DALLAS, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- LSF5 Accredited Investments, LLC ("Lone Star"), a subsidiary of Lone Star Fund V (U.S.), L.P., today announced that it delivered a letter to the Board of Directors of Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (NASDAQ:LEND) (the "Company"). The text of the letter is set forth below.
LSF5 Accredited Investments, LLC
717 North Harwood Street, Suite 2200
Dallas, TX 75201
August 30, 2007
Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. 15253 Avenue of Science
Building 1
San Diego, CA 92128 Attention: Board of Directors Dear Directors: We write regarding the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June
4, 2007 (as amended by the First Amendment dated as of June 15, 2007) (the
"Merger Agreement"), by and among Accredited Home Lenders Holding Co. (the
"Company"), LSF5 Accredited Investments, LLC ("Parent") and LSF5
Accredited Merger Co., Inc. ("Purchaser" and, together with Parent and its
affiliates, "Lone Star"). All capitalized terms not defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement. As you are aware, Parent and Purchaser recently extended the
expiration date for the current Offer until September 12, 2007, our fourth
extension. It is very clear to us that the Company is unlikely to be able
to satisfy the conditions to the Offer prior to September 12, 2007, and
will in all likelihood not be able to meet those conditions even if the
Offer is extended beyond that date. The current impasse between the Company and Lone Star over the
completion of the Offer, which is the subject of the litigation in
Delaware Chancery Court, ultimately benefits neither Lone Star nor the
Company's stockholders. Among other things, we believe, and apparently
the Company also believes based on its previous public statements, that
under current conditions the Company may suffer further declines in value
and have a difficult time surviving as a going concern. It is patently
clear that swift action by the Board of Directors is needed to preserve
the Company's existing enterprise value. We believe there is a way forward that would benefit all of the
relevant constituencies. Lone Star is prepared, with the consent of the
Company, to amend the Offer immediately to change the Offer Price to $8.50
per Company Common Share, which represents a premium of 35% over the
closing price of the Company Common Shares on August 30, 2007. As part of
the amended Offer, we would modify the conditions to the Offer such that
the only substantial condition to the consummation of the Offer would be
the Minimum Condition. While we propose also to retain a condition
regarding compliance with representations, warranties and covenants in the
Merger Agreement, we would waive all breaches that occurred prior to the
date of amendment, including those that are the subject of the litigation. Immediately following the announcement of the amended Offer, each of the
Company and Lone Star would obtain a dismissal, with prejudice, of the
claims and counterclaims constituting the current litigation in Delaware
Chancery Court. We would then extend the Offer for a period of ten
business days following the filing of the revised Offer Documents. Upon commencement of the amended Offer, Lone Star would deposit with
an escrow bank all of the funds required to pay for tendered Company
Common Shares immediately after the minimal conditions to consummation of
the Offer have been met. Lone Star would also propose to amend the Merger Agreement so that,
during the pendency of the amended Offer, the Board of Directors would be
free to solicit and entertain acquisition proposals from third parties and
to terminate the Agreement in favor of any offer that the Board determines
to be superior, subject to entry into mutual releases of claims and Lone
Star's right to match any such offer. As we are certain you appreciate, time is of the essence, and while we
understand that the Board of Directors will have to carefully consider the
proposal outlined in this letter, it is essential that we have a prompt
response from you. Please note that the text of this letter will be
released publicly and filed as an exhibit to our Offer Documents. Nothing contained in this letter should be considered an express or
implied consent or waiver with respect to any provision of the Merger
Agreement or a waiver of any past or future breach of the Company's
obligations and covenants under the Merger Agreement. We expressly
reserve all rights, claims, causes of action and prerogatives under the
Merger Agreement and applicable law.
Very truly yours, LSF5 ACCREDITED INVESTMENTS, LLC By /s/ Marc L. Lipshy
Name: Marc L. Lipshy
Title: Vice President The tender offer is being conducted in connection with the merger of a Lone Star subsidiary with and into the Company as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 4, 2007, as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of June 15, 2007, by and among the Company, Lone Star and LSF5 Accredited Merger Co., Inc. Additional information regarding the merger and the related transactions can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/.
Piper Jaffray & Co. is acting as Dealer-Manager for the tender offer. The Information Agent for the tender offer is Georgeson Inc. Any questions or requests for assistance or copies of the offer to purchase and the letter of transmittal may be directed to the Dealer-Manager or the Information Agent at their respective telephone numbers and locations. Piper Jaffray & Co. can be reached at 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55402 or (877) 371- 5212. Georgeson Inc. can be reached at 17 State Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10004. Banks and bankers can call (212) 440-9800 and all others can call toll-free at (888) 605-7543.
This release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase common stock of the Company, nor is it an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The tender offer is made solely by means of the offer to purchase.
About Lone Star Funds Lone Star is a leading U.S. private equity firm. Since 1995, the principals of Lone Star have organized private equity funds totaling more than $13.3 billion to invest globally in secured and corporate unsecured debt instruments, real estate related assets and select corporate opportunities. DATASOURCE: Lone Star CONTACT: Ed Trissel of Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, +1-212- 895-8654, for Lone Star
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