UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

~~Washington~~WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

~~Pursuant~~PURSUANT toTO ~~Section~~ SECTION 13 orOR 15(dD) ~~of the~~ ~~Securities~~OF ~~Exchange~~THE SECURITIES ~~Act~~EXCHANGE ofACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1117, 2020 (March 16, 2020)

ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	~~001-13111~~	94001-~~3229046~~13111	94-3229046
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

100 S. Saunders Road, Suite 300, Lake Forest, IL 60045

(Address of ~~principal~~Principal ~~executive~~Executive ~~offices,~~Offices; ~~with~~Zip ~~zip code~~Code)

(224) 419-7106

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former ~~name~~Name or ~~former~~Former ~~address~~Address, if ~~changed~~Changed ~~since~~Since ~~last~~Last ~~report~~Report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:		Trading Symbol(s):		Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value		ASRT		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ ~~Written~~x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth ~~Company~~ company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 71.01. ~~Regulation~~Entry FDinto ~~Disclosure~~a Material Definitive Agreement.

OnMerger March 11, 2020, Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing that it has commenced cash tender offers (the “Offers”) to purchase any and all of the outstanding $42,465,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 2.50% Senior Convertible Notes due 2021 and $34,522,000 of its 5.00% Senior Convertible Notes due 2024 (together, the “Notes”). The Offers are being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in an Offer to Purchase dated March 11, 2020 (the “Offer to Purchase”) and are scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 7, 2020 unless extended by the Company (the “Expiration Time”). Holders of the Notes who have tendered (and not validly withdrawn) their Notes at or prior to the Expiration Time will be entitled to receive in cash $995 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn), plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes up to, but not including, the date the Offers are settled, which is expected to be promptly following the expiration of the Offers.Agreement

AOn March ~~copy~~16, 2020, Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“Assertio”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the ~~Press~~“Merger ~~Release~~Agreement”) iswith ~~attached~~Zyla Life Sciences, a Delaware corporation ~~hereto~~(“Zyla”), asAlligator ~~Exhibit~~Zebra 99Holdings, Inc.1, a Delaware corporation and ~~incorporated~~a ~~herein~~wholly-owned bysubsidiary ~~reference~~of Assertio (“Parent”), Alligator Merger Sub, Inc., ~~The~~a ~~information~~Delaware incorporation ~~this~~and ~~Item~~a ~~7.01~~wholly-owned ~~(including~~subsidiary ~~the~~of ~~exhibit)~~Parent ~~shall~~(“Assertio ~~not~~Merger beSub”), ~~deemed~~and toZebra beMerger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“~~filed~~Merger Sub”). ~~for~~The ~~purposes~~Merger ofAgreement ~~Section~~provides 18that, ofsubject to the ~~Securities~~terms ~~Exchange~~and ~~Act~~conditions ofset ~~1934~~forth therein, asMerger ~~amended~~Sub will merge with and into Zyla (the “~~Exchange Act~~Merger”), orwith ~~otherwise~~Zyla ~~subject~~surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Prior to the ~~liabilities~~consummation of ~~that~~the ~~section~~Merger, ~~and~~Assertio isintends ~~not~~to ~~incorporated~~effect bya ~~reference~~reorganization ~~into~~merger ~~any~~(the ~~filing~~“Assertio ~~under~~Reorganization”) pursuant to which Assertio Merger Sub will merge with and into Assertio, with Assertio surviving the ~~Securities~~merger ~~Act~~and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of ~~1933~~Parent. Parent will become Assertio Holdings, asInc. ~~amended~~and orwill assume Assertio’s listing on the ~~Exchange~~Nasdaq ~~Act~~Stock Market (“Nasdaq”).

