Huge Deal: Fiserv Is Buying First Data

Fiserv (FISV) said it’s buying First Data (FDC) for $22 billion in an all-stock deal.

Folks who own First Data will get 0.303 shares of Fiserv for each share of FDC they own. That values FDC at $22.74. This is a 22% premium to First Data’s closing price.

Fiserv shareholders will own 57.5 percent of the combined company and First Data shareholders will own 42.5 percent. Fiserv offered 0.303 of its shares for each First Data share.

Fiserv Chief Executive Officer Jeffery Yabuki will become CEO and chairman of the combined company.

After the deal closes in the second half of 2019, the combined company’s adjusted earnings per share is expected increase by more than 20 percent in the first full year, the companies said.

Fiserv looks to open down 6% today. From the WSJ:

Fiserv, based outside of Milwaukee, sells systems to banks, credit unions and other financial institutions, including those related to electronic payment transactions. Atlanta-based First Data’s offerings include point-of-sale products for retailers, like credit-card machines and point-of-sales devices.

The combined company plans to invest $500 million over five years, targeting risk management, merchant solutions and payment technologies. It would also generate significant incremental revenue, related to adding new value to bank merchant services, credit processing and other products, the companies said.

The combined company would be able to trim $900 million in expenses over five years, driven by the elimination of duplicative corporate structures, streamlining technology infrastructure, operational efficiencies and other changes, Fiserv and First Data said.

Fiserv also said they expect to report Q4 earnings on February 7. They look to report earnings of 84 to 85 cents per share. For the entire year, that’s earnings of $3.10 to $3.11 per share. For 2019, Fiserv expects to earn between $3.39 and $3.52 per share.

Posted by on January 16th, 2019 at 9:16 am


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