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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



SCHEDULE 13E-3

RULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT
UNDER SECTION 13(E) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Amendment No. 1)



HARDINGE INC.
(Name of the Issuer)



Hardinge Inc.
Hardinge Merger Sub, Inc.
Hardinge Holdings, LLC
Privet Capital Investments II, LP
Privet Fund LP
Privet Fund Management LLC
Mr. Ryan Levenson

(Names of Persons Filing Statement)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
412324303
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)



Hardinge Inc.
One Hardinge Drive
Elmira, NY 14903
Phone: (607) 734-2281
Attn: Charles P. Dougherty
  Privet Fund LP
79 West Paces Ferry Road
Suite 200B
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 419-2670
Attn: Ryan Levenson

           (Name, Address, and Telephone Numbers of Person Authorized to Receive Notices
and Communications on Behalf of the Persons Filing Statement)

With copies to

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
52 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 403-1000
Attn: Trevor S. Norwitz

 

Bryan Cave LLP
One Atlantic Center, 14th floor
1201 W. Peachtree St., N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30309-3471
(404) 572-6787
Attn: Rick Miller



           This statement is filed in connection with (check the appropriate box):

a. ý   The filing of solicitation materials or an information statement subject to Regulation 14A, Regulation 14C or Rule 13e-3(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

b. o

 

The filing of a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933.

c. o

 

A tender offer.

d. o

 

None of the above.

           Check the following box if the soliciting materials or information statement referred to in checking box (a) are preliminary copies:    ý

           Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the transaction:    o

Calculation of Filing Fee

 
Aggregate merger consideration*
  Amount of filing fee**
 
$243,846,420.50   $30,358.88
 
*
Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the filing fee. The aggregate merger consideration was calculated as the sum of (a) 12,966,148 shares of common stock (including shares of restricted stock) multiplied by the merger consideration of $18.50 per share, (b) 116,545 shares of common stock issuable upon settlement of restricted stock units, performance stock units and director stock units (assuming the target achievement of the performance goals applicable to such awards) multiplied by the merger consideration of $18.50 per share and (c) 310,000 outstanding stock options (assuming the target achievement of the performance goals applicable to such awards) multiplied by the per share merger consideration of $18.50 per share less the $12.64 weighted average exercise price of the outstanding stock options.

**
In accordance with Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1), the filing fee was calculated by multiplying 0.0001245 by the aggregate merger consideration.
ý
Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule, and the date of its filing.
Amount Previously Paid:   $30,358.88   Filing Party:   Hardinge Inc.
Form or Registration No.:   Schedule 14A   Date Filed:   March 5, 2018

   


Introduction

        This Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3 ("Transaction Statement") is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") pursuant to Section 13(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), by (i) Hardinge Inc. ("Hardinge"); (ii) Hardinge Merger Sub Inc. ("Acquisition Sub"); (iii) Hardinge Holdings, LLC "Parent" and together with Acquisition Sub, Privet Capital Investments II, LP, and the Sponsor Entities (as defined below), the "Parent Group"); (iv) Privet Fund LP; (v) Privet Fund Management LLC (together with Privet Fund LP, the "Sponsor Entities"); and (vi) Mr. Ryan Levenson; (each of (i) through (vi) a "Filing Person").

        This Transaction Statement relates to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 12, 2018, (as it may be amended from time to time, the "Merger Agreement") by and among Hardinge, Parent and Acquisition Sub. If the Merger Agreement is adopted by Hardinge's shareholders and the other conditions under the Merger Agreement are either satisfied or waived, Acquisition Sub will be merged with and into Hardinge, the separate corporate existence of Acquisition Sub will cease and Hardinge will continue its corporate existence under New York law as the surviving corporation in the merger (the "Merger"). Upon completion of the Merger, each share of Hardinge's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (each, a "Share" and collectively, "Shares") (other than Shares owned by Privet Fund LP) will be converted into the right to receive $18.50 per Share in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes. Following the completion of the Merger, the Shares will no longer be publicly traded, and holders of such Shares that have been converted will cease to have any ownership interest in Hardinge.

