Fundtech Announces a Superior Offer From GTCR
September 15 2011 - 1:01AM
Fundtech Ltd. (Nasdaq:FNDT) today announced that its board of
directors has determined that a binding offer it has received from
GTCR Fund X/A LP and its affiliated entities, which contemplates
the acquisition of all of Fundtech's outstanding ordinary shares at
$23.33 per share in cash, constitutes a "Company Superior Offer"
under Fundtech's previously announced merger agreement with S1
Corporation. Fundtech has notified S1 of Fundtech's board of
directors' intention to change its recommendation with respect to
the pending transaction with S1, to terminate the merger agreement
with S1 and to enter into a written definitive agreement with
entities formed by GTCR subject to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in the merger agreement with S1, including the
expiration of the five business day period contemplated by the
merger agreement to the extent applicable.
Under the terms of GTCR's binding offer, an entity formed by
GTCR would merge with Fundtech under the laws of the State of
Israel, and as a result of the merger all outstanding ordinary
shares of Fundtech would be converted into the right to receive
$23.33 per share in cash. GTCR has also agreed to pay the
$11.9 million termination fee that may become payable to S1 in
certain circumstances. The completion of the merger
contemplated by the merger agreement with GTCR, if entered into,
would be subject to closing conditions, including the approval by
Fundtech shareholders, the receipt of antitrust approvals, the
receipt of an acceptable ruling regarding Israeli tax withholdings
and the receipt of a solvency opinion. GTCR has obtained
commitments for the debt and equity financing required to complete
the transaction. As a condition to GTCR's offer, in connection
with the execution and delivery of the merger agreement with GTCR,
GTCR would enter into a voting agreement with Clal Industries and
Investments Ltd., which currently owns approximately 58% of the
outstanding ordinary shares of Fundtech, pursuant to which Clal
would be required, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to
vote in favor of the transaction with GTCR. GTCR's binding
offer to Fundtech is irrevocable until 12:00 noon (New York City
time) on September 23, 2011.
The board of directors of Fundtech has considered GTCR's binding
offer, and following consultation with outside legal counsel and a
financing advisor, determined that GTCR's binding offer constitutes
a "Company Superior Offer" under Fundtech's previously announced
merger agreement with S1 and that failure to change its
recommendation to Fundtech's shareholders and terminate the merger
agreement with S1 to enter into the merger agreement with the
entities formed by GTCR would be reasonably likely to result in a
breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
Under the existing merger agreement with S1, Fundtech is
obligated to negotiate in good faith with S1 and its
representatives, if requested by S1, during such five business day
period regarding any adjustments or modifications proposed by S1 to
the terms of the merger agreement with S1. Fundtech's board of
directors may then only change its recommendation and terminate the
merger agreement with S1 after it again makes the determination
after consultation with outside legal counsel and a financial
advisor that GTCR's offer continues to be a "Company Superior
Offer" (taking into account any adjustments or modifications
proposed by S1) and, after consultation with outside legal counsel,
that the failure to take action would be reasonably likely to
result in a breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable
law.
At this time, as required by the merger agreement with S1,
Fundtech's board of directors has not changed its recommendation
with respect to the pending transaction with S1 and Fundtech's
board of directors is not making any recommendation at this time
with respect to the GTCR binding offer, and there can be no
assurance that Fundtech's board of directors will approve any such
transaction or that a transaction will result.
Citi has acted as financial advisor to Fundtech and Kirkland
& Ellis LLP, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and Meitar
Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein have provided legal
counsel.
About Fundtech
Fundtech (Nasdaq:FNDT), was founded in 1993, and is a leading
provider of software and services to banks of all sizes around the
world. Payments systems include wire transfers, ACH origination,
cross-border payments and remittance. Cash management systems are
designed for large corporate through small business clients.
Fundtech operates the world's largest SWIFT service bureau. We
offer an extensive line of financial supply chain applications
including electronic invoice presentment and supply chain
financing. We are the leading provider of CLS systems to the
world's largest banks. More than 1,000 clients throughout the world
rely on Fundtech solutions to improve operational efficiency and
provide greater competitiveness through innovative
business-to-business services. For more information, visit
www.fundtech.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the
possibility that Fundtech's board of directors will change its
recommendation, terminate the existing merger agreement with S1
and/or enter into any agreement with GTCR, the expected completion
of any transaction, the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions to
any transaction, any events related to the S1 transaction or the
offer received by GTCR, our expected revenues, our market and
growth opportunities, the amount of anticipated cost synergies and
other benefits associated with any proposed transaction and other
statements that are not historical fact.
These forward-looking statements are based on currently
available competitive, financial and economic data together with
management's views and assumptions regarding future events and
business performance as of the time the statements are made and are
subject to risks and uncertainties. We wish to caution you that
there are some known and unknown factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to uncertainties as to the
conditions to the transactions discussed in the press release,
operational challenges in achieving strategic objectives and
executing our plans, the risk that markets do not evolve as
anticipated, the potential impact of the general economic
conditions and competition in the industry.
We refer you to the documents that Fundtech files from time to
time with the SEC, including the section titled "Risk Factors" of
Fundtech's most recent Annual Report filed on Form 20-F, as well as
the information statement to be filed by Fundtech, which contains
and identifies other important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in our
projections or forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date of this press release. All subsequent
written and oral forward-looking statements by or concerning
Fundtech are expressly qualified in their entirety by the
cautionary statements above. Except as may be required by law,
Fundtech does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements because of new information,
future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: Fundtech Contact:
Yoram Bibring
CFO - Fundtech Ltd.
Tel: 1-201-946-1100
yoram.bibring@fundtech.com
Fundtech Ltd. (MM) (NASDAQ:FNDT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Oct 2024 to Nov 2024
Fundtech Ltd. (MM) (NASDAQ:FNDT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Nov 2024