Infor acquires Lawson Software for $2 billion

Infor,investment firm had been in negotiations with Lawson since March

Lawson Software Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by GGC Software Holdings, Inc., an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital and software provider Infor, in a transaction valued at approximately $2 billion. Under the terms of the merger agreement, stockholders of Lawson will receive $11.25 per share in cash.

The announcement marks the culmination of Lawson Software’s evaluation of strategic alternatives and review and negotiation of a proposal from Golden Gate and Infor that began prior to, and was later publicly confirmed in a press release on March 11, 2011. During its evaluation, Lawson conducted a comprehensive market assessment and contacted other potential acquirers including competing global providers of enterprise applications and financial buyers.

"We are pleased to have entered into a transaction that will offer Lawson stockholders an attractive valuation," said Harry Debes, Lawson's president and chief executive officer. "After a thorough examination of the strategic alternatives available to the company as well as extensive discussions with Golden Gate and Infor, Lawson's board unanimously concluded that this transaction is in the best interests of the company and our stockholders."

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter