of the underlying decision by Welch Allyn to engage in the merger or the relative merits of the merger as compared to any alternative business strategies, and expressed no opinion or recommendation as to how any Welch Allyn shareholder should vote with respect to the merger or as to whether any Welch Allyn shareholder should authorize a proxy to vote its shares in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and the approval of the merger.

Accounting Treatment
(see page 74)

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn prepare their financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which are referred to as GAAP in this proxy statement/prospectus. The merger will be accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, with Hill-Rom considered the accounting acquirer and Welch Allyn as the accounting acquiree. Accordingly, consideration to be given by Hill-Rom to complete the merger with Welch Allyn will be allocated to assets and liabilities of Welch Allyn based on their estimated fair values as of the date of the completion of the merger, with any excess merger consideration being recorded as goodwill.

 

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Exclusivity
(see page 93)

        The merger agreement contains provisions that, among other things, require Welch Allyn to immediately cease existing discussions or negotiations with any person other than Hill-Rom with respect to an acquisition transaction. Additionally, neither Welch Allyn nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents may, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, facilitate or knowingly encourage inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect to an acquisition transaction, or negotiate or otherwise facilitate, encourage, solicit, initiate or engage in discussions, negotiations or submissions of proposals or offers with any person with respect to any acquisition transaction, enter into any written agreement, arrangement, or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate, or fail to consummate the merger or otherwise cooperate in any way with or assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any other person to do or seek any of the foregoing. The term "acquisition transaction" is defined in the section titled "The Merger Agreement—Exclusivity" beginning on page 93 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Efforts to Complete the Merger
(see page 93)

        Upon the terms and subject to the conditions in the merger agreement, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn have agreed to use their best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner possible, the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including using their best efforts to obtain all waivers, consents and approvals of all governmental authorities necessary and parties to contracts with Welch Allyn or any of its subsidiaries that may be or become necessary for the performance of obligations pursuant to the merger agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

Conditions to Completion of the Merger
(see page 96)

        The obligations of each of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions:

 

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        The obligation of Hill-Rom to complete the merger is further subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions:

        Neither Hill-Rom nor Welch Allyn can give any assurance that all of the conditions to the merger will either be satisfied or waived or when or if the merger will occur.

Termination of the Merger Agreement
(see page 98)

        The merger agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the closing of the merger by mutual written consent of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn. The merger agreement may also be terminated subject to the limitations set forth in the merger agreement:

 

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Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction
(see page 77)

        The receipt of the merger consideration by a U.S holder in exchange for Welch Allyn common stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. For United States federal income tax purposes, generally you will recognize capital gain or loss as a result of the merger measured by the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the merger consideration (including the sum of cash received, the fair market value (as of the effective time of the merger) of the shares of Hill-Rom common stock received and the value of the right to receive payments pursuant to the escrow that are not treated as interest) and your adjusted tax basis in the shares of Welch Allyn common stock exchanged for the merger consideration in the merger. You may be able to report gain on the installment method.

        You should read the section titled "The Merger—Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction" beginning on page 77 of this proxy statement/prospectus for a more complete discussion of the United States federal income tax consequences of the merger. Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the merger to you will depend on your particular tax situation. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn urge you to consult your tax advisor to determine the tax consequences of the merger to you.

Comparison of Shareholder Rights
(see page 119)

        Welch Allyn shareholders, whose rights are currently governed by (i) New York law, (ii) Welch Allyn's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, which is referred to as the Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation, and (iii) the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Welch Allyn, which are referred to as the Welch Allyn by-laws, will, upon completion of the merger, become Hill-Rom shareholders, and their rights will be governed by (a) Indiana law and (b) Hill-Rom's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Code of By-Laws, which are referred to as the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and the Hill-Rom by-laws, respectively. As a result, Welch Allyn shareholders will have different rights once they become Hill-Rom shareholders due to the differences between the governing documents of Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom. These differences are described in detail in the section titled "Comparison of Shareholder Rights" beginning on page 119 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF HILL-ROM

        The following table sets forth selected historical consolidated financial data of Hill-Rom. The historical consolidated financial information of Hill-Rom as of and for the five fiscal years ended September 30, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 have been derived from Hill-Rom's audited historical consolidated financial statements, which were audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Hill-Rom's historical audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. Hill-Rom's historical audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

        The selected historical consolidated financial data of Hill-Rom as of March 31, 2015 and for the six month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 have been derived from Hill-Rom's historical unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. These financial statements are unaudited, but, in the opinion of Hill-Rom's management, contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of Hill-Rom's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

        Results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for a full year or for future periods. This information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with Hill-Rom's management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition and Hill-Rom's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. For additional information, see the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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Statements of Consolidated Income

 
  Six Months
Ended
March 31,
  Fiscal Year Ended September 30,  
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
  2015   2014   2014   2013   2012   2011   2010  
 
  (Unaudited)
   
   
   
   
   
 

Net Revenue

                                           

Capital sales

    749.1     609.1   $ 1,301.4   $ 1,308.3   $ 1,198.2     1,119.0     996.6  

Rental revenue

    190.7     199.6     384.7     407.9     436.1     472.7     473.0  

Total Revenue

    939.8     808.7     1,686.1     1,716.2     1,634.3     1,591.7     1,469.6  

Gross Profit

                                           

Capital sales

    314.7     268.4     571.2     560.5     507.8     512.2     448.0  

Rental revenue

    99.4     111.1     208.7     219.8     246.9     269.1     268.6  

Total Gross Profit

    414.1     379.5     779.9     780.3     754.7     781.3     716.6  

Research and development expenses

    44.0     32.8     71.9     70.2     66.9     63.8     58.3  

Selling and administrative expenses

    305.0     268.1     548.3     549.5     496.4     502.0     474.6  

Litigation (credit) charge

                    (3.6 )   47.3     (21.2 )

Impairment of other intangibles

                    8.0          

Special charges

    7.5     29.4     37.1     5.7     18.2     1.4     13.2  

Operating Profit

    57.6     49.2     122.6     154.9     168.8     166.8     191.7  

Other income (expense), net

    (4.0 )   (4.5 )   (7.4 )   (10.9 )   (5.3 )   (7.1 )   (8.8 )

Income Before Income Taxes

    53.6     44.7     115.2     144.0     163.5     159.7     182.9  

Income tax expense

    15.4     34.8     54.6     39.0     42.7     26.2     56.9  

Net Income

  $ 38.2   $ 9.9   $ 60.6   $ 105.0   $ 120.8   $ 133.5   $ 126.0  

Net Income per Common Share—Diluted

  $ 0.66   $ 0.17   $ 1.04   $ 1.74   $ 1.94   $ 2.09   $ 1.97  

Balance Sheet Data

 
   
  As of
September 30,
 
 
  As of
March 31,
2015
 
(Dollars in millions)
  2014   2013   2012   2011   2010  
 
  (Unaudited)
   
   
   
   
   
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 114.5   $ 99.3   $ 127.4   $ 84.3   $ 224.6   $ 184.5  

Total assets

    1,706.2     1,752.1     1,586.8     1,627.6     1,299.1     1,245.6  

Total debt

    578.5     491.8     307.0     352.7     151.1     151.6  

Shareholders' equity

    722.3     806.5     858.7     812.6     741.7     707.5  

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF WELCH ALLYN

        The following tables set forth selected historical consolidated financial and other data of Welch Allyn. The selected consolidated statement of income data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 have been derived from Welch Allyn's audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of income data for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 and the summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 have been derived from Welch Allyn's audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this proxy statement/prospectus.

        The selected historical consolidated financial data of Welch Allyn as of April 4, 2015 and for the three month periods ended April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014 have been derived from Welch Allyn's historical unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. These financial statements are unaudited, but, in the opinion of Welch Allyn's management, contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of Welch Allyn's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

        Results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for a full year or for future periods. This information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with the section titled "Information about Welch Allyn—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" beginning on page 135 of this proxy statement/prospectus and

 

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Welch Allyn's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.

 
  Three Months
Ended
  Year Ended December 31,  
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
  April 4,
2015
  March 29,
2014
  2014   2013   2012   2011   2010  
 
  (Unaudited)
   
   
   
   
   
 

Statement of Income Data:

                                           

Net Sales

  $ 164.5   $ 160.6   $ 683.8   $ 700.9   $ 683.1   $ 692.5   $ 642.2  

Cost of goods sold

    81.9     81.4     334.5     348.6     337.2     342.5     314.6  

Restructuring cost of goods sold

    0.3     2.2     5.9     11.7     3.9          

Gross margin

    82.3     77.0     343.4     340.6     342.0     350.0     327.6  

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

    77.5     66.3     278.7     295.1     289.0     286.6     281.1  

Restructuring charges

        2.2     1.1     7.9     9.2     0.2     1.8  

Trademark and goodwill impairment

                2.5     5.0          

Pension settlement loss

                            3.2  

Operating Income

    4.8     8.5     63.6     35.1     38.8     63.3     41.4  

Other income (expense), net

    0.1     (— )   5.3     6.4     3.8     3.5     3.1  

Income before income taxes

    4.9     8.5     68.8     41.5     42.6     66.8     44.5  

Income tax expense

    1.6     3.0     20.2     10.3     12.2     20.5     14.3  

Net Income

  $ 3.3   $ 5.5   $ 48.7   $ 31.2   $ 30.4   $ 46.3   $ 30.2  

 
   
  As of December 31,  
 
  As of
April 4,
2015
  2014   2013   2012   2011   2010  
 
  (Unaudited)
   
   
   
   
   
 

Balance Sheet Data:

                                     

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 174.5   $ 178.4   $ 145.1   $ 101.0   $ 80.6   $ 45.1  

Total assets

    753.4     747.4     703.0     631.6     608.2     580.6  

Long term obligations

    92.7     82.7     68.3     54.4     55.0     59.3  

Shareholders' equity

    548.6     545.2     504.7     465.8     453.9     414.5  

 
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2014
   
   
   
   
   
 

Non-GAAP Data:

                                     

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

  $ 134.4                                

Adjusted EBITDA, as further adjusted for the merger with run-rate synergies

  $ 144.3                                

(1)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Hill-Rom management used this measure in evaluating the performance of Welch Allyn in the course of evaluating the merger. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as GAAP operating income of Welch Allyn adjusted for the impact from discontinued product lines, special charges, and other unusual events, which may be highly variable, difficult to predict and of a size that sometimes have substantial impact on the Company's reported operations for a period, and the impact of other items, such as the discontinuance of the Domestic International Sales Corporation ("DISC") commissions, which are not permitted under IRS regulations for public companies, and stock-based compensation expense. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of

 

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    Welch Allyn Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

Net income

  $ 48.7  

Income tax expense

    20.2  

Other (income) expense, net

    (5.3 )

Operating income

    63.6  

DISC commissions(A)

    21.0  

LTIP(B)

    19.8  

Restructuring charges(C)

    9.8  

Discontinued product lines(D)

    (4.7 )

Adjusted Operating Income

    109.5  

Depreciation and amortization

    24.9  

Adjusted EBITDA

    134.4  

Removal of cash portion of long term incentive plan(E)

    3.2  

Anticipated long term stock-based compensation(F)

    (3.9 )

Sourcing and restructuring run rate(G)

    5.4  

Scale-Tronix acquisition contribution(H)

    5.2  

Adjusted EBITDA, as further adjusted for the merger with run-rate synergies

  $ 144.3  

(A)
Represents the complete removal of DISC commission expense. The DISC was not acquired in the merger and is not permitted under IRS regulations for public companies.

(B)
Removal of stock-based compensation associated with long term incentive plan.

(C)
Add back of one-time restructuring costs incurred during the period, including $2.8 million of sales and marketing reorganization costs.

(D)
Removal of income contribution from product lines which Welch Allyn discontinued.

(E)
Cash based portion of historic Welch Allyn incentive plan which when combined with the stock-based portion referenced in footnote (B) comprised the Welch Allyn long term incentive plan.

(F)
Represents anticipated long term stock-based compensation for Welch Allyn unit on a post-merger basis.

(G)
Annualized benefit from restructuring and sourcing initiatives completed in 2014 for which full benefits were not achieved in the calendar year.

(H)
Annualized pro-forma adjusted EBITDA contribution from Scale-Tronix acquisition, which was completed in May 2015, estimated to be approximately $5.2 million.

 

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SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements present the combination of the historical consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn, adjusted to give effect to the merger. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet combines the unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet of Hill-Rom as of March 31, 2015 and the unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet of Welch Allyn as of April 4, 2015, to give effect to Hill-Rom's acquisition of Welch Allyn and related financing transactions (collectively, the "Transactions"), as if they had occurred on March 31, 2015. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 assumes that the combination took place on October 1, 2013, the beginning of Hill-Rom's most recently completed fiscal year. Hill-Rom's audited consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 has been combined with Welch Allyn's audited consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the six months ended March 31, 2015 assumes that the merger took place on October 1, 2013, the beginning of Hill-Rom's most recently completed fiscal year. Hill-Rom's unaudited consolidated statement of income for the six months ended March 31, 2015 has been combined with Welch Allyn's unaudited consolidated statement of income for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and Welch Allyn's unaudited consolidated statement of income for the three months ended April 4, 2015.

        The pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made solely for purposes of developing the pro forma financial information for illustrative purposes. The actual results reported in periods following the Transactions may differ significantly from that reflected in these pro forma financial statements for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, differences between the assumptions used to prepare these pro forma financial statements and actual amounts, cost savings from operating efficiencies and impact of potential synergies, the impact of the incremental costs incurred in integrating Welch Allyn's operations, changes in the allocation of purchase price, and the actual interest rates applicable to the funds borrowed to finance the acquisition of Welch Allyn.

        The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the consolidated financial statements and related notes of Hill-Rom incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, and the consolidated financial statements and related notes of Welch Allyn included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, together with the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information provided in the section titled "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information" beginning on page 104 of this proxy statement/prospectus. For further information with respect to documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, see the section titled

 

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"Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

(Dollars in millions except per share data)
  Six Months Ended
March 31, 2015
  Year Ended
September 30, 2014
 
 
  (unaudited)
 

Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement:

             

Total revenue

  $ 1,292.9   $ 2,363.2  

Total cost of revenue

    699.9     1,239.7  

Gross profit

    593.0     1,123.5  

Operating profit

    64.8     153.6  

Income before income taxes

    14.9     64.2  

Net income

    16.5     33.4  

Net income per share—basic

  $ 0.25   $ 0.51  

Net income per share—diluted

  $ 0.25   $ 0.50  

Average common shares outstanding—basic

    64,975     65,689  

Average common shares outstanding—diluted

    66,028     66,657  

Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Data:

   
 
   
 
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 106.0        

Total assets

    4,236.6        

Total liabilities

    3,110.1        

Shareholders' equity

    1,126.5        

 

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COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA

        The following table sets forth for the periods presented certain historical per share data of Hill-Rom common stock and Welch Allyn common stock on a historical basis and on unaudited pro forma and pro forma equivalent bases after giving effect to the merger under the acquisition method of accounting. The historical per share data of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the historical consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus and the historical consolidated financial statements of Welch Allyn and notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited pro forma per share data has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information provided in the section titled "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information" beginning on page 104 of this proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited pro forma and pro forma equivalent income and dividend per share data for the six months ended March 31, 2015 were prepared based on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom for the six month period ended March 31, 2015 and the combination of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Welch Allyn for the three month period ended December 31, 2014 and for the three month period ended April 4, 2015. The unaudited pro forma and pro forma equivalent income and dividend per share data for the year ended September 30, 2014 were prepared based on the audited consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom for the year ended September 30, 2014 and of Welch Allyn based on the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014. The pro forma and pro forma equivalent net book value per share reflect the merger as if it had been effective on March 31, 2015 and were prepared based on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets of Hill-Rom as of March 31, 2015.

        The unaudited pro forma equivalent data of Welch Allyn was calculated by multiplying the corresponding unaudited pro forma consolidated data of Hill-Rom by the ratio (0.075652187) which the maximum total number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock to be issued as part of the merger consideration (8,133,722) bears to the number of outstanding Welch Allyn common stock as of April 4, 2015 (107,514,697). These computations exclude the benefit to Welch Allyn shareholders from receiving the cash portion of the merger consideration. The actual exchange ratio may vary as described in this proxy statement/prospectus. This data shows how each share of Welch Allyn common stock would have participated in net income and book value of Hill-Rom if the companies had always been consolidated for accounting and financial reporting purposes for all periods presented. These amounts, however, are not intended to reflect future per share levels of net income and book value of Hill-Rom.

 
  Six Months
Ended
March 31,
2015
  Fiscal Year
Ended
September 30,
2014
 
 
  (Unaudited)
 

Hill-Rom—Historical

             

Per common share data:

             

Net income:

             

Basic

  $ 0.67   $ 1.05  

Diluted

    0.66     1.04  

Dividends declared per share

    0.31     0.60  

Book value per share (basic)

    12.75     14.04  

 

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  Three Months
Ended
April 4,
2015
  Year
Ended
December 31,
2014
 

Welch Allyn—Historical

             

Per common share data:

             

Net income:

             

Basic

  $ 0.03   $ 0.45  

Diluted

    0.03     0.45  

Dividends declared per share:

         

Book value per share (basic):

    5.10     5.07  

 

 
  Six Months
Ended
March 31,
2015
  Fiscal Year
Ended
September 30,
2014
 
 
  (Unaudited)
 

Hill-Rom—Unaudited Pro Forma Combined with Welch Allyn

             

Per common share data:

             

Net income:

             

Basic

  $ 0.25   $ 0.51  

Diluted

    0.25     0.50  

Dividends declared per share:

    0.27     0.53  

Book value per share (basic):

    17.31     17.13  

Welch Allyn—Unaudited Pro Forma Equivalents

             

Per common share data:

             

Net income:

             

Basic

  $ 0.02   $ 0.04  

Diluted

    0.02     0.04  

Dividends declared per share:

    0.02     0.04  

Book value per share (basic):

    1.31     1.30  

 

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RISK FACTORS

        In addition to general investment risks and the other information included in and incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, including the matters addressed in the section titled "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" beginning on page 37 of this proxy statement/prospectus, Welch Allyn shareholders should consider carefully the matters described below in determining whether to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. In addition, Welch Allyn shareholders should read and consider the risks associated with an investment in Hill-Rom common stock. These risks can be found in Hill-Rom's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, as updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, all of which are filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. For further information regarding the documents incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference, see the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Risks Relating to the Merger

There is no assurance when or if the merger will be completed. Any delay in completing the merger may substantially reduce the benefits that Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn expect to obtain from the merger.

        Completion of the merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions as set forth in the merger agreement. There can be no assurance that Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn will be able to satisfy the closing conditions or that closing conditions beyond their control will be satisfied or waived. For a discussion of the conditions to the completion of the merger, see the section titled "The Merger Agreement—Conditions to Completion of the Merger" beginning on page 96 of this proxy statement/prospectus. If the merger and the integration of the companies' respective businesses are not completed within the expected timeframe, such delay may materially and adversely affect the synergies and other benefits that Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn expect to achieve as a result of the merger and could result in additional transaction costs, loss of revenue or other effects associated with uncertainty about the merger.

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn can agree at any time to terminate the merger agreement, even if Welch Allyn shareholders have already adopted the merger agreement and thereby approved the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn can also terminate the merger agreement under other specified circumstances. See the section titled "The Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement" beginning on page 98 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Hill-Rom is expected to incur substantial expenses related to the merger and the integration of Welch Allyn.

        Hill-Rom is expected to incur substantial expenses in connection with the merger and the integration of Welch Allyn. Specifically, based on estimates as of July 9, 2015, Hill-Rom expects to incur approximately $30 million of transaction costs related to the merger. Additionally, there are a large number of processes, policies, procedures, operations, technologies and systems that must be integrated, including purchasing, accounting and finance, sales, billing, payroll, manufacturing, marketing and employee benefits. While Hill-Rom expects to incur integration and restructuring costs and other costs incurred to execute the transaction following completion of the merger in 2015 that are estimated to range between $35 million and $40 million, many of the expenses that will be incurred are, by their nature, difficult to estimate accurately. These expenses could, particularly in the near term, exceed the savings that Hill-Rom expects to achieve from elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of economies of scale and cost savings. Although Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn expect that the realization of efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses will offset incremental transaction,

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merger-related and restructuring costs over time, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn cannot give any assurance that this net benefit will be achieved in the near term, or at all.

Covenants in the merger agreement place certain restrictions on Welch Allyn's conduct of business prior to the closing of the merger.

        The merger agreement restricts Welch Allyn from taking certain specified actions without Hill-Rom's consent while the merger is pending. These restrictions may prevent Welch Allyn from pursuing otherwise attractive business opportunities or other capital structure alternatives and making other changes to its business or executing certain of its business strategies prior to the completion of the merger.

The announcement and pendency of the merger could have an adverse effect on Hill-Rom's and/or Welch Allyn's business, financial condition, results of operations or business prospects.

        The announcement and pendency of the merger could disrupt Hill-Rom's and/or Welch Allyn's businesses in the following ways, among others:

        Any of these matters could adversely affect the businesses of, or harm the financial condition, results of operations or business prospects of, Hill-Rom and/or Welch Allyn.

The merger agreement contains provisions that limit Welch Allyn's ability to pursue alternatives to the merger, which could discourage a potential acquirer of Welch Allyn from making an alternative transaction proposal.

        The merger agreement contains provisions that make it more difficult for Welch Allyn to sell its business to a party other than Hill-Rom. These provisions include a general prohibition on Welch Allyn taking certain actions prior to the termination of the merger agreement that might lead to or otherwise facilitate a proposal by a third party for a competing transaction. These provisions might discourage a third party that might have an interest in acquiring all or a significant part of the stock, properties or assets of Welch Allyn from considering or proposing such acquisition. In addition, following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement and irrevocable proxy with certain shareholders of Welch Allyn representing in aggregate at least the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock sufficient to approve the merger.

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Failure to complete the merger could negatively impact the future business and financial results of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn.

        If the merger is not completed, the ongoing businesses of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn may be adversely affected. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn will be subject to several risks, including the following:

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn cannot assure their respective shareholders that, if the merger is not completed, these risks will not materialize and will not materially adversely affect the business and financial results of either company.

Hill-Rom's share price may fluctuate prior to the completion of the merger, and the value of the merger consideration at the closing of the merger may not be the same as at the time of the signing of the merger agreement or on the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

        Upon completion of the merger, shares of Welch Allyn common stock will be converted into the merger consideration, which will consist of cash and shares of Hill-Rom common stock. Any change in the market price of Hill-Rom common stock prior to completion of the merger will affect the dollar value of the stock consideration that Welch Allyn shareholders receive upon completion of the merger. Changes in the market price of Hill-Rom common stock could result from a variety of factors, many of which are beyond Hill-Rom's control, including:

The issuance of Hill-Rom common stock in connection with the merger could decrease the market price of Hill-Rom common stock.

        In connection with the merger and as part of the merger consideration, Hill-Rom will issue shares of Hill-Rom common stock to Welch Allyn shareholders. The issuance of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger may result in fluctuations in the market price of Hill-Rom common stock, including a stock price decrease.

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Welch Allyn shareholders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest in Hill-Rom after the merger relative to their current ownership and voting interest in Welch Allyn and, as a result, will be able to exert less influence over management.

        In the merger, each Welch Allyn shareholder will receive shares of Hill-Rom common stock as a portion of the merger consideration, which will result in such Welch Allyn shareholder becoming a shareholder of Hill-Rom with a percentage ownership of Hill-Rom after the merger that is significantly smaller than such shareholder's current percentage ownership of Welch Allyn. It is expected that Welch Allyn shareholders immediately prior to the merger will own, in the aggregate, approximately 13% of the outstanding shares of Hill-Rom common stock immediately after the completion of the merger. Accordingly, Welch Allyn shareholders will have substantially less influence on the management and policies of Hill-Rom after the merger than they now have with respect to the management and policies of Welch Allyn.

There has been no public market for Welch Allyn common stock and the lack of a public market makes it difficult to determine the fair market value of Welch Allyn.

        The outstanding capital stock of Welch Allyn is privately held and is not traded on any public market. The lack of a public market may make it more difficult to determine the fair market value of Welch Allyn than if Welch Allyn common stock were traded publicly. The value ascribed to Welch Allyn's securities in other contexts may not be indicative of the price at which Welch Allyn common stock may have traded if it were traded on a public market. The merger consideration to be paid to Welch Allyn shareholders was determined based on negotiations between the parties and likewise may not be indicative of the price at which Welch Allyn common stock may have traded if it were traded on a public market.

Some of Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers have interests in seeing the merger completed that are different from, or in addition to, those of other Welch Allyn stockholders. Therefore, some of Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers may have a conflict of interest in recommending the proposals being voted on at Welch Allyn's special meeting.

        In considering the recommendation of the Welch Allyn board of directors that the Welch Allyn shareholders vote to approve the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders, you should be aware that certain of Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers have financial interests in the merger that are different from, or are in addition to, the interests of the Welch Allyn shareholders generally, as more fully described below. The members of the Welch Allyn board of directors were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the merger agreement, and in evaluating the merger and in recommending to the Welch Allyn shareholders that they approve the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders.

        The interests of the members of Welch Allyn's board of directors generally include the right to receive, at the effective time of the merger (1) the cancellation of each outstanding PHASAR and PSU Award immediately prior to the effective time of the merger in exchange for the right to receive the Phantom Merger Consideration with respect to such PHASAR and each PSU Award (less the grant price in the case of PHASARs) and (2) accelerated cash payment of previously earned and vested amounts deferred under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.

        The interests of Welch Allyn's executive officers include the rights to:

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        Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers also have the right to indemnification and insurance coverage following the effective time of the merger. Please see the section below entitled "The Merger—Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Welch Allyn in the Merger" beginning on page 67 of this proxy statement/prospectus for additional information about these interests.

The merger may be completed even though material adverse changes may result from the announcement of the merger, industry-wide changes or other causes.

        In general, Hill-Rom can refuse to complete the merger if there is a material adverse effect (as defined in the merger agreement) affecting Welch Allyn prior to the closing of the merger. However, some types of changes do not permit Hill-Rom to refuse to complete the merger, even if such changes would have a material adverse effect on Welch Allyn. If adverse changes occur but Hill-Rom must still complete the merger, the market price of Hill-Rom common stock may suffer. For a more complete discussion of what constitutes a material adverse effect on Welch Allyn under the merger agreement, see the section titled "The Merger Agreement—Representations and Warranties" beginning on page 90 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn may be unable to obtain the regulatory approvals required to complete the merger.

        Completion of the merger is conditioned upon, among other conditions, the expiration or termination of any waiting period (or securing appropriate approvals) under the HSR Act and the German Act against Restraints of Competition (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen). Early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act was granted July 8, 2015. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn are pursuing all required consents, orders and approvals in accordance with the merger agreement. These consents, orders and approvals may impose conditions on or require divestitures relating to the divisions, operations or assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn or may impose requirements, limitations or costs or place restrictions on the conduct of the combined company's business. Further, no assurance can be given that the required consents, orders and approvals will be obtained or that the required conditions to closing will be satisfied, and, even if all such consents, orders and approvals are obtained and such conditions are satisfied, no assurance can be given as to the terms, conditions and timing of such consents, orders and approvals.

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Risks Relating to the Combined Company Following the Merger

Successful integration of Welch Allyn with Hill-Rom and successful operation of the combined company are not assured. Also, integrating Hill-Rom's business with that of Welch Allyn may divert the attention of management away from operations.

        If the merger is completed, Welch Allyn will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom but will, at least initially, continue its operations on a basis that is separate from Hill-Rom's operations. There can be no assurance that after the merger Welch Allyn will be able to maintain and grow its business and operations. In addition, the market segments in which Welch Allyn operates may experience declines in demand and/or new competitors. Integrating and coordinating certain aspects of the operations and personnel of Welch Allyn with Hill-Rom will involve complex operational, technological and personnel-related challenges. This process will be time-consuming and expensive, may disrupt the businesses of either or both of the companies and may not result in the full benefits expected by Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn, including cost synergies expected to arise from supply chain efficiencies and overlapping general and administrative functions. The potential difficulties, and resulting costs and delays, include:

        Additionally, the integration of Hill-Rom's and Welch Allyn's operations, products and personnel may place a significant burden on management and other internal resources. The diversion of management's attention, and any difficulties encountered in the transition and integration process, could harm the combined company's business, financial condition and operating results.

The pro forma financial statements are presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of the combined company's financial condition or results of operations following the completion of the merger.

        The pro forma financial statements contained in this proxy statement/prospectus are presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of the combined company's financial condition or results of operations following the completion of the merger for several reasons. The pro forma financial statements have been derived from the historical financial statements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn and adjustments and assumptions have been made regarding the combined company after giving effect to the merger. The information upon which these adjustments and assumptions have been made is preliminary, and these kinds of adjustments and assumptions are difficult to make with accuracy. Moreover, the pro forma financial statements do not reflect all costs that are expected to be incurred by the combined company in connection with the merger. For example, the impact of any incremental costs incurred in integrating Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn are not reflected in the pro forma financial statements. As a result, the actual financial condition and results of operations of the combined company following the completion of the merger may not be consistent with, or evident from, these pro forma financial statements. The assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial information may not prove to be accurate, and other factors may affect the combined company's financial condition or

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results of operations following the merger. Any decline or potential decline in the combined company's financial condition or results of operations may cause significant variations in the market price of Hill-Rom common stock.

The combined company's business may suffer if it does not retain its senior management.

        The combined company's future success requires it to continue to attract and retain competent personnel. In particular, the combined company's future success will depend on its senior management. As a result of the merger, Hill-Rom's and Welch Allyn's current and prospective employees could experience uncertainty about their future roles and the integration process. The loss of services of members of the combined company's senior management team could adversely affect its business until suitable replacements can be found. There may be a limited number of persons with the requisite skills to serve in these positions, and the combined company may be unable to locate or employ qualified personnel on acceptable terms.

Hill-Rom will incur substantial additional indebtedness in connection with the merger, may not be able to refinance the bridge credit agreement on favorable terms, if drawn upon, and may not be able to meet all of its debt obligations.

        In connection with the merger, Hill-Rom expects to enter into (i) a $1.0 billion senior secured term loan A facility (the "TLA Facility"), (ii) a $725 million senior secured term loan B facility (the "TLB Facility") and (iii) a $500 million senior secured revolving facility (collectively with the TLA Facility and the TLB Facility, the "Senior Secured Facilities"). In addition, Hill-Rom may issue up to an additional $500 million in debt pursuant to an unsecured note offering or unsecured bridge facility (the "Additional Debt Financing"). Proceeds from the Senior Secured Facilities and the Additional Debt Financing will be used to finance, in part, the cash consideration for the merger and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the merger. Hill-Rom's debt outstanding as of March 31, 2015 was approximately $579 million and, immediately after the completion of the merger, the combined company's debt is anticipated to be approximately $2.3 billion. As of March 31, 2015, Hill-Rom's debt service obligations, comprised of principal and interest (excluding capital leases), during the next 12 months would, in the absence of the merger, have been approximately $30 million. Based on assumed interest rates, leverage ratios and credit ratings, the combined company's debt service obligations, comprised of principal and interest (excluding capital leases), during the 12 months following the completion of the merger is expected to be approximately $150 million. As a result of this increase in debt, demands on the combined company's cash resources will increase after the completion of the merger. The increased level of debt could, among other things:

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The market price of Hill-Rom common stock after the merger may be subject to significant fluctuations and may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the market price of Hill-Rom common stock.

        Upon completion of the merger, each Welch Allyn shareholder will become a Hill-Rom shareholder. While Hill-Rom common stock has an observable trading history, Hill-Rom common stock on a post-merger basis may trade differently than its pre-merger trading history, and the market price of Hill-Rom common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations following the merger.

        In addition, the businesses of Hill-Rom differ from those of Welch Allyn in important respects and, accordingly, the results of operations of the combined company and the market price of Hill-Rom common stock following the merger may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the independent results of operations of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn. For a discussion of the business of Hill-Rom and of certain factors to consider in connection with Hill-Rom's business, see the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus referred to in the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus. For a discussion of the business of Welch Allyn and of certain factors to consider in connection with Welch Allyn's business, see the section titled "Information about Welch Allyn" beginning on page 131 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

The merger may cause dilution to Hill-Rom's earnings per share, which may negatively affect the market price of Hill-Rom common stock.

        Although Hill-Rom anticipates that the merger will have an immediate accretive impact on the adjusted earnings per share of Hill-Rom common stock, Hill-Rom's current expectation is based on preliminary estimates as of the date of the public announcement of the merger, which may materially change. Hill-Rom could also encounter additional transaction-related costs or other factors, such as the failure to realize all of the benefits anticipated to result from the merger. In addition, Hill-Rom expects that Welch Allyn shareholders immediately prior to the merger will own, in the aggregate, approximately 13% of the then outstanding shares of Hill-Rom common stock following the merger, based on the number of outstanding shares of Hill-Rom common stock on June 16, 2015. Once its shares are issued in the merger, Hill-Rom's earnings per share may be lower than it would have been in the absence of the merger. All of these factors could cause dilution to Hill-Rom's earnings per share or decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the merger, and cause a decrease in the market price of Hill-Rom common stock. There can be no assurance that any increase in Hill-Rom's earnings per share will occur, even over the long term. Any increase in Hill-Rom's earnings per share as a result of the merger is likely to require, among other things, Hill-Rom to successfully manage the operations of Welch Allyn and increase the consolidated earnings of Hill-Rom after the merger.

The rights of Welch Allyn shareholders who become Hill-Rom shareholders in the merger will be governed by the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and the Hill-Rom by-laws.

        Welch Allyn shareholders who receive shares of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger will become Hill-Rom shareholders and will be governed by the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and the Hill-Rom by-laws, rather than the Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation and the Welch Allyn by-laws. There may be material differences between the current rights of Welch Allyn shareholders, as compared to the rights they will have as Hill-Rom shareholders. For more information, see the section titled "Comparison of Shareholder Rights" beginning on page 119 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This proxy statement/prospectus and other documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus contain or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "can," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "assumes," "guides," "targets," "forecasts," "is confident that" and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger between Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn, including future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the respective managements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth under the section titled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 29 of this proxy statement/prospectus. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

        For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see periodic reports filed by Hill-Rom with the SEC. Neither Hill-Rom nor Welch Allyn undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be set forth in Hill-Rom's periodic reports. Welch Allyn shareholders are

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cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while the respective managements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

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SPECIAL MEETING

General

        Welch Allyn is mailing this proxy statement/prospectus to you as a Welch Allyn shareholder on or about [    ·    ], 2015. With this proxy statement/prospectus, Welch Allyn is sending you a notice of the special meeting of the Welch Allyn shareholders (which we refer to as the special meeting) and a form of proxy that is solicited by the Welch Allyn board of directors for use at the special meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting.

        The special meeting will be held on [    ·    ], 2015, local time at The Lodge, located at 4355 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13152. This proxy statement/prospectus is also the prospectus of Hill-Rom in connection with its issuance of shares of Hill-Rom common stock as part of the merger consideration.

Record Date

        Only holders of record of the Welch Allyn common stock as of the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015, are entitled to receive notice of and attend the special meeting, and only holders of record of Welch Allyn Class A common stock as of the close of business on [    ·    ], 2015, will be entitled to vote at the special meeting. As of the record date, there were [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding, including [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding and [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn Class B common stock outstanding. Each share of Welch Allyn Class A common stock is entitled to be voted at the special meeting, with each such share entitled to one vote.

Matters to be Considered

        At the special meeting, holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock will be asked to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Welch Allyn, with Welch Allyn surviving the merger. In connection with the merger, if it is approved and consummated, Welch Allyn shareholders will have their shares converted into the right to receive, in the aggregate (i) $1,625,000,000 (which amount is subject to adjustments for cash and cash equivalents, indebtedness (as defined in the merger agreement), certain other adjustments (as defined in the merger agreement), including the amount of certain fees, costs and expenses of Welch Allyn and the shareholder representative, net working capital, certain change in control payments (as defined in the merger agreement), including LTIP cash incentive payments (as defined in the merger agreement), payments to the holders of Welch Allyn PHASARs and PSU Awards (other than any portion of such payments deposited in the escrow account)), which amount is referred to as the cash consideration in this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock, which are referred to as the stock consideration in this proxy statement/prospectus.

        At the special meeting, the holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock will also be asked to consider a proposal to authorize the Welch Allyn board of directors to adjourn the special meeting to allow time for further solicitation of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes present at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, to adopt the merger agreement.

        Each copy of this proxy statement/prospectus mailed to Welch Allyn shareholders is accompanied by a proxy card for use at the special meeting.

Vote Required

        Completion of the merger is conditioned upon the adoption of the merger agreement by the affirmative vote at the special meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock. Following the execution of

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the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) for purposes of the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the voting agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Class A common stock of Welch Allyn subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

Quorum

        The presence, in person or by proxy, of holders representing one half of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock is necessary in order for there to be a quorum at the special meeting. A quorum must be present in order for the vote on the merger proposal or the adjournment proposal to occur. However, if there is no quorum, then the special meeting can be postponed or adjourned until such time as a quorum can be obtained. As of the record date for the special meeting, holders representing [    ·    ] shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock will be required to be present at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, to achieve a quorum.

Voting by Welch Allyn's Directors and Executive Officers

        As of the close of business on the record date, there were [    ·    ] outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock, each of which is entitled to one vote at the special meeting. On that date, directors and executive officers of Welch Allyn beneficially owned a total of approximately [    ·    ]% of the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and approximately [    ·    ]% of the outstanding Welch Allyn common stock.

Voting Agreement

        Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a voting agreement with the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and (ii) for purposes of the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust, as described in more detail in the section titled "Material Contracts Between the Parties" beginning on page 101 of this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the voting agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Class A common stock of Welch Allyn subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

Voting of Proxies

        Shares of Welch Allyn common stock represented by properly executed proxies received at or prior to the special meeting will be voted at the special meeting in the manner specified by the holders of

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such shares. Properly executed proxies that do not contain voting instructions will be voted "FOR" the merger proposal and "FOR" the adjournment proposal.

        Any Welch Allyn Class A shareholder present in person or by proxy at the special meeting who abstains from voting will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. Because approval of the merger agreement requires the affirmative vote of holders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding Welch Allyn Class A common stock, any such abstentions will have the same effect as votes "AGAINST" the merger proposal. The Welch Allyn board of directors urges the Welch Allyn Class A shareholders to complete, date, and sign the accompanying proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope, or to vote by telephone, fax, or email.

Revocability of Proxies

        If you are a Welch Allyn Class A shareholder as of the record date, the grant of a proxy on the enclosed proxy card does not preclude you from voting in person or otherwise revoking your proxy. If you are a Welch Allyn Class A shareholder as of the record date, you may revoke a proxy at any time prior to its exercise by delivering to Gregory Porter either a duly executed revocation or a proxy bearing a later date. In addition, if you are a record holder, you may revoke a proxy prior to its exercise by voting in person at the special meeting. All written notices of revocation should be addressed to Gregory Porter, at 4341 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153. Attendance at the special meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy.

Solicitation of Proxies

        Welch Allyn is soliciting proxies from holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock in conjunction with the special meeting. Welch Allyn will pay all the costs of soliciting proxies in connection with the special meeting and one-half of the costs of printing and mailing this proxy statement/prospectus (Hill-Rom will pay the other half of such costs). Solicitation of proxies may be made in person or by mail, telephone or facsimile, or other form of communication by directors, officers and employees of Welch Allyn who will not be specially compensated for such solicitation.

        No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this proxy statement/prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by Hill-Rom, Welch Allyn or any other person. The delivery of this proxy statement/prospectus does not, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the business or affairs of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn since the date of the proxy statement/prospectus.

Dissenters' Rights

        Welch Allyn shareholders have dissenters' rights under the NYBCL in connection with the merger. Welch Allyn shareholders who do not vote in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and who otherwise comply with the applicable provisions of the NYBCL will be entitled to dissent from the merger and obtain payment of the "fair value," as determined pursuant to Section 623 of the NYBCL, of their shares if the merger is completed. Under Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL, a dissenting shareholder will be entitled to payment only if, among other things, written objection to the merger, including a notice of intent to demand payment, is delivered to Welch Allyn before the vote is taken and the shareholder does not vote in favor of the merger proposal. A copy of Sections 623 and 910 of the New York Business Corporation Law is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus. Please see "The Merger—Dissenters' Rights" beginning on page 74 for a summary of the procedures to be followed in asserting dissenters' rights.

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Recommendation of Welch Allyn's Board of Directors

        After careful consideration, the board of directors of Welch Allyn has adopted and declared advisable the merger agreement, has approved the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and has determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Welch Allyn and its shareholders. Therefore, the board of directors of Welch Allyn recommends that you vote your shares "FOR" the proposal to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

        For a description of various factors considered by the Welch Allyn board of directors in reaching its decision to adopt the merger agreement and approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, see the section titled "The Merger—Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger" beginning on page 54 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

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THE COMPANIES

Hill-Rom

        Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. was incorporated on August 7, 1969 in the State of Indiana and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. We are a leading global medical technology company with more than 7,000 employees worldwide. We partner with health care providers in more than 100 countries by focusing on patient care solutions that improve clinical and economic outcomes in five core areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Clinical Workflow, Surgical Safety and Efficiency, and Respiratory Health. Around the world, Hill-Rom's people, products, and programs work towards one mission: Enhancing outcomes for patients and their caregivers.

        Additional information about Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries is included in the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. See the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Merger Sub

        Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom, is a New York corporation that was formed on June 15, 2015 solely for the purpose of entering into the merger agreement and effecting the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Merger Sub has not engaged, and does not expect to engage, in any other business activities.

Welch Allyn

        Welch Allyn was incorporated on December 17, 1946 as Welch Allyn Corporation in the State of New York and is headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, New York. Welch Allyn is a leading global manufacturer of medical diagnostic devices and accessories and EMR-connected vital signs and cardiac monitoring solutions. Welch Allyn employs approximately 2,500 people in 26 different countries.

        Welch Allyn common stock is not listed on an exchange or quoted on any automated services, and there is no established trading market for shares of Welch Allyn common stock.

        Additional information about Welch Allyn and its subsidiaries is included in the section titled "Information about Welch Allyn" beginning on page 131 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

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THE MERGER

        The following is a description of the material aspects of the merger. While Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn believe that the following description covers the material aspects of the merger, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the merger agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus and incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn encourage you to carefully read this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A, for a more complete understanding of the merger.

The Merger

        At the effective time of the merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into Welch Allyn, with Welch Allyn continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom.

Background of the Merger

        The Welch Allyn Board, together with the company's senior management and various external advisors, have periodically reviewed and considered various strategic opportunities available to Welch Allyn, including whether the execution of Welch Allyn's strategy as a stand-alone company, the possible acquisition by Welch Allyn of one or more third parties, the possible initial public offering of Welch Allyn common stock, or the possible sale of Welch Allyn to, or a combination of Welch Allyn with, a third party offered the best avenue to generate shareholder value.

        During the course of the company's strategic planning process in the first half of 2014, Welch Allyn directors, shareholders and senior management discussed Welch Allyn's strategic goals and options in light of the company's current and future business prospects and developments in the medical technology sector, including but not limited to increasing consolidation among Welch Allyn's customers and competitors. These discussions included consideration of the need for additional capital to execute certain strategic options, as well as the interest of certain shareholders in diversification of their holdings and additional liquidity.

        As a result of these discussions, the Welch Allyn directors determined to invite financial advisors to attend a Welch Allyn Board meeting for the purpose of discussing these matters with the full board of directors. On May 6, 2014, during its regular quarterly board meeting, the Welch Allyn Board met with financial advisors to discuss developments and opportunities in the medical technology sector, including the potential availability of options in the capital markets, in an effort to determine the best strategy for Welch Allyn to drive the success of the business and generate shareholder value. The Welch Allyn Board continued these strategy discussions at its next quarterly board meeting on August 5, 2014.

        At the following quarterly board meeting, on November 11 and 12, 2014, the Welch Allyn Board met separately with three different financial advisors, including Barclays Capital Inc. ("Barclays"), for extensive review and discussion regarding the strategic position of Welch Allyn and a variety of potential strategic and financial options.

        On December 10 and 11, 2014, the Welch Allyn Board held a special meeting in New York City to further consider Welch Allyn's strategic options, including meeting with Barclays at their offices on December 11. The Welch Allyn Board discussed and considered a variety of strategic and financial options that could be undertaken by Welch Allyn, including the continued execution of Welch Allyn's strategy as a stand-alone company driving growth through strategic acquisitions and other potential strategic alternatives to generate shareholder value, the possible initial public offering of Welch Allyn common stock, and the possible sale of the company to, or other combination with, a third party.

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        On December 20, 2014, the Welch Allyn Board held a special teleconference to consider the status of acquisition opportunities Welch Allyn was pursuing and to follow up on the discussions from the prior board meeting. The Welch Allyn Board authorized and directed the finance committee of the Welch Allyn Board (the "Welch Allyn Finance Committee") to work with senior management to explore a potential sale process, including the negotiation of the terms of a potential transaction, subject to final board and shareholder approval. The Welch Allyn Finance Committee is comprised of three directors: Greg Norden, who chairs the Finance Committee as well as the Audit Committee; Eric Allyn, who serves as Co-Chairman of the Welch Allyn Board: and Larry Buckelew. On December 22, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee directed senior management to meet with Barclays and develop the criteria and timetable for such a potential sale process.

        On February 2, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met regarding the potential sale process, including consideration of the appropriate criteria, timetable and expected outcomes. During the subsequent board meeting of February 3 and 4, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee and senior management updated the Welch Allyn Board on the development of the criteria and timetable for a potential sale process, as well as the expectations for the outcome of such a process. The full board discussed and gave feedback as to the price and other terms that would most likely be necessary to obtain board and shareholder approval.

        On February 25, 2015, following further review of the plans for the potential sale process with Barclays and senior management in meetings on February 19 and 25, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee concluded that, although the company was under no pressure to sell, it was an opportune time to commence a process of identifying and negotiating with certain qualified strategic purchasers to ascertain whether a transaction could be arranged that would be attractive to the Welch Allyn Board and shareholders. Accordingly, the Finance Committee recommended to the full board that Welch Allyn formally commence the implementation of such a process with Barclays, including entering into an engagement letter with Barclays and initiating contact with potential purchasers. The full Welch Allyn Board entered into a unanimous consent resolution, as of February 25, 2015, formally authorizing the initiation and pursuit of such process, including entering into an engagement letter with Barclays, but reserved approval by the board and shareholders of any transaction that might be proposed as a result of such process.

        Barclays began calling qualified potential strategic purchasers on February 28, 2015. On March 3, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met with Barclays and senior management, and Barclays continued inviting additional qualified potential strategic purchasers approved by the Welch Allyn Finance Committee to participate in the sale process. These interested parties were provided with summary information regarding Welch Allyn and a form of non-disclosure agreement. Between February 28 and April 23, 2015, 17 qualified strategic parties, including Hill-Rom, were invited to participate in the sale process and provided with the aforementioned documentation.

        On March 13, 2015, Hill-Rom, provided comments on the proposed non-disclosure agreement to Welch Allyn and Welch Allyn's counsel, Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP ("Cravath"). From March 13, 2015 through March 20, 2015, the parties negotiated a non-disclosure agreement, which was executed by Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom on March 20, 2015. Eight other potential purchasers executed non-disclosure agreements. On March 22, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met with Barclays and senior management to discuss the status of the process, including the plans for the upcoming management presentations to, and discussions with, qualified participants.

        During March and April 2015, Welch Allyn management provided summary management presentations to, and discussed the potential for a transaction with, seven potential purchasers that had signed non-disclosure agreements, including a meeting with Hill-Rom on April 2, 2015. The seven potential purchasers also were provided access to certain due diligence information through an electronic data site.

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        On April 10, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met with senior management and Barclays to review the status of the process and next steps. During the week of April 13, 2015, a first round process letter with invitations for submission of indications of interest was sent to six potential purchasers. The letter instructed potential purchasers to submit a non-binding proposal for the acquisition of all outstanding equity of Welch Allyn by May 1, 2015. The purchasers were instructed to give an indication of their proposed purchase price on a cash-free, debt-free basis, and the form of consideration to be offered, and describe their ability to obtain, and expected sources of, financing. They were also instructed to describe the level of review of the proposed acquisition within their company to date, their strategic rationale and plans for the Welch Allyn business, any required approvals or consents and expected timing for completion of the acquisition and any further due diligence requirements.

        During late March and April of 2015, Barclays and Welch Allyn received inquiries from three potential strategic purchasers and three potential financial purchasers that had not been invited to participate in the sale process, but had become aware of the sale process. On April 22, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee held a meeting via teleconference with Barclays and senior management to review these inquiries. The Welch Allyn Finance Committee authorized Barclays to invite two of the potential strategic purchasers that inquired about the sale process, Party C and Party D, to participate in the sale process, and deferred any decision on whether to invite the third potential strategic purchaser, Party E, to participate in the sale process, due to possible competitive and regulatory concerns.

        On April 24 and April 27, 2015, Party C and Party D, respectively, executed non-disclosure agreements with Welch Allyn.

        On May 1, 2015, Welch Allyn received indications of interest from three potential purchasers, including Hill-Rom, ranging from $1.3 billion to $2.0 billion.

        On May 4 and 5, 2015, the Welch Allyn Board held a regularly scheduled board meeting in The Hague, Netherlands. The board received the report of the Welch Allyn Finance Committee and senior management on the status of the potential sale process on May 4, 2015. The board and senior management also met, via teleconference on May 4, with Barclays to discuss the progress, including the indications of interest that had been received. Barclays noted that Hill-Rom had the highest price range, and that it would likely finance all, or almost all, of the purchase price. Barclays discussed the leverage that would be required for such borrowing and the expectation that such a transaction would be accretive for Hill-Rom. Barclays noted that Party A is a very large company, with an exceptionally strong cash position, that would be capable of closing with little or no financing. Barclays also noted that Party A, which had elected to state a single number, as opposed to a range, was capable of paying more, and that Party A might increase its price after further diligence and consideration of synergies. The Welch Allyn Finance Committee, with the support of the Welch Allyn Board, determined to continue, for the time being, the sale process with two of the potential purchasers that had submitted indications of interest, Party A and Hill-Rom. Prospective inclusion of other parties was discussed, including Party E, but a decision to expand the process was deferred for the time being, pending ongoing review of further developments in negotiations with the parties who had provided indications of interest.

        On May 5, 2015, Barclays invited Party B to improve the terms contained in the indication of interest Party B had submitted to Welch Allyn in order to continue in the potential sale process, but Party B declined to submit an amended indication of interest. Barclays also indicated to Party A that it would need to increase its price, and indicated to Hill-Rom that it would need to exceed the high end of its range and demonstrate, among other things, certainty of financing, in order to obtain Welch Allyn Board and shareholder approval.

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        On May 6, 2015, Party A and Hill-Rom were provided access to additional diligence materials through the electronic data site.

        On May 15, 2015, Welch Allyn provided a summary management presentation and first round process letters to Party C and Party D. Soon thereafter, Party A informed Welch Allyn that it remained interested in a transaction but would not be able to participate in the process under the expected timeframe, because Party A had agreed to certain other very large transactions.

        On May 19, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met with senior management and Barclays, via teleconference, to review the status of the process, to discuss the terms and conditions of a proposed merger agreement, and to consider whether additional parties should be brought into the process. The Welch Allyn Finance Committee met in executive session on May 21, 2015 to follow up on the previous meeting, and then continued its review and discussion of the matters considered with senior management and Barclays on May 22, 2015, highlighting the essential terms and conditions of an agreement that would be suitable for submission to the Welch Allyn Board and shareholders and reiterating that the shareholders were under no pressure to sell.

        On May 26, 2015, Party C submitted an indication of interest, including a purchase price range within the initial purchase price range submitted by Party A, Party B and Hill-Rom. Party C's indication of interest was subject to the condition that $100 to $150 million of the price would be payable only upon the realization of certain performance milestones.

        On May 27, 2015, the Welch Allyn Board met in executive session to be updated by the Welch Allyn Finance Committee, and to provide input, with regard to the process. After the board meeting, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee held a meeting with senior management and Barclays, via teleconference, to further review and discuss the progress of the sale process, the status of participating potential buyers' diligence and the proposed second round process, the indication of interest submitted by Party C, the potential inclusion of Party E and/or other parties in the process, and the proposed terms and conditions of a draft merger agreement. Barclays noted that Hill-Rom was continuing to express very high interest in a transaction, as Hill-Rom believed that the combination would be an excellent strategic fit and substantially accretive to Hill-Rom earnings, and that Hill-Rom's price range was clearly higher than those of the other bidders. Barclays also reported that Hill-Rom continued to request the opportunity to negotiate on an exclusive and/or accelerated basis. The Welch Allyn Finance Committee, after considering the advice of Barclays and senior management, considered and declined Hill-Rom's request to secure an exclusive negotiating period, reserving Welch Allyn's right to continue discussions with other parties, including parties who might subsequently be included in the process. However, based on its consideration of various inputs from advisers, directors, shareholders and management during the course of the process, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee addressed with Barclays and senior management the conditions under which the accelerated negotiation process requested by Hill-Rom would be considered appropriate.

        On May 27, 2015, a second round process letter was sent to Hill-Rom, and a draft of the merger agreement was made available to it. The letter instructed Hill-Rom to submit a definitive, binding proposal for the acquisition of all outstanding equity of Welch Allyn by June 17, 2015. Hill-Rom was instructed to provide its exact purchase price on a cash-free, debt-free basis, the form of consideration to be offered and, if financing was required, the source of financing. Hill-Rom was also instructed to confirm that all required internal approvals had been obtained and specify any required regulatory or other external approvals or consents and the expected timing of obtaining those approvals and consents and the expected timing for closing the transaction. Proposals were not to be subject to any financing condition or any further due diligence requirements. A marked copy of the draft merger agreement was required to be submitted with the proposal.

        On May 27, 2015, Barclays informed Party C that its proposal was not sufficient in light of the expectations of the Welch Allyn Finance Committee, and Party C informed Welch Allyn that it would

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continue to evaluate a potential transaction and whether it would improve the terms contained in its indication of interest.