~~Neither~~The terms ~~this~~of ~~Current~~the ~~Report~~Merger onAgreement ~~Form~~provide ~~8-K nor~~that, ~~the~~unless ~~Press~~otherwise ~~Release~~specified ~~shall~~in ~~not~~the ~~constitute~~Merger anAgreement, ~~offer~~at tothe ~~sell~~effective ortime of the Merger, ~~solicitation~~each issued and outstanding share of ancommon ~~offer~~stock, topar ~~buy~~value $0.001 per share, ~~nor~~of ~~shall~~Zyla ~~there~~(the “Zyla Common Stock”) will be ~~any~~canceled ~~sale~~and automatically converted into the right to receive as merger consideration (the of ~~these~~“Merger ~~securities~~Consideration”) in2.5 ~~any~~shares ~~state~~(the or“Exchange ~~jurisdiction~~Ratio”) inof ~~which~~common ~~such~~stock, ~~offer~~par value $0.0001 per share, ~~solicitation~~of orParent ~~sale~~(the ~~would~~“Parent beCommon ~~unlawful~~Stock”). ~~prior~~On toa ~~registration~~pro forma basis, the current holders of orZyla ~~qualification~~Common ~~under~~Stock will hold in the ~~securities~~aggregate ~~laws~~approximately 32% of ~~any~~the ~~such~~issued ~~state~~and oroutstanding ~~jurisdiction~~capital stock of Parent immediately after the Merger.

The terms of the Merger Agreement also provide that, as of immediately prior to the effective time (“Effective Time”) of the Merger, in each case, subject to certain adjustments in accordance with the Exchange Ratio and other terms set forth in the Merger Agreement (i) each Zyla stock option, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding will be cancelled at the Effective Time in exchange for an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Zyla stock option as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any vesting or forfeiture provisions or repurchase rights, but taking into account any acceleration thereof provided under such option), (ii) each Zyla time-based restricted stock unit, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding will be cancelled at the Effective Time in exchange for fully-vested Parent Common Stock, (iii) each Zyla performance-based restricted stock unit, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding will be cancelled at the Effective Time in exchange for fully-vested Parent Common Stock, and (iv) each Zyla warrant to purchase shares of Zyla Common Stock that is issued and outstanding will be cancelled at the Effective Time in exchange for a warrant to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Zyla warrant as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

The Merger and the Merger Agreement have been approved by the board of directors of each of Zyla (the “Zyla Board”), Assertio (the “Assertio Board”) and Parent (the “Parent Board”). Completion of the Merger is conditioned upon the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement by (1) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Zyla Common Stock (the “Zyla Stockholder Approval”) and (2) by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total votes cast to approve the issuance of the Merger Consideration by the holders of the outstanding shares of common stock of Assertio (the “Assertio Stockholder Approval”). Completion of the Merger is also subject to other customary closing conditions including (i) the absence of any injunction order, judgment or decree by any governmental entity that prohibits or makes the consummation of the transaction illegal, (ii) the registration on From S-4 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Parent in connection with the issuance of Parent Common Stock as Merger Consideration being declared effective by the SEC, (iii) the approval by Nasdaq of the listing of the Parent Common Stock to be issued as Merger Consideration on Nasdaq, (iv) the execution by each party of certain intercompany agreements, (v) subject to certain exceptions, the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties and (vi) compliance in all material respects by each party with its obligations under the Merger Agreement.

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of both Assertio and Zyla. Each of Assertio and Zyla has agreed to operate its respective business in the ordinary course in all material respects and to certain other operating covenants and to not take certain specified actions prior to date of the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing Date”), as set forth more fully in the Merger Agreement.

Each of Assertio and Zyla has also agreed to customary “no-shop” restrictions on its ability to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties and to provide non-public information to, and engage in discussions or negotiations with, third parties regarding alternative acquisition proposals. Notwithstanding the “no-shop” restrictions, prior to obtaining the Zyla Stockholder Approval, Zyla may under certain circumstances provide non-public information to, and participate in discussions or negotiations with, third parties with respect to any unsolicited alternative acquisition proposal that the Zyla Board has determined constitutes or would be reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal. A “Superior Proposal” is an unsolicited bona fide written offer that is fully financed or has fully committed financing that the Zyla Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and its financial advisor), taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal, is (1) more favorable to the stockholders of Zyla from a financial point of view than the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including any adjustment to the terms and conditions proposed by Assertio in response to such a Superior Proposal in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement) and (2) reasonably likely of being completed on the terms proposed on a timely basis.

Prior to obtaining the Zyla Stockholder Approval, the Zyla Board may, among other things, change its recommendation that the stockholders of Zyla adopt the Merger Agreement (a “Change in Recommendation”) in response to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement), subject to complying with notice and other specified conditions, including giving Assertio the opportunity to propose revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement during a period following such notice.

