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Cash buyout values Electro-Sensors (NASDAQ: ELSE) at $7.75 per share

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Electro-Sensors, Inc. has agreed to be acquired in an all-cash merger. The company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with steute Industrial Controls, Inc. and its subsidiary, under which Electro-Sensors will become a wholly owned subsidiary of steute.

At closing, each Electro-Sensors common share (other than certain excluded and dissenting shares) will be converted into the right to receive $7.75 in cash per share, before tax withholding and without interest. The board of directors approved the Merger Agreement and plans to recommend that shareholders approve it.

Closing is subject to customary conditions, including shareholder approval, the absence of injunctions, accuracy of representations, performance of covenants, no material adverse effect, ESOP-related approvals, limited exercise of dissenters’ rights, and Option Cancellation Receipts. Certain directors and significant holders signed Support Agreements to vote in favor of the merger.

If the deal is terminated in specified circumstances, such as a board recommendation change or the company entering into an alternative transaction, Electro-Sensors must pay steute a $1,000,000 termination fee plus up to $300,000 of expenses. The filing also outlines extensive forward-looking statement cautions and describes the upcoming proxy statement that will provide detailed information for shareholders.

Positive

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Negative

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Insights

Electro-Sensors agreed to a cash sale at $7.75 per share, pending shareholder and other customary approvals.

The filing describes a definitive agreement for steute Industrial Controls to acquire Electro-Sensors via a merger, with each share converted into $7.75 cash at closing. Electro-Sensors will survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of steute, shifting shareholders into cash-only consideration.

Conditions include shareholder approval, no injunctions, accurate representations, covenant compliance, ESOP-related approvals, and limits on dissenters’ rights. A $1,000,000 termination fee plus up to $300,000 in expense reimbursement applies in certain broken-deal scenarios, which may influence competing proposals.

Support Agreements from directors and key holders commit those shares to vote for the merger, increasing the likelihood of approval. Forward-looking statement and solicitation disclosures highlight that detailed terms and participant information will appear in a proxy statement to be filed for the shareholder vote.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Merger consideration per share $7.75 per share Cash paid for each Electro-Sensors common share at the effective time
Termination fee $1,000,000 Payable to steute if the merger ends under specified circumstances
Expense reimbursement cap $300,000 Maximum expenses Electro-Sensors must reimburse steute upon certain terminations
Dissenters’ rights threshold 10% of outstanding shares Holders of no more than 10% may properly exercise statutory dissenters’ rights
Merger agreement date April 20, 2026 Date Electro-Sensors entered into the Agreement and Plan of Merger
Agreement and Plan of Merger financial
"entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”)"
An Agreement and Plan of Merger is a formal document where two companies agree to combine into one, outlining how the process will happen. It’s like a step-by-step plan for merging, and it matters because it shows both sides have agreed on the details before the official transition takes place.
Support Agreement financial
"certain beneficial owners of the Company (the “Support Shareholders”) entered into voting and support agreements (each, a “Support Agreement”)"
dissenters’ rights regulatory
"holders of no more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote having properly exercise statutory dissenters’ rights"
A legal right that lets shareholders who disagree with a major corporate action—like a merger or sale—require the company to buy their shares for cash at a court-determined fair value instead of accepting the transaction. It matters to investors because it offers a safety valve against being forced into a deal they believe undervalues their stake, and it can affect the expected cash outcome and timing of any takeover or reorganization.
ESOP financial
"the ESOP trustee having provided evidence of the legally valid completion of the ESOP vote and the ESOP determination"
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a program that gives employees ownership shares in their company, often as part of their benefits package. It acts like a company-sponsored savings plan, allowing workers to have a stake in the company's success, which can boost motivation and loyalty. For investors, ESOPs can influence company decisions and stock value, making them an important aspect of corporate ownership and governance.
forward-looking statements regulatory
"contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
proxy statement regulatory
"INTENDS TO FILE WITH THE SEC A PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS"
A proxy statement is a document companies send to shareholders ahead of a meeting that lays out the items up for a vote—like who will sit on the board, executive pay, and major corporate decisions—and provides background so shareholders can decide how to cast their votes or appoint someone to vote for them. Think of it as an agenda plus a ballot and briefing notes, important because the outcomes can change control, strategy, and value.
ELECTRO SENSORS, INC. false 000035178900003517892026-04-202026-04-20

UNITED STATES  

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 20, 2026

 

 

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. 

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

 

 

Minnesota

 

000-09587

 

41-0943459

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

6111 Blue Circle Drive

Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343-9108

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(952) 930-0100  

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last 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

ELSE

Nasdaq Capital Market

 

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:

 

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 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

Emerging Growth 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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On April 20, 2026, Electro-Sensors, Inc. (“Electro-Sensors”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with steute Industrial Controls, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (“steute” or “Parent”), and Steute Burwell, Inc., a Minnesota corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Steute Burwell, Inc. will merge with and into the Company with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of the Company, Merger Sub, Parent, or any holder of shares of common stock of the Company or Merger Sub, each share of common stock of the Company issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than dissenting shares and the shares held by the Company, Parent, or Merger Sub) will be converted into the right to receive US $7.75 in cash (before giving effect to any required Tax withholdings), without interest (the “Merger Consideration”) (collectively, the “Merger”). The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, and covenants.

