Roland DG to divest to a private owner

Roland DG has announced that a company established by Taiyo Pacific Partners, a U.S.-based investment firm, has decided to acquire Roland DG shares through a tender offer (TOB). The company will be delisted from the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and become a private company.

The decision aims to improve management efficiency and facilitate strategic decision-making. The board of directors of Roland DG has unanimously voted to support the tender offer and recommend it to shareholders.

XYZ, the company established by Taiyo Pacific Partners, will conduct the tender offer from March 13th to March 27th, 2024, at a price of USD$38.73* (JPY 5,035) per share, representing a premium of approximately 30% over the closing price on September 9, 2023. The total acquisition value is estimated at approximately USD$477* million (JPY 62 billion).

Following the acquisition, Roland DG will continue to operate under its current name, with President Kohei Tanabe remaining at the helm.

Maturing low-solvent sales catalyst
This decision comes in light of the maturing low-solvent printer market in developed countries, which accounts for a significant portion of Roland DG’s sales. With limited room for further market share expansion, going private is seen as an opportunity to establish a more agile management structure that can effectively collaborate with external partners and adapt to evolving market conditions.

Taiyo Pacific Partners was previously involved in a similar management buyout (MBO) of Roland Corporation, the musical instrument manufacturer that was once the parent company of Roland DG.

*Please note information obtained from various sources, including the Nikkei Shimbun article and the Roland website.