        On May 29, 2015, following its consultations with the Welch Allyn Finance Committee and senior management, Barclays contacted Hill-Rom to indicate that Welch Allyn would consider an accelerated process to negotiate an agreement with Hill-Rom if Hill-Rom were prepared to offer favorable terms including an aggregate transaction price in excess of $2 billion, and that, if the price and other terms were attractive enough, it was expected that the Welch Allyn shareholders would be willing to accept, in the context of such a transaction, a mix of cash and stock consideration that would result in Welch Allyn shareholders owning approximately 10% of Hill-Rom's common stock on a pro forma basis. This potential transaction would be subject to Welch Allyn's comfort with the financial leverage necessary for Hill-Rom to finance the transaction, confirmation that Hill-Rom expected the transaction to be substantially accretive to Hill-Rom's earnings, and the certainty of closing such a transaction, as well as Welch Allyn's satisfaction with all other aspects of the transaction, including all terms and conditions of the merger agreement and completion of Welch Allyn's expanded due diligence with respect to Hill-Rom in light of the shares to be issued to Welch Allyn shareholders. Under such an accelerated negotiation timeline, the parties would attempt to negotiate and execute a definitive merger agreement on or prior to June 17. 2015. Cravath distributed a draft of the disclosure letter to the merger agreement to Hill-Rom and Winston & Strawn LLP ("Winston") on June 1, 2015. Hill-Rom was instructed to provide any requested changes to the draft merger agreement and disclosure letter with Hill-Rom's bid.

        On June 2, 2015, Hill-Rom and Winston provided a limited mark-up addressing certain parts of the draft merger agreement to Welch Allyn and Cravath, and provided no comments on the draft disclosure letter. Hill-Rom indicated that it needed additional time for due diligence and to complete its mark-up of the agreement and disclosure letter. Hill-Rom indicated that it would target the end of the week to determine a proposed price based on further due diligence.

        On the evening of June 5, 2015, Hill-Rom's financial advisor indicated to Barclays that Hill-Rom would be willing to pay an aggregate purchase price of $2 billion, consisting of $1.6 billion in cash and $400 million in shares of Hill-Rom common stock, provided that all other terms and conditions proposed by Hill-Rom, or to be proposed by Hill-Rom in its final mark-up of the draft merger agreement, were accepted by Welch Allyn and subject to satisfactory completion of Hill-Rom's due diligence.

        On June 6, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee held a meeting by telephone conference with senior management, Barclays and Cravath to discuss the communication from Hill-Rom's financial advisor, including issues raised by Hill-Rom's mark-up of the draft merger agreement that were related to various material terms of the transaction other than the purchase price. Because Hill-Rom had provided only a limited mark-up of the draft agreement and no comments on the draft disclosure letter, the Committee noted that it was not in a position to fully consider Hill-Rom's proposal. However, the Committee rejected Hill-Rom's proposed purchase price and indicated that an aggregate purchase price of $2.1 billion (with the $100 million increase in the proposed purchase price consisting of no more than 50% in Hill-Rom common stock) would be required for the Committee and senior management to recommend approval of a transaction to the Welch Allyn board and shareholders, in addition to Hill-Rom's agreement to numerous other outstanding material contract points and the satisfactory completion of Welch Allyn's due diligence regarding the value of Hill-Rom's shares and Hill-Rom's ability to finance and close the transaction.

        Subsequently on June 6, 2015, Barclays communicated the Welch Allyn position to Hill-Rom's financial advisor. Barclays also requested full mark-ups of the drafts of the merger agreement and disclosure letter and Hill-Rom's financing commitment papers for immediate review.

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        On June 7, 2015, Hill-Rom's financial advisor advised Barclays that Hill-Rom could offer a purchase price of $2.05 billion, consisting of $1.625 billion in cash and a fixed number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock having a value at signing of $425 million, but could not go any higher. Hill-Rom's financial advisor also indicated that Hill-Rom was willing to agree to certain other terms and conditions that had been discussed on June 6.

        Subsequently on the evening of June 7, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met with senior management and Barclays via teleconference to discuss the Hill-Rom communication and consider an appropriate response. After receiving advice and discussing the alternatives, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee authorized Barclays to communicate that it could not fully consider Hill-Rom's proposal until Hill-Rom addressed all the terms and conditions of the transaction; however, the proposed purchase price could be recommended to the Welch Allyn Board and shareholders if the other terms and conditions of a complete proposal, including certain issues that had been raised by Hill-Rom's proposed mark-up, were acceptable. Any agreement would be subject to satisfactory resolution of all other outstanding material terms and conditions, receipt of Hill-Rom's remaining comments on the drafts of the merger agreement and disclosure letter and satisfactory resolution of any issues raised by those comments, negotiation of a definitive agreement, and satisfactory completion of Welch Allyn's ongoing due diligence related to Hill-Rom. It was noted that the overall terms and conditions needed to be very attractive to gain approval of the Welch Allyn Board and shareholders, given that the shareholders were under no pressure to sell.

        Later on during the evening of June 7, 2015, Barclays communicated the Welch Allyn Finance Committee's response to Hill-Rom's financial advisor.

        On June 8, 2015, the chief executive officers of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn met via telephone to discuss the progress made, as well as the known outstanding issues, and the process for identifying and negotiating the material issues not yet considered (including the need for a full mark-up of the draft merger agreement and disclosure letter from Hill-Rom and Winston). They indicated their mutual intent to work in good faith to resolve the numerous material financial and other issues, to complete due diligence necessary for each party, and to obtain the necessary approvals of both companies' boards and of the voting trustees (as described below) on an expedited basis.

        Hill-Rom required not less than five of the six voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement (representing in aggregate at least the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock required for shareholder approval) to enter into a voting agreement (to be executed and delivered within 24 hours of signing) pursuant to which the voting trustees would covenant, among other things, to vote in favor of the merger and to consent to the transfer of shares pursuant to the merger, including by providing Hill-Rom with an irrevocable proxy to vote in favor of the merger.

        On June 8, 2015, Party D informed Welch Allyn that it would not pursue a potential transaction with Welch Allyn. Also on June 8, Party C informed Barclays that it was continuing to evaluate a potential transaction.

        On June 9, 2015, the parties discussed Hill-Rom's and Winston's initial comments on the draft merger agreement, and Hill-Rom and Winston provided a revised mark-up of the draft merger agreement to Welch Allyn and Cravath later that day. On June 9 and June 11, 2015, Winston provided Cravath and Welch Allyn initial drafts of the voting agreement and irrevocable proxy to be executed by the voting trustees.

        On June 11, 2015, as part of its due diligence of Hill-Rom, Welch Allyn and its advisers conducted due diligence meetings with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other representatives of Hill-Rom, including Hill-Rom's independent accountants, at Welch Allyn's offices in Skaneateles Falls, New York and by teleconference. Greg Norden, Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committees, participated in these meetings, along with members of Welch Allyn senior management.

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        Also on June 11, 2015, Welch Allyn and Cravath provided a revised draft of the merger agreement to Hill-Rom and Winston. From the evening of June 11 through and including the evening of June 15, Winston and Hill-Rom negotiated continuously with Welch Allyn and Cravath in order to address numerous financial and other material issues and complete a form of definitive agreement that the parties were willing to submit to their respective boards of directors for review and approval, and to the voting trustees for their review and approval in connection with the execution of the voting agreement and the irrevocable proxy.

        On June 12, 2015, the Welch Allyn Finance Committee met with the Chairman of the Welch Allyn Compensation and Management Development Committee, via teleconference, to discuss the potential transaction and related matters. On June 15, 2015, the Compensation and Management Development Committee met via teleconference, along with the Welch Allyn Finance Committee and all other Board members, to follow up on the prior discussions.

        After the Committee meeting on June 15, 2015, the Welch Allyn Board held a meeting, in person and by telephone conference, together with senior management, the company's legal and financial advisors and the voting trustees, at which the proposed merger agreement and other transaction documents were reviewed and considered at length. All members of the Board of Directors and all voting trustees were in attendance. It was noted that some issues were still being negotiated. At the meeting Barclays gave a presentation to the Welch Allyn Board on the conduct of the sale process, negotiations and due diligence on Hill-Rom, as well as its financial analyses of the merger consideration and its view of the terms of the merger agreement. Cravath gave a presentation to the Welch Allyn Board regarding the proposed merger agreement and the fiduciary duties of the directors and reviewed the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, the voting agreement and the irrevocable proxy. Following discussions and the presentations by Barclays and Cravath, the board of directors asked questions of the advisers and senior management, and discussed the terms of the proposed transaction, including the merger agreement and the other transaction documents.

        On June 16, 2015, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn agreed upon proposed execution forms of the merger agreement and other transaction documents, including the voting agreement and irrevocable proxy.

        On June 16, 2015, the Welch Allyn Board held a meeting in person and by telephone conference, together with the company's legal and financial advisors and the voting trustees, at which the final terms of the proposed merger agreement and other transaction documents were reviewed and considered, with all members of the Board of Directors and all voting trustees in attendance. At the request of the Welch Allyn Board, Barclays then orally rendered its opinion to the board of directors (subsequently confirmed in writing) that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in the written opinion, the cash and common stock to be paid to the holders of outstanding shares of common stock of Welch Allyn pursuant to the merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders. Following further questions to its advisers and additional discussion and deliberation with regard to the proposed transaction, the Welch Allyn Board unanimously approved, and authorized the execution and delivery of, the merger agreement substantially in the form presented to the Welch Allyn Board. The merger agreement was executed and delivered by the parties later that day, together with the accompanying disclosure letter.

        Subsequent to the approval of the merger agreement on June 16, 2015, the voting trustees, having attended the board meetings of June 15 and 16 and considered the same advice, presentations and materials, approved the transaction and executed and delivered the voting agreement and the irrevocable proxy as required by the merger agreement.

        On June 17, 2015, Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn issued a joint press release announcing the transaction.

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Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration

        At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding share of Welch Allyn common stock (other than any shares of Welch Allyn common stock as to which the holders of such shares have properly complied with the provisions of Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL as to dissenters' rights, which shares are referred to as dissenting shares in this statement/prospectus, and any shares of Welch Allyn common stock owned by Hill-Rom, Merger Sub or any subsidiary of Hill-Rom) will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive consideration consisting of a combination of cash and shares of Hill-Rom common stock, which consideration is referred to as the merger consideration or the per share merger consideration in this proxy statement/prospectus.

        Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the merger agreement and subject to certain assumptions and adjustments described more fully in this proxy statement/prospectus, holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock will receive in the aggregate approximately:

        $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. For more information regarding the adjustments and the amounts withheld under the escrow agreement, see the sections entitled "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration Adjustments" and "The Merger Agreement—Escrow" beginning on pages 85 and 84, respectively, and the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. The precise amount of the closing cash consideration and the resulting per share closing cash consideration will not be known until shortly before the effective time of the merger. The closing cash consideration also will be subject to certain adjustments following the closing of the merger. In addition, the merger consideration will be allocated among Welch Allyn shareholders. The precise amount of the merger consideration to be paid to each Welch Allyn shareholder will vary, depending on the amount of the cash consideration and the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

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        Hill-Rom will not issue fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger. As a result, Welch Allyn shareholders will receive cash for any fractional share of Hill-Rom common stock that they would otherwise be entitled to receive in the merger. After the merger is completed, Welch Allyn shareholders will have only the right to receive the merger consideration, any cash in lieu of such fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock and any dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Hill-Rom common stock and with a record date occurring after the effective time of the merger or, in the case of Welch Allyn shareholders that properly exercise and perfect dissenters' rights, the right to receive the fair market value for such shares, and will no longer have any rights as Welch Allyn shareholders, including voting or other rights.

        If a change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of Hill-Rom occurs prior to the effective time of the merger by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or any similar event, any number or amount contained in the merger agreement which is based on the price of Hill-Rom common stock or the number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock will be appropriately adjusted to reflect such reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or any similar event and to provide to the holders of Welch Allyn common stock as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger the same economic effect as contemplated by the merger agreement prior to such event. Unless a change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of Hill-Rom occurs prior to the effective time of the merger by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or any similar event, in no event will Hill-Rom be obligated to issue any shares of Hill-Rom common stock in excess of the aggregate stock consideration in connection with the merger.

Treatment of Welch Allyn PHASARS, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards

        At the effective time of the merger:

        If Welch Allyn, on or prior to the effective time of the merger, declares any dividends or other distributions directly or indirectly on shares of Welch Allyn common stock that are paid or set-aside on or following June 16, 2015, then the Phantom Merger Consideration as defined above will be increased by the aggregate per share amount of such dividends or other distributions.

        In addition, $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash

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consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP Cash Incentive Awards and the merger agreement, no portion of the cash amount each individual receives in respect of his or her LTIP Cash Incentive Awards will be withheld under the escrow agreement.

Ownership of Hill-Rom Following the Merger

        Hill-Rom expects to issue 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger for consideration to be paid to the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock. Based on the number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock outstanding on June 16, 2015, immediately after completion of the merger, Welch Allyn shareholders immediately prior to the merger are expected to own, in the aggregate, approximately 13% of the then outstanding shares of Hill-Rom common stock.

        The merger will not affect the continuing ownership by Hill-Rom shareholders of shares of Hill-Rom common stock owned prior to the effective time of the merger. Accordingly, Hill-Rom shareholders will hold the same number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock that they held immediately prior to the merger. However, because Hill-Rom will be issuing new shares of Hill-Rom common stock to Welch Allyn shareholders in the merger, each outstanding share of Hill-Rom common stock immediately prior to the merger will represent a significantly smaller percentage of the total number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock outstanding after the merger. It is expected that Hill-Rom shareholders immediately prior to the merger will hold approximately 87% of the total Hill-Rom common stock outstanding upon completion of the merger.

Board of Directors and Management of Hill-Rom After the Merger

        The directors and officers of Hill-Rom immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will continue to be directors and officers of Hill-Rom immediately following the merger.

        Information about current directors and executive officers of Hill-Rom, including biographical information, executive compensation and stock ownership, can be found in Hill-Rom's proxy statement for the 2014 annual meeting of Hill-Rom shareholders and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, both of which are filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. See the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Hill-Rom's Reasons for the Merger

        Hill-Rom has aggressively pursued external growth opportunities, with the goal of leveraging Hill-Rom's existing channel strength. By doing so, Hill-Rom believes that it can advance its strategic objectives of being a stronger, more diversified organization with sufficient scale and resources to enhance customer relevance, thereby generating additional value across its entire product portfolio. Hill-Rom believes that a combination with Welch Allyn significantly advances these strategic objectives. In approving the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, the Hill-Rom board of directors considered a variety of factors related to these strategic priorities, including the following:

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        In addition to these factors, the Hill-Rom board of directors also considered the potential adverse effects of other factors weighing negatively against the merger, including, without limitation, the following:

        The foregoing discussion of the factors considered by the Hill-Rom board of directors is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather includes the material factors considered by the Hill-Rom board of directors. In reaching its decision to approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, the Hill-Rom board of directors did not quantify or assign any relative weights to the factors considered, and individual directors may have given different weights to different factors. The Hill-Rom board of directors considered all these factors as a whole, including discussions with, and questioning of, Hill-Rom management and Hill-Rom's legal and financial advisors, and overall considered the factors to be favorable to, and to support, its decision.

Recommendation of the Welch Allyn Board of Directors and Its Reasons for the Merger

        The Welch Allyn Board believes that the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby are advisable and in the best interests of Welch Allyn and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Welch Allyn Board has unanimously approved the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby and unanimously recommended that Welch Allyn's shareholders adopt the merger agreement and approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby.

        As described under "—Background of the Merger", the Welch Allyn Board, prior to and in reaching its decision at its meeting on June 16, 2015 to approve the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby, consulted with Welch Allyn management and Welch Allyn's legal and financial advisors and considered a variety of factors weighing positively in favor of the merger, including, but not limited to, the following:

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        In addition to these factors, the Welch Allyn Board also considered the potential adverse effects of other factors weighing negatively against the merger, including, without limitation, the following:

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        The foregoing discussion of the factors considered by the Welch Allyn Board is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather includes the material factors considered by the Welch Allyn Board. In reaching its decision to declare the merger agreement advisable and that the merger is in the best interests of Welch Allyn and Welch Allyn's shareholders, and, in approving the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, the Welch Allyn Board did not quantify or assign any relative weights to the factors considered, and individual directors may have given different weights to different factors. The Welch Allyn Board considered all these factors as a whole, including discussions with, and questioning of, Welch Allyn management and Welch Allyn's legal and financial advisors, and overall considered the factors to be favorable to, and to support, its decision.

        For the reasons set forth above, the Welch Allyn Board unanimously declared the merger agreement advisable and determined that the merger is in the best interests of Welch Allyn and its shareholders, unanimously approved the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and unanimously recommended that Welch Allyn's shareholders adopt the merger agreement and approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby.

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        This explanation of Welch Allyn's reasons for the merger and other information presented in this section is forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be read in light of the factors described under "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" beginning on page 37.

Opinion of the Financial Advisor to Welch Allyn

        Welch Allyn has retained Barclays as its financial advisor to advise the Welch Allyn Board in connection with the merger. At the June 16, 2015 meeting of the Welch Allyn Board, Barclays delivered to the Welch Allyn Board its oral opinion, which opinion was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated as of June 16, 2015, to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to the various assumptions, qualifications, matters considered and limitations described in its written opinion, from a financial point of view, the merger consideration offered to the Welch Allyn shareholders was fair to the Welch Allyn shareholders.

        The full text of the written opinion of Barclays dated June 16, 2015, which sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, qualifications to, matters considered and limits on the review undertaken by Barclays in rendering its opinion, is attached as Annex D to this proxy statement/prospectus. Barclays' opinion, the issuance of which was approved by Barclays' fairness opinion committee, was addressed to the Welch Allyn Board and addressed only the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the merger consideration offered to the Welch Allyn shareholders and expressed no opinion as to the merits of the underlying business decision by Welch Allyn to engage in the merger or the relative merits of the merger as compared to any alternative business strategies, nor did it express an opinion or recommendation as to how any Welch Allyn shareholder should vote with respect to the merger or as to whether any Welch Allyn shareholder should authorize a proxy to vote its shares in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and the approval of the merger or the likelihood of the consummation of the merger. In addition, Barclays expressed no opinion on, and Barclays' opinion does not in any manner address, the fairness of the amount or the nature of any compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any parties to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, or any class of such persons, relative to the consideration paid in the merger or otherwise. The terms of the merger were determined through arm's-length negotiations between Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom and were approved by the Welch Allyn Board. The summary of the Barclays opinion and the methodology that Barclays used to render its opinion set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion attached hereto as Annex D.

        In connection with Barclays' role as financial advisor to Welch Allyn and in arriving at its opinion, Barclays reviewed and analyzed, among other things:

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        In addition, Barclays had discussions with the management of Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom concerning their respective business, operations, assets, liabilities, financial condition and prospects and has undertaken such other studies, analyses and investigations as Barclays deemed appropriate.

        In arriving at its opinion, Barclays assumed and relied on the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information made available to it, or publicly accessed by it, without any independent verification of such information (and has not assumed responsibility or liability for any independent verification of such information) and further relied upon the assurances of management of Welch Allyn that they were not aware of any factors or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. With respect to the Welch Allyn projections, upon the advice of Welch Allyn, Barclays assumed that such projections were reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best available estimates and judgments of the management of Welch Allyn as to the future financial performance of Welch Allyn and that Welch Allyn will perform substantially in accordance with such projections and, at the direction of Welch Allyn, Barclays relied on the Welch Allyn projections in performing its analysis and arriving at its opinion. Furthermore, upon the advice of Welch Allyn, Barclays assumed that the amounts and timing of the expected synergies will be realized in accordance with such estimates. With respect to the Hill-Rom projections, upon the advice of Welch Allyn, Barclays assumed that such projections were reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best available estimates as to the future financial performance of Hill-Rom and that Hill-Rom will perform substantially in accordance with such projections and, at the direction of Welch Allyn, Barclays relied on the Hill-Rom projections in performing its analysis and arriving at its opinion. Barclays assumed no responsibility for and expressed no view as to any such projections or estimates or the assumptions on which they were based. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not conduct a physical inspection of the properties and facilities of Welch Allyn or Hill-Rom and did not make or obtain any evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of Welch Allyn or Hill-Rom. Barclays' opinion was based upon market, economic and other conditions as they existed on, and can be evaluated as of, the date of its opinion. Barclays assumed no responsibility for updating or revising its opinion based on events or circumstances that may occur after the date of its opinion. Barclays expressed no opinion as to the prices at which shares of Hill-Rom common stock would trade following the announcement or consummation of the merger. Barclays' opinion did not provide any assurance that the market value of the Hill-Rom common stock to be held by the Welch Allyn shareholders after the consummation of the merger will be in excess of the market value of the Welch Allyn common stock owned by such shareholders at any time prior to the announcement or consummation of the merger.

        Barclays assumed the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement and all agreements related thereto and that the adjustments to the merger consideration provided in the merger agreement will not result in any adjustments to the consideration that Barclays deemed were material to its analysis. Barclays also assumed, upon the advice of Welch Allyn, that all material governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, consents and releases for the merger will be obtained within the constraints contemplated by the merger agreement and that the merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement without waiver, modification or

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amendment of any material term, condition or agreement thereof. Barclays did not express any opinion as to any tax or other consequences that might result from the merger, nor did Barclays' opinion address any legal, tax, regulatory or accounting matters.

        The following is a summary of the material financial analyses contained in the presentation that was made by Barclays to the Welch Allyn Board on June 15 and June 16, 2015 and that were used by Barclays in connection with rendering its opinion described above. The following summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by Barclays, nor does the order of analyses described represent the relative importance or weight given to those analyses by Barclays. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. The tables must be read together with the full text of each summary and alone are not a complete description of Barclays' financial analyses. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not attribute any particular weight to any single analysis or factor considered by it, but rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor relative to all other analyses and factors performed and considered by it and in the context of the circumstances of the merger. Accordingly, Barclays believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole, as considering any portion of such analyses and factors, without considering all analyses and factors as a whole, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying its opinion. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before June 16, 2015, and is not necessarily indicative of current market conditions. In performing its analyses, Barclays made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of any party to the merger. Barclays assumes no responsibility if future results are materially different from those discussed. Any estimates contained in these analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth below.

Selected Comparable Company Analysis

Welch Allyn

        Barclays reviewed and compared certain financial information for Welch Allyn to the corresponding financial information, ratios and public market multiples for the following publicly traded medical technology companies, which are referred to below as the "Welch Allyn comparable companies":

        Barclays calculated and compared various financial multiples and ratios of Welch Allyn and the selected companies. As part of its comparable company analysis, Barclays calculated and

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analyzed: (1) each company's ratio of its current stock price to its estimated earnings per share, or EPS, for the 2015 and 2016 calendar years (commonly referred to as a price earnings ratio, or P/E), (2) each company's enterprise value to estimated revenue for the 2015 and 2016 calendar years and (3) each company's enterprise value to estimated EBITDA for the 2015 and 2016 calendar years. The enterprise value of each company was obtained by adding its short- and long-term debt to the sum of the market value of its common stock and subtracting its cash and cash equivalents. All these calculations were performed based on (1) the Hill-Rom projections, in the case of Hill-Rom, or (2) the consensus of independent research analysts earnings estimates compiled by I/B/E/S at that time and closing prices as of June 12, 2015. The results of this selected comparable company analysis are summarized below:

 
  Enterprise
Value as a
Multiple of
Revenue for the
Calendar Year
  Enterprise
Value as a
Multiple of
EBITDA for
the Calendar
Year
  Stock Price as
a Multiple of
EPS for the
Calendar
Year(1)
 
 
  2015E   2016E   2015E   2016E   2015E   2016E  

High

    5.12x     4.91x     18.8x     15.9x     30.3x     26.0x  

Mean

    2.88     2.74     13.7     12.5     23.0     20.6  

Median

    2.34     2.25     13.8     12.7     22.3     20.6  

Low

    1.86     1.73     10.3     9.3     17.2     15.4  

(1)
Stock price as a multiple of EPS for calendar years 2015E and 2016E excludes Bio-Rad, which Barclays deemed to be an outlier.

        Barclays selected the Welch Allyn comparable companies because their businesses and operating profiles are reasonably similar to that of Welch Allyn. However, because of the inherent differences between the business, operations and prospects of Welch Allyn and those of the Welch Allyn comparable companies, Barclays believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the selected comparable company analysis. Accordingly, Barclays also made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of Welch Allyn and the Welch Allyn comparable companies that could affect the public trading values of each in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the quantitative analysis. These qualitative judgments related primarily to the differing sizes, growth prospects, profitability levels and degree of operational risk between Welch Allyn and the companies included in the comparable company analysis. Based on these judgments, Barclays selected ranges of 11.5x to 13.5x multiples of 2015 calendar year estimated EBITDA and 20.0x to 24.0x multiples of 2015 calendar year estimated EPS and applied such ranges to Welch Allyn management projections to calculate a range of implied enterprise values. The following summarizes the result of these calculations:

 
  Implied Enterprise Value
 
  (dollars in billions)

Enterprise Value as a Multiple of CY2015E EBITDA

  $1.820 - $2.140

Stock Price as a Multiple of CY2015E EPS

  $1.480 - $1.810

        Barclays noted that on the basis of the selected comparable company analysis, the merger consideration to be offered in the merger was within the range of implied enterprise value calculated using estimated 2015 calendar year EBITDA and above the range of implied enterprise value calculated using estimated 2015 calendar year EPS.

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Hill-Rom

        Barclays reviewed and compared certain financial information for Hill-Rom to the corresponding financial information, ratios and public market multiples for the following publicly traded medical technology companies, which are referred to below as the "Hill-Rom comparable companies":

        Barclays calculated and compared various financial multiples and ratios of Hill-Rom and the selected companies. As part of its comparable company analysis, Barclays calculated and analyzed: (1) each company's ratio of its current stock price to its estimated EPS for the 2015 and 2016 calendar years, (2) each company's enterprise value to estimated revenue for the 2015 and 2016 calendar years and (3) each company's enterprise value to estimated EBITDA for the 2015 and 2016 calendar years. The enterprise value of each company was obtained by adding its short- and long-term debt to the sum of the market value of its common stock and subtracting its cash and cash equivalents. All these calculations were performed based on the consensus of independent research analysts earnings estimates compiled by I/B/E/S at that time and closing prices as of June 12, 2015. The results of this selected comparable company analysis are summarized below:

 
  Enterprise
Value as a
Multiple of
Revenue for the
Calendar Year
  Enterprise
Value as a
Multiple of
EBITDA for
the Calendar
Year
  Stock Price as
a Multiple of
EPS for the
Calendar Year
 
 
  2015E   2016E   2015E   2016E   2015E   2016E  

High

    4.08x     3.93x     18.8x     15.9x     30.8x     30.6x  

Mean

    2.83     2.69     13.4     12.1     23.1     20.7  

Median

    2.46     2.36     13.5     12.4     21.0     19.0  

Low

    1.88     1.73     10.3     8.6     16.7     12.5  

        Barclays selected the Hill-Rom comparable companies because their businesses and operating profiles are reasonably similar to that of Hill-Rom. However, because of the inherent differences between the business, operations and prospects of Hill-Rom and those of the Hill-Rom comparable companies, Barclays believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the selected comparable company analysis. Accordingly, Barclays also made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of Hill-Rom and the Hill-Rom comparable companies that could affect the public trading values of each in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the

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quantitative analysis. These qualitative judgments related primarily to the differing sizes, growth prospects, profitability levels and degree of operational risk between Hill-Rom and the companies included in the comparable company analysis. Based on these judgments, Barclays selected ranges of 11.0x to 13.0x multiples of 2015 calendar year estimated EBITDA and 16.0x to 20.0x multiples of 2016 calendar year estimated EPS and applied such ranges to the Hill-Rom projections to calculate a range of implied share price values. The following summarizes the result of these calculations:

 
  Implied Share Price Value

Enterprise Value as a Multiple of CY2015E EBITDA. 

  $48.53 - $58.81

Stock Price as a Multiple of CY2016E EPS

  $45.90 - $57.38

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

        Barclays performed a discounted cash flow analysis of Welch Allyn. A discounted cash flow analysis is a traditional methodology used to derive a valuation of an asset by calculating the "present value" of estimated cash flows of the asset. "Present value" refers to the current value of future cash flows or amounts and is obtained by discounting those future cash flows or amounts by a discount rate that takes into account macroeconomic assumptions and estimates of risk, the opportunity cost of capital, expected returns and other appropriate factors.

        To calculate the estimated enterprise value of Welch Allyn common stock using the discounted cash flow method, Barclays added (1) projected unlevered free cash flows of Welch Allyn for fiscal years 2015 through 2019 based on the management projections to (2) the "terminal value" of Welch Allyn as of December 31, 2019, and discounted such amount to its present value using a range of selected discount rates. The unlevered free cash flows were calculated by taking the earnings before interest and tax expense, subtracting tax expense calculated using Welch Allyn's projected tax rate of 32.0%, adding depreciation and amortization and subtracting capital expenditures and changes in working capital. The residual value of Welch Allyn at the end of the forecast period, or "terminal value", was estimated using the "perpetuity growth" method, whereby estimated unlevered free cash flows in fiscal year 2020 were divided by the difference between the discount rate and an estimated perpetuity growth rate. The range of discount rates of 9.0% to 10.0% was selected based on an analysis of the weighted average cost of capital of Welch Allyn. The range of perpetuity growth rates of 2.0% to 3.0% was selected based on longer term growth expectations for Welch Allyn.

        Based upon these perpetuity growth rates and discount rates, Barclays then calculated a range of implied enterprise values of $1.645 billion to $2.120 billion. Barclays noted that on the basis of the discounted cash flow analysis, the merger consideration was within the range of implied enterprise values calculated using management's projections.

        Barclays also calculated the estimated enterprise value of Welch Allyn using the discounted cash flow method using adjusted projected unlevered free cash flows of Welch Allyn that excluded cash flows generated by certain new business lines, or the "sensitivity projections". The range of discount rates of 9.0% to 10.0% and range of perpetuity growth rates of 2.0% to 3.0% were selected on the same basis as described above. Based upon these perpetuity growth rates and discount rates, Barclays then calculated a range of implied enterprise values of $1.465 billion to $1.885 billion. Barclays noted that on the basis of the discounted cash flow analysis, the merger consideration was above the range of implied enterprise values calculated using sensitivity projections which exclude certain new business lines.

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Leveraged Buyout Analysis

        Barclays also analyzed Welch Allyn from the perspective of a potential purchaser that would effect a leveraged buyout of Welch Allyn to determine the prices at which a financial sponsor might effect such a leveraged buyout, using the estimated unlevered free cash flow calculated based upon (1) the Welch Allyn projections and (2) the sensitivity projections which exclude certain new business lines. Barclays assumed a transaction closing date of December 31, 2015, with approximately $1.0 billion of new debt, a target internal rate of return ranging from approximately 20% to 25% and a five-year investment period ending on December 31, 2020. Applying an illustrative adjusted leverage ratio (defined as the ratio of total debt to estimated non-GAAP earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA) of 6.25x and the illustrative range of target internal rates of return described above and assuming a last twelve-month EV/EBITDA multiple on the exit date equal to the last-twelve-month EV/EBITDA multiple implied by the purchase price on the closing date, Barclays derived the following range of implied enterprise values for Welch Allyn:

 
  Implied Enterprise Value
 
  (dollars in billions)

Welch Allyn Projections

  $1.605 - $1.930

Sensitivity Projections

  $1.285 - $1.605

        Barclays noted that on the basis of the leveraged buyout analysis, the merger consideration was above the range of implied enterprise values calculated using Welch Allyn projections and using sensitivity projections which exclude certain new business lines.

Comparable Transaction Analysis

        In order to assess the purchase price offered to the shareholders of Welch Allyn in the merger relative to the purchase prices in other transactions, Barclays reviewed the purchase prices in selected mergers and acquisitions transactions involving targets in the medical technology industry from January 1, 2007 to June 1, 2015. For each transaction, Barclays calculated the enterprise value as a multiple of EBITDA for the last twelve months prior to the transaction. The results of this comparable transaction analysis are summarized below:

 
  Enterprise Value as a
Multiple of EBITDA for
the Last Twelve Months
Prior to the Transaction
 

High

    34.0x  

Mean

    14.1  

Median

    12.2  

Low

    6.8  

        In addition, among these selected mergers and acquisitions transactions, Barclays identified a subset of transactions, the "focus group", which it deemed most relevant for comparison to the proposed transaction for Welch Allyn. The results of this comparable transaction analysis for the focus group of transactions are summarized below:

 
  Enterprise Value as a
Multiple of EBITDA for
the Last Twelve Months
Prior to the Transaction
 

High

    18.2x  

Mean

    12.7  

Median

    12.4  

Low

    9.9  

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        The reasons for and the circumstances surrounding each of the transactions analyzed in the transaction premium analysis were diverse and there are inherent differences in the business, operations, financial conditions and prospects of Welch Allyn and the companies included in the comparable transaction analysis. Accordingly, Barclays believed that a purely quantitative transaction premium analysis would not be particularly meaningful in the context of considering the proposed transaction. Barclays therefore made qualitative judgments concerning the differences between the characteristics of the selected transactions and the proposed transaction which would affect the acquisition values of the target companies and Welch Allyn. Based on these judgments, Barclays selected a range of enterprise value as a multiple of EBITDA for the last twelve months prior to the transaction of 12.0x to 15.0x to calculate a range of implied enterprise values of $1.820 billion to $2.280 billion. Barclays noted that on the basis of the comparable transaction analysis, the merger consideration to be offered in the merger was within the range of implied enterprise values.

Other Analyses

        The analyses and data described below were presented to the Welch Allyn board for informational purposes only and did not provide the basis for, and were not otherwise considered in connection with, the rendering of Barclays' opinion.

        52-Week High / Low Trading Prices.    Barclays reviewed the range of trading prices of shares of Hill-Rom common stock for the 52 weeks ended on June 12, 2015. Barclays observed that, during such period, the share prices of Hill-Rom common stock ranged from $38.85 per share to $55.29 per share on August 1, 2014 and May 5, 2015, respectively, as compared to Hill-Rom's closing stock price of $52.48 on June 12, 2015.

        Analysis of Equity Research Analyst Price Targets.    Barclays reviewed the publicly available price targets of Hill-Rom published by independent equity research analysts associated with various Wall Street firms. The price targets ranged from $50.00 to $57.00 per share, as compared to Hill-Rom's closing stock price of $52.48 on June 12, 2015.

General

        Barclays is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and, as part of its investment banking activities, is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, investments for passive and control purposes, negotiated underwritings, competitive bids, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. The Welch Allyn Board selected Barclays because of its familiarity with Welch Allyn and its qualifications, reputation and experience in the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions generally, as well as substantial experience in transactions comparable to the proposed transaction.

        Barclays is acting as financial advisor to Welch Allyn in connection with the merger. As compensation for its services, Welch Allyn agreed to pay Barclays a fee of $1 million in connection with the delivery of Barclays' opinion (the "opinion fee") and a fee equal to the sum of (i) 0.675% of the amount of consideration actually received in the merger up to the first $1.75 billion of such consideration and (ii) 2.000% of the amount of any consideration actually received in the merger over $1.75 billion payable upon completion of the merger (the "advisory fee"). Welch Allyn and Barclays have agreed that the opinion fee shall be creditable once against the advisory fee. For purposes of the foregoing calculation, (1) "consideration" (A) means the gross value of all cash, securities and other property payable by an acquiror and its affiliates for the transfer of equity securities in connection with the merger and (B) is deemed (x) to include the aggregate principal amount of any indebtedness for money borrowed and any capital leases as set forth on the balance sheet of Welch Allyn immediately prior to the closing of the merger and (y) to exclude cash or cash equivalents, if any, of Welch Allyn or

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its subsidiaries as set forth on the balance sheet of the Company immediately prior to the closing of such Sale, and (2) the value of the shares of Hill-Rom common stock received will be calculated in accordance with the mechanics specified in the merger agreement. In addition, subject to certain limitations, Welch Allyn has agreed to reimburse Barclays for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the proposed transaction and to indemnify Barclays for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement by Welch Allyn and the rendering of Barclays' opinion.

        Barclays is a full service securities firm engaged in a wide range of businesses from investment and commercial banking, lending, asset management and other financial and non-financial services. In the ordinary course of its business, Barclays and affiliates may actively trade and effective transactions in the equity, debt and/or other securities (and any derivatives thereof) and financial instruments (including loans and other obligations) of Hill-Rom and its affiliates for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold long or short positions and investments in such securities and financial instruments.

Expected Timing of the Merger

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn currently expect to complete the merger prior to September 30, 2015, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the merger contained in the merger agreement. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn could require Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn to complete the merger at a later date or not complete it at all.

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Stock Ownership of Welch Allyn Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners

        The following table sets forth, as of July 9, 2015, the shareholders known to Welch Allyn to have been beneficial owners of more than 5% of Welch Allyn common stock as of such date, holdings of Welch Allyn common stock by each director and named executive officer, and by all Welch Allyn directors and executive officers as a group based on 107,514,697 shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding. Unless otherwise noted below, the business address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is 4341 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153.

Name of Beneficial Owner
  Common
Stock(1)
  Percent of
Class(2)
 

Beneficial Owners of More than 5%

             

Tanya A. Dillon

    9,458,010     8.79 %

Mark B. Allyn

    7,672,715     7.13 %

Joshua J. Allyn

    7,640,565     7.11 %

Tasha Allyn Given

    7,582,710     7.05 %

David M. Allyn

    7,378,197     6.86 %

Kurt A. Soderberg

    6,772,839     6.30 %

Peer A. Soderberg

    6,310,639     5.87 %

Eric R. Allyn

    5,718,636     5.31 %

Jon A. Soderberg

    5,701,589     5.30 %

Directors and Executive Officers

   
 
   
 
 

Eric R. Allyn

    5,718,636     5.31 %

Larry Buckelew

         

Vincent Caponi

         

Tasha Allyn Given

    7,582,710     7.05 %

Janie Goddard

         

Joseph Hennigan

         

Stephen Meyer(3)

    15,953     0.01 %

Greg Norden

         

Gregory Porter

         

Jon A. Soderberg

    5,701,589     5.30 %

Peer A. Soderberg

    6,310,639     5.87 %

Barry Wilson

         

All directors and executive officers as a group (18)(4)

    25,424,342     23.64 %

(1)
The holdings reported include shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and Welch Allyn Class B common stock owned by directors and the named executive officers and certain other executive officers. In accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner, for purposes of this table, of any shares of Welch Allyn common stock over which he or she has voting or investment power. The table includes shares of Welch Allyn common stock owned by spouses, other immediate family members, in trust and other forms of ownership, over which the persons named in the table may possess voting and/or investment power. Unless otherwise noted, all shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock included in the table are subject to the voting trust agreement. Under the voting trust agreement, the affirmative vote of "at least all but one of the voting trustees" is required to vote the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of July 9, 2015. Eric R. Allyn, Tasha Allyn Given, Peer A. Soderberg, W. Scott Allyn, David M. Allyn and Jon A. Soderberg are the voting trustees, and each

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(2)
Calculated based on total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and Welch Allyn Class B common stock outstanding.

(3)
The 15,900 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock owned by Stephen Meyer are not subject to the voting trust.

(4)
The 94,500 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock owned by Daniel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Organization Leadership of Welch Allyn, are not subject to the voting trust.

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Hill-Rom in the Merger

        As of July 9, 2015 Hill-Rom's directors and executive officers owned less than one percent of the outstanding shares of Hill-Rom's common stock. None of Hill-Rom's executive officers is expected to receive any severance or other compensation as a result of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The directors and executive officers of Hill-Rom are not expected to receive any extra or special benefit that is not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of Hill-Rom common stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers of Welch Allyn in the Merger

        Details of the beneficial ownership of Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers of Welch Allyn's common stock are set out in the section titled "Stock Ownership of Welch Allyn Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners" beginning on page 66 of this proxy statement/prospectus. In considering the recommendation of the Welch Allyn board of directors that the Welch Allyn shareholders vote to approve the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders, you should be aware that certain of Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers have financial interests in the merger that are different from, or are in addition to, the interests of the Welch Allyn shareholders generally, as more fully described below. The members of the Welch Allyn board of directors were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the merger agreement, and in evaluating the merger and in recommending to the Welch Allyn shareholders that they approve the merger proposal at the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders. These interests are described in further detail below. For purposes of all of the plans and agreements described below, the consummation of the merger will constitute a "change in control", "change of control" or term of similar meaning with respect to Welch Allyn.

        The interests of the members of Welch Allyn's board of directors generally include the right to receive, at the effective time of the merger (1) the cancellation of each outstanding PHASAR and PSU Award immediately prior to the effective time of the merger in exchange for the right to receive the

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Phantom Merger Consideration with respect to such PHASAR and each PSU Award (less the grant price in the case of PHASARs) and (2) accelerated cash payment of previously earned and vested amounts deferred under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.

        The interests of Welch Allyn's executive officers include the rights to:

        Welch Allyn's directors and executive officers also have the right to indemnification and insurance coverage following the effective time of the merger. Please see the sections below entitled "Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance" and "The Merger Agreement—Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance" beginning on pages 72 and 94, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Treatment of Phantom Equity Awards

        As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, certain members of Welch Allyn's board of directors and certain of Welch Allyn's employees, including Welch Allyn's executive officers, hold PHASARs and PSU Awards.

        For information regarding beneficial ownership of Welch Allyn common stock by each member of Welch Allyn's board of directors and certain of Welch Allyn's executive officers and all of such directors and executive officers as a group, please see the section titled "Stock Ownership of Welch Allyn Directors, Executive Officers and Certain Beneficial Owners" beginning on page 66 of this proxy statement/prospectus. The members of Welch Allyn's board of directors and Welch Allyn's executive officers will be entitled to receive, for each share of Welch Allyn common stock, the same per share merger consideration in cash and Hill-Rom common stock in the same manner as other Welch Allyn shareholders.

        The merger agreement provides that, at the effective time of the merger, each outstanding PHASAR held by a member of Welch Allyn's board of directors or a Welch Allyn employee, including Welch Allyn's executive officers, whether vested or unvested, will be cancelled, with the holder of such PHASAR becoming entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (a) the number of Phantom Shares subject to such PHASAR as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and (b) the excess, if any, or the Phantom Merger Consideration over the grant price of such PHASAR, less any required withholding taxes; provided that, if Welch Allyn, on or prior to the

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effective time of the merger, declares any dividends or other distributions directly or indirectly on shares of Welch Allyn common stock that are paid or set-aside on or following June 16, 2015, then the Phantom Merger Consideration will be increased by the aggregate per share amount of such dividends or other distributions. In the case of each PHASAR granted prior to January 1, 2012, the Phantom Merger Consideration, including any portion related to dividends or other distributions, will be divided by 20 in order to properly reflect the value of such PHASAR.

        In addition, $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement.

        The merger agreement provides that, at the effective time of the merger, each outstanding PSU Award held by a member of Welch Allyn's board of directors or a Welch Allyn employee, including Welch Allyn's executive officers, will be cancelled, with the holder of such PSU Award becoming entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (a) the number of Phantom Shares subject to such PSU Award as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and (b) the Phantom Merger Consideration, less any required withholding taxes; provided that, if Welch Allyn, on or prior to the effective time of the merger, declares any dividends or other distributions directly or indirectly on shares of Welch Allyn common stock that are paid or set-aside on or following June 16, 2015, then the Phantom Merger Consideration will be increased by the aggregate per share amount of such dividends or other distributions. In the case of each PSU Award granted prior to January 1, 2012, the Phantom Merger Consideration, including any portion related to dividends or other distributions, will be divided by 20 in order to properly reflect the value of such PSU Award.

        In addition, $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement.

Treatment of LTIP Cash Incentive Awards

        As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, certain of Welch Allyn's employees, including Welch Allyn's executive officers, hold LTIP Cash Incentive Awards. The merger agreement provides that, pursuant to the terms of the applicable Welch Allyn long-term incentive plan, at the effective time of the merger, each outstanding LTIP Cash Incentive Award will be cancelled, with the holder of such LTIP Cash Incentive Award becoming entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the total cash amount subject to such LTIP Cash Incentive Award, assuming satisfaction of performance goals at target levels, less any required withholding taxes. Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP Cash Incentive Award and the merger agreement, the cash amount each employee, including each Welch Allyn executive officer, receives in respect of his or her LTIP Cash Incentive Awards will not depend on the value of the merger consideration, and will not be withheld under the escrow agreement.

Deferred Compensation Plans

        The Deferred Compensation Plans consist of two plans that permit members of Welch Allyn's board of directors and certain of Welch Allyn's employees, including each Welch Allyn executive officer, to defer

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receipt of a portion of their previously earned and vested compensation. As is customary in order to protect such amounts, the Deferred Compensation Plans provide that the accrued amounts under the Deferred Compensation Plans will be paid out in connection with a change in control of Welch Allyn. Therefore, at the effective time of the merger, each member of the Welch Allyn board of directors and each Welch Allyn employee, including each Welch Allyn executive officer, who participates in a Deferred Compensation Plan will become entitled to receive a lump sum payment in cash equal to the accrued balance of his or her account under the applicable Deferred Compensation Plan.

Special Bonuses

        Under the provisions of the merger agreement imposing operating limitations on Welch Allyn between signing and closing, Welch Allyn is permitted to pay special bonuses to certain executives upon the closing of the merger in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3 million without the consent of Hill-Rom. Such payments, if any, would be designed to retain Welch Allyn's key executive officers through the closing of the merger and/or to recognize their achievements in connection with the merger and/or other matters. The Welch Allyn Board has determined to pay approximately $1 million of such bonuses, but the Welch Allyn Board has not yet made any determinations as to whether it would exercise its discretion to pay any other special bonuses. Any such special bonus payment is expected to be conditioned on the applicable executive officer's continued employment with Welch Allyn and its affiliates through the effective time of the merger.

Severance Entitlements

        Welch Allyn maintains the Welch Allyn Executive Severance Pay Plan, effective August 1, 2011 (the "Executive Severance Plan") for its executive officers to provide severance payments and benefits in the event an executive officer incurs a "qualifying termination" (as defined below) under the Executive Severance Plan. Each executive officer of Welch Allyn would be eligible to receive a portion of the payments and benefits described below upon a qualifying termination in the absence of a change in control, and therefore, only a portion of such payments and benefits are directly related to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

        Upon a qualifying termination within the two-year period following the effective time of the merger, a participant in the Executive Severance Plan is generally eligible to receive: (a) a cash, lump-sum payment equal to two times (2.5 times in the case of the Welch Allyn President and CEO) the sum of the executive's base salary and target annual bonus for the incentive plan year prior to the year in which the effective time occurs; (b) continued welfare benefits coverage until the executive is eligible for other employer group health coverage, but no later than the end of the second calendar year after the calendar year in which the effective time of the merger occurs (or up to 30 months for the Welch Allyn President and CEO, if longer); and (c) outplacement assistance through the end of the second calendar year after the calendar year in which the effective time of the merger occurs (but not to exceed $12,000). The executive officers must sign a waiver and general release of claims in order to receive the severance payments and benefits under the Executive Severance Plan.

        For purposes of the Executive Severance Plan, a "qualifying termination" is a termination of a participant's employment by Welch Allyn without "cause" or, following a change in control, an executive terminates employment with "good reason". "Cause" generally means the executive's: (i) theft, embezzlement, fraud or disloyalty; (ii) commission or conviction of a crime that the administrator of the Executive Severance Plan reasonably believes had or will have a material detrimental effect on Welch Allyn's reputation or business; or (iii) willful act which constitutes involvement in activities representing conflicts of interest or improper disclosure of confidential information and which is injurious to Welch Allyn.

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        "Good reason" generally means the occurrence of one or more of the following without the executive's explicit written consent on or before the second anniversary of the change in control: (A) a significant diminution in the nature and scope of the executive's duties, responsibilities or authority from those existing immediately prior to the inception of negotiations related to the change in control; (B) a more than 10% reduction in the executive's total compensation from that immediately prior to the inception of negotiations related to the change in control; or (C) the executive is requested to relocate (except for office relocations that would not increase the executive's one way commute by more than 50 miles). Pursuant to the merger agreement, Hill-Rom has acknowledged that, as a direct result of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, Stephen Meyer, Joseph Hennigan, Daniel Fisher and Gregory Porter will be deemed to have the ability to terminate their employment with good reason beginning on the date that is six months following the effective time of the merger (but will no longer be able to terminate their employment with good reason beginning on the second anniversary of the effective time of the merger pursuant to the terms of the Executive Severance Plan); provided that such executive officers may terminate their employment with good reason prior to such date if an event constituting good reason occurs following the effective time of the merger and prior to such date.

        Pursuant to the merger agreement, Hill-Rom has agreed to not amend, modify or terminate the Executive Severance Plan without, in respect of each Welch Allyn executive officer (1) obtaining such executive officer's written consent, (2) adopting a no less favorable replacement severance plan or agreement to cover such executive officer or (3) waiving and refraining from enforcing any non-compete restrictions that such executive officer was subject to as of the effective time of the merger.

        In addition, pursuant to a letter agreement dated May 20, 2014 between Welch Allyn and Joseph Hennigan, Mr. Hennigan is eligible to receive one-time retention bonuses in the amounts of $350,000 and $100,000 (each a "Retention Bonus"), subject to his continued employment with Welch Allyn through January 2, 2017 and January 2, 2018, respectively (each a "Retention Date"). However, if Mr. Hennigan experiences a qualifying termination within 365 days prior to a Retention Date, upon such qualifying termination, in addition to the severance payments and benefits described above, he will also receive the Retention Bonus associated with such Retention Date. If Mr. Hennigan experiences a qualifying termination more than 365 days prior to a Retention Date, he will forfeit the Retention Bonus associated with such Retention Date.

2015 Annual Bonuses

        Pursuant to the merger agreement, Hill-Rom has committed to providing each individual who is employed by Welch Allyn and continues to be employed immediately following the effective time of the merger (each, a "Welch Allyn Employee"), including each Welch Allyn executive officer, with a cash bonus payment in respect of Welch Allyn's fiscal year 2015 that is no less than such Welch Allyn Employee's cash target bonus amount for such fiscal year (a "2015 Bonus"), with such 2015 Bonuses to be paid in the normal course. The payment of the 2015 Bonus to each Welch Allyn Employee is subject to such Welch Allyn Employee's continuing employment through December 31, 2015, unless such Welch Allyn Employee experiences a qualifying termination prior to such date.

New Management Arrangements

        As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, neither Welch Allyn nor Hill-Rom has entered into any employment agreements with Welch Allyn's executive officers in connection with the merger.

Benefit Arrangements Following the Effective Time of the Merger

        The merger agreement requires Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries (including, following the effective time of the merger, Welch Allyn combined), for a period commencing at the effective time of the merger and ending on the second anniversary of the effective time of the merger, to provide, or cause

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to be provided, each Welch Allyn Employee, including each Welch Allyn executive officer, with, for so long as such individual continues to be employed by Hill-Rom or its subsidiaries (a) a base salary, base wages and annual cash bonus opportunity that are at least equal to those provided to such Welch Allyn Employee by Welch Allyn or its subsidiaries immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and (b) employee benefits that are, in the aggregate, no less favorable than those provided to such Welch Allyn Employee by Welch Allyn or its subsidiaries immediately prior to the effective time of the merger. In addition, for such two-year period, Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries have agreed to provide 12 Welch Allyn Employees (who are to be mutually agreed upon between Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom prior to the effective time of the merger) with long-term incentive awards that are substantially comparable in value in the aggregate to the value of long-term incentive awards provided to the applicable Welch Allyn Employee by Welch Allyn immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

        In addition, from and after the effective time of the merger, Hill-Rom has committed to honor all benefit plans and compensation arrangements and agreements of Welch Allyn in accordance with their terms as in effect immediately before the effective time of the merger. Hill-Rom will also generally recognize each Welch Allyn Employee's years of service with Welch Allyn, including those of each Welch Allyn executive officer, for purposes of determining eligibility to participate, level of benefits, vesting and benefit accruals (other than the accrual of benefits under a defined benefit pension plan and early retirement subsidies) to the extent recognized under the comparable Welch Allyn plan prior to the effective time of the merger. Hill-Rom will generally waive any pre-existing condition limitations, exclusions, actively at work requirements and waiting periods under any employee welfare benefit in which Welch Allyn Employees, including Welch Allyn executive officers, will be eligible to participate to the extent such conditions were satisfied under the corresponding Welch Allyn plan prior to the effective time of the merger and recognize co-payments, deductibles and similar expenses incurred by each Welch Allyn Employee during the year in which the effective time of the merger occurs to the extent credited under the corresponding employee welfare benefit plan maintained by Welch Allyn prior to the effective time of the merger.

Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance

        Hill-Rom has agreed to cause the surviving corporation to honor all of Welch Allyn's obligations to indemnify the current and former directors, officers and employees of Welch Allyn against losses, claims, taxes, damages, liabilities, fees and expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement arising from, or relating to, or otherwise in respect of actions or omissions by such directors, officers and employees occurring prior to the effective time of the merger to the extent that such obligations of Welch Allyn existed on the date of the merger agreement, and such obligation will continue in full force and effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any claims against such directors, officers and employees arising out of such acts or omissions. In addition, prior to the effective time of the merger, Welch Allyn will, and if Welch Allyn is unable prior to the effective time of the merger, Hill-Rom will cause the surviving corporation as of the effective time of the merger to, obtain and fully pay the premium (with such payment of premium to be deemed an other adjustment (as defined in the merger agreement) if paid by the surviving corporation) for a "tail" policy extension of the directors' and officers' insurance policies, for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six years from and after the effective time of the merger with respect to any claim related to any period of time at or prior to the effective time with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are not less advantageous than the coverage provided under Welch Allyn's existing policies, with respect to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against a director, officer or employee of Welch Allyn or any subsidiary of Welch Allyn by reason of him or her serving in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior to the effective time of the merger (including in connection with the merger agreement or the transactions or actions contemplated thereby).

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        For a more detailed description of the provisions of the merger agreement relating to director and officer indemnification and liability insurance, please see the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled "The Merger Agreement—Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance" beginning on page 94 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Regulatory Matters

        United States Antitrust.    Under the HSR Act, certain transactions, including the merger, may not be completed until notifications have been given and information furnished to the Antitrust Division and the FTC and all statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn filed Notification and Report Forms with the Antitrust Division and the FTC on June 25, 2015, and early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the merger was granted effective as of July 8, 2015.

        At any time before or after the effective time of the merger, the Antitrust Division, the FTC or others (including states and private parties) could take action under the antitrust laws, including seeking to prevent the merger, to rescind the merger or to conditionally approve the merger upon the divestiture of assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn or subject to other remedies. There can be no assurance that a challenge to the merger on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if such a challenge is made, that it would not be successful.