 

     Our board of directors has approved and declared the Merger Agreement advisable and resolved to recommend that our shareholders approve the Merger Agreement and related matters. We expect the Merger to be consummated after obtaining the required approval by our stockholders and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions.

 

Conditions to Closing

 

     The consummation of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, include:

         approval of the Merger and related agreement by the shareholders of the Company;

         no legal injunctions or constraints against the Merger;

         accuracy of the representations and warranties of each party;

         each party having performed in all material respects, all obligations and complied in all material respects with all covenants required by the Merger Agreement;

         no material adverse effect having occurred after the date of the Merger Agreement;

         each Support Agreement remaining in full force and effect and binding obligations of each Support Shareholder;

         holders of no more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote having properly exercise statutory dissenters’ rights;

         the ESOP trustee having provided evidence of the legally valid completion of the ESOP vote and the ESOP determination; and

         unless otherwise agreed by Parent by a particular case, holders of all Company Options and the Company having duly executed and delivered an Option Cancellation Receipt and Release to Parent.

 


Termination

 

     The Company will be required to pay steute a termination fee of $1,000,000, plus reimbursement of steute’s expense up to $300,000, under certain circumstances, including if the Merger Agreement is terminated due to a Recommendation Change by the Company Board or if the Company enters into or consummates an alternative acquisition transaction following termination under certain circumstances.

 

Support Agreements

 

     In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain members of the Company’s board of directors and certain beneficial owners of the Company (the “Support Shareholders”) entered into voting and support agreements (each, a “Support Agreement”), agreeing to vote all of their shares of the Company’s stock in favor of the various proposals related to the Merger Agreement and any other matters necessary for consummation of the Merger and against any action reasonably expected to impede, delay or materially and adversely affect the Merger.

 

     The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement and the Support Agreements do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the actual agreements.  The Merger Agreement and Support Agreement will be filed as exhibits with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the proposed Merger, the anticipated timing of the Merger, the satisfaction of closing conditions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “might,” “potential” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to:

 

         the risk that the Merger may not be completed in a timely manner or at all;

         the failure to obtain the Company Shareholder Approval;

         the failure to satisfy the other conditions to the consummation of the Merger;

         the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement;

         the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Merger on the Company's business relationships, operating results and business generally;

         risks related to diverting management's attention from the Company's ongoing business operations;

         the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company related to the Merger Agreement or the Merger;

         the risk that the Company's stock price may decline significantly if the Merger is not completed;

         the risk that holders of more than 10% of the Company’s voting shares exercise and do not withdraw or lose dissenter’s rights;

         failure to satisfy ESOP-related conditions could prevent or delay closing;

         changes in general economic, business or industry conditions; and

         other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

 

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law.

 


Participants in Solicitation

 

The Company and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders in connection with the proposed Merger. Information about the Company's directors and executive officers, including their ownership of Company Common Stock, is set forth in the Company's proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 19, 2025, and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025  which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2026. Additional 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 Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed Merger when they become available.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This Current Report is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Transaction, and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company or steute 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 offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER, THE COMPANY INTENDS TO FILE WITH THE SEC A PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS. THE PROXY STATEMENT WILL BE SENT OR GIVEN TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY AND WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND THE PARTIES THERETO.

 

Shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy Statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(c) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit

 

Description

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

 


 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC.

 

 

 

Date: April 24, 2026

By:

/s/ David L. Klenk

 

 

David L. Klenk

 

 

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

FAQ

What did Electro-Sensors (ELSE) announce in this 8-K filing?

Electro-Sensors announced a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with steute Industrial Controls. The company will merge into a steute subsidiary and become a wholly owned subsidiary of steute, with shareholders receiving cash consideration per share if closing conditions are satisfied.

What is the cash consideration per Electro-Sensors (ELSE) share in the merger?

Each Electro-Sensors common share outstanding immediately before the effective time will be converted into the right to receive US $7.75 in cash, before tax withholdings and without interest. Certain excluded and dissenting shares are not entitled to this merger consideration under the agreement.

What conditions must be satisfied before the Electro-Sensors merger closes?

Closing requires shareholder approval, no injunction blocking the merger, accuracy of each party’s representations, material compliance with covenants, no material adverse effect, ESOP-related approvals, limited exercise of dissenters’ rights, and execution of Option Cancellation Receipts unless Parent agrees otherwise in specific cases.

Are there termination fees if the Electro-Sensors merger does not close?

Yes. Electro-Sensors must pay steute a termination fee of $1,000,000 plus reimbursement of steute’s expenses up to $300,000 in certain situations, such as a board recommendation change or if the company enters into or completes an alternative acquisition transaction following termination under specified circumstances.

What are the Support Agreements mentioned in the Electro-Sensors 8-K?

Certain directors and beneficial owners, called Support Shareholders, entered into voting and support agreements. They committed to vote all of their Electro-Sensors shares in favor of proposals related to the merger and against actions reasonably expected to impede, delay, or materially and adversely affect completion of the merger.

How will Electro-Sensors shareholders get more information about the proposed merger?

Electro-Sensors plans to file a proxy statement with the SEC containing detailed information on the proposed merger and related matters. The proxy statement will be sent to shareholders, who can also obtain free copies through the SEC’s website once it is filed and becomes available.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

5 documents