Acxiom Corporation (Nasdaq: ACXM)announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Silver Lake, the leading investment firm focused on large-scale investments in technology-driven growth industries, and ValueAct Capital, one of the largest investment firms that makes strategic block and control investments in public and private companies.
Silver Lake and ValueAct Capital will acquire 100 percent of the outstanding equity interests in the company in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.0 billion, including the assumption of approximately $756 million of debt.
Under the terms of the agreement, Acxiom stockholders will receive $27.10 in cash for each outstanding share of stock. This represents a premium of approximately 14 percent over the closing share price on May 16, 2007, the last trading day before disclosure of the agreement with Silver Lake and ValueAct Capital with respect to the acquisition of the company and a premium of approximately 20 percent per share over Acxiom's average closing price per share during the 30 trading days ended May 16, 2007.
A special committee of the board made up of four independent directors was responsible for managing the process and retained independent legal and financial advisors to assist it in connection with its deliberations. Based on the unanimous recommendation of the special committee, the board of directors approved the merger agreement and recommended to Acxiom's stockholders that they vote in favor of the transaction.
The merger agreement provides that Acxiom may solicit and entertain proposals from other companies during the next 60 days. In accordance with the agreement, the board of directors of Acxiom, through the special committee and with the assistance of its independent advisors, intends to actively solicit other proposals during this period. The transaction is expected to close in the next three to four months and is subject to approval by the company's stockholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Silver Lake and ValueAct Capital have received customary debt financing commitments from third-party financing sources.
"We are pleased to reach this agreement because it gives us an opportunity to deliver excellent value to Acxiom's shareholders," said Charles D. Morgan, Acxiom's chairman and chief executive officer. "We believe this deal will benefit our clients, our associates and our industry."
Morgan said that "ValueAct Capital has consistently contributed valuable strategic insights to our business over the past four years, and Jeffrey Ubben, ValueAct Capital's managing partner, has provided further leadership since August 2006 as a member of our Board of Directors. Silver Lake is the premier investment firm in the technology sector, and their deep domain expertise makes them an outstanding partner for Acxiom."
"Clearly, we at ValueAct Capital have been an investor in Acxiom for several years because we are attracted by the foundation that Charles and his team have put in place, and we continue to believe in the company," Ubben said.
"We see Acxiom as the clear leader in technology-enabled marketing solutions," said Michael Bingle, a managing director of Silver Lake. "We believe that through continued investments in its technology, people and customer relationships, Acxiom will build on its history of innovation and industry leadership."
Stephens Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. are acting as financial advisors to the special committee of the Acxiom Board of Directors and each have a delivered a fairness opinion. Other parties interested in making a proposal are directed to contact the special committee's financial advisors, Michael Costa of Merrill Lynch and Noel Strauss of Stephens. UBS Securities LLC is acting as financial advisor and providing financing to Silver Lake and ValueAct Capital in connection with the transaction.