Kohlberg to Acquire Steinway Musical Instruments. Stockholders to Receive $35.00 per Share WALTHAM, MA – July 1, 2013 – Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: LVB), a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of high quality musical instruments, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Kohlberg & Company (“Kohlberg”), a global private equity investment firm, in a transaction valued at approximately $438 million. Upon the completion of the transaction, the Company will become a privately held company.
Under the terms of the agreement, an affiliate of Kohlberg will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock for $35.00 per share in cash, representing a premium of 33% based on the average closing price of the Company’s common shares during the 90 trading days ended June 28, 2013, and 45% based on the average closing price during the 52-week period ended June 28, 2013. The board of directors of the Company unanimously recommends that the Company’s stockholders tender their shares in the tender offer.
“Our agreement with Kohlberg represents an exceptional valuation for our shareholders, while also representing an important next step in the growth of Steinway,” said Michael Sweeney, Chairman and interim CEO of the Company. “Kohlberg has long been one of America’s premier private investment firms. We are delighted that they recognize the bright future for Steinway as well as value our great heritage. We look forward to this partnership as we continue our mission of making the world’s finest musical instruments without compromise.”
Kohlberg Partner Christopher Anderson commented, “For over 160 years, Steinway’s skilled manufacturing artisans have been crafting the world’s finest musical instruments to perform with unequalled touch and tone. We feel fortunate to be selected to partner with Steinway and further its commitment to serving its artists and customers worldwide by producing the finest pianos and musical instruments available. Kohlberg’s long history of collaboration to grow and expand some of the world’s leading consumer brands makes us an ideal partner for Steinway to accelerate its global expansion, while ensuring the artisanal manufacturing processes that make the Company’s products unique are preserved, celebrated and treasured.”
The agreement provides for a 45-day “go-shop” period during which time the Company may solicit alternative proposals to the transaction with Kohlberg including by way of waiving any existing “standstill” agreements. Any shares not tendered in the offer will be acquired in a second-step merger at the same cash price as paid in the tender offer. Closing of the tender offer is conditioned upon customary closing conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and receipt of German antitrust approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013.
Allen & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor to the Company in this transaction. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP are acting as legal advisors to the Company. Ropes & Gray LLP is acting as Kohlberg’s legal advisor.
About Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., through its Steinway and Conn-Selmer divisions, is a global leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of high quality musical instruments. These products include Bach Stradivarius trumpets, Selmer Paris saxophones, C.G. Conn French horns, Leblanc clarinets, King trombones, Ludwig snare drums and Steinway & Sons pianos. Through its online music retailer, ArkivMusic, the Company also produces and distributes classical music recordings. For more information about Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. please visit the Company’s website at www.steinwaymusical.com.
About Kohlberg & Company Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. („Kohlberg”) is a leading private equity firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, New York. Since its inception in 1987, Kohlberg has completed 60 platform investments and more than 100 add-on acquisitions, with aggregate transaction value in excess of $9 billion. Kohlberg has invested over $3 billion of equity capital over its history and is currently investing its seventh private equity fund, Kohlberg Investors VII. For more information, visit www.kohlberg.com.
