mdf Commerce to be acquired by KKR for C$5.80 per share

mdf commerce (MECVF) announced it has entered into an arrangement agreement to be acquired by funds managed by KKR (KKR) in an all-cash transaction. Upon completion of the Transaction, mdf commerce will become a privately held company. The Company’s platforms and services empower businesses around the world, supporting them in generating billions of dollars in transactions on an annual basis. mdf commerce’s North American eProcurement platform serves over 6,500 government agencies and more than 650,000 suppliers across Canada and the United States and provides a strong foundation to build a leading government software platform. Following the closing of the Transaction, KKR will support mdf commerce in creating an equity ownership program to provide all employees the opportunity to participate in the benefits of ownership of the Company. This strategy is based on the belief that employee engagement is a key driver in building stronger companies. Since 2011, KKR portfolio companies have awarded billions of dollars of total equity value to over 60,000 non-management employees across more than 40 companies. KKR is making its investment in mdf commerce through its Ascendant Strategy, which invests in middle market businesses in North America as part of KKR’s Americas Private Equity platform. Consideration of C$5.80 per issued and outstanding common share of the Company, payable entirely in cash, represents a premium of approximately 58% to the closing price of the Common Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on March 8, 2024 of C$3.68 per Common Share, a premium of approximately 59% to the 20-day volume-weighted average share price on the TSX for the period ending on March 8, 2024 of C$3.65 per Common Share, and a 30% premium to the 52-week high price on the TSX of C$4.45 per Common Share achieved on December 8, 2023; Certainty of value and immediate liquidity: The shareholders of mdf commerce will receive a price of C$5.80 per Common Share, payable entirely in cash, which provides certainty of value and immediate liquidity; Unanimous mdf commerce Board recommendation: The Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction; Alignment with major shareholders: KKR is closely aligned with mdf commerce’s management in a shared vision for the future of the Company and will leverage the expertise of the existing management team led by Luc Filiatreault, President and Chief Executive Officer, to continue to support mdf commerce’s growth strategy and to build a global leader headquartered in Quebec. The Transaction is the result of an extensive formal sale process conducted by the Board, pursuant to which several proposals from interested parties were considered. The Board has evaluated the Arrangement Agreement with the Company’s management and legal and financial advisors and has unanimously determined that the Transaction is in the best interests of the Company and is fair to the Shareholders. The Board also unanimously recommends that the Shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction at the special meeting of Shareholders to be called to approve the Transaction. The Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of calendar 2024, subject to the receipt of the required approvals from the Company’s shareholders and certain regulatory approvals, as well as the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Supporting Shareholders, who currently collectively own approximately 12.4% of the outstanding Common Shares, have entered into support and voting agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their Common Shares in favour of the Transaction, subject to certain conditions.