The Merger Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for Assertio and Zyla, including, among others, the right of (1) either party to terminate the Merger Agreement if (a) the Merger is not completed by September 12, 2020, unless otherwise extended pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and (b) either the Zyla Stockholder Approval or the Assertio Stockholder Approval is not obtained, (2) Assertio to terminate the Merger Agreement as a result of a Change in Recommendation and (3) Zyla to terminate the Merger Agreement as a result of the Assertio Board changing its recommendation with respect to the Merger Agreement.

Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain specified circumstances, Zyla will be obligated to pay Assertio a termination fee of $3,400,000. The Merger Agreement also provides that Assertio or Zyla will be obligated to pay the transaction expenses of the other party, up to a maximum amount of $1,750,000, upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain specified circumstances.

Upon consummation of the Merger and the Assertio Reorganization, the Parent Board will consist of nine directors, of which six of the directors will be appointed by the Assertio Board and three of the directors will be appointed by the Zyla Board. The initial Parent Board shall include the President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Zyla as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and the Chairman of the Zyla Board as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, who will become the lead independent director of the Parent Board. The President and Chief Executive Officer of Zyla as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Parent, while the President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will become the Non-Executive Chairman of the Parent Board. The Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Assertio as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will become the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Parent.

The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Merger Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Voting and Support Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent entered into voting and support agreements (the “Voting Agreements”) with certain stockholders of Zyla (each, a “Supporting Stockholder” and, collectively, the “Supporting Stockholders”) pursuant to which each Supporting Stockholder has agreed, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to vote or cause to be voted its shares of Zyla Common Stock in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger. The shares of Zyla Common Stock covered by the Voting Agreements represent, in the aggregate, a majority of the total Zyla Common Stock that is issued and outstanding, provided that if the Zyla Board makes a Change in Recommendation in response to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement), then the shares covered by the Voting Agreements will only represent 35% of the total Zyla Common Stock that is issued and outstanding.

The foregoing description of the Voting Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Voting Agreements, forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 and are incorporated herein by reference.

The Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreements have been attached as exhibits hereto to provide investors with information regarding their respective terms. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about Assertio, Zyla, Parent or Merger Sub, their respective businesses, or the actual conduct of their respective businesses during the period prior to the consummation of the Merger. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreements were made only for purposes of such agreements as of the specific dates therein, were made solely for the benefit of the respective contracting parties to those agreements, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk among the respective parties thereto instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Accordingly, the representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time and investors should not rely on them as statements of fact.

Item 5.02

Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

Transition Agreement

On March 16, 2020 Assertio entered into a Transition Agreement (the “Transition Agreement”) with Arthur Higgins, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio (the “Executive”). The Transition Agreement will become effective as of the Effective Time and, at such time, the Executive will immediately cease to serve as a full-time employee and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio. He will commence his engagement as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Parent Board and will serve in such a role until the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Parent, unless the Executive’s engagement with Parent is terminated earlier (such period of service, the “Service Term”).

On the Closing Date, the Executive will receive from Assertio a cash payment in the amount of $400,000. This payment will be subject to the Executive continuing his service as President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio through the Closing Date and the Executive’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims against Assertio and its affiliates (the “Release”).

During the Service Term, the Executive will be eligible to receive the following compensation, subject to his continued engagement as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Parent Board: (i) an annual cash retainer in the amount of $95,000, (ii) a grant of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) on the date of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Assertio or Parent (as applicable) held in calendar years 2020 and 2021 (the “Director Equity Awards”) with each award having a grant-date value of $190,000 (based on the fair market value of the shares of Parent Comment Stock covered by such award) and being eligible to vest on the first anniversary on the date of grant, (iii) a lump-sum severance payment in the amount of $1,200,000 (subject to the Executive’s execution and non-revocation of the Release) and (iv) a prorated bonus for 2020 in an amount of up to $400,000, subject to the Executive’s achievement of corporate and personal goals determined by the Compensation Committee of the Assertio Board in consultation with the Executive.