        Germany Antitrust.    Under the ARC, certain transactions, including the merger, may not be completed until a valid notification has been submitted to the FCO and all statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied (or the FCO has confirmed its approval of the merger prior to the expiry of any statutory waiting period). A notification regarding the merger was filed with the FCO on June 29, 2015.

        As part of its review of the merger, the FCO could decide to prohibit the merger or to conditionally approve the merger upon the divestiture of assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn, or subject the parties to other remedies. There can be no assurance that the FCO will not prohibit the merger or to conditionally approve the merger upon the divestiture of assets of Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn, or subject the parties to other remedies.

        In addition, at any time during the ARC's statutory waiting period, third parties may apply to the FCO to join the proceedings as "intervening parties" should the FCO decide that the interests of such third parties are materially affected by the merger. Intervening parties are entitled to appeal decisions of the FCO. There can be no assurance that an appeal of the FCO's decision about the merger will not be made or, if such an appeal is made, that it would not be successful.

        General.    In connection with obtaining the approval of all necessary governmental authorities to complete the merger, including but not limited to the governmental authorities specified above, there can be no assurance that:

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn cannot assure you that a challenge to the merger will not be made or that, if a challenge is made, it will not prevail. See the section titled "The Merger

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Agreement—Conditions to Completion of the Merger" beginning on page 96 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Accounting Treatment

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn prepare their financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The merger will be accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, with Hill-Rom considered the accounting acquirer and Welch Allyn as the accounting acquiree. Accordingly, consideration to be given by Hill-Rom to complete the merger with Welch Allyn will be allocated to assets and liabilities of Welch Allyn based on their estimated fair values as of the date of the completion of the merger, with any excess merger consideration being recorded as goodwill.

Listing of Hill-Rom Common Stock

        Application will be made to have the shares of Hill-Rom common stock issued in the merger approved for listing on the NYSE, where Hill-Rom common stock currently is traded under the symbol "HRC."

Dissenters' Rights

        Holders of Welch Allyn common stock are entitled to dissent from the merger and obtain the fair value of their Welch Allyn common stock in cash in accordance with the procedures established by New York law.

        Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL provide that, if the merger is consummated, holders of Welch Allyn common stock who object to the merger in writing prior to the vote by the holders of Welch Allyn common stock on the adoption of the agreement and who follow the procedures specified in Section 623 (summarized below), will have the right to receive cash payment of the fair value of their Welch Allyn common stock. A copy of Section 623 and Section 910 of the NYBCL is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus. The express procedures of Section 623 must be followed precisely; if they are not, a holder of Welch Allyn common stock will lose his or her right to dissent. As described more fully below, such "fair value" would potentially be determined in judicial proceedings, the result of which cannot be predicted. We cannot assure you that holders of Welch Allyn common stock exercising dissenters' rights will receive consideration equal to or greater than the value of the Hill-Rom common stock to be owned by them and/or cash paid to them following completion of the merger.

        The statutory procedures outlined below are complex. What follows is a summary, which is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Section 623 and Section 910 of the NYBCL. Holders of Welch Allyn common stock wishing to exercise their dissenters' rights should consult with their own legal advisors to ensure that they fully and properly comply with the requirements of New York law.

        Any holder of Welch Allyn common stock will have the right to receive a cash payment of the fair value of his or her Welch Allyn common stock and the other rights and benefits provided in Section 623, if such shareholder:

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        A vote against adoption of the merger agreement will not satisfy the requirement of filing a written objection. Failure to vote against adoption of the merger agreement will not waive a Welch Allyn shareholder's right to receive payment if the shareholder has filed a written objection in accordance with Section 623 and has not voted in favor of adoption of the merger agreement. If a shareholder abstains from voting on adoption of the merger agreement, this will not waive his or her dissenter's rights so long as the appropriate written objection to the merger is properly and timely filed. Since a signed proxy left blank will be voted for adoption of the merger agreement, any Welch Allyn shareholder who wishes to exercise his or her dissenter's rights must either vote against adoption of the agreement, abstain or not vote in person or by proxy. Written objection at this time may not be required from any shareholder to whom Welch Allyn did not give proper notice of the special meeting of Welch Allyn shareholders contemplated by this proxy statement/prospectus.

        A holder of Welch Allyn common stock may not dissent as to less than all Welch Allyn common stock held of record that he or she owns beneficially. A nominee or fiduciary may not dissent on behalf of any beneficial owner of Welch Allyn common stock as to less than all Welch Allyn common stock of such owner held of record by the nominee or fiduciary.

        All written objections to the merger and notices of election to dissent should be addressed to:

Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.
4341 State Street Road
Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153
Attention: Gregory D. Porter

        If the agreement is adopted by holders of Welch Allyn common stock, within ten days after such approval, Welch Allyn will give written notice of the approval by registered mail to each holder of Welch Allyn common stock who filed a timely written objection or from whom objection was not required, except for any shareholder who voted in favor of adoption of the merger agreement. Any holder of Welch Allyn common stock from whom objection was not required and who elects to dissent must file with Welch Allyn, within 20 days after the giving of notice to him or her, a written notice of election to dissent, stating his or her name and residence address, the amount of Welch Allyn common stock as to which he or she dissents and a demand for payment of the fair value for his or her Welch Allyn common stock.

        Either at the time of filing of the notice of election to dissent or within one month thereafter, a dissenting Welch Allyn shareholder must submit the certificates representing his or her dissenting Welch Allyn shares to Welch Allyn. Welch Allyn shall note conspicuously on the certificates that a notice of election has been filed and will then return the certificates to the shareholder. Any Welch Allyn shareholder who fails to submit his or her certificates for notation within the required time shall, at the option of Welch Allyn upon written notice to such Welch Allyn shareholder within 45 days from the date of filing such notice of election to dissent, lose his or her dissenter's rights unless a court, for good cause shown, otherwise directs.

        Within 15 days after the expiration of the period within which Welch Allyn shareholders may file their notices of election to dissent, or within 15 days after the completion of the merger, whichever is later (but in no case later than 90 days after Welch Allyn shareholders adopt the agreement), Welch Allyn will make a written offer by registered mail to each Welch Allyn shareholder who has filed a notice of election, to pay for his or her dissenting shares at a specified price, which Welch Allyn considers to be their fair value. If the merger has occurred, Welch Allyn must accompany the offer by

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an advance payment to each shareholder who has submitted his or her stock certificates of an amount equal to 80% of the amount of the offer. Acceptance of such payment does not constitute a waiver of any dissenters' rights. The offer must be made at the same price per share to all the dissenting Welch Allyn shareholders. If, within 30 days after the making of an offer, Welch Allyn and any dissenting Welch Allyn shareholders agree on the price to be paid for dissenting shares, the balance of payment for the shares must be made within 60 days after the making of the offer or the completion of the merger, whichever is later, and upon surrender of the certificates representing such Welch Allyn shares.

        If Welch Allyn fails to make an offer to dissenting Welch Allyn shareholders within the 15-day period described above, or if it makes the offer and any dissenting Welch Allyn shareholder fails to agree with Welch Allyn within 30 days thereafter upon the price to be paid for his or her shares, Welch Allyn is required, within 20 days after the expiration of whichever is the applicable of the two periods, to institute a special proceeding in the supreme court in the judicial district in which the office of Welch Allyn is located to determine the rights of dissenting Welch Allyn shareholders and to fix the fair value of their shares. If Welch Allyn fails to institute a proceeding within the 20-day period, any dissenting shareholder may institute a proceeding for the same purpose not later than 30 days after the expiration of the 20-day period. If a dissenting shareholder does not institute a proceeding within the 30-day period, all dissenters' rights are lost unless the court, for good cause shown, otherwise directs.

        During each proceeding, the court will determine whether each dissenting shareholder is entitled to receive payment for his or her shares and, if so, will fix the value of such shares as of the close of business on the day prior to the date Welch Allyn shareholders voted to adopt the agreement, taking into consideration the nature of the transaction giving rise to the shareholder's right to receive payment for his or her dissenting shares and its effects on Welch Allyn and its shareholders, the concepts and methods then customary in relevant securities and financial markets for determining the fair value of shares of a corporation engaging in a similar transaction under comparable circumstances and all other relevant factors. The court shall determine the fair value of the shares without a jury and without referral to an appraiser or referee. The court will also award interest on such amount to be paid from the completion of the merger to the date of payment at such rate as the court finds equitable, taking into account all relevant factors, including the rate of interest which Welch Allyn would have had to pay to borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding, unless the court finds that a Welch Allyn shareholder's refusal to accept Welch Allyn's offer of payment was arbitrary, vexatious or otherwise not in good faith, in which case no interest will be awarded. Each party to such proceeding will bear its own costs and expenses unless the court finds that the Welch Allyn shareholder's refusal to accept Welch Allyn's offer was arbitrary, vexatious or otherwise not in good faith, in which case Welch Allyn's costs may, in the discretion of the court, be assessed against any or all dissenting Welch Allyn shareholders who are parties to such proceeding. The court, in its discretion, may also apportion or assess any part of the dissenting Welch Allyn shareholder's costs against Welch Allyn if it finds that the fair value of the shares as determined materially exceeds the amount which Welch Allyn offered to pay, or that no offer or advance payment was made by Welch Allyn, or that Welch Allyn failed to institute such special proceeding within the specified period, or that the action of Welch Allyn in complying with its obligations under Section 623 was arbitrary, vexatious or otherwise not in good faith. Within 60 days following the final determination of the proceeding, Welch Allyn shall pay to each dissenting Welch Allyn shareholder the amount found to be due him or her, upon the shareholder's surrender of all certificates representing dissenting shares.

        The enforcement by a Welch Allyn shareholder of his or her right to receive payment for shares in accordance with Section 623 excludes the enforcement by such shareholder of any other right to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of his or her ownership of shares (unless the shareholder withdraws his or her notice of election or the merger is abandoned), except that the shareholder will retain the right to bring or maintain an appropriate action to obtain relief on the grounds that the merger will be or is unlawful or fraudulent as to him or her. A Welch Allyn

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shareholder's notice of election may be withdrawn at any time prior to his or her acceptance in writing of an offer to purchase his or her dissenting shares by Welch Allyn, but no withdrawal may be made later than 60 days from the completion of the merger (unless Welch Allyn failed to make a timely offer, in which case a withdrawal may be made no later than 60 days after such offer is made) without the written consent of Welch Allyn. In order for a withdrawal of a Welch Allyn shareholder's notice of election to be effective, it must be accompanied by a return to Welch Allyn of any advance payment made to such shareholder.

        If the merger is approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of Welch Allyn at the special meeting, then following the closing of merger, Hill-Rom will assume the obligations of Welch Allyn under Section 623.

Restrictions on Sales of Shares of Hill-Rom Common Stock Received in the Merger

        The shares of Hill-Rom common stock to be issued in connection with the merger will be freely transferable under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, except for shares issued to any shareholder who may be deemed to be an "affiliate" of Hill-Rom for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or are under the common control with Hill-Rom and may include the executive officers, directors and significant shareholders of Hill-Rom. This proxy statement/prospectus does not cover resales of Hill-Rom common stock received by any person upon completion of the merger, and no person is authorized to make use of this proxy statement/prospectus in connection with any such resale.

Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction

        The following discussion is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences to the holders of shares of Welch Allyn common stock as a result of the merger. The following discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), laws, regulations, rulings and decisions in effect on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, which could result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those described below. The discussion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") or a court and there are no assurances that the tax consequences described in this discussion will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS, and no opinion of counsel has been or will be rendered, as to the tax consequences of the merger.

        The following discussion addresses only the United States federal income tax consequences to holders of Welch Allyn common stock who hold their shares as capital assets. The discussion does not address all of the United States federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to particular holders of Welch Allyn common stock in light of their individual circumstances. For example, the discussion does not address taxpayers that may be subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions. Further, the discussion of income tax rates only addresses holders that are subject to the highest United States federal income tax rates applicable to the character of income recognized.

        This discussion also does not address the tax consequences to holders of Welch Allyn common stock who are subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

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        In addition, this discussion does not address the tax consequences to holders of shares of Welch Allyn common stock under any state, local or foreign tax laws and does not address any non-income tax consequences such as estate or gift tax consequences.

        If an entity taxed as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes holds shares of Welch Allyn common stock, the United States federal income tax consequences of a partner will generally depend on the activities of the partnership and the status of the partner. If you are a partner in a partnership (or entity taxed as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, you should consult your own tax advisor to determine the tax consequences of the exchange of Welch Allyn common stock pursuant to the merger.

ALL WELCH ALLYN SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WELL AS ANY CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAW OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-UNITED STATES JURISDICTION.

Tax Consequences to Holders of Welch Allyn Common Stock as a Result of the Merger

        Holders of shares of Welch Allyn common stock who exchange such shares for merger consideration, including the rights to the escrow amount, in the merger should have the following United States federal income tax consequences:

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        Capital gains and losses recognized on the exchange of Welch Allyn common stock pursuant to the merger should have the following United States federal income tax consequences:

        A portion of the payment of the escrow amount should be treated as interest income for United States federal income tax purposes. The portion of such payment that constitutes interest income is taxed at the ordinary income tax rate, which is currently 39.6%. Such interest will be computed based on the applicable federal rate in effect on the Closing Date. For reference, the applicable federal rate in effect as of June 2015 with respect to obligations with maturities of 3 years or less is 0.43%. As further described above, the portion of such payment that constitutes interest income will be subject to the NIIT.

        A holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock who realizes gain on the exchange of his or her shares in the merger may report the gain attributable to the escrow amount (as well as any other amounts, if any, received after the end of the taxable year that includes the Closing Date) under the installment sale rules. Under those rules, if, as is expected, the maximum amount that a holder may receive with respect to the merger (taking into account the final determination of net working capital and any other amounts that will not be determinable at the Closing) can be determined as of the end of the taxable year in which the Closing occurs, then a portion of the holder's adjusted tax basis in his shares of Welch Allyn common stock will be allocated proportionally among each payment, including payments of the escrow amount, based on the maximum amount that the holder could receive under each separate payment (other than amounts characterized as interest). To the extent a holder receives a payment from the escrow amount or any other payment after the year of the Closing, the holder should recognize capital gain in the year of receipt to the extent the payment (which is not treated as interest) exceeds the adjusted tax basis allocated to such payment.

        Each holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock may affirmatively elect to not use the installment sale rules. In such event, or if the holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock realizes a loss with respect to such holder's shares as a result of the merger or is not otherwise permitted to

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utilize the installment sale rules, the holder recognizes gain or loss in the taxable year of the merger equal to the difference between the amount realized (including the value of the right to receive escrow amount) and the holder's tax basis in his or her shares. In that event, the holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock may recognize gain or loss in one or more subsequent taxable years to the extent the amounts the holder actually receives with respect to the escrow amount (and not treated as interest) differs from the amount used to determine the amount of gain or loss recognized by the holder in the taxable year that included the Closing Date.

        Under Section 453A of the Code, additional annual interest charges may be imposed each year on the portion of a holder's tax liability that is deferred by the installment method in connection with sales of any property (including Welch Allyn common stock) with a sales price greater than $150,000, to the extent that the aggregate face amount of installment receivables that arise from all such sales in excess of $150,000 by the holder (including rights to the escrow amount) exceeds $5 million (provided such receivables remain outstanding as of the close of such year).

        Each holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock should consult with his, her or its tax advisor regarding the application of the installment sale rules, including the tax consequences if the actual payment of the escrow amount received is less than the adjusted tax basis allocated to such payment and the potential for having to pay interest to the IRS on any gain deferred under Section 453A. Each holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock should also consult with his, her or its tax advisor regarding the advisability of electing out of the installment sales rules and the tax consequences if such election is made or if the installment sale rules do not apply.

Exercise of Dissenters' Appraisal Rights

        The discussion under the headings "Tax Consequences to Holders of Welch Allyn Common Stock as a Result of the Merger" do not apply to holders of shares of Welch Allyn common stock who exercise dissenters' appraisal rights. A holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock who exercises dissenter's appraisal rights with respect to the merger and receives consideration in exchange for the shares generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the value of consideration received in exchange for the shares and (ii) the holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares exchanged therefor. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares exchanged were held for more than one year as of the closing and should be short-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for a shorter period. Please see the discussion under the heading "Tax Consequences to Holders of Welch Allyn Common Stock as a Result of the Merger—Taxation of Capital Gains or Losses" as to the United States federal income tax treatment of capital gains and losses.

Backup Withholding

        Certain noncorporate holders of shares of Welch Allyn common stock may be subject to backup withholding, which is currently at a rate of 28%, including payments under the escrow amount, received pursuant to the merger. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a holder who (i) furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that the holder is not subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9 or a substantially similar form or (ii) is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. If a holder does not provide a correct taxpayer identification number on IRS Form W-9 or a substantially similar form, the holder may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and may be refunded or credited against the holder's United States federal income tax liability, provided that the holder furnishes the required information to the IRS.

        THE ABOVE DISCUSSION IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OR DESCRIPTION OF ALL POTENTIAL UNITED

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STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF HOLDERS OF SHARES OF WELCH ALLYN COMMON STOCK. IT ALSO DOES NOT ADDRESS STATE, LOCAL, OR FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES. IN ADDITION, AS NOTED ABOVE, IT DOES NOT ADDRESS TAX CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY VARY WITH, OR ARE CONTINGENT UPON, INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR TO DETERMINE YOUR PARTICULAR UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN INCOME OR OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES RESULTING FROM THE MERGER, IN LIGHT OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

        This section of this proxy statement/prospectus describes the material provisions of the merger agreement, but does not purport to describe all of the terms of the merger agreement. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the merger agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus and incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn urge you to read the full text of the merger agreement because it is the legal document that governs the merger.

        The merger agreement has been included to provide you with information regarding its terms and is not intended to provide any financial or other factual information about Hill-Rom or Welch Allyn. In particular, the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the merger agreement (1) were made only for purposes of that agreement and as of specific dates, (2) were solely for the benefit of the parties to the merger agreement, (3) may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the merger agreement instead of establishing those matters as facts and (4) may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to you. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the merger agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures by Hill-Rom. Accordingly, you should read the representations and warranties in the merger agreement not in isolation but only in conjunction with the other information about Hill-Rom and its subsidiaries that Hill-Rom includes in reports, statements and other filings it makes with the SEC.

The Merger

        The merger agreement provides for the merger of Merger Sub with and into Welch Allyn, with Welch Allyn continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom.

Completion and Effectiveness of the Merger

        The merger agreement provides that the closing of the merger will take place at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third business day following the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to completion of the merger contained in the merger agreement, which conditions are described below under "—Conditions to Completion of the Merger" beginning on page 96 of this proxy statement/prospectus, or such other date as Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn may mutually agree. However, if such conditions have been satisfied or waived but the marketing period has not ended, the closing will occur on the earlier of (i) a date during the marketing period specified by Hill-Rom with at least three business days' notice to Welch Allyn and (ii) the date that is three business days after the final day of the marketing period, in each case, subject to satisfaction or waiver of such conditions. The merger will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of New York or at another time agreed to by Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn and specified in the certificate of merger.

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

        At the effective time of the merger, the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will become the directors of the surviving corporation, and the officers of Welch Allyn immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will become the officers of the surviving corporation.

Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration

        At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding share of Welch Allyn common stock (other than any shares of Welch Allyn common stock as to which the holders of such shares have properly

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complied with the provisions of Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL as to dissenters' rights, which shares are referred to as dissenting shares in this statement/prospectus, and any shares of Welch Allyn common stock owned by Hill-Rom, Merger Sub or any subsidiary of Hill-Rom) will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive consideration consisting of a combination of cash and shares of Hill-Rom common stock, which consideration is referred to as the merger consideration or the per share merger consideration in this proxy statement/prospectus.

        Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the merger agreement and subject to certain assumptions and adjustments described more fully in this proxy statement/prospectus, holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock will receive in the aggregate approximately:

        $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, phantom share appreciation rights and phantom share units will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. For more information regarding the adjustments and the amounts withheld under the escrow agreement, see the sections entitled "—Merger Consideration Adjustments" and "—Escrow" beginning on pages 85 and 84, respectively, and the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. The precise amount of the closing cash consideration and the resulting per share closing cash consideration will not be known until shortly before the effective time of the merger. The closing cash consideration also will be subject to certain adjustments following the closing of the merger.

        The merger consideration will be allocated among Welch Allyn shareholders. The precise amount of the merger consideration to be paid to each Welch Allyn shareholder will vary, depending on the amount of the cash consideration and the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

        Hill-Rom will not issue fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger. As a result, Welch Allyn shareholders will receive cash for any fractional share of Hill-Rom common stock that they would otherwise be entitled to receive in the merger. After the merger is completed, Welch Allyn shareholders will have only the right to receive the merger consideration, any cash in lieu of such fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock and any dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Hill-Rom common stock and with a record date occurring after the effective time of the

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merger or, in the case of Welch Allyn shareholders that properly exercise and perfect dissenters' rights, the right to receive the fair market value for such shares, and will no longer have any rights as Welch Allyn shareholders, including voting or other rights.

        If a change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of Hill-Rom occurs prior to the effective time of the merger by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or any similar event, any number or amount contained in the merger agreement which is based on the price of Hill-Rom common stock or the number of shares of Hill-Rom common stock will be appropriately adjusted to reflect such reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or any similar event and to provide to the holders of Welch Allyn common stock as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger the same economic effect as contemplated by the merger agreement prior to such event. Unless a change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of Hill-Rom occurs prior to the effective time of the merger by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or any similar event, in no event will Hill-Rom be obligated to issue any shares of Hill-Rom common stock in excess of the aggregate stock consideration in connection with the merger.

Escrow

        At the closing, the escrow amount of $75,000,000 in cash of the closing cash consideration otherwise deliverable to Welch Allyn shareholders, phantom share appreciation rights and phantom share units following the closing of the merger will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any adjustment to the closing merger consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. The escrow amount will be held by Citizen's Bank, N.A., as the escrow agent, pursuant to an escrow agreement to be entered into between Hill-Rom, the Welch Allyn shareholder representative and the escrow agent.

        Under the terms of the merger agreement, a net adjustment to the closing merger consideration will be calculated after the closing of the merger. The amount of the net adjustment may be positive or negative, and the amount of the net adjustment as finally determined under the terms of the merger agreement is referred to as the net adjustment amount in this proxy statement/prospectus. See "—Merger Consideration Adjustments" below. If the net adjustment amount is positive, Hill-Rom must pay the net adjustment amount to the escrow agent for deposit into the escrow account within five business days after the net adjustment amount is finally determined under the merger agreement. The escrow agent will then be instructed, first, to pay the shareholder representative an amount equal to the expenses incurred by the shareholder representative in performing its duties under the merger agreement, and second, to pay the remaining amount to each person that held Welch Allyn common stock (other than dissenting shares, shares for which share certificates have not been surrendered, and shares owned by Hill-Rom, any subsidiary of Hill-Rom or the surviving corporation) immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and each person that held a Welch Allyn phantom share appreciation right or a phantom share unit immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, with payments allocated pro rata based on the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock held by the person or the number of phantom shares underlying the person's phantom share appreciation right or phantom share units, as applicable. If the net adjustment amount is negative, within five business days after the net adjustment is finally determined under the Merger Agreement the escrow agent will be instructed to pay to Hill-Rom an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the absolute value of the net adjustment amount and (ii) the amount then left in the escrow account.

        Promptly following the date that is 12 months after the closing of the merger, Hill-Rom must provide to the shareholder representative a written notice setting forth Hill Rom's reasonable and good faith estimate of the maximum aggregate amount of losses to Hill-Rom, Merger Sub and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and representatives, for which

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they would reasonably be expected to be indemnified by the escrow amount under the merger agreement for claims that have been timely asserted under the merger agreement but not resolved, which is referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the projected indemnity amount, along with reasonable supporting calculations and documentation. The escrow agent will then pay the amount by which the funds in the indemnity escrow account at such time exceeds the projected indemnity amount to the persons that held Welch Allyn common stock (other than dissenting shares, shares for which share certificates have not been surrendered, and shares owned by Hill-Rom, any subsidiary of Hill-Rom or the surviving corporation) immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and to the persons that held a Welch Allyn phantom share appreciation right or a phantom share unit immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, with payments allocated pro rata based on the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock held by the person or the number of phantom shares underlying the persons phantom share appreciation right or phantom share units, as applicable. After all claims for indemnification have been resolved, the escrow agent will pay any remaining amount in the indemnification escrow account in the same manner to the persons that held Welch Allyn common stock (other than dissenting shares, shares for which share certificates have not been surrendered, and shares owned by Hill-Rom, any subsidiary of Hill-Rom or the surviving corporation) immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and to the persons that held a Welch Allyn phantom share appreciation right or a phantom share unit immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

Merger Consideration Adjustments

        Not less than two business days before the anticipated date of closing the merger, Welch Allyn must deliver to Hill-Rom a good-faith estimate setting forth the following:

        The closing cash consideration to be paid by Hill-Rom for distribution to the Welch Allyn shareholders will be equal to:

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        For illustration purposes only, if the estimated cash was $30 million, the estimated indebtedness was $4 million, the estimated other adjustments was $20 million, the estimated net working capital was $65 million, the total of all change in control payments and Welch Allyn cash incentive plan payments was $30 million, and the total of all payments to holders of Welch Allyn phantom share appreciation rights and phantom share units (other than the portion of any such payments deposited into the escrow account) was $101 million, the total adjustment to the base consideration would be $191 million and the closing cash consideration would be equal to $1.434 billion.

        The closing cash consideration will be allocated among Welch Allyn shareholders. The precise amount of the closing cash consideration to be paid to each Welch Allyn shareholder will vary, depending on the amount of the cash consideration and the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

        No later than 75 days after the date of the closing of the merger, Hill-Rom must prepare and deliver to the shareholder representative a closing statement setting forth Hill-Rom's calculation of:

        If the shareholder representative disagrees with Hill-Rom's calculations set forth on the closing statement, Hill-Rom and the shareholder representative will determine the final calculations through a customary dispute resolution process. The final determinations of the closing cash, closing indebtedness,

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closing other adjustments and closing working capital then will be used to calculate the net adjustment to the closing merger consideration. The net adjustment amount will be the amount equal to:

        For illustration purposes only, if the estimated net working capital was $65 million, the estimated cash was $30 million, the estimated indebtedness was $4 million, the estimated other adjustments was $20 million, the final net working capital was $70 million, the final cash was $15 million, the final indebtedness was $2 million, and the final other adjustments was $25 million, the net adjustment amount would be $(13) million.

        If the net adjustment amount is positive, Hill-Rom must pay the net adjustment amount to the escrow agent for deposit into the escrow account within five business days after the net adjustment amount is finally determined under the merger agreement as described above under "—Escrow." If the net adjustment amount is negative, the escrow agent will be instructed to pay to Hill-Rom an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the absolute value of the net adjustment amount and (ii) the amount then left in the escrow account, as described above under "—Escrow."

Treatment of PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentive Awards

        At the effective time of the merger:

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        If Welch Allyn, on or prior to the effective time of the merger, declares any dividends or other distributions directly or indirectly on shares of Welch Allyn common stock that are paid or set-aside on or following June 16, 2015, then the Phantom Merger Consideration as defined above will be increased by the aggregate per share amount of such dividends or other distributions.

        In addition, $75,000,000 of the cash consideration otherwise deliverable to holders of outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock, PHASARs and PSU Awards will be withheld pro rata from such holders and deposited in an escrow account to secure any post-closing adjustment to the closing cash consideration and certain indemnification obligations of such holders pursuant to the merger agreement. These funds will be released by the escrow agent in accordance with the terms set forth in the escrow agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the LTIP Cash Incentive Awards and the merger agreement, no portion of the cash amount each individual receives in respect of his or her LTIP Cash Incentive Awards will be withheld under the escrow agreement.

Exchange Procedures

        Prior to the effective time of the merger, Hill-Rom will select an exchange agent reasonably satisfactory to the shareholder representative. The exchange agent will provide to each Welch Allyn shareholder of record a letter of transmittal and instructions for surrendering Welch Allyn stock certificates in exchange for the right to receive the merger consideration.

        Immediately following the effective time of the merger, Hill-Rom will provide to the exchange agent all the cash and Hill-Rom common stock necessary for the exchange agent to pay the per share closing merger consideration to Welch Allyn shareholders. Hill-Rom will also deposit with the exchange agent, from time to time as needed, any cash payable as merger consideration in lieu of fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock.

        Upon surrender to the exchange agent of a Welch Allyn stock certificate, a duly executed letter of transmittal completed in accordance with the instructions provided by the exchange agent and any other documents reasonably required by the exchange agent, the holder surrendering the stock certificate will be entitled to receive (i) cash in an amount equal to the per share closing cash consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock represented by the surrendered stock certificate, (ii) the number of whole shares of Hill-Rom common stock equal to the per share stock consideration multiplied by the number of shares of Welch Allyn common stock represented by the surrendered stock certificate, and (iii) any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares of Hill-Rom common stock that the holder surrendering the stock certificate is entitled to receive under the merger agreement. In addition, following the surrender of any stock certificate, the holder of the shares of Hill-Rom common stock issued in exchange for the surrendered certificate will be entitled to receive the amount of dividends, if any, with a record date after the effective time of the merger previously paid with respect to the Hill-Rom common stock and, on the appropriate payment date, the amount of any declared but unpaid dividends with respect to the Hill-Rom common stock with a record date after the effective time of the merger but prior to the date of surrender of the certificate.

        After the effective time of the merger, holders of Welch Allyn stock certificates will cease to have any rights with respect to shares of Welch Allyn common stock except the right to receive the cash and shares of Hill-Rom common stock provided for in the merger agreement in accordance with the procedures set forth in the merger agreement or, in the case of Welch Allyn shareholders that properly exercise and perfect dissenters' rights, the right to receive the fair market value for such shares. After

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the effective time of the merger, Welch Allyn will not register any transfers of Welch Allyn common stock.

        Welch Allyn shareholders should not send in their Welch Allyn stock certificates until they receive a letter of transmittal from the exchange agent with instructions for the surrender of Welch Allyn stock certificates.

Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares

        Welch Allyn shareholders are entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Hill-Rom common stock with a record date occurring after the effective time of the merger, but only after such holder has surrendered its Welch Allyn common stock certificates. The amount of any dividends or other distributions, if any, with respect to Hill-Rom common stock with a record date after the effective time of the merger will be paid (i) at the time of surrender of the Welch Allyn common stock certificates, if the payment date is on or prior to the date of surrender and such dividend or other distribution payable in respect of such shares of Welch Allyn common stock has not been previously paid, or (ii) on the appropriate payment date, if the payment date is subsequent to such surrender.

        Any portion of the merger consideration that remains undistributed six months after the effective time of the merger will be delivered to the surviving corporation upon demand. Any holder of a Welch Allyn stock certificate that was outstanding immediately prior to the effective time and that has not been surrendered to the exchange agent will be required thereafter to look to the surviving corporation for payment of its claim to merger consideration. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any cash payment to holders of unsurrendered Welch Allyn stock certificates under the merger agreement.

Lost, Stolen and Destroyed Certificates

        If a Welch Allyn stock certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the holder of such certificate must deliver an affidavit of that fact and, if required by Hill-Rom, must provide an indemnity bond (in such reasonable amount as Hill-Rom may direct) prior to receiving any merger consideration, including any cash in lieu of fractional shares and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder may be entitled.

Dissenting Shares

        Welch Allyn shareholders who do not vote in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and who otherwise comply with the applicable provisions of the NYBCL will be entitled to dissent from the merger and obtain payment of the fair value of their shares if the merger is completed. The shares of Welch Allyn common stock held by holders who have properly exercised dissenters' rights will not be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration discussed above, but will instead be entitled to such rights as are granted by Sections 623 and 910 of the NYBCL, copies of which are attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C. See the sections titled "The Merger—Effects of the Merger; Merger Consideration" and "The Merger—Dissenters' Rights" beginning on pages 51 and 74, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Withholding Rights

        Each of Hill-Rom, the surviving corporation, and the exchange agent will be entitled to deduct or withhold, from any of the merger consideration otherwise payable to any person pursuant to the merger agreement such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to all of the merger consideration payable to such person under any provision of federal, state, local or foreign tax law. All amounts so deducted or withheld and paid over to the applicable governmental authority will be treated for all purposes of the merger agreement as having been paid to the holder of shares of

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Welch Allyn common stock or Welch Allyn phantom equity awards, as applicable, in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Before making any deduction and withholding with respect to a holder of shares of Welch Allyn common stock, the paying party will give notice of its intention to make such deduction and withholding at least 10 days prior to the date of payment.

Representations and Warranties

        The merger agreement contains representations and warranties made by Welch Allyn to Hill-Rom and by Hill-Rom to Welch Allyn.

        Welch Allyn made a number of representations and warranties to Hill-Rom in the merger agreement, including representations and warranties relating to the following matters:

        Hill-Rom made a number of representations and warranties to Welch Allyn in the merger agreement, including representations and warranties relating to the following matters:

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        Many of the representations and warranties in the merger agreement are qualified by a "materiality" or "material adverse effect" standard. For purposes of the merger agreement, "material adverse effect," when used in connection with Welch Allyn, means any event, circumstance, development, condition, occurrence, state of facts, change or effect that, individually or in the aggregate with any other event, circumstance, development, condition, occurrence, state of facts, change or effect, has had or would reasonably be expected to have (a) a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of Welch Allyn and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of Welch Allyn to consummate the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, in either case, other than any one or more of the following, and any event, circumstance, development, condition, occurrence, state of facts, change or effect resulting therefrom:

Conduct of Business Before Completion of the Merger

        Welch Allyn has agreed, until the date of closing, subject to certain exceptions and limitations:

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        In addition, Welch Allyn has agreed, until the date of closing, subject to certain exceptions and limitations, that it will not (and will cause its subsidiaries not to), without the prior written consent of Hill Rom, among other things:

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Exclusivity

        Welch Allyn has agreed that it will immediately cease existing discussions or negotiations with any person other than Hill-Rom with respect to an acquisition transaction. Welch Allyn also has agreed that neither it nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents will, directly or indirectly:

As used in this proxy statement/prospectus, the term "acquisition transaction" means any merger, consolidation, or other business combination involving Welch Allyn or any of its subsidiaries or the acquisition of all or any amount of the assets or the capital stock of the Welch Allyn or any of its subsidiaries other than as permitted or contemplated by the merger agreement.

Welch Allyn Shareholder Approval

        Welch Allyn has agreed as soon as reasonably practicable after the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part is declared effective, to:

Efforts to Complete the Merger

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn have agreed to use their best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner possible, the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including (1) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from governmental authorities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any governmental authority, (2) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties, (3) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings challenging the merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and (4) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and to fully carry out the purposes of the merger agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Hill-Rom is not required to take any action that, individually or in the aggregate, would or would reasonably be expected to result (after giving effect to any reasonably expected proceeds of any divestiture or sale of assets) in a material adverse effect (as

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defined in the merger agreement) on Welch Allyn, Welch Allyn's subsidiaries, Hill-Rom and Hill-Rom's subsidiaries, taken as a whole, combined in the manner intended by Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom.

Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance

        Hill-Rom has agreed, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to cause the surviving corporation to honor all of Welch Allyn's obligations to indemnify the current and former directors, officers and employees of Welch Allyn against losses, claims, taxes, damages, liabilities, fees and expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement arising from, or relating to, or otherwise in respect of actions or omissions by such directors, officers and employees occurring prior to the effective time of the merger to the extent that such obligations of Welch Allyn existed on the date of the merger agreement, and such obligation will continue in full force and effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any claims against such directors, officers and employees arising out of such acts or omissions. Additionally, prior to the effective time of the merger, Welch Allyn will, and if Welch Allyn is unable prior to the effective time of the merger, Hill-Rom will cause the surviving corporation as of the effective time of the merger to, obtain and fully pay the premium (with such payment of premium to be deemed an other adjustment (as defined in the merger agreement) if paid by the surviving corporation) for a "tail" policy extension of the directors' and officers' insurance policies, for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six years from and after the effective time of the merger with respect to any claim related to any period of time at or prior to the effective time with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are not less advantageous than the coverage provided under Welch Allyn's existing policies, with respect to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against a director, officer or employee of Welch Allyn or any subsidiary of Welch Allyn by reason of him or her serving in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior to the effective time of the merger (including in connection with the merger agreement or the transactions or actions contemplated thereby). If Welch Allyn, the surviving corporation and Hill-Rom for any reason fail to obtain such "tail" insurance policies as of the effective time of the merger, the surviving corporation will continue to maintain in effect for a period of at least six years from the effective time of the merger the directors' and officers' insurance policies, the cost of which will be deemed an other adjustment (as defined in the merger agreement), with respect to claims arising from or related to facts or events which occurred on or before the effective time of the merger.

Employee Matters

        The merger agreement provides that, for two years following the effective time of the merger, the Welch Allyn Employees will receive (i) base salaries, base wages and annual cash bonus opportunities (excluding defined benefit pension, nonqualified retirement, equity, phantom equity and long-term incentive compensation benefits) that are at least equal to the base salaries, base wages and annual cash bonus opportunities provided to such Welch Allyn Employees immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, (ii) severance benefits that are generally at least equal to the severance benefits provided by Welch Allyn immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, and (iii) employee benefit plans and arrangements (other than base salary, base wages, annual bonus opportunities, long-term incentive compensation, equity, phantom equity and severance benefits) that are no less favorable to such arrangements offered to Welch Allyn Employees immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

        Twelve executives of Welch Allyn who are Welch Allyn Employees will also receive, for a period of two years after the effective time of the merger, equity, equity-based or phantom equity awards under Hill-Rom's incentive plans that are substantially comparable in value to the aggregate equity, phantom equity and long-term incentive compensation grants that they received with respect to the 2015 fiscal year prior to the effective time of the merger, excluding any one-time retention incentives and

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change-in-control bonuses. In addition, Hill-Rom has agreed to honor Welch Allyn's obligations under Welch Allyn's benefit plans and programs in accordance with their terms as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the merger.

        Hill-Rom will also recognize that four participants in Welch Allyn's Executive Severance Plan will, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, be deemed able to voluntarily terminate their employment for "good reason" at any point at least six months after the effective time of the merger (but no later than the second anniversary of the effective time of the merger). Should Hill-Rom amend, modify or terminate a Welch Allyn executive severance plan (including the Executive Severance Plan) without the consent of the participants therein and without adopting a replacement severance plan that is no less favorable to such participants than the applicable Welch Allyn executive severance plan, Hill-Rom will waive and refrain from enforcing any non-compete restrictions to which such participants may be subject as of the effective time of the merger.

        For purposes of determining eligibility to participate, vesting and benefit accruals (excluding equity, phantom equity, long-term incentive, early retirement subsidies and benefit accruals under any defined benefit pension plans and schemes) under all employee benefit plans of Hill-Rom or its affiliates, Hill-Rom will give each Welch Allyn Employee full credit for such Welch Allyn Employee's service with Welch Allyn and its affiliates (or any predecessor employer) to the same extent recognized by Welch Allyn or its affiliates immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, except to the extent such recognition would result in duplication of benefits. Subject to certain exceptions, Hill-Rom also will use commercially reasonable efforts to waive any pre-existing condition limitations, exclusions, actively at work requirements and waiting periods under any welfare benefit plans of Hill-Rom or its affiliates in which such Welch Allyn Employees (and their dependents) will be eligible to participate from and after the effective time of the merger, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to recognize the dollar amount of all co-payments, deductibles and similar expenses incurred by each such Welch Allyn Employee (or his or her eligible dependents) under the benefit plans of Welch Allyn during the year in which the merger is effective for purposes of satisfying such year's deductible and co-payment limitations under the relevant welfare benefit plans in which such Welch Allyn Employee (or his or her eligible dependents) will be eligible to participate from and after the effective time of the merger.

        The merger agreement further provides that Hill-Rom will pay, in the ordinary course, each Welch Allyn Employee a cash bonus under Welch Allyn's annual incentive plan for the fiscal year in which the merger is effective, of no less than the applicable employee's cash target bonus amount, subject to such Welch Allyn Employee's continued employment with Welch Allyn through the end of the fiscal year in which the merger is effective; provided, however, that if such Welch Allyn Employee's employment is terminated other than for cause, death or disability, or if such Welch Allyn Employee terminates employment for good reason, as defined in and to the extent such employee has good-reason termination rights under the applicable Welch Allyn executive severance plan (including the Executive Severance Plan), then such Welch Allyn Employee will be entitled to receive such bonus payment.

        With respect to any Welch Allyn Employee based outside of the United States, Hill-Rom's obligations described above are modified to the extent necessary for Hill-Rom to comply with the requirements of the applicable law where such Welch Allyn Employee is based.

Financing for the Merger

        Under the merger agreement, following the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, Welch Allyn has agreed to allow Hill-Rom and its financing sources a period of 20 consecutive business days (throughout which the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part must remain effective or such period shall restart when it becomes effective), which period is referred to as the marketing period in this proxy statement/prospectus, to arrange its debt financing in an amount sufficient to complete the

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merger. Welch Allyn also has agreed to, and to cause its officers, employees and representatives to, provide Hill-Rom all cooperation reasonably requested that is necessary or reasonably required in connection with Hill-Rom's debt financing.

Other Covenants and Agreements

        The merger agreement contains certain other covenants and agreements, including, among others, those relating to:

Conditions to Completion of the Merger

        Conditions to Each Party's Obligations.    Each party's obligation to complete the merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:

        Conditions to Hill-Rom's and Merger Sub's Obligations.    The obligations of Hill-Rom and Merger Sub to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:

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        Conditions to Welch Allyn's Obligations.    The obligation of Welch Allyn to complete the merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following further conditions:

        Each of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waive the conditions to the performance of its respective obligations under the merger agreement and complete the merger even though one or more of these conditions have not been met.

Indemnification

        The merger agreement provides that Welch Allyn shareholders will indemnify and hold harmless Hill-Rom and Merger Sub and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and representatives to the extent of the escrow amount from and against any and all losses directly arising out of or based upon:

        Solely for purposes of determining the amount of losses associated with any claim for indemnification for any misrepresentation in or breach of any representation or warranty made by Welch Allyn in the merger agreement (and not for purposes of determining any misrepresentation in or breach of any representation or warranty), the representations and warranties set forth in the merger

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agreement will be deemed to be made as though there were no "material", "in all material respects", "material adverse effect" or other materiality qualifier.

        In addition, Hill-Rom will indemnify and hold harmless the shareholder representative, Welch Allyn shareholders or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and representatives from and against any and all losses directly arising out of or based upon:

        The indemnification obligations of Welch Allyn shareholders, Hill-Rom and Merger Sub under the merger agreement are subject to limitations, including:

Termination of the Merger Agreement

        The merger agreement may be terminated prior to the closing of the merger only as follows:

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Effect of Termination

        If the merger agreement is terminated as described above, the merger agreement will become null and void and no party will have any liability under the merger agreement, except that:

Miscellaneous

        The merger agreement may be amended by Hill-Rom, Welch Allyn and Merger Sub prior to receipt of the Welch Allyn Shareholder approval. In addition, any amendment of the provisions of the merger agreement relating to Hill-Rom's debt financing sources in a manner that is adverse to such financing sources requires the prior written consent of such financing sources. Any amendment of the merger agreement after receipt of the Welch Allyn shareholder approval may only be made after further shareholder approval if such approval is required by law.

        The merger agreement is not intended to confer upon any person who is not a party to the merger agreement any right or remedy of any nature whatsoever, except for, among other things:

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        The merger agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York and provides that any action or proceeding relating to or arising out of the merger agreement will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (and the applicable appellate courts) or, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, as applicable.

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MATERIAL CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES

        The following describes the material provisions of the voting agreement dated as of June 16, 2015 (the "voting agreement"), which was filed with the SEC on Form 8-K on June 17, 2015, by and among Hill-Rom and the voting trustees of the voting trust created under the voting trust agreement. The description in this section and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the voting agreement. This summary does not purport to be complete and may not contain all of the information about the voting agreement that is important to Welch Allyn shareholders. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn encourage Welch Allyn shareholders to carefully read the voting agreement, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B, in its entirety.

        Following the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into the voting agreement, pursuant to which the voting trustees (i) executed and delivered to Hill-Rom an irrevocable proxy with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust agreement, which shares constitute in the aggregate 89.94% of the total number of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock outstanding as of July 9, 2015, and (ii) for purposes of the Shareholders' Agreement, consented to the transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) of the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the voting trust. The irrevocable proxy grants to certain officers of Hill-Rom or their designees the right to vote the shares subject to the proxy at the special meeting of the Welch Allyn shareholders in favor of the merger. The vote by Hill-Rom at the special meeting with respect to the shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock subject to the irrevocable proxy to adopt the merger agreement will be sufficient to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Under the voting agreement, the voting trustees also agreed not to consent to any transfer (as defined in the voting agreement) of shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock by an eligible shareholder (as defined in the voting agreement); enter into any voting agreement, voting trust or similar agreement with respect to any shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock, or grant any proxy, consent or power of attorney with respect to any shares of Welch Allyn Class A common stock; or amend or terminate the voting trust agreement or amend or terminate the voting trust. The voting agreement and irrevocable proxy will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (a) the effective time of the merger and (b) such time as the merger agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.

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DEBT FINANCING

Loan Commitment

        In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, Hill-Rom entered into a commitment letter with Goldman Sachs Bank USA ("GS Bank") and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC ("GS Lending") and certain other financial institutions party thereto (which we refer to collectively with GS Bank, GS Lending and each of their respective affiliates in this proxy statement/prospectus as the "Commitment Parties"). The commitment letter provides that the Commitment Parties will commit to provide to Hill-Rom (i) (A) a $1.0 billion TLA Facility, (B) a $725 million senior secured TLB Facility and (C) a $500 million senior secured revolving facility, which Senior Secured Facilities will be secured on a first priority basis by substantially all of Hill-Rom's assets, and (ii) up to a $500 million senior unsecured bridge facility (the "Bridge Facility").

        The commitment of the Commitment Parties with respect to the Senior Secured Facilities and the Bridge Facility expires on the earliest to occur of (i) the termination of the merger agreement in accordance with its terms, (ii) the consummation of the Transactions with or without the funding of the Senior Secured Facility and the Bridge Facility and (iii) November 30, 2015.

Marketing Period

        Under the merger agreement, following the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, Welch Allyn has agreed to allow Hill-Rom and its financing sources a period of 20 consecutive business days (throughout which the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part remains effective) to arrange its debt financing in an amount sufficient to complete the merger.

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MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION

        Hill-Rom common stock is listed for trading on the NYSE under the trading symbol "HRC." As of July 9, 2015, there were approximately 2,166 registered holders of Hill-Rom common stock. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, dividends declared and the high and low sales prices per share of Hill-Rom common stock as reported on the NYSE.

        There is no established public trading market for Welch Allyn common stock. As of July 9, 2015, there were approximately 163 registered holders of Welch Allyn Class A common stock and approximately 132 registered holders of Welch Allyn Class B common stock. Welch Allyn did not declare or pay any cash dividends on its common stock in 2013 or 2014. In connection with the merger and prior to the effective time of the merger, Welch Allyn intends to make a cash dividend to Welch Allyn shareholders of a substantial portion of the cash on hand and certain other assets that are not related to Welch Allyn's business; provided, however, Welch Allyn is required under the merger agreement to retain not less than $15 million of cash at the effective time of the merger.

        Welch Allyn shareholders are urged to obtain current market quotations for Hill-Rom common stock and to carefully review the other information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus, when considering whether to adopt the merger agreement and thereby approve the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. See "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 
  Hill-Rom Common Stock  
 
  High   Low   Dividends
Declared
 

Year Ending September 30, 2015

                   

First Quarter

  $ 47.32   $ 39.58   $ 0.1525  

Second Quarter

    49.35     44.69     0.1600  

Third Quarter

    57.95     48.16     0.1600  

Fourth Quarter (through July 9, 2015)

    54.94     52.96      

Year Ended September 30, 2014

                   

First Quarter

    42.56     35.64     0.1375  

Second Quarter

    44.64     34.94     0.1525  

Third Quarter

    41.66     35.45     0.1525  

Fourth Quarter

    44.46     38.85     0.1525  

Year Ended September 30, 2013

                   

First Quarter

    30.56     26.40     0.1250  

Second Quarter

    35.22     29.60     0.1250  

Third Quarter

    37.15     32.90     0.1375  

Fourth Quarter

    37.62     33.23     0.1375  

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        On June 16, 2015, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. ("Hill-Rom") entered into a Merger Agreement (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among Hill-Rom, Empire Merger Sub Corp. ("Merger Sub") and Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. ("Welch Allyn"), providing for the acquisition of Welch Allyn by Hill-Rom. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Welch Allyn with Welch Allyn surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom (the "Merger").

        Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock—Class A, no par value per share, of Welch Allyn and common stock—Class B, $.01 par value per share, of Welch Allyn (collectively, the "Welch Allyn Common Stock"), as of the closing of the Merger, will be converted into the right to receive a portion of the aggregate merger consideration, consisting of cash consideration of $1,625,000,000 (the "Cash Consideration") and 8,133,722 shares of common stock, without par value, of Hill-Rom (the "Equity Consideration") subject to adjustments for net working capital, cash, indebtedness and selling expenses (collectively, the "Merger Consideration"). The Merger Agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of Hill-Rom and the Board of Directors of Welch Allyn.

        In connection with the Merger, Hill-Rom entered into a commitment letter (the "Commitment Letter") with the Commitment Parties. The Commitment Letter provides that the Commitment Parties will commit to provide Hill-Rom (i) (A) a $1.0 billion senior secured term loan A facility (the "TLA Facility"), (B) a $725 million senior secured term loan B facility (the "TLB Facility") and (C) a $500 million senior secured revolving facility (the "Revolving Facility", and collectively with the TLA Facility and the TLB Facility, the "Senior Secured Facilities"), and (ii) up to a $500 million senior unsecured increasing rate bridge facility (the "Bridge Facility"). The Senior Secured Facilities will be secured by all assets (subject to certain agreed upon exceptions) of Hill-Rom's material domestic subsidiaries. The Commitment Parties have the right to syndicate the Senior Secured Facilities to a group of lenders. In addition, a senior unsecured high-yield note ("High Yield Notes") offering will be undertaken, the successful issuance of which will eliminate the need for the Bridge Facility. The issuance of the High Yield Notes, however, is not guaranteed to be successful, which may require Hill-Rom to utilize either some or all of the Bridge Facility for a portion of the acquisition funding costs.

        The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, referred to as the pro forma financial statements, present the combination of the historical consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn, adjusted to give effect to the Merger and the incurrence of debt financing to complete the Merger.

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet, referred to as the pro forma balance sheet, combines the unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet of Hill-Rom as of March 31, 2015 and the unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet of Welch Allyn as of April 4, 2015, to give effect to Hill-Rom's acquisition of Welch Allyn and related financing transactions (collectively, the "Transactions"), as if they had occurred on March 31, 2015.

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 assumes that the Merger took place on October 1, 2013, the beginning of Hill-Rom's most recently completed fiscal year. Hill-Rom's audited consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 has been combined with Welch Allyn's audited consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the six months ended March 31, 2015 assumes that the Merger took place on October 1, 2013, the beginning of Hill-Rom's most recently completed fiscal year. Hill-Rom's unaudited consolidated statement of income for the six months ended March 31, 2015 has been combined with the combination of Welch Allyn's unaudited consolidated statement of income for the three months ended December 31, 2014 and Welch Allyn's unaudited consolidated statement of

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income for the three months ended April 4, 2015. Given the different fiscal year ends of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn, the Welch Allyn unaudited consolidated statement of income for the three months ended December 31, 2014 has been included in both the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and the six months ended March 31, 2015 pro forma condensed combined income statements. Sales and net income for Welch Allyn for the three months ended December 31, 2014 were $192.1 million and $12.6 million, respectively. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for the six months ended March 31, 2015 are collectively referred to as the pro forma income statements.

        The pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made solely for purposes of developing the pro forma financial information for illustrative purposes. The actual results reported in periods following the Transactions may differ significantly from that reflected in these pro forma financial statements for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, differences between the assumptions used to prepare these pro forma financial statements and actual amounts, cost savings from operating efficiencies and impact of potential synergies, the impact of the incremental costs incurred in integrating Welch Allyn's operations, changes in the allocation of purchase price, and the actual interest rates applicable to the funds borrowed to finance the acquisition of Welch Allyn.

        As a result, the pro forma information does not purport to be indicative of what the financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transactions been completed on the applicable dates of this pro forma financial information. The pro forma financial statements are based upon the historical financial statements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn and do not purport to project the future financial condition and results of operations after giving effect to the transaction.

        The pro forma adjustments and related assumptions are described in the accompanying notes presented on the following pages. The pro forma adjustments are based on assumptions relating to the consideration paid and the allocation of the purchase price thereof to the acquired assets and liabilities of Welch Allyn based on preliminary estimates of fair value. The final purchase price and the allocation thereof will differ from that reflected in the pro forma financial statements after final valuation procedures are performed and amounts are finalized.

        The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is derived from the historical financial statements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn and has been prepared to illustrate the effects of the acquisition, including the financing of the acquisition of Welch Allyn by Hill-Rom. This pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and the accompanying notes of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn.

