Chicago, IL & New York, NY, USA — Avista Capital Partners have agreed the purchase of the remote monitoring and asset tracking solutions provider, Telular Corporation. The deal is valued at approximately $253 million.
Telular Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLS) provides remote monitoring and asset tracking solutions for business and residential customers, enabling security systems and industrial applications to exchange actionable information wirelessly, typically through cellular and satellite technology. With over 25 years of experience in the wireless industry, Telular Corporation has developed solutions to deliver remote access for voice and data without significant network investment. Headquartered in Chicago, Telular has additional offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Miami.
Avista Capital Partners is a private equity firm with over $5 billion under management and offices in New York, Houston and London. Founded in 2005, Avista’s strategy is to make controlling or influential minority investments in growth-oriented energy, healthcare, communications & media, industrial, and consumer businesses. Avista philosophy is to partner with exceptional management teams to invest in and add value to well-positioned businesses.
The purchase price of $12.61 per share net in cash and approximately $18.5 million in assumed net debt was announced on Monday (April 29) and represents a 31% premium to the closing share price on April 26, 2013, the last full trading day before the announcement, and a 27% premium to the 60-day average share price. The proposed acquisition has fully committed financing and is currently expected to close within 50-75 days.
“This announcement represents a very positive event for our shareholders,” said Joe Beatty, chief executive officer of Telular. “We are proud of our 19 years as a public company, during which we believe we have served our shareholders well, and the partnership with Avista will allow the company to expand and build on its success to date. For our customers, we will continue to deliver the best remote wireless monitoring and tracking solutions available in the markets we serve,” concluded Mr. Beatty.
Brendan Scollans, partner at Avista, said, “Telular’s strong position in three rapidly growing machine-to-machine (M2M) communications end markets and compelling recurring revenue business model make it a highly attractive platform for Avista. We are looking forward to working with Telular’s talented management team to drive the next phase of the company’s growth, both organically and through acquisitions.”
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, an entity controlled by Avista will promptly commence a tender offer to purchase any and all of the outstanding shares of Telular common stock for $12.61 net in cash. The closing of the tender offer is subject to customary terms and conditions, including the tender of at least two-thirds of Telular’s outstanding shares of common stock, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976, and the receipt of any applicable consents or approvals from the Federal Communications Commission.
The definitive agreement also provides for the parties to effect, subject to customary conditions, a ‘short-form’ merger without a meeting of Telular’s shareholders immediately following the completion of the tender offer, which merger would result in all shares not tendered being converted into the right to receive $12.61 per share net in cash, without interest.
The Board of Directors of Telular has unanimously approved the proposed acquisition by Avista and recommends that Telular shareholders tender their shares in the forthcoming tender offer. Mr. Beatty will remain as president and CEO until the closing of the proposed acquisition.
Under the definitive agreement, Telular may solicit superior proposals from third parties through May 29, 2013. It is not anticipated that any developments will be disclosed with regard to this process unless Telular’s Board of Directors makes a decision with respect to a potential superior proposal. There are no guarantees that this process will result in any superior proposal being made or accepted by Telular’s Board of Directors.
Telular plans to release its fiscal second quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday, May 2, 2013 and will not hold a conference call to discuss earnings given the announced sale of the company. Furthermore, under the terms of the definitive agreement, the Telular Board of Directors is prohibited from declaring any dividends prior to the closing of the proposed acquisition.
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Kelley Drye & Warren LLP and Covington & Burling LLP are acting as legal advisors to Telular. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal advisor to Avista. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Avista and has provided the debt financing commitment for the acquisition.
