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United
Online, Inc. to Acquire FTD Group, Inc. for Approximately $800 Million
World-Class FTD Brand Significantly Diversifies United Online
Portfolio
Pro Forma Combined Revenues of $1,145 Million and Pro
Forma Combined Operating Income of $175 Million for the 12 Months Ended
December 31, 2007
WOODLAND
HILLS, Calif. & DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq:UNTD), a leading
provider of consumer Internet and media services, and FTD Group, Inc.
(NYSE:FTD), a leading provider of floral and related products and services
to consumers and retail florists in the United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, announced today that they have
entered into a definitive merger agreement providing for the acquisition
of FTD Group, Inc. by United Online, Inc.
Transaction
Terms
Under the terms of the merger agreement, FTD
stockholders will receive $7.34 in cash, 0.4087 of a share of United
Online common stock ("United Online Stock") and $3.31 principal amount of
United Online 13% senior secured notes due 2013 (the "Notes") for each
share of FTD common stock in the merger, for a total value of $15.08 per
share of FTD common stock based on United Online's closing stock price of
$10.83 on April 29, 2008. The total consideration to FTD stockholders will
be approximately $456 million, consisting of $222 million in cash, 12.35
million shares of United Online Stock and $100 million aggregate principal
amount of Notes. The remaining purchase price consists of repayment of FTD
indebtedness and expenses incurred in connection with the transaction.
Upon closing of the transaction, the former FTD stockholders will own
approximately 15% of United Online.
Under the terms of the merger
agreement, United Online may elect to increase the per share cash
consideration payable to FTD's stockholders by $2.81 in full substitution
of the Notes, in which case FTD stockholders will receive a total of
$10.15 in cash and 0.4087 of a share of United Online Stock in exchange
for each share of FTD common stock in the merger, or a total value of
$14.58 per share of FTD common stock, based on United Online's closing
stock price of $10.83 on April 29, 2008. In such case, the total
consideration to FTD stockholders will be approximately $440 million,
consisting of $307 million in cash and 12.34 million shares of United
Online Stock. FTD will notify its stockholders as to the amount of cash,
United Online Stock and, if applicable, Notes consideration they will
receive for each share of FTD common stock in the merger in the definitive
proxy/prospectus materials to be mailed to FTD's stockholders.
Acquisition
Benefits
United Online anticipates that the FTD
acquisition will include the following key strategic benefits:
- Significant
Increase in Scale, resulting in pro forma
combined company revenues of $1,145 million and pro forma combined
company operating income of $175 million for the 12 months ended
December 31, 2007. The pro forma combined company's stock based
compensation, depreciation and amortization for such period would have
been $68 million.
- Diversification
of Revenue Streams, resulting in United
Online's Communications segment revenues, which are principally driven
by its NetZero and Juno Internet access services, representing less than
25% of total United Online revenues. The addition of FTD to the United
Online family will provide additional revenue streams—e-Commerce and
Retail—in addition to the existing Communications and Classmates Media
businesses.
- Attractive
Financial Characteristics, including
anticipated earnings per share accretion on a GAAP basis beginning in
the second quarter of 2009, stable and recurring cash flows and
significant growth opportunities for the combined company.
- Expansion
into an Attractive Market Segment by enabling
United Online to participate in a large domestic and international
floral market that is experiencing significant growth in the Internet
sector.
- Expanded
Marketing Opportunities and Efficiencies
resulting from United Online's proven marketing expertise to attract
consumers to FTD's websites and thousands of member florists while
cross-selling FTD products to United Online's existing member base of
over 50 million accounts that have similar demographic characteristics
as FTD's customer base.
"This transaction will meaningfully diversify our
revenue base within a large global market experiencing significant
migration to the Internet," commented Mark R. Goldston, Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of United Online. "We believe the
acquisition provides an excellent opportunity to deploy our substantial
cash resources and to leverage our strong cash flow to enhance stockholder
value. Our proven expertise in implementing marketing initiatives to drive
results should enable us to leverage the FTD brand and bring FTD products
to United Online's over 50 million consumer accounts. Further, we will
explore opportunities to encourage repeat purchases of FTD products using
reward programs based on our MyPoints loyalty marketing service. We also
look forward to welcoming the outstanding FTD employees to the United
Online family."
Goldston continued, "As one of the premier branded
marketing companies in the U.S., United Online anticipates being able to
further enhance a world-class brand name, FTD, and build upon the fine
work done by FTD's management team in creating a highly profitable
business. After spending many years marketing major retail brands in the
fragrance, cosmetic and other image product industries and managing
consumer retail businesses, I am especially looking forward to working
with the thousands of FTD affiliated florists and the potential for
developing specific programs designed to further invigorate the FTD
florist channel and increase the number of orders delivered to that trade
channel."
"We believe joining forces with United Online, an
established Internet company with a proven operating track record and
considerable acquisition expertise, will best serve the interests of our
stockholders," said FTD Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael J. Soenen. "As a significant advertiser, United Online is the
ideal partner to help FTD realize greater efficiencies in media spending
and customer acquisition."
Financing Structure and Additional
Information
United Online has obtained a commitment from
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, to provide a portion of the
financing for the transaction. The financing commitment includes $375
million of term loans at FTD, which will be funded at closing, and a $75
million revolving credit facility to provide for the ongoing working
capital requirements of FTD. The remaining consideration will be financed
with cash on hand at United Online and the issuance of the Notes and the
United Online Stock. In connection with the transaction, FTD's 7.75%
senior subordinated notes either will be defeased at closing or retired
pursuant to a tender offer and consent solicitation.