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Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement
For Six Months Ended March 31, 2015
($ in millions)

 
  Historical    
   
   
   
 
 
  Hill-Rom
Holdings Inc.
  Welch Allyn
Holdings Inc.
and
subsidiaries
  Reclass
(Note-2)
  Pro Forma
Adjustments
  Note   Pro Forma
As Adjusted
 

Net Revenue

                                   

Capital sales

  $ 749.1   $ 356.6   $ (3.5 ) $       $ 1,102.2  

Rental revenue

    190.7                     190.7  

Total revenue

    939.8     356.6     (3.5 )           1,292.9  

Cost of Revenue

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

 

   
 
 

Cost of goods sold

    434.4     176.5     (1.8 )   (0.5 ) A     608.6  

Rental expenses

    91.3                     91.3  

Total cost of revenue

    525.7     176.5     (1.8 )   (0.5 )       699.9  

Gross Profit

    414.1     180.1     (1.7 )   0.5         593.0  

Research and development expenses

    44.0         26.4       A     70.4  

Selling and administrative expenses

    305.0     160.6     (28.1 )   12.8   A and Note-3     450.3  

Special charges

    7.5                     7.5  

Operating Profit

    57.6     19.5         (12.3 )       64.8  

                                 

Interest expense

    (6.2 )           (47.1 ) B     (53.3 )

Investment income and other, net

    2.2     1.2                 3.4  

Income before income taxes

    53.6     20.7         (59.4 )       14.9  

Income tax expense

    15.4     4.8         (21.8 ) C     (1.6 )

Net income

  $ 38.2   $ 15.9   $   $ (37.6 )     $ 16.5  

Net Income per Common Share—Basic

  $ 0.67                         $ 0.25  

Net Income per Common Share—Diluted

  $ 0.66                         $ 0.25  

Dividends per Common Share

  $ 0.31                         $ 0.27  

Average Common Shares Outstanding—Basic

    56,841                 8,134         64,975  

Average Common Shares Outstanding—Diluted

    57,894                 8,134         66,028  

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Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statement
For Year Ended September 30, 2014
($ in millions)

 
  Historical    
   
   
   
 
 
  Hill-Rom
Holdings Inc.
  Welch Allyn
Holdings Inc.
and
subsidiaries
  Reclass
(Note-2)
  Pro Forma
Adjustments
  Note   Pro Forma
As Adjusted
 

Net Revenue

                                   

Capital sales

  $ 1,301.4   $ 683.8   $ (6.7 ) $       $ 1,978.5  

Rental revenue

    384.7                         384.7  

Total revenue

    1,686.1     683.8     (6.7 )           2,363.2  

Cost of Revenue

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

 

   
 
 

Cost of goods sold

    730.2     340.4     (8.2 )   1.3   A     1,063.7  

Rental expenses

    176.0                       176.0  

Total cost of revenue

    906.2     340.4     (8.2 )   1.3         1,239.7  

Gross Profit

    779.9     343.4     1.5     (1.3 )       1,123.5  

Research and development expenses

    71.9         49.8     0.1   A     121.8  

Selling and administrative expenses

    548.3     278.7     (52.7 )   31.2   A and Note-3     805.5  

Special charges

    37.1     1.1     4.4             42.6  

Operating Profit

    122.6     63.6         (32.6 )       153.6  

Interest expense

    (9.8 )           (87.3 ) B     (97.1 )

Investment income and other, net

    2.4     5.3                 7.7  

Income Before Income taxes

    115.2     68.9         (119.9 )       64.2  

Income tax expense

    54.6     20.2         (44.0 ) C     30.8  

Net income

  $ 60.6   $ 48.7   $   $ (75.9 )     $ 33.4  

Net Income per Common Share—Basic

  $ 1.05                         $ 0.51  

Net Income per Common Share—Diluted

  $ 1.04                         $ 0.50  

Dividends per Common Share

  $ 0.60                         $ 0.53  

Average Common Shares Outstanding—Basic

    57,555                 8,134         65,689  

Average Common Shares Outstanding—Diluted

    58,523                 8,134         66,657  

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Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
As of March 31, 2015
($ in millions)

 
  Historical    
   
   
   
 
 
  Hill-Rom
Holdings, Inc.
  Welch Allyn
Holdings, Inc.
and
subsidiaries
  Reclass
(Note-2)
  Pro Forma
Adjustments
  Notes   Pro Forma
As Adjusted
 

ASSETS

                                   

Current Assets

                                   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 114.5   $ 174.5   $   $ (183.0 ) D   $ 106.0  

Trade receivables, net of allowances

    368.0     70.8                 438.8  

Inventories

    168.7     57.5         27.5   Note-3     253.7  

Deferred income taxes

    41.9     16.7         (14.9 ) I     43.7  

Other current assets

    51.5     15.2                 66.7  

Total current assets

    744.6     334.7         (170.4 )       908.9  

Property, plant, and equipment, net

    286.0     94.9         24.6   Note-3     405.5  

Intangible assets:

                                   

Goodwill

    387.3     107.4         1,151.2   Note-3     1,645.9  

Software and other, net

    236.9     28.7     13.6     841.7   Note-3     1,120.9  

Deferred income taxes

    21.5     13.3         (16.3 ) I     18.5  

Other assets

    29.9     174.4     (13.6 )   (53.8 ) F     136.9  

Total Assets

  $ 1,706.2   $ 753.4   $   $ 1,777.0       $ 4,236.6  

LIABILITIES

                                   

Current Liabilities

                                   

Trade accounts payable

  $ 87.7   $ 22.5   $   $       $ 110.2  

Short-term borrowings

    128.7             (71.5 ) E     57.2  

Accrued compensation

    76.1         14.4             90.5  

Accrued product warranties

    27.2         3.7             30.9  

Other current liabilities

    82.0     89.6     (18.1 )   (28.2 ) G     125.3  

Total current liabilities

    401.7     112.1         (99.7 )       414.1  

Long-term debt

    449.8             1,767.7   E     2,217.5  

Accrued pension and postretirement benefits

    74.4     15.2                 89.6  

Deferred income taxes

    27.8             325.6   I     353.4  

Other long-term liabilities

    30.2     77.5         (72.2 ) H     35.5  

Total liabilities

    983.9     204.8         1,921.4         3,110.1  

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                   

Capital Stock:

                                   

Preferred stock—without par value:

                         

Common stock—without par value

    4.4     1.1         (1.1 ) J     4.4  

Additional paid-in-capital

    140.4             425.0   J     565.4  

Retained earnings

    1,520.2     685.4         (706.2 ) J     1,499.4  

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

    (143.5 )   14.4         (14.4 ) J     (143.5 )

Treasury stock, at cost

    (799.2 )   (152.3 )       152.3   J     (799.2 )

Total Shareholders' equity

    722.3     548.6         (144.4 )       1,126.5  

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

  $ 1,706.2   $ 753.4   $   $ 1,777.0       $ 4,236.6  

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Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements

Note 1—Basis of presentation

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements were prepared using the acquisition method of accounting under U.S. GAAP and are based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. for the year ended September 30, 2014 and six months ended March 31, 2015 and the historical consolidated financial statements of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and the combination of the three month periods ended December 31, 2014 and April 4, 2015. Sales and net income for the Welch Allyn three month period ended December 31, 2014 included in both pro forma periods were $192.1 million and $12.6 million, respectively.

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement for Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn for the year ended September 30, 2014 and six months ended March 31, 2015 give effect to Hill-Rom's acquisition of Welch Allyn.

        We prepared the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information using the acquisition method of accounting, which is based upon Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations, the Financial Accounting Standard Board's ("FASB") standard related to business combinations. The business combination standard incorporates the FASB standard related to fair value measurement concepts. We have adopted both FASB standards related to business combinations and fair value measurements as required. The FASB standard issued related to business combinations requires, among other things, that most assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date. In addition, the standard establishes that the consideration transferred be measured at the closing date of the acquisition at the then-current market price. The transaction fees and expenses have been excluded from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statements as they are non-recurring. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the FASB's standard related to fair value measurements, defines the term "fair value" and sets forth the valuation requirements for any asset or liability measured at fair value, expands related disclosure requirements and specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the nature of inputs used to develop the fair value measures. Fair value is defined in the standard as "the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date." This is an exit price concept for the valuation of the asset or liability. In addition, market participants are assumed to be buyers and sellers in the principal (or the most advantageous) market for the asset or liability. Fair value measurements for an asset assume the highest and best use by these market participants. As a result of these standards, we may be required to record assets that we do not intend to use or sell (defensive assets) and/or to value assets at fair value measurements that do not reflect our intended use of those assets. Many of these fair value measurements can be highly subjective, and it is possible that other professionals, applying reasonable judgment to the same facts and circumstances, could develop and support a range of alternative estimated amounts.

        The assumptions and related pro forma adjustments described below have been developed based on assumptions and adjustments, including assumptions relating to the consideration paid and the allocation thereof to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Welch Allyn based on preliminary estimates of fair value. The final purchase price allocation will differ from that reflected in the pro forma financial statements after final valuation procedures are performed and amounts are finalized.

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are preliminary, are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what our actual consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position would have been had the transactions occurred on the

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date assumed, nor are they indicative of our future consolidated results of operations or financial position. The actual results reported in periods following the transactions may differ significantly from those reflected in these pro forma financial statements for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, differences between the assumptions used to prepare these pro forma financial statements and actual amounts, cost savings from operating efficiencies, timing and impact of potential synergies, the impact of the incremental costs incurred in integrating Welch Allyn's operations, changes in the allocation of purchase price, and the actual interest rates applicable to the funds borrowed to finance the acquisition of Welch Allyn. As a result, the pro forma information does not purport to be indicative of what the financial condition or results of operations would have been had the transactions been completed on the applicable dates of this pro forma financial information. The pro forma financial statements are based upon the historical consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn and do not purport to project the future financial condition and results of operations after giving effect to the transaction.

Note 2—Reclassification Adjustments to Welch Allyn Financial Statements

        The following reclassification adjustments have been made to the historical balance sheet and statements of income of Welch Allyn to conform financial statement line item classification with Hill-Rom's presentation as follows:

        Reclassification included in the unaudited adjusted historical consolidated statement of income for the six months ended March 31, 2015 ($ in millions):

 
  Before
Reclassification
  Reclassification
Increase
(Decrease)
  After
Reclassification
 

Capital Sales

  $ 356.6   $ (3.5) (1) $ 353.1  

Cost of goods sold

    176.5     (1.8) (2)   174.7  

Research and development expenses

        26.4 (2)   26.4  

Selling and administrative expenses

    160.6     (28.1) (2)   132.5  

(1)
Reclassification adjustment represents GPO Administration fees which are shown in Selling and Administrative expenses by Welch Allyn. Hill-Rom has a policy to net such fees against revenue.

(2)
Welch Allyn costs and expenses have been reclassified to conform financial statement line item classification with Hill-Rom's presentation.

        Reclassification included in the unaudited adjusted historical consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 ($ in millions):

 
  Before
Reclassification
  Reclassification
Increase
(Decrease)
  After
Reclassification
 

Capital Sales

  $ 683.8   $ (6.7) (1) $ 677.1  

Cost of goods sold

    340.4     (8.2) (2)   332.2  

Research and development expenses

        49.8 (2)   49.8  

Selling and administrative expenses

    278.7     (52.7) (2)   226.0  

Special charges

    1.1     4.4 (2)   5.5  

(1)
Reclassification adjustment represents GPO Administration fees which are shown in Selling and Administrative expenses by Welch Allyn. Hill-Rom has a policy to net such fees against revenue.

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(2)
Welch Allyn costs and expenses have been reclassified to conform financial statement line item classification with Hill-Rom's presentation.

        Reclassification adjustments included in the unaudited adjusted historical consolidated balance sheet to conform financial statement line item classification with Hill-Rom's presentation as of March 31, 2015 ($ in millions):

 
  Before
Reclassification
  Reclassification
Increase
(Decrease)
  After
Reclassification
 

Software and other, net

  $ 28.7   $ 13.6 (1) $ 42.3  

Other assets

    174.4     (13.6) (1)   160.8  

Accrued compensation

        14.4 (2)   14.4  

Accrued product warranties

        3.7 (2)   3.7  

Other current liabilities

    89.6     (18.1) (2)   71.5  

(1)
Adjustment represents a reclassification between Other assets and Software and other to conform financial statement line item classification with Hill-Rom's presentation.

(2)
Adjustment represents a reclassification between Accrued compensation, Accrued product warranties and Other current liabilities to conform financial statement line item classification with Hill-Rom's presentation.

Note 3—Purchase Price Allocation

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet has been adjusted to reflect the allocation of the preliminary estimated purchase price to identifiable assets to be acquired and liabilities to be assumed, with the excess recorded as goodwill. The final purchase price allocation may be different than that reflected in the pro forma purchase price allocation presented herein, and this difference may be material. The purchase price allocation in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements is based upon an estimated purchase price of approximately $2,228.9 million. This amount was derived in accordance with the Merger Agreement based on (i) 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock, valued at $425.0 million based on the volume weighted average price of Hill-Rom's common stock for the preceding 10 trading days as reported by Bloomberg at the close of trading on June 16, 2015 and (ii) $1,625.0 million of cash consideration, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

        The total preliminary Merger consideration is calculated as follows ($ in millions):

Cash consideration

  $ 1,625.0  

Estimated merger consideration adjustments:

       

Estimated working capital adjustment

    8.6  

Cash on hand

    174.5  

Indebtedness

    (4.2 )

Adjusted cash consideration

    1,803.9  

Hill-Rom common stock to be issued

    425.0  

Total preliminary merger consideration

  $ 2,228.9  

        The actual value of Hill-Rom common stock to be issued in the Merger will depend on the market price of shares of Hill-Rom common stock at the closing date of the Merger, and therefore the actual purchase price will fluctuate with the market price of Hill-Rom common stock until the Merger is consummated.

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        The table below represents a preliminary allocation of the total Merger consideration to Welch Allyn's tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on Hill-Rom management's preliminary estimate of their respective fair values ($ in millions):

Purchase Price Allocation
   
 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 174.5  

Working capital excluding cash and cash equivalents(1)

    78.4  

Property, plant and equipment, net(2)

    119.5  

Intangible assets(3)

    884.0  

Goodwill(4)

    1,258.5  

Other long-term assets(5)

    60.1  

Other long-term liabilities(5)

    (20.5 )

Deferred income tax liabilities(6)

    (325.6 )

Total preliminary merger consideration

  $ 2,228.9  

(1)
Includes preliminary step-up to acquired inventories of $27.5 million.

(2)
The preliminary property, plant and equipment fair value estimate is based on a preliminary valuation.

(3)
The preliminarily intangible asset fair value estimates are based on a preliminary valuation and are subject to change. The preliminary intangible assets associated with the Transactions include trade names, customer base and technologies as outlined below:

 
  Fair Value   Useful Life

Trade names

  $ 377.4   Indefinite

Customer base

    458.4   10 years

Technologies

    48.2   4 - 5 years

Total Welch Allyn intangible assets

  $ 884.0    

(4)
Preliminary goodwill resulting from the Transactions is primarily due to enhanced customer relevance and a stronger competitive position resulting from the Merger, including a complimentary commercial position, product portfolio, and enhanced synergies.

(5)
The preliminary fair value estimates of other long term assets and liabilities assumed on acquisition of Welch Allyn Business.

(6)
Deferred income taxes on acquired intangibles and property step-up.

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Note 4—Income Statement Adjustments

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statements reflect the following adjustments ($ in millions):

 
  For the Six Months
Ended March 31, 2015
  For the Year Ended
September 30, 2014
 

COGS—Depreciation expense(1)

  $ (0.5 ) $ 1.3  

R&D—Depreciation expense(1)

  $   $ 0.1  

SG&A—Depreciation expense(1)

  $ (0.5 ) $ 1.0  

SG&A—Amortization expense(2)

    25.3     51.2  

DISC Commission expense(3)

    (12.0 )   (21.0 )

Total pro forma adjustment to selling and administrative expenses

  $ 12.8   $ 31.2  

(1)
Adjustments have been included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statements for the six months ended March 31, 2015 and year ended September 30, 2014 to eliminate historical depreciation expense of $11.3 and $20.3, respectively, related to historical values of Welch Allyn property, plant and equipment, and to record estimated depreciation expenses of $10.3 and $22.7, respectively, based on estimated preliminary values of the acquired property, plant and equipment. The estimated preliminary values of the acquired property, plant and equipment have a weighted average useful life of 15.0 years.

(2)
Adjustments have been included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statements for the six months ended March 31, 2015 and year ended September 30, 2014 to eliminate historical amortization expense of $2.6 and $4.6, respectively, related to historical values of Welch Allyn intangible assets, and to record estimated amortization expenses of $27.9 and $55.8, respectively, based on estimated preliminary values of the acquired intangible assets. The estimated preliminary values of the acquired intangible assets have a weighted average useful life of 9.0 years.

(3)
Represents the reversal of the commission expense paid to a Domestic International Sales Corporation ("DISC") affiliated by common ownership under Welch Allyn. The DISC was not acquired in the transaction and is not permitted under IRS regulations for public companies.

        In connection with the Merger, Hill-Rom entered into a Commitment Letter with the Commitment Parties. The Commitment Letter provides that the Commitment Parties will commit to provide Hill-Rom (i) (A) a $1.0 billion TLA Facility, (B) a $725 million senior secured TLB Facility and (C) a $500 million senior secured Revolving Facility, and (ii) up to a $500 million senior unsecured increasing rate Bridge Facility. The Senior Secured Facilities will be secured by all assets (subject to certain agreed upon exceptions) of Hill-Rom's material domestic subsidiaries. The Commitment Parties have the right to syndicate the Senior Secured Facilities to a group of lenders.

        In addition, a senior unsecured High Yield Notes offering will be undertaken, the successful issuance of which will eliminate the need for the Bridge Facility. The issuance of the High Yield Notes, however is not guaranteed to be successful, which may require Hill-Rom to utilize either some or all of the Bridge Facility for a portion of the acquisition funding costs. Any borrowings on the Bridge Facility

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are expected to be repaid by the issuance of High Yield Notes upon completion of such an offering. Outstanding borrowings on the Bridge Facility would carry higher interest rates, resulting in an additional estimated $10.0 million of interest expense over the 18 month pro forma period, with an increasing differential thereafter.

        The following reconciliation provides additional details behind the pro forma interest expense adjustment reflected in the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement ($ in millions):

 
  For the Six Months
Ended March 31, 2015
  For the Year Ended
September 30, 2014
 

Interest expense associated with borrowings to complete the proposed Merger and refinance certain existing Hill-Rom debt(1)

  $ (47.7 ) $ (85.8 )

Amortization of fees

    (4.0 )   (7.9 )

Pro forma interest expense

    (51.7 )   (93.7 )

Elimination of the historical interest expense of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.(2)

    4.6     6.4  

Pro forma interest expense adjustment

  $ (47.1 ) $ (87.3 )

(1)
Interest expense reflects a weighted average interest rate of 4.1% over the period.

(2)
Elimination of interest on Hill-Rom existing debt to be repaid with the proceeds of the planned borrowings.

        An increase in the variable interest rates assumed in the weighted average interest rate of 0.125% would result in an increase in interest expense for the 18 month pro forma period of approximately $1.5 million.

 
  For the Six Months
Ended March 31, 2015
  For the Year Ended
September 30, 2014
 

Income tax expense(1)

  $ (21.8 ) $ (44.0 )

(1)
Tax effects of pro forma adjustments reflect a blended statutory tax rate of 37%.

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Note 5—Balance Sheet Adjustments

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet reflects the following adjustments ($ in millions):

Hill-Rom term loan repayment(1)

  $ (528.8 )

Debt issuance cost(2)

    (45.3 )

High Yield Notes(3)

    500.0  

Cash consideration(4)

    (1,803.9 )

New Term Loan Facilities(3)

    1,725.0  

Hill-Rom Merger costs(5)

    (30.0 )

Total pro forma adjustment to cash and cash equivalents

  $ (183.0 )

(1)
Represents the extinguishment of Hill-Rom's revolving and historical term loans.

(2)
Represents capitalized financing fees related to the New Term Loan Facilities, the New Revolving Facility and the High Yield Notes.

(3)
For a discussion of the New Term Loan Facilities and the High Yield Notes see Section-E, Long term debt, below.

(4)
Represents the estimated amount of cash consideration to be paid on the acquisition of Welch Allyn.

(5)
Estimated Merger fees including legal and professional fees.

        Adjustments to reflect the debt capitalization structure assumed to be outstanding for all periods presented in the above pro forma financial statements is as follows ($ in millions):

 
  Long Term   Current   Total  

Senior secured term loan A facility

  $ 950.0   $ 50.0   $ 1,000.0  

Senior secured term loan B facility

    717.8     7.2     725.0  

High Yield Notes

    500.0         500.0  

Pro forma debt

    2,167.8     57.2     2,225.0  

Elimination of the historical debt of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.—long term

    (400.1 )       (400.1 )

Elimination of the historical debt of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.—current

        (128.7 )   (128.7 )

Long term and current debt adjustments

  $ 1,767.7   $ (71.5 ) $ 1,696.2  

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Corporate owned life insurance(1)

  $ (32.5 )

Available-for-sale securities(2)

    (34.2 )

Deferred compensation(3)

    (31.1 )

Capitalized financing fees(4)

    45.3  

Write-off of Hill-Rom capitalized financing fees(5)

    (1.3 )

Total pro forma adjustment to other assets

  $ (53.8 )

(1)
Represents amount related to Welch Allyn's Corporate owned life insurance asset which is held to fund the long term incentive plan to be settled at close of the Merger.

(2)
Represents investments by Welch Allyn in available-for-sale equity securities which are held to fund the long term incentive plan to be settled at close of the Merger.

(3)
Represents Welch Allyn trading account investments held with third party to fund deferred compensation plan which will be settled at close of the Merger.

(4)
Represents the capitalized financing fees related to the New Term Loan Facilities, the New Revolving Facility and the High Yield Notes.

(5)
Represents the write-off of capitalized financing fees related to the extinguishment of debt.

DISC liability(1)

  $ (5.0 )

Short term portion of long term incentive plan(2)

    (12.7 )

Write-off of Hill-Rom capitalized financing fees(3)

    (0.5 )

Tax impact of Merger expenses(4)

    (10.0 )

Total pro forma adjustment to other current liabilities

  $ (28.2 )

(1)
Represents the liability in connection with the Domestic International Sale Corporation (a related party) which will be satisfied at or before close as described above.

(2)
Represents settlement of short-term portion of Welch Allyn long-term incentive plan obligation which will be satisfied at close of the Merger.

(3)
Represents tax benefit on write-off of capitalized financing fees related to extinguishment of Hill-Rom debt.

(4)
Represents estimated tax benefit on Merger expenses.

Long term incentive plan(1)

  $ (41.1 )

Deferred compensation(2)

    (31.1 )

Total pro forma adjustment to other long-term liabilities

  $ (72.2 )

(1)
Represents settlement of long-term portion of Welch Allyn long-term incentive plan obligation which will be satisfied on the closing date of the Merger.

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(2)
Represents settlement of deferred compensation liability on closing date of Merger as a result of change in control provisions of the plan.

Short-term deferred tax liability of inventory step-up

  $ (10.2 )

Elimination of deferred tax associated with short term portion of long term incentive plan

    (4.7 )

Total pro forma adjustment to current deferred income tax asset

  $ (14.9 )

Removal of Welch Allyn deferred liability on deductible goodwill

  $ 3.5  

Elimination of deferred tax associated with deferred compensation plan adjustment

    (10.6 )

Elimination of deferred tax associated with long term incentive plan

    (15.0 )

Elimination of deferred tax on available-for-sale securities adjustment

    5.8  

Total pro forma adjustment to non-current deferred income tax asset

  $ (16.3 )

Deferred tax liability on intangible and PP&E step-up

  $ 325.6  

(1)
Reflects an adjustment to deferred tax assets and liabilities representing a blended global statutory rate of approximately 37% multiplied by either (i) the preliminary fair value adjustments made to the assets to be acquired and liabilities to be assumed, excluding goodwill, or (ii) the applicable pro forma adjustments to related assets and liabilities that will or will not be assumed by the combined company included herein. For purposes of these unaudited pro forma condensed financial statements, a global blended statutory tax rate of approximately 37% has been used. This does not reflect Hill-Rom's expected effective tax rate, which will include other tax charges and benefits, and does not take in to account any historical or possible future tax events that may impact Hill-Rom following the consummation of the Transaction.

        All outstanding shares of Welch Allyn common stock will be exchanged for 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock and the Cash Consideration in connection with the Merger. The estimated fair value of the equity-based consideration to acquire Welch Allyn common stock outstanding totaled $425.0 million, which is based on Hill-Rom's volume weighted average common stock price for the preceding 10 trading days as reported by Bloomberg at the close of trading on June 16, 2015. It is possible that the value of the fixed number of shares will fluctuate prior to the closing date of the Merger. For purposes of these pro forma statements, it is assumed the equity consideration is valued at $425 million.

        The table below summarizes the change in stockholders' equity as a result of the acquisition:

 
  Common
Stock
  APIC   Retained
Earnings
  AOCI   Treasury
Stock
 

Issuance of shares of Hill-Rom's common stock

  $   $ 425.0   $   $   $  

Elimination of Welch Allyn shareholders' equity

    (1.1 )       (685.4 )   (14.4 )   152.3  

Hill-Rom related merger costs, net of tax

            (20.0 )        

Write-off of Hill-Rom capitalized financing fees, net of tax

            (0.8 )        

Total pro-forma adjustment

  $ (1.1 ) $ 425.0   $ (706.2 ) $ (14.4 ) $ 152.3  

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DESCRIPTION OF HILL-ROM CAPITAL STOCK

        The following summary of the capital stock of Hill-Rom is subject in all respects to applicable Indiana law, the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and the Hill-Rom by-laws. See the sections titled "Comparison of Shareholder Rights" and "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on pages 119 and 155, respectively, of this proxy statement/prospectus.

        The total authorized shares of capital stock of Hill-Rom consist of (i) 199,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value. At the close of business on July 9, 2015, 56,716,335 shares of Hill-Rom common stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock of Hill-Rom were issued and outstanding.

        The Hill-Rom board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance from time to time of Hill-Rom preferred stock in series and, as to each series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, privileges, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such shares; the dividend rate; the voting rights, if any; the applicable conversion provisions, if any; the redemption or sinking fund provisions, if any, applicable to that series; the liquidation preference, if any; and the terms of any other preferences or special rights applicable to that series of preferred stock. Cumulative dividends, dividend preferences and conversion, exchange and redemption provisions, to the extent that some or all of these features may be present when shares of Hill-Rom preferred stock are issued, could have an adverse effect on the availability of earnings for distribution to the holders of Hill-Rom common stock or for other corporate purposes.

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COMPARISON OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

General

        Hill-Rom is incorporated under the laws of the State of Indiana, and accordingly, the rights of the shareholders of Hill-Rom are governed by the Indiana Business Corporation Law ("IBCL"). Welch Allyn is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York and, accordingly, the rights of the shareholders of Welch Allyn are governed by the NYBCL. Before the completion of the merger, the rights of Welch Allyn shareholders are also governed by the Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation, the Welch Allyn by-laws and the Welch Allyn shareholders agreements. Upon completion of the merger, each share of Welch Allyn common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger (other than any dissenting shares and any shares of Welch Allyn common stock owned by Hill-Rom, Merger Sub or any subsidiary of Hill-Rom) will be converted into the right to receive the merger consideration, which will include shares of Hill-Rom common stock and cash. As a result, upon completion of the merger, the rights of Welch Allyn shareholders who become Hill-Rom shareholders in the merger will be governed by the IBCL, the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and the Hill-Rom by-laws.

Certain Differences Between the Rights of Shareholders of Hill-Rom and Shareholders of Welch Allyn

        The following is a summary of material differences between the rights of Hill-Rom shareholders and the rights of Welch Allyn shareholders. While Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn believe that this summary covers the material differences, this summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of the respective rights of Hill-Rom shareholders and Welch Allyn shareholders, and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the IBCL, the NYBCL and the various documents of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn to which Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn refer in this summary. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn urge you to carefully read this entire proxy statement/prospectus, the relevant provisions of the IBCL, the NYBCL and the other documents to which Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn refer in this proxy statement/prospectus for a more complete understanding of the differences between the rights of a Hill-Rom shareholder and the rights of a Welch Allyn shareholder. Hill-Rom has filed with the SEC its documents referenced in this summary of shareholder rights and each of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn will send copies of these documents to you, without charge, upon your request. See the section titled "Where You Can Find Additional Information" beginning on page 155 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

 
  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Authorized Capital Stock

  Hill-Rom has the authority to issue a total of 200,000,000 shares. The authorized capital stock of Hill-Rom consists of (i) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock and (ii) 199,000,000 shares of common stock.   Welch Allyn has the authority to issue a total of 157,442,600 shares of common stock. The authorized capital stock consists of (i) 107,442,600 shares of Class A common stock and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of Class B common stock.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Number of Directors

 

Under the IBCL, the board of directors of a corporation must consist of one or more individuals, with the number specified or fixed in accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws.

The Hill-Rom bylaws provide that the Hill-Rom board of directors will consist of no fewer than nine members and no more than eleven members, as fixed from time to time by resolution of the board of directors. The Hill-Rom board of directors currently consists of nine directors.

 

Under the NYBCL, the board of directors of a corporation must consist of one or more members, with the number specified in accordance with a corporation's bylaws.

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that the Welch Allyn board of directors will consist of no fewer than six members and no more than twelve members, as fixed from time to time by resolution of the board of directors. The Welch Allyn board of directors currently consists of eight directors.

Classification of Board of Directors

 

Hill-Rom's board of directors is not classified.

 

Welch Allyn's board of directors is not classified.

Election of Directors

 

At each annual meeting of shareholders, directors elected by the shareholders to succeed those directors whose terms expire are elected for a one-year term of office to expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders after their election.

 

Pursuant to the NYBCL and Welch Allyn's bylaws, at each meeting of shareholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the persons receiving a plurality of votes cast are elected as directors for a term expiring at the next meeting at which directors are elected.

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the IBCL, shareholders may not cumulate their votes in the election of directors unless the corporation's articles of incorporation so provide. The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting and, accordingly, Hill-Rom shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in connection with the election of directors.

 

Neither the Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation nor the Welch Allyn bylaws provide for cumulative voting and, accordingly, Welch Allyn shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights in connection with the election of directors.

Removal of Directors

 

Under the IBCL, a director may be removed by the shareholders or directors, with or without cause, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise.

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that any director, or entire board of directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the shares of Hill-Rom entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Under the NYBCL, directors may be removed for cause by the shareholders, and, if permitted by the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws, by the board, except in certain limited circumstances. Under the NYBCL, if the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws so provide, directors may be removed without cause by the shareholders.

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that directors may be removed at any time (i) with or without cause by the shareholders and (ii) with cause by the board of directors.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Vacancies on the Board of Directors

 

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation provide that, except as may be expressly provided by law, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the board of directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office. Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders.

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that if any vacancy occurs in the board of directors by reason of the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office of any director, or if any new directorship is created, the board of directors is to nominate a person to fill the vacancy or the newly created directorship. The person so nominated then is to stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders or at a special meeting of the shareholders called for the purpose of electing a director to fill the vacancy or newly created directorship.

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote with respect thereto, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders.

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote with respect thereto.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation

 

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation provide that Hill-Rom reserves the right to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares, or any class or series thereof, and to reclassify the same, and to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation or in any amendment thereto, or to add any provision to the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation in the manner prescribed by statute.

Except for amendments of the articles of incorporation not requiring shareholder approval, such as certain stock splits, reverse stock splits and reducing the number of authorized shares solely as the result of a cancellation of treasury shares, the IBCL provides that, unless a greater vote is required under a specified provision of the IBCL or by a corporation's articles of incorporation or its board of directors, a corporation may amend its articles of incorporation if there is a quorum of shareholders present and the votes cast in favor of the amendment exceed those cast against it. However, if the amendment would create dissenters' rights, a favorable vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to be cast is required. Under the IBCL, a corporation's board of directors may condition its submission of a proposed amendment to the shareholders of the corporation on any basis, including the requirement of the affirmative vote of holders of a greater percentage of the voting shares of the corporation than otherwise would be required under the IBCL.

 

The Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation and bylaws are silent as to amendments to the certificate of incorporation.

The NYBCL provides that, except for amendments of the certificate of incorporation not requiring shareholder approval, such as changing the location of the corporation's office, unless a greater vote is required under a specified provision of the NYBCL or by a corporation's certificate of incorporation, a corporation may amend its certificate of incorporation by authorization of the board of directors, followed by vote of a majority of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of shares of a class are entitled to vote, and vote separately as a class, upon the authorization of an amendment by a majority of the votes of all outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, and such amendment must also be authorized by a majority of all outstanding shares of such class, when a proposed amendment would have certain specified effects detrimental to such class, such as limiting such class' right to vote on any matter.

Amendment of Bylaws

 

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation and bylaws are silent as to amendment of bylaws.

The IBCL provides that, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, only a corporation's board of directors may amend or repeal the corporation's bylaws. Action by the board of directors to adopt or amend a bylaw that changes the quorum or voting requirement for action by the board of directors must meet the same quorum requirements and be adopted by the same vote required to take action under the quorum and voting requirement then in effect or proposed to be adopted, whichever is greater.

 

Welch Allyn's bylaws provide that the board of directors has the power to amend, repeal and adopt bylaws at any regular or special meeting of the board. Any bylaw adopted by the board of directors may be amended or repealed, however, by vote of the shareholders entitled at the time to vote in elections of directors.

Under the NYBCL, subject to certain limited exceptions, bylaws may also be adopted by a majority of the votes cast by the shares at the time entitled to vote in the election of directors.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Quorum for Shareholder Meetings

 

The Hill-Rom bylaws provide that, at any meeting of the Shareholders the presence, in person or by proxy, of Shareholders holding a majority of the duly authorized, issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (determined as of the record date for the meeting) shall constitute a quorum.

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that, at any meeting of the shareholders, the presence, in person or by proxy, of shareholders holding one-half of the issued and outstanding shares of Welch Allyn entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Voting Rights

 

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation provide that the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote as provided by an amendment to Section 5.1 of the Hill-Rom articles of incorporation. To date, there has been no such amendment.

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation provide that the holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share of common stock in the election of directors of Hill-Rom and upon each other matter coming before any vote of the holders of common stock.

 

The Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation provides that Class A common stockholders have exclusive voting rights. Each such shareholder is entitled to one vote per share of Class A common stock.

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that, except in the case of director elections and as otherwise required by law (such as adoptions of plans of merger), all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders shall be determined by a vote of a majority of the votes cast on such matters.

Special Meeting of Shareholders

 

The Hill-Rom bylaws provide that the shareholders may hold a special meeting at any time for the purposes of electing individuals to vacant board of director positions, acting upon such other questions or matters as are proposed to be submitted to a vote at the meeting and acting upon such further questions or matters as may properly come before the meeting. A special meeting of the shareholders may be called by the board of directors, the president, or by shareholders holding not less than one-fourth of the duly authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock (determined as of the date on which the special meeting is called).

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders may be called at any time by Welch Allyn's CEO or board of directors, or by the secretary of Welch Allyn at the request in writing of shareholders owning at least one-third of the shares of Welch Allyn issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Notice of Shareholder Meetings

 

The Hill-Rom bylaws require notice of shareholder meetings to be given at least ten days before the date of the meeting. The notice must be a written notice stating the date, time and place of meeting, and containing a concise statement of the questions or matters proposed to be submitted to a vote at the meeting, and is to be delivered by the secretary to each shareholder entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.

The written notice is deemed to have been delivered by the secretary to a shareholder if:

        (1)     it is delivered personally to the shareholders;

        (2)    it is deposited in the United States First Class Mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the address of the shareholders set forth upon the records of the corporation; or

        (3)    it is sent by telegraph, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication, addressed to the address of the shareholder set forth upon the records of the corporation.

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that (i) written notice of the place, date and time of each annual meeting is to be given to each shareholder entitled to vote thereat and (ii) written notice of a special meeting of shareholders stating the place, date and time of the meeting, the purpose for which the meeting is called, and by whose direction it is being given, is to be given to each shareholder entitled to vote thereat.

In each case, notice may be given personally, by mail or by facsimile or electronic transmission, and must be given not less than ten and not more than fifty days prior to the meeting.

Notice by mail is deemed to be given at the time when deposited in the post office or a letter box, in a post-paid sealed wrapper, and addressed to directors or shareholders at their addresses appearing on the records of Welch Allyn.

Delivery and Notice Requirements of Shareholder Nominations and Proposals

 

The Hill-Rom bylaws provide that, to be properly brought before an annual meeting, an item of business must be (a) specified in the notice of the meeting, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, the chairman of the board of directors or the chief executive officer, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder.

 

The Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation and bylaws prescribe no special delivery or notice requirements specific to shareholder nominations and proposals.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

 

For business to be properly brought before a meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice in writing to the secretary of Hill-Rom at the principal place of business of Hill-Rom. To be timely, a shareholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the secretary not later than 100 days prior to the anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding annual meeting which was specified in the initial formal notice of such meeting (but if the date of the forthcoming annual meeting is more than 30 days after such anniversary date, such written notice will also be timely if received by the secretary by the later of 100 days prior to the forthcoming meeting date and the close of business 10 days following the date on which Hill-Rom first makes public disclosure of the meeting date). A shareholder's notice to the secretary shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, (b) the name and address of the shareholder proposing such business, (c) the class and number of shares of Hill-Rom which are beneficially owned by the shareholder, and (d) any interest of the Shareholder in such business.

   

 

Nominations for election to the board of directors may be made at any meeting of shareholders by or at the direction of the board of directors or by any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors at the meeting. For nominations to be made by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of Hill-Rom at the principal place of business of Hill-Rom and any nominee must satisfy the qualifications established by the board of directors. To be timely, a shareholder's nomination must be delivered pursuant to the same requirements as notice of shareholder business brought for an annual meeting, except that, in the case of a special meeting, notice shall be timely if given by the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which Hill-Rom makes public disclosure of the meeting date.

   

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

 

Each notice given by such shareholder shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; (ii) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record, setting forth the shares so held, and intends to appear in person or by proxy as a holder of record at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (iii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such Shareholder and each nominee proposed by the shareholder and any other person or persons (identifying such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the shareholders; (iv) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such Shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission; (v) the consent in writing of each nominee to serve as a director of Hill-Rom if so elected, and (vi) a description of the qualifications of such nominee to serve as a director of Hill-Rom.

   

Proxy

 

The Hill-Rom bylaws provide that any Hill-Rom shareholder may vote at any meeting of the shareholders, either in person or by proxy. Each proxy shall be in the form of a written instrument executed by the shareholder or a duly authorized agent of the shareholder, or may be transmitted by electronic submission as authorized by Hill-Rom. No proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless and until it has been filed with the secretary of Hill-Rom.

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that Welch Allyn shareholders entitled to vote may vote at any meeting of the shareholders, either in person or by proxy. Each proxy must be in writing, executed by the shareholder or his or her attorney-in-fact.

Preemptive Rights

 

Under the IBCL, shareholders do not have preemptive rights unless the articles of incorporation so provide. The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation do not provide for preemptive rights.

 

The Welch Allyn certificate of incorporation provides that shareholders shall have no preemptive rights.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Dividends

 

The Hill-Rom articles of incorporation provide that the board of directors of Hill-Rom has the authority to authorize and direct the payment of dividends at such times, in such amounts and forms, from such sources and upon such terms and conditions as it may, from time to time, determine upon, subject only to the restrictions and requirements imposed by the IBCL and other applicable laws, in respect of issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock and common stock.

Under the IBCL, a corporation may only pay dividends or make other distributions if, after giving effect to the distribution, (i) the corporation would be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business, and (ii) the corporation's total assets would be more than the sum of its total liabilities plus (unless the articles of incorporation permit otherwise) the amount that would be needed, if the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution.

 

The Welch Allyn bylaws provide that the board of directors may declare dividends on the outstanding shares of Welch Allyn at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law, and may be paid in cash, property or Welch Allyn shares.

Under the NYBCL, a corporation may pay dividends except when the corporation is insolvent or would be made insolvent by a dividend payment, or when the payment would be contrary to any restrictions in the corporation's certificate of incorporation. Under the NYBCL, dividends may be paid out of surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits.

Limitation of Personal Liability of Directors

 

Under the IBCL, a director is not liable for any action taken as a director, or any failure to act, unless the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of the director's office in compliance with the IBCL and the breach or failure to perform constitutes willful misconduct or recklessness. Subject to this standard, a director who votes for or assents to distributions in violation of the IBCL or Hill-Rom's articles of incorporation is personally liable to Hill-Rom for the amount of the illegal distribution and is entitled to contribution from the other directors who voted for or assented to such distribution and the shareholders who received the distribution.

 

Under the NYBCL, a director who performs his duties as a director, including his duty to act in good faith and with that degree of care which an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances, will not have any liability by reason of being a director of a corporation. Subject to this standard, directors who vote for any of the following actions are jointly and severally liable to the corporation to the extent of any injury arising therefrom: (i) declarations of dividends in violation of the NYBCL, (ii) purchases of shares of the corporation in violation of the NYBCL, (iii)  distributions of assets to shareholders after dissolution of the corporation without adequately providing for known liabilities of the corporation and (iv) making loans in violation of the NYBCL.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Indemnification of Officers and Directors / Insurance

 

Hill-Rom's articles of incorporation provide that the board of directors may authorize the corporation to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of Hill-Rom (an "Eligible Person") against all liability and reasonable expense incurred by such person on account of or arising out of that person's relationship to Hill-Rom, provided that such person is determined in the manner specified in the IBCL to have met the standards of conduct specified in the IBCL.

Hill-Rom's bylaws provide that Hill-Rom shall indemnify any Eligible Person if the Eligible Person is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any proceeding against all expenses, judgments, fines (including any excise tax or penalty assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Eligible Person in connection with such proceeding, but only (a) if the Eligible Person acted in good faith, and (b) (i) in the case of conduct in the Eligible Person's official capacity with Hill-Rom, if the Eligible Person acted in a manner which the Eligible Person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of Hill-Rom, or (ii) in the case of conduct other than in the Eligible Person's official capacity with Hill-Rom, if the Eligible Person acted in a manner which the Eligible Person reasonably believed was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the Eligible Person had reasonable cause to believe that the Eligible Person's conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that the Eligible Person's conduct was unlawful, and (d) if required by the IBCL, the corporation makes a determination that indemnification of the Eligible Person is permissible because the Eligible Person has met the standard of conduct as set forth in the IBCL. Hill-Rom must indemnify an Eligible Person who is wholly successful in defense of a proceeding in respect of expenses related to such proceeding. The provisions of the IBCL, the articles of incorporation and by-laws providing for indemnification of Eligible Person are not exclusive and the corporation may establish other arrangements for indemnity.

 

Welch Allyn's bylaws provide that, except as expressly prohibited by the NYBCL, Welch Allyn will indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director, officer and/or employee of Welch Allyn, or serves or served at the request of Welch Allyn as a director, officer, employee or fiduciary of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal thereof, except that no indemnification will be made to any person if his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of dishonesty and were material to the cause of action on which such action or proceeding was based, or if he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled, and except that no indemnification will be required with respect to any settlement of an action or threatened action without Welch Allyn's consent.

Welch Allyn's bylaws provide that, except as prohibited by the NYBCL, Welch Allyn, at its expense, may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Welch Allyn, or is or was serving at the request of Welch Allyn as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other entity, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Advancement of Expenses

 

The Hill-Rom bylaws provide that the expenses incurred by the Eligible Person in any proceeding shall be paid promptly by Hill-Rom upon demand and in advance of final disposition of the proceeding at the written request of the Eligible Person, if (a) the Eligible Person furnishes the corporation with a written affirmation of the Eligible Person's good faith belief that the Eligible Person has met the standard of conduct required by the Act or this Article, (b) the Eligible Person furnishes the Corporation with a written undertaking to repay such advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that the Eligible Person did not meet the standard of conduct that would entitle the Eligible Person to indemnification, and (c) if required by the Act, the Corporation makes a determination that the facts known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under the IBCL. Such advances shall be made without regard to the Eligible Person's ability to repay such expenses.

 

Welch Allyn's bylaws provide that expenses incurred by an indemnified person in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by Welch Allyn in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such indemnified person to repay such amount if, or to the extent that, he is not entitled to be indemnified by Welch Allyn or as otherwise authorized by law; provided, however, that such indemnified person shall cooperate in good faith with any request of Welch Allyn that common counsel be utilized by the parties to an action or proceeding who are similarly situated unless to do so would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between or among such parties.

Appraisal Rights

 

The IBCL does not afford dissenters' rights of appraisal if, at the time of a vote on a merger, share exchange or sale of substantially all assets of a corporation, the corporation's stock is listed on a national securities exchange. Hill-Rom common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Therefore, Hill-Rom's shareholders do not have dissenters' rights under the IBCL.

 

Under the NYBCL, holders of record of a corporation's common stock who do not vote in favor of a merger proposal have the right to dissent from the merger and obtain payment of the fair value of their shares if the merger is completed, but only if they follow the procedures and satisfy the conditions prescribed by the NYBCL, including delivering a written objection to the merger, including a notice of intent to demand payment, to the corporation before a vote is taken on the merger and not voting in favor of the merger proposal.

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  Hill-Rom   Welch Allyn

Certain Business Combination Restrictions

 

Pursuant to the IBCL, a business combination with an interested shareholder within five years of that shareholder's share acquisition date is not permitted, subject to certain exceptions. A corporation may only engage in a business combination with an interested shareholder if it is (1) approved in advance of such shareholder's share acquisition date by the board of directors, (2) approved at least five years after that shareholder's share acquisition date by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting shares not beneficially owned by the interested shareholder proposing the business combination or (3) meets certain equitable consideration requirements pursuant to the IBCL.

The Control Share Acquisitions Chapter of the IBCL contains provisions designed to protect minority shareholders in the event that a person makes a tender offer for or otherwise acquires shares giving the acquirer more than certain levels of ownership (20%, 33% and 50%) of the outstanding voting securities of an Indiana corporation having 100 or more shareholders. Under the Control Share Acquisitions Chapter, if an acquirer purchases such shares of a corporation that is subject to the Control Share Acquisitions Chapter, then the acquirer cannot vote such shares until each class or series of shares entitled to vote separately on the proposal approves the rights of the acquirer to vote the shares of the acquirer in excess of each level of ownership by a majority of all votes entitled to be cast by that group (excluding shares held by officers of the corporation, by employees of the corporation who are directors thereof and by the acquirer).

 

The NYBCL provides that a corporation may not engage in a business combination with an interested shareholder (which term includes shareholders who beneficially own at least 20% of the corporation's voting stock) for a five year period after the date that such person became an interested shareholder unless the transaction resulting in a person becoming an interested shareholder, or the business combination, was approved by the board of directors before that person became an interested shareholder. After the five-year period, a business combination between the interested shareholder and the corporation may occur if certain fair price requirements are met, or if the business combination is approved by a majority of the outstanding voting stock not beneficially owned by the interested shareholder.

However, the foregoing restriction does not apply to any domestic corporation that does not have a class of voting stock registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, unless the corporation's certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Welch Allyn's certificate of incorporation does not provide otherwise, so the foregoing restriction does not apply to Welch Allyn or its shareholders.

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INFORMATION ABOUT WELCH ALLYN

Business

Overview

        Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, is a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices, solutions and technologies. Founded in 1915, Welch Allyn was incorporated in the State of New York in 1946. Welch Allyn has been a privately held company throughout its 100-year history.

        Welch Allyn manufactures and supplies a broad range of products to hospitals, physician offices, surgery centers, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, integrated delivery networks, emergency departments, and office-based clinics on a global basis. With $684 million of net sales in the most recent fiscal year, Welch Allyn distributes its products in approximately 120 countries. Welch Allyn's product categories include Physical Assessment, Vital Signs and Cardiopulmonary, Thermometry and Blood Pressure, Women's Health and Office-Based Lighting and New Healthcare Delivery Systems (NHDS) and Other products. In recent years, Welch Allyn has built on its core competencies in diagnostic medical devices and history of innovation by expanding its business through a series of strategic acquisitions and expanding its presence in international markets. Welch Allyn's products are distributed domestically directly to hospitals and other healthcare institutions, as well as through numerous hospital, physician, surgical supply and other medical distributors with whom Welch Allyn has distribution agreements. In international markets, products are distributed either directly through Welch Allyn's global offices or through distributors, with the practice varying by country.

Agreement and Plan of Merger

        On June 16, 2015, Welch Allyn and Hill-Rom entered into the merger agreement, which provides for a merger in which Welch Allyn will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill-Rom.

Product Categories

        Welch Allyn has six major product categories: Physical Assessment, Vital Signs and Cardiopulmonary, Thermometry and Blood Pressure, Women's Health and Office-Based Lighting and New Healthcare Delivery System (NHDS) and Other.

        Welch Allyn's physical assessment products cover a wide range of devices used to complete patient physical exams. Welch Allyn's products include diagnostic sets and systems to conduct eye and ear examinations, ear, nose and throat (ENT) examinations, endoscopic examinations and skin examinations. Welch Allyn markets a broad range of physical assessment products, which include ophthalmoscopes, laryngoscopes, otoscopes, ENT and blood pressure instrument wall units, and disposable ear and nasal specula. Welch Allyn recently acquired the rights to make and sell the Spot™ Vision Screener and introduced a new version of the product. The Pocket LED otoscope and a model of the Suresight® vision screener for the Chinese market are also recently released physical assessment products. Welch Allyn also markets the PanOptic™ Opthalmoscope, with its Patented Axial PointSource™ Optic and the 767 Series Wall Unit.

        In March 2014, Welch Allyn entered into a joint venture with EMX International, LLC to develop breath diagnostic screening technology to screen for life threatening diseases.

        On May 4, 2015, Welch Allyn acquired substantially all the assets of Scale-Tronix, Inc. giving Welch Allyn a full line of scales and patient weighing systems.

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        Welch Allyn's vital signs monitoring products include a broad range of devices used to monitor key vital parameters, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, blood oxygen saturation (Sp02) and respiration. Products include the recently released Connex Spot Monitor (CSM), as well as the Connex Vital Signs Monitor (CVSM), Connex® Clinical Surveillance Systems (including optional EarlySense® non-contact vitals and motion surveillance), the Propaq® LT Monitor, the Spot Vital Signs® Device and the Vital Signs Monitor 300® Series.

        Welch Allyn's diagnostic cardiopulmonary devices include electrocardiographs, ambulatory blood pressure monitors, spirometry, holter systems, data management systems and the CardioPerfect® workstation. Welch Allyn's ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices, the ABPM 6100 and ABPM 7100, provide portable 24-hour ambulatory monitoring. The CardioPerfect Workstation is a comprehensive cardiopulmonary data management system that allows hospitals to transform any computer or laptop into an efficient diagnostic tool for connected stress testing. The SpiroPerfect® PC-Based Spirometer allows clinicians to see and compare results from pulmonary function tests within seconds. In June 2014, Welch Allyn acquired a 31% equity investment and exclusive commercial rights to Cardiac Insight Inc.'s disposable continuously recording electrocardiogram monitoring body-worn sensor.

        Welch Allyn's thermometry products include devices in electronic thermistor thermometry and infra-red thermometry. Welch Allyn markets a broad range of thermometry devices, including electronic SureTemp thermometers for obtaining oral, axillary and rectal temperatures, infra-red ear thermometers and related probe cover disposables for both types of thermometers. Welch Allyn's thermometry products include the Braun ThemoScan™ Pro 4000 and recently released Pro6000 infra-red ear thermometers, the CareTemp™ Touch Free non-contact infra-red thermometer and SureTemp Plus 690 and SureTemp Plus 692 electronic thermometers. In September 2014, Welch Allyn entered into a licensing agreement with Gentag Inc. to co-develop, manufacture and exclusively distribute patient worn skin-patch temperature sensors.

        Welch Allyn's blood pressure products cover a wide range of devices designed for blood pressure monitoring and management. These products cover five main product categories: disposable and reusable blood pressure cuffs, mechanical blood pressure measurement (sphygmomanometers), oscillometric digital blood pressure devices, stethoscopes and home blood pressure devices. Welch Allyn's line of disposable and reusable blood pressure cuffs include the FlexiPort® Reusable, Disposable and Single Patient Use blood pressure cuffs, NeonatalR One Piece Disposable blood pressure cuffs, Trimline™ Disposable, Reusable and Two Piece Reusable blood pressure cuffs and Welch Allyn's Two Piece Reusable Blood Pressure Cuffs. Welch Allyn offers a portfolio of blood pressure monitors, including the Connex ProBP Digital Blood Pressure Device and the ProBP 2400 Blood Pressure Device. Welch Allyn also offers a wide variety of products across the mechanical blood pressure measurement product line, including the Bronze Series DS44 Integrated Aneroids.

        Welch Allyn's women's health products include devices to support women's physical examinations, including disposable vaginal specula and related corded and cordless illumination and lighting systems. Illumination systems include the KleenSpec® Single Use LED Vaginal Specula, the KleenSpec Corded Illumination System and the KleenSpec Cordless Illumination System. Welch Allyn also markets the KleenSpec Disposable Vaginal Specula, the KleenSpec Disposable Vaginal Specula with Attached Sheath, the KleenSpec Disposable Vaginal Specula with Smoke Tube and the KleenSpec Disposable Vaginal Specula, Economy Series.

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        Welch Allyn began commercializing new acquired technologies, including a software-based telehealth solution that communicates with clinicians and helps clinicians to monitor patients in their homes, and diabetic retinopathy screening through a network designed for healthcare providers and payors who want to improve management of patients with diabetes, by enabling retinal images to be taken in a primary care setting and securely transmitted to an ophthalmologist for interpretation.

        Welch Allyn also provides service repairs and parts for its products.

Research and Development (R&D)

        Welch Allyn is engaged in both internal and external R&D in an effort to introduce new products, to enhance the effectiveness, ease of use, safety and reliability of its existing products, and to expand the applications for which the uses of its products are appropriate. Welch Allyn employs over 200 engineers and has over 390 active patents, with more than 210 pending patent applications.

        Welch Allyn's R&D expenditures were $14.1 million and $49.8 million in the three months ended April 4, 2015 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, respectively.

        In addition to internal efforts, Welch Allyn also continues to innovate through strategic transactions and acquisitions. Welch Allyn evaluates opportunities in a "make versus buy" context and its R&D team is actively involved in the evaluation of strategic transactions. Since 2013, R&D spending has been strategically re-allocated towards corporate development activity. Welch Allyn's R&D spending as a percentage of consolidated sales was 8.5% and 7.3% in the three months ended April 4, 2015 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, respectively, while its corporate development investment spending was 1.5% and 3.3% for the three months ended April 4, 2015 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, respectively.

International

        Welch Allyn markets its products to customers in approximately 120 countries outside the United States. The products sold in the international markets include many of the products described above. However, the principal markets, products and methods of distribution in Welch Allyn's international businesses vary with market size and stage of development. Welch Allyn's principal international markets are currently in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India ("EMEA&I") and Japan, Asia Pacific, Australia/New Zealand and China ("JAPAC"). Welch Allyn also generates sales in Latin America and Canada. Welch Allyn expects to continue investing to expand sales and marketing resources in order to capitalize on opportunities in certain of its markets, including China, India, Latin America and the Middle East.

        Welch Allyn's foreign operations are subject to certain financial and other risks, and international operations in general present complex tax and cash management issues. Relationships with customers and terms of sale frequently vary by country. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations can affect income and cash flows of international operations.

