NEWS RELEASE
Â鶹ŮÀÉ to be Acquired by Lone Star Funds
CHARLOTTE, N.C.,ÌýDec. 13, 2021Ìý// --ÌýÂ鶹ŮÀÉ, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW), a leading provider of process solutions for the nutrition, health and industrial markets, announced today it entered into an agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds ("Lone Star") in an all-cash transaction valued atÌý$3.8 billion, including the assumption of debt.
The purchase price represents a premium of nearly 40% over Â鶹ŮÀÉ's closing stock price onÌýJuly 16, 2021, the last trading day prior to the publication of an article in theÌýJuly 19, 2021, edition ofÌýTheÌýWall Street JournalÌýstating that the Company received an unsolicited purchase offer.
"We are pleased to have reached this agreement withÌýLone Star, which is the result of a comprehensive review of alternatives, including a robust sale process, conducted by our Board in consultation with independent advisors," saidÌýRobert F. Hull, Jr., Chairman of the Â鶹ŮÀÉ Board of Directors. "As part of the process, Â鶹ŮÀÉ held discussions with multiple strategic and financial parties and evaluated the transaction against the Company's standalone prospects, performance and outlook.ÌýWe believe this transaction is the right path forward and achieves our goal of maximizing value for Â鶹ŮÀÉ shareholders."
"Â鶹ŮÀÉ has transformed its business and made important progress executing against our strategic plans, and we believe this transaction withÌýLone StarÌýis an exciting culmination of those efforts for our shareholders," saidÌýMarc Michael, Â鶹ŮÀÉ President and CEO. "In Lone Star, we have a partner that brings additional perspective and expertise to support the continued implementation of our strategic initiatives as we deliver reliable outcomes for customers and provide them the high-quality products and services they expect from us. This transaction is a testament to the achievements of our employees, and I would like to thank them for all they do to make Â鶹ŮÀÉ the premier process solutions company. We look forward to working withÌýLone StarÌýto complete the transaction and delivering significant, immediate and certain value to our shareholders."
"We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Â鶹ŮÀÉ," saidÌýDonald Quintin, President, Lone Star Opportunity Funds. "This acquisition is consistent withÌýLone Star'sÌýstrategy to invest in businesses with substantial runway for growth. We have great respect for Â鶹ŮÀÉ's talented employees and their commitment to innovation and serving customers. We look forward to working with Marc and the entire team to help advance Â鶹ŮÀÉ's strategy and capture the opportunities ahead."
Transaction Details
The transaction was unanimously approved by the Â鶹ŮÀÉ Board of Directors and is expected to close in H1 2022, subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals, including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, as well as Â鶹ŮÀÉ shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
Upon completion of the transaction, Â鶹ŮÀÉ will become a privately held company and Â鶹ŮÀÉ's shares will no longer trade on The New York Stock Exchange.
As a condition to the transaction, Â鶹ŮÀÉ has agreed to suspend payment of its quarterly dividend, effective immediately.
Advisors
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Â鶹ŮÀÉ and Winston & Strawn LLP is serving as its legal advisor. Citi, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and BofA Securities Inc. are serving as financial advisors toÌýLone Star, andÌýGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP are serving as legal advisors.
About Â鶹ŮÀÉ, Inc.
Based inÌýCharlotte, N.C., Â鶹ŮÀÉ, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW) improves the world through innovative and sustainable solutions. The company's product offering is concentrated in process technologies that perform mixing, blending, fluid handling, separation, thermal heat transfer and other activities that are integral to processes performed across a wide variety of nutrition, health and precision solutions markets. Â鶹ŮÀÉ had approximatelyÌý$1.4 billionÌýin 2020 annual revenues and has operations in more than 30 countries and sales in more than 140 countries. To learn more about Â鶹ŮÀÉ, please visitÌý.
AboutÌýLone Star
Lone Star, founded byÌýJohn Grayken, is a leading private equity firm advising funds that invest globally in real estate, equity, credit and other financial assets. Since the establishment of its first fund in 1995,ÌýLone StarÌýhas organized 21 private equity funds with aggregate capital commitments totaling approximatelyÌý$85 billion. The firm organizes its funds in three series: the Commercial Real Estate Fund series; the Opportunity Fund series; and the U.S. Residential Mortgage Fund series.ÌýLone StarÌýinvests on behalf of its limited partners, which include institutional investors such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, as well as foundations and endowments that support medical research, higher education, and other philanthropic causes. For more information regarding Lone Star Funds, go toÌý.
Additional Information About the Acquisition and Where to Find it
This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving Â鶹ŮÀÉ andÌýLone Star. A stockholder meeting will be announced soon to obtain stockholder approval in connection with the proposed merger. Â鶹ŮÀÉ expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a proxy statement and other relevant documents in connection with the proposed merger. The definitive proxy statement will be sent to the stockholders of Â鶹ŮÀÉ and will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. INVESTORS OF Â鶹ŮÀÉ ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT Â鶹ŮÀÉ,ÌýLONE STAR, AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors may obtain a free copy of these materials and other documents (when they are available) filed by Â鶹ŮÀÉ with the SEC at the SEC's website atÌý, at Â鶹ŮÀÉ's websiteÌýÌýorÌýScott Gaffner, Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Insights, Â鶹ŮÀÉ, 13320 Ballantyne Corporate Place,ÌýCharlotte, North CarolinaÌý28277.
Participation in the Solicitation
Â鶹ŮÀÉ and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of Â鶹ŮÀÉ's stockholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in Â鶹ŮÀÉ's definitive proxy statement for its stockholder meeting. Additional information regarding these individuals and any direct or indirect interests they may have in the proposed merger will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement when and if it is filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements made in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. We can give no assurance that any future results discussed in these statements will be achieved. These statements are based on current plans and expectations of Â鶹ŮÀÉ and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (1) conditions to the closing of the transaction may not be satisfied and required regulatory approvals may not be obtained; (2) the transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (3) the business of Â鶹ŮÀÉ may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the transaction; (4) the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the transaction; (5) Â鶹ŮÀÉ may be adversely affected by other economic, business, legislative, regulatory and/or competitive factors; (6) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (7) risks that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the transaction; (8) the failure to obtain the necessary debt financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letter received in connection with the transaction; and (9) other risks to consummation of the transaction, including the risk that the transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all. If the transaction is consummated, the Â鶹ŮÀÉ's stockholders will cease to have any equity interest in Â鶹ŮÀÉ and will have no right to participate in its earnings and future growth. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Â鶹ŮÀÉ are set forth in its filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year endedÌýDecember 31, 2020, which are available on the SEC's website atÌý. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof.
Â鶹ŮÀÉ Contacts
Investor Contact:
Scott Gaffner
VP, Investor Relations and Strategic Insights
704-752-4485
Investor@spxflow.com
Media Contact:
Melissa Buscher
Chief Communications & Marketing Officer
704-449-9187
Melissa.buscher@spxflow.comÌý
Lone Star Contact:
Christina Pretto
Managing Director, Communications and Public Affairs
212-849-9662
mediarelations@lonestarfunds.comÌý
SOURCE Â鶹ŮÀÉ, Inc.