        Concurrently with the filing of this Transaction Statement, Hardinge is filing with the SEC a proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, pursuant to which Hardinge's board of directors is soliciting proxies from shareholders of Hardinge in connection with the Merger. The Proxy Statement is attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(1). A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to the Proxy Statement as Annex A and is incorporated herein by reference. As of the date hereof, the Proxy Statement is in preliminary form, and is subject to completion or amendment. Terms used but not defined in this Transaction Statement have the meanings assigned to them in the Proxy Statement.

        Pursuant to General Instruction F to Schedule 13E-3, the information in the Proxy Statement, including all annexes thereto, is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and responses to each item herein are qualified in their entirety by the information contained in the Proxy Statement. The cross-references below are being supplied pursuant to General Instruction G to Schedule 13E-3 and show the location in the Proxy Statement of the information required to be included in response to the items of Schedule 13E-3.

        While each of the Filing Persons acknowledges that the Merger is a going private transaction for purposes of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, the filing of this Transaction Statement shall not be construed as an admission by any Filing Person, or by any affiliate of a Filing Person, that Hardinge is "controlled" by any of the Filing Persons and/or their respective affiliates.

        All information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Transaction Statement concerning each Filing Person has been supplied by such Filing Person.

Item 1.    Summary Term Sheet

Regulation M-A Item 1001

        The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

2


Item 2.    Subject Company Information

Regulation M-A Item 1002

        (a)    Name and address.    Hardinge's name, and the address and telephone number of its principal executive offices are:

        (b)    Securities.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (c)    Trading market and price.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following caption is incorporated herein by reference:

        (d)    Dividends.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following caption is incorporated herein by reference:

        (e)    Prior public offerings.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following caption is incorporated herein by reference:

        (f)    Prior stock purchases.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

Item 3.    Identity and Background of Filing Person

Regulation M-A Item 1003

        (a) - (c) The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

3


Item 4.    Terms of the Transaction

Regulation M-A Item 1004

        (a)    Material terms.    

4


        (c)    Different terms.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (d)    Appraisal rights.    Not applicable.

        (e)    Provisions for unaffiliated security holders.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following caption is incorporated herein by reference:

        (f)    Eligibility for listing or trading.    Not applicable.

Item 5.    Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements

Regulation M-A Item 1005

        (a)(1) - (2)    Transactions.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (b) - (c)    Significant corporate events; Negotiations or contacts.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

5


        (e)    Agreements involving the subject company's securities.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

Item 6.    Purposes of the Transaction, and Plans or Proposals.

Regulation M-A Item 1006

        (a)    Purposes.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (b)    Use of securities acquired.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (c)(1) - (8)    Plans.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

6


Item 7.    Purposes, Alternatives, Reasons and Effects

Regulation M-A Item 1013

        (a)    Purposes.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (b)    Alternatives.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (c)    Reasons.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (d)    Effects.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

7


Item 8.    Fairness of the Transaction

Regulation M-A Item 1014

        (a) - (b)    Fairness; Factors considered in determining fairness.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (c)    Approval of security holders.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

8


        (d)    Unaffiliated representative.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (e)    Approval of directors.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (f)    Other offers.    Not applicable.

Item 9.    Reports, Opinions, Appraisals and Certain Negotiations

Regulation M-A Item 1015

        (a) - (c)    Report, opinion or appraisal; Preparer and summary of the report, opinion or appraisal; Availability of documents.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        The Preliminary Discussion Materials of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated November 1, 2017, are incorporated herein by reference.

        The Preliminary Discussion Materials of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated January 25, 2018, are incorporated herein by reference.

        The Preliminary Discussion Materials of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated February 5, 2018, are incorporated herein by reference.

        The Presentation of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated February 11, 2018, are incorporated herein by reference.

9


        The reports, opinions or appraisals referenced in this Item 9 will be made available for inspection and copying at the principal executive offices of Hardinge during its regular business hours by any interested equity security holder of Hardinge or representative who has been so designated in writing.

Item 10.    Source and Amounts of Funds or Other Consideration

Regulation M-A Item 1007

        (a) - (b), (d)    Source of funds; Conditions; Borrowed funds.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following caption is incorporated herein by reference:

        (c)    Expenses.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

Item 11.    Interest in Securities of the Subject Company

Regulation M-A Item 1008

        (a)    Securities ownership.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following caption is incorporated herein by reference:

        (b)    Securities transactions.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

Item 12.    The Solicitation or Recommendation

Regulation M-A Item 1012

        (d)    Intent to tender or vote in a going-private transaction.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

10


        (e)    Recommendation of others.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

Item 13.    Financial Information

Regulation M-A Item 1010

        (a)    Financial statements.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (b)    Pro forma information.    Not applicable.

