SLM Solutions Group AG ("SLM Solutions", "SLM" or the "Company") and Nikon Corporation (“Nikon”) have entered into an Investment Agreement in relation to a voluntary public takeover offer that Nikon intends to launch for all outstanding shares of SLM at a cash consideration of EUR 20 per share. The EUR 20 offer price represents a 75% premium to the XETRA closing price of SLM’s shares on September 1st, 2022, and an 84% premium over the last 3 month volume-weighted average price of SLM’s share of EUR 10.89. Nikon has obtained binding commitments from SLM’s key shareholders Elliott Advisors UK Limited (Cornwall), ENA Investment Capital and SLM’s founder Hans J. Ihde to support the transaction by way of irrevocable tender commitments comprising shares and all SLM convertibles bond securities to held. The tender takeover offer has a limited set of closing conditions. Completion is contingent on foreign investment control clearance and certain further customary conditions. The transaction will not be subject to a minimum acceptance threshold and will not require anti-trust approvals. The SLM management and supervisory boards welcome and, subject to a review of the offer document, fully support the transaction and the takeover offer. Also, the members of the SLM management and supervisory boards have committed to tender their shares into the takeover offer. SLM expects the takeover offer to commence at the end of September or early October 2022. Concurrently to signing of the Investment Agreement but independent of the closing of the takeover offer, SLM today also resolved a 10% capital increase without subscription rights which Nikon fully subscribes to at the takeover offer price. The gross proceeds to SLM will be approximately EUR 45.4 million and will be used for the partial repayment of convertible bonds 2017/2024 as well as for funding ongoing business operations.
