VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC

Current report

Risks Related to the Merger

Current report

The Merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including the receipt of consents and approvals from governmental authorities, which may impose unexpected delays in the completion of the Merger, or the Merger may not be completed at all.

Current report

The Merger is currently expected to close during the second half of 2026, assuming that all of the conditions in the Merger Agreement are satisfied or waived. The Merger Agreement provides that either we or Axcelis may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger has not occurred by September 30, 2026 (subject to automatic extensions until as late as June 30, 2027 under certain conditions with respect to the receipt of regulatory approvals). Certain events may delay the completion of the Merger or result in a termination of the Merger Agreement. Some of these events are outside the control of either party. In particular, completion of the Merger requires the receipt of various government approvals, the expiration or termination of the applicable antitrust waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the adoption of the Merger Agreement by our and Axcelis’ respective stockholders at our and Axcelis’ respective special meetings of stockholders.

Current report

If the required vote is not obtained at either special meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) at which the Merger has been voted upon, either we or Axcelis may terminate the Merger Agreement. If the Merger Agreement is terminated by Axcelis following a recommendation change of our board of directors, we will be required to pay a termination fee of $77,500,000 to Axcelis. In addition, if the Merger Agreement is terminated by Axcelis as a result of our failure to obtain stockholder approval, or is terminated by Axcelis due to our breach of the Merger Agreement that would result in a failure of an applicable closing condition (subject to the applicable cure period set forth in the Merger Agreement), then the we will be required to pay a fixed expense reimbursement amount of $15,000,000.

Current report

We may incur significant additional costs in connection with any delay in completing the Merger or termination of the Merger Agreement, in addition to significant transaction costs, including legal, financial advisory, accounting and other costs we have already incurred. We cannot provide any assurance that the conditions to the completion of the Merger will be satisfied or waived or that any adverse change, effect, event, circumstance, occurrence or state of facts that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement will not occur, and we cannot provide any assurances as to whether or when the Merger will be completed on the terms or timeline set forth in the Merger Agreement or at all.

Current report

Failure to complete the Merger in a timely manner or at all could materially and adversely affect our stock price and future business and financial results.

Current report

We can provide no assurance that the Merger will occur or that the conditions to the Merger will be satisfied in a timely manner or at all. Also, we can provide no assurance that an event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement will not occur. Delays in completing the Merger or the failure to complete the Merger at all could materially and adversely affect our future business and financial results, and, in that event, the market price of our common stock may decline significantly, particularly to the extent that the current market price reflects a market assumption that the Merger will be completed. If the Merger is delayed for any reason, we will be subject to several risks, including the diversion of management focus and resources from operational matters and other strategic opportunities while working to complete the Merger, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and stock price.

Current report

The pendency of the Merger could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.

Current report

In connection with the pending Merger, some of our current or prospective customers, suppliers and other vendors, lenders or other business counterparties may delay or defer decisions concerning their business relationships or transactions with us, which could negatively impact our sales and revenue generation, margins, operating expenses, and profitability, regardless of whether the Merger is completed. In addition, under the Merger Agreement, we are restricted from entering into certain corporate transactions and taking certain other specified actions, and requires that we conduct our business in all material respects in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice until the completion of the Merger or the termination of the Merger Agreement. These restrictions, which could be in place for an extended period of time if the completion of the Merger is delayed, could prevent us from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to completion of the Merger or from making appropriate changes to business or organizational structure. This could in turn materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Current report

The pendency of the Merger may also make it more difficult for us to effectively recruit, retain and incentivize key personnel and may cause distractions from our strategy and day-to-day operations for our current employees and management. Further, uncertainty about the effect of the Merger on our employees may have a material adverse effect on us during the pendency of the Merger, as this uncertainty may impair our ability to retain and motivate key personnel during the pendency of the Merger and the combined company’s ability to retain and motivate them following the Merger. Employee retention may be particularly challenging as our employees may experience frustration during the integration process and uncertainty about their future roles following consummation of the Merger.