Item 14.    Persons/Assets, Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used

Regulation M-A Item 1009

        (a) - (b)    Solicitations or recommendations; Employees and corporate assets.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

11


Item 15.    Additional Information

Regulation M-A Item 1011

        (b)    Golden Parachute Compensation.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:

        (c)    Other material information.    The information set forth in the Proxy Statement, including all annexes thereto, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 16.    Exhibits

Regulation M-A Item 1016

        (a)(1) Preliminary Proxy Statement of Hardinge Inc. (the "Proxy Statement") (incorporated herein by reference to the Schedule 14A filed concurrently with the SEC).

        (a)(2) Form of Proxy Card (incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement).

        (a)(3) Letter to Hardinge Inc. Shareholders (incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement).

        (a)(4) Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders (incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement).

        (a)(5) Press Release dated February 12, 2018 (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Hardinge Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 12, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).

        (b)(1)* Debt Commitment Letter, dated February 12, 2018, by and among Hardinge Holdings, LLC, Privet Fund Management, LLC, and White Oak Global Advisors, LLC, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the 13D/A filed by Privet Fund LP on February 16, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference.

        (b)(2)† Amendment to the Debt Commitment Letter, dated February 22, 2018, by and among Hardinge Holdings, LLC, Privet Fund Management, LLC, and White Oak Global Advisors, LLC.

        (c)(1)† Preliminary Discussion Materials of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated November 1, 2017.

        (c)(2)† Preliminary Discussion Materials of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated January 25, 2018.

        (c)(3)† Preliminary Discussion Materials of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated February 5, 2018.

        (c)(4)† Presentation of BMO Capital Markets Corp. to the Strategic Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated February 11, 2018.

        (c)(5) Opinion of BMO Capital Markets Corp., dated February 11, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Annex C of the Proxy Statement).

12


        (d)(1) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 12, 2018, by and among Hardinge Holdings, LLC, Hardinge Merger Sub, Inc., and Hardinge Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Annex A of the Proxy Statement).

        (d)(2) Support Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2018, by and among Hardinge Inc., Privet Fund LP, and Privet Fund Management LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Annex B of the Proxy Statement).

        (d)(3) Limited Guaranty, dated as of February 12, 2018, by and among Privet Fund LP and Hardinge Inc., filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the 13D/A filed by Privet Fund LP on February 16, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference.

        (f) Not applicable.

        (g) None.

*
Certain portions of this exhibit have been redacted and separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Hardinge Holdings, LLC and Privet Fund Management, LLC pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

These exhibits were previously filed with the SC 13E-3 that was filed on March 5, 2018.

13



SIGNATURE

        After due inquiry and to the best of each of the undersigned's knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

    HARDINGE INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ CHARLES P. DOUGHERTY

        Name:   Charles P. Dougherty
        Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

PRIVET FUND LP

 

 

By:

 

Privet Fund Management LLC,
its General Partner

 

 

By:

 

/s/ RYAN LEVENSON

        Name:   Ryan Levenson
        Its:   Managing Member

 

 

PRIVET FUND MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

By:

 

/s/ RYAN LEVENSON

        Name:   Ryan Levenson
        Its:   Managing Member

 

 

PRIVET CAPITAL INVESTMENTS II, LP

 

 

By:

 

Privet Capital Management LLC, its
General Partner

 

 

By:

 

/s/ RYAN LEVENSON

        Name:   Ryan Levenson
        Its:   Managing Member

14



 

 

HARDINGE HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

By:

 

Privet Fund Management LLC, its Manager

 

 

By:

 

/s/ RYAN LEVENSON

        Name:   Ryan Levenson
        Its:   Managing Member

 

 

HARDINGE MERGER SUB, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ RYAN LEVENSON

        Name:   Ryan Levenson
        Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

 

RYAN LEVENSON

 

 

/s/ RYAN LEVENSON

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