The terms of the Transition Agreement also address the treatment of the Director Equity Awards and the outstanding equity awards held by the Executive under Assertio’s existing equity-based compensation plan and any other awards to be issued under such plan through the Closing Date (the “Existing Awards” and, together with the Director Equity Awards, the “Executive Awards”). Specifically, the Transition Agreement provides for the following: (i) subject to the Executive’s continued service as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Parent Board through the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Parent, (A) the Executive Awards will continue to vest in accordance with their applicable vesting schedules through the date of such meeting and (B) the Executive will be credited with an additional twelve (12) months of service for purposes of determining the vesting of his Existing Awards and (ii) if the Executive is not re-elected to serve as a member of the Parent Board at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Parent, the Executive will be credited with an additional twelve (12) months of service for purposes of determining the vesting of his Existing Awards. However, in the event that (i) the Parent Board terminates the Executive’s engagement without Cause (as defined in the Transition Agreement), then the Executive Awards will continue to vest in accordance with their applicable vesting schedules through the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of Parent or (ii) the Parent Board terminates the Executive’s engagement for Cause (as defined in the Transition Agreement) or the Executive resigns voluntarily, then the unvested Executive Awards will be forfeited in exchange for no consideration.

Commencing on the Closing Date, Parent will provide the Executive with the full cost of health insurance benefits provided to him (as well as his spouse and dependents) immediately prior to the Closing Date pursuant to COBRA (or other applicable law) through the earlier of eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date or the date that the Executive is no longer eligible for COBRA or other benefits under applicable law. This payment will be subject to the Executive continuing his service as President and Chief Executive Officer of Assertio through the Closing Date and his execution and non-revocation of the Release.

In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated for any reason or the Merger does not occur, the Transition Agreement will automatically terminate and become null and void.

The foregoing description of the Transition Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Transition Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On March 16, 2020, Assertio issued a joint press release with Zyla announcing their entry into the Merger Agreement described above under Item 1.01. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. On March 17, 2020, Assertio and Zyla hosted a web conference to discuss the Merger. A copy of the presentation is attached as Exhibit 99.3 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in Item 7.01 of this report on Form 8-K, including the information in Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.3 hereto, is furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose, including for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the information in Exhibit 99.1 hereto, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed Merger. The proposed Merger will be submitted to Assertio’s stockholders and Zyla’s stockholders for their consideration. In connection with the proposed Merger, Assertio and Zyla intend to file a joint proxy statement (the “Joint Proxy Statement”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Assertio and Zyla in connection with the proposed Merger. Assertio intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”) with the SEC, in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus. Assertio also intends to file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed Merger. The definitive Joint Proxy Statement will be mailed to Assertio’s stockholders and Zyla’s stockholders when available. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED MERGER, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF ASSERTIO AND INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF ZYLA ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER.

The Joint Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed by Assertio or Zyla with the SEC, may be obtained once such documents are filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or free of charge from Assertio at www.assertiotx.com or by directing a request to Assertio’s Investor Relations Department at investor@assertiotx.com or free of charge from Zyla at www.egalet.com or by directing a Zyla’s Investor Relations Department at ir@zyla.com.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy 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 Securities Act.

Participants in the Solicitation

Assertio, Zyla and certain of their respective executive officers, directors, other members of management and employees may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed Merger. Information regarding Assertio’s directors and executive officers is available in its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, that was filed with the SEC on April 8, 2019 and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, that was filed with the SEC on March 10, 2020. Information regarding Zyla’s directors and executive officers is available in its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, that was filed with the SEC on November 6, 2019 and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, that was filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Joint Proxy Statement and other relevant materials relating to the proposed Merger to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

