The boards of directors of Vantiv and Worldpay are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended merger of Worldpay with Vantiv and Vantiv UK Limited (a subsidiary of Vantiv) (“Bidco”) in the form of a recommended offer for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Worldpay by Vantiv and Bidco (the “Merger”).
The Merger is to be effected by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the “Scheme”). Under the terms of the Merger, Worldpay Shareholders will be entitled to receive: for each Worldpay Share held 55 pence in cash and 0.0672 of a New Vantiv Share
In addition to the consideration payable in connection with the Merger, Worldpay Shareholders will also be entitled to receive:
the interim dividend of 0.8 pence per Worldpay Share announced by Worldpay today, which will be paid to Worldpay Shareholders on the register of members of Worldpay at 6.00 p.m. on 29 September 2017;
a special dividend of 4.2 pence per Worldpay Share, which is conditional on completion of the Merger and will be paid to Worldpay Shareholders on the register of members of Worldpay at the Scheme Record Time, together the “Dividends”.
Based on Vantiv’s closing share price of US$65.06, the exchange rate of US$1.2967:£1, in each case at 5.00 p.m. BST on 8 August 2017 (being the last practicable date prior to this Announcement):
the terms of the Merger (including the Dividends) value each Worldpay Share at 397 pence per share and Worldpay’s entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital at approximately £8.0 billion;
the terms of the Merger (excluding the Dividends) represent a premium of:
approximately 22.7 per cent. to the Closing Price per Worldpay Share of 320 pence on 3 July 2017 (being the last Business Day before the commencement of the Offer Period);
approximately 24.6 per cent. to the Closing Price per Worldpay Share of 315 pence on 30 June 2017 (being the last Business Day prior to broad sector consolidation speculation);
approximately 33.9 per cent. to the six-month volume weighted average price of 293 pence per Worldpay Share on 3 July 2017 (being the last Business Day before the commencement of the Offer Period); and
approximately 63.4 per cent. to the IPO price of 240 pence per Worldpay Share;
the terms of the Merger imply an enterprise value of Worldpay of approximately £9.3 billion (US$12.0 billion); and
the Combined Company will have a pro forma enterprise value of approximately £22.2 billion (US$28.8 billion).
Upon completion of the Merger (assuming the Fifth Third Transaction completes), Worldpay Shareholders will own approximately 43 per cent., and Vantiv Shareholders will own approximately 57 per cent., of the Combined Company (on a fully diluted basis).
Vantiv will seek a secondary standard listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in relation to the New Vantiv Shares following completion of the Merger. In addition, the New Vantiv Shares will be authorised for primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange subject to official notice of issuance.
The Merger will include a Mix and Match Facility, as described in further detail in Section 15 of this Announcement.
Summary Strategic and Financial Rationale
The payments landscape is evolving rapidly. Merchants and consumers are continuously looking for new and innovative solutions to enable commerce as payments move into the digital world. The Combined Company will be a leading global omni-commerce payments provider and its enhanced capabilities will position it to better and more quickly address those merchants’ evolving needs and to realise improved commercial outcomes for its clients by:
delivering a wider range of products and services to merchants on a global basis;
accelerating the rate of innovation by leveraging its industry-leading, efficient and highly scalable technology to accelerate the rate of product innovation;
deploying advanced analytics capabilities and value-added services combined with deep market knowledge and industry vertical expertise;
operating in more countries and in more currencies; and
offering acceptance across the broadest range of channels (in store, online, or over a mobile device).
The Combined Company will be well-positioned to offer more innovative and flexible technology and payment solutions to merchants in a large and fast growing market, creating a strategic omni-commerce partner for merchants of all sizes across industries.
Creating a leading global payment provider to power omni-commerce
Consumers continue to expect and demand more from merchants. The global consumer has become accustomed to transacting across the channels and in the geographies of their choosing in a way that is seamless, simple and secure.
Merchants therefore require a payments provider that is able to provide a comprehensive omni-commerce solution that can deliver a unified consumer experience on a global basis as well as the tools to help them manage and grow their businesses.
By combining our respective strengths in integrated payments, eCommerce and traditional merchant offerings, the Combined Company will be able to enable commerce through a unified and global product suite that is in-store, online, mobile, multi-currency, and spanning geographies.
Unique combination of scale and global presence
The Combined Company will become a leading international eCommerce payment provider, a leading U.S. payment provider and a leading U.K. and European payment
provider, processing approximately US$1.5 trillion in payment volume and 40 billion transactions through more than 300 payment methods in 146 countries and 126 currencies, with a combined net revenue of over US$3.2 billion (on a pro forma basis, assuming the Merger had completed on 31 December 2016).
