This filing contains a press release issued by Hudson Executive Capital LP, dated December 9, 2019.
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HUDSON EXECUTIVE FILES DEFINITIVE PROXY MATERIALS IN CONNECTION WITH
USA TECHNOLOGIES’ ANNUAL MEETING
Hudson Executive’s Nominees Have the Deep Experience Necessary to Restore Proper Governance, Repair Credibility, Facilitate Prudent Capital Allocation and Build Long-Term Shareholder Value
Urges USAT Shareholders toVOTE theGOLD Proxy Card “FOR ALL” of Hudson Executive’s Highly-Qualified, Independent Director Nominees
New York – December 9, 2019 – Hudson Executive Capital LP (“Hudson Executive”) a New York-based investment firm and the largest shareholder of USA Technologies, Inc. (“USAT” or the “Company”) (OTC: USAT) with beneficial ownership of approximately 16.3% of common stock, today announced that it has filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the election of eight highly-qualified, independent director nominees to USAT’s Board of Directors in connection with the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Additionally, Hudson Executive is sending a letter to its fellow USAT shareholders outlining why it believes meaningful change to the Board is necessary and how, if elected, Hudson Executive’s nominees will seek to restore proper governance, repair credibility with customers and investors, facilitate prudent capital allocation, and build long-term shareholder value.
The full text of Hudson Executive’s letter can be found below.
December 9, 2019
Dear fellow shareholders of USA Technologies, Inc.,
As the largest shareholder of USA Technologies (“USAT” or the “Company”), Hudson Executive Capital LP (“Hudson Executive”) invested in USAT with the intention of working collaboratively with the Company to return it to a strong growth profile, to generate profitability, and put it on a path to create long-term sustainable value for shareholders. We believe that with the right Board and management team, USAT can become an international leader in the fast-growing self-service retail payments market.Regrettably, USAT’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has repeatedly mischaracterized its interactions with Hudson Executive, and, in our view, has taken numerous steps to entrench itself rather than embracing our expertise to realize USAT’s full potential. As a result, we strongly believe the Board is putting the value of your investment in jeopardy.
Hudson Executive believes the Board’s blatant failure to impose controls, provide appropriate oversight and hold management accountable has cost shareholders dearly. Rather than recruit top talent to move USAT forward, the Board has relied on what we believe are a series of underqualified full-time and interim managers who have negatively impacted the Company’s performance, reputation and brand while paying themselves generous compensation packages. This practice continues despite the loss of hundreds of millions in shareholder value. USAT’s share price has declined by approximately 59% from its high in August 2018, shortly before the Company’s accounting issues were disclosed. In addition, the Board executed unnecessary stock sales and financing arrangements, entrenched itself with a variety of governance changes including adopting a “poison pill” and approving unlawful bylaws that restrict shareholder rights, and fought in court to prevent shareholders from fully exercising our right to vote. Only after Hudson Executive’s successful efforts in Pennsylvania State Court has the Company been ordered to set a shareholder vote two years after its last election.