CUPERTINO, Calif. and LONGMONT, Colo., Aug. 19 — Seagate Technology plc, a world leader in storage solutions, and Dot Hill Systems Corp., a trusted supplier of innovative software and hardware storage systems, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Seagate will commence a tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Dot Hill in an all-cash transaction valued at $9.75 per share, or a total of approximately $694 million on a fully-diluted equity value basis.  As Dot Hill has approximately $49 million in cash on its balance sheet as of June 30, 2015, the transaction reflects an enterprise value of approximately $645 million.  The consideration represents a 50% premium over the preceding three month stock price average.

Dot Hill’s external storage array-based systems and software products will complement and expand Seagate’s storage systems offerings and be offered as part of Seagate’s Cloud Systems and Electronics Solutions business.  Seagate will leverage Dot Hill’s storage technology IP portfolio and software capabilities to drive innovation and provide incremental value to their combined OEM customer base.

“Dot Hill’s innovative storage systems and IP portfolio are a strategic addition to our storage technology portfolio, enabling us to accelerate the growth of Seagate’s OEM-focused cloud storage system and solutions business,” said Phil Brace, President of Cloud Systems and Electronics Solutions at Seagate.  “We are focused on providing the highest quality storage systems for our OEM customers and Dot Hill’s storage solutions will enable us to advance our strategic efforts.  We look forward to welcoming Dot Hill’s strong team, which has proven experience in developing and delivering best-in-class storage solutions that are trusted by the world’s leading IT manufacturers and their channel partners, and we expect the transaction to be accretive to non-GAAP earnings in fiscal 2016.”

“Seagate has a strong reputation in enterprise storage and is focused on building out its best-in-class storage system capabilities, making them the right home for the talented Dot Hill team,” said Dana Kammersgard, Chief Executive Officer of Dot Hill.  “Dot Hill’s customers will benefit from leveraging Seagate’s leading technology and infrastructure to accelerate the delivery of advanced solutions.”

The transaction has been unanimously approved by Dot Hill’s Board of Directors and the consummation of the tender offer is subject to customary closing conditions, including a minimum tender of a majority of outstanding Dot Hill shares, the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting periods under applicable competition laws, and other customary conditions. Following the successful completion of the tender offer, Seagate will acquire all remaining shares not tendered in the tender offer through a second-step merger at the same price as to be paid to stockholders tendering their shares in the tender offer. The transaction is currently expected to close during the fourth calendar quarter of 2015, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, including those required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Seagate expects to finance the transaction from existing cash balances and the transaction is not subject to any financing conditions.

Perella Weinberg Partners served as financial advisor and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as primary legal advisor to Seagate in connection with the transaction. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Needham & Company, LLC served as financial advisors and Cooley LLP served as legal advisor to Dot Hill.

About Seagate Technology

Seagate creates space for the human experience by innovating how data is stored, shared and used.

About Dot Hill Systems

Leveraging its proprietary AssuredSAN family of hybrid storage solutions with RealStor, the next generation real-time storage operating system, Dot Hill solves today’s storage workload challenges created by the Internet of Things and third platform technologies. In today’s interconnected world, Dot Hill storage solutions support people accessing information, and machines collecting sensor data, all in real time. Dot Hill’s solutions combine innovative intelligent software with the industry’s most flexible and extensive hardware platform and simplified management to deliver best-in-class solutions. Headquartered in Longmont, Colo., Dot Hill has offices and/or representatives in the United States, Europe, and Asia. For more information, contact Dot Hill at http://www.dothill.com/ or @Dot_Hill.

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Source: Seagate Technology