The
acquisition is anticipated to close during the third quarter of 2008. The
transaction requires the approval of FTD stockholders and is subject to a
financing condition and customary closing conditions. Green Equity
Investors IV, L.P. and FTD Co-Investment, LLC, affiliates of Leonard Green
& Partners, L.P. which collectively own approximately 31.7% of the
outstanding shares of FTD, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of
the transaction, subject to the terms of a voting agreement.
Following the closing of the transaction, United Online expects to
decrease its regular quarterly cash dividend from $0.20 per share to $0.10
per share. The payment of future dividends by United Online is
discretionary and will be subject to determination by its board of
directors each quarter following its review of United Online's financial
performance and other factors. Under the terms of the merger agreement,
FTD has agreed to suspend all dividends on its common stock for 180 days
after the date of the signing of the merger agreement.
After the
closing of the acquisition, FTD will continue to operate as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of United Online from FTD's existing facilities, including its ?>ml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />U.S. headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois and its international headquarters in the
United
Kingdom.
J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc. acted as financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP acted as legal advisor to United Online. Goldman, Sachs & Co.
acted as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal
advisor to FTD.
Conference Call
and Webcast
United Online and FTD will host an investor
conference call to discuss the proposed transaction today at 10:00 a.m. ET
(7:00 a.m. PT). To participate, please dial 877-290-8528 (or 706-643-0852
outside the U.S.), and provide the
confirmation code 45995229. A replay of the call will be available until
May 7, 2008 by dialing 800-642-1687 (or 706-645-9291 outside the
U.S.), and providing the
confirmation code 45995229. Additionally, a live and archived audio
Webcast of the conference call, along with a presentation containing
additional information regarding the acquisition, will be available in the
Investors section of United Online's website at www.irconnect.com/untd/ or
the Investor Relations section of FTD's website at www.FTD.com.
Additional Information and
Where You Can Find It
United Online intends to file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a Registration Statement on
Form S-4, which will include a proxy statement/prospectus of FTD and
United Online and other relevant materials in connection with the proposed
transaction. The proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the
stockholders of FTD. Investors and stockholders are urged to read the
proxy statement/prospectus and Registration Statement, and any and all
amendments or supplements thereto, when they become available because they
will contain important information about the proposed transaction.
Investors and stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy
statement/prospectus and Registration Statement (when available), as well
as other documents filed by United Online and FTD with the SEC, at the
SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Investors and stockholders may also obtain a
free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus and Registration Statement and
the respective filings with the SEC directly from United Online by
directing a request to Erik Randerson at (818) 287-3350 and directly from
FTD by directing a request to Jandy Tomy at (630) 724-6984. Investors and
stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the
other relevant materials when they become available before making any
voting or investment decision with respect to the proposed transaction.
Each of the company's directors and executive officers and other
persons may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participating in the
solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction.
Information regarding United Online's directors and officers can be found
in its proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 29, 2008, and
information regarding FTD's directors and officers can be found in its
proxy statement filed with the SEC on October 11, 2007. Additional
information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a
description of their direct and indirect interest in the transaction, by
security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the
SEC.
About
FTD FTD Group, Inc. is a leading provider of floral related
products and services to consumers and retail florists, as well as other
retail locations offering floral products, in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and the Republic of
Ireland. The business
utilizes the highly recognized FTD and Interflora brands, both supported
by the Mercury Man logo, which is displayed in approximately 45,000 floral
shops worldwide. The consumer businesses operate primarily through the
www.FTD.com website in the U.S. and Canada and the www.interflora.co.uk website
in the U.K. and are complemented by
the florist businesses which provide products and services to the
company's independent members.
About United Online United
Online, Inc. is a leading provider of consumer Internet and media
services. The company's Classmates Media services include online social
networking (Classmates) and online loyalty marketing (MyPoints). Its
Communications services include Internet access (NetZero, Juno) and email.
United Online is headquartered in Woodland
Hills, CA, with offices in
New York, NY; Fort Lee,
NJ; Renton, WA;
San Francisco, CA; Schaumburg,
IL; Erlangen, Germany; and Hyderabad, India. For more information
about United Online, please visit www.unitedonline.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained in this document regarding the
consummation and potential timing and benefits of the pending acquisition
and estimates and projections about the operations and business of United
Online and FTD are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are made under its
safe-harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements are based on
management's current expectations, estimates and projections and include
risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ
materially from those expressed or implied thereby. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:
failure to satisfy any of the conditions to complete the acquisition;
failure to obtain financing to complete the transaction; failure of the
transaction to be accretive to earnings per share when anticipated, if
ever; inability to successfully integrate the businesses and operations of
United Online and FTD; failure to achieve cost savings and other benefits;
the impact of, and restrictions associated with, the debt incurred in
connection with the transaction; transaction costs being greater than
anticipated; unanticipated delays as a result of regulatory issues or
other factors; risks associated with the combined business as well as the
risk factors relating to each business as disclosed in United Online and
FTD respective filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect
management's analysis only as of the date hereof. Except as required by
law, United Online and FTD undertake no obligation to publicly release the
results of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be
made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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