SEC Form SC 13D filed by Meridian Bioscience Inc.

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

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.  )*

Meridian Bioscience, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

589584101

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Alec N. Litowitz

Magnetar Capital LLC

1603 Orrington Ave.

Evanston, Illinois 60201

(847) 905-4400

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications)

September 7, 2022

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a Statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D and is filing this Schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SCHEDULE 13D

This Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to the common stock, no par value (the “Shares”), of Meridian Bioscience, Inc., a company incorporated in Ohio (the “Company”). The principal executive office of the Company is 3471 River Hills Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244.

(a)           The persons filing this Statement are Magnetar Financial LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Magnetar Financial”), Magnetar Capital Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Magnetar Capital Partners”), Supernova Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Supernova Management”), and Alec N. Litowitz (“Mr. Litowitz”) (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).

This Statement relates to Shares held for the accounts of each of (i)  Magnetar PRA Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“PRA Master Fund”), (ii), Magnetar Systematic Multi-Strategy Master Fund Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted company, (“Systematic Master Fund”), and one Managed Account for the clients of Magnetar Financial (the “Managed Account”), collectively (the “Funds”).

Magnetar Financial is a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and manager of investment funds and managed accounts. Magnetar Financial serves as investment adviser to each of the Funds. In such capacity, Magnetar Financial exercises voting and investment power over the Shares held for the accounts of each of the Funds. Magnetar Capital Partners serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Financial. Supernova Management is the general partner of Magnetar Capital Partners. The manager of Supernova Management is Mr. Litowitz.

(b)           The business address of each of the Reporting Persons is 1603 Orrington Avenue, 13^th Floor, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

(c)           Each of the Funds is a private investment fund; Magnetar Financial is a privately-held SEC registered investment adviser and manager of investment funds and managed accounts; Magnetar Capital Partners is a privately-held limited partnership and serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Financial; Supernova Management is a privately-held limited liability company and is the general partner of Magnetar Capital Partners; and Mr. Litowitz is a citizen of the United States of America, manager of Supernova Management and Chief Executive Officer of Magnetar Financial.

(d)           None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)           None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such Reporting Person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)           Magnetar Financial is a Delaware limited liability company. Magnetar Capital Partners is a Delaware limited partnership. Supernova Management is a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Litowitz is a citizen of the United States of America.

The aggregate amount of funds used by the one of the Reporting Persons in purchasing the 143,080 Shares reported herein on behalf of the Funds have come directly from the assets of the Fund, which may at any given time, have included margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business. The aggregate amount of funds used by the Reporting Person in purchasing the Shares on behalf of the Funds was $4,619,736.54 (excluding commissions and other execution-related costs).

The Reporting Person acquired the 143,080 Shares reported herein on behalf of the Funds after the public announcement of the Merger Agreement (as defined below) for purposes of receiving the merger consideration described below upon consummation of the Merger (as described below).

Each of the Reporting Persons reserves the right to acquire additional securities of the Company in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, to dispose of all or a portion of the Shares and/or other securities reported in this Statement, or to change their intention with respect to any or all of the matters referred to in this Item 4.

Other than as described above in this Item 4, the Reporting Persons do not have any plans or proposals that relate to, or would result in, any actions or events specified in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 to Schedule 13D.

The Company reported in their Form 10Q filed on August 5, 2022 that 43,747,969 Shares were issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2022.

(a)           As of the close of business September 16, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to have beneficial ownership of 2,248,325 Shares, which consisted of (i) 1,936,500 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund, (ii) 303,060 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and (iii) 8,765 Shares held for the benefit of the Managed Account and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 5.14% of the Shares.

(b)           As of the close of business September 16, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to share the power to vote and direct the disposition of 2,248,325 Shares, which consisted of (i) 1,936,500 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund, (ii) 303,060 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and (iii) 8,765 Shares held for the benefit of the Managed Account and all such and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 5.14% of the Shares.

(c)           Except as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto and Item 6, the Funds had no transactions in the Shares during the 60 days preceding the date of filing of this Statement. All of the transactions set forth on Schedule A attached hereto were effected in the ordinary course of business of Magnetar Financial for the accounts of each of the Funds. The transactions in the Shares set forth on Schedule A were effected in open market transactions on the NASDAQ and various other trading markets.