Patents and Trademarks

        Patents and other proprietary rights are important to Welch Allyn's business. Welch Allyn also relies upon trade secrets, manufacturing know-how, continuing technological innovations and licensing opportunities to maintain and improve its competitive position.

        Welch Allyn owns an extensive portfolio of patents and has numerous patent applications pending in the United States and in certain foreign countries that relate to aspects of the technology used in many of Welch Allyn's products. Welch Allyn's policy is to file patent applications in the United States

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and foreign countries where rights are available and where Welch Allyn believes it is commercially advantageous to do so. However, the standards for international protection of intellectual property vary widely. Welch Allyn enforces its intellectual property rights consistent with its strategic business objectives. Welch Allyn does not consider its business to be materially dependent upon any individual patent or license.

        "Welch Allyn" is Welch Allyn's principal registered trademark throughout the world, and registrations have been obtained or are pending with respect to various other trademarks associated with Welch Allyn's products. Unless otherwise noted herein, all trademarks contained herein are owned by Welch Allyn or one of its subsidiaries.

Government Regulation

        Most aspects of Welch Allyn's business are subject to some degree of government regulation in the countries in which Welch Allyn's operations are conducted. It has always been the practice of Welch Allyn to comply with the regulatory requirements governing its products and operations and to conduct its affairs in an ethical manner. This practice is reflected in Welch Allyn's policies regarding anti-bribery, ethics and compliance matters, various other compliance policies and through the responsibility of the Audit Committee of Welch Allyn's board of directors to review Welch Allyn's systems of internal control and Welch Allyn's process for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations. For some products, and in some areas of the world such as the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe, government regulation is significant and, in general, there appears to be a trend toward more stringent regulation throughout the world, as well as global harmonization of various regulatory requirements. In addition, governmental bodies in the United States and throughout the world have expressed concern about the costs relating to healthcare and, in some cases, have focused attention on the pricing of medical devices. Government regulation regarding pricing of medical devices already exists in some countries and may be expanded in the United States and other countries in the future. Welch Allyn devotes significant time, effort and expense to addressing the extensive government and regulatory requirements applicable to its business. Governmental regulatory actions can result in the recall or seizure of products, suspension or revocation of the authority necessary for the production or sale of a product and other civil and criminal sanctions. Welch Allyn believes that it is no more or less adversely affected by existing government regulations than its competitors.

        Welch Allyn's products are medical devices subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other U.S. federal and state regulatory bodies and comparable authorities in other countries. To ensure that medical products distributed domestically and internationally are safe and effective for their intended use, the FDA and comparable authorities in other countries have imposed regulations that govern, among other things, the design, manufacture and testing of Welch Allyn products. Other countries and jurisdictions around the world impose similar standards on international manufacture and sales of Welch Allyn products.

        There are also various federal healthcare laws that apply when Welch Allyn's customers submit claims for items or services that are reimbursed under Medicare, Medicaid or other federally-funded healthcare programs, including among others: (1) the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits offers to pay or receive remuneration of any kind for the purpose of inducing or rewarding referrals of items or services reimbursable by a federal healthcare program; (2) the False Claims Act, which prohibits the submission of false or otherwise improper claims for payment to a federally-funded health care program; and (3) the Stark law, which prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to a provider that bills these programs for the provision of certain designated health services if

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the physician (or a member of the physician's immediate family) has a financial relationship with that provider. There are often similar state false claims, anti-kickback and anti-self referral and insurance laws that apply to state-funded Medicaid and other healthcare programs and private third-party payors.

        Welch Allyn is also subject to various federal, state and foreign laws that protect the confidentiality of certain patient health information, including patient medical records, and restrict the use and disclosure of patient health information by healthcare providers, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"), and the HITECH Act, which modified certain provisions of the HIPAA privacy and security rules for Covered Entities and their "Business Associates."

        Welch Allyn is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations regulating the discharge of materials into the environment and otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. Welch Allyn does not believe that it will be required to spend any material amounts in order to comply with these laws and regulations or that compliance with such laws and regulations will materially affect its capital expenditures, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Employees

        As of December 31, 2014, Welch Allyn's global business operations employed approximately 2,500 people. No Welch Allyn employees are currently organized into labor unions.

Property

        Welch Allyn's principal executive offices are located at 4341 State Street Road, Skaneateles Falls, New York 13153. Welch Allyn operates in approximately 26 offices around the world. Welch Allyn's products are manufactured in Skaneateles Falls, New York, Tijuana, Mexico and Suzhou, China. Each manufacturing facility is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and compliant with ISO 13485 standards. Welch Allyn owns three R&D facilities: one in Skaneateles Falls, New York, one in Beaverton, Oregon, and one in Singapore.

Legal Matters

        Welch Allyn is involved in various proceedings, legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business and with third parties, including proceedings related to product liability, commercial litigation, intellectual property and employee and labor matters. The outcomes of certain of these legal matters may not be known for an extended period of time. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties, and it is possible that certain of these matters may be resolved unfavorably to Welch Allyn. Based on the advice of Welch Allyn's domestic and foreign counsel in these matters, Welch Allyn believes that it is unlikely that the resolution of any of these matters and any liabilities will be material to Welch Allyn's financial position, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        The following discussion and analysis of Welch Allyn's financial condition and results of operations should be read together with Welch Allyn's consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See the section entitled "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" beginning on page 37 of this proxy statement/prospectus. Welch Allyn's actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 29 of this proxy statement/prospectus and elsewhere in this proxy

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statement/prospectus. Welch Allyn analyzes net sales on a constant currency basis to better measure the comparability of results between periods. Net sales "on a constant currency basis" is a non-GAAP measure. See the section entitled "—Welch Allyn Management's Use of Non-GAAP Measures" below for more information regarding net sales on a constant currency basis and "—Results of Operations" below for a reconciliation setting forth the currency impact of Welch Allyn's net sales for the periods indicated.

Executive Overview

        The following represents financial highlights for the three months ended April 4, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014:

        The following represents financial highlights for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013:

        Welch Allyn's earnings are driven by its ability to continue to generate sales of its products and improve operating efficiency. Welch Allyn's ability to increase sales over time depends upon its success in developing, acquiring and marketing differentiated products that meet the needs of clinicians and their patients. Welch Allyn engages in internal and external R&D in an effort to introduce new products, to enhance effectiveness, ease of use, safety and reliability of its existing products and to expand the applications for which the uses of its products are appropriate. In 2014, Welch Allyn's R&D expense as a percentage of net sales was 7.3%. Welch Allyn also makes selective acquisitions of businesses, products and technologies, generally focusing on small-to-medium sized transactions to provide ongoing growth opportunities. In addition, Welch Allyn may, from time-to-time, consider acquisitions of larger, established companies. Welch Allyn may also periodically divest lines of business in which it is not able to reasonably attain or maintain a leadership position in the market or for other strategic reasons. Welch Allyn spent $24.3 million in 2014 for the acquisition of and investment in businesses, products and technologies. Moreover, excluding revenue from discontinued product lines, revenues increased approximately 3% per year on a constant currency basis over the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2014.

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The Merger

        On June 16, 2015, Welch Allyn entered into the merger agreement with Hill-Rom and Merger Sub. Under the merger agreement, Welch Allyn will be acquired for $1.625 billion in cash (which is subject to adjustment) and 8,133,722 shares of Hill-Rom common stock. Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn expect to complete the merger prior to September 30, 2015, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the merger contained in the merger agreement. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn could require Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn to complete the merger at a later time or not complete it at all. Hill-Rom is expected to fund the cash consideration with a combination of new debt and cash on hand. The closing of the merger is not conditioned on the receipt of any debt financing by Hill-Rom. Hill-Rom, however, is not required to consummate the merger until the completion of the marketing period.

        For a full description of the merger, see the section titled "The Merger" beginning on page 44 of this proxy statement/prospectus.

Acquisitions

        On May 4, 2015, Welch Allyn acquired substantially all the assets of Scale-Tronix, Inc., which developed, manufactured and sold scales and patient weighing systems, for an aggregate purchase price of $40.0 million.

        On January 1, 2015, Welch Allyn acquired Hubble Telemedical, Inc., which developed and sold technology enabling remote diabetic retinopathy screening and analysis, for an aggregate purchase price of $5.2 million, including $3.1 million which represents the estimated fair value of contingent consideration Welch Allyn expects to pay to the former shareholders upon the achievement of certain financial milestones.

        On November 7, 2014, Welch Allyn acquired certain assets of HealthInterlink, LLC, which developed and manufactured products for remote patient monitoring, for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 million, including $0.2 million of additional consideration payable contingent upon achieving certain performance targets.

        On June 3, 2014, Welch Allyn acquired certain assets of PediaVision Holdings LLC's, a developer of vision screening technology, for an aggregate purchase price of $8.1 million, including $0.5 million of additional consideration payable contingent upon achieving certain performance targets.

2012 Restructuring

        In September 2012, Welch Allyn began restructuring its business and realigning resources in response to rapidly changing global healthcare markets (the "2012 Restructuring"). As part of the 2012 Restructuring, Welch Allyn established new product development and technology centers in New York, Oregon and Singapore; created a global finance shared service center in Mexico; consolidated its North American manufacturing and related support functions at its largest facilities in New York and Mexico; and hired employees to support new demands resulting from changes in the global healthcare market, while reducing its workforce by approximately 10% through voluntary and involuntary terminations. Welch Allyn incurred $0.3 million of restructuring charges for the three months ended April 4, 2015 related to completion of the 2012 Restructuring, a decrease of $4.1 million, or 92.2%, compared to $4.4 million of restructuring charges incurred by Welch Allyn in the three months ended March 29, 2014. Welch Allyn incurred $7.1 million, $19.7 million and $13.1 million in restructuring charges during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These restructuring costs included $0.3 million, $5.9 million, $11.7 million and $3.9 million in restructuring cost of goods sold during the three months ended April 4, 2015 and the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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Results of Operations

        The following table presents comparative operating results for the years discussed within Management's Discussion and Analysis:

 
  Three Months Ended   Year Ended December 31,  
 
  April 4,
2015
  March 29,
2014
  2014   2013   2012  
 
  (dollars in millions)
 

Net Sales

  $ 164.5   $ 160.6   $ 683.8   $ 700.9   $ 683.1  

Cost of Goods Sold

    81.9     81.4     334.5     348.6     337.2  

Restructuring Cost of Goods Sold(1)

    0.3     2.2     5.9     11.7     3.9  

Gross Margin

    82.3     77.0     343.4     340.6     342.0  

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

    77.5     66.3     278.7     295.1     289.0  

Restructuring Charges

        2.2     1.1     7.9     9.2  

Trademark Impairment

                2.5     5.0  

Operating Income

    4.8     8.5     63.6     35.1     38.8  

Investment Income—Net of interest expense

    0.2     0.1     2.7     2.2     1.3  

Other Income (Expense)

    (0.1 )   (0.1 )   2.6     4.2     2.5  

Income before provision for income taxes

    4.9     8.5     68.8     41.5     42.6  

Provision for income taxes

    1.6     3.0     20.2     10.3     12.2  

Net Income

  $ 3.3   $ 5.5   $ 48.7   $ 31.2   $ 30.4  

(1)
Restructuring Cost of Goods Sold includes severance and costs related to moving and consolidating product lines in Welch Allyn's New York and Mexico facilities, as well as third party consulting fees to help Welch Allyn increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its sourcing.

Three Months Ended April 4, 2015 Compared to Three Months Ended March 29, 2014

Net Sales

        Welch Allyn's net sales for the three months ended April 4, 2015 increased $3.9 million, or 2.5% on a reported basis and $8.0 million, or 5.0%, on a constant currency basis, compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014.

        The following table presents net sales by geography:

 
  Three Months Ended    
   
   
 
 
  April 4, 2015   March 29, 2014    
   
   
 
 
   
   
  Percentage
Change
Constant
Currency
 
 
  Net Sales   Percentage
of Worldwide
Net Sales
  Net Sales   Percentage
of Worldwide
Net Sales
  Percentage
Change
Reported
  Currency
Impact
 
 
  (dollars in
millions)

   
  (dollars in
millions)

   
   
   
   
 

United States

  $ 107.3     65.3 % $ 99.1     61.7 %   8.3 %   0 %   8.3 %

EMEA&I

    30.1     18.3     31.2     19.4     (3.5 )%   (7.3 )%   3.8 %

JAPAC

    11.1     6.7     10.1     6.3     10.0 %   (5.4 )%   15.4 %

Canada

    9.0     5.4     12.7     7.9     (29.5 )%   (8.3 )%   (21.2 )%

Latin America

    7.0     4.3     7.5     4.7     (6.2 )%   (2.5 )%   (3.7 )%

Total

  $ 164.5     100.0 % $ 160.6     100.0 %   2.5 %   (2.5 )%   5.0 %

        Net sales in the United States for the three months ended April 4, 2015 increased $8.2 million, or 8.3%, compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014 primarily due to increased sales of Physical

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Assessment products (including $2.3 million of sales in the three months ended April 4, 2015 attributable to the Pediavision Acquisition, which was completed on June 3, 2014) as well as Thermometry products and Women's Health products which were favorably affected by U.S. distributors purchasing significantly less product from overseas compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014 and an increase in unit volume sales of Blood Pressure products.

        Net sales in Canada for the three months ended April 4, 2015 decreased $3.7 million, or 29.5%, on a reported basis and $2.7 million or 21.2% on a constant currency basis. The decline in net sales in Canada was primarily due to a large hospital order for Vital Signs products in the three months ended March 29, 2014 that did not reoccur in the three months ended April 4, 2015.

        Net sales in EMEA&I for the three months ended April 4, 2015 decreased $1.1 million, or 3.5%, on a reported basis and increased $1.2 million, or 3.8%, on a constant currency basis compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014, primarily due to a large order for low acuity vitals products in the United Kingdom that was partially offset by lower Physical Assessment and Women's Health sales in the Middle East as Welch Allyn implemented controls preventing sales to distributors in this region who were selling these products back to U.S. distributors.

        Net sales in JAPAC for the three months ended April 4, 2015 increased $1.0 million, or 10.0%, on a reported basis and $1.5 million, or 15.4%, on a constant currency basis compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014, primarily due to increased sales of Physical Assessment products in China and Thermometry and Physical Assessment products in other Asian countries as Welch Allyn focused on growth in China and other Asian countries.

        Net sales in Latin America decreased $0.5 million, or 6.2%, on a reported basis and $0.3 million, or 3.7%, on a constant currency basis primarily due to a decrease in net sales in Mexico as a result of lower sales to the Mexican government.

Gross Margin

 
  Three Months Ended    
 
 
  April 4,
2015
  March 29,
2014
  Percentage
Change
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
   
 

Net Sales

  $ 164.5   $ 160.6     2.5 %

Cost of Goods Sold

  $ 81.9   $ 81.4     0.7 %

Percentage of Net Sales

    49.8 %   50.7 %      

Restructuring Cost of Goods Sold

  $ 0.3   $ 2.2     (84.5 )%

Percentage of Net Sales

    0.2 %   1.4 %      

Gross Margin

  $ 82.3   $ 77.0     6.9 %

Percentage of Net Sales

    50.0 %   47.9 %      

        Welch Allyn's gross margin for the three months ended April 4, 2015 increased $5.3 million, or 6.9%, compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended April 4, 2015 was 50.0%, an increase of 210 basis points compared to 47.9% for the three months ended March 29, 2014. The increase is primarily due to an increase in net sales, as discussed above, and a decrease in cost of goods sold, as a percentage of net sales, and restructuring cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales decreased by 90 basis points, primarily due to lower manufacturing costs from the consolidation of manufacturing facilities, as well as the completion of certain material cost savings initiatives. Restructuring cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales decreased by 120 basis points primarily because the consolidation of Welch Allyn's manufacturing facilities was substantially completed in 2014.

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Other

 
  Three Months Ended    
 
 
  April 4,
2015
  March 29,
2014
  Percentage
Change
 
 
  (dollars in millions)
   
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  $ 77.5   $ 66.3     17.0 %

Percent of Net Sales

    47.1 %   41.3 %      

Restructuring charges

  $ 0.0   $ 2.2     (100.0 )%

Investment Income—net of Interest Expense

  $ 0.2   $ 0.1     44.1 %

Other Income (Expense)

  $ (0.1 ) $ (0.1 )   %

Provision for income taxes

  $ 1.6   $ 3.0     (44.5 )%

Effective tax rate

    33.6 %   35.2 %      

        Welch Allyn's selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended April 4, 2015 increased $11.2 million, or 17.0%, compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase in Welch Allyn's Long-Term Incentive Plan expense of $11.2 million, which was due to an increase in the deemed market value of phantom incentive grants and options. Welch Allyn incurred $2.2 million of restructuring charges in the three months ended March 29, 2014 compared to no restructuring charges in the three months ended April 4, 2015. The 2012 Restructuring was substantially completed in 2014.

        Welch Allyn incurred $14.1 million in R&D expenses for the three months ended April 4, 2015, an increase of 15.1% compared to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 29, 2014, primarily due to an increase in Welch Allyn's Long-Term Incentive Plan expense attributable to R&D employees.

        Welch Allyn's provision for income taxes for the three months ended April 4, 2015 decreased $1.3 million, or 44.5%, compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014 primarily due to a decrease in operating income for that period as well as a decrease in the effective tax rate to 33.6% for the three months ended April 4, 2015 compared to 35.2% for the three months ended March 29, 2014. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to lower non-recurring permanent add-backs related to entity restructuring and the Welch-Allyn owned life insurance program.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013

        Welch Allyn's net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $17.1 million, or 2.4%, on a reported basis and $12.0 million, or 1.7%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

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        The following table presents net sales by geography:

 
  Fiscal Year Ended December 31,    
   
   
 
 
  2014   2013    
   
   
 
 
   
   
  Percentage
Change
Constant
Currency
 
 
  Net Sales   Percentage
of Worldwide
Net Sales
  Net Sales   Percentage
of Worldwide
Net Sales
  Percentage
Change
Reported
  Currency
impact
 
 
  (dollars in
millions)

   
  (dollars in
millions)

   
   
   
   
 

United States

  $ 441.8     64.6 % $ 460.5     65.7 %   (4.1 )%   0 %   (4.1 )%

EMEA&I

    112.0     16.4     110.9     15.8     1.1 %   0.1 %   1.0 %

JAPAC

    59.2     8.7     60.1     8.6     (1.6 )%   (3.9 )%   2.3 %

Canada

    35.4     5.2     35.3     5.0     0.2 %   (7.2 )%   7.4 %

Latin America

    35.4     5.2     34.1     4.9     3.7 %   (1.1 )%   4.8 %

Total

  $ 683.8     100.0 % $ 700.9     100.0 %   (2.4 )%   (0.7 )%   (1.7 )%

        Net sales in the United States for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $18.7 million, or 4.1%, on a reported basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 primarily due to a $15.0 million decrease in sales to Veterans Affairs hospitals, discontinuation of the Continuous Monitoring product line and a decrease in Thermometry, Physical Assessment and Women's Health disposable sales as U.S. distributors purchased such products from distributors overseas. The decrease was partially offset by $4.0 million of sales attributable to the Pediavision acquisition in 2014.

        Net sales in Canada for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 increased $0.1 million, or 0.2%, on a reported basis and $2.6 million, or 7.4%, on a constant currency basis due to a large hospital order for Vital Signs products in 2014.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 in JAPAC decreased $0.9 million, or 1.6%, on a reported basis and increased $1.4 million, or 2.3%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to an increase in sales in the Vital Signs product category in Australia. The increase on a constant currency basis was partially offset by a decline in Continuous Monitoring sales as this product line was discontinued.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 in EMEA&I increased $1.2 million, or 1.1%, on a reported basis and $1.1 million, or 1.0%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to growth in the United Kingdom, India and the Middle East as Welch Allyn focused on channel development in these regions. The increase was partially offset by declines in France and Germany due to Welch Allyn's discontinuation of Continuous Monitoring products.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 in Latin America increased $1.3 million, or 3.7%, on a reported basis and $1.6 million, or 4.8%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to several large orders in the Thermometry, Cardiopulmonary and Physical Assessment product lines, partially offset by a decrease in net sales due to the discontinuation of Welch Allyn's Continuous Monitoring product line and OEM distribution product lines.

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  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
   
 
 
  Percentage
Change
 
 
  2014   2013  
 
  (dollars in millions)
   
 

Net Sales

  $ 683.8   $ 700.9     (2.4 )%

Cost of Goods Sold

  $ 334.5   $ 348.6     (4.1 )%

Percentage of Net Sales

    48.9 %   49.7 %      

Restructuring Cost of Goods Sold

  $ 5.9   $ 11.7     (49.6 )%

Percentage of Net Sales

    0.9 %   1.7 %      

Gross Margin

  $ 343.4   $ 340.6     0.8 %

Percentage of Net Sales

    50.2 %   48.6 %      

        Welch Allyn's gross margin for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 increased $2.8 million, or 0.8%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to lower cost of goods and a reduction in restructuring cost of goods. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in net sales, as discussed above. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 was 50.2%, an increase of 160 basis points compared to 48.6% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily due to a reduction in the cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales resulting from the consolidation of manufacturing facilities and initiatives led by Welch Allyn's sourcing group to reduce the cost of components, including by negotiating with vendors and sourcing lower cost components. Restructuring cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales decreased by 80 basis points, primarily due to a reduction in severance costs and lower third party consulting fees to help Welch Allyn increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its sourcing.

 
  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
   
 
 
  Percentage
Change
 
 
  2014   2013  
 
  (dollars in millions)
   
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  $ 278.7   $ 295.1     (5.6 )%

Percent of Net Sales

    40.8 %   42.1 %      

Restructuring charges

  $ 1.1   $ 7.9     (85.6 )%

Investment Income—net of Interest Expense

  $ 2.7   $ 2.2     21.3 %

Other Income

  $ 2.6   $ 4.2     (38.8 )%

Provision for income taxes

  $ 20.2   $ 10.3     95.8 %

Effective tax rate

    29.3 %   24.8 %      

        Welch Allyn's selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $16.4 million, or 5.6%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to a $10.2 million decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as a result of the 2012 Restructuring as well as initiatives to lower expenses attributable to travel, trade shows, training programs, telephone calls and other discretionary expenses, an $8.8 million decrease in bonus expenses attributable to lower achievements of 2014 bonus targets compared to 2013 bonus targets and a $2.2 million decrease in R&D expenses resulting from termination of an R&D services contract. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.4 million increase in Welch Allyn's Long-Term Incentive Plan expenses due to an increase in the deemed market value of phantom incentive grants and options and a $2.4 million increase in DISC commissions.

        Welch Allyn incurred $7.1 million in restructuring charges during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of $12.6 million, or 64.0%, compared to $19.7 million in the fiscal year

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ended December 31, 2013. Restructuring charges in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, included $3.6 million and $11.9 million of severance expenses and other benefits provided to affected employees and $1.4 million and $4.8 million of consulting and legal fees, including third party consulting fees to help the company increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its sourcing function, $1.3 million and $0.8 million of expenses related primarily to the move and consolidation of product lines to New York and Mexico, $0.8 million and $1.4 million of travel and temporary wages paid to backfill employees and zero and $0.8 million of expenses attributable to accelerated depreciation, increased inventory reserves and the repayment of Ireland's research tax credit. These restructuring costs included $5.9 million and $11.7 million in restructuring cost of goods sold during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        Welch Allyn incurred $49.8 million in R&D expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of 7.8% compared to $54.0 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to a $2.2 million decrease in R&D expenses resulting from the termination of an R&D services contract and a $2.1 million reduction in bonus expenses.

        Welch Allyn recorded no trademark impairment charge in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, whereas Welch Allyn recorded a $2.5 million impairment on the Trimline trademark in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 as sales of the FlexiPort product line displaced sales of the Trimline product line due to hospitals implementing standardized use of the FlexiPort product line to monitor blood pressure.

        Welch Allyn's investment income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 increased $0.5 million, or 21.3%, to $2.7 million, compared to $2.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to an increase of $0.3 million, or 20.7%, in gains on the sale of securities and an increase of $0.1 million, or 23.3%, of net interest income. Welch Allyn's other income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $1.6 million, or 38.8%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to a $3.8 million, or 67.2%, decrease in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies owned by Welch Allyn and a $0.8 million, or 68.0% increase, in unrealized foreign exchange loss, partially offset by a $2.1 million foreign exchange gain on recapitalization of Welch Allyn's Brazil legal entity and a $1.1 million unrealized gain on an equity investment.

        Welch Allyn's provision for income taxes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 increased $9.9 million, or 95.8%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to higher operating income and an increase in the effective tax rate in 2014. The 2013 effective tax rate was favorably affected by 4.9% compared to the 2014 effective tax rate due to tax benefits consisting primarily of a one-time "catch-up" for the reinstatement of an R&D tax credit.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012

        Welch Allyn's net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 increased $17.8 million, or 2.6%, on a reported basis and $21.0 million, or 3.1%, on a constant currency basis compared to net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

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        The following table presents net sales by geography:

 
  Fiscal Year Ended December 31,    
   
   
 
 
  2013   2012    
   
   
 
 
   
   
  Percentage
Change
Constant
Currency
 
 
  Net Sales   Percentage
of Worldwide
Net Sales
  Net Sales   Percentage
of Worldwide
Net Sales
  Percentage
Change
Reported
  Constant
Currency
 
 
  (dollars in
millions)

   
  (dollars in
millions)

   
   
   
   
 

United States

  $ 460.5     65.7 % $ 449.6     65.8 %   2.4 %   0 %   2.4 %

EMEA&I

    110.9     15.8     102.2     15.0     8.5 %   (0.3 )%   8.8 %

JAPAC

    60.1     8.6     58.2     8.5     3.3 %   (3.2 )%   6.5 %

Canada

    35.3     5.0     36.8     5.4     (4.0 )%   (2.4 )%   (1.6 )%

Latin America

    34.1     4.9     36.3     5.3     (6.1 )%   (0.5 )%   (5.6 )%

Total

  $ 700.9     100.0 % $ 683.1     100.0 %   2.6 %   (0.5 )%   3.1 %

        Net sales in the United States for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 increased $10.9 million, or 2.4% compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $19.8 million increase in sales to Veterans Affairs hospitals and partially offset by a decline in Continuous Monitoring sales as Welch Allyn reduced focus on this product line in preparation to discontinue it in 2014.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 in Canada decreased by $1.5 million, or 4.0%, on a reported basis and $0.6 million, or 1.6%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a decline in Physical Assessment sales due to soft market conditions in Canada.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 in JAPAC increased by $1.9 million, or 3.3%, on a reported basis and $3.8 million, or 6.5%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to growth in China, mainly in Thermometry and Blood Pressure products due to stocking orders shipped at the end of 2013, as well as growth in Australia. This increase was partially offset by a decline in sales in Japan.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 in EMEA&I increased $8.7 million, or 8.5%, on a reported basis and $9.0 million, or 8.8%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to growth in the Middle East and the United Kingdom in most product lines as Welch Allyn focused on channel development in both of these regions.

        Net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 in Latin America decreased $2.2 million, or 6.1%, on a reported basis and $2.0 million, or 5.6%, on a constant currency basis compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to Welch Allyn's discontinuation of OEM distribution in the region and partially offset by growth in the Thermometry and Blood Pressure, Physical Assessment and Vital Signs and Cardiopulmonary product lines as Welch Allyn focused on growth in these product lines instead of the OEM distribution products.

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  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
   
 
 
  Percentage
Change
 
 
  2013   2012  
 
  (dollars in millions)
   
 

Net Sales

  $ 700.9   $ 683.1     2.6 %

Cost of Goods Sold

  $ 348.6   $ 337.2     3.4 %

Percentage of Net Sales

    49.7 %   49.4 %      

Restructuring Cost of Goods Sold

  $ 11.7   $ 3.9     200.8 %

Percentage of Net Sales

    1.7 %   0.6 %      

Gross Margin

  $ 340.6   $ 342.0     (0.4 )%

Percentage of Net Sales

    48.6 %   50.1 %      

        Welch Allyn's gross margin for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 decreased $1.4 million, or 0.4%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to an increase in restructuring cost of goods sold of $7.8 million and partially offset by an increase in net sales described above. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 was 48.6%, a decrease of 150 basis points compared to 50.1% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The decrease was primarily due to the 2012 Restructuring. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales increased by 30 basis points primarily due to an increase in the Long-Term Incentive Plan expense of $2.1 million and an increase in company bonuses of $1.2 million.

        Restructuring cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales increased by 110 basis points primarily due to the consolidation of manufacturing activities and $4.5 million of third party consulting fees to help Welch Allyn increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its sourcing.

 
  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
   
 
 
  Percentage
Change
 
 
  2013   2012  
 
  (dollars in millions)
   
 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  $ 295.1   $ 289.0     2.1 %

Percent of Net Sales

    42.1 %   42.3 %      

Restructuring charges

  $ 7.9   $ 9.2     (14.2 )%

Investment Income—net of Interest Expense

  $ 2.2   $ 1.3     74.1 %

Other Income (Loss)

  $ 4.2   $ 2.5     65.4  

Provision for income taxes

  $ 10.3   $ 12.2     (15.2 )%

Effective tax rate

    24.8 %   28.5 %      

        Welch Allyn's selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 increased $6.1 million, or 2.1%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The increase was primarily due to a $10.3 million increase in Long-Term Incentive Plan expenses, a $6.9 million increase in expenses attributable to medical device taxes, which were introduced in 2013, a $7.1 million increase in company bonus expenses, a $1.7 million increase in DISC Commissions and $0.9 million in termination costs related to termination of an R&D services contract. The increase was partially offset by decreases of $17.5 million in expenses as a result of Welch Allyn's corporate restructuring program and related discretionary expense management initiatives, as well as a $3.1 million reduction in other project expenses.

        Welch Allyn incurred $26.4 million in bonus expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 45.9% compared to $18.1 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily

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due to improved performance in reaching bonus targets. Welch Allyn incurred $20.3 million in Long-Term Incentive Plan expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of 155.8% compared to $7.9 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to an increase in the deemed market value of phantom incentive grants and options.

        Welch Allyn incurred $19.7 million in expenses relating to its restructuring plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, a $6.5 million, or 49.7%, increase compared to $13.1 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. Restructuring expenses in the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, included $11.9 million and $11.2 million of severance and other benefits provided to affected employees, $0.8 million and $0.1 million of expenses related primarily to the move and consolidation of product lines to New York and Mexico, $1.4 million and $0.0 million including travel and temporary wages paid to backfill employees, $4.8 million and $0.9 million of consulting expenses and legal fees and $0.8 million and $0.9 million of expenses attributable to accelerated depreciation, increased inventory reserves and repayment of a research tax credit to the Irish government. These restructuring costs included $11.7 million and $3.9 million in restructuring cost of goods sold during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

        Welch Allyn incurred $54.0 million in R&D expenses for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, a 6.2% decrease compared to $57.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $3.1 million reduction in project expenses and $3.1 million in savings from the 2012 Restructuring. The decrease was partially offset by a $1.8 million increase in bonus expenses and a $1.8 million increase in Long-term Incentive Plan expense,

        Welch Allyn recorded a $2.5 million impairment on the Trimline trademark in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, as sales of the FlexiPort product line displaced sales of the Trimline product line, and a $5.0 million goodwill impairment expense in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 related to its European reporting unit.

        Welch Allyn's investment income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 increased $0.9 million, or 74.1%, to $2.2 million compared to $1.3 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 primarily due to an increase of $0.2 million, or 9.8%, in gains on the sale of securities and $0.5 million of net interest income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 compared to $0.3 million of net interest expense for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

        Welch Allyn's other income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 increased $1.7 million, or 65.4%, to $4.2 million from $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a $3.3 million increase in the cash surrender value of insurance policies owned by Welch Allyn. The increase was partially offset by an increase in the unrealized foreign exchange loss of $0.8 million and a loss on an equity investment of $0.4 million. Welch Allyn's other income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 included a gain on sale of business of $0.4 million.

        Welch Allyn's provision for income taxes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 decreased $1.9 million, or 15.2%, compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to a reduction in operating income and a reduction in the effective tax rate as the 2013 tax rate was favorably affected by 5.8% due to tax benefits consisting primarily of a one-time "catch-up" for the reinstatement of a research and development tax credit.

Welch Allyn Management's Use of Non-GAAP Measures

        Net sales "on a constant currency basis" is a non-GAAP measure. Welch Allyn analyzes net sales on a constant currency basis to better measure the comparability of results between periods. Because changes in foreign currency exchange rates have a non-operating impact on net sales, Welch Allyn believes that evaluating growth in net sales on a constant currency basis provides an additional and meaningful assessment of net sales to both management and Welch Allyn's investors. Constant currency

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growth rates are calculated by translating the prior year's local currency sales by the current period's exchange rate. Constant currency growth rates are not indicative of changes in corresponding cash flows. One limitation of these non-GAAP measures is that they do not reflect results on a standardized reporting basis. Non-GAAP measures are intended to supplement the applicable GAAP disclosures and should not be viewed as replacements of GAAP results.

Constant Currency Reconciliation

        Because Welch Allyn sells its products in many different countries and in different local currencies, its net sales are affected by fluctuations in those currencies against the U.S. dollar during each period. Welch Allyn calculates the constant currency change by taking the current period local currency sales multiplied by the prior year currency rate for the corresponding period for a given country. The translated results are then used to determine period-over-period percentage increases or decreases that exclude the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. A reconciliation setting forth the currency impact of Welch Allyn's net sales for the periods indicated are included above under "—Results of Operations."

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The following is a summary of Welch Allyn's cash flows by activity for the three months ended April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014 and the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012:

 
  Three Months Ended   Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
  April 4,
2015
  March 29,
2014
 
Net cash from (used in):
  2014   2013   2012  

Operating activities

  $ 0.4   $ 3.4   $ 71.2   $ 77.6   $ 48.0  

Investing activities

    (3.0 )   (4.7 )   (31.3 )   (31.8 )   (7.8 )

Financing activities

    (0.0 )   0.0     (2.1 )   (1.1 )   (20.7 )

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    (1.4 )   (0.7 )   (4.5 )   (0.5 )   0.9  

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  $ (4.0 ) $ (2.0 ) $ 33.3   $ 44.2   $ 20.4  

        Welch Allyn's cash and cash equivalents were $174.5 million and $143.1 million as of April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014, respectively, and $178.4 million, $145.1 million and $101.0 million as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Welch Allyn generally maintains its cash and cash equivalents in demand deposit and other bank accounts.

        Welch Allyn assesses its liquidity in terms of its ability to generate cash to fund its operating, investing and financing activities on an ongoing basis. Significant factors affecting the management of liquidity are cash flows generated from operating activities and capital equipment, purchases and sales of investments, purchases and investments in businesses and dividends to shareholders. Cash provided from operations is the primary source of funds for growth of the business.

        Welch Allyn currently believes that its existing cash balances and anticipated future cash flows will be adequate to fund its current and currently planned operations for the foreseeable future and until the completion of the merger.

Operating Activities

        Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.4 million for the three months ended April 4, 2015, and consisted primarily of net income, adjusted for the non-cash effects of depreciation and amortization, and an increase in long-term incentive and deferred compensation, partially offset by increased working capital, change in provision for deferred income tax, and a change in cash surrender value of life insurance owned by Welch Allyn. Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.4 million

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for the three months ended March 29, 2014. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a decline in working capital management in three months ended April 4, 2015 compared to the three months ended March 29, 2014 resulting from lower collections of receivables, partially offset by lower payments of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to lower bonus payments in the three months ended April 4, 2015.

        Net cash provided by operating activities was $71.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, and consisted primarily of net income, adjusted for the non-cash effects of depreciation and amortization and an impairment loss, an increase in long-term incentive and deferred compensation, partially offset by a change in provision for deferred income tax, a change in cash surrender value of life insurance owned by Welch Allyn, gains on the sale of securities and an increase in working capital. Net cash provided by operating activities was $77.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a decline in working capital management in 2014 compared to 2013 relating primarily to the payout of the 2013 management bonus as well as payment of restructuring liabilities in 2014, along with higher inventories.

        Net cash provided by operating activities was $77.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and consisted primarily of net income, adjusted for the non-cash effects of depreciation and amortization and an impairment loss, a change in long-term incentive and deferred compensation and a decrease in working capital partially offset by a change in the provision for deferred income tax, a change in cash surrender value of life insurance owned by Welch Allyn and a gain on the sale of securities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $48.0 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to an increase in net income and improved working capital management related to a change in the timing of payment of company bonus.

Investing Activities

        Net cash used in investing activities was $3.0 million for the three months ended April 4, 2015, and consisted primarily of capital expenditures and advances to related-party trusts. Net cash used in investing activities was $4.7 million for the three months ended March 29, 2014. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to a reduction in capital expenditures related to the 2012 Restructuring and no investments in businesses in the three months ended April 4, 2015.

        Net cash used in investing activities was $31.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, and consisted primarily of capital expenditures, payments for acquisitions and investments in businesses and advances to related-party trusts, partially offset by net proceeds on the sale of investments. Net cash used in investing activities was $31.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to lower purchases of investments, offset by purchases in businesses and higher levels of investments in businesses due to an increase in business development activities.

        Net cash used in investing activities was $31.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and consisted primarily of capital expenditures, purchases of investments (net of sales), advances to related-party trusts and investments in businesses, compared to $7.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to higher purchases of investments and lower sales of investments, partially offset by lower levels of advances to related party trusts.

Financing Activities

        There were no significant financing activities in the three months ended April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014.

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        Net cash used in financing activities was $2.1 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 for the acquisition of treasury stock. Net cash used in financing activities was $1.1 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The increase in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to an increase in treasury stock purchases.

        Net cash used in financing activities was $1.1 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 for the acquisition of treasury stock. Net cash used in financing activities was $20.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The decrease in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to not paying dividends to shareholders in 2013 compared to paying $19.1 million of dividends in 2012.

Other Liquidity Matters

        On June 21, 2013, Welch Allyn entered into an amended and restated $150,000,000 five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility"). Interest rates on outstanding loans are based on LIBOR plus additional basis points determined by the ratio (the "Leverage Ratio") of consolidated outstanding indebtedness to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"). The Revolving Credit Facility has financial covenants that (i) require the Leverage Ratio to be no more than 3.00 to 1.00 at all times and (ii) require that the ratio of consolidated EBITDA less capital expenditures and dividends to scheduled principal payments on indebtedness plus interest expense be no more than 2.50 to 1.00 at all times. Debt issuance costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility are carried by Welch Allyn in "other assets" and amortized to interest expense over the life of the facility. As of December 31, 2014, the amount available to borrow against the Revolving Credit Facility was $147,176,000. There were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Welch Allyn had outstanding letters of credit totaling $2,824,000 and $3,074,000, respectively, principally related to self-insured health insurance, value added tax guarantees and supplier guarantees, which expire at various times throughout 2015. These letters reduce Welch Allyn's borrowing capacity. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Welch Allyn was in compliance with all bank covenants. Upon consummation of the merger, the Revolving Credit Facility will be terminated.

        On June 3, 2014, Welch Allyn acquired certain assets of PediaVision Holdings, LLC for total consideration of $8.1 million in cash including $0.5 million of additional consideration payable contingent upon achieving certain performance targets. On November 7, 2014, Welch Allyn acquired certain assets of HealthInterlink, LLC for total consideration of $4.0 million in cash including $0.2 million additional consideration contingent on achieving certain performance targets. On January 1, 2015, Welch Allyn acquired Hubble Telemedical, Inc. for total consideration of $5.2 million in cash including $3.1 million which represents the estimated fair value of contingent consideration Welch Allyn expects to pay to the former shareholders upon the achievement of certain financial milestones. On May 4, 2015, Welch Allyn acquired substantially all the assets of Scale-Tronix, Inc. for an aggregate purchase price of $40.0 million. These acquisitions were funded with cash on hand.

        As of April 4, 2015, $34.0 million of Welch Allyn's cash and cash equivalents were held by subsidiaries in foreign countries. Portions of this may be subject to U.S. income taxation if repatriated to the U.S., but there is no current intention to repatriate these funds.

        Welch Allyn does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

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        The following summarizes Welch Allyn's capital commitments and contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014, as well as future periods in which such payments are currently anticipated to become due (figures are dollars in millions):

Contractual Obligations
  Total   Less than
1 year
  1 - 3 years   3 - 5 years   More than
5 years
 

Long-term debt obligations

                     

Capital lease obligations

                     

Operating lease obligations

  $ 12.5   $ 3.3   $ 5.0   $ 4.2      

Purchase obligations

  $ 91.5   $ 57.2   $ 25.1   $ 8.9   $ 0.3  

Other liabilities reflected on Welch Allyn's balance sheet under GAAP(1)

  $ 92.9   $ 14.3   $ 37.2   $ 15.9   $ 25.5  

(1)
Other liabilities reflected on the Welch Allyn balance sheet under GAAP primarily include long-term incentive obligations, deferred compensation obligations and post-retirement benefit plan obligations.

        In addition to the contractual obligations and commercial commitments disclosed above, Welch Allyn also has a variety of other agreements related to the procurement of materials and services and other commitments, though it is generally not committed under such agreements to accept or pay for requirements which are not needed.

        In conjunction with Welch Allyn's acquisitions and other activities, it has entered into certain indemnifications of performance. Potential losses under the indemnifications may be limited to a portion of the original transaction price, or to other lesser specific dollar amounts for certain provisions. Indemnifications with respect to acquisition and other activities, if triggered, could have a materially adverse impact on Welch Allyn's financial condition and results of operations.

        Welch Allyn is also subject to potential losses from adverse litigation results that are not accounted for by self-insurance or other reserves; however, such potential losses are not quantifiable at this time, and may never occur.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

        None.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        Welch Allyn operates on a global basis and therefore is subject to the exposures that arise from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, primarily related to the Canadian and Australian dollars and the British Pound sterling. The company manages these exposures using foreign currency forward contracts. For a discussion of the accounting treatment of these contracts, please see Note 1 to the financial statements of Welch Allyn for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.

        Welch Allyn's foreign currency exposures may change over time as changes occur in the company's international operations, though no such changes are anticipated. The company's objective in managing its exposures to foreign currency fluctuations is to minimize earnings and cash flow volatility associated with assets, liabilities, net investments and probable commitments denominated in foreign currencies. Welch Allyn does not enter into financial instruments for speculative purposes. A sensitivity analysis of changes in the fair value of all foreign exchange derivative contracts at December 31, 2014 indicates that if the U.S. dollar uniformly strengthened by 10% against all currencies, the fair value of these contracts would increase by $1.0 million, and if the U.S. dollar uniformly weakened by 10% against all currencies, the fair value of these contracts would decrease by $0.7 million. Any gains and losses on the

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fair value of derivative contracts would be largely offset by gains and losses on the underlying transactions. These offsetting gains and losses are not reflected in the above analysis.

        Welch Allyn's investment portfolio primarily includes cash equivalents for which the market values are not significantly affected by changes in interest rates, and the company is not otherwise exposed to material interest rate risk. In the event that Welch Allyn was exposed to significant interest rate risk, its management would likely take actions to mitigate such risk. However, due to the uncertainty of the actions that would be taken and their possible effects, additional analysis is not possible at this time.

Critical Accounting Policies

        Welch Allyn's accounting policies, including those described below, require management to make significant estimates and assumptions using information available at the time the estimates are made. Such estimates and assumptions significantly affect various reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. If future experience differs materially from these estimates and assumptions, results of operations and financial condition could be affected. Welch Allyn's most critical accounting policies are described below.

Revenue Recognition

        Revenue is recognized when all the following criteria have been met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, risk of loss and title pass to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Welch Allyn generally ships to distributors under shipping terms that transfer title and risk of loss upon shipment and accordingly recognizes revenue upon shipment. In the United States, Welch Allyn sometimes ships directly to customers under free on board destination shipping terms and, therefore, does not recognize revenue until the product is delivered to the customer. Also, Welch Allyn ships products to customers under multiple deliverable arrangements. These arrangements generally qualify for separate units of accounting treatment and, therefore, revenue is recognized as each separate unit is delivered.

Revenue and Accounts Receivable Reserves

        Revenue is presented in Welch Allyn's statements of consolidated income net of certain discounts and sales adjustments. Group purchasing organization rebates are offered to Welch Allyn's distributors. These rebates result from a three-party sourcing arrangement between Welch Allyn, a distributor and an end user at a contracted price and are recorded as a reduction in sales. Welch Allyn also participates in programs where it pays a distributor to focus on the sales of Welch Allyn's products or to reward the distributor for attaining sales targets. These payments are recorded as a reduction in sales. Rebates are estimated at the time of sale based on historical data and current contracts with group purchasing organizations.

        Welch Allyn's allowance for doubtful accounts receivable reflects its best estimate of probable losses in its accounts receivable portfolio determined on the basis of historical experience, specific allowances for known troubled accounts and other currently available evidence.

        If circumstances change, such as payment defaults, changes in business composition or processes, adverse changes in general economic conditions, instability or disruption of credit markets or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer's or payor's ability to meet its obligations, estimates of the realizability of trade receivables could be reduced by a material amount.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

        Welch Allyn accounts for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting. This method requires that the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed be measured at their fair

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value, with goodwill being the excess value of consideration paid less the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired. Judgments and estimates are required in the determination of fair values, including the setting of discount rates, growth rates and forecasted business results for the acquired business and portions of the acquired business, along with estimated useful lives. Changes in these judgments or estimates can have a material impact on the valuation of the respective assets and liabilities acquired and Welch Allyn's results of operations.

        Welch Allyn performs an impairment assessment on goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles annually during the fourth fiscal quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a reporting unit may not be recoverable. These events or conditions include, but are not limited to, a significant adverse change in the business environment, regulatory environment or legal factors and a current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of such losses or a projection of continuing losses.

        The goodwill impairment assessment requires evaluating qualitative factors or performing a quantitative assessment to determine if a reporting unit's carrying value is likely to exceed its fair value. The qualitative goodwill impairment assessment requires evaluating factors to determine that a reporting unit's carrying value would not more likely than not exceed its fair value. As part of Welch Allyn's goodwill qualitative testing process for each reporting unit, various factors are evaluated that are specific to the reporting unit as well as industry and macroeconomic factors in order to determine whether it is reasonably likely to have a material impact on the fair value of Welch Allyn's reporting units. Factors assessed in making this determination included macroeconomic and market conditions, financial performance and changes in management. Management changes in strategic outlook or organizational structure represent internally driven strategic or organizational changes that could have a material impact on Welch Allyn's results of operations or product offerings. Industry, market changes and macroeconomic indicators represent Welch Allyn's view on changes outside of Welch Allyn that could have a material impact on results of operations, product offerings or future cash flow forecasts. In the event Welch Allyn were to determine that a reporting unit's carrying value would more likely than not exceed its fair value, quantitative testing would be performed comparing carrying values to estimated fair values. Changes in management intentions, market conditions, operating performance and other similar circumstances could affect the assumptions used in this qualitative impairment test. Changes in the assumptions could result in impairment charges that could be material to Welch Allyn's Consolidated Financial Statements in any given period.

        Quantitative testing involves a two-step process. The first step, used to identify potential impairment, is a comparison of each reporting unit's estimated fair value to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, applicable goodwill is considered not to be impaired. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, there is an indication of impairment and the second step is performed to measure the amount of the impairment. The second step requires us to calculate an implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination, which is the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, as determined in the first step over the aggregate fair values of the individual assets, liabilities and identifiable intangibles as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. If the goodwill assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess.

        Measurement of the fair value of reporting units in the first step of a quantitative impairment process requires significant management judgment with respect to forecasted sales, gross margin and selling, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and the selection and use of an appropriate discount rate. There are inherent uncertainties related to each of the above listed assumptions and inputs and Welch Allyn's judgment in applying them. The use of different assumptions, estimates or judgments in either step of the process could trigger the need for an

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impairment charge or materially increase or decrease the amount of any such impairment charge. In 2012, Welch Allyn recorded goodwill impairment of $5.0 million related to its European reporting unit.

        Estimation of the useful lives of indefinite- and definite-lived intangible assets is based upon the estimated cash flows of the respective intangible asset and requires significant management judgment. Events could occur that would materially affect Welch Allyn's estimates of the useful lives. Significant changes in these estimates and assumptions could change the amount of future amortization expense or could create future impairments of these intangible assets. In 2013, Welch Allyn recorded an impairment of $2.5 million in its Trimline trademark asset which was identified as an indefinite lived asset since acquiring it in 2010 with the acquisition of the Trimline product line. This impairment was due to customer conversion to Welch Allyn's proprietary Flexiport product line which resulted in a Trimline sales forecast that no longer supported the original capitalized value.

Retirement Benefit Plans

        Welch Allyn provides a contributory retiree health care plan covering all eligible employees who retired prior to January 1, 1990, and all eligible employees who have or will retire at normal retirement age between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2014, with at least five years of active service.

        Welch Allyn has not prefunded any of its postretirement health care liability and, accordingly, Welch Allyn's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and net cost recognized for other postemployment benefits reflect the effects of the recent Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. The provisions of this act provide for a federal subsidy for plans that provide prescription drug benefits and meet certain qualifications. The discount rate for Welch Allyn's post retirement obligation was 3.5% in 2014, 4.0% in 2013 and 3.0% in 2012. As of December 31, 2014, Welch Allyn has $16.4 million of post-retirement benefit obligation recorded on its consolidated balance sheet. A 1% increase in the trend rate would result in an increase in the liability by 7.5%, or $1.2 million. A 1% decrease in the trend rate would result in a decrease in the liability by 7.5%, or $1.2 million. The sensitivity of the liability to changes in the discount rate is similar in magnitude but opposite in direction to the trend rate.

Income Taxes

        Welch Allyn computes income taxes using an asset and liability approach to reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and the corresponding income tax amounts. Welch Allyn has a variety of deferred tax assets in numerous tax jurisdictions. These deferred tax assets are subject to periodic assessment as to recoverability and if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the benefits will not be realized, valuation allowances are recognized. Welch Allyn has recorded valuation allowances against certain of Welch Allyn's deferred tax assets, primarily those related to net operating loss carryforwards in Brazil, China and Colombia and future tax benefits associated with state tax credits in which Welch Allyn believes it is more likely than not that Welch Allyn would never realize these deferred tax assets.

        Welch Allyn believes that its estimates for the valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets are appropriate based on current facts and circumstances. Welch Allyn had $15.3 million and $15.8 million of valuation allowances on deferred tax assets on a tax-effected basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        Welch Allyn accounts for uncertain income tax positions using a threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The difference between the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements for an uncertain income tax position and the tax benefit claimed in the tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit.

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        Welch Allyn and its subsidiaries are subject to United States federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. During 2014, the IRS initiated its audit for the 2013 calendar year. Welch Allyn continued its participation in the IRS Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) for the 2014 calendar year and has submitted the application to remain in CAP for the 2015 calendar year.

Guarantees

        Welch Allyn routinely grants limited warranties on its products with respect to defects in material and workmanship. The terms of these warranties generally range one to five years. Welch Allyn recognizes a reserve with respect to these obligations at the time of product sale, with subsequent warranty claims recorded directly against the reserve. The amount of the warranty reserve is determined based on historical trend experience for the covered products. For more significant warranty-related matters which might require a broad-based correction, separate reserves are established when such events are identified and the cost of correction can be reasonably estimated.

Inventory

        Welch Allyn reviews the net realizable value of inventory on an ongoing basis, considering factors such as excess, obsolescence and other items. Welch Allyn records an allowance for estimated losses when the facts and circumstances indicate that particular inventories will not be sold at prices in excess of current carrying costs. These estimates are based on historical experience and expected future trends. If future market conditions vary from those projected and Welch Allyn's estimates prove to be inaccurate, Welch Allyn may be required to write down inventory values and record an adjustment to cost of revenue. As of December 31, 2014, Welch Allyn had $57.6 million of inventory recorded on Welch Allyn's consolidated balance sheet, net of inventory reserves. A 1% write-down of Welch Allyn's inventory would change 2014 net income by approximately $0.4 million.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        Barnes & Thornburg LLP will pass upon the legality of the shares of Hill-Rom offered by this proxy statement/prospectus.


EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements of Hill-Rom and Hill-Rom's management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference to Hill-Rom's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

        The consolidated financial statements of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, included in this proxy statement/prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        Hill-Rom files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, statements or other information filed by Hill-Rom at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. The SEC filings of Hill-Rom are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

        You may consult Hill-Rom's website for more information about Hill-Rom at www.Hill-Rom.com. You may also consult Welch Allyn's website for more information at www.WelchAllyn.com. Information included on Hill-Rom's or Welch Allyn's website is not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. You should not rely on such information in deciding whether to adopt the merger agreement unless such information is in this proxy statement/prospectus or has been incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus.

        Hill-Rom has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part, under the Securities Act, to register the issuance of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger. The registration statement, including the attached annexes, exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about Hill-Rom, Hill-Rom common stock and Welch Allyn. As allowed by SEC rules, this proxy statement/prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement.

        The SEC allows Hill-Rom to "incorporate by reference" information into this proxy statement/prospectus. This means that Hill-Rom can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this proxy statement/prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this proxy statement/prospectus or incorporated by reference subsequent to the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

        This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that Hill-Rom has previously filed with the SEC. They contain important information about Hill-Rom and its financial condition. The following documents, which were filed by Hill-Rom with the SEC, are

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incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

        In addition, Hill-Rom incorporates by reference additional documents that it may file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and the date on which the merger is consummated. These documents include periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 or Item 8.01 of any current report on Form 8-K solely for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Regulation FD under the Exchange Act, as well as proxy statements.

        Hill-Rom also incorporates by reference the merger agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A and the voting agreement attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B.

        Hill-Rom has supplied all information contained in or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus relating to Hill-Rom, and Welch Allyn has supplied all information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus relating to Welch Allyn.

        You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus from Hill-Rom or from the SEC through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Documents incorporated by reference are available from Hill-Rom without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit into this proxy statement/prospectus. Hill-Rom shareholders and Welch Allyn shareholders may request a copy of such documents by contacting:

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
Two Prudential Plaza
Suite 4100
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 819-7200

        Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the merger or Hill-Rom and Welch Allyn that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or in any of the materials that Hill-Rom has incorporated into this proxy statement/prospectus by reference. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities offered by this proxy statement/

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prospectus or the solicitation of proxies is unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this proxy statement/prospectus does not extend to you. The information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies, and neither the mailing of this proxy statement/prospectus to shareholders nor the issuance of Hill-Rom common stock in the merger should create any implication to the contrary.

