Joint proxy/prospectus mailed; Rule 425 update on proposed deal
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
MasterBrand issued a Rule 425 communication regarding its proposed transaction with American Woodmark. A Form S-4 registration statement (No. 333-290071) that includes the joint proxy statement/prospectus for MasterBrand shares to be issued in the deal was declared effective on September 25, 2025, and the definitive materials were mailed the same day.
The notice reiterates forward-looking statement cautions and outlines typical closing risks, including required shareholder and regulatory approvals, potential delays, integration challenges, and transaction costs. It emphasizes that this is not an offer to sell or solicit securities and directs investors to read the effective registration statement and definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus for full details.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Procedural but material step: S-4 effective and proxy materials mailed for MasterBrand–American Woodmark deal.
The filing signals a key milestone in a proposed merger between MasterBrand and American Woodmark. The Form S-4 became effective on
Completion still depends on approvals from American Woodmark shareholders and MasterBrand stockholders, required regulatory or governmental clearances, and other customary conditions. The disclosure lists risks typical for merger processes, including potential litigation, integration challenges, retention of customers and key personnel, transaction cost impacts, and possible delays or termination under the merger agreement.
Key items to watch include the outcomes of the respective shareholder votes, any regulatory review developments, and subsequent filings that update timing or conditions. Given mailing commenced on
Filed by MasterBrand, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Subject Company: American Woodmark Corporation
Commission File No.: 333-290071
Posted: 10/24/2025
| • | All workstreams had an active week as we continue to make progress in planning for the merger. |
| • | Several workstreams collaborated in person: the Commercial workstream at the American Woodmark office in Winchester, VA; the Finance workstream in Dallas, TX; and Operations leaders continued plant visits, this time in Texas and Mexico. |
| • | The Digital and Technology workstream is working on cyber assessments and partnering with other workstreams to understand their needs on Day 1 and beyond. |
| • | The HR/Culture workstream completed their special survey on company culture and is now reviewing the insights to better understand the culture elements most important to carry through the integration. |
| • | MasterBrand and American Woodmark will hold their respective Special Meetings of Shareholders on Thursday, Oct. 30, where shareholders of each company will vote on matters in connection with the transaction. |
Important reminders:
| • | Our priority is to continue to deliver the exceptional service our customers expect from MasterBrand. MBC and AMWD remain separate organizations until the transaction closes, following satisfaction of certain conditions and receipt of certain approvals. In the meantime, it is business as usual at MasterBrand. |
| • | You may receive questions from stakeholders about the merger announcement. Available information is posted on masterbrand.com in the Investor News section. Beyond this public information, do not speculate or offer personal opinions on the transaction, including your thoughts on potential organizational structures, products, brands, etc. |
Questions or Feedback? Email us at AskAQuestion@masterbrand.com
Confidential. For internal use only – do not distribute.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this communication, other than purely historical information, including, but not limited to, statements as to the likelihood and anticipated timing of the closing of the proposed transaction, expected cost synergies and other expected benefits, effects or outcomes relating to the proposed transaction, including financial estimates and projections, MasterBrand’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the word “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans,” “may increase,” “may fluctuate,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could,” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief is expressed as to future results or events, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of the management of MasterBrand or American Woodmark, as applicable. Although MasterBrand and American Woodmark, as applicable, believe that these statements are based on reasonable assumptions, they are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those indicated or implied in such statements. These factors include a failure by either party or both parties to satisfy one or more of the closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement, including a failure to obtain any required regulatory or governmental approvals or a failure to obtain the required approvals of either American Woodmark’s shareholders or MasterBrand’s stockholders; the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that give rise to the termination of the merger agreement by either party or a delay in the closing of the transaction; potential litigation relating to the transaction; the effect of the proposed transaction on the ability of either party to retain customers, maintain relationships with suppliers and hire and retain key personnel; the effect of the proposed transaction and the announcement of the proposed transaction on the parties’ stock prices; disruptions in the ordinary course business of either party resulting from the transaction; the continued availability of capital and financing and any rating agency actions related to the transaction or otherwise; the risk that certain limitations in the merger agreement may impact either party’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the diversion of the attention and time of management of either party from ordinary course business operations to the transaction and transaction-related issues; the impact of transaction and/or integration costs and any increases in such costs; the existence