Actian Corporation Proposes Significant Increase In Price to $9.00 Per Share in Bid for Pervasive Software – Calls for End to Process
Redwood City, CA – November 6, 2012 – Actian Corporation, a leader in next generation data management for big data and author of the record-breaking Vectorwise Analytics database, today announced that it has increased its proposed price to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Pervasive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVSW) common stock from $8.50 per share to $9.00 per share in cash, increasing the proposed equity transaction value to approximately $164.1 million, conditioned on being permitted to complete confirmatory due diligence.
Actian disclosed that Pervasive (a) has demanded that Actian sign a standstill that would prohibit Actian from communicating publicly or presenting its offer to Pervasive’s shareholders for one year even if Pervasive’s board declines to proceed with any transaction, (b) has refused to include Actian’s lender in Actian’s group that would be given access for due diligence, and (c) has required that any confidential information be used only in a “negotiated transaction.”
“We believe Pervasive’s positions are intended to keep a transaction from happening, and we know they would deny Pervasive’s shareholders the opportunity to consider our offer. Opportunities like this do not sit idly for a year,” said Actian’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Shine.
Actian also disclosed that it has advised the Pervasive board in writing that Actian is prepared to increase its proposed price as publicly announced today, and is willing to accept a 30-day standstill to allow Pervasive to complete its process, but that Pervasive continues to refuse access unless Actian accepts the restrictions outlined above.
The new proposed price of $9.00 per share is well above the highest level reached by Pervasive’s common stock the ten years prior to the last trading day before Actian’s public announcement of its initial $8.50 bid for Pervasive. It also represents a premium of:
- 37% over Pervasive’s closing price of $6.55 on August 10, 2012;
- 35% over Pervasive’s average closing price for the 90 days ending on August 10, 2012; and
- 49% over Pervasive’s average closing price for the two years ending on August 10, 2012.
Actian is proposing this very significant increase to enable Pervasive to conclude its process, and Actian again requests that Pervasive enter into a period of exclusive discussions with Actian, as it believes that working together, the companies can quickly consummate a transaction. Actian notes that more than two months have gone by since its proposal was made public and that Pervasive has publicly solicited for bidders for over a month, yet Actian is not aware of any other party having made a firm bid.
Actian CEO Shine added: “This is a compelling offer for stock and option holders, and the combined business will be better for both employees and customers. We hope that Pervasive will proceed in the best interest of its shareholders, as well as its key employees and customers.”
As previously announced, Actian has obtained committed financing from TPG Specialty Lending, Inc. (“TPG”), in support of its previously-announced all-cash offer to acquire all of the common stock of Pervasive.
Actian’s proposal and TPG’s financing commitment are subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including confirmatory due diligence, execution of definitive agreements and the receipt of all necessary stockholder and regulatory approvals.
About Actian: Take Action on Big Data
Actian Corporation enables organizations to transform big data into business value with data management solutions to transact, analyze, and take automated action across their business operations. Actian helps 10,000 customers worldwide take action on their big data with Action Apps, Vectorwise, the analytical database, and Ingres, an independent mission-critical OLTP database. Actian is headquartered in California with offices in New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Melbourne. Stay connected with Actian Corporation on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
