Doubleclick (NASDAQ:DCLK)
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DoubleClick Inc. Announces Agreement to Be Acquired by Hellman &
Friedman LLC
DoubleClick Shareholders to Receive $8.50 per Share; Transaction Valued at $1.1
Billion
NEW YORK, and SAN FRANCISCO, April 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DoubleClick
Inc. (NASDAQ:DCLK), the leading provider of data and technology solutions for
marketers, advertising agencies and web publishers, announced today that it has
signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Hellman & Friedman LLC, a San
Francisco-based private equity firm. The transaction is expected to be
completed in the third quarter.
Under the terms of the agreement, DoubleClick stockholders will receive $8.50
in cash for each share of DoubleClick common stock, representing a 10.6%
premium over the average closing price of DoubleClick's stock for the last
thirty (30) trading days. The aggregate consideration to be paid to
DoubleClick stockholders is approximately $1.1 billion. DoubleClick's existing
Zero Coupon Subordinated Notes due 2023 in the principal amount of $135 million
will remain outstanding, subject to the rights of the holders to require
DoubleClick to repurchase such notes at par following consummation of the
transaction.
Investing alongside Hellman & Friedman will be JMI Equity, a San Diego- based
venture capital firm exclusively focused on the software and business service
industries. Hellman & Friedman and JMI Equity have previously partnered
together on a number of software related investments, including Blackbaud Inc.
(BLKB), Mitchell International, Inc., and Vertafore, Inc.
"This transaction provides great value to our stockholders and underscores the
strength of our industry leading position and DoubleClick's business model,"
said Kevin Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, DoubleClick.
"DoubleClick has two outstanding franchises with strong presence in their
marketplaces," said Philip Hammarskjold, Managing Director of Hellman &
Friedman LLC. "They have powerful brand names, experienced management, and
dedicated and skilled employees. We look forward to partnering with the
DoubleClick team to help realize the Company's significant opportunities for
growth in both its online advertising and marketing and data businesses."
Management will remain committed to working diligently to meet all customer
needs. Following the closing, Mr. Ryan will step down as CEO to pursue other
opportunities. At the closing, David Rosenblatt will continue to oversee the
TechSolutions division as its CEO, and Brian Rainey will continue to lead the
DataSolutions division as its CEO. A new board of directors and chairman will
be appointed post closing.
"This is a great outcome for our customers, shareholders and employees," said
David Rosenblatt, President, DoubleClick. "We are very excited to work with
Hellman & Friedman to continue to invest in and develop our growing technology
marketing services."
"This transaction will allow us to continue to be more focused on providing
industry-leading data marketing services to our customers," said Brian Rainey,
President and General Manager of Data Solutions, DoubleClick. "We believe our
customers and employees will benefit from this new structure."
The transaction has been approved by DoubleClick's board of directors. The
closing of the transaction is subject to various conditions, including approval
by the stockholders of DoubleClick, the expiration of the applicable waiting
period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the closing of debt financing
arrangements set forth in a commitment letter received by Hellman & Friedman,
and other customary closing conditions. A special meeting of DoubleClick's
stockholders will be scheduled as soon as practicable following the preparation
and filing of the proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lazard acted as financial advisor to DoubleClick in connection with the
transaction. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP acted as legal advisor
to DoubleClick in connection with the transaction. Bear Stearns acted as
financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to
Hellman & Friedman and JMI Equity.
DoubleClick will host a conference call today, April 25, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time to discuss the transaction. A live webcast of the call will be
accessible from http://ir.doubleclick.net/, and a replay of the call will be
archived on the website.
About DoubleClick
DoubleClick is the leading provider of solutions for advertising agencies,
marketers, and web publishers to plan, execute, and analyze their marketing
programs. DoubleClick's marketing solutions (online advertising, search engine
marketing, affiliate marketing, email marketing, database marketing, data
management, and marketing resource management) help clients yield the highest
return on their marketing dollar. In addition, the company's marketing
analytics tools help clients measure performance within and across channels.
DoubleClick Inc. has global headquarters in New York City and maintains 22
offices around the world. For more information about DoubleClick, visit
http://www.doubleclick.net/.
About Hellman & Friedman LLC
Hellman & Friedman LLC is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm
with additional offices in New York and London. Since its founding in 1984,
the Firm has raised and managed over $8 billion of committed capital and
invested in approximately 50 companies. The Firm's strategy is to invest in
superior business franchises and to be a value-added partner to management in
select industries, including media, software, information services, financial
services, energy, and professional services. Hellman & Friedman is one of the
few private equity firms with a focused effort in marketing services and
software industries. Hellman & Friedman has invested in and helped build
outstanding companies in these sectors, such as Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB),
Digitas, Inc. (DTAS), Mitchell International, Inc., Vertafore, Inc., and Young
& Rubicam. For more information on Hellman & Friedman, visit
http://www.hf.com/.
About JMI Equity
JMI Equity, based in San Diego and Baltimore, is a private equity firm
exclusively focused on investments in the software and business services
industries. Founded in 1992, JMI manages approximately $400 million and has
invested in 60 companies throughout North America. JMI invests in growing
businesses. The Firm's focus is on providing the first institutional capital
to self-funded companies. JMI also invests in select recapitalization and
management buyout financings. Representative investments include Unica
Corporation, Eloqua Corporation, Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB), Mitchell
International, Mission Critical Software, NEON Systems, Inc. (NEON) and
Transaction Systems Architects (TSAI). For more information on JMI Equity,
visit http://www.jmiequity.com/.
Note to Investors
DoubleClick plans to file with the SEC and mail to its stockholders a Proxy
Statement in connection with the transaction. The Proxy Statement will contain
important information about DoubleClick, the transaction and related matters.
Investors and security holders are urged to read the Proxy Statement carefully
when it is available.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Proxy
Statement (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by
DoubleClick through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov/.
In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies
of the Proxy Statement from DoubleClick by contacting Investor Relations,
DoubleClick, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY, 10011, (212) 683-0001.
DoubleClick and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement. Information regarding DoubleClick's
directors and executive officers is contained in DoubleClick's Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004 and its Proxy Statement dated April 26, 2004,
which are filed with the SEC. As of March 31, 2005, DoubleClick's directors
and executive officers beneficially owned approximately 15.9 million shares, or
12%, of DoubleClick's common stock.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this release regarding the proposed merger transaction, the
expected effects, timing and completion of the proposed transaction and any
other statements about DoubleClick's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans
or prospects constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not
statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words
"believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects, "estimates" and similar
expressions) should also be considered to be forward looking statements. There
are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements,
including: the ability to consummate the proposed transaction due to the
failure to obtain stockholder approval, the failure of the buyer to consummate
the necessary debt financing arrangements set forth in a commitment letter
received by Hellman & Friedman or the failure to satisfy other conditions to
the closing of the proposed transaction, the ability to recognize the benefits
of the transaction, intense competition in DoubleClick's industry, lack of
growth or decline in online advertising or marketing, changes in government
regulation, failure to manage the integration of acquired companies, failure to
successfully manage DoubleClick's international operations and other risks that
are contained in documents and the other factors described in DoubleClick's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the
SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent DoubleClick's
estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing
DoubleClick's estimates as of any subsequent date. DoubleClick disclaims any
intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of
developments