        Only one copy of this proxy statement/prospectus is being delivered to multiple Welch Allyn shareholders sharing an address unless Welch Allyn has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders. Upon written or oral request, Welch Allyn will promptly deliver a separate copy of this proxy statement/prospectus to a Welch Allyn shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of this proxy statement/prospectus has been delivered. Welch Allyn shareholders at a shared address who would like to receive a separate copy of this proxy statement/prospectus, or a separate copy of future Hill-Rom proxy statements or annual reports following completion of the merger, should contact Hill-Rom in writing or by telephone. In the event that you are receiving multiple copies of annual reports or proxy statements at an address to which you would like to receive a single copy, multiple Welch Allyn shareholders sharing an address may also contact Hill-Rom in writing or by telephone to receive a single copy of annual reports or proxy statements in the future.

157



WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INTERIM UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE PERIODS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014:

   

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

  F-2

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

  F-4

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

  F-5

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  F-6

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

 
F-15

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013 AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014. 2013 AND 2012:

 
 

Balance Sheets

  F-16

Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

  F-18

Statements of Stockholders' Equity

  F-19

Statements of Cash Flows

  F-20

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  F-21

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMEBER 31, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
  2015   2014  
 
  (Unaudited)
 

ASSETS

             

CURRENT ASSETS:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 174,485   $ 178,448  

Trade receivables, less allowances of $2,387 in 2015 and $2,451 in 2014

    70,823     67,674  

Inventories

    57,535     57,623  

Other current assets

    15,162     13,488  

Deferred income taxes

    16,702     16,716  

Total current assets

    334,707     333,949  

OTHER ASSETS:

             

Intangible assets, net

    28,706     30,012  

Goodwill

    107,417     108,643  

Noncurrent deferred income taxes

    13,301     12,524  

Other assets

    174,361     163,217  

NET PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT:

    94,917     99,015  

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 753,409   $ 747,360  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
  2015   2014  
 
  (Unaudited)
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

             

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

             

Accounts payable

  $ 22,467   $ 21,123  

Accrued expenses

    82,016     89,980  

Accrual for restructuring charges

    3,073     4,764  

Accrued income taxes

    4,573     3,585  

Total current liabilities

    112,129     119,452  

OTHER NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

    5,327     2,589  

ACCRUED POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

    15,178     15,042  

LONG-TERM RESTRUCTURING ACCRUAL

        16  

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE OBLIGATION

    41,067     33,731  

DEFERRED COMPENSATION OBLIGATION

    31,087     31,341  

Total liabilities

    204,788     202,171  

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

             

Common stock, with a par value of $.01 per share:

             

Class A—voting: 107,442,600 shares authorized, 107,412,876 issued, and 107,156,303 outstanding; including 256,573 shares in treasury in 2015 and 254,638 in 2014

    1,069     1,069  

Class B—nonvoting: authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 486,345 shares, including 157,675 shares in treasury in 2015 and 157,675 in 2014

    3     3  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    14,417     14,226  

Retained earnings

    685,411     682,139  

    700,900     697,437  

Less cost of shares in treasury

    152,279     152,248  

Total stockholders' equity

    548,621     545,189  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 753,409   $ 747,360  

   

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands)

 
  2015   2014  
 
  (Unaudited)
 

NET SALES

  $ 164,534   $ 160,566  

COST OF GOODS SOLD

    81,883     81,354  

RESTRUCTURING COST OF GOODS SOLD

    346     2,234  

GROSS MARGIN

    82,305     76,978  

SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

    77,494     66,256  

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

          2,212  

OPERATING INCOME

    4,811     8,510  

INVESTMENT INCOME—Net of interest expense

    170     118  

OTHER EXPENSE

    (56 )   (157 )

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

    4,925     8,471  

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

    1,655     2,982  

NET INCOME

    3,270     5,489  

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (EXPENSE)—Net of tax:

             

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sales securities

    2,857     (578 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    (2,829 )   (723 )

Change in fair value of derivatives

    163     (112 )

Other comprehensive income (expense)

    191     (1,413 )

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

  $ 3,461   $ 4,076  

   

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands)

 
  2015   2014  
 
  (Unaudited)
 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

             

Net income

  $ 3,270   $ 5,489  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

             

Provision for depreciation and amortization

    7,210     6,175  

Provision for bad debts

    (8 )   (21 )

Provision for deferred income taxes

    (4,472 )   (1,419 )

Change in long-term incentive and deferred compensation

    7,292     (532 )

Change in cash surrender value of Company-owned life insurance

    (1,035 )   (150 )

Income on equity method investments

    (105 )   0  

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

             

Accounts receivable

    (2,929 )   15,273  

Inventories

    (66 )   (319 )

Other assets

    (2,171 )   (1,162 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (5,998 )   (17,686 )

Restructuring reserve

    (1,687 )   (2,545 )

Accrued pension and postretirement benefits

    136     0  

Accrued income taxes

    990     325  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    427     3,428  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

             

Purchases of investments

    (11 )   (157 )

Sales of investments

          147  

Additions to property, plant and equipment

    (1,774 )   (3,035 )

Advances to related-party trust

    (1,224 )   (1,131 )

Investments in businesses

        (500 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (3,009 )   (4,676 )

FINANCING ACTIVITIES—Acquisition of treasury stock

    (31 )   0  

Net cash used in financing activities

    (31 )   0  

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES

    (1,350 )   (783 )

CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    (3,963 )   (2,031 )

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of period

    178,448     145,149  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of period

  $ 174,485   $ 143,118  

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION—Cash paid during the period for:

             

Interest

  $ 54   $ 64  

Income taxes

    5,185     4,063  

Noncash investing and financing activities—property, plant, and equipment unpaid at end of period

    237     180  

Accrued contingent consideration for purchases of businesses

    5,233      

Accrued investment obligation

    1,000      

   

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information (Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 270, Interim Reporting). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information necessary for a full presentation of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the fiscal year as a whole. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"), for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales, expenses, and related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. The December 31, 2014 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Company utilizes a fifty-two week fiscal year ending on December 31. The first quarter of 2015 and 2014 each contained 13 weeks and ended on April 4, and March 29, respectively.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        Description of Business—Operations of the Company involve the development, manufacture, marketing, and service of quality innovative illumination and diagnostic products throughout the world. The Company's significant manufacturing operations are located in the United States and Mexico. The Company also has sales distribution centers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Principal products include reusable and disposable medical diagnostic instruments and equipment as well as miniature lamps. The Company generally sells its products on open account and performs periodic credit evaluations on its customers.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

        Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income—The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income as of April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014, are as follows:

 
  2015   2014  

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities—net of deferred tax expense of $5,832 in 2015 and $4,154 in 2014

  $ 9,930   $ 7,073  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    3,810     6,638  

Adjustment for other postretirement benefit plan—net of deferred tax (benefit) of $(784) in 2015 and 2014

    (1,335 )   (1,335 )

Changes in fair value of derivatives—net of deferred tax expense of $1,182 in 2015 and $1,087 in 2014

    2,012     1,850  

  $ 14,417   $ 14,226  

        Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, including amounts reclassified into earnings, are as follows:

 
  Unrealized
Gains on
Available-For-Sale
Securities
  Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment   Adjustment for Postretirement Benefit Plan   Changes in Fair Value of Derivatives(1)   Total  

Balance at December 31, 2013—net of deferred taxes

  $ 6,964   $ 12,992   $ 44   $ 286   $ 20,286  

Gross changes

    1,718     (6,354 )   (2,189 )   2,767     (4,058 )

Reclassification into earnings

    (1,545 )               (286 )   (1,831 )

Tax

    (64 )         810     (917 )   (171 )

Balance at December 31, 2014—net of deferred taxes

    7,073     6,638     (1,335 )   1,850     14,226  

Gross changes

    4,535     (2,829 )         899     2,605  

Reclassification into earnings

                      (641 )   (641 )

Tax

    (1,678 )               (95 )   (1,773 )

Balance at April 4, 2015—net of deferred taxes

  $ 9,930   $ 3,809   $ (1,335 ) $ 2,013   $ 14,417  

(1)
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net sales and cost of goods sold.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

        Intangible Assets:    Amortizing intangible assets, net are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 
  Gross Carrying Amount   Accumulated Amortization   Net Carrying Amount  

Customer base

  $ 47,379   $ (23,388 ) $ 23,991  

Patents

    2,606   $ (1,887 ) $ 719  

Total amortizing intangible assets at December 31, 2014

  $ 49,985   $ (25,275 ) $ 24,710  

Customer base

  $ 47,379   $ (24,566 ) $ 22,813  

Patents

    2,607   $ (2,016 ) $ 591  

Total amortizing intangible assets at April 4, 2015

  $ 49,986   $ (26,582 ) $ 23,404  

        Trademarks are not included on this table as they have indefinite lives. At April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014 trademarks totaled $5, 302 and $5,302, respectively and are included within intangible assets on the balance sheet.

3. INVENTORIES

        The composition of inventories, net of reserves, is as follows as of April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 
  2015   2014  

Raw material

  $ 18,312   $ 17,712  

Work-in-process

    14,735     14,998  

Finished goods

    24,488     24,913  

  $ 57,535   $ 57,623  

4. INCOME TAXES

        The effective tax rate was 33.6 percent for the three months ended April 4, 2015 compared to 35.2 percent for the comparable prior year period.

        The effective rate for the three months ended April 4, 2015 is lower than the comparable period primarily due to the favorable impact of corporate owned life insurance and foreign rate differential.

        As of April 4, 2015, the balance of unrecognized tax benefits is approximately $2.7 million. It is reasonably possible that a reduction of up to $0.4 million of the balance of unrecognized tax benefits will occur within the next twelve months as a result of potential audit settlements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

5. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED COMPANIES

        Selling expense in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements includes a commission of $4,950 and $4,807 as of April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014, respectively, which is paid to a Domestic International Sales Corporation affiliated by common ownership.

        The Company has advanced $35,391 and $34,365 at April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, to related-parties, under a split dollar agreement, for the purpose of funding life insurance policies on key stockholders (Note 7). The cash value of these policies has been assigned to the Company as collateral for the trusts' obligations to repay the advance. In 2012, this split dollar agreement was converted from an economic regime to a loan regime which converted the advanced monies to an interest-bearing loan. Interest accrued totaled $1,643 and $1,445 at April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

6. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

        Postretirement Benefits—The Company provides a contributory retiree health care plan covering all eligible employees who retired prior to January 1, 1990, and all eligible employees who have retired at normal retirement age between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2014, with at least five years of active service.

        Benefit obligations and funding policies are at the discretion of the Company's management. Retiree contributions are adjusted annually and the plan contains other cost-sharing features such as deductibles and coinsurance, all of which vary based on the retiree's date of retirement. The accounting for the plan anticipates future cost-sharing changes to the written plan that are consistent with the Company's expressed intent to cap its contribution for all employees who retire after 1998 at the level in effect in 1998.

        The change in the benefit obligation is as follows:

At December 31, 2014

  $ 16,392  

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

    136  

At April 4, 2015

  $ 16,528  

        Net periodic postretirement benefit cost is comprised of the following:

 
  Three Months Ended  
 
  April 4, 2015   March 29, 2014  

Service cost

  $   $ 1  

Interest cost

    136     133  

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

        36  

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

  $ 136   $ 170  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. OTHER ASSETS

        The composition of other non-current assets is as follows as of April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 
  2015   2014  

Cash advanced to related party trusts for split dollar agreements (Note 5)

  $ 37,034   $ 35,810  

Trading account investments related to deferred compensation plan

    31,024     31,327  

Available-for-sale securities

    34,181     29,633  

Corporate owned life insurance

    32,492     31,457  

Capitalized software

    13,559     7,052  

Cost and equity method investments

    18,658     18,554  

Advance payments to investee

    5,389     5,389  

Prepaid royalty

    2,000     2,000  

Advance payment to Hubble

        1,960  

Other

    25     35  

Total

  $ 174,361   $ 163,217  

        The cost basis of trading account investments related to deferred compensation assets held was $28,428 and $28,931 at April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. These assets are primarily invested in mutual funds. The Company intends to use our investments in available-for-sale equity securities and corporate-owned life insurance to settle long-term incentive plan obligations. Gross unrealized gains and losses accumulated in other comprehensive income are as follows:

 
  April 4, 2015  
 
  Cost   Gross Unrealized Gains   Gross Unrealized Losses   Estimated Fair Value  

Available-for-sale securities

  $ 18,424   $ 15,756   $     $ 34,180  

  $ 18,424   $ 15,756   $     $ 34,180  

 

 
  December 31, 2014  
 
  Cost   Gross Unrealized Gains   Gross Unrealized Losses   Estimated Fair Value  

Available-for-sale securities

  $ 18,412   $ 11,221   $   $ 29,633  

  $ 18,412   $ 11,221   $   $ 29,633  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

8. ACCRUED EXPENSES

        The composition of accrued expenses as of April 4, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 
  2015   2014  

Accrued payroll and other employee related expenses

  $ 14,385   $ 29,102  

Current portion of long-term incentive obligation

    12,717     11,441  

Accrued rebates

    22,333     21,171  

Other

    32,581     28,266  

Total

  $ 82,016   $ 89,980  

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        The Company is involved in various pending and threatened actions arising from its normal business operations. Management believes that the Company has meritorious defenses or claims and it will vigorously protect itself in these actions. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these actions will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.

        The Company offers warranties for its products. The specific terms and conditions of those warranties vary depending upon the product sold. For products sold in the United States, the Company provides a basic limited warranty, including parts and labor, for periods ranging generally from one to five years. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its basic limited warranty and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect the Company's warranty liability include the number of installed units, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim.

        Changes in the Company's product liability, included in accrued expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet, during the period are as follows:

 
  2015  

At December 31, 2014

  $ 3,465  

Warranties issued

    795  

Changes in estimates

       

Settlements made

    (601 )

At April 4, 2015

  $ 3,659  

10. ACQUISITIONS

        On June 3, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets of PediaVision Holdings, LLC ("PediaVision"), a leading developer of vision technology and inventor of a new generation of user-friendly vision assessment technology that transcends age, developmental capacity and mobility. This acquisition offers the Company a unique opportunity to better serve its customers by offering them a state of the art diagnostic device for conducting eye examinations in a variety of settings. It also complements the Company's existing vision screening technology, specifically, the Welch Allyn SureSight® Vision Screener and Autorefractor.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

10. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

        The purchase price was $8,112, including a holdback of $1,500. Additional contingent consideration totaling $500 was recognized at the acquisition date to accrue for future payments to the previous owner. Results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The cost of the acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from PediaVision based on their fair values as of the close of the acquisition, with the amount exceeding the fair value of the net assets acquired being recorded as goodwill. Goodwill will be deducted for tax purposes utilizing the straight-line method over a period of 15 years.

        The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

Current assets

  $ 235  

Fixed assets

    109  

Intangible assets

    8,244  

Total asset acquired

    8,588  

Current liabilities

    (476 )

Net assets acquired

  $ 8,112  

        As the estimate values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary in nature, they are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained, including, but not limited to, the finalization of our intangible asset valuation. The valuations will be finalized in 2015. When the valuations are finalized, any changes to the preliminary valuation of assets acquired or liabilities assumed may result in material adjustments to the fair value of the intangible assets acquired, as well as goodwill.

        The fair values of the assets acquired were determined using the income approach. The income approach estimates the value for a subject asset based on the present value of cash flows projected to be generated by the asset. The projected cash flows were discounted using the Company weighted average cost of capital. The projected cash flows for each asset considered multiple factors from the perspective of a marketplace participant including revenue projections from existing customers, attrition trends, marginal tax rates and expected profit margins giving consideration to historical and expected margins. The income fair value measurement approach is based on significant unobservable inputs, including management estimates and assumptions.

        The amounts assigned to major classes of intangible assets are shown below:

Customer base

  $ 155  

Goodwill

    7,022  

In-process R&D

    157  

Trademarks

    910  

Total intangible assets

  $ 8,244  

        On November 7, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets of HealthInterlink, LLC ("HealthInterlink"), a business engaged in researching, developing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling software and other products and solutions for remote patient monitoring. In keeping with the Company's vision to transform care wherever patients and healthcare professionals

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

10. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

connect, this acquisition will enable the Company to help clinicians prioritize patient care, allowing for early intervention and facilitating communications with patients outside traditional healthcare settings.

        The purchase price was $4,000, including a holdback of $600. Additional consideration totaling $200 was recognized at the acquisition date to accrue for future payments due to the previous owner over the next 2 years. Results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The cost of the acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from HealthInterlink based on their fair values as of the close of the acquisition, with the amount exceeding the fair value of the net assets acquired being recorded as goodwill. Goodwill will be deducted for tax purposes utilizing the straight-line method over a period of 15 years.

        The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

Current assets

  $ 48  

Intangible assets

    3,968  

Total asset acquired

    4,016  

Current liabilities

    (16 )

Net assets acquired

  $ 4,000  

        The fair values of the assets acquired were determined using the income approach.

        The amounts assigned to major classes of intangible assets are shown below:

Software

  $ 1,379  

Goodwill

    2,589  

Total intangible assets

  $ 3,968  

        Software is accounted for within other non current assets.

        On January 1, 2015, the Company acquired Hubble Telemedical, Inc. ("Hubble"), a privately-held company that enables remote diabetic retinopathy screening and analysis in primary care and other convenient settings. The acquisition of Hubble further strengthens the Company's leadership position in delivering sight-saving solutions into primary care settings where they can have the largest impact on improving population health while also lowering the cost of care.

        The purchase price totaled $5,217, including a holdback of $200 and contingent consideration of $3,057. The holdback is due on or before the 30th day following the one-year anniversary of the closing date. The fair value of accrued contingent consideration recorded by the Company represents the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration the Company expects to pay to the former shareholders upon the achievement of certain financial milestones. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability was estimated by discounting to present value the contingent payments expected to be made utilizing a risk adjusted discount rate.

        Results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The cost of the acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Hubble based on their fair values as of the close of the acquisition.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF APRIL 4, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 4, 2015 AND MARCH 29, 2014

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

10. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

        The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

Current assets

  $ 932  

Deferred tax asset

    244  

Fixed assets

    11  

Intangible assets-software

    6,929  

Total asset acquired

    8,116  

Current liabilities

    (718 )

Non current deferred tax liability

    (2,181 )

Net assets acquired

  $ 5,217  

        As the estimated values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary in nature, they are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained, including, but not limited to, the finalization of our intangible asset valuation. The valuations will be finalized in 2015. When the valuations are finalized, any changes to the preliminary valuation of assets acquired or liabilities assumed may result in material adjustments to the fair value of the intangible assets acquired, as well as goodwill.

        The fair values of the assets acquired were determined using the income approach. The income approach estimates the value for a subject asset based on the present value of cash flows projected to be generated by the asset. The projected cash flows were discounted using the Company weighted average cost of capital. The projected cash flows for each asset considered multiple factors from the perspective of a marketplace participant including revenue projections from existing customers, attrition trends, marginal tax rates and expected profit margins giving consideration to historical and expected margins. The income fair value measurement approach is based on significant unobservable inputs, including management estimates and assumptions.

11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

        The Company has evaluated the impact of subsequent events through July 13, 2015, representing the date at which the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.

        On May 4, 2015, the Company acquired substantially all assets of Scale-Tronix, Inc ("Scale-Tronix") for $40 million. The initial purchase price accounting is incomplete at the time these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements were issued.

        Scale-Tronix is a leading manufacturer of medical scales and patient weighing systems for hospitals, clinics and extended-care facilities around the world. This acquisition gives the Company an opportunity to better serve its hospital and physician customers by offering a variety of clinical-grade scales that capture a vital piece of patient-specific information at the point-of-care.

        On June 17, 2015, Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRC) ("Hill-Rom") and the Company announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which Hill-Rom will acquire Welch Allyn for approximately $2.05 billion in cash and stock.

******

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Skaneateles Falls, New York

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"), which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Management's Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

        Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors' Responsibility

        Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

        An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the Company's preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

        We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

        In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
February 16, 2015

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
  2014   2013  

ASSETS

             

CURRENT ASSETS:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 178,448   $ 145,149  

Trade receivables, less allowances of $2,451 in 2014 and $2,805 in 2013

    67,674     83,690  

Inventories

    57,623     53,105  

Other current assets

    13,488     12,762  

Deferred income taxes

    16,716     17,869  

Total current assets

    333,949     312,575  

OTHER ASSETS:

             

Intangible assets—net of accumulated amortization of $25,275 in 2014 and $20,663 in 2013:

             

Customer base

    23,991     27,965  

Patents

    719     1,046  

Trademarks

    5,302     4,392  

Goodwill

    108,643     100,758  

Noncurrent deferred income taxes

    12,524     3,690  

Other assets

    163,217     147,113  

PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT:

             

Land, buildings, and improvements

    74,844     77,017  

Machinery and equipment

    201,575     198,493  

Total property, plant, and equipment

    276,419     275,510  

Accumulated depreciation

    177,404     170,028  

Property, plant, and equipment—net

    99,015     105,482  

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 747,360   $ 703,021  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 
  2014   2013  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

             

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

             

Accounts payable

  $ 21,123   $ 24,163  

Accrued expenses

    89,980     93,281  

Accrual for restructuring charges

    4,764     9,547  

Accrued income taxes

    3,585     2,962  

Total current liabilities

    119,452     129,953  

OTHER NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

    2,589        

ACCRUED POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

    15,042     12,985  

LONG-TERM RESTRUCTURING ACCRUAL

    16     2,477  

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE OBLIGATION

    33,731     22,629  

DEFERRED COMPENSATION OBLIGATION

    31,341     30,256  

Total liabilities

    202,171     198,300  

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

             

Common stock, with a par value of $.01 per share:

             

Class A—voting: 107,442,600 shares authorized, 107,412,876 issued, and 107,158,238 outstanding; including 254,638 shares in treasury

    1,069     73  

in 2014 and 29,724 in 2013

             

Class B—nonvoting: authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 486,345 shares, including 157,675 shares in treasury in 2014 and 157,475 in 2013

    3     608  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    14,226     20,286  

Retained earnings

    682,139     633,861  

    697,437     654,828  

Less cost of shares in treasury

    152,248     150,107  

Total stockholders' equity

    545,189     504,721  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 747,360   $ 703,021  

   

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012

 
  2014   2013   2012  
 
  (In thousands)
 

NET SALES

  $ 683,772   $ 700,915   $ 683,118  

COST OF GOODS SOLD

    334,461     348,612     337,245  

RESTRUCTURING COST OF GOODS SOLD

    5,917     11,745     3,905  

GROSS MARGIN

    343,394     340,558     341,968  

SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

    278,683     295,102     289,025  

RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

    1,142     7,922     9,235  

TRADEMARK AND GOODWILL IMPAIRMENT

        2,454     4,950  

OPERATING INCOME

    63,569     35,080     38,758  

INVESTMENT INCOME—Net of interest expense

    2,707     2,232     1,282  

OTHER INCOME

    2,568     4,194     2,536  

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

    68,844     41,506     42,576  

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

    20,175     10,305     12,155  

NET INCOME

    48,669     31,201     30,421  

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (EXPENSE) INCOME—Net of tax:

                   

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sales securities

    109     3,565     2,624  

Postretirement benefit plan

    (1,379 )   3,349     (964 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    (6,354 )   991     1,223  

Change in fair value of derivatives

    1,564     875     (687 )

Other comprehensive (expense) income

    (6,060 )   8,780     2,196  

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

  $ 42,609   $ 39,981   $ 32,617  

   

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012

 
  Class A   Class B   Retained
Earnings
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
  Treasury
Stock
  Total  
 
  (In thousands)
 

BALANCE—December 31, 2011

  $ 73   $ 608   $ 591,320   $ 9,310   $ (147,449 ) $ 453,862  

Net income for 2012

                30,421                 30,421  

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities—net of taxes

                      2,624           2,624  

Postretirement benefit plan—net of taxes

                      (964 )         (964 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                      1,223           1,223  

Change in fair value of derivatives—net of taxes

                      (687 )         (687 )

Dividends

                (19,081 )               (19,081 )

Shares purchased for treasury

                            (1,569 )   (1,569 )

BALANCE—December 31, 2012

    73     608     602,660     11,506     (149,018 )   465,829  

Net income for 2013

                31,201                 31,201  

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale

                                     

securities—net of taxes

                      3,565           3,565  

Postretirement benefit plan—net of taxes

                      3,349           3,349  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                      991           991  

Change in fair value of derivatives—net of taxes

                      875           875  

Shares purchased for treasury

                            (1,089 )   (1,089 )

BALANCE—December 31, 2013

    73     608     633,861     20,286     (150,107 )   504,721  

Stock Redenomination

    996     (605 )   (391 )                  

Net income for 2014

                48,669                 48,669  

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities—net of taxes

                      109           109  

Postretirement benefit plan—net of taxes

                      (1,379 )         (1,379 )

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                      (6,354 )         (6,354 )

Change in fair value of derivatives—net of taxes

                      1,564           1,564  

Shares purchased for treasury

                            (2,141 )   (2,141 )

BALANCE—December 31, 2014

  $ 1,069   $ 3   $ 682,139   $ 14,226   $ (152,248 ) $ 545,189  

   

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012

 
  2014   2013   2012  
 
  (In thousands)
 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                   

Net income

  $ 48,669   $ 31,201   $ 30,421  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                   

Trademark and other asset impairment

    1,400     2,773     5,683  

Provision for depreciation and amortization

    24,912     24,491     23,617  

Provision for bad debts

    (354 )   328     195  

Provision for deferred income taxes

    (6,188 )   (7,345 )   (3,426 )

Change in long-term incentive and deferred compensation

    12,692     8,990     (6,242 )

Change in cash surrender value of Company-owned life insurance

    (1,858 )   (5,668 )   (2,361 )

Gain on sale of securities

    (2,117 )   (1,747 )   (1,600 )

Income on equity method investments

    (356 )         (434 )

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

                   

Accounts receivable

    17,097     (4,848 )   (2,273 )

Inventories

    (4,645 )   6,398     2,335  

Other assets

    (6,656 )   (390 )   (8,212 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (7,634 )   17,989     (1,736 )

Restructuring reserve

    (7,244 )   2,482     9,542  

Accrued pension and postretirement benefits

    245     660     609  

Accrued income taxes

    3,212     2,271     1,837  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    71,175     77,585     47,955  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                   

Purchases of investments

    (177 )   (15,794 )   (8,459 )

Sales of investments

    6,379     4,800     25,860  

Additions to property, plant and equipment

    (13,158 )   (13,643 )   (14,266 )

Advances to related-party trust

    (2,426 )   (2,712 )   (8,006 )

Purchases of businesses

    (12,011 )       434  

Investments in businesses

    (9,849 )   (4,464 )   (3,318 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (31,242 )   (31,813 )   (7,755 )

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                   

Acquisition of treasury stock

    (2,141 )   (1,089 )   (1,569 )

Dividends Paid

            (19,081 )

Net cash used in financing activities

    (2,141 )   (1,089 )   (20,650 )

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES

    (4,493 )   (536 )   874  

CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    33,299     44,147     20,424  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year

    145,149     101,002     80,578  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year

  $ 178,448   $ 145,149   $ 101,002  

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION—

                   

Cash paid during the year for:

                   

Interest

  $ 289   $ 322   $ 409  

Income taxes

  $ 24,239   $ 15,366   $ 13,530  

Noncash investing and financing activities—property, plant, and equipment unpaid

                   

at end of year

  $ 353   $ 665   $ 325  

Accrued contingent consideration for purchases of businesses

  $ 2,200   $   $  

Accrued investment obligation

  $ 1,000   $   $  

   

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014,2013, AND 2012

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        Description of Business—Operations of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") involve the development, manufacture, marketing, and service of quality innovative illumination and diagnostic products throughout the world. The Company's significant manufacturing operations are located in the United States and Mexico. The Company also has sales distribution centers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Principal products include reusable and disposable medical diagnostic instruments and equipment as well as miniature lamps. The Company generally sells its products on open account and performs periodic credit evaluations on its customers.

        Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income—The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows:

 
  2014   2013  

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities—net of deferred tax expense of $4,154 in 2014 and $4,090 in 2013

  $ 7,073   $ 6,964  

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    6,638     12,992  

Adjustment for other postretirement benefit plan—net of deferred tax (benefit) expense of $(784) in 2014 and $26 in 2013

    (1,335 )   44  

Changes in fair value of derivatives—net of deferred tax expense of $1,087 in 2014 and $168 in 2013

    1,850     286  

  $ 14,226   $ 20,286  

        Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income, including amounts reclassified into earnings, are as follows:

 
  Unrealized
Gains on
Available-For-Sale
Securities(1)
  Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustment
  Adjustment
for
Postretirement
Benefit Plan
  Changes in
Fair Value of
Derivatives(2)
  Total  

Balance at December 31, 2012—net of deferred taxes

  $ 3,399   $ 12,001   $ (3,305 ) $ (589 ) $ 11,506  

Gross changes

    6,164     991     5,316     1,967     14,438  

Reclassification into earnings

    (505 )               (578 )   (1,083 )

Tax

    (2,094 )         (1,967 )   (514 )   (4,575 )

Balance at December 31, 2013—net of deferred taxes

    6,964     12,992     44     286     20,286  

Gross changes

    1,718     (6,354 )   (2,189 )   2,767     (4,058 )

Reclassification into earnings

    (1,545 )               (286 )   (1,831 )

Tax

    (64 )         810     (917 )   (171 )

Balance at December 31, 2014—net of deferred taxes

  $ 7,073   $ 6,638   $ (1,335 ) $ 1,850   $ 14,226  

(1)
Reclassifed from accumulated other comprehensive income into investment income.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014,2013, AND 2012

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

(2)
Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net sales and cost of goods sold.

        Derivatives—The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

        The Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts to reduce its exposure to foreign currency risk due to fluctuations in exchange rates associated with forecasted foreign currency denominated sales and intercompany inventory purchases. The maturities of these contracts do not exceed twelve months. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded in earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met. For derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges, the changes in fair value of both the derivative instrument and the hedged item are recorded in earnings. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income (OCI), and the ineffective portions are recognized in earnings.

        As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the fair values of the Company's foreign currency forward contracts were as follows:

 
   
  Fair Value  
 
  Balance Sheet
Location
 
Type of Derivative
  2014   2013  

Cash flow hedge assets

  Other current assets   $ 2,943   $ 1,223  

Cash flow hedge liabilities

  Accrued expenses           (776 )

        Realized gains (losses) on derivatives totaled $842, $721, and ($420) for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, and were included as a component of net sales and cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges were recorded as a component of OCI.

        As of December 31, 2014, the Company had the following outstanding foreign currency forward contracts that were entered into in order to hedge forecasted purchases and revenues (in thousands):

Foreign Currency
  Currency
Denomination
 

Canadian dollar

    19,664  

Australian dollar

    12,533  

British Pound sterling

    9,754  

        Use of Estimates—The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may vary from these estimates. The significant estimates relate to allowance for doubtful receivables, intangible assets, product warranty reserves, income taxes, accrued post retirement obligations, restructuring reserves, inventory valuation and reserves, and various accrued expenses.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014,2013, AND 2012

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

        Revenue Recognition—The Company recognizes revenue when all of these criteria have been met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; risk of loss and title pass to the customer; the price is fixed or determinable; and collectibility is reasonably assured. The Company generally ships to distributors under shipping terms that transfer title and risk of loss upon shipment and accordingly recognizes revenue upon shipment. In the United States, the Company sometimes ships direct to customers under FOB destination shipping terms and, therefore, does not recognize revenue until the product is delivered to the customer. Also, the Company ships products to customers under multiple deliverable arrangements. These arrangements generally qualify for separate units of accounting treatment and, therefore, revenue is recognized as each separate unit is delivered.

        Sales Incentives—Group purchasing organization rebates are offered to our distributors. These rebates result from a three-party sourcing arrangement between the Company, a distributor, and an end user at a contracted price and are recorded as a reduction in sales. The Company also participates in programs where it pays a distributor to focus on the sales of the Company's products or to reward them for attaining sales targets. These payments are recorded as a reduction in sales.

        Concentration of Credit Risk—The Company sells its products to a large number of geographically diverse end users and distributors, thereby limiting the credit risk.

        Shipping and Handling—Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold.

        Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents includes currency on-hand, demand, and other deposits with financial institutions. The Company classifies all money market funds as cash equivalents.

        Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—The allowance for doubtful accounts receivable reflects our best estimate of probable losses in our accounts receivable portfolio determined on the basis of historical experience, specific allowances for known troubled accounts, and other currently available evidence. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $1,762 and $2,080 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Trade receivable allowances also include estimated sales returns allowances and cash discount reserves of $689 and $725 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        Fair Value Measurements—The carrying amounts of accounts payable and accounts receivable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

        ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a valuation hierarchy for disclosure of the inputs to the valuation used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014,2013, AND 2012

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based on the Company's assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. Transfers between levels, if any, are recorded as of the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs.

        The Company's financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include cash equivalents (money market funds), long-term investments (Note 8), and derivatives (Note 1), and are categorized as follows as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

2014
  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total  

Cash equivalents

  $ 96   $   $   $ 96  

Investment securities

    23                 23  

Long-term investments

    60,960                 60,960  

Foreign currency derivative assets

          2,943           2,943  

Total instruments at fair value

  $ 61,079   $ 2,943   $   $ 64,022  

 

2013
  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total  

Cash equivalents

  $ 102   $   $   $ 102  

Investment securities

    24                 24  

Long-term investments

    64,017                 64,017  

Foreign currency derivative assets

          1,223           1,223  

Foreign currency derivative liabilities

          (776 )         (776 )

Total instruments at fair value

  $ 64,143   $ 447   $   $ 64,590  

        The derivative assets and liabilities are classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy and consist of foreign exchange forward contracts that are measured at fair value using observable market inputs such as forward rates, our own credit risk, and our counterparties' credit risks.

        The Company's assets that are required to be reviewed for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and the fair value is less than the carrying value include goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant, and equipment. The fair value determination of the Trimline trademark and the advance payments to investee were calculated using Level 3 fair value assumptions. The Company recorded impairments of goodwill and trademark, as discussed later in the Intangible Assets section of footnote 1. We have recorded impairments of $319 and $734 in 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to purchased software that will no longer be of use to our business as a result of recent restructuring activities.

        In 2014, the Company recorded an impairment of $1,400 of the advance payment to investee, as discussed later in Note 8.

        Investment Securities—The Company measures its investment securities in accordance with ASC Topic 320, Investments—Debt and Equity Securities.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

        Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. Management has determined that the Company's debt and equity investment securities should be classified as trading and available-for-sale. Trading securities are carried at fair value, with the net unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the net unrealized gains and losses reported in comprehensive income. The fair value of investment securities is based on the quoted market values at December 31, 2014 and 2013. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in other comprehensive (expense) income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest is included in interest income and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in other income.

        The Company accounts for investments under the equity method or cost method of accounting based on criteria including ownership percentage and level of influence. Investments accounted for under the equity method are adjusted to reflect the Company's share of gains or losses, allocated based on ownership percentage. At least annually, investments are reviewed to assess whether there are any other than temporary impairments.

        Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost determined under the last-in, first- out (LIFO) and the first-in, first-out (FIFO) methods. Inventories stated on the LIFO basis represented 74% and 72% of total inventories (before LIFO valuation allowances) at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Had the Company valued all its inventories on the FIFO method, the inventories at December 31, 2014 and 2013, would have been higher by $6,027 and $6,211, respectively. The Company maintains a reserve for excess and obsolete inventory.

        Intangible Assets—Intangible assets consist primarily of goodwill, trademarks, customer base, and patents. Customer base assets are being amortized by the straight-line method over 10 to 11 years. Patents are being amortized by the straight-line method over five to seven years. Trademarks are not being amortized based on the Company's intent to use them indefinitely.

        The Company reviews finite lived assets for impairment when indicators for impairment are identified, in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. The Company also reassesses the useful lives of all acquired intangible assets.

        In accordance with the requirements of ASC 350, the Company evaluated the balance of goodwill recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, the annual measurement date for impairment. In 2014 and 2013, the Company used the step 0 test when evaluating goodwill for impairment, whereby a qualitative assessment was performed to determine that it was not-more-likely -than -not that the fair value of our reporting units was less than the carrying values of the respective reporting units. Factors assessed in making this determination included macroeconomic and market conditions, financial performance, and changes in management.

        In 2012, changes in our reporting structure resulted in an increase in the number of reporting units. Also in 2012, the Company changed its annual evaluation date for determining whether or not goodwill is impaired from December 31 to September 30. The Company determined the fair value of

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

each reporting unit and allocated its goodwill based on the relative fair value of the reporting units. The Company then compared the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value. Fair values were determined using a combination of discounted cash flow and market approach valuation methodologies. The Company recorded a goodwill impairment of $4,950 in 2012, relating to our European reporting unit.

        In 2013, the Company recorded an impairment in our Trimline trademark asset which we have classified as an indefinite lived asset since acquiring it in 2010 with the acquisition of the Trimline product line. Some customers have been converting from our Trimline product line to our proprietary Flexiport product line and, therefore, the Trimline sales forecast no longer supported the original capitalized value of the trademark. This impairment has been reported as a component of operating income in the 2013 consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. In 2014, the Company reviewed the Trimline trademark for impairment and an impairment was not required. The total carrying amount of intangible assets not subject to amortization as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 is $113,945 and $105,150, respectively.

        The following is a summary of changes in the carrying amount of goodwill:

 
  2014   2013  

Goodwill at beginning of year

  $ 100,758   $ 100,799  

Additions to Goodwill

    9,611        

Foreign exchange differences and other

    (1,726 )   (41 )

Goodwill at end of year

  $ 108,643   $ 100,758  

        Amortizing intangible assets, net are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 
  Gross
Carrying
Amount
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net
Carrying
Amount
 

Customer base

  $ 47,224   $ (19,259 ) $ 27,965  

Patents

    2,450     (1,404 )   1,046  

Total amortizing intangible assets at December 31, 2013

  $ 49,674   $ (20,663 ) $ 29,011  

Customer base

  $ 47,379   $ (23,388 ) $ 23,991  

Patents

  $ 2,606   $ (1,887 ) $ 719  

Total amortizing intangible assets at December 31, 2014

  $ 49,985   $ (25,275 ) $ 24,710  

        Trademarks are not included on this table as they have indefinite lives. At December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 trademarks totaled $5,302 and $4,392, respectively and are included within intangible assets on the balance sheet.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

        The amortization expense for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012 was $4,612, $4,815, and $4,685. The estimated weighted-average useful life of intangible assets that are being amortized is 5.8 years. Amortization expense is included in the cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative section of the statement of income.

        The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is:

2015

  $ 4,541  

2016

    4,397  

2017

    4,172  

2018

    4,172  

2019

    3,359  

        Property, Plant, and Equipment—Property, plant, and equipment are recorded at cost. Upon disposal of facilities, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the respective accounts and resulting gains or losses are included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income within other income. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.

        Property, plant, and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets is assessed by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the estimated future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or group of assets. If estimated future undiscounted net cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset or group of assets, the asset is considered impaired and an expense is recorded in an amount required to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its then fair value. Fair value generally is determined from estimated discounted future net cash flows (for assets held-for-use) or net realizable value (for assets held-for-sale).

        Depreciation—The Company provides for depreciation of property, plant, and equipment over their estimated useful lives. Buildings and improvements are depreciated over lives of 20 to 40 years and machinery and equipment generally over lives of 3 to 12 years. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method. The depreciation expense for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012 was approximately $20,300, $19,676, and $18,932.

        Translation of Foreign Currencies—The consolidated financial statements of the Company's foreign subsidiaries, where the functional currency is not the US Dollar, are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters. Assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. The net adjustments from translation are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Translation adjustments are generally not adjusted for income taxes as they relate to permanent investments in the Company's foreign subsidiaries. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are recognized in income based on the difference between foreign exchange rates on transaction date and other settlement dates, these amounts are accounted for in the other income line of the

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

statement of income. The net aggregate transaction loss included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income was $3,179, $2,613, and $915 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

        Income Taxes—The Company provides for income taxes in accordance with the liability method as set forth in ASC 740, Income Taxes. Under the liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences of differences between the tax and financial accounting bases of assets and liabilities at the end of each reporting period. Deferred income taxes are based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.

        Deferred income taxes are not provided on the unremitted earnings of subsidiaries outside the United States when it is expected that these earnings are permanently reinvested. Such earnings may become taxable upon repatriation of assets from a subsidiary or the sale or liquidation of a subsidiary. Deferred income taxes are provided when the Company no longer considers subsidiary earnings to be permanently reinvested, such as situations where the Company's subsidiaries plan to make future dividend distributions.

        Excise Tax—Beginning in 2013, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Acts of 2010, among other initiatives, the legislation provides for a 2.3% excise tax on the sale of certain medical devices in the U.S. The Company is required to pay this excise tax on most of its U.S. product sales and $6,427 and $6,889 was recorded in Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses in the 2014 and 2013 consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, respectively.

        Research and Development—Research and development expenditures are recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses as incurred and amounted to $49,787, $54,005, and $59,938 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

        Advertising Costs—Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. The total amount charged to advertising expense totaled $1,493, $1,838, and $2,096 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

        Accounting for Share-Based Compensation—The Company values its liabilities incurred under share-based payment arrangements in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Note 7).

2. INVENTORIES

        The composition of inventories, net of reserves, is as follows at December 31:

 
  2014   2013  

Raw material

  $ 17,712   $ 18,966  

Work-in-process

    14,998     15,149  

Finished goods

    24,913     18,990  

  $ 57,623   $ 53,105  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

3. INCOME TAXES

        The provision for income taxes consisted of the following:

 
  2014   2013   2012  

Income before income taxes:

                   

Domestic

  $ 51,978   $ 35,910   $ 37,148  

Foreign

    16,866     5,596     5,428  

Total

  $ 68,844   $ 41,506   $ 42,576  

Current:

                   

Federal

  $ 21,229   $ 15,070   $ 12,112  

State

    2,134     1,362     1,326  

Foreign

    3,000     1,919     1,997  

    26,363     18,351     15,435  

Deferred:

                   

Federal

    (5,814 )   (8,157 )   (3,647 )

State

    (196 )   (253 )   (112 )

Foreign

    (178 )   364     479  

Deferred income tax benefit

    (6,188 )   (8,046 )   (3,280 )

Provision for income taxes

  $ 20,175   $ 10,305   $ 12,155  

        The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% to pretax income. The sources and tax effects of the differences are as follows:

 
  2014   2013   2012  

U.S. federal tax expense at statutory rates

    35.0 %   35.0 %   35.0 %

State income taxes—net of federal benefit

    2.1     2.2     2.0  

Research and experimentation credits

    (0.9 )   (5.8 )      

Domestic production deduction

    (1.7 )   (2.2 )   (2.4 )

Impairment of trademark

          0.3     4.3  

Corporate owned life insurance

    (1.0 )   (5.1 )   (2.1 )

Split dollar life insurance

                (7.0 )

Impact of foreign operations

    (5.2 )   (1.0 )   (3.1 )

Other—net

    1.0     1.4     1.9  

Effective tax rate

    29.3 %   24.8 %   28.6 %

        Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

3. INCOME TAXES (Continued)

purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 are as follows:

 
  2014   2013  

Deferred tax assets:

             

Pension and postretirement benefits

  $ 5,807   $ 4,976  

Inventory related

    2,867     2,975  

Accrued compensation

    28,371     23,347  

Accrued restructuring

    1,694     3,908  

Accounts receivable

    851     925  

Warranty reserve

    1,305     1,564  

Rebate accrual

    2,588     2,010  

Net operating loss carryforwards

    2,285     2,670  

Other deferred tax assets

    5,503     3,862  

State tax credits

    12,904     12,905  

Valuation allowance

    (15,254 )   (15,849 )

Total deferred tax assets

    48,921     43,293  

Deferred tax liabilities:

             

Tax over book depreciation

    12,229     14,524  

Unrealized gains on marketable securities

    5,240     4,258  

Other deferred tax liabilities

    2,212     2,952  

Total deferred tax liabilities

    19,681     21,734  

Net deferred tax assets

  $ 29,240   $ 21,559  

Classification of net deferred tax assets:

             

Current asset

  $ 16,716   $ 17,869  

Non-current asset

    12,524     3,690  

  $ 29,240   $ 21,559  

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, there was $12,904 and $12,905, respectively, of future tax benefits associated with state tax credits, which have an indefinite carryforward period. Management believes it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As such, a full valuation allowance has been recorded in the total amount of these deferred tax assets.

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, there was $2,350 and $2,944, respectively, of deferred tax assets reflecting the benefit of $7,046 and $9,674, respectively, in loss carryforwards and other future deductible differences in Brazil, China, and Colombia; the net operating loss carryforwards are not subject to expiration, but there are other limitations that will impact deductibility. Management believes it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As such, a full valuation allowance has been recorded in the total amount of these deferred tax assets.

        The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to United States federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. During 2014, the Internal Revenue Service

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

3. INCOME TAXES (Continued)

("IRS") initiated its audit for the 2013 calendar year. The Company continued its participation in the IRS Compliance Assurance Program (CAP) for the 2014 calendar year and has submitted the application to remain in CAP for the 2015 calendar year.

        At December 31, 2014, undistributed earnings of consolidated foreign subsidiaries of $29,242 are considered to be indefinitely reinvested in international operations. Accordingly, no provision has been made for deferred taxes related to the future repatriation of such earnings, nor is it practicable to determine the amount of this liability.

        At December 31, 2014 and 2013, there was $2,689 and $1,330, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits that if recognized would affect the annual effective tax rate. The Company believes that there will be no significant change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.

        The Company recognized interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company accrued approximately $464 and $277 in interest and penalties, respectively, related to uncertain tax positions in the accrued income taxes balance on the consolidated balance sheets.

        The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the "Act") was signed into law by President Obama on January 2, 2013. Among other things, the Act extended through 2013 several expired or expiring temporary business tax provisions, commonly referred to as "extenders." Provisions that expired at the end of 2011 were retroactively extended to the beginning of 2012, including the research and experimentation (R&E) credit. Under ASC 740, Income Taxes, the effects of new legislation were recognized upon enactment, which in the U.S. federal jurisdiction is the date the president signs a tax bill into law. Although the R&E credit extension was effective retroactively for 2012, entities could only consider currently enacted tax law as of the 2012 balance sheet date in determining current and deferred taxes. The retroactive tax effects for 2012 and the tax effects for 2013 were $2,404 and were recognized by the Company in 2013. The tax effects for 2014 were $618 and were recognized by the Company in 2014.

        In September of 2013, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released final regulations regarding the deductibility and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. Compliance with these final regulations is required with companies' federal income tax returns for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. We have assessed these rules and have determined that the impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position is not material.

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED COMPANIES

        Selling expense in the accompanying consolidated financial statements includes a commission of $20,995, $18,600, and $16,919 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, which is paid to a Domestic International Sales Corporation affiliated by common ownership.

        The Company has advanced $34,365 and $32,697 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to related-parties, under a split dollar agreement, for the purpose of funding life insurance policies on key stockholders (Note 8). The cash value of these policies has been assigned to the Company as collateral

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Table of Contents


WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

4. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED COMPANIES (Continued)

for the trusts' obligations to repay the advance. In 2012, this split dollar agreement was converted from an economic regime to a loan regime which converted the advanced monies to an interest-bearing loan. Interest accrued totaled $1,445 and $687 at 2014 and 2013, respectively.

5. BORROWINGS AND LEASE COMMITMENTS

        Line-of-Credit Arrangements—On June 21, 2013, the Company entered into an amended and restated $150,000 five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the "Revolver"). Interest rates on outstanding loans are based on the London Interbank Offer Rate plus additional basis points determined by the ratio of consolidated outstanding indebtedness to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), defined as the "Leverage Ratio" in the credit agreement. These rates range from 87.5 basis points to 125 basis points. The maturity date of the Revolver is June 21, 2018.

        The Revolver has financial covenants that:

        Debt issuance costs related to the Revolver are carried in other assets and amortized to interest expense over the life of the credit facility. This expense is included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income within investment income and amounted to $290, $494 and $663 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

        As of December 31, 2014, the amount available to borrow against the Revolver was $147,176. There were no amounts outstanding under the Revolver at December 31, 2014.

        As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $2,824 and $3,074, respectively, principally related to self-insured health insurance, value added tax guarantees and supplier guarantees, which expire at various times throughout 2015. These letters reduce the Company's borrowing capacity.

        Operating Leases—Future minimum annual payments on operating leases, principally for facilities, office equipment, and automobiles, which expire in one to five-year periods, are as follows for each of the five succeeding fiscal years:

2015

  $ 3,302  

2016

    2,532  

2017

    2,439  

2018

    2,113  

2019

    2,136  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

5. BORROWINGS AND LEASE COMMITMENTS (Continued)

        Net rental expense is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and amounted to $5,635, $6,501, and $7,129 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

6. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

        Stockholder Agreements—The principal stockholders own 100% of the outstanding Common Stock—Class A (voting) and the majority of the outstanding Common Stock—Class B (non-voting). The stockholders' agreement contains first refusal rights, which require stock to be offered to other principal stockholders as well as the Company before it can be offered for sale otherwise. It also requires transferred non-voting stock be purchased at appraised value as determined by a recognized appraiser of closely held stock and securities.

        The Company is not a party to the agreement, though the voting stockholders shall encourage the Company to redeem sufficient stock from the estate of any deceased principal stockholder, if necessary, to pay estate taxes. The stockholders' agreement allows the principal stockholders the ability to pledge (upon permission of the Company) shares of the Company's voting stock as collateral for loans with third-party bank lending institutions. The Company has agreed with the lender that, in the event of default by the borrower, the Company will purchase the borrower's note from the lender and take possession of the pledged voting stock collateral. Voting stock has been pledged by the principal stockholders against loan commitments totaling $9,000 at December 31, 2014 and 2013. There have been no events of default on these loans.

        The Company has entered into agreements with most of its non-principal Class B stockholders in which the stockholders have the right to sell to the Company, and the Company has the right to buy, all of their Company stock in the event (among other contingencies) of death or in the case of employee stockholders' termination of employment for whatever reason. In the event of such a transaction, the fair market value of the stock is to be derived based upon appraised value. The aggregate value of such stock approximates $3,515 and $3,110 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        Stock Redenomination—In 2014, the Company completed an in-substance stock split of 300 Class A for each outstanding share of Class A and Class B, exclusive of shares held in the Company's treasury. In addition, the value per share of Class A and Class B was reduced from $1.25 per share to $0.01 per share for each issued share, with the difference being reflected in retained earnings.

        Treasury Stock—At December 31, 2014 and 2013, shares held in Treasury consist of 157,675 and 157,475 shares, respectively, of Common Stock—Class B. During 2014 and 2013, the Company acquired 224,914 and 0 shares, respectively, of Common Stock—Class A and 200 and 429 shares, respectively, of Common Stock—Class B, at a cost of $2,141 and $1,089, respectively.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

        Postretirement Benefits—The Company provides a contributory retiree health care plan covering all eligible employees who retired prior to January 1, 1990, and all eligible employees who have or will retire at normal retirement age between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2014, with at least five years of active service.

        Benefit obligations and funding policies are at the discretion of the Company's management. Retiree contributions are adjusted annually and the plan contains other cost-sharing features such as deductibles and coinsurance, all of which vary based on the retiree's date of retirement. The accounting for the plan anticipates future cost-sharing changes to the written plan that are consistent with the Company's expressed intent to cap its contribution for all employees who retire after 1998 at the level in effect in 1998.

        A summary of the net periodic postretirement benefit other than pension costs for 2014, 2013, and 2012 is presented below:

 
  2014   2013   2012  

Service cost benefits earned during the period

  $ 5   $ 54   $ 49  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

    532     551     660  

Amortization of net loss

          1,007     687  

Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost

    146     146     146  

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

  $ 683   $ 1,758   $ 1,542  

        A discount rate of 3.5% was used in 2014, 4.0% in 2013, and 3.0% in 2012 to determine the actuarial present value of the accrued postretirement benefit obligation. A discount rate of 4.0%, 3.0%, and 3.75% was used in 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively, to determine the net benefit cost. For measurement purposes, the annual rate of increase in health care costs was assumed to be 6.2% in 2014, 5.8% in 2015, 5.5% in 2016, 14.6% in 2017 and 6.3% in 2018, decreasing eventually to 4.8%. Benefits paid, net of participant contributions of $208 in 2014 and $176 in 2013, were $925 in 2014 and $1,109 in 2013. These amounts were funded by employer contributions and Medicare Part D reimbursements of $925 and $158, respectively, in 2014 and $1,109 and $0, respectively, in 2013. The

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Continued)

change in benefit obligations, plan assets, and amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets were as follows:

 
  2014   2013  

Change in benefit obligation:

             

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

  $ 14,446   $ 19,113  

Service cost

    5     54  

Interest cost

    532     551  

Plan participants' contributions

    208     176  

Actuarial loss/(gain)

    2,334     (4,163 )

Benefit payments and expected expenses

    (1,291 )   (1,285 )

Medicare Part D reimbursements

    158        

Benefit obligation at end of year

    16,392     14,446  

Change in plan assets:

             

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

         

Plan participants' contributions

    208     176  

Employer contributions

    925     1,109  

Benefit payments and actual expenses

    (1,291 )   (1,285 )

Medicare Part D reimbursements

    158        

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

         

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:

             

Current liabilities

    1,350     1,461  

Non-current liabilities

    15,042     12,985  

Total amount recognized

  $ 16,392   $ 14,446  

        The Company estimates $1,382 in contributions to the postretirement plan will be paid in 2015.

        The benefits expected to be paid in each of the next five years, and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter are:

2016

  $ 1,359  

2017

    1,316  

2018

    1,277  

2019

    1,237  

Years 2020-2024

    5,569  

        The Company has not prefunded any of its postretirement health care liability and, accordingly, the Company's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) and net cost recognized for other postemployment benefits reflect the effects of the recent Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. The provisions of this act provide for a federal subsidy for plans that provide prescription drug benefits and meet certain qualifications. The actuarially determined reduction in the APBO at December 31, 2014, is $1,958, with $61 of this reduction

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Continued)

recognized in 2014. The subsidy effectively reduced amortization by $0 and reduced interest cost by $61.

        Other Benefits—The Company provides a non-contributory life insurance benefit to certain retirees who retired prior to December 31, 1989. Because the amount of the liability relative to this plan is insignificant, it has been combined with the health care plan for purposes of this disclosure.

