SunGard and GL TRADE today announced that SunGard had completed the previously announced acquisition of a majority interest in GL TRADE, a global financial software solutions company. SunGard acquired from Euronext Paris S.A. and GL TRADE’s three founders, Messrs. Pierre Gatignol, Louis-Christophe Laurent and Frédéric Morin, together with entities controlled by them,
6,200,030 shares of GL TRADE, representing 64.51% of GL TRADE’s share capital, at a price of EUR41.70 per share. The transaction, which puts a value of EUR400.7 million (approximately US$585.3 million) on 100% of GL TRADE’s share capital (excluding the effect of outstanding stock options), is not expected to have a material impact on SunGard’s financial results.
In accordance with the AMF General Regulation (“règlement général de l’AMF”), Paris-based Oddo Corporate Finance will launch on SunGard’s behalf an all-cash tender offer under the simplified procedure (“offre publique d’achat simplifiée”) for the remainder of GL TRADE’s share capital at the same price of EUR41.70 per share. Also, during a meeting held today, GL TRADE’s Board of Directors appointed Messrs. Harold Finders, Michael Ruane and Richard Tarbox to replace Euronext Paris S.A. and Messrs. Louis-Christophe Laurent and Serge Harry. Pierre Gatignol will remain on the Board as chairman.
Pierre Gatignol, executive chairman of GL TRADE, commented: “I am very pleased that all conditions of the offer made by SunGard on July 31 have now been met and that the transaction has come to a successful conclusion. I look forward to working to integrate our activities within SunGard in order to offer an enhanced set of services to our customers.”
Harold Finders, division chief executive officer of SunGard's Financial Systems business, said: “GL TRADE plays a vital role in the trading and administration of securities globally, and the credit for that belongs to its employees. We are very enthusiastic about working with them to pursue the development of GL TRADE within the SunGard organization.”
To finance the acquisition of GL TRADE, SunGard increased the senior secured term loan facility under its existing senior secured credit facilities by the amount of US$500 million and issued US$500 million of new senior unsecured notes. SunGard intends to use the remainder of the new financing proceeds to fund the tender offer for the remaining GL TRADE shares and pay
related fees and expenses of the acquisition, to redeem US$250 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due January 15, 2009, and for general corporate purposes.
Cristóbal Conde, president and chief executive officer of SunGard, added: “Our ability to finance the transaction in the midst of the current uncertainties and difficulties in the financial markets is an indication of our company’s strength. As the second largest of SunGard’s more than 160 acquisition transactions, GL TRADE represents a significant opportunity to continue to grow our Financial Systems business globally.”
About GL TRADE
GL TRADE delivers trading solutions that ensure its clients’ success. GL TRADE is a global financial software solutions company, operating in over 50 countries and serving 1,600 clients. GL TRADE is a leading provider of multi-asset front to back solutions, connectivity and information services. Headquartered in Paris and London, GL TRADE employs more than 1,400 people. GL
TRADE is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN FR 0000072084). Visit GL TRADE at
http://www.gltrade.com.
About SunGard
With annual revenue of US$5 billion, SunGard is a global leader in software and processing solutions for financial services, higher education and the public sector. SunGard also helps information-dependent enterprises of all types to ensure the continuity of their business. SunGard serves more than 25,000 customers in more than 50 countries, including the world's 50 largest
financial services companies. Visit SunGard at
http://www.sungard.com.Trademark Information: SunGard and the SunGard logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunGard Data Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. All other trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
For more information, contact:
SunGard
Press:
France:
Grégoire Lucas
Image 7
+33 1 53 70 74 94
glucas@image7.fr
UK:
Paul French
Fishburn Hedges
+44 20 7839 4321
paul.french@fishburn-hedges.co.uk
U.S.:
Carol Edwards
Ruder Finn
+1 212 593 5858
edwardsc@ruderfinn.com
Michael Ruane
+1 484 582 5405
michael.ruane@sungard.com
Eric Erickson
+1 484 582 5480
eric.erickson@sungard.com
Kris Block
+1 484 582 5505
kris.block@sungard.com
GL TRADE
Tatiana Liber
GL TRADE Investor Relations
+44 20 7665 6236
comfi@gltrade.com
SOURCE: SunGard
CONTACT: SunGard: Press: France: Grégoire Lucas, Image 7,
+33-1-53-70-74-94, glucas@image7.fr; UK: Paul French, Fishburn Hedges,
+44-20-7839-4321, paul.french@fishburn-hedges.co.uk; U.S.: Carol Edwards, Ruder
Finn, +1-212-593-5858, edwardsc@ruderfinn.com; Investors: Michael Ruane,
+1-484-582-5405, michael.ruane@sungard.com, Eric Erickson, +1-484-582-5480,
eric.erickson@sungard.com, Kris Block, +1-484-582-5505,
kris.block@sungard.com,; GL TRADE, Tatiana Liber, GL TRADE Investor Relations,
+44-20-7665-6236, comfi@gltrade.com /
--Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--