Motorola Solutions to acquire Psion for $200 million in cash

Motorola Solutions and Psion today announced last month that they have agreed on the terms of a recommended offer by Motorola Solutions for all Psion shares for 88 pence (US $1.36) in cash per Psion share. It is intended that the acquisition will be effected by way of a recommended cash offer.

Psion has been a pioneer in ruggedized mobile computing products and their application in industrial segments around the world. With headquarters in London and a major operational presence near Toronto, Canada, Psion has been a leader in mobile computing solutions since 1980. Psion has approximately 830 employees, customers in more than 50 countries and delivered 2011 revenues of approximately US $273 million.

Greg Brown, chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions, said: “Psion is a compelling opportunity to strengthen our industry-leading, mobile-computing portfolio with ruggedized handheld products and vehicle-mount terminals that will deepen our presence in the global markets in which we compete.”

John Hawkins, chairman of Psion, said: “The Psion directors are pleased to unanimously recommend this offer by Motorola Solutions at a price which offers a significant cash premium to both the current and recent market prices. Psion continues to successfully deliver on its strategy of introducing exciting new products while strictly managing the cost base. The offer by Motorola Solutions provides Psion’s shareholders with certainty in an environment where certainty is in short supply.”

Under the terms of the acquisition, Psion shareholders will receive 88 pence (US $1.36) in cash for each Psion share through a recommended cash offer, valuing Psion’s issued ordinary share capital at approximately £129 million (US $200 million). The consideration represents a premium of approximately 45 percent to the closing price of 60.5 pence per Psion share on June 14, 2012, the last trading day prior to this announcement and a premium of approximately 66 percent to the six-month average price of 52.9 pence per Psion share prior to June 15, 2012. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Motorola Solutions expects to realize cost and revenue synergies resulting in margin expansion opportunities and expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings per share on a non-U.S. GAAP basis in the first full year following completion and on a U.S. GAAP basis in the second full year following completion.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Motorola Solutions will combine Psion within Motorola Solutions’ Enterprise Mobile Computing (EMC) business, reporting to Girish Rishi, corporate vice president, EMC.

In connection with the June 15 announcement, Motorola Solutions is expected to make the recommended cash offer for all Psion shares within 28 calendar days. The transaction is conditional upon the tender of 90 percent of Psion shares, regulatory approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.