        The Company has a salary reduction 401(k) plan whereby eligible employees may defer up to 40% of their eligible compensation. The Company matches 50% of employee deferrals, up to 6% of eligible compensation. The Company also contributes a non-elective contribution whereby the Company contributes 5% of eligible compensation on behalf of eligible employees. Employer contributions aggregated $8,196, $8,479, and $10,233 in fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

        Long-Term Incentive Plans—The Company's Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated as of January 1, 2013) and Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors Long-Term Incentive Plan (Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2012) (the "Plans"), which are Board approved, permit the grant of awards to its employees and non-employee directors. The Plans were established for the purpose of providing grants of Phantom Stock Appreciation Rights (PHASARs) and Phantom Stock Units (PSUs) to a select group of officers and other key employees and non-employee directors of the Company to better align the interests of its employees and non-employee directors with those of its shareholders. A PHASAR is a bookkeeping unit representing the right to receive a payment equal to the excess (if any) of (a) the market value of a phantom unit (a hypothetical share of the common stock of the Company) as of the most recent quarterly valuation immediately preceding the date on which the right is exercised or deemed exercised, over (b) the market value of a phantom unit as of its grant date. A PSU is a bookkeeping unit representing the right to receive payment equal to the market value of a phantom unit as of the quarter immediately preceding the date on which the right is exercised or deemed exercised. PHASAR and PSU awards are granted on January 1 of each year. The compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period. A PHASAR or PSU phantom unit is valued at its hypothetical market value as determined by the Board of Directors, with assistance from an independent valuation firm on the last day of each quarter. The Company uses the intrinsic value method to determine the fair value of PHASARs and PSUs, and accordingly compensation expense is adjusted each quarter for changes in the hypothetical fair value of the Company's stock until a payment is made to the employee.

        In 2009, the Company initiated a Board approved Performance Phantom Stock Unit Plan (PPSU) which allows for awards of PPSUs to certain key employees. A PPSU is a bookkeeping unit representing the right to receive a payment equal to the fair value of a phantom stock unit as of December 31 immediately preceding the date on which the right is exercised or deemed exercised adjusted based on performance per a matrix which measures both EBITDA and EBITDA return on Shareholder's Equity. The vesting period is three years. The compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period based on the percent achievement to target. Expenses accrued under these plans were $950, $1,027, and $501 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012.

        Beginning in 2013, the Company has stopped issuing new PPSU grants and instead replaced PPSUs with a three-year performance income cash incentive plan. The participants each receive a

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Continued)

targeted cash award and performance is measured against the three year performance income target. There is a three year cliff vesting period and any outstanding awards at the time of a participants' retirement run to completion but are prorated through the retirement date.

        Effective in the second quarter of 2014, the Company redenominated all shares outstanding. This effectively increased all outstanding shares by a factor of 301, with a corresponding reduction in the share price by a factor of 301. Share and share price data have been retroactively adjusted for presentation purposes in this footnote.

        For awards granted on or after January 1, 2006, the following assumptions were made:

For Employees    
Requisite service period   Five years PHASARs and PSUs; Three years PPSUs

PHASAR vesting schedule

 

20% vesting per year for five years and shares can be held up to ten years

PSU vesting schedule

 

100% cliff vesting after five years and paid after end of year five

PPSU

 

100% cliff vesting after three years and paid after end of year three

PHASAR forfeiture rate

 

0%

PSU forfeiture rate

 

4.5-18%

PPSU forfeiture rate

 

0%

For Non-Employee Directors

 

 

Requisite service period

 

One year

Vesting schedule

 

100% after one year

Forfeiture rate

 

0%

 

PHASAR Rollforward
  Unit   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 

PHASAR units outstanding—December 31, 2013

    85,042,132   $ 0.40  

Units forfeited

    354,157     1.64  

Units exercised

    18,827,369     0.16  

Units granted

    874,569     8.62  

PHASAR units outstanding—December 31, 2014

    66,735,175     0.54  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Continued)


PSU Rollforward
   
  Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value  

PSU units outstanding—December 31, 2013

    36,756,314   $ 0.49  

Units forfeited

    1,044,169     0.81  

Units exercised

    13,029,294     0.34  

Units granted

    426,454     8.62  

PSU units outstanding—December 31, 2014

    23,109,305     0.74  

PPSU Rollforward

             

PPSU units outstanding—December 31, 2013

    1,809,311   $ 0.55  

Units forfeited

             

Units exercised

    1,632,624     0.33  

Units granted

             

PPSU units outstanding—December 31, 2014

    176,687     6.53  

 

For Employees
Vested Shares
  PHASARs   PSUs   PPSUs  

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.39   $   $  

Shares/units outstanding at December 31, 2014

    62,080,113     8,216,397     176,687  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.24   $ 0.34   $ 5.38  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units outstanding

    3.5              

Number of shares/units currently exercisable

    51,947,483     8,216,397     176,687  

Shares exercisable and expected to become exercisable

    65,818,329     17,437,758     176,687  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.20   $ 0.49   $ 5.38  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units exercisable

    3.0              

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.29   $   $  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Continued)


For Non-Employee Directors
Vested Shares
  PHASARs   PSUs  

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.27   $  

Shares/units outstanding at December 31, 2014

    916,846     5,147,702  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.22   $ 1.25  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units outstanding

    1.6     1.7  

Number of shares/units currently exercisable

    916,846     2,153,053  

Shares exercisable and expected to become exercisable

    916,846     5,147,702  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.16   $ 0.49  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units exercisable

    1        

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.27   $  

 

For Employees
Vested Shares
  PHASARs   PSUs   PPSUs  

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.32   $   $  

Shares/units outstanding at December 31, 2013

    75,251,505     9,469,761     1,743,994  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.13   $ 0.40   $ 0.40  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units outstanding

    3.9              

Number of shares/units currently exercisable

    57,468,124     9,469,761     1,743,994  

Shares exercisable and expected to become exercisable

    83,714,722     27,984,271     1,806,000  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.13   $ 0.40   $ 0.40  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units exercisable

    3.0              

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.27   $   $  

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

7. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Continued)


For Non Employee Directors
Vested Shares
  PHASARs   PSUs  

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.25   $  

Shares/units outstanding at December 31, 2013

    1,309,350     7,512,057  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units outstanding

  $ 0.15   $ 0.74  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units outstanding

    2.1     1.2  

Number of shares/units currently exercisable

    1,309,350     2,031,750  

Shares exercisable and expected to become exercisable

    1,309,350     7,512,057  

Weighted-average intrinsic price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.15   $ 0.40  

Weighted-average remaining contractual term on shares/units exercisable

    1.0        

Weighted-average exercise price on shares/units exercisable

  $ 0.25   $  

        The weighted average grant date intrinsic value for PSUs for 2014 is $8.62 and for PSUs and PPSUs for 2013 is $7.32. The weighted average grant date intrinsic value for PSUs and PPSUs for 2012 is $6.53. The weighted average grant date intrinsic value for PHASARs is $0. The total liability for PHASAR, PSU, and PPSU units outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, is $45,172 and $32,722, respectively. Compensation costs have been charged against income which is included as a component of cost of goods sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. The compensation costs for these plans was $22,996, $21,082, and $7,995 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012. The total income tax benefit recognized in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for these arrangements was $8,508, $7,800, and $2,958 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012. Total cash paid to settle PHASARs and PSUs was $11,167 and $11,667 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. The deferral of payments on units exercised in 2014 and 2013 was $1,192 and $280, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, the total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized is $10,456. The weighted average period over which this expense is expected to be recognized is 2.5 years. The total liability for PHASAR, PSU, and PPSU units outstanding and units exercised with deferred payments at December 31, 2014 and 2013, is $45,172 and $32,709, respectively, of which $33,731 and $22,629 is presented separately on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $11,441 and $10,080 is included as a component of accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The total value of shares that became vested during 2014 is $8,205.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

8. OTHER ASSETS

        The composition of other non-current assets is as follows at December 31:

 
  2014   2013  

Cash advanced to related party trusts for split dollar agreements (Note 4)

  $ 35,810   $ 33,384  

Trading account investments related to deferred compensation plan

    31,327     30,471  

Available-for-sale securities

    29,633     33,546  

Corporate owned life insurance

    31,457     29,599  

Capitalized software

    7,052     6,210  

Cost and equity method investments

    18,554     7,349  

Advance payments to investee

    5,389     6,411  

Prepaid royalty

    2,000        

Advance payment to Hubble

    1,960        

Other

    35     143  

Total

  $ 163,217   $ 147,113  

        The cost basis of trading account investments related to deferred compensation assets held was $28,931 and $26,499 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These assets are primarily invested in mutual funds. The Company intends to use our investments in available-for-sale equity securities and corporate owned life insurance to settle long-term incentive plan obligations. Gross unrealized gains and losses accumulated in other comprehensive income are as follows:

 
  December 31, 2014  
 
  Cost   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Estimated
Fair
Value
 

Available-for-sale securities

  $ 18,412   $ 11,221   $   $ 29,633  

  $ 18,412   $ 11,221   $   $ 29,633  

 

 
  December 31, 2013  
 
  Cost   Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  Estimated
Fair
Value
 

Available-for-sale securities

  $ 22,497   $ 11,049   $   $ 33,546  

  $ 22,497   $ 11,049   $   $ 33,546  

        The gross realized gains on sales of available-for-sale securities totaled $2,117, $1,750, and $1,597 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012. Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities amounted to $6,379, $4,784 and $23,357 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The gross realized gains on sales of trading account investments totaled $1,072, $735, and $503 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012. Proceeds from sales of trading account investments amounted to $7,040, $5,086 and $5,788 for fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

8. OTHER ASSETS (Continued)

        Unrealized gains on trading account investments totaled $2,396 and $4,206 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company bears no risk in changes in the trading security investments as any changes in market value would be equally offset by a change in the liability.

        The Company capitalizes certain eligible costs of software to be sold or otherwise marketed, whether internally developed or purchased. The unamortized software costs included in other assets at December 31, 2014, is $7,052 and at December 31, 2013, is $6,210. The total amortization expense charged to cost of goods sold was $1,624, $1,189, and $397 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012. Accumulated amortization was $3,493 and $1,869 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company generally assigns a five-year useful life to capitalized software assets.

        The Company has made strategic capital investments totaling $18,554 and $7,349 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

        This includes the following 2014 investments:

        Assets, liabilities, and net income of investees accounted for under the equity method, in the aggregate, were $105,752, $1,959 and $6,053, respectively.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

8. OTHER ASSETS (Continued)

        Equity method investments totaled $13,223 and $4,019 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Gains and losses from equity method investments have been reported as a component of other income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Gains (losses) totaled $356, ($433), and $0 for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012. Management evaluates these investments for other than temporary impairment annually.

        In 2012, the Company had also recorded a cash advance to an investee associated with these investments of $8,000, of which $5,389 and $6,411 have been recorded in other assets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Management reviews this balance annually for impairment, and in 2014 an impairment of $1,400 was recognized.

9. ACCRUED EXPENSES

        The composition of accrued expenses is as follows:

 
  2014   2013  

Accrued payroll and other employee related expenses

  $ 29,102   $ 37,113  

Current portion of incentive obligation

    11,441     10,080  

Accrued rebates

    21,171     19,131  

Other

    28,266     26,957  

Total

  $ 89,980   $ 93,281  

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        The Company is involved in various pending and threatened actions arising from its normal business operations. Management believes that the Company has meritorious defenses or claims and it will vigorously protect itself in these actions. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these actions will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.

        The Company offers warranties for its products. The specific terms and conditions of those warranties vary depending upon the product sold. For products sold in the United States, the Company provides a basic limited warranty, including parts and labor, for periods ranging generally from one to five years. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its basic limited warranty and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors that affect the Company's warranty liability include the number of installed units, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and cost per claim.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

        Changes in the Company's product liability, included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, during the period are as follows:

 
  2014   2013  

Balance at January 1

  $ 4,173   $ 4,106  

Warranties issued

    3,579     3,968  

Changes in estimates

          21  

Settlements made

    (4,287 )   (3,922 )

Balance at December 31

  $ 3,465   $ 4,173  

        Supplier Concentration—Certain of the raw materials or purchased assemblies used by the Company in the manufacture of its products are available from a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, from a single supplier. Shortages could occur in these essential materials due to an interruption of supply from any of these suppliers. Although the Company has no reason to believe that there will be an interruption in supply of any materials or purchased parts, and although the Company continually reviews its sources of supply, if the Company were unable to procure certain of such materials or purchased assemblies from a number of these limited suppliers, it would be required to reduce its manufacturing operations, which could have a material adverse effect upon its results of operations.

        Regulation—The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (collectively "Health Care Reform") legislated broad-based changes to the U.S. health care system that significantly impact our business operations and financial results, including higher or lower revenue, as well as higher employee medical costs and taxes. Health Care Reform imposes significant new taxes on medical device manufacturers, which will result in a significant increase in the tax burden on our industry and which could have a material negative impact on our financial condition, results of operations and our cash flows. Other elements of Health Care Reform such as comparative effectiveness research, an independent payment advisory board, payment system reforms including shared savings pilots and other provisions could meaningfully change the way healthcare is developed and delivered, and may materially impact numerous aspects of our business, results of operations and financial condition. Many significant parts of Health Care Reform will be phased in over the next several years and require further guidance and clarification in the form of regulations.

11. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES

        In September 2012, the Company announced plans to reshape its business and realign resources to meet the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing global healthcare environment. In doing so, the Company established three distinct New Product Development and Technology Centers in New York, Oregon, and Singapore. Also, the Company created a Global Finance Shared Service Center in Mexico and consolidated its North American manufacturing and related support functions at its largest facilities in New York and Mexico. Over the course of the restructure program, the Company aggressively hired select new skills that are critical to supporting the changing nature of healthcare

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

11. RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER CHARGES (Continued)

globally and necessary to prepare for future growth. The Company reduced an estimated 10 percent of its current workforce as part of the restructuring effort. This was accomplished with a combination of voluntary and involuntary separations. The total estimated cost of the entire restructuring plan is approximately $55 million, of which approximately $44 million (including $5 million of capital) has been incurred through December 31, 2014. The Company expects to incur and pay the remaining cost for the other portions of the restructuring over the next year. Costs include the following main categories of expense: severance and retention, costs related to the move and consolidation of product lines to New York and Mexico, personnel (including travel and temporary wages paid to backfill employees), and consulting or legal fees. In 2014, restructuring expense includes $1,212 in third party consulting fees spent to help the Company optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of several functions within the business. This amount relates directly to efficiencies in the sourcing area and has been included in restructuring cost of goods sold in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. Severance packages were calculated based on years of service and included appropriate levels of medical coverage.

        The table below shows the related activity recorded in 2014, 2013, and 2012:

 
  Balance
December 31,
2013
  Additions to
Reserve
  Payments   Balance
December 31,
2014
 

Severance and related

  $ 11,518   $ 5,562   $ (12,441 ) $ 4,639  

All other

    506     1,497     (1,862 )   141  

Total

  $ 12,204   $ 7,059   $ (14,303 ) $ 4,780  

 

 
  Balance
December 31,
2012
  Additions to
Reserve
  Payments   Balance
December 31,
2013
 

Severance and related

  $ 9,542   $ 11,857   $ (9,881 ) $ 11,518  

All other

    570     7,810     (7,874 )   506  

Total

  $ 10,112   $ 19,667   $ (17,755 ) $ 12,024  

 

 
  Balance
December 31,
2011
  Additions to
Reserve
  Payments   Balance
December 31,
2012
 

Severance and related

  $   $ 11,247   $ (1,705 ) $ 9,542  

All other

          1,893     (1,323 )   570  

Total

  $   $ 13,140   $ (3,028 ) $ 10,112  

        The all other reserve at December 31, 2014 includes employee relocation costs associated with the restructuring efforts.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

12. ACQUISITIONS

        On June 3, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets of PediaVision Holdings, LLC ("PediaVision"), a leading developer of vision technology and inventor of a new generation of user-friendly vision assessment technology that transcends age, developmental capacity and mobility. This acquisition offers the Company a unique opportunity to better serve its customers by offering them a state of the art diagnostic device for conducting eye examinations in a variety of settings. It also complements the Company's existing vision screening technology, specifically, the Welch Allyn SureSight® Vision Screener and Autorefractor.

        The purchase price was $8,112, including a holdback of $1,500. Additional contingent consideration totaling $500 was recognized at the acquisition date to accrue for future payments to the previous owner. Results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The cost of the acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from PediaVision based on their fair values as of the close of the acquisition, with the amount exceeding the fair value of the net assets acquired being recorded as goodwill. Goodwill will be deducted for tax purposes utilizing the straight-line method over a period of 15 years.

        The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

Current assets

  $ 235  

Fixed assets

    109  

Intangible assets

    8,244  

Total asset acquired

    8,588  

Current liabilities

    (476 )

Net assets acquired

  $ 8,112  

        As the values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary in nature, they are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained, including, but not limited to, the finalization of our intangible asset valuation. The valuations will be finalized in 2015. When the valuations are finalized, any changes to the preliminary valuation of assets acquired or liabilities assumed may result in material adjustments to the fair value of the intangible assets acquired, as well as goodwill.

        The fair values of the assets acquired were determined using the income approach. The income approach estimates the value for a subject asset based on the present value of cash flows projected to be generated by the asset. The projected cash flows were discounted using the Company weighted average cost of capital. The projected cash flows for each asset considered multiple factors from the perspective of a marketplace participant including revenue projections from existing customers, attrition trends, marginal tax rates and expected profit margins giving consideration to historical and expected margins. The income fair value measurement approach is based on significant unobservable inputs, including management estimates and assumptions.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

12. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

        The amounts assigned to major classes of intangible assets are shown below:

Customer base

  $ 155  

Goodwill

    7,022  

In-process R&D

    157  

Trademarks

    910  

Total intangible assets

  $ 8,244  

        On November 7, 2014, the Company acquired certain assets of HealthInterlink, LLC ("HealthInterlink"), a business engaged in researching, developing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling software and other products and solutions for remote patient monitoring. In keeping with the Company's vision to transform care wherever patients and healthcare professionals connect, this acquisition will enable the Company to help clinicians prioritize patient care, allowing for early intervention and facilitating communications with patients outside traditional healthcare settings.

        The purchase price was $4,000, including a holdback of $600. Additional consideration totaling $200 was recognized at the acquisition date to accrue for future payments due to the previous owner over the next 2 years. Results of this acquisition are included in our consolidated results of operations from the date of acquisition. The cost of the acquisition was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from HealthInterlink based on their fair values as of the close of the acquisition, with the amount exceeding the fair value of the net assets acquired being recorded as goodwill. Goodwill will be deducted for tax purposes utilizing the straight-line method over a period of 15 years.

        The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

Current assets

  $ 48  

Intangible assets

    3,968  

Total asset acquired

    4,016  

Current liabilities

    (16 )

Net assets acquired

  $ 4,000  

        As the values of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed are preliminary in nature, they are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained, including, but not limited to, the finalization of our intangible asset valuation. The valuations will be finalized in 2015. When the valuations are finalized, any changes to the preliminary valuation of assets acquired or liabilities assumed may result in material adjustments to the fair value of the intangible assets acquired, as well as goodwill.

        The fair values of the assets acquired were determined using the income approach.

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WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014, 2013, AND 2012 (Continued)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

12. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

        The amounts assigned to major classes of intangible assets are shown below:

Software

  $ 1,379  

Goodwill

    2,589  

Total intangible assets

  $ 3,968  

        Software is accounted for within other non current assets.

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

        The Company has evaluated the impact of subsequent events through February 3, 2015, representing the date at which the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.

        On January 1, 2015, the Company purchased Hubble Telemedical, Inc. ("Hubble"), a privately-held company that enables remote diabetic retinopathy screening and analysis in primary care and other convenient settings. The acquisition of Hubble further strengthens the Company's leadership position in delivering sight-saving solutions into primary care settings where they can have the largest impact on improving population health while also lowering the cost of care. The total purchase price of this acquisition was $5,217.

        The Company advanced payment to Hubble, on December 31, 2014 in the amount of $1,960, which is included in other non current assets within the balance sheet as of December 31, 2014.

******

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ANNEX A

EXECUTION VERSION

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.,
EMPIRE MERGER SUB CORP.,
and
WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC.
Dated as of June 16, 2015


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page  

ARTICLE I

       

The Merger

   
 
 

SECTION 1.01.

 

The Merger

   
A-1
 

SECTION 1.02.

 

Closing

    A-1  

SECTION 1.03.

 

Effective Time

    A-1  

SECTION 1.04.

 

Effects

    A-2  

SECTION 1.05.

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

    A-2  

SECTION 1.06.

 

Directors

    A-2  

SECTION 1.07.

 

Officers

    A-2  

SECTION 1.08.

 

Plan of Merger

    A-2  

ARTICLE II

   
 
 

Effect on the Capital Stock of the Constituent Corporations; Exchange of Certificates

   
 
 

SECTION 2.01.

 

Effect on Capital Stock

   
A-2
 

SECTION 2.02.

 

Merger Consideration Adjustment

    A-3  

SECTION 2.03.

 

Escrow Agreement

    A-10  

SECTION 2.04.

 

Exchange of Certificates

    A-10  

SECTION 2.05.

 

Treatment of PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentives

    A-13  

ARTICLE III

   
 
 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

   
 
 

SECTION 3.01.

 

Organization, Standing and Power

   
A-14
 

SECTION 3.02.

 

Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

    A-14  

SECTION 3.03.

 

Capital Structure

    A-15  

SECTION 3.04.

 

Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability

    A-15  

SECTION 3.05.

 

No Conflicts; Consents

    A-16  

SECTION 3.06.

 

Financial Statements Supplied

    A-17  

SECTION 3.07.

 

Absence of Certain Changes; No Company Material Adverse Effect

    A-17  

SECTION 3.08.

 

Real Property

    A-18  

SECTION 3.09.

 

Taxes

    A-18  

SECTION 3.10.

 

Employee Benefits

    A-20  

SECTION 3.11.

 

Labor and Employee Matters

    A-23  

SECTION 3.12.

 

Litigation

    A-23  

SECTION 3.13.

 

Compliance with Applicable Laws

    A-23  

SECTION 3.14.

 

Environmental Matters

    A-25  

SECTION 3.15.

 

Governmental Authorizations

    A-26  

SECTION 3.16.

 

Material Contracts; No Defaults

    A-26  

SECTION 3.17.

 

Intellectual Property

    A-27  

SECTION 3.18.

 

Brokers

    A-28  

SECTION 3.19.

 

Affiliate Transactions

    A-28  

SECTION 3.20.

 

Assets and Properties

    A-29  

SECTION 3.21.

 

Customers and Suppliers

    A-29  

SECTION 3.22.

 

Insurance

    A-29  

SECTION 3.23.

 

Product Liability

    A-29  

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  Page  

ARTICLE IV

       

Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub

   
 
 

SECTION 4.01.

 

Organization, Standing and Power

   
A-30
 

SECTION 4.02.

 

Sub and Parent

    A-30  

SECTION 4.03.

 

Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability

    A-30  

SECTION 4.04.

 

No Conflicts; Consents

    A-30  

SECTION 4.05.

 

Brokers

    A-31  

SECTION 4.06.

 

Financing

    A-31  

SECTION 4.07.

 

Litigation

    A-31  

SECTION 4.08.

 

Compliance with Applicable Laws

    A-31  

SECTION 4.09.

 

Parent SEC Reports; Financial Statements

    A-31  

SECTION 4.10.

 

Issuance of Shares

    A-32  

SECTION 4.11.

 

Solvency

    A-32  

ARTICLE V

   
 
 

Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business

   
 
 

SECTION 5.01.

 

Operation of the Business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries

   
A-32
 

SECTION 5.02.

 

Operation of the Business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries

    A-34  

ARTICLE VI

   
 
 

Additional Agreements

   
 
 

SECTION 6.01.

 

Preparation of the Form S-4

   
A-35
 

SECTION 6.02.

 

Company Shareholder Approval and Related Matters

    A-36  

SECTION 6.03.

 

Access to Information

    A-36  

SECTION 6.04.

 

Best Efforts; Notification

    A-37  

SECTION 6.05.

 

Public Announcements

    A-37  

SECTION 6.06.

 

Benefits

    A-38  

SECTION 6.07.

 

Transfer Taxes

    A-40  

SECTION 6.08.

 

Indemnification

    A-40  

SECTION 6.09.

 

Fees and Expenses

    A-41  

SECTION 6.10.

 

Shareholder Representative

    A-41  

SECTION 6.11.

 

Financing

    A-43  

SECTION 6.12.

 

Section 280G Vote

    A-46  

SECTION 6.13.

 

Exclusivity

    A-47  

ARTICLE VII

   
 
 

Conditions to Closing

   
 
 

SECTION 7.01.

 

Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger

   
A-47
 

SECTION 7.02.

 

Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub

    A-48  

SECTION 7.03.

 

Conditions to Obligations of the Company

    A-49  

SECTION 7.04.

 

Frustration of Closing Conditions

    A-49  

ARTICLE VIII

   
 
 

Termination, Amendment and Waiver

   
 
 

SECTION 8.01.

 

Termination

   
A-49
 

SECTION 8.02.

 

Effect of Termination

    A-50  

SECTION 8.03.

 

Amendment

    A-51  

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  Page  

SECTION 8.04.

 

Extension; Waiver

    A-51  

SECTION 8.05.

 

Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver

    A-51  

ARTICLE IX

   
 
 

Indemnification

   
 
 

SECTION 9.01.

 

Parent's Indemnification

   
A-51
 

SECTION 9.02.

 

Shareholder Indemnification

    A-52  

SECTION 9.03.

 

Defense of Third Party Claims

    A-52  

SECTION 9.04.

 

Other Claims

    A-53  

SECTION 9.05.

 

Survival

    A-53  

SECTION 9.06.

 

Indemnification Limitations

    A-54  

SECTION 9.07.

 

Release of Escrow Fund

    A-55  

SECTION 9.08.

 

Exclusive Remedy

    A-56  

ARTICLE X

   
 
 

General Provisions

   
 
 

SECTION 10.01.

 

Notices

   
A-56
 

SECTION 10.02.

 

Definitions

    A-57  

SECTION 10.03.

 

Interpretation; Exchange Rate

    A-61  

SECTION 10.04.

 

Severability

    A-61  

SECTION 10.05.

 

Counterparts

    A-61  

SECTION 10.06.

 

Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

    A-62  

SECTION 10.07.

 

Governing Law

    A-62  

SECTION 10.08.

 

Assignment

    A-62  

SECTION 10.09.

 

Specific Performance

    A-62  

SECTION 10.10.

 

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

    A-63  

SECTION 10.11.

 

Provision with Respect to Legal Representation

    A-64  

SECTION 10.12.

 

Parent Acknowledgement

    A-64  

SECTION 10.13.

 

Shareholder Representative Acknowledgement

    A-65  

SECTION 10.14.

 

Affiliate Liability

    A-65  

ARTICLE XI

   
 
 

Taxes

   
 
 

SECTION 11.01.

 

Tax Returns

   
A-65
 

SECTION 11.02.

 

Apportionment of Taxes

    A-66  

SECTION 11.03.

 

Cooperation

    A-66  

SECTION 11.04.

 

Tax Contests

    A-67  

SECTION 11.05.

 

Tax Refunds

    A-67  


Annexes, Exhibits & Schedules

Annex A

 

Form of Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation

Annex B

 

Index of Defined Terms

Exhibit A

 

Form of Escrow Agreement

Exhibit B

 

Form of Proxy

Exhibit C

 

Form of Resolutions of Voting Trustees

Exhibit D

 

Form of Voting Agreement

Schedule A

 

Estimated Net Working Capital

Schedule B

 

Included Acquisition Related Liabilities

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        AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement") dated as of June 16, 2015, among HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC., an Indiana corporation ("Parent"), EMPIRE MERGER SUB CORP., a New York corporation ("Sub"), and WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC. (formed as WELCH ALLYN CORPORATION in New York), a New York corporation (the "Company").

        WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company have adopted this Agreement and approved the merger (the "Merger") of Sub into the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby (i) Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and (ii) each issued share of common stock—Class A, no par value per share, of the Company (the "Company Class A Common Stock") and each issued share of common stock—Class B, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the "Company Class B Common Stock" and, collectively with the Company Class A Common Stock, the "Company Common Stock"), in each case not owned by Parent, Sub, or the Company, shall be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration in accordance with the terms hereof; and

        WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger.

        NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

The Merger

        SECTION 1.01.    The Merger.     On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York (the "NYBCL"), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"). The name of the Surviving Corporation shall be Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. The term "Transactions" shall mean (i) the Merger and (ii) the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


        SECTION 1.02.
    Closing.     The closing (the "Closing") of the Merger shall take place at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019 at 10:00 a.m. on the third Business Day following the date of satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by all parties) of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01, or, if on such day any condition set forth in Section 7.02 or 7.03 has not been satisfied (or, to the extent permitted by Law, waived by the party or parties entitled to the benefits thereof), as soon as practicable after all the conditions set forth in Article VII have been satisfied (or, to the extent permitted by Law, waived by the parties entitled to the benefits thereof), or at such other place, time and date as shall be agreed in writing between Parent and the Company; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be required to effect the Closing until the earlier of (a) a date during the Marketing Period specified by Parent on no less than three Business Days' notice to the Company and (b) the date that is three Business Days after the final day of the Marketing Period. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the "Closing Date".


        SECTION 1.03.
    Effective Time.     Prior to the Closing, Parent, Sub and the Company shall prepare, and on the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter the Surviving Corporation shall file with the Department of State of the State of New York, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NYBCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the NYBCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with such Secretary of State, or at such other time as Parent and

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the Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being the "Effective Time").


        SECTION 1.04.
    Effects.     The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 906 of the NYBCL.


        SECTION 1.05.
    Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.     The certificate of incorporation of Sub in the form attached hereto as Annex A shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation at the Effective Time until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law. The bylaws of Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation at the Effective Time until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.


        SECTION 1.06.
    Directors.     The directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become the directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.


        SECTION 1.07.
    Officers.     The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified, as the case may be.


        SECTION 1.08.
    Plan of Merger.     This Agreement shall constitute a "plan of merger" with respect to the Merger for purposes of the NYBCL.


ARTICLE II

Effect on the Capital Stock of the Constituent Corporations; Exchange of Certificates

        SECTION 2.01.    Effect on Capital Stock.     At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of any shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Sub:

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        SECTION 2.02.
    Merger Consideration Adjustment.     (a) Estimated Merger Consideration Adjustments. Not less than two Business Days prior to the anticipated Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Parent a good-faith estimate which shall set forth (i) the estimated amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents as of the Close of Business on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date minus the amount of any cash dividends or distributions to holders of Company Common Stock on the Closing Date prior to the Closing ("Estimated Cash"), (ii) the estimated amount of Indebtedness outstanding as of immediately prior to the Closing ("Estimated Indebtedness"), (iii) the estimated amount of Other Adjustments as of immediately prior to the Closing ("Estimated Other Adjustments") and (iv) the estimated Net Working Capital as of the Close of Business on the day immediately preceding the Closing Date ("Estimated Net Working Capital"), in each case calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect as of the date hereof ("GAAP"), applied in a manner consistent with the principles, policies and methodologies used by the Company in the preparation of the Financial Statements and (B) in the case of Estimated Net Working Capital, in a manner consistent with the calculation of Estimated Net Working Capital as set forth on Schedule A. GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with the principles, policies and methodologies used by the Company in the preparation of the Financial Statements and in a manner consistent with the calculation of Estimated Net Working Capital are referred to in this Agreement as the "Balance Sheet Principles".

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        SECTION 2.03.
    Escrow Agreement.    The same bank or trust company selected as Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.04 shall act as escrow agent (in that capacity, the "Escrow Agent") in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the escrow agreement, the form of which shall be attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Escrow Agreement"). On the Closing Date, Parent, the Company and the Shareholder Representative shall enter into the Escrow Agreement with the Escrow Agent and Parent shall deposit with the Escrow Agent the Escrow Amount.


        SECTION 2.04.
    Exchange of Certificates.    (a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall select a bank or trust company, reasonably satisfactory to the Shareholder Representative, to act as paying agent (the "Exchange Agent") for the payment of the Per Share Cash Closing Consideration and the Per Share Stock Consideration upon surrender in accordance with Section 2.04(b) of certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock that were converted into the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration ("Certificates"). Subject to Section 2.04(b), Parent shall provide to the Exchange Agent immediately following the Effective Time (i) all the cash in U.S. dollars necessary to enable the Exchange Agent to pay the Per Share Cash Closing Consideration to each holder of Certificates and (ii) a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock (whether represented in certificated or non-certificated book-entry form) to issue the aggregate Stock Consideration. From time to time as needed as reasonably determined by Parent, Parent shall deposit with the Exchange Agent cash sufficient to make payments in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.04(h). All such cash and shares of Parent Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent is hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund".

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        SECTION 2.05.
    Treatment of PHASARs, PSU Awards and LTIP Cash Incentives.    (a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Company Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the Company Incentive Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as may be required to effect the following:

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ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties of the Company

        As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub that, except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter:


        SECTION 3.01.
    Organization, Standing and Power.     (a) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (the "Company Subsidiaries") is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has full corporate power and authority and possesses all governmental franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted, other than such franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack of which, individually or in the aggregate, is not and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification necessary, except for such failures that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.


        SECTION 3.02.
    Company Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.     (a) Section 3.02(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each Company Subsidiary and its jurisdiction of organization. All the outstanding equity interests of each Company Subsidiary have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Company, by another Company Subsidiary or by the Company and another Company Subsidiary, free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, "Liens"), other than Permitted Liens. All of the outstanding equity interests of each Company Subsidiary have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities laws. No such equity interests are subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any

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similar right, including under any provision of applicable Law, the organizational documents of any Company Subsidiary or any Contract.


        SECTION 3.03.
    Capital Structure.     The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 157,442,600 shares of Company Common Stock, consisting of (a) 107,442,600 shares of Company Class A Common Stock and (b) 50,000,000 shares of Company Class B Common Stock. At the Close of Business on June 16, 2015, 2015, (i) 107,186,027 shares of Company Class A Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 328,670 shares of Company Class B Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii)(A) 56,754,600 Phantom Shares are subject to outstanding PHASARs granted prior to January 1, 2012 and (B) 2,971,116 Phantom Shares are subject to outstanding PHASARs granted on or after January 1, 2012 and (iv)(A) 10,422,727 Phantom Shares are subject to outstanding PSU Awards granted prior to January 1, 2012 and (B) 1,878,696 Phantom Shares are subject to outstanding PSU Awards granted on or after January 1, 2012. As of the date of this Agreement, all such outstanding equity is owned, beneficially and of record, as set forth on Section 3.03 of the Company Disclosure Letter. All of the shares of Company Common Stock and other equity interests of the Company have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities laws. All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and other equity interests are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to (other than as set forth in the Shareholders Agreement or the Voting Trust Agreement) or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right, including under any provision of the NYBCL, the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or any Contract. There are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of Company Common Stock may vote ("Voting Company Debt"). Except as set forth above, there are not any options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments, Contracts, arrangements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound (1) obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests in, or any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into any capital stock of or other equity interest in, the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any Voting Company Debt or (2) obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, security, commitment, Contract, arrangement or undertaking. There are no agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, or among the holders of the Company Common Stock (other than the Shareholders Agreement and the Voting Trust Agreement), with respect to the voting of the Company Common Stock. Other than the PHASARs and the PSU Awards, there are not any outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem, exchange or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. No shares of Company Common Stock are held by any Company Subsidiary.


        SECTION 3.04.
    Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability.     (a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and, subject to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the

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part of the Company, subject to receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval. The Company has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and subject to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval will duly execute and deliver the Escrow Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes, and the Escrow Agreement when executed and delivered will constitute, in each case its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights or by principles of equity.


        SECTION 3.05.
    No Conflicts; Consents.     (a) Except as set forth on Section 3.05(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement do not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other Transactions and compliance with the terms hereof and thereof will not conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary under, require any notice under (the failure of which to deliver would constitute a material breach or default thereof) or consent or waiver of any person pursuant to, any provision of (i) the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or the comparable charter or organizational documents of any Company Subsidiary, (ii) any Material Contract to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound, or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in Section 3.05(b), in any material respect, any Judgment or Law applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective properties or assets, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) as is not and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

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        SECTION 3.06.    Financial Statements Supplied.     (a) Section 3.06(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth true and complete copies of (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2012, 2013 and December 31, 2014 (the latter being the "Audited Balance Sheet"), and the related audited consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years then ended, including, in each case, the notes thereto, and (ii) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company (the "Interim Balance Sheet") as of April 4, 2015 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the quarter ended April 4, 2015 (such financial statements and notes contained therein in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the "Financial Statements"). The Financial Statements (x) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the respective dates of, and for the periods referred to in, the Financial Statements and (y) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as described in the notes thereto, and, in the case of unaudited Financial Statements, for the absence of footnotes, statement of stockholders' equity and other presentation items and for normal year-end adjustments.


        SECTION 3.07.
    Absence of Certain Changes; No Company Material Adverse Effect.     From the date of the Audited Balance Sheet to the date of this Agreement, (i) there has not been any Company

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Material Adverse Effect and (ii) the Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries has conducted its business, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.


        SECTION 3.08.
    Real Property.     (a) Section 3.08(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists by street address (i) all material real property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (the "Company Owned Real Property"), including the name of the record owner thereof, and (ii) all material real property with respect to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary holds a leasehold interest or subleasehold interest (the "Company Leased Real Property" and together with the Company Owned Real Property, the "Company Real Property"). The Company Real Property constitutes all material real property used by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries in the operation of the business as currently conducted. Except as set forth in Section 3.08(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has mortgaged or assigned its interest in any Company Owned Real Property or entered into any leases, subleases or other material agreements relating to the use or occupancy of all or any portion of the Company Owned Real Property with any person (other than the Company or any Company Subsidiary), (ii) there are no outstanding rights of refusal or first offer or options to purchase any Company Owned Real Property, (iii) the improvements upon each Company Owned Real Property have been substantially maintained in accordance with commercially reasonable standards for the conduct of the business of the Company thereon and (iv) there are no condemnation or other proceedings in eminent domain pending or affecting any Company Owned Real Property.


        SECTION 3.09.
    Taxes.     (a) The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries has, since January 1, 2013, complied with all Tax Laws, except as is not and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries has timely filed, or has caused to be timely filed on its behalf, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it, and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and accurate in all material respects. All Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns, and all material Taxes otherwise owed, have been timely paid.

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        SECTION 3.10.
    Employee Benefits.     (a) Section 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of each material Benefit Plan in effect as of the date of this Agreement. "Benefit Plan" means each (i) pension plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), or post-retirement or post-employment health or medical plan, program, policy or arrangement, (ii) bonus, incentive, perquisite, deferred compensation, nonqualified retirement, phantom equity or equity or equity-based compensation plan, program, policy or arrangement, (iii) severance, change in control, retention or termination plan, program, policy or arrangement, (iv) health, welfare, fringe benefit, life insurance, vacation or sick

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leave plan, program, policy or arrangement or (v) other compensation or benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement, in each case, sponsored, maintained, contributed to or required to be maintained or contributed to by the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any other person or entity that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code (each, a "Commonly Controlled Entity") for the benefit of any Company Personnel, or with respect to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary has any actual or contingent liability, other than any collective bargaining, collective or shop plan, program policy or arrangement or any similar such arrangement with any labor union, works council or other employee representative or any plan, program, policy or arrangement required by any applicable Law.

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        SECTION 3.11.    Labor and Employee Matters.     (a) Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date hereof, a complete and accurate list of all material CBAs in effect as of the date of this Agreement. "CBA" means any collective bargaining or other labor union Contract applicable to any employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary. The Company has made available to Parent copies of such CBAs.


        SECTION 3.12.
    Litigation.     From January 1, 2013 to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any material Action pending, settled or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary. As of the date of this Agreement there are no material Judgments outstanding against the Company or any Company Subsidiary. This Section 3.12 does not relate to matters with respect to compliance with Healthcare Laws, which are the subject of Section 3.13.


        SECTION 3.13.
    Compliance with Applicable Laws.     (a) The Company and each Company Subsidiary is, and has been since January 1, 2013, in compliance with all applicable Laws, including the Healthcare Laws, except as is not and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Healthcare Laws" means (i) the FDCA (including applicable registration and listing requirements set forth in Section 510 of the FDCA), (ii) the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, (iii) federal and state criminal and civil Laws (including the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act and the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), (iv) any comparable foreign Law for

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any of the foregoing and (v) the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to all such applicable Laws, each as amended from time to time.

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        SECTION 3.14.
    Environmental Matters.     Except for such matters set forth in Section 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter and except as identified by the Parent Phase Is, (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are and since January 1, 2013, have been in compliance with all applicable Laws governing the protection of the environment ("Environmental Laws"), except as is not and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the Company and each Company Subsidiary have obtained and are in material compliance with all material Governmental Authorizations pursuant to Environmental Laws necessary for their respective operations as currently conducted, (iii) there are no material suits, actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any Company Subsidiaries alleging a violation of or liability under any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits or related to a release of hazardous or toxic substances ("Environmental Proceedings"), (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, the Company has not released hazardous or toxic substances at any Company Real Property that has resulted in, or would reasonably be expected to result in, material liability under Environmental Laws, (v) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any material Judgment pursuant to Environmental Laws, (vi) the Company has disclosed all material information known (at the time of the relevant application or renewal) to the Company or the Company Subsidiaries regarding the environmental condition of any Company Real Property covered under that certain Pollution and Remediation Legal Liability Policy number PEC000663605 and all prior renewals and issuances thereof (the "Environmental Insurance Policy") to XL America, Inc. Insurance Group and Greenwich Insurance Company in the application for and

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renewal of the Environmental Insurance Policy; and (vii) as of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has made any claim, or has received or is currently seeking any payment, under or against the Environmental Insurance Policy. This Section 3.14 constitutes the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company or any Company Subsidiary with respect to any environmental matters. As used herein, "Environmental Permits" means all Governmental Authorizations required under any Environmental Laws for the operation of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.


        SECTION 3.15.
    Governmental Authorizations.     Each of the Company and each Company Subsidiary maintains each material authorization, license, permit, franchise, certificate or other material approval issued or granted by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity or pursuant to any applicable Law (the "Governmental Authorizations") necessary to lawfully conduct and operate its business in the manner it is currently conducted. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all such Governmental Authorizations as of the date hereof, except as is not and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. From the date of the Audited Balance Sheet to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written notice or other written communication from any Governmental Entity regarding (i) any actual or alleged material violation of or material failure to comply with any term or requirement of such Governmental Authorization or (ii) any actual, proposed or potential revocation, suspension, cancelation or termination of, or modification to any such Governmental Authorization.


        SECTION 3.16.
    Material Contracts; No Defaults.     (a) Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of each of the following Contracts and agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is party or is bound as of the date hereof, excluding the Benefit Plans, Benefit Agreements and CBAs (each Contract or agreement required to be listed on Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter being a "Material Contract"):

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        SECTION 3.17.
    Intellectual Property.     (a) Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all registrations and applications for material Intellectual Property, owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary ("Registered Company IP"); in each case, listing, as applicable, (i) the jurisdiction where such registration or application was filed, and (ii) the registration or application numbers therefor. All Registered Company IP is subsisting and, to the knowledge of the Company, is valid and enforceable. The Company or a Company Subsidiary is the sole and exclusive owner of, or has the valid right to use, all material Intellectual Property used in the conduct of its business ("Company Intellectual Property") free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

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        SECTION 3.18.
    Brokers.     No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Barclays Capital Inc., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by the Company and included in the calculation of Final Other Adjustments, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Merger and other Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary.


        SECTION 3.19.
    Affiliate Transactions.     (a) Since January 1, 2013, no payments (including dividends, distributions, loans, service or trade payments, salary, bonuses, payments under any management or consulting agreement, or otherwise) have been made to or received from the Company or any Company Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any of the Company Affiliates, any holders of Company Common Stock or any affiliates of any such holders (other than the Company or a Company Subsidiary), or any current officer or director of the Company or a Company Subsidiary, on the other hand, except for (i) payments made in connection with any such person's employment by, or service as a director or consultant of, the Company or any Company Subsidiary (including normal salary and bonus and payments of benefits under Benefit Plans) or (ii) payments received in such person's capacity as a holder of Company Common Stock.

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        SECTION 3.20.
    Assets and Properties.     (a) Except for assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, the Company and each Company Subsidiary has good and valid title to each item of material equipment and other material tangible personal property reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet as owned by the Company and each Company Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.


        SECTION 3.21.
    Customers and Suppliers.     Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of the names of the 15 largest customers (measured by dollar amount of the Company's sales) and the 15 largest suppliers (measured by dollar amount of the Company's purchases) of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and the dollar amount of purchases or sales which each such customer or supplier represented for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.


        SECTION 3.22.
    Insurance.     All material insurance policies of the Company are valid, binding and in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any such policies or binders nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is the termination of any such policies or binders threatened. There are no material Actions pending under any such policies or binders as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or binders, and all claims and losses of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have been properly reported to the underwriters of such policies or binders.


        SECTION 3.23.
    Product Liability.     Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a description of all product liability claims and similar Actions relating to Company Products manufactured or sold, or services rendered by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, which are pending or which, to the knowledge of the Company, are threatened, as of the date hereof. Since January 1, 2013, there have been no citations, decisions, adjudications or written statements by any Governmental Entity or consent decrees stating that any Company Product is defective or unsafe or fails to meet any standards promulgated by any such Governmental Entity. Except as set forth in Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (a) from January 1, 2013 to the date of this Agreement, none of the Company Products has been the subject of any material replacement, field fix or retrofit, modification or recall campaign by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, and (b) to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or conditions related to any Company Product exist which could reasonably be expected to result in (i) such a recall campaign or (ii) material liability for returns or other product liability claims with respect to any Company Product.

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ARTICLE IV

Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub

        As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, each of Parent and Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company as follows:


        SECTION 4.01.
    Organization, Standing and Power.     Each of Parent and Sub is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has full corporate power and authority and possesses all governmental franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted, other than such franchises, licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals the lack of which, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Parent or Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement or on the ability of Parent or Sub to consummate the Transactions (any such material adverse effect, a "Parent Material Adverse Effect"). Parent and each of its subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of its properties make such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.


        SECTION 4.02.
    Sub and Parent.     (a) Since the date of its incorporation, Sub has not carried on any business or conducted any operations other than the execution of this Agreement, the performance of its obligations hereunder and matters ancillary thereto.


        SECTION 4.03.
    Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability.     Each of Parent and Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery by each of Parent and Sub of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and the consummation by each of them of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub. Parent, as sole stockholder of Sub, has adopted this Agreement. Each of Parent and Sub has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and will duly execute and deliver the Escrow Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes, and the Escrow Agreement when executed and delivered will constitute, in each case its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights or by principles of equity. No vote of holders of any class or series of capital stock of Parent is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions.


        SECTION 4.04.
    No Conflicts; Consents.     (a) The execution and delivery by each of Parent and Sub of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement (as applicable), do not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other Transactions and compliance with the terms hereof and thereof will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or any of its subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the charter or organizational documents of Parent or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any material Contract to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets is bound, or (iii) subject to the filings and other matters referred to in Section 4.04(b), any material Judgment or Law applicable to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in

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the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, any such items that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.


        SECTION 4.05.
    Brokers.     No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Goldman, Sachs & Co., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Merger and the other Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.


        SECTION 4.06.
    Financing.     Parent and Sub have delivered to the Company complete and correct copies of (i) the executed commitment letter (together with all exhibits, annexes and schedules, if any), dated as of the date hereof, from Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC (the "Commitment Letter") to provide, subject only to the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein, debt financing in the aggregate amounts set forth therein (the "Financing"), and (ii) any fee letter (which may be redacted in a customary manner) in connection with the Financing. As of the date hereof, the Commitment Letter has not been amended or modified, no such amendment or modification is presently contemplated (other than joinders to bring in additional commitment parties), and the obligations and commitments contained therein have not been withdrawn or rescinded in any respect. As of the date hereof, the Commitment Letter is in full force and effect and is the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of Parent, except as such enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights or by principles of equity. The fee letter does not contain any terms that could adversely affect the conditionality, enforceability, timing, availability, termination or aggregate principal amount of the Financing.


        SECTION 4.07.
    Litigation.     As of the date of this Agreement there is no suit, action or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent or any of its subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, nor are there any Judgments outstanding against Parent or any of its subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.


        SECTION 4.08.
    Compliance with Applicable Laws.     To the knowledge of Parent, Parent and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Laws in connection with the operation of their business, except for instances of noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.


        SECTION 4.09.
    Parent SEC Reports; Financial Statements.     (a) Parent has filed or furnished, as applicable, (i) its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and (ii) all other forms, reports, schedules, and other statements required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act or the Securities Act since January 1, 2015 (collectively, the "Parent SEC Reports"). As of its respective date, and, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, each Parent SEC Report complied in all material respects with the applicable

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requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to Parent SEC Report. As of its respective date, and, if amended, as of the date of the last such amendment, no Parent SEC Report contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments from any comment letters received by Parent from the SEC relating to reports, statements, schedules, registration statements or other filings made by Parent with the SEC.


        SECTION 4.10.
    Issuance of Shares.     All shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Section 2.01(c) will be, when issued, duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not issued in violation of any Law or any charter or other provision regarding pre-emptive, anti-dilution or similar rights of stockholders. Parent has reserved a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock in order to fulfill its obligations hereunder.


        SECTION 4.11.
    Solvency.     Assuming (a) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein and (b) the satisfaction of all the conditions set forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02, and after giving effect to the Transactions, the Financing or any Alternative Financing, and the satisfaction of all of Parent's obligations under this Agreement, including the obligations under Article II, and the payment of all other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, and the payment of all related fees and expenses, (i) Parent and the Surviving Corporation will be able to pay their debts as they become due and will own property which has a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required to pay their debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent liabilities) and (ii) Parent and the Surviving Corporation will have adequate capital to carry on their businesses.


ARTICLE V

Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business


        SECTION 5.01.
    Operation of the Business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.     (a)  Except as contemplated by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, conduct its business in the ordinary course of business and in substantially the same manner previously conducted, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its current business organization, keep available the services of its current officers and employees, and maintain its relations with suppliers, customers, licensors and others having business relationships with it. In addition, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for matters set forth in Section 5.01(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter or otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Company Subsidiary to, without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) take any of the following actions:

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        SECTION 5.02.
    Operation of the Business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries.     Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, take any action that would, or that would reasonably be expected to, result in any condition to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied.

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ARTICLE VI

Additional Agreements

        SECTION 6.01.    Preparation of the Form S-4.     

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        SECTION 6.02.
    Company Shareholder Approval and Related Matters.     (a) The Form S-4, including the proxy statement therein, will contain the Company Recommendation, and (ii) the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to solicit from its shareholders proxies in favor of the approval of this Agreement and to take all other actions necessary or advisable to obtain the Company Shareholder Approval. As soon as reasonably practicable following the effectiveness of the Form S-4, the Company shall duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its shareholders for the purpose of seeking the Company Shareholder Approval. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Company Shareholder Approval as soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the Form S-4. The Company shall take all other commercially reasonable actions, subject to the fiduciary obligations of the Company Board, to ensure that the Company Shareholder Approval is obtained in accordance with all applicable Laws and the Company Charter, Company Bylaws and the Shareholders Agreement, as applicable. The Company shall promptly notify Parent of its receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval.


        SECTION 6.03.
    Access to Information.     The Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, afford to Parent and to Parent's officers, employees, accountants, counsel, financial

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advisors and other representatives, reasonable access during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time to all their respective properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during such period, the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Subsidiary to, furnish promptly to Parent all information concerning its business, properties and personnel as Parent may reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company may withhold, and may cause the Company Subsidiaries to withhold (a) such portions of documents or information relating to pricing or other matters that are highly sensitive if the exchange of such documents (or portions thereof) or information, as determined by the Company's counsel, might reasonably result in antitrust difficulties for the Company or its affiliates or (b) any document or information, if access or disclosure thereto, as determined by the Company's counsel, might reasonably jeopardize the attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product protection of the Company or any of its affiliates. If any material is withheld by the Company pursuant to the proviso in the preceding sentence, the Company shall inform Parent as to the general nature of what is being withheld. All information provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be subject to the confidentiality agreement dated March 20, 2015 between the Company and Parent (the "Confidentiality Agreement").


        SECTION 6.04.
    Best Efforts; Notification.     (a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of Parent, Sub and the Company shall use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Transactions, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties, (iii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed, and (iv) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 6.04 shall not be construed to require Parent or any its subsidiaries to offer, take, commit to or accept any action, efforts, restrictions or limitations of or on Parent or any of its subsidiaries if such Actions, individually or in the aggregate, would or would reasonably be expected to result (after giving effect to any reasonably expected proceeds of any divestiture or sale of assets) in a Combined Company Material Adverse Effect.


        SECTION 6.05.
    Public Announcements.     Prior to the Closing, neither Parent nor the Company shall, without the approval of the other (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), make or cause to be made any press release or other public announcement regarding the Transactions; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any party from making, issuing or releasing any announcements, statements, or acknowledgments that such party is required to make, issue or release by applicable Law or by any listing agreement with or listing rules of a securities exchange or trading market or inter-dealer quotation system (provided that such party has

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used reasonable efforts to give the other party prior notice thereof and an opportunity to review such disclosure). Parent and the Company will consult with each other concerning the means by which the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, employees, customers, and suppliers and others having dealings with the Company and the Company Subsidiaries will be informed of the Merger. The Company acknowledges, and has been so advised, that Parent will be required to file this Agreement with the SEC as a "material contract".


        SECTION 6.06.
    Benefits.     (a) For a period of two years after the Effective Time, Parent shall provide or cause its subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation) to provide at least (i) a base salary, base wages and annual cash bonus opportunity (but excluding any defined benefit pension, nonqualified retirement, equity, phantom equity and long-term incentive compensation benefits) to each employee of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a "Continuing Employee") that are at least equal to the base salaries, base wages and annual cash bonus opportunities in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) severance benefits to each Continuing Employee that are at least equal to those severance benefits set forth on Section 6.06(a)(i) or 6.06(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as applicable, and (iii) employee benefit plans and arrangements (other than base salary, base wages, annual bonus opportunities, long-term incentive compensation, equity, phantom equity and severance benefits) to each Continuing Employee that are no less favorable than those provided to the Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that nothing in this clause (iii) shall be construed to prevent Parent from modifying any such employee benefit plans or arrangements to the extent that changes to such plans or arrangements were being contemplated by the Company prior to the date of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the elimination of the PPO medical coverage option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a period of two years following the Effective Time, Parent shall grant to 12 executives of the Company who are Continuing Employees, such individuals to be mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company prior to the Closing Date (the "Award Executives"), equity, equity-based or phantom equity awards under Parent's Stock Incentive Plan that are substantially comparable in value to the aggregate equity, phantom equity and long-term incentive compensation grants that each such executive received under the Company Incentive Plans in the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, excluding any one-time retention incentives, solely in accordance with the terms and conditions of Parent's Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, other than any such amendment that would have the effect of excluding from participation in Parent's Stock Incentive Plan any of the Award Executives.

