425 1 nt10023299x15_425.htm 425
Filed by Herman Miller, Inc.
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Subject Company: Knoll, Inc.
Commission File No.: 001-12907
Date: April 23, 2021

[The following letter was sent to Herman Miller, Inc.’s dealers on April 23, 2021]

A Message from Andi Owen to the Herman Miller Dealer Network

Hi everyone,

On behalf of the Herman Miller leadership team, I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of you for the support and enthusiasm you’ve shared since we announced our plans to acquire Knoll.

There is much to be excited about as we bring together the best of both companies to create the preeminent leader in modern design and transform our industry. That said, I recognize that for all of you, our dealer partners, there are also many unanswered questions.

While we work towards closing, which we expect to occur by the end of the third quarter this year (October), I want to reinforce a few things:

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It is business as usual for Herman Miller, and all of you. We are focused on continuing to grow our business – and your business as well – and we are competing to win, even when we are competing against Knoll.

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Herman Miller has always considered our dealer network to be among our most important assets. This remains true today and will not change as we move forward during the transaction period, and beyond.

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We will remain vigilant in carefully considering all decisions relative to the transaction, and the impact they will have on our dealer network. While we cannot tell you today exactly what the future will bring, you can rest assured our dealer network will remain a priority for our independent, and eventually combined, companies.

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We succeed when you succeed, and we remain committed to delivering tools, products, and programs that will help you grow your business.

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Bringing together two publicly traded companies is very complicated and there are many regulatory requirements to consider along the way. Among those, it is imperative we are not communicating details of the transaction to customers, vendors, industry partners or other third parties, beyond the formal corporate communications we have already shared.

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Finally, any communications outside the approved messages could put the transaction at risk. As a result, I am asking for your help in limiting your in-market messaging to only those details we have shared as part of our formal communications. I hope you will express excitement and confidence, but please refrain from speculating or promising to anyone what the future might bring. It’s best to simply reinforce that the process is in its early days, there is much to still be decided, and in the meantime Herman Miller, and our dealer network, is focused on serving our customers and growing our business. I know this is the same message Andrew is delivering to the Knoll dealer network.

We are developing some additional talking points for you to use when speaking with customers and other community partners to further explain the benefits and value of bringing the two companies together. You will receive those from John Michael very soon.

We remain committed to keeping you informed and we will share regular updates with you throughout this process.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Andi

Forward-Looking Statements
This communication relates to a proposed business combination transaction between Herman Miller, Inc.  (the “Company”) and Knoll, Inc. (“Knoll”). This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, the anticipated impact of the proposed transaction on the combined company’s business and future financial and operating results, the expected amount and timing of synergies from the proposed transaction, the anticipated closing date for the proposed transaction and other aspects of our operations or operating results. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “foresees,” “forecasts,” “estimates” or other words or phrases of similar import.  It is uncertain whether any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on the results of operations and financial condition of the combined companies or the price of the Company’s or Knoll’s stock. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the parties’ control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics (including coronavirus (COVID-19)) and epidemics, and any related company or government policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or government policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets; the effect of the announcement of the merger on the ability of the Company or Knoll to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom the Company or Knoll does business, or on the Company’s or Knoll’s operating results and business generally; risks that the merger disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the merger; the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the merger; the ability of the parties to consummate the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all; the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to consummation of the proposed transaction, including the ability to secure regulatory approvals on the terms expected, at all or in a timely manner; the ability of the Company to successfully integrate Knoll’s operations; the ability of the Company to implement its plans, forecasts and other expectations with respect to the Company’s business after the completion of the transaction and realize expected synergies; business disruption following the merger; general economic conditions; the availability and pricing of raw materials; the financial strength of our dealers and the financial strength of our customers; the success of newly-introduced products; the pace and level of government procurement; and the outcome of pending litigation or governmental audits or investigations. These risks, as well as other risks related to the proposed transaction, will be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 and joint proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the proposed transaction.  While the risks presented here, and those to be presented in the registration statement on Form S-4, are considered representative, they should not be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company’s and Knoll’s respective periodic reports and other filings with the SEC, including the risk factors identified in the Company’s and Knoll’s most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Neither the Company nor Knoll undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

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

Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of the Company and Knoll and that also constitutes a prospectus of the Company.  Each of the Company and Knoll may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the proxy statement/prospectus or registration statement or any other document that the Company or Knoll may file with the SEC.  The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of the Company and Knoll.  INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.  Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus (if and when available) and other documents containing important information about the Company, Knoll and the proposed transaction, once such documents are filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.  Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by the Company will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at https://investors.hermanmiller.com/sec-filings or by contacting the Company’s Investor Relations department at investor@hermanmiller.com.  Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Knoll will be available free of charge on Knoll’s website at https://knoll.gcs-web.com/sec-filings or by contacting Knoll’s Investor Relations department at Investor_Relations@knoll.com.

Participants in the Solicitation
The Company, Knoll and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction.  Information about the directors and executive officers of the Company, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on September 1, 2020, and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on July 28, 2020, as well as in a Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on July 17, 2020.  Information about the directors and executive officers of Knoll, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Knoll’s proxy statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2021, and Knoll’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.  Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when such materials become available.  Investors should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions.  You may obtain free copies of these documents from the Company or Knoll using the sources indicated above.