Current report

Because the consideration to be received by our stockholders in connection with the Merger will include a fixed number of shares of Axcelis common stock, and the market price of such shares has fluctuated and will continue to fluctuate, our stockholders cannot be sure of the value of the consideration they will receive in the Merger.

Current report

Under the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each share of Veeco common stock (other than each share of Veeco common stock held in treasury or held or owned by Veeco, Axcelis or Merger Sub immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive 0.3575 newly issued shares of Axcelis common stock. The market value of the consideration our stockholders will receive in the Merger will therefore fluctuate with the market price of Axcelis common stock. The implied value of the Merger Consideration has fluctuated since the date of the announcement of the Merger Agreement and will continue to fluctuate until the date the Merger is completed, which could occur a considerable amount of time after the date hereof.

Current report

Prior to the completion of the Merger, the market price of Axcelis common stock, along with short selling activity in both our common stock and Axcelis common stock, has and is expected to continue to impact the market price our common stock. The value of the merger consideration to be received by our stockholders has fluctuated since the date of the announcement of the Merger Agreement and will continue to fluctuate until the Merger is completed and thereafter. Accordingly, at the time of our special meeting, our stockholders will not know or be able to determine the market value of the consideration they would receive upon completion of the Merger. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors, including, among others, interest rates, general market, industry, economic and geopolitical conditions, including the impact of continued inflation and associated changes in monetary policy, short-selling activity, changes in and speculation regarding our and Axcelis’ respective businesses, operations and prospects, market assessments of the likelihood that the Merger will be completed, the timing of the Merger and regulatory considerations. Many of these factors are beyond our and Axcelis’ control.

Current report

Under Delaware law, our stockholders are not entitled to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares in connection with the Merger.

Current report

Under Delaware law, holders of our common stock are not entitled to an appraisal of the fair value of their shares in connection with the Merger. Appraisal rights are statutory rights that enable stockholders to dissent from certain extraordinary transactions, such as certain mergers, and to demand that the corporation pay the fair value for their shares as determined by a court in a judicial proceeding instead of receiving the consideration offered to stockholders in connection with the applicable transaction. Under Delaware law, appraisal rights are not available for the shares of any class or series if the shares of the class or series are listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders on the record date, unless the stockholders receive in exchange for their shares anything other than shares of stock of the surviving or resulting corporation or of any other corporation that is publicly listed or held by more than 2,000 holders of record, cash proceeds from the sale of fractional shares or fractional depositary receipts or any combination of the foregoing. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq, and our stockholders will receive Axcelis common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and cash proceeds from the sale of fractional shares.

Current report

The market price of Axcelis common stock after the Merger may be affected by factors different from those affecting the market price of our common stock.

Current report

Upon completion of the Merger, holders of Veeco common stock will become holders of shares of Axcelis common stock. Our business differs from that of Axcelis in important respects, and, accordingly, the results of operations of Axcelis after the Merger, as well as the market price of Axcelis common stock, may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting our results of operations. Additionally, the market price of Axcelis common stock may fluctuate significantly following completion of the Merger.

Current report

Our current stockholders will have a reduced ownership interest and voting power in the combined company after the Merger.

Current report

Immediately following the Merger, our pre-Merger stockholders are expected to hold approximately 41.6% of the combined company’s common stock and the pre-Merger stockholders of Axcelis are expected to hold approximately 58.4% of the combined company’s common stock, in each case, calculated on a fully diluted basis.

Current report

Our stockholders and Axcelis’ stockholders currently have the right to vote for their respective directors and on certain other matters affecting their respective companies. If and when the Merger occurs, each Veeco stockholder who receives shares of Axcelis common stock will become an Axcelis stockholder with a percentage ownership of Axcelis that will be smaller than the stockholder’s current percentage ownership of Veeco (without considering such stockholder’s current ownership of our common stock, if any). Accordingly, our pre-Merger stockholders will have less voting power in us than they now have in Veeco and will be able to exercise less influence over the management and policies of the combined company following the consummation of the Merger than they are able to exercise over Veeco immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger.

Current report

An adverse judgment in a lawsuit challenging the Merger may prevent the Merger from becoming effective or from becoming effective within the expected timeframe.

