[DEFA14A] Lifeway Foods Inc Additional Proxy Soliciting Materials

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Amendment No. 5 to Schedule 13D discloses that the Silver Lake–affiliated reporting persons (Global Blue Holding L.P., SL Globetrotter L.P., SL Globetrotter GP Ltd., Silver Lake Technology Associates III Cayman L.P. and Silver Lake (Offshore) AIV GP III Ltd.) have tendered all of their equity interests in Global Blue Group Holding AG (“GB”) in connection with the cash tender offer launched by Shift4 Payments, Inc. and its Swiss merger subsidiary.

The offer, which commenced on 21 March 2025 and expired one minute after 11:59 p.m. (NYC time) on 2 July 2025, met all conditions. The Silver Lake vehicles tendered:

• 34,871,499 ordinary shares held by Cayman Holdings at $7.50 per share
• 4,939,137 Series A preferred shares (convertible into ordinary shares) at $10.00 per share
• 91,230,811 ordinary shares held by Globetrotter at $7.50 per share
• 11,970,487 Series A preferred shares held by Globetrotter at $10.00 per share

In addition, 2,701,935 Global Blue warrants (Cayman Holdings) and 6,548,415 warrants (Globetrotter) were cashed-out and are no longer exercisable. As a result of these transactions, the reporting persons now report 0 shares beneficially owned (0.0% of the class) and thereby cease to be 5% holders as of 3 July 2025.

Following completion of the offer, director Joseph Osnoss resigned from the Global Blue board. The filing attaches an amended Annex A listing directors of the Silver Lake general partners and adds Exhibit 99.1 containing that information.

This amendment is limited to updating ownership, identity disclosures and purpose-of-transaction details; all other information in prior filings remains unchanged.

Positive

• Completion of Shift4 tender offer provides shareholders with immediate cash at $7.50 per ordinary share and $10 per Series A preferred, crystallising value.
• Over 142 million shares and 9.25 million warrants were tendered, eliminating a sizable private-equity overhang and simplifying the cap table.

Negative

• Silver Lake’s exit removes a long-term strategic investor, potentially reducing institutional support and signalling full control by Shift4.
• Resignation of director Joseph Osnoss creates short-term governance transition risk until a new board structure is confirmed.

Insights

Financial Analyst

TL;DR Shift4’s tender offer closed; Silver Lake tendered 100% of its 142 M+ shares & warrants, exiting Global Blue at $7.50/$10 cash.

Impact assessment: The transaction removes a large private-equity overhang and confirms a full change-of-control at pre-negotiated cash prices. The roughly US$1.2 billion gross proceeds to Silver Lake (142 M ordinary-share equivalents × blended price ≈ $8.4) suggest a clean exit and validate the valuation underlying Shift4’s strategic expansion into tax-free shopping payments. For remaining public investors, liquidity is now concentrated in Shift4’s hands, and the free float will shrink sharply once merger mechanics complete, implying potential delisting down the line. While price terms were announced in February, the filing provides final confirmation that all shares were accepted and paid. Governance shifts are underway—Joseph Osnoss’s resignation foreshadows a reconstituted board aligned with Shift4.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR Silver Lake’s exit ends its board representation; control passes to Shift4, triggering governance realignment.

The amendment documents the formal relinquishment of equity and board influence by Silver Lake. With zero ownership, its affiliated director resigned, eliminating potential conflict-of-interest issues during post-merger integration. The Schedule 13D amendment also satisfies Section 13(d) requirements by noting cessation of 5% ownership. Investors should monitor subsequent filings for board re-composition, potential squeeze-out or listing status changes. From a compliance standpoint, the clean break reduces related-party complexities in future disclosures.

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.  )

Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
☐	Preliminary Proxy Statement
☐	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
☐	Definitive Proxy Statement
☐	Definitive Additional Materials
☒	Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Lifeway Foods, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
☒	No fee required
☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
☐	Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

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): July 3, 2025

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Illinois		000-17363		36-3442829
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6431 Oakton Street Morton Grove, Illinois		60053
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 967-1010

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

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))

Securities registered or to be 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, no par value	LWAY	The NASDAQ Stock Market
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights	n/a	The NASDAQ Stock Market

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 ☐

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 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On July 3, 2025, Lifeway Foods, Inc., an Illinois corporation, issued a press release regarding the consent solicitation statement filed by Ludmila Smolyansky, Edward Smolyansky, Richard Beleutz, Cindy Curry, Michael Leydervuder, George Sent and Robert Whalen. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release issued by Lifeway Foods, Inc. on July 3, 2025

SIGNATURES

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

		LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.
Date:  July 3, 2025		By:	/s/ Julie Smolyansky
			Name: Julie Smolyansky Title: Chief Executive Officer and Secretary

FAQ

What did Schedule 13D/A reveal about Silver Lake's stake in GB?

The filing shows Silver Lake entities now own 0 shares (0.0%) after tendering all holdings to Shift4.

How many Global Blue shares were tendered and at what price?

Silver Lake tendered 126,102,310 ordinary-share equivalents at $7.50 and 16,909,624 Series A preferred at $10.00.

When did Shift4's tender offer for Global Blue expire?

The offer expired one minute after 11:59 p.m. on 2 July 2025 (New York City time).

What happened to Global Blue warrants held by Silver Lake?

A total of 9,250,350 warrants were cashed out and are no longer exercisable for ordinary shares.

Did any board members resign following the transaction?

Yes. Joseph Osnoss, a Silver Lake affiliate, resigned from Global Blue’s board after the tender offer closed.