Statement by the Board of Directors of ReadSoft AB (publ) in relation to increased offer price from Lexmark International Technology

On 6 May 2014, Lexmark International Technology S.A. (“Lexmark International Technology”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lexmark International Inc., announced a public offer to the shareholders in ReadSoft AB (publ) (“ReadSoft” or the “Company”) to sell their shares in ReadSoft to Lexmark International Technology (“Lexmark’s Initial Offer”). Lexmark International Technology offered SEK 40.05 in cash per share in ReadSoft. 

In connection with Lexmark’s Initial Offer, ReadSoft entered into a transaction agreement with Lexmark International Technology, which was disclosed in its entirety in Lexmark International Technology’s offer document for Lexmark’s Initial Offer. The agreement included i.a. a provision that the Company was not to conduct discussions or negotiate with any other party regarding a competing offer or otherwise support such offer unless this represented at least 7 percent higher value for the shareholders than Lexmark’s Initial Offer or a revised offer from Lexmark International Technology.

On 19 June 2014, Lexmark International Technology announced an increase of the offer price under Lexmark’s Initial Offer from SEK 40.05 per share to SEK 43.00 per share in response to a competing offer for the shares in ReadSoft that was announced by Hyland Software UK Ltd. (“Hyland”) on 18 June 2014.

On 7 July 2014, Hyland increased the price in its offer from SEK 42.86 to SEK 45.00 in cash per share.

On 14 July 2014, Lexmark International Technology announced a new higher cash offer to the shareholders of the Company with an offer price of SEK 50.00 per share (“Lexmark’s New Offer”) and simultaneously withdrew Lexmark’s Initial Offer. According to the press release, the acceptance period for Lexmark’s New Offer was expected to commence around 7 August 2014 and end around 28 August 2014 with expected settlement around 4 September 2014.

On 4 August 2014, Hyland announced an increase of the price in its offer to SEK 55.00 per share in ReadSoft. The increased offer price represented a premium of 10.0 percent compared with Lexmark’s New Offer of SEK 50.00 per share.

Then, on 5 August 2014, Lexmark International Technology announced an increase of the price in Lexmark’s New Offer of the shares in ReadSoft. The increased offer price is SEK 55.50 per share in the Company. According to Lexmark International Technology’s press release, information on the increase will be incorporated in the offer document currently being prepared.

The increase of Lexmark’s New Offer means a premium of:

• 19.9 percent compared to the closing share price of SEK 46.30 per class B share in ReadSoft on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm on 11 July 2014, the last trading day before the announcement of Lexmark’s New Offer;

• 41.0 percent compared to the volume-weighted average share price of SEK 39.37 of the Company’s class B shares on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm during the last three months prior to 11 July 2014;

• 19.6 percent compared to the  fifty-two week high share price of SEK 46.40 of the Company’s class B shares on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm during the last twelve months  prior to 11 July 2014;

• 211.4 percent compared to the volume-weighted average share price of 17.82 of the Company’s class B shares on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm during three months prior to the announcement of Lexmark’s Initial Offer on 6 May 2014; and

• 1.0 percent compared to Hyland’s offer of SEK 55.00 per share.

The increase of the offer price means that the value of Lexmark’s New Offer is approximately SEK 1,703 million [1]. 

It follows from Lexmark International Technology’s press release 5 August 2014 that the undertaking from ReadSoft’s two largest shareholders, Lars Appelstål and Jan Andersson, to accept Lexmark’s New Offer, extends also to the offer subsequent to the increase thereof. Lars Appelstål and Jan Andersson, who are also members of ReadSoft’s board of directors, have due to conflict of interest based on the mentioned undertaking, not participated in ReadSoft’s board’s handling of or resolutions regarding Lexmark’s Initial Offer or Lexmark’s New Offer, including the now announced increase of the offer price.

ReadSoft has as previously announced entered into a transaction agreement with Lexmark International Technology in relation to Lexmark’s New Offer, which will be published in its entirety in Lexmark International Technology’s offer document. The agreement contains substantially the same terms and conditions as the transaction agreement related to Lexmark’s Initial Offer, i.a. an undertaking from ReadSoft’s board of directors to, on the terms and conditions detailed in the agreement, maintain their recommendation of Lexmark’s New Offer subsequent to an increase thereof. 


The Board of Directors’ Recommendation 

On 14 July 2014, the board of directors of ReadSoft stated its views regarding Lexmark’s New Offer based on a joint assessment of a number of factors that the board considered relevant in relation to the evaluation of Lexmark’s New Offer including, without limitation, the Company’s present position, the expected future development and potential of the Company and thereto related possibilities and risks. The board also accounted for its view regarding Lexmark’s New Offer in relation to the impact the completion of Lexmark’s New Offer may have on the Company, especially regarding employment, and its views on Lexmark International Technology’s strategic plans for ReadSoft and the impact these could be expected to have on employment and on ReadSoft’s business locations. In its statement, the board unanimously recommended the shareholders to accept Lexmark’s New Offer of SEK 50.00 per share.

The board of directors now unanimously recommends, based on corresponding considerations as those underlying the statement on 14 July 2014, ReadSoft’s shareholders to accept Lexmark’s New Offer with an offer price of SEK 55.50 per share in the Company.

This statement shall in all aspects be governed by and interpreted in accordance with Swedish law. Any disputes relating to or arising in connection with this statement shall be settled exclusively by Swedish courts. 


For further information, please contact: 
Göran E Larsson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ReadSoft AB

Accessed via Johan Holmqvist, Vice President Corporate Communications at ReadSoft AB
johan.holmqvist@readsoft.com
+46 (0)42 491 21 98 or +46 (0)708 37 66 77

ReadSoft AB (publ)
Södra Kyrkogatan 4
SE-252 23 Helsingborg, Sweden
Corp Identity No. 556398-1066
Telephone: +46 (0)42 490 21 00 
www.readsoft.com 


The information provided herein is such that ReadSoft AB (publ) is obligated to disclose pursuant to the Swedish Securities Markets Act (SFS 2007:528) and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (SFS 1991:980). The information was submitted for publication at 08:00 AM CET on August 7, 2014. 


The English text is an unofficial translation of the Swedish original and in case of any discrepancies between the Swedish text and the English translation, the Swedish text shall prevail.  


[1] Based on 30,686,744 shares, being the number of currently outstanding shares, excluding the 2,540,696 shares held by the Company. 


 

About ReadSoft. ReadSoft simplifies business for organizations of all sizes with applications for business processes such as accounts payable automation, accounts receivable, sales order processing, and multichannel mailroom automation. Its on-premises and cloud document process automation solutions enable some of the world’s largest corporations as well as small and medium businesses to compete and thrive in today’s environment by improving customer and supplier satisfaction, increasing operating efficiency, and providing greater visibility into business processes. ReadSoft is the world’s number one choice for invoice processing automation, and its applications integrate seamlessly with ERP systems from SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, as well as with many other business systems. Since 1991, the company has grown into a worldwide group, delivering industry expertise and support in 17 countries on six continents through its local and global partner network. ReadSoft is headquartered in Helsingborg, Sweden, and its share is traded on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm’s Small Cap list. Visit www.readsoft.com. 

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