Akaris Global Sends Letter to Pluralsight Board of Directors Expressing Concerns about Acquisition Offer from Vista Equity Partners and Intention to Vote Against the Proposed Transaction
Akaris Global Partners has expressed strong opposition to Pluralsight's proposed sale to Vista Equity Partners at $20.26 per share. Citing concerns about undervaluation, Akaris argues that the offer is significantly lower than analyst target prices and recent market transactions in the enterprise software sector. They believe the sale undervalues Pluralsight's unique position in the IT learning space and questions the thoroughness of the Board's sales process. Akaris Global intends to vote against the transaction unless a fairer offer is presented.
- Potential growth initiatives may re-accelerate after recent slow performance.
- Proposed sale price of $20.26 per share significantly undervalues the company.
- Offer is below 11 of 14 analyst target prices prior to the merger announcement.
- Transaction price is a substantial discount compared to other subscription software companies.
- Concerns regarding the sales process not being thorough or free from conflicts of interest.
NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Akaris Global Partners, LP ("Akaris Global") today announced that it has delivered a letter to the Pluralsight, Inc. ("Pluralsight" or the "Company") (NYSE: PS) Board of Directors (the "Board"), expressing its concerns about the recently announced proposed sale of the Company to Vista Equity Partners for
As a long-term shareholder of Pluralsight stock, Akaris Global believes that the proposed transaction significantly undervalues the Company. Specifically, the offer price:
- Is unattractive based on historical share prices and is below 11 of 14 analyst target prices made prior to the announcement of the merger;
- Represents a significant discount to other public subscription software companies;
- Represents a significant discount to recent sponsor transactions in enterprise software;
- Does not fairly value Pluralsight as a unique and strategic asset in the IT Learning space; and
- Does not reflect several initiatives that Akaris Global believes are about to bear fruit and will re-accelerate growth after the slowest growth quarter in the company's disclosed history.
In addition, as outlined in the letter, based on current public disclosure, it is not clear to Akaris Global that the Board undertook a full and fair sales process to ensure that shareholders will receive maximum value for their investment. Accordingly, Akaris Global believes the Board must account for the sales process to assure shareholders that it was not rushed or subject to any material conflicts of interest.
The full text of Akaris Global's letter to the Pluralsight Board of Directors can be found here: https://akarisglobal.s3.amazonaws.com/PS+Letter+20201228.pdf
About Akaris Global. Akaris Global, an investment firm located in New York, seeks to compound capital at attractive absolute rates of return by investing in Structural Winners: resilient, growing, and underappreciated businesses with attractive reinvestment opportunities that are led by top-tier operating teams. We invest primarily in technology, consumer, and industrial businesses.
Contact:
Steve Bruce/Taylor Ingraham
ASC Advisors
203-992-1230
sbruce@ascadvisors.com / tingraham@ascadvisors.com
View original content:SOURCE Akaris Global Partners, LP
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