SC 13D/A 1 brhc10043657_sc13da.htm SC 13D/A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13D
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
(Amendment No. 1)*

 Meridian Bioscience, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, no par value


(Title of Class of Securities)

589584101

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

David J. Snyderman
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)

October 24, 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).
 


CUSIP No. 91734M103
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 2 of 11

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
Magnetar Financial LLC
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
OO
 
 
 
 
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
 
Delaware
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
5.17%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
IA; OO
 
 
 
 


CUSIP No. 91734M103
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 3 of 11

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
Magnetar Capital Partners LP
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
OO
 
 
 
 
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
 
Delaware
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
5.17%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
HC; OO
 
 
 
 


CUSIP No. 91734M103
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 4 of 11

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
Supernova Management LLC
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
OO
 
 
 
 
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
 
Delaware
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
5.17%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
HC; OO
 
 
 
 


CUSIP No. 91734M103
SCHEDULE 13D
Page 5 of 11

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
David J. Snyderman
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
OO
 
 
 
 
5
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)
 
 
 
 
 
 
6
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
 
United States of America
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
2,260,688
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
5.17%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
HC; IN
 
 
 
 


SCHEDULE 13D
 
This Amendment No. 1 (the “Amendment No. 1”) relates to the Statement of Beneficial Ownership on Schedule 13D filed jointly by 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”) with the SEC on September 19, 2022, (as amended by this Amendment No. 1, the “Schedule 13D”).  This Amendment No. 1 is being filed to remove Mr. Litowitz as a Reporting Person and replace him with David J. Snyderman who, effective October 24, 2022, replaced Mr. Litowitz as the Chief Executive Officer of Magnetar Financial and the Manager of Supernova Management.

Except as set forth below, all Items of the Schedule 13D remain unchanged. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule 13D.

ITEM 2.
IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND
 
Item 2 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
 
(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 David J. Snyderman (“Mr. Snyderman”) (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. Snyderman.
 
(b)          The business address of each of the Reporting Persons is 1603 Orrington Avenue, 13th 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. Snyderman 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. Snyderman is a citizen of the United States of America.
 
ITEM 3.
SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION
 
Item 3 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
 
The aggregate amount of funds used by the one of the Reporting Persons in purchasing the  2,260,688 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 $74,864,174.99 (excluding commissions and other execution-related costs).

ITEM 4.
PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION

Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended to add the following information for updating:

Since the filing of the Schedule 13D with the SEC on September 19, 2022, the Reporting Persons sold 3,336 Shares between September 30, 2022 and October 7, 2022 reported herein which consists of 3,336 Shares sold for the benefit of the Managed Account.

Since the filing of the Schedule 13D with the SEC on September 19, 2022, the Reporting Persons purchased 15,699 Shares on November 1, 2022 reported herein which consists of 8,294 Shares purchased for the benefit PRA Master Fund and 7,405 Shares purchased for the benefit of the Systematic Master Fund.


ITEM 5.
INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
 
Item 5(a)-(c) of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended to add the following information for updating:
 
The Company reported in their Form 10-Q 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 November 1, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to have beneficial ownership of 2,260,688 Shares, which consisted of (i) 1,944,794 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund, (ii) 310,465 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and (iii) 5,429 Shares held for the benefit of the Managed Account and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 5.17% of the Shares.

(b)          As of the close of business November 1, 2022, each of the Reporting Persons may have been deemed to share the power to vote and direct the disposition of 2,260,688 Shares, which consisted of (i) 1,944,794 Shares held for the benefit of PRA Master Fund, (ii) 310,465 Shares held for the benefit of Systematic Master Fund, and (iii) 5,429 Shares held for the benefit of the Managed Account and all such Shares represented beneficial ownership of approximately 5.17% of the Shares.

(c)          Except as set forth on Schedule B attached hereto, 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 B 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 B were effected in open market transactions on the NASDAQ and various other trading markets.
 
ITEM 6.
CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
 
Item 6 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended to add the following information for updating:
 
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.

ITEM 7.
MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
Description
   
99.2
Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2022 among the Reporting Persons.


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: November 2, 2022
       
         
 
MAGNETAR FINANCIAL LLC
 
         
 
By:
Magnetar Capital Partners LP, its Sole Member
         
 
By:
/s/ David J. Snyderman
 
   
Name:
David J. Snyderman

   
Title:
Manager of Supernova Management LLC, the General Partner of Magnetar Capital Partners LP
         
 
MAGNETAR CAPITAL PARTNERS LP
 
         
 
By:
/s/ David J. Snyderman
 
   
Name:
David J. Snyderman
 
   
Title:
Manager of Supernova Management LLC, the General Partner of Magnetar Capital Partners LP
         
 
SUPERNOVA MANAGEMENT LLC
 
         
 
By:
/s/ David J. Snyderman
 
   
Name:
David J. Snyderman
 
   
Title:
Manager
 
         
 
/s/ David J. Snyderman
   
 
David J. Snyderman
   


SCHEDULE B
Funds
 
Date
Number of Shares Sold
Price Per Share($) (1)(2)
9/30/2022
166
31.69343 (3)
10/3/2022
634
31.93684(4)
10/4/2022
634
32.40144(5)
10/5/2022
627
 32.05453(6)
10/6/2022
637
31.91645(7)
10/7/2022
638
31.82821(8)


(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 $31.69343 per share, at prices ranging from $31.53 to $31.91 per share.
 

(4)
Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $31.93684 per share, at prices ranging from $31.74 to $32.04 per share.
 

(5)
Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.40144 per share, at prices ranging from $32.20 to $32.53 per share.
 

(6)
Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.05453 per share, at prices ranging from $31.93 to $32.28 per share.
 

(7)
Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $31.91645 per share, at prices ranging from $31.84 to $31.95 per share.
 

(8)
Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $31.82821 per share, at prices ranging from $31.78 to $31.87 per share.

Date
Number of Shares Bought
Price Per Share($) (1)(2)
11/01/22
15,699
32.00742 (9)
 

(9)
Reflects a weighted average purchase price of $32.00742 per share, at prices ranging from $31.99 to $32.04 per share.


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 
Description

 
     
 
Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2022, among the Reporting Persons.