of unknown liabilities; the ability of MasterBrand to successfully integrate American Woodmark into its business and operations; and the risk that any anticipated economic benefits, cost savings or other synergies are not fully realized or take longer to realize than expected. Other factors include those listed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of MasterBrand’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2024, Part II, Item 1A of MasterBrand’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 30, 2025, Part II, Item 1A of MasterBrand’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 29, 2025, Part I, Item 1A of American Woodmark’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, Part II, Item 1A of American Woodmark’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31, 2025, and other MasterBrand and American Woodmark filings with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made as of the date of this communication and, unless legally required, neither MasterBrand nor American Woodmark undertakes any obligation to update, amend or clarify any forward-looking statements to reflect events, new information or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, MasterBrand filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-290071) on September 5, 2025, as amended on September 23, 2025 (available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1941365/000119312525213439/0001193125-25-213439-index.html) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”), which includes a joint proxy statement of MasterBrand and American Woodmark that also constitutes a prospectus of MasterBrand for the shares of MasterBrand common stock to be offered in the proposed transaction. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on September 25, 2025. MasterBrand filed a final prospectus on September 25, 2025 (available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1941365/000119312525217473/d26471d424b3.htm) and American Woodmark filed a definitive proxy statement on September 25, 2025 (available at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/794619/000119312525217480/d77274ddefm14a.htm). MasterBrand and American Woodmark first mailed the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective stockholders on September 25, 2025. Each of MasterBrand and American Woodmark may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the transaction. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement or definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that MasterBrand or American Woodmark may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF MASTERBRAND AND AMERICAN WOODMARK ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MASTERBRAND, AMERICAN WOODMARK, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. The Registration Statement and definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents that are filed or will be filed by MasterBrand or American Woodmark with the SEC will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC by MasterBrand, including the Registration Statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus, on MasterBrand’s website at https://masterbrand.com/investors/financials/sec-filings/default.aspx, and may obtain free copies of documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC by American Woodmark, including the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus, on American Woodmark’s website at https://americanwoodmark.com/investors/financial-reporting#secfilings. The information included on, or accessible through, MasterBrand’s or American Woodmark’s website is not incorporated by reference into this communication.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to be and shall 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 appropriate registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Participants in the Solicitation
MasterBrand, American Woodmark and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of MasterBrand is set forth in MasterBrand’s proxy statement for its 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 24, 2025, including under the headings “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors—Our Director Nominees,” “Non-Employee Director Compensation,” “Executive Officers,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Stock Ownership Information” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.” Additional information regarding ownership of MasterBrand securities by its directors and executive officers is included in each person’s beneficial ownership reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5, as filed with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive
officers of American Woodmark is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on June 25, 2025, including under the headings “Item 1 – Election of Directors—Information Regarding Nominees,” “Executive Compensation,” “Non-Management Directors’ Compensation,” and “Security Ownership,” and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on June 25, 2025, including under the heading “Executive Officers of the Registrant.” Additional information regarding ownership of American Woodmark securities by its directors and executive officers is included in each person’s beneficial ownership reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5, as filed with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are contained in the Registration Statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and may be contained in other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the transaction when such materials become available. Investors should read the Registration Statement and the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from MasterBrand or American Woodmark using the sources indicated above.
FAQ
What did AMWD disclose in this Rule 425 communication?
When was the Form S-4 for the MasterBrand–AMWD deal declared effective?
When were the joint proxy statement/prospectus materials mailed to shareholders?
Where can AMWD and MasterBrand investors access the SEC filings?
Does this communication constitute an offer to sell securities?
Who may be participants in the proxy solicitation for AMWD and MasterBrand?
