Advantage Partners has agreed to tender its shares in 1st Holdings Inc. as part of a management buyout facilitated by Monolith Holdings, aiming to enhance 1stHD's competitive position in Japan's evolving technology sector.

Target Information

Advantage Partners, LLC, through its various investment vehicles including the Advantage Partners MBI Fund III, AP Cayman Partners I, L.P., AP Cayman Partners I-B, L.P., Advantage Partners Investment Fund No. 14, and Advantage Partners Investment Fund No. 14-B (collectively referred to as the 'AP Fund'), has announced an agreement to tender its shares in 1st Holdings Inc. (hereafter '1stHD') in response to a public tender offer by Monolith Holdings Inc. (hereafter 'Monolith'), scheduled to commence on April 8, 2013. The AP Fund intends to submit a total of 11,253,643 shares of common stock and the associated stock acquisition rights in this offer.

As part of the tender agreement, the AP Fund has committed to act in accordance with Monolith's directives regarding the exercise of voting rights and other shareholder rights at the upcoming regular shareholders' meeting of 1stHD, set for May 20, 2013. However, the AP Fund reserved the right to oppose any directives concerning the election of candidate Atsushi Akaike as a director, and it should also be noted that the AP Fund is not bound by Monolith's suggestions in other matters as specified in the agreement.

Industry Overview in Japan

The technology sector in Japan is continuously evolving, showcasing a blend of traditional strengths and innovative advancements, particularly in software development and IT integration. This growth is supported by a robust infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce, and a c