Compuware Outlines Value Creation Actions and Responds to Elliott Management Corporation's Proposal
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Launches 3-Year Cost-Reduction Program of At Least $60 Million,
with Minimum of $20 Million in FY 2014 Savings
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Announces Intent to Spin-Off Remaining Covisint Shares to Compuware
Shareholders Following IPO
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Board Approves Plan to Return Capital to Shareholders through
Annual Dividend of $.50 Per Share Beginning in Q1 FY 2014
DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Compuware Corporation (Nasdaq:CPWR) today announced that its Board of
Directors, after thorough analysis with its independent financial and
legal advisors, completed its comprehensive review of the company's
alternatives and approved an action plan to realize the inherent value
of Compuware for its shareholders. In connection with this analysis and
review, the Board also unanimously concluded that Elliott Management
Corporation's proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of
Compuware for $11.00 per share significantly undervalues the company and
is not in the best interest of shareholders.
"We are committed to creating value for shareholders and the actions
announced today are focused on increasing profitability, building on the
momentum of our transition to higher-growth businesses, and returning
capital directly to shareholders," said Bob Paul, Chief Executive
Officer. "Compuware has made significant progress positioning APM and
Covisint for growth rates between 20% and 30%. We have also stabilized
our Mainframe business and realigned our operating structure. Today's
actions, including the spin-off of Covisint, will sharpen our focus and
reduce costs, delivering greater profitability and meaningful value for
shareholders. Our decision to initiate a dividend of $.50 per share is a
clear signal that our businesses are strengthening and underscores our
confidence in the value that will be created by our actions."
Mr. Paul continued: "We believe that selling the company at $11.00 per
share does not take into account our progress returning the business to
profitable growth and our future prospects. We are confident our plan
will accelerate our progress and provide significant, near-term returns
as well as future upside to our shareholders. While we are focused on
executing and delivering on our plan, the Board will carefully review
and evaluate any credible offer it receives, including from Elliott,
that delivers full value to its shareholders."
The Compuware actions include:
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Launching a 3-year cost reduction plan that will
eliminate at least $60 million in G&A and non-core operational
expenses from the company, with a minimum of $20 million realized in
FY 2014. The company expects that additional opportunities to
rationalize and reduce costs and focus its business will be available
as it continues to execute the plan.
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Executing a spin-off of Covisint to Compuware shareholders
following the initial public offering, to fully unlock the value of
this business. In December, Compuware submitted a registration
statement for Covisint Corporation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission for a possible initial public offering of approximately 20%
of its Class A common stock. The company expects that within 12 months
of completing the IPO it will be distributing the remaining Covisint
shares directly to Compuware shareholders, enabling shareholders to
participate fully and directly in Covisint's future and favorable
prospects.
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Implementing a plan to return capital to shareholders through an
annual dividend of $.50 per share, at a yield greater than 4.5% based
on Compuware's current stock price, payable quarterly starting next
quarter. The dividend is a strong indication of the momentum of
the company's strategy, the strength of its balance sheet, and the
Board's ongoing commitment to disciplined capital allocation as an
important means of delivering value to shareholders.
"We believe the execution of this plan will drive the growth of
our key businesses, improve our margins and unlock the substantial value
inherent in our company," concluded Mr. Paul.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Allen & Company are serving as financial
advisors, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP is serving as
legal counsel to Compuware.
Compuware Corporation
Compuware Corporation, the technology performance company, provides
software, experts and best practices to ensure technology works well and
delivers value. Compuware solutions make the world's most important
technologies perform at their best for leading organizations worldwide,
including 46 of the top 50 Fortune 500 companies and 12 of the top 20
most visited U.S. web sites. Learn more at: http://www.compuware.com.
Conference Call Information
Compuware will host a conference call to discuss this announcement at
9:00 a.m. Eastern time today. To join the conference call, interested
parties in the United States should call 800-230-1096. For international
access, the conference call number is +1-612-288-0340. No password is
required.
A conference call replay will also be available. The United States
replay number will be 800-475-6701, and the international replay number
will be +1-320-365-3844. The replay passcode will be 280486.
Additionally, investors can listen to the conference call via webcast by
visiting the Compuware Corporation Investor Relations web site at http://www.compuware.com.
Certain statements in this release that are not historical facts,
including those regarding the Company's future plans, objectives and
expected performance, are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements
represent our outlook only as of the date of this release. While we
believe any forward-looking statements we have made are reasonable,
actual results could differ materially since the statements are based on
our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties.
These risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's reports
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned
to consider these factors when relying on such forward-looking
information. The Company does not undertake, and expressly disclaims any
obligation, to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable law.

Press Contact
Lisa Elkin, +1-313-227-7345
Senior Vice
President, Investor Relations, Marketing and Communications
Compuware
Corporation
Source: Compuware Corporation
News Provided by Acquire Media
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