Current report

Our stockholders may file lawsuits challenging the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, which may name us and/or our board of directors as defendants. We cannot provide any assurance as to the outcome of such lawsuits, including the amount of costs associated with defending these claims or any other liabilities that may be incurred in connection with the litigation of these claims. One of the conditions to the completion of the Merger is that no injunction by any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction, such as a court, is in effect that prohibits, restrains or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger. As such, if any future legal actions result in an injunction prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, then such injunction may prevent the consummation of the Merger on the agreed terms, within the expected timeframe or at all, any of which could substantially harm our business. Whether or not any plaintiff’s claim is successful, this type of litigation may result in significant costs and divert management’s attention and resources, which could materially and adversely affect the operation of our business.

Current report

We are expected to incur significant costs in connection with the Merger and integration of the two companies, which may be in excess of those anticipated by us.

Current report

We have incurred and expect to continue to incur costs associated with negotiating and completing the Merger and combining the operations of the two companies. These costs have been, and will continue to be, substantial. The substantial majority of costs will consist of transaction costs related to the Merger and include, among others, fees paid to financial, legal and accounting advisors, filing fees, and employee retention and other employment-related costs. Many of these costs will be borne by us even if the Merger is not completed.

Current report

We will also incur transaction costs related to formulating and implementing integration plans, including facilities, systems and service contract consolidation costs and employment-related costs. We will continue to assess the magnitude of these costs, and additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in connection with the Merger and the integration of the two companies’ businesses. Although we expect that the elimination of duplicative costs, as well as the realization of other synergies related to the integration of the businesses, should allow the combined company to offset integration-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at all. The costs described above, as well as other unanticipated costs and expenses, could materially and adversely affect the results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the combined company following the completion of the Merger.

Current report

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that limit our ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger, which could discourage a potential competing acquiror from making an alternative transaction proposal for greater consideration that what Axcelis has agreed to pay in the Merger.

Current report

The Merger Agreement contains provisions that preclude our ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger and require us to refrain from soliciting, initiating or knowingly encouraging or knowingly inducing, or taking any other action intentionally designed to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any competing proposals from third parties or to engage in discussions or negotiations with third parties regarding any competing proposals, subject to certain exceptions. With respect to any unsolicited written, bona fide acquisition proposal that we receive, if it is deemed to be a superior proposal, Axcelis generally has an opportunity to offer to modify the terms of the Merger Agreement in response to such proposal before our board of directors may withdraw or modify its recommendation to stockholders in response to such acquisition proposal or terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to such acquisition proposal. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under circumstances relating to a superior proposal, we may be required to pay a termination fee of $77,500,000 to Axcelis depending on the circumstances giving rise to the termination, which likely would discourage a potential third-party merger partner from making an alternative transaction proposal, even if it were prepared to pay consideration with a higher value than implied in the Merger, or cause such third-party to propose to pay a lower price than it might otherwise have proposed to pay because of the added expense of the termination fee.

Current report

Additionally, if the Merger Agreement is terminated and we determine to seek another business combination, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction with another party on terms comparable to, or better than, the terms of the Merger.

Current report

Directors and officers of Veeco may have interests in the Merger that may be different from, or in addition to, those of other our other stockholders, which could have influenced their decisions to support or approve the Merger.

Current report

Certain of our directors and officers have interests in the Merger that may differ from, or that are in addition to, their interests as our stockholders. William J. Miller, Ph.D., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors, and certain other members of our board of directors, will continue as directors of the combined company after the consummation of the Merger, and will be eligible to be compensated as non-employee directors of the combined company. In addition, Dr. Miller, together with certain other Company officers, will be entitled to cash severance payments, certain health insurance coverage and the acceleration of outstanding equity awards in the event of an involuntary termination in connection with a change of control of Veeco. Our board of directors (except for one (1) independent director who serves on the boards of both Axcelis and Veeco and thus recused himself) were aware of these interests at the time they approved the Merger Agreement. These interests may cause Dr. Miller and certain of our directors and officers to view the Merger differently than you may view it as a stockholder.