~~This~~Statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K ~~contains~~that are not historical ~~certain~~facts are forward-looking statement that reflect Assertio’s management’s current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. These forward-looking statements ~~within~~are made in reliance on the ~~meaning~~safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the ~~federal~~Securities ~~securities~~Act, ~~laws~~and ~~that~~Section ~~involve~~21E ~~material~~of ~~risks,~~the ~~assumptions~~Exchange ~~and uncertainties~~Act. ~~Many~~These ~~possible~~forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, future events or ~~factors~~the ~~could~~future ~~affect~~performance ~~our~~or ~~future~~operations ~~results~~of ~~and~~Assertio. ~~performance,~~All statements other than historical facts may be forward-looking statements; words such ~~that~~as ~~our~~“anticipate,” ~~actual~~“believe,” ~~results~~“could,” ~~and~~“design,” “estimate,” ~~performance~~ ~~may~~“expect,” ~~differ~~“forecast,” ~~materially~~“goal,” ~~from~~“guidance,” ~~those~~“imply,” ~~that~~“intend,” “may”, be“objective,” ~~described~~“opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “position,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospective,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “would,” “will” or ~~implied~~other insimilar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes are used to identify forward-looking statements. AsSuch ~~such, no~~ forward-looking ~~statement~~statements ~~can~~are benot ~~guaranteed.~~guarantees ~~The~~of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of Assertio. Factors that could cause Assertio’s actual results (or the actual results of Parent) to differ materially from ~~what~~those isimplied ~~described~~in ~~herein,~~the forward-looking statements include: (1) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the proposed Merger are not satisfied, including the risk that required approvals for the proposed Merger from the stockholders of Assertio or Zyla are not obtained; (2) the occurrence of any ~~failure~~event, change or other circumstances that either could give rise to the right of one or both of Assertio or Zyla to terminate the ~~purchase~~Agreement; ~~transactions~~(3) the risk of litigation relating to ~~close~~the ~~due~~proposed Merger; (4) uncertainties as to ~~failure~~the timing of ~~conditions~~the consummation of the proposed transaction and the ability of each party to ~~closing,~~consummate the ~~financial~~proposed ~~market~~Merger; ~~conditions~~(5) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed Merger; (6) unexpected costs, charges or ~~otherwise.~~expenses ~~The~~resulting ~~Company~~from the proposed Merger; (7) the ability of the Assertio and Zyla to retain isand ~~subject~~hire key personnel; (8) competitive responses to ~~additional~~the ~~risks~~proposed Merger and ~~uncertainties~~the ~~described~~impact inof competitive services; (9) certain restrictions during the ~~Company~~pendency of the merger that may impact Assertio’s ~~annual~~or ~~report~~Zyla’s onability ~~Form~~to ~~10-K.~~pursue ~~You~~certain ~~are~~business ~~cautioned~~opportunities ~~not~~or strategic transaction; (10) potential adverse changes to ~~place~~business ~~undue~~relationships ~~reliance~~resulting onfrom ~~these~~the ~~forward-looking~~announcement ~~statements,~~or ~~which~~completion of ~~reflect~~the ~~management~~proposed transaction; (11) the combined company’s ~~analysis~~ability to achieve the growth prospects and ~~expectations~~synergies ~~only~~expected from the transaction, as ofwell as delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the ~~date~~combined company’s existing businesses; (12) negative effects of this ~~Form~~announcement ~~8-K~~or the consummation of the proposed Merger on the market price of Assertio’s common stock, credit ratings and operating results; and (13) legislative, regulatory and economic developments, including changing business conditions in the industries in which Assertio and Zyla operate. ~~Except~~These risks, as ~~required~~well byas ~~law~~other risks associated with the proposed transaction, wewill ~~undertake~~be nomore ~~obligation~~fully todescribed ~~publicly~~in ~~release~~the joint proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the ~~results~~SEC ofin ~~any~~connection with ~~revision~~the proposed transaction. Investors and potential investors are urged not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements orin ~~update~~this communication, which speak only as of this date. While Assertio may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, each specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking-statements contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, or future events, except as may be required by law. Nothing contained herein constitutes or will be deemed to constitute a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Assertio, Zyla or Parent, whether following the implementation of the proposed transaction or otherwise.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits

	Exhibit No.	Description
	2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Assertio Therapeutics, Inc., Alligator Zebra Holdings, Inc., Alligator Merger Sub, Inc., Zebra Merger Sub, Inc. and Zyla Life Sciences, dated as of March 16, 2020*
	10.1	Form of Voting and Support Agreement by and among Alligator Zebra Holdings, Inc. and certain Zyla stockholders
	10.2	Form of Voting and Support Agreement by and among Alligator Zebra Holdings, Inc. and certain Zyla stockholders
	10.3	Transition Agreement by and among Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. and Arthur Higgins, dated as of March 16, 2020
	99.1	Joint Press Release, dated March 16, 2020
	99.2	Employee FAQs
	99.3	Investor Presentation, dated March 17, 2020

*Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(db)(2) ~~Exhibits~~of Regulation S-K. Assertio agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Assertio Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release issued on March 11, 2020

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the ~~Registrant~~registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ASSERTIO THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: March 11, 2020	By:	/s/ Dan A. Peisert
Date: March 17, 2020	By:	/s/ Daniel A. Peisert
		Name: Dan A. Peisert
		Daniel A. Peisert
		Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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