This will allow the Combined Company to deliver local expertise on a global basis by transferring solutions across geographies to better serve clients in similar vertical markets. Importantly, the Combined Company will be a leading payment provider with expertise in and outside of the U.S., positioning it to serve the complex needs of businesses globally.
The Combined Company will benefit from enhanced economies of scale, leveraging its combined operations, technology infrastructure and data and analytics capabilities to deliver services that are cost efficient and provide superior value to clients.
Ability to capitalise on strategic and high-growth verticals
Completion of the Merger will bring together two complementary partners to create a market leader in payment technology, positioned to capitalise on strategic and highgrowth verticals in the most attractive global markets.
The Merger will create a leading global eCommerce provider by adding Worldpay’s leading global eCommerce capabilities to Vantiv’s existing U.S. eCommerce capabilities.
The Merger will also enable the Combined Company to export Vantiv’s integrated payments technological know-how and capabilities to Worldpay’s global merchant base.
The Merger will enhance the ability of the Combined Company to strengthen and extend its capabilities into attractive and high growth vertical markets such as B2B, digital and healthcare payments, taking advantage of the secular growth driven by increasing card adoption. For example, the Combined Company will be able to faster deploy Vantiv’s B2B enterprise payment capabilities into their largely untapped and combined customer base.
The Merger will also provide the ability for the Combined Company to extend its capabilities into new and high-growth emerging markets.
Integrated technology platforms built for innovation and to manage complexity
The Combined Company will have complementary technology assets that will provide a strong, integrated foundation for innovation and growth, enabled by Vantiv’s agile and scalable U.S. platform and Worldpay’s flexible, next generation global platform.
The Merger will enhance the ability of the Combined Company to serve domestic and global markets, and the Combined Company is also expected to benefit from a reduction in capital expenditure by harmonising Vantiv’s and Worldpay’s U.S. technology platforms.
These U.S. and global technology platforms will be developed, secured and optimised by one of the industry’s largest pools of engineering and technology talent.
Powerful business model and financial profile
The Combined Company will benefit from an attractive business model and financial profile, the hallmarks of which are recurring revenue, scalability and significant operating margins.
On a pro forma basis, assuming the Merger had completed on 31 December 2016, the Combined Company would have US$1.5 billion of adjusted EBITDA, an EBITDA margin of 48 per cent. and free cash flow generation of over US$1.0 billion with 78 per cent. free cash flow conversion. The Merger is expected to be modestly dilutive to Vantiv’s pro forma adjusted net income per share in 2018, and accretive to Vantiv’s pro forma adjusted net income per share in 2019 and thereafter.
When coupled with an industry-leading margin profile and operating scale efficiencies, the Combined Company will be able to realise margin expansion opportunities and generate high levels of free cash flow and create ample flexibility for it to deploy capital strategically and drive value for shareholders, including pursuing acquisition opportunities that will extend the Combined Company’s capabilities into new markets and segments.
It is expected that the Combined Company, with its strong credit profile and attractive cash flow, will seek to reduce leverage on a consistent basis over the medium term, including a target of de-levering to a 4.0x debt to EBITDA leverage ratio over the next 12-18 months.
Cost synergies will deliver significant value creation
Vantiv believes that the Merger will generate synergies that could not be achieved independently of the Merger and which will lead to substantial value creation for all shareholders.
Vantiv anticipates that the Merger will result in annual recurring pre-tax cost synergies of approximately US$200 million. The synergies are expected to be fully realised by the end of the third year following completion of the Merger.
The Combined Company is expected to incur one-off restructuring and integration costs of approximately US$330 million. The majority of these costs will be incurred by the end of the second year following completion of the Merger.
Capitalise on our respective strengths to drive revenue opportunities
Completion of the Merger will position the Combined Company to drive revenue opportunities to capitalise on prospects in high growth and attractive market segments, although these cannot be quantified for reporting under the Code at this time.
The Combined Company will pursue revenue opportunities in the following areas:
Adding Worldpay’s leading global eCommerce capabilities to Vantiv’s existing U.S. eCommerce capabilities. This will establish a leading global eCommerce platform with cross-selling opportunities.
Transferring Vantiv’s integrated payments technological know-how and capabilities to Worldpay’s global merchant base.
Strengthening and extending capabilities into new and attractive vertical markets through, for example, faster deployment of Vantiv’s B2B enterprise payment capabilities.
The Combined Company
Following completion of the Merger, Cincinnati, Ohio will become the Combined Company’s global and corporate headquarters and London, U.K. will become its international headquarters. The Combined Company will be named “Worldpay”.
