News

HGGC has agreed to acquire RPX Corporation, a provider of patent risk and discovery management solutions, for $10.50 per share or about $555 million. The deal is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2018. GCA Advisors LLC is providing financial advice to RPX while Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc.’s Tech+IP Advisory Group and Jefferies LLC are doing likewise for HGGC.

PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO and PALO ALTO, Calif., May 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — RPX Corporation (NASDAQ: RPXC), the leading provider of patent risk and discovery management solutions, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by HGGC, a leading middle market private equity firm, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $555 million. Under the terms of the agreement, HGGC will initiate a tender offer for RPX shares at a price of $10.50 per share in cash. The agreement was unanimously approved by RPX’s Board of Directors following a thorough review of a full range of strategic, financial and capital structure alternatives, which was first announced in February 2018.

Shelby Bonnie, RPX Chairman of the Board, said, “Over the course of our review, the RPX Board of Directors evaluated a full range of strategic, financial and capital structure alternatives to best serve the interests of our stockholders, including a sale and continuing to operate as a standalone public company. After receiving and reviewing numerous proposals and indications of interest, as well as considering RPX’s current operations and future prospects, the Board is entirely confident that this transaction provides great, certain and immediate value to RPX stockholders.”

Marty Roberts, RPX Chief Executive Officer and President, added, “We are thrilled to partner with HGGC to achieve our next phase of growth for our patent risk and discovery management businesses. This transaction provides RPX with strong financial support and added flexibility to achieve our longer-term prospects, while providing our current stockholders with secure near-term value. Importantly, HGGC is experienced in building technology-enabled services businesses and is fully aligned with our global team’s strategy in patent risk and discovery management services. With this transaction, our clients at RPX and Inventus will continue to see an uninterrupted high level of service, and we can expect even greater levels of investment in client service going forward.”

Rich Lawson, HGGC Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, commented, “We are big believers in RPX’s mission to deliver patent risk and discovery management solutions to its clients. RPX’s and Inventus’s businesses begin and end with the trust of their clients, and we will continue to serve their best interests. We fully support the vision of the Company to build a much-needed clearinghouse in the broader market for patents and will continue RPX’s decade-long commitment to never assert patents.”

David Chung, Executive Director of HGGC added, “Thanks to the vision and efforts of the original founding team, the current leadership and the many enormously capable people at the Company who drive results for clients day in and day out, we believe RPX and Inventus have core strengths and advantages that position them well for long-term success. We are fully supportive of the Company’s management team as a whole, and we will thoughtfully review, in partnership with the senior leadership team, where additions could be made for the ultimate benefit of the Company’s clients.”

In the course of its review of strategic alternatives, RPX’s Board of Directors received and thoroughly evaluated numerous proposals and indications of interest before deciding unanimously to proceed with this transaction. The transaction will be executed by means of a tender offer followed by a merger, and the RPX Board of Directors unanimously recommends RPX stockholders tender their shares in the offer. In light of RPX’s sale to HGGC, RPX is suspending its dividend, effective immediately. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2018, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

RPX Corporation also announced today its first quarter 2018 results, which are available on the “Investor Relations” section of the RPX’s website at www.rpxcorp.com. The previously announced earnings conference call and webcast scheduled for May 8, 2018 will no longer take place.

GCA Advisors, LLC is acting as financial advisor, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal advisor, to RPX. Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc.’s Tech+IP Advisory Group and Jefferies LLC are acting as financial advisors to HGGC. Jefferies Finance LLC is acting as sole lead arranger for debt financing to be utilized by HGGC. Kirkland and Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to HGGC.

About RPX Corporation
RPX Corporation (NASDAQ: RPXC) is the leading provider of patent risk and discovery management solutions. Since its founding in 2008, RPX has introduced efficiency to the patent market by providing a rational alternative to litigation. The San Francisco-based company’s pioneering approach combines principal capital, deep patent expertise, and client contributions to generate enhanced patent buying power. By acquiring patents and patent rights, RPX helps to mitigate and manage patent risk for its growing client network.

As of March 31, 2018, RPX had invested over $2.4 billion to acquire more than 26,000 US and international patent assets and rights on behalf approximately 320 clients in eight key sectors: automotive, consumer electronics and PCs, E-commerce and software, financial services, media content and distribution, mobile communications and devices, networking, and semiconductors.
RPX subsidiary Inventus is a leading international discovery management provider focused on reducing the costs and risks associated with the discovery process through the effective use of technology solutions. Inventus has been providing litigation support services to corporate legal departments, law firms and government agencies since 1991.

About HGGC
HGGC is a leading middle-market private equity firm with $4.3 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., HGGC is distinguished by its “Advantaged Investing” approach that enables the firm to source and acquire scalable businesses at attractive multiples through partnerships with management teams, founders and sponsors who reinvest alongside HGGC, creating a strong alignment of interests. Over its history, HGGC has completed over 90 platform investments, add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations and liquidity events with an aggregate transaction value of more than $17 billion. More information is available at www.hggc.com.