BEIJING–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The buyer consortium (the �Consortium) consisting of Mr. Shao Baiqing, Ace Lead Profits Limited and CPE Funds Management Limited today issued a letter to shareholders of Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI) (the Company or Hollysys) regarding the Consortiums proposed acquisition of the Company. The Consortium strongly believes that the proposed acquisition is the best and only option to shareholders to achieve immediate liquidity on their investment, at a highly attractive premium and with far greater certainty. The Consortium reminds shareholders of the Company as of June 24, 2021 to sign, date and return the WHITE consent card as soon as possible before July 22, 2021.
The full text of the Consortiums letter is as follows:
Dear Fellow Shareholder,
We, the buyer consortium (the Consortium or we) consisting of Mr. Shao Baiqing, Ace Lead Profits Limited, and CPE Funds Management Limited would like to remind you to please submit your consent to our resolutions concerning the proposed acquisition (the Proposed Acquisition) of all outstanding ordinary shares of the Company not already owned by the Consortium at a price of $17.10 per share in cash, by following the instructions on the WHITE consent card.
If you hold shares through a bank or broker (i.e., in street-name or as a beneficial owner) and have not yet received the Consortiums consent materials by mail or email, please contact your bank or broker as soon as possible and request instructions regarding the WHITE consent card. If you are a record holder (i.e., you hold shares in your own name on the register of members of the Company), please promptly contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated (Innisfree), the firm assisting the Consortium with the consent solicitation, at the telephone number or email address below to request a copy of the WHITE consent card.
The Time for Action is NOW
We continue to note that five months have passed since the Consortium submitted the Proposed Acquisition on January 29, 2021 (see here). The Companys board of directors (the Board) has not yet provided any updates on its alleged review, and yet has the temerity to continue to tell shareholders to take no action, even with respect to the recent launch of our consent solicitation.
As Shareholders Wait, Value Deteriorates
During the seven months since our initial acquisition proposal in December 2020, the value of your investment has decreased precipitously. The Companys operations and financial conditions have plummeted while the Board and management team have been using the Companys valuable resources to entrench and enrich themselves. The Companys cash-generating abilities have rapidly declined in the past three quarters all while the overall economy in China has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with strong growth. These facts suggest that the Company is facing fundamental issues in its operations and will likely struggle with its core business activities over the long-term. Indeed, J.P. Morgan lowered its forecast of the Companys stock price to $15 per share in its analyst report dated March 30, 2021 and maintained its $15 per share forecast in its report dated May 14, 2021. The Companys stock price has lagged far below our $17.10 offer.
While the Companys most recent 6-K of July 6, 2021 attempts to project a positive outlook for its fiscal year 2021 ended June 30, 2021, the data is misleading on its face. The Companys projected revenue for fiscal year 2021 is approximately $560 million to $595 million, representing 11% to 18% growth over fiscal year 2020 – a year when almost every business suffered. However, a comparison to the Companys pre-pandemic revenue of $570 million for the fiscal year 2019 reveals a negative to flat growth rate of -1.8% to 4.4%. Notably, the Company also conveniently omitted any profitability forecasts, such as net income, net cash generated by operating activities, or profitability margin. It is logical to infer that to the extent any minor growth in revenue is achieved, it will be at the expense of a declining margin and diminished overall market competitiveness.
Proposed Acquisition is the ONLY Feasible Way to Realize Immediate Liquidity at a Compelling Premium
More than five months have passed since the Company promised that the Board and management were deeply committed to maximizing shareholder value and will thoroughly evaluate any opportunities or strategic alternatives that would advance that goal. To date, the Company has provided no disclosure of any strategic alternatives or any feasibility study. We believe, in fact, that other than the Proposed Acquisition there are no viable value-creating alternatives available to the Company. Shareholders should be advised that:
The Consortium strongly believes that the Proposed Acquisition is the best and only option to shareholders to achieve immediate liquidity on their investment, at a highly attractive premium and with far greater certainty.
Act NOW to Protect Shareholders Best Interests
We believe that absent swift and resolute action from shareholders, the Companys valuation will decline even further, and that the best path forward for all shareholders starts by consenting to the resolutions on the WHITE consent card before July 22, 2021. Submission of more than a majority of consents will not only provide a strong mandate to the Board to enter into a definitive merger agreement with the Consortium, but it will also limit the Boards power to exercise the rights under the Companys poison pill, thereby allowing us to take our offer directly to shareholders by launching a tender offer if necessary.
Shareholders should also note that the Consortiums consent solicitation is independent and separate from the pending litigation between Mr. Shao Baiqing and Ace Lead Profits Limited on one hand, and the Company on the other hand. Such litigation relates to the legality of the extensive amendments to the Companys already extremely board-friendly charter documents, hastily adopted by the Board in January 2021, without shareholders approval. While succeeding in our litigation would be a governance victory for all shareholders, it is critical to push on all fronts and for shareholders to deliver a loud and clear message NOW about where shareholders truly stand with respect to the Proposed Acquisition. The Board and management team is clearly not able to understand what acting in the best interests of shareholders means let shareholders decide that for themselves!
Shareholders with questions about how to submit consents and related matters should promptly contact Innisfree by email at HOLIconsent@innisfreema.com or by phone at +1 (877) 750-9501 (toll-free from the U.S. and Canada), or at +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations), during the hours of 10:00 a.m-7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday, and 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays. We ask you to please return your signed WHITE consent card to us as soon as possible before July 22, 2021.
Thank you for your support and prompt action!
Your sincerely,
Shao Baiqing
Ace Lead Profits Limited
CPE Funds Management Limited
Contacts
Jinxiang Guo
Executive Director
CPE Funds Management Limited
Email: guojinxiang@cpe-fund.com
Located in the heart of Ras Al Khaimah, Mira Coral Bay marks a new chapter…
Joint Effort Aims to Accelerate Growth and Expansion of Thai Companies in Singapore SINGAPORE -…
BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 September 2024 - At the recent 2024…
BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 September 2024 - On September 13, the…
BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 September 2024 - On September 13, at…
BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 September 2024 - On September 12, the…