In order to ensure a successful and smooth integration, the Combined Company will be led by Charles Drucker as Executive Chairman and Co-CEO. Reporting to Mr. Drucker will be Philip Jansen as Co-CEO and Stephanie Ferris as CFO. Additional members of the Combined Company’s executive team reporting to Mr. Drucker and Mr. Jansen will be announced at a later date.
The board of the Combined Company will consist of five Worldpay directors and eight Vantiv directors. Sir Michael Rake will be the lead director of the board of the Combined Company and Jeffrey Stiefler will continue to serve on the board of the Combined Company in a non-executive position.
Recommendations
The Vantiv Directors have approved the Merger and intend to recommend that Vantiv Shareholders vote in favour of the issuance of New Vantiv Shares in connection with the Merger.
The Worldpay Directors, who have been so advised by Goldman Sachs as to the financial terms of the Merger, consider the terms of the Merger to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Worldpay Directors, Goldman Sachs has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Worldpay Directors.
Barclays has also provided financial and corporate broking advice to the Worldpay Directors in relation to the Merger.
The Worldpay Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Worldpay Shareholders vote or procure votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings or in the event that the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, Worldpay Shareholders accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer, as the Worldpay Directors have each irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of 21,056,283 Worldpay Shares, in aggregate, representing approximately 1.05 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of Worldpay.
General
It is intended that the Merger will be implemented by means of the Scheme, further details of which are contained in the full text of this Announcement and will be set out in the Scheme Document. However, Vantiv reserves the right, with the consent of the Panel and Worldpay (or, in certain circumstances, without the consent of Worldpay), in each case subject to the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer.
The Merger will be subject to the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix I, including, among other things: (i) the approval of Worldpay Shareholders at the Court Meeting and the passing of the resolutions relating to the Scheme by Worldpay Shareholders at the General Meeting, (ii) the sanction of the Scheme by the Court, (iii) the Scheme becoming Effective no later than the Long Stop Date, (iv) the issuance of the New Vantiv Shares in connection with the Merger being duly approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast at the Vantiv Shareholders’ Meeting, and (v) the receipt of certain required antitrust, regulatory and other approvals. In order to become Effective, the Scheme must be approved by a majority in number representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the Worldpay Shareholders (or the relevant class or classes thereof, if applicable) in each case present, entitled to vote and voting, either in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting and at any separate class meeting which may be required by the Court or at any adjournment of such meeting.
Vantiv reserves the right to reduce the consideration payable in respect of each Worldpay Share under the terms of the Merger to the extent that the Dividends exceed 5 pence per Worldpay Share in aggregate. If any dividend or other distribution is announced, declared, made, payable or paid in respect of the Worldpay Shares on or after the date of this Announcement and prior to the Effective Date, other than the Dividends, Vantiv reserves the right to reduce the consideration payable in respect of each Worldpay Share by the amount of all or part of any such dividend or other distribution.
Further details of the Merger will be contained in the Scheme Document which is intended to be posted to Worldpay Shareholders along with notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting and the Forms of Proxy as soon as practicable and at or around the same time as the mailing of the Vantiv Proxy Statement. Subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, the Scheme Document will also be made available on Vantiv’s website www.vantiv.com and Worldpay’s website www.worldpay.com.
The Scheme is expected to become Effective in early 2018, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the Conditions set out in Appendix I.
No offer is being made by Vantiv and/or Bidco for any or all of the non-voting redeemable contingent value right shares with a par value of £1.8475 each in the capital of Worldpay.
Commenting on the Merger, Charles Drucker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vantiv, said:
“This is a powerful combination that is strategically compelling for both companies. It joins two highly complementary businesses, and will allow us to achieve even more together than either organisation could accomplish on its own. Our business will have multiple opportunities to enhance its leading growth profile, driven by our global eCommerce capabilities, the strength of our people and their consistent focus on execution. Our combined company will have unparalleled scale, a comprehensive suite of solutions, and the worldwide reach to make us the payments industry global partner of choice.”
Commenting on the Merger, Philip Jansen, Chief Executive Officer of Worldpay, said:
“This is a merger of two world class payment companies, which will create a global omni-commerce leader, with substantial opportunities to capitalise on the rapid evolution of payments. The growth of eCommerce and the way consumers expect to transact is increasing complexity for businesses around the world. Our unique combination of scale, innovation, technology and global presence will mean that we can offer more payment solutions to businesses, whether large or small, global or local, enabling them to meet consumers’ increasing demands and helping them prosper.”