OREANDA-NEWS. Monotype Imaging Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:TYPE) (“Monotype”) today confirmed that Starboard Value LP (“Starboard”) has nominated individuals to stand for election to the Monotype Board of Directors. Three directors will be up for election at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Monotype issued the following statement:

The Monotype Board of Directors and management team value the views of shareholders, and in this spirit, we have had extensive discussions with Starboard since September 2017 to better understand its perspective. The Company’s goal has been to work with Starboard constructively, and we are disappointed that Starboard has chosen to take this path.

Monotype is laser focused on creating long-term shareholder value through revenue growth, profit margin expansion and return of shareholder capital. Our financial results, which have sequentially improved throughout 2017, demonstrate that our plan has already started to drive improved performance. Notably, in the third quarter of 2017, we delivered better-than-expected net adjusted EBITDA of $15.9 million, or a 26% margin, and 12% pro forma revenue growth. We also recognize the need to adapt our capital allocation strategy, when appropriate, to maximize return on investment. For example, upon acquisition, we funded Olapic based on a rapid market growth scenario. However, we pledged to throttle back our investment if we did not see the rate of market uptake we originally anticipated. One year in, we have refined our focus and are leveraging the investments made to grow the business at about 15-30% annually, while significantly accelerating profitability. We believe this will have positive profit implications on Monotype as a whole as we continue to contribute to our overall revenue growth. We look forward to providing a more thorough update on our fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings call.

Looking ahead, we will continue our disciplined approach to capital investment with the goal of growing revenue, driving margin improvement and creating value for shareholders.

The Monotype Board of Directors regularly considers strategic options to create shareholder value. In July 2017 – well before Starboard filed its 13D publicly disclosing its ownership in Monotype – the Board decided to engage J.P. Morgan to explore and evaluate a broad range of strategic and financial alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including a possible merger or sale of the Company. The Company approached 28 potentially interested parties, including 18 strategic buyers and 10 financial buyers. Of those approached, 10 parties expressed interest and executed confidentiality agreements with Monotype, and nine of those parties received a management presentation. Management presentations took place between September 2017 and January 2018. Although several parties expressed preliminary interest in the Company during the process, ultimately, no definitive offers were received.

Following this review, Monotype’s Board of Directors and management team believe that the best option for shareholders at this time is for Monotype to continue its focus on creating sustainable growth and expanding its profit margins by building on its current momentum in Creative Professional, growing Olapic profitably, expanding reach within the Global 2000 and deepening our relationships with our OEM customers. Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the Board and management team remain open to all potential value creating opportunities.

The Monotype Board comprises eight highly qualified and experienced directors who bring significant leadership and managerial experience in finance, software and product development and mobile technology, as well as marketing and agency experience leading to a deep understanding of both the OEM and Creative Professional markets that we serve. Since 2012, three new directors have joined the Board, including Scott Landers, the Company’s CEO. The Board regularly evaluates its composition to ensure it has the appropriate skills and experience necessary to drive growth and profitability and create value for all Monotype shareholders.

In an effort to avoid a costly proxy contest, the Monotype Board offered Starboard the opportunity to (1) add one Starboard nominee and choose one of three candidates identified by Monotype; and (2) enter into an NDA to discuss the strategic alternatives process and other Company updates in an effort to find a constructive path forward. Starboard summarily rejected both proposals. The Company consistently indicated its willingness to explore various other reconfigurations of the Board. Instead, Starboard insisted three unnamed candidates be added to the Board without giving Monotype consent rights, and stated that anything other than that configuration would be unacceptable. Rather than working collaboratively to reach a mutually agreeable resolution, as Monotype has repeatedly tried to do, Starboard has determined to wage a disruptive proxy contest.

The Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will review any validly submitted nominees in accordance with the Company’s corporate governance guidelines, including its director nomination policy. The Board will present its formal recommendation regarding director nominees in the Company’s definitive proxy statement and other materials, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed to all shareholders eligible to vote at the 2018 Annual Meeting. The Company has not yet scheduled its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.