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        SECTION 6.07.
    Transfer Taxes.     All stock transfer, real estate transfer, documentary, stamp, recording and other similar Taxes ("Transfer Taxes") incurred in connection with the Transactions shall be paid by the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, and the Company shall cooperate with Sub and Parent in preparing, executing and filing any Tax Returns with respect to such Transfer Taxes.


        SECTION 6.08.
    Indemnification.     (a) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, cause the Surviving Corporation to honor all the Company's obligations to indemnify (including all obligations to advance funds for expenses) the current or former directors, officers and employees of the Company against all losses, claims, Taxes, damages, liabilities, fees and expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, "Losses") arising from, relating to, or otherwise in respect of actions or omissions by such directors, officers and employees occurring prior to the Effective Time to the extent that such obligations of the Company exist on the date of this Agreement, whether pursuant to the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws, individual indemnity agreements or otherwise, and such obligations shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms of the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws and such individual indemnity agreements as of the date hereof from the Effective Time until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any claims against such directors, officers and employees arising out of such acts or omissions.

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        SECTION 6.09.
    Fees and Expenses.     All fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger and the other Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.


        SECTION 6.10.
    Shareholder Representative.     (a) By virtue of (x) the execution and delivery of the Letter of Transmittal, in the case of holders of Company Common Stock, and (y) accepting the Per Share Phantom Merger Consideration, in case of holders of PHASARs or PSU Awards, each holder of Company Common Stock and each holder of PHASARs or PSU Awards irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Shareholder Representative to act on its behalf for all purposes under this Agreement and the Transactions.

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        SECTION 6.11.    Financing.     (a) Parent shall, and shall cause its affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to, and to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such instruments and documents as may be necessary to, consummate and obtain the Financing, including using reasonable best efforts to (i) maintain in effect the Commitment Letter, (ii) negotiate and enter into definitive agreements (the "Definitive Agreements") with respect to the Financing on the terms and conditions contained in the Commitment Letter (including any "flex" provisions), (iii) satisfy (or obtain the waiver of), and to cause its affiliates to satisfy (or obtain the waiver of), on a timely basis, all conditions to obtaining the Financing applicable to Parent or its affiliates set forth in the Commitment Letter and the Definitive Agreements that are within its control, (iv) to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Commitment Letter (or obtain the waiver of such obligations), (v) to consummate the Financing contemplated by the Commitment Letter (including the "market flex" provisions) at or prior to the Closing, including by using its reasonable best efforts to cause the lenders to fund the Financing (including by taking enforcement action seeking to cause such lenders to fund the Financing), and (vi) to otherwise enforce its rights under the Commitment Letter.

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        SECTION 6.12.
    Section 280G Vote.     (a) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from each person who is, with respect to the Company, a "disqualified individual" (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code) a waiver of any payments or benefits that might otherwise reasonably result in the payment or provision of "parachute payments" (as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), such that after giving effect to all waivers, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has made or provided, or is required to make or provide, any such payments or benefits (the payments and benefits waived (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be, with respect to any individual, the amounts in excess of 299% of such individual's "base amount" (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code)) shall be collectively referred to as the "Section 280G Waived Payments").

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        SECTION 6.13.
    Exclusivity.     The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any persons (other than Parent and its affiliates and their respective agents and representatives) conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Transaction. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents will, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, facilitate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing or disclosing non-public information) any inquiries or the making of any proposal with respect to any Acquisition Transaction or negotiate or otherwise facilitate, encourage, solicit, initiate or engage in discussions, negotiations or submissions of proposals or offers with any person with respect to any Acquisition Transaction, enter into any written agreement, arrangement, or understanding requiring it to abandon, terminate, or fail to consummate the Transactions or otherwise cooperate in any way with or assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any effort or attempt by any other person to do or seek any of the foregoing. As used herein, "Acquisition Transaction" means any merger, consolidation, or other business combination involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary or the acquisition of all or any amount of the assets or the capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary other than as permitted or contemplated by this Agreement.


ARTICLE VII

Conditions to Closing

        SECTION 7.01.    Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger.     The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

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        SECTION 7.02.
    Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub.     The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent or Sub on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

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        SECTION 7.03.
    Conditions to Obligations of the Company.     The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date by the Company of the following conditions:


        SECTION 7.04.
    Frustration of Closing Conditions.     Neither Parent or Sub, on the one hand, nor the Company, on the other hand, may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such person's failure to act in good faith or to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 6.04.


ARTICLE VIII

Termination, Amendment and Waiver

        SECTION 8.01.    Termination.     This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval:

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        SECTION 8.02.
    Effect of Termination.     (a) In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of any party, other than Section 3.18, Section 4.05, the last sentence of Section 6.03, Section 6.09, this Section 8.02 and Article X, which provisions shall survive such termination, and except to the extent that such termination results from a knowing and intentional breach by a party of any representation, warranty or covenant set forth in this Agreement.

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        SECTION 8.03.    Amendment.     This Agreement may be amended by the parties at any time before or after receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval; provided, however, that (i) after receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval, there shall be made no amendment that by Law requires further approval by the shareholders of the Company without the further approval of such shareholders, (ii) no amendment shall be made to this Agreement after the Effective Time, (iii) except as provided above, no amendment of this Agreement by the Company shall require the approval of the shareholders of the Company and (iv) any amendment of Section 10.06 or 10.10(b) or this Section 8.03 that in any way materially adversely affects the rights of the Financing Sources shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Financing Sources. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.


        SECTION 8.04.
    Extension; Waiver.     At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (iii) subject to the proviso of Section 8.03, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Subject to the proviso in Section 8.03, no extension or waiver by the Company shall require the approval of the shareholders of the Company. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.


        SECTION 8.05.
    Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver.     A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, an amendment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.03 or an extension or waiver pursuant to Section 8.04 shall, in order to be effective, require in the case of Parent, Sub or the Company, action by its Board of Directors or the duly authorized designee of its Board of Directors. Termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time shall not require the approval of the shareholders of the Company.


ARTICLE IX

Indemnification

        SECTION 9.01.    Parent's Indemnification.     From and after the Closing, Parent, Sub, the Surviving Corporation and each of their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and representatives ("Parent Indemnitee") shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Escrow Fund from and against any and all Losses directly arising out of or based upon:

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        Solely for purposes of determining the amount of Losses associated with any claim for indemnification under this Section 9.01(a) (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of determining any misrepresentation in or breach of any representation or warranty), the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to be made as though there were no "material", "in all material respects", Company Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifier.


        SECTION 9.02.
    Shareholder Indemnification.     From and after the Closing, the Shareholder Representative, the holders of any shares of the Company Common Stock and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and representatives (the "Shareholder Indemnitees") shall be indemnified and held harmless by Parent, Sub and the Surviving Corporation from and against, and Parent, Sub and the Surviving Corporation shall reimburse the Shareholder Indemnitees for, any and all Losses directly arising out of or based upon:


        SECTION 9.03.
    Defense of Third Party Claims.     

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        SECTION 9.04.
    Other Claims.     A claim for indemnification for any matter not involving a Third Party Claim shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party in writing with reasonable promptness, setting forth specifically the obligation with respect to which the claim is made, the facts giving rise to and the alleged basis for such claim and, if known or reasonably ascertainable, the amount of the liability asserted or which may be asserted by reason thereof, but any failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party other than to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced thereby. In the event the Indemnifying Party disputes its obligation to indemnify the Indemnified Party under this Article IX, the Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after receipt of notice under this Section 9.04 to give written notice of such objection, and the grounds therefor, and the Indemnified Party shall thereafter have 20 days to respond in writing to the objection of the Indemnifying Party. If after such 20-day period there remains a dispute as to any obligation, the parties shall attempt in good faith for 20 days to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with respect to such indemnification obligation.


        SECTION 9.05.
    Survival.     (a) The representations and warranties of each party contained in this Agreement, other than the Tax Reps, and the covenants contained in this Agreement to the extent required to be performed prior to Closing shall survive the Closing for a period ending on the date that is 12 months after the Closing Date (the "Survival Expiration Date"), at which time such representations and warranties and covenants shall terminate and thereafter be of no force and effect.

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The Tax Reps shall not survive the Closing. Any claim for indemnity under Section 9.01 or Section 9.02 must be asserted in writing prior to the Survival Expiration Date, except for any claim for indemnity arising under Section 6.06, which must be asserted in writing prior to the date that is two years and three months after the Closing Date and any claim for indemnity pursuant to Section 9.02 related to Section 11.05. The other covenants contained in this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement shall survive the Closing Date in accordance with their terms.


        SECTION 9.06.
    Indemnification Limitations.     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:

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        SECTION 9.07.
    Release of Escrow Fund.     (a) As promptly as practicable and in any event no later than the third Business Day following the Survival Expiration Date, Parent shall provide to the Shareholder Representative (i) a written notice of its reasonable and good faith determination of the Projected Indemnity Amount, together with reasonable supporting calculations and documentation, and (ii) a written notice duly executed by Parent instructing the Escrow Agent to release an amount of cash from the Escrow Fund equal to the amount by which the amount of the Escrow Fund as of the Survival Expiration Date exceeds the Projected Indemnity Amount so determined by Parent (such notice, the "Expiration Date Release Notice"). The Shareholder Representative shall promptly execute the Expiration Date Release Notice following receipt and delivery of the same to the Escrow Agent, whereupon the Escrow Agent will release the relevant funds from the Escrow Fund. Promptly following resolution of all claims for indemnification from the Escrow Fund that were pending as of the Survival Expiration Date, the Shareholder Representative and Parent shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release all cash then constituting the Escrow Fund. The term "Projected Indemnity Amount" means the maximum aggregate amount of Losses that, as of the Survival Expiration Date, would reasonably be expected to be indemnified by the Escrow Fund pursuant to this Article IX in respect of claims that have been timely asserted but not finally resolved by such date; provided, however, that in the case of any claim under Section 9.01(d), such claim is limited to an amount of Indemnified Tax that is

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(i) shown as due on a Tax Return for a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (ii) with respect to an item for which a Governmental Entity has identified in writing an issue and has provided, in writing, sufficient information to determine the nature and, taking into account the relevant Tax Return and accompanying work papers, amount of the issue, or (iii) with respect to a Tax position for which a reserve has been established for financial reporting purposes. Anything to the contrary in the foregoing notwithstanding, the execution and delivery of an Expiration Date Release Notice by the Shareholder Representative shall not prevent or otherwise impair the Shareholder Representative from disputing the Projected Indemnity Amount or any liability in respect of claims included in the determination of the Projected Indemnity Amount.


        SECTION 9.08.
    Exclusive Remedy.     (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in Sections 2.02 and 10.09 and claims for fraud, each party to this Agreement acknowledges that its sole and exclusive remedy after the Closing with respect to any and all claims relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the Transactions, the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective assets and liabilities shall, in each case, be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Article IX. In furtherance of the foregoing, except as otherwise specifically provided in Sections 2.02 and 10.09 and claims for fraud, each of Parent and the Shareholder Representative hereby waives, from and after the Closing, any and all rights, claims and causes of action it may have relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any document or certificate delivered in connection herewith, any applicable Law, common law or otherwise except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Article IX. Nothing in this Section 9.08(a) shall limit any third-party beneficiary rights conferred to any individual under Section 2.05, 6.06 or 6.08.


ARTICLE X

General Provisions

        SECTION 10.01.    Notices.    All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt by the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

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        SECTION 10.02.
    Definitions.     For the purposes of this Agreement:

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        SECTION 10.03.
    Interpretation; Exchange Rate.    (a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. All Exhibits and schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein and the Company Disclosure Letter are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein and are an integral part of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation". The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All references herein to "dollars", "U.S. dollars" or "$" shall be deemed to be references to the lawful money of the United States. All provisions herein qualified by the term "domestic" or "foreign" shall be construed on the basis that the United States is the relevant domestic country. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. References to a person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.


        SECTION 10.04.
    Severability.    If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or Law, or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that the Transactions are fulfilled to the extent possible.


        SECTION 10.05.
    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

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        SECTION 10.06.
    Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.    This Agreement together with the Confidentiality Agreement (i) constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the Transactions and (ii) are not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties any rights or remedies, except for (A) any third-party beneficiary rights conferred to any individuals under Sections 2.05, 6.06 or 6.08, (B) following the Effective Time, the provisions of Article II shall be enforceable by persons that immediately prior to the Effective Time held shares of Company Common Stock, Phantom Shares or PHASARs, (C) prior to the Effective Time, each holder of Company Common Stock, Phantom Shares or PHASARs shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement for the purpose of pursuing claims for damages (including damages based on the loss of the economic benefits of the Merger, including to such holder) under this Agreement in the event of a failure by Parent or Sub to effect the Merger as required by this Agreement or a material breach by Parent or Sub that contributed to a failure of any of the conditions to Closing being satisfied and (D) the third-party beneficiary rights conferred to the Financing Sources pursuant to Sections 8.03, 9.08 and 10.10(b) and this Section 10.06.


        SECTION 10.07.
    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.


        SECTION 10.08.
    Assignment.    Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to Parent or to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Sub of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and assigns.


        SECTION 10.09.
    Specific Performance.    (a) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy would occur in the event that the parties hereto do not perform their obligations under the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of them hereunder to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement) in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. Subject to the immediately following sentence, the parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in the courts described in Section 10.10 without proof of damages or otherwise, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement and (ii) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and without that right, neither the Company nor Parent would have entered into this Agreement.

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        SECTION 10.10.
    Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.    (a) All actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in (i) the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, or (ii) the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, as applicable. In addition, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (A) submits to the jurisdiction of such courts (and, in the case of appeals, appropriate appellate courts therefrom) in any such action or proceeding and irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action or proceeding, (B) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (C) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the Transactions in any court other than such courts specified in clauses (i) and (ii) above and (D) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to any action related to or arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions. The consents to jurisdiction set forth in this paragraph shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the State of New York. The parties hereto agree that service of process by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address for notices set out in Section 10.01 shall be sufficient to satisfy all legal requirements for service of process. The parties hereto agree that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by applicable Law.

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        SECTION 10.11.
    Provision with Respect to Legal Representation.    Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of its directors, members, partners, officers, employees and affiliates, that Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP may serve as counsel to each and any holder of Company Common Stock and their respective affiliates (the "Shareholder Group"), on the one hand, and the Company and Company Subsidiaries, on the other hand, in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, and that, following consummation of the Transactions, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP may serve as counsel to any member of the Shareholder Group or any director, member, partner, officer, employee or affiliate of the Shareholder Group, or any holders or former holders of Phantom Shares or PHASARs or past or present officers, directors or employees of the Company, in each case, in connection with any litigation, claim or obligation arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transactions notwithstanding such representation and each of the parties hereto hereby consents thereto and waives any conflict of interest arising therefrom, and each of such parties shall cause any affiliate thereof to consent to waive any conflict of interest arising from such representation. In connection with any dispute that may arise between the Shareholder Group and Parent or the Surviving Corporation, the individual members of the Shareholder Group involved in such dispute (and not Parent or the Surviving Corporation) will have the right to decide whether or not to waive any attorney client privilege that may apply to any communications between the Company and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP that occurred before the Closing.


        SECTION 10.12.
    Parent Acknowledgement.    (a) Parent is knowledgeable about the business engaged in by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and about the usual and customary practices of companies engaged in businesses similar to such business. Parent acknowledges and agrees that the representations and warranties set forth in Article III constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company to Parent in connection with the Transactions, and there are no other representations or warranties, oral or written, in relation thereto between the parties other than those incorporated therein. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article III, Parent disclaims reliance on any representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their affiliates or representatives.

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        SECTION 10.13.    Shareholder Representative Acknowledgement.     The Shareholder Representative acknowledges and agrees, on behalf of each holder of Company Common Stock, Phantom Shares or PHASARs, that the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Parent and Sub to the Company in connection with the Transactions, and there are no other representations or warranties, oral or written, in relation thereto between the parties other than those incorporated therein. Except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article IV, the Shareholder Representative, on behalf of each holder of Company Common Stock, Phantom Shares or PHASARs, disclaims reliance on any representations or warranties, either express or implied, by or on behalf of Parent or Sub or their affiliates or representatives.


        SECTION 10.14.
    Affiliate Liability.    Other than the Shareholder Representative as specifically provided for herein, no Company Affiliate shall have any personal liability or personal obligation to Parent or Sub of any nature whatsoever in connection with or under this Agreement, and Parent and Sub hereby waive and release all claims of any such liability and obligation.


ARTICLE XI

Taxes

        SECTION 11.01.    Tax Returns.     (a) The Company shall (A) prepare and timely file, (or cause the applicable Company Subsidiary to prepare and timely file) all Tax Returns of the Company and each Company Subsidiary due (after taking into account all appropriate extensions) on or prior to the Closing Date ("Company Prepared Returns") and (B) timely pay (or cause the applicable Company Subsidiary to timely pay) all Taxes that are shown as payable with respect to Company Prepared Returns. All Company Prepared Returns shall be prepared in accordance with existing procedures, practices, and accounting methods of the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary and, to the extent applicable, the conventions provided for in accordance with Section 11.01(c). Parent shall not amend or cause the Company to amend any Company Prepared Return or other Tax Return for a Pre-Closing Tax Period unless (i) such amendment is required to claim a Seller Refund under Section 11.05, (ii) the Shareholder Representative consents in writing to such amendment, (iii) Parent waives any rights to indemnification under Section 9.01(d) in respect of any matters related to such amendment or (iv) such amendment as is required by Law.

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        SECTION 11.02.
    Apportionment of Taxes.     For purposes of determining the amount of Taxes that relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period the parties agree as follows:


        SECTION 11.03.
    Cooperation.     Parent, the Company, and the Shareholder Representative shall (and shall cause their respective affiliates to) (i) assist in the preparation and timely filing of any Tax Return of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; (ii) assist in any audit or other proceeding with respect to Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (whether or not a Tax Contest); (iii) make available any information, records, or other documents relating to any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; (iv) provide any information necessary or reasonably requested to allow Parent, the Company, or any Company Subsidiary to comply with any information reporting or withholding requirements contained in the Code or other applicable Laws;

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(v) provide any information necessary or reasonably requested to permit Parent, the Company, and the Exchange Agent to comply with its information reporting and withholding obligations with respect to any payments made pursuant to this Agreement; and (vi) provide certificates or forms, and timely execute any Tax Return, that are necessary or appropriate to establish an exemption for (or reduction in) any Transfer Tax.


        SECTION 11.04.
    Tax Contests.     Parent shall control, or cause the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary to control, the conduct of any audit, IRS Compliance Assurance Process proceeding, or other proceeding relating to Taxes of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (a "Tax Contest"); provided, however, that the Shareholder Representative, at its sole cost and expense, shall have the right to control any such Tax Contest to the extent it relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period (other than a Straddle Period). For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent there is a conflict between this Section 11.04 and any provisions of Section 9.03, this Section 11.04 shall control.


        SECTION 11.05.
    Tax Refunds.     

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub, the Company and the Shareholder Representative have duly executed this Agreement, all as of the date first written above.

    WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

by

 

/s/ STEPHEN F. MEYER

        Name:   Stephen F. Meyer
        Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

/s/ JON A. SODERBERG

        Name:   Jon A. Soderberg
        Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Development Officer

   

[Merger Agreement]


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    HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.,

 

 

by

 

/s/ JOHN J. GREISCH

        Name:   John J. Greisch
        Title:   President and CEO

   

[Merger Agreement]


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    EMPIRE MERGER SUB CORP.,

 

 

by

 

/s/ JOHN J. GREISCH

        Name:   John J. Greisch
        Title:   President and Treasurer

   

[Merger Agreement]


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Annex B
Index of Defined Terms

Term
  Section
Acquisition Transaction   Section 6.13
Action   Section 3.11(c)
affiliate   Section 10.02
Affiliated Group   Section 2.02(f)
Aggregate Grant Price   Section 2.02(f)
Agreement   Preamble
Alternative Financing   Section 6.11(c)
Audited Balance Sheet   Section 3.06(a)
Authorization Notice   Section 6.02(b)
Award Executives   Section 6.06(a)
Balance Sheet Principles   Section 2.02(a)
Base Cash Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Benefit Agreement   Section 3.10(b)
Benefit Plan   Section 3.10(a)
Business Day   Section 10.02
Cash and Cash Equivalents   Section 2.02(f)
CBA   Section 3.11(a)
Certificate of Merger   Section 1.03
Certificates   Section 2.04(a)
Change in Control Payments   Section 2.02(f)
Close of Business   Section 10.02
Closing   Section 1.02
Closing Cash   Section 2.02(b)
Closing Date   Section 1.02
Closing Indebtedness   Section 2.02(b)
Closing Net Working Capital   Section 2.02(b)
Closing Other Adjustments   Section 2.02(b)
Closing Statement   Section 2.02(b)
Code   Section 2.04(f)
Combined Company   Section 10.02
Combined Company Material Adverse Effect   Section 10.02
Commitment Letter   Section 4.06
Commonly Controlled Entity   Section 3.10(a)
Company   Preamble
Company Affiliate   Section 10.02
Company Affiliated Group   Section 2.02(f)
Company Board   Section 3.04(b)
Company Bylaws   Section 3.01(b)
Company Charter   Section 3.01(b)
Company Class A Common Stock   Recitals
Company Class B Common Stock   Recitals
Company Common Stock   Recitals
Company Deferred Compensation Plans   Section 10.02
Company Disclosure Letter   Section 10.02
Company Incentive Plans   Section 2.02(f)
Company Intellectual Property   Section 3.17(a)
Company Leased Real Property   Section 3.08(a)
Company Material Adverse Effect   Section 10.02
Company Owned Real Property   Section 3.08(a)
Company Personnel   Section 3.10(f)

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Term
  Section
Company Prepared Returns   Section 11.01(a)
Company Product   Section 3.13(b)
Company Real Property   Section 3.08(a)
Company Recommendation   Section 3.04(b)
Company Regulatory Permits   Section 3.13(b)
Company Shareholder Approval   Section 3.04(c)
Company Subsidiaries   Section 3.01(a)
Confidentiality Agreement   Section 6.03
Consent   Section 3.05(b)
Continuing Employee   Section 6.06(a)
Contract   Section 10.02
Current Assets   Section 2.02(f)
Current Liabilities   Section 2.02(f)
D&O Insurance   Section 6.08(b)
Deductible   Section 9.06(a)
Definitive Agreements   Section 6.11(a)
DISC   Section 2.02(f)
DISC Common Stock   Section 10.02
Dissenting Shares   Section 2.01(d)
Effective Time   Section 1.03
Employment Law   Section 3.11(c)
Environmental Insurance Policy   Section 3.14
Environmental Laws   Section 3.14
Environmental Permits   Section 3.14
Environmental Proceedings   Section 3.14
ERISA   Section 3.10(a)
Escrow Agent   Section 2.03
Escrow Agreement   Section 2.03
Escrow Amount   Section 2.02(f)
Escrow Fund   Section 2.02(e)
Estimated Cash   Section 2.02(a)
Estimated Indebtedness   Section 2.02(a)
Estimated Net Working Capital   Section 2.02(a)
Estimated Other Adjustments   Section 2.02(a)
Exchange Agent   Section 2.04(a)
Exchange Fund   Section 2.04(a)
Excluded Acquisition Related Liabilities   Section 2.02(f)
Executive Severance Plans   Section 10.02
Expiration Date Release Notice   Section 9.07(a)
FDA   Section 10.02
FDCA   Section 10.02
Final Cash   Section 2.02(f)
Final Indebtedness   Section 2.02(f)
Final Net Working Capital   Section 2.02(f)
Final Other Adjustments   Section 2.02(f)
Financial Statements   Section 3.06(a)
Financing   Section 4.06
Financing Sources   Section 10.10(b)
Flow-Through Entity   Section 10.02
Foreign Plan   Section 3.10(k)
Form S-4   Section 6.01(a)
Fundamental Reps   Section 10.02
GAAP   Section 2.02(a)

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Term
  Section
Governmental Authorizations   Section 3.15
Governmental Entity   Section 3.05(b)
Grant Price   Section 2.02(f)
Healthcare Laws   Section 3.13(a)
Healthinterlink Acquisition   Section 2.02(f)
HSR Act   Section 3.05(b)
Hubble Acquisition   Section 2.02(f)
Included Acquisition Related Liabilities   Section 2.02(f)
Indebtedness   Section 2.02(f)
Indemnified Party   Section 9.03(a)
Indemnified Tax   Section 10.02
Indemnifying Party   Section 9.03(a)
Intellectual Property   Section 3.17(g)
Interim Balance Sheet   Section 3.06(a)
Judgment   Section 10.02
knowledge   Section 10.02
Law   Section 10.02
Letter of Transmittal   Section 2.04(b)
Liens   Section 3.02(a)
Losses   Section 6.08(a)
LTIP Cash Incentive Amount   Section 2.02(f)
LTIP Cash Incentive Awards   Section 2.02(f)
LTIP Cash Incentive Payment   Section 2.05(a)(iii)
Marketing Period   Section 6.11(c)
Material Contract   Section 3.16(a)
Merger   Recitals
Net Adjustment Amount   Section 2.02(f)
Net Working Capital   Section 2.02(f)
NYBCL   Section 1.01
Ordinary Course Tax Provisions   Section 3.09(d)
Other Adjustments   Section 2.02(f)
Outside Date   Section 8.01(b)(i)
Parent   Preamble
Parent Common Stock   Section 2.02(f)
Parent Indemnitee   Section 9.01
Parent Material Adverse Effect   Section 4.01
Parent Phase Is   Section 10.02
Parent Prepared Returns   Section 11.01(b)
Parent SEC Reports   Section 4.09(a)
Parent's Stock Incentive Plan   Section 10.02
Pediavision Acquisition   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Cash Closing Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Cash Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Merger Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Phantom Cash Closing Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Phantom Cash Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Phantom Merger Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Phantom Portion   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Portion   Section 2.02(f)
Per Share Stock Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Percentage Ownership   Section 2.02(f)
Permitted Liens   Section 10.02
person   Section 10.02

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Term
  Section
Phantom Dividend Amount   Section 2.02(f)
Phantom Equity Payments   Section 2.02(f)
Phantom Share   Section 2.02(f)
PHASAR   Section 2.02(f)
PHASAR Payments   Section 2.05(a)(i)
Post-Closing Tax Period   Section 10.02
Pre-Closing Tax Period   Section 10.02
Projected Indemnity Amount   Section 9.07(a)
PSU Award   Section 2.02(f)
PSU Payments   Section 2.05(a)(ii)
Referee   Section 2.02(c)(iii)
Registered Company IP   Section 3.17(a)
Representative Indemnitee   Section 6.10(c)
Required Information   Section 6.11(e)
Revolving Credit Agreement   Section 10.02
Scale-Tronix Acquisition   Section 2.02(f)
SEC   Section 10.02
Section 280G Waived Payments   Section 6.12(a)
Section 910   Section 2.01(d)
Section 623   Section 2.01(d)
Securities Act   Section 10.02
Securities Exchange Act   Section 10.02
Seller Refund   Section 11.05(a)
Shareholder Group   Section 10.11
Shareholder Indemnitees   Section 9.02
Shareholder Representative   Section 10.02
Shareholders Agreement   Section 10.02
Singapore Grant Receivable   Section 2.02(f)
Standard Software   Section 3.17(b)
Stock Consideration   Section 2.02(f)
Stock Consideration Closing Value   Section 2.02(f)
Straddle Period   Section 10.02
Sub   Preamble
subsidiary   Section 10.02
Survival Expiration Date   Section 9.05(a)
Surviving Corporation   Section 1.01
Target Net Working Capital   Section 2.02(f)
Tax   Section 3.09(q)
Tax Contest   Section 11.04
Tax Incentive   Section 3.09(m)
Tax Reps   Section 10.02
Tax Returns   Section 3.09(q)
Taxes   Section 3.09(q)
Technology   Section 3.17(g)
Third Party Claim   Section 9.03(a)
Transactions   Section 1.01
Transfer Taxes   Section 6.07
Voting Company Debt   Section 3.03
Voting Trust Agreement   Section 10.02

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ANNEX B

EXECUTION VERSION


VOTING AGREEMENT

        This Voting Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of June 16, 2015, by and among HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC., an Indiana corporation ("Parent"), EMPIRE MERGER SUB CORP., a New York corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Sub"), each of the undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one of the Voting Trustees, in each case solely in his or her capacity as a Voting Trustee of the voting trust (the "Voting Trust") created under that certain Voting Trust Agreement dated February 5, 2014 (the "Voting Trust Agreement"), by and among the Voting Trustees and certain shareholders of WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC., a New York corporation (the "Company"), party thereto.


RECITALS

        A.    The Company, Parent and Sub have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 16, 2015 (the "Merger Agreement") that, among other things, provides for the merger of Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger").

        B.    The Merger Agreement provides Parent with the right to terminate the Merger Agreement if Parent has not received prior to 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on the first Business Day following the date of the Merger Agreement a voting agreement executed and delivered on behalf of holders of common stock—Class A, no par value per share, of the Company ("Class A Common Stock") representing in aggregate the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sufficient to satisfy the condition to Closing set forth in Section 7.01(a) of the Merger Agreement.

        C.    In order to induce Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Voting Trustees have agreed to enter into this Agreement with respect to the 96,406,486 shares of Class A Common Stock that are subject to the Voting Trust Agreement as of the date hereof (collectively, the "Shares").

        D.    Pursuant to Section II.A.(8) of the Shareholders' Agreement of the Company dated as of February 5, 2014 (the "Shareholders' Agreement"), by and among the Company and certain shareholders of the Company, holders of more than 83% of the Class A Common Stock must consent to a Transfer (as defined in the Shareholders' Agreement) in order to consummate the Merger.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:


        1.
    Definitions.     Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Voting Trust Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1 or elsewhere in this Agreement.

        "Expiration Time" shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time and (b) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with its terms.

        "Shareholders' Agreement" shall mean the Shareholders' Agreement of the Company dated as of February 5, 2014, by and among the Company and certain shareholders of the Company.


        2.
    Irrevocable Proxy; Consent.     (a) Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one of the Voting Trustees, shall execute and deliver to Parent an irrevocable proxy in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one of


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the Voting Trustees, agree that immediately after execution of this Agreement, an executed copy of this Agreement and the irrevocable proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Company.


        3.
    Additional Agreements.     Until the Expiration Time, the undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one of the Voting Trustees, agree not to:


        4.
    Termination.     This Agreement shall terminate and shall have no further force or effect immediately as of and following the Expiration Time.


        5.
    No Ownership Interest.     Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Parent any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Eligible Shareholders.


        6.
    Miscellaneous.     

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  Name:   Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.
  Address:   4341 State Street Road
P.O. Box 220
Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153-0220
  Attention:   Gregory D. Porter, Esq., Executive Vice President & Corporate Secretary, Chief Legal, Regulatory & Quality Officer
  Email:   gregory.porter@welchallyn.com

  Name:   Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
  Address:   Two Prudential Plaza
Suite 4100
180 N. Stetson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
  Attention:   Susan R. Lichtenstein, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer
  Email:   susan.lichtenstein@hill-rom.com

  Name:   Winston & Strawn LLP
  Address:   35 W. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
  Fax:   (312) 558-5700
  Attention:   Steven J. Gavin; Brian M. Schafer
  Email:   SGavin@winston.com; BSchafer@winston.com

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[signature page follows]

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        In witness whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.

    HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ JOHN J. GREISCH

        Name:   John J. Greisch
        Title:   President and CEO

    EMPIRE MERGER SUB CORP.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ JOHN J. GREISCH

        Name:   John J. Greisch
        Title:   President and Treasurer

   

[Voting Agreement]


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    VOTING TRUSTEES:

 

 

/s/ ERIC R. ALLYN

Name: Eric R. Allyn,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 

/s/ TASHA A. GIVEN

Name: Tasha A. Given,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 

/s/ PEER A. SODERBERG

Name: Peer A. Soderberg,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 

/s/ W. SCOTT ALLYN

Name: W. Scott Allyn,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 

/s/ DAVID M. ALLYN

Name: David M. Allyn,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 

/s/ JON A. SODERBERG

Name: Jon A. Soderberg,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

   

[Voting Agreement]


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Exhibit A

IRREVOCABLE PROXY

June 16, 2015

        Reference is hereby made to (i) that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 16, 2015 (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Merger Agreement") by and among HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC., an Indiana corporation ("Parent"), EMPIRE MERGER SUB CORP., a New York corporation ("Sub"), and WELCH ALLYN HOLDINGS, INC., a New York corporation (the "Company"), and (ii) that certain Voting Trust Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2014, by and among certain shareholders of the Company (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Voting Trust Agreement").

        1.     Know all by these presents, the undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one of the Voting Trustees, hereby irrevocably grant to John J. Greisch, Susan R. Lichtenstein and any other individual designated in writing by either of the foregoing persons, and each of them individually, the proxy of the shareholders of the Shares, for and in the name, place and stead of each of the shareholders of the Shares:

        2.     The proxy granted hereunder and the other terms hereof (other than Sections 4 and 5) shall terminate, expire and have no further force or effect upon the expiration of the Term.

        3.     The undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one Voting Trustee, hereby (a) affirm that the irrevocable proxy granted hereunder may under no circumstances be revoked during the Term, (b) ratify and confirm all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done during the Term by virtue hereof and (c) revoke all revocable proxies granted with respect to the Shares prior to the date hereof to the extent such proxies are in effect as of the date hereof and extend to the matters specified in Sections 1(a) and 1(b). This irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable during the Term in accordance with the provisions of Sections 609 and 620(a) of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York.

        4.     Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to vest in Parent, Sub, John J. Greisch, Susan R. Lichtenstein or any other individual designated in writing by either of the foregoing persons pursuant to Section 1 hereof, any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Shares.

        5.     Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 5:

        "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean any merger, consolidation, or other business combination involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets or the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than as permitted or contemplated by the Merger Agreement.


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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Voting Trustees, acting collectively and constituting at least all but one Voting Trustee, have caused this Irrevocable Proxy to be executed as of the date first above written.

   
Name: Eric R. Allyn,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 


Name: Tasha A. Given,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 


Name: Peer A. Soderberg,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 


Name: W. Scott Allyn,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 


Name: David M. Allyn,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

 

 


Name: Jon A. Soderberg,
as a trustee of the Voting Trust

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ANNEX C

SECTIONS 623 AND 910 OF THE NEW YORK BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW

Section 623—Procedure to enforce shareholder's right to receive payment for shares.

        (a)   A shareholder intending to enforce his right under a section of this chapter to receive payment for his shares if the proposed corporate action referred to therein is taken shall file with the corporation, before the meeting of shareholders at which the action is submitted to a vote, or at such meeting but before the vote, written objection to the action. The objection shall include a notice of his election to dissent, his name and residence address, the number and classes of shares as to which he dissents and a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares if the action is taken. Such objection is not required from any shareholder to whom the corporation did not give notice of such meeting in accordance with this chapter or where the proposed action is authorized by written consent of shareholders without a meeting.

        (b)   Within ten days after the shareholders' authorization date, which term as used in this section means the date on which the shareholders' vote authorizing such action was taken, or the date on which such consent without a meeting was obtained from the requisite shareholders, the corporation shall give written notice of such authorization or consent by registered mail to each shareholder who filed written objection or from whom written objection was not required, excepting any shareholder who voted for or consented in writing to the proposed action and who thereby is deemed to have elected not to enforce his right to receive payment for his shares.

        (c)   Within twenty days after the giving of notice to him, any shareholder from whom written objection was not required and who elects to dissent shall file with the corporation a written notice of such election, stating his name and residence address, the number and classes of shares as to which he dissents and a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares. Any shareholder who elects to dissent from a merger under section 905 (Merger of subsidiary corporation) or paragraph (c) of section 907 (Merger or consolidation of domestic and foreign corporations) or from a share exchange under paragraph (g) of section 913 (Share exchanges) shall file a written notice of such election to dissent within twenty days after the giving to him of a copy of the plan of merger or exchange or an outline of the material features thereof under section 905 or 913.

        (d)   A shareholder may not dissent as to less than all of the shares, as to which he has a right to dissent, held by him of record, that he owns beneficially. A nominee or fiduciary may not dissent on behalf of any beneficial owner as to less than all of the shares of such owner, as to which such nominee or fiduciary has a right to dissent, held of record by such nominee or fiduciary.

        (e)   Upon consummation of the corporate action, the shareholder shall cease to have any of the rights of a shareholder except the right to be paid the fair value of his shares and any other rights under this section. A notice of election may be withdrawn by the shareholder at any time prior to his acceptance in writing of an offer made by the corporation, as provided in paragraph (g), but in no case later than sixty days from the date of consummation of the corporate action except that if the corporation fails to make a timely offer, as provided in paragraph (g), the time for withdrawing a notice of election shall be extended until sixty days from the date an offer is made. Upon expiration of such time, withdrawal of a notice of election shall require the written consent of the corporation. In order to be effective, withdrawal of a notice of election must be accompanied by the return to the corporation of any advance payment made to the shareholder as provided in paragraph (g). If a notice of election is withdrawn, or the corporate action is rescinded, or a court shall determine that the shareholder is not entitled to receive payment for his shares, or the shareholder shall otherwise lose his dissenters' rights, he shall not have the right to receive payment for his shares and he shall be reinstated to all his rights as a shareholder as of the consummation of the corporate action, including any intervening preemptive rights and the right to payment of any intervening dividend or other distribution or, if any such rights have expired or any such dividend or distribution other than in cash has been completed, in lieu thereof, at the election of the corporation, the fair value thereof in cash as


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determined by the board as of the time of such expiration or completion, but without prejudice otherwise to any corporate proceedings that may have been taken in the interim.

        (f)    At the time of filing the notice of election to dissent or within one month thereafter the shareholder of shares represented by certificates shall submit the certificates representing his shares to the corporation, or to its transfer agent, which shall forthwith note conspicuously thereon that a notice of election has been filed and shall return the certificates to the shareholder or other person who submitted them on his behalf. Any shareholder of shares represented by certificates who fails to submit his certificates for such notation as herein specified shall, at the option of the corporation exercised by written notice to him within forty-five days from the date of filing of such notice of election to dissent, lose his dissenter's rights unless a court, for good cause shown, shall otherwise direct. Upon transfer of a certificate bearing such notation, each new certificate issued therefor shall bear a similar notation together with the name of the original dissenting holder of the shares and a transferee shall acquire no rights in the corporation except those which the original dissenting shareholder had at the time of transfer.

        (g)   Within fifteen days after the expiration of the period within which shareholders may file their notices of election to dissent, or within fifteen days after the proposed corporate action is consummated, whichever is later (but in no case later than ninety days from the shareholders' authorization date), the corporation or, in the case of a merger or consolidation, the surviving or new corporation, shall make a written offer by registered mail to each shareholder who has filed such notice of election to pay for his shares at a specified price which the corporation considers to be their fair value. Such offer shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares with respect to which notices of election to dissent have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. If the corporate action has been consummated, such offer shall also be accompanied by (1) advance payment to each such shareholder who has submitted the certificates representing his shares to the corporation, as provided in paragraph (f), of an amount equal to eighty percent of the amount of such offer, or (2) as to each shareholder who has not yet submitted his certificates a statement that advance payment to him of an amount equal to eighty percent of the amount of such offer will be made by the corporation promptly upon submission of his certificates. If the corporate action has not been consummated at the time of the making of the offer, such advance payment or statement as to advance payment shall be sent to each shareholder entitled thereto forthwith upon consummation of the corporate action. Every advance payment or statement as to advance payment shall include advice to the shareholder to the effect that acceptance of such payment does not constitute a waiver of any dissenters' rights. If the corporate action has not been consummated upon the expiration of the ninety day period after the shareholders' authorization date, the offer may be conditioned upon the consummation of such action. Such offer shall be made at the same price per share to all dissenting shareholders of the same class, or if divided into series, of the same series and shall be accompanied by a balance sheet of the corporation whose shares the dissenting shareholder holds as of the latest available date, which shall not be earlier than twelve months before the making of such offer, and a profit and loss statement or statements for not less than a twelve month period ended on the date of such balance sheet or, if the corporation was not in existence throughout such twelve month period, for the portion thereof during which it was in existence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation shall not be required to furnish a balance sheet or profit and loss statement or statements to any shareholder to whom such balance sheet or profit and loss statement or statements were previously furnished, nor if in connection with obtaining the shareholders' authorization for or consent to the proposed corporate action the shareholders were furnished with a proxy or information statement, which included financial statements, pursuant to Regulation 14A or Regulation 14C of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. If within thirty days after the making of such offer, the corporation making the offer and any shareholder agree upon the price to be paid for his shares, payment therefor shall be made within sixty days after the

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making of such offer or the consummation of the proposed corporate action, whichever is later, upon the surrender of the certificates for any such shares represented by certificates.

        (h)   The following procedure shall apply if the corporation fails to make such offer within such period of fifteen days, or if it makes the offer and any dissenting shareholder or shareholders fail to agree with it within the period of thirty days thereafter upon the price to be paid for their shares:

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        (i)    Shares acquired by the corporation upon the payment of the agreed value therefor or of the amount due under the final order, as provided in this section, shall become treasury shares or be cancelled as provided in section 515 (Reacquired shares), except that, in the case of a merger or consolidation, they may be held and disposed of as the plan of merger or consolidation may otherwise provide.

        (j)    No payment shall be made to a dissenting shareholder under this section at a time when the corporation is insolvent or when such payment would make it insolvent. In such event, the dissenting shareholder shall, at his option:

        (k)   The enforcement by a shareholder of his right to receive payment for his shares in the manner provided herein shall exclude the enforcement by such shareholder of any other right to which he might otherwise be entitled by virtue of share ownership, except as provided in paragraph (e), and

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except that this section shall not exclude the right of such shareholder to bring or maintain an appropriate action to obtain relief on the ground that such corporate action will be or is unlawful or fraudulent as to him.

        (l)    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, any notice to be given by a corporation to a shareholder under this section shall be given in the manner provided in section 605 (Notice of meetings of shareholders).

        (m)  This section shall not apply to foreign corporations except as provided in subparagraph (e)(2) of section 907 (Merger or consolidation of domestic and foreign corporations).

        Section 910—Right of shareholder to receive payment for shares upon merger or consolidation, or sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of assets, or share exchange.

        (a)   A shareholder of a domestic corporation shall, subject to and by complying with section 623 (Procedure to enforce shareholder's right to receive payment for shares), have the right to receive payment of the fair value of his shares and the other rights and benefits provided by such section, in the following cases:

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ANNEX D


GRAPHIC
  745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
United States

June 16, 2015

Board of Directors
Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.
4341 State Street Road
Skaneateles Falls, New York 13153-0220

Members of the Board of Directors:

        We understand that Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") intends to enter into a transaction (the "Proposed Transaction") with Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. ("Hill-Rom") pursuant to which, (i) Empire Merger Sub Corp. ("Sub"), a subsidiary of Hill-Rom, shall be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and (ii) the issued shares of common stock, Class A, no par value per share, of the Company (the "Company Class A Common Stock") and the issued shares of common stock, Class B, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (the "Company Class B Common Stock" and, collectively with the Company Class A Common Stock, the "Company Common Stock"), in each case other than those owned by Hill-Rom, Sub, the Company, Company Subsidiaries or holders who are entitled to and properly demand an appraisal of their shares pursuant to the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, shall be converted into the right to receive aggregate consideration on a cash-free, debt-free basis of $2.050 billion comprised of (i) $1.625 billion of cash, without interest (the "Cash Consideration") and (ii) 8,133,722 validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares (the "Stock Consideration") of common stock, with no par value, of Hill-Rom (the "Hill-Rom Common Stock") as provided for in the Agreement (such consideration, the "Stock Consideration"; together with the Cash Consideration, the "Consideration"). We understand that the Consideration may be subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Agreement (the "Adjustments"). The terms and conditions of the Proposed Transaction are set forth in more detail in the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 16, 2015, by and among the Company, Hill-Rom and Sub (the "Agreement"). The summary of the Proposed Transaction set forth above is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Agreement. All capitalized terms used but undefined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

        We have been requested by the Board of Directors of the Company to render our opinion with respect to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the Company's shareholders of the consideration to be offered to such shareholders in the Proposed Transaction. We have not been requested to opine as to, and our opinion does not in any manner address, the Company's underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the Proposed Transaction. In addition, we express no opinion on, and our opinion does not in any manner address, the fairness of the amount or the nature of any compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any parties to the Proposed Transaction, or any class of such persons, relative to the consideration to be offered to the shareholders of the Company in the Proposed Transaction.

        In arriving at our opinion, we reviewed and analyzed: (1) the Agreement, and the specific terms of the Proposed Transaction; (2) financial and operating information with respect to the business, operations and prospects of the Company furnished to us by the Company, including financial projections of the Company prepared by management of the Company (the "Company Projections"); (3) publicly available information concerning Hill-Rom that we believe to be relevant to our analysis, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015; (4) a trading history of Hill-Rom Common Stock from June 12, 2010 to June 12, 2015 and a comparison of that trading history with those of other companies that we deemed relevant; (5) a comparison of the historical financial results and present financial condition of the Company and Hill-Rom with each


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other and with those of other companies that we deemed relevant; (6) a comparison of the financial terms of the Proposed Transaction with the financial terms of certain other transactions that we deemed relevant; (7) the pro forma impact of the Proposed Transaction on the future financial performance of the combined company, including the estimated amounts and timing of the cost savings and operating synergies reviewed by the management of the Company in connection with the Proposed Transaction (the "Expected Synergies"); (8) published estimates of independent research analysts with respect to the future financial performance and price targets of Hill-Rom (the "Hill-Rom Projections"); and (9) such other things as we thought appropriate. In addition, we have had discussions with the management of the Company and Hill-Rom concerning their respective business, operations, assets, liabilities, financial condition and prospects and have undertaken such other studies, analyses and investigations as we deemed appropriate.

        In arriving at our opinion, we have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information made available to us, or publicly accessed by us, without any independent verification of such information (and have not assumed responsibility or liability for any independent verification of such information) and have further relied upon the assurances of the management of the Company that they are not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. With respect to Company Projections, upon the advice of the Company, we have assumed that such projections have been reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as to the future financial performance of the Company and that the Company will perform substantially in accordance with such projections and, at the direction of the Company, we have relied on the Company Projections in performing our analysis and arriving at our opinion. Furthermore, upon the advice of the Company, we have assumed that the amounts and timing of the Expected Synergies will be realized in accordance with such estimates. With respect to the Hill-Rom Projections, upon the advice of the Company, we have assumed that such projections have been reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates as to the future financial performance of Hill-Rom and that Hill-Rom will perform substantially in accordance with such projections and, at the direction of the Company, we have relied on the Hill-Rom Projections in performing our analysis and arriving at our opinion. We assume no responsibility for and we express no view as to any such projections or estimates or the assumptions on which they are based. In arriving at our opinion, we have not conducted a physical inspection of the properties and facilities of the Company or Hill-Rom and have not made or obtained any evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of the Company or Hill-Rom. Our opinion necessarily is based upon market, economic and other conditions as they exist on, and can be evaluated as of, the date of this letter. We assume no responsibility for updating or revising our opinion based on events or circumstances that may occur after the date of this letter. We express no opinion as to the prices at which shares of Hill-Rom Common Stock would trade following the announcement or consummation of the Proposed Transaction. Our opinion should not be viewed as providing any assurance that the market value of the Hill-Rom Common Stock to be held by the shareholders of the Company after the consummation of the Proposed Transaction will be in excess of the market value of common stock of the Company owned by such shareholders at any time prior to the announcement or consummation of the Proposed Transaction.

        We have assumed the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement and all agreements related thereto and that the Adjustments will not result in any adjustments to the Consideration that are material to our analysis. We have also assumed, upon the advice of the Company, that all material governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, consents and releases for the Proposed Transaction will be obtained within the constraints contemplated by the Agreement and that the Proposed Transaction will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement thereof. We do not express any opinion as to any tax or other consequences that might result from the Proposed Transaction, nor does our opinion address any legal, tax, regulatory or accounting matters, as

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to which we understand that the Company has obtained such advice as it deemed necessary from qualified professionals.

        Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion as of the date hereof that, from a financial point of view, the consideration to be offered to the shareholders of the Company in the Proposed Transaction is fair to such shareholders.

        We have acted as financial advisor to the Company in connection with the Proposed Transaction and will receive a fee for our services, a portion of which is payable upon rendering this opinion and a substantial portion of which is contingent upon the consummation of the Proposed Transaction. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse a portion of our expenses and indemnify us for certain liabilities that may arise out of our engagement. We have not performed investment banking or financial services for the Company or Hill-Rom in the past, but may perform such services in the future, and would expect to receive customary fees for such services.

        Barclays Capital Inc. and its affiliates engage in a wide range of businesses from investment and commercial banking, lending, asset management and other financial and non-financial services. In the ordinary course of our business, we and our affiliates may actively trade and effect transactions in the equity, debt and/or other securities (and any derivatives thereof) and financial instruments (including loans and other obligations) of Hill-Rom for our own account and for the accounts of our customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold long or short positions and investments in such securities and financial instruments.

        This opinion, the issuance of which has been approved by our Valuation and Fairness Opinion Committee, is solely for the use and benefit of the Board of Directors of the Company and shall not be disclosed publicly or made available to, or relied upon by, any third party without our prior approval. This opinion is not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any shareholder of the Company as to how such shareholder should vote with respect to the Proposed Transaction.

    Very truly yours,

 

 


GRAPHIC

 

 

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 20.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Hill-Rom's bylaws, pursuant to authority contained in the IBCL and the Indiana Insurance Law, respectively, provide for the indemnification of Hill-Rom's current and former officers, directors and employees (each, an "Eligible Person") against the following:

        Expenses, judgments, fines (including any excise tax or penalty assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Eligible Person in connection with such proceeding, but only (a) if the Eligible Person acted in good faith and (b) (i) in the case of conduct in the Eligible Person's official capacity with Hill-Rom, if the Eligible Person acted in a manner which the Eligible Person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Corporation, or (ii) in the case of conduct other than in the Eligible Person's official capacity with Hill-Rom, if the Eligible Person acted in a manner which the Eligible Person reasonably believed was at least not opposed to the best interests of Hill-Rom, and (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the Eligible Person had reasonable cause to believe that the Eligible Person's conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that the Eligible Person's conduct was unlawful, and (d) if required by the IBCL, Hill-Rom makes a determination that indemnification of the Eligible Person is permissible because the Eligible Person has met the standard of conduct as set forth in the IBCL.

        To the extent the Eligible Person has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, including the dismissal of an action without prejudice, Hill-Rom will indemnify the Eligible Person against all expenses incurred in connection therewith.

        Indiana Law requires that a corporation, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, indemnify its directors and officers against reasonable expenses incurred in the successful defense of any proceeding arising out of their serving as a director or officer of the corporation.

        No indemnification or reimbursement will be made to an Eligible Person:

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        If an Eligible Person is entitled to indemnification by Hill-Rom for a portion of the expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, Hill-Rom will indemnify the Eligible Person for the entitled portion of expenses and amounts paid.

        Hill-Rom maintains a program of insurance under which Hill-Rom's directors and officers are insured, subject to specified exclusions and deductible and maximum amounts, against actual or alleged errors, misstatements, misleading statements, acts or omissions, or neglect or breach of duty while acting in their respective capacities for Hill-Rom.

        The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for in Hill-Rom's bylaws does not exclude or limit any other rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses that a person may be entitled to other agreements, shareholders' and board resolutions and Hill-Rom's articles of incorporation.

        The foregoing summaries are necessarily subject to the complete text of the IBCL, the registrant's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date, and the registrant's Amended and Restated Code of By-Laws, as amended to date.

Item 21.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

        A list of the exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index that immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 22.    Undertakings

        (1)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.

        (2)   The registrant undertakes that every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (1) immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (3)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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        (4)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions hereof, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

        (5)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

        (6)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Chicago, State of Illinois, on July 13, 2015.

    HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ JOHN J. GREISCH

John J. Greisch
President and Chief Executive Officer

        Each person whose individual signature appears below constitutes and appoints John J. Greisch and Steven J. Strobel, and each of them, with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full and several power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement and any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as they or he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


 

 

 
/s/ ROLF A. CLASSON

Rolf A. Classon
  Date: July 13, 2015
Chairman of the Board    

/s/ JOHN J. GREISCH

John J. Greisch

 

Date: July 13, 2015
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
   

/s/ STEVEN J. STROBEL

Steven J. Strobel

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
   

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/s/ RICHARD G. KELLER

Richard G. Keller

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Vice President—Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)    

/s/ WILLIAM G. DEMPSEY

William G. Dempsey

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Director    

/s/ JAMES R. GIERTZ

James R. Giertz

 

Date: July 13, 20155
Director    

/s/ CHARLES E. GOLDEN

Charles E. Golden

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Director    

/s/ WILLIAM H. KUCHEMAN

William H. Kucheman

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Director    

/s/ RONALD A. MALONE

Ronald A. Malone

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Director    

/s/ EDUARDO R. MENASCÉ

Eduardo R. Menascé

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Director    

/s/ STACY ENXING SENG

Stacy Enxing Seng

 

Date: July 13, 2015
Director    

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
  Exhibit Description
  2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2015, by and among Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Empire Merger Sub Corp. and Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. (attached as Annex A to the proxy statement/prospectus included in this Registration Statement)

 

3.1

 

Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., as currently in effect (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Form 8-K dated March 10, 2010)

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Code of By-Laws of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., as currently in effect (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed with Form 8-K dated March 10, 2010)

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Barnes & Thornburg LLP

 

10.1

 

Voting Agreement, dated June 16, 2015, by and among Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Empire Merger Sub Corp. and certain shareholders of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc. (attached as Annex B to the proxy statement/prospectus included in this Registration Statement).

 

23.1

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.

 

23.2

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of Welch Allyn Holdings, Inc.

 

23.3

 

Consent of Barnes & Thornburg LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)

 

99.1

 

Consent of Barclays Capital Inc.

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