As disclosed by the Company in the 8-K filed with the SEC on July 7, 2022:

On July 7, 2022 (the “Agreement Date”), Meridian Bioscience, Inc., an Ohio corporation (“Meridian”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with SD Biosensor, Inc., a corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (“SDB”), Columbus Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Madeira Acquisition Corp., an Ohio corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”, and together with SDB and Parent, the “Parent Parties,” and each individually a “Parent Party”). Meridian is informed that SJL Partners, LLC (“SJL”) is currently the sole shareholder of Parent, and SDB together with SJL will be the sole shareholders of Parent as of the closing of the Merger. The Merger Agreement and the Merger (as defined below) have been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each of Meridian, SDB and Parent and by the investment committee of SJL.

Structure. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Ohio General Corporation Law (as amended, the “OGCL”), Merger Sub will merge with and into Meridian (the “Merger”), with Meridian surviving the Merger as a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

(d)           No other person is known by the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, any Shares that are beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons.

Item 6.                 contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect to the securities of the issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Reporting Persons have entered into an agreement with respect to the joint filing of this Statement, and any amendment or amendments hereto.

A client of Magnetar Financial has entered into a total return swap agreement giving it economic exposure to the Company.

Magnetar Asset Management LLC (“Magnetar Asset Management”) is an SEC registered investment adviser and an affiliate of Magnetar Financial. Magnetar Capital Partners serves as the sole member and parent holding company of Magnetar Asset Management. Certain clients of Magnetar Asset Management have entered into total return swap agreements giving them economic exposure to the Company.

Except as otherwise described herein, no contracts, arrangements, understandings or similar relationships exist with respect to the securities of the Company among or between the Reporting Persons or any other person or entity.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  September 19, 2022

SCHEDULE A

Funds

(1) Excludes commissions and other execution-related costs.

(2) Upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, full information regarding the number of shares bought or sold (as the case may be) at each separate price will be provided.

(3) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.6694 per share, at prices ranging from $32.49 to $32.88 per share.

(4) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.8231 per share, at prices ranging from $32.52 to $33.5 per share.

(5) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.4003 per share, at prices ranging from $31.755 to $32.68 per share.

(6) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.9827 per share, at prices ranging from $31.95 to $32.13 per share.

(7) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.9164 per share, at prices ranging from $31.64 to $32.05 per share.

(8) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.0204 per share, at prices ranging from $31.95 to $32.11 per share.

(9) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.5193 per share, at prices ranging from $32.15 to $32.73 per share.

SCHEDULE A

Funds

(1)Excludes commissions and other execution-related costs.

(2) Upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, full information regarding the number of shares bought or sold (as the case may be) at each separate price will be provided.

(3) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.5075 per share, at prices ranging from $32.43 to $32.61 per share.

(4) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.4985 per share, at prices ranging from $32.39 to $32.58 per share.

(5) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.2182 per share, at prices ranging from $31.67 to $32.43 per share.

(6) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.8960 per share, at prices ranging from $31.53 to $32.29 per share.

(7) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.8168. per share, at prices ranging from $31.66 to $31.94 per share.

(8) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.5024 per share, at prices ranging from $31.43 to $31.57 per share.

(9) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $31.9669 per share, at prices ranging from $31.58 to $32.38 per share.

(10) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.60 per share, at prices ranging from $32.6 to $32.6 per share.

(11) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $31.7439 per share, at prices ranging from $31.61 to $31.88 per share.

(12) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.8577 per share, at prices ranging from $31.46 to $32.44 per share.

(13) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.5035 per share, at prices ranging from $32.47 to $32.57 per share.

(14) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.5767 per share, at prices ranging from $32.53 to $32.72 per share.

(15) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.7125 per share, at prices ranging from $32.61 to $32.86 per share.

(16) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.8269 per share, at prices ranging from $32.61 to $32.98 per share.

(17) Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.9709 per share, at prices ranging from $32.74 to $33.15 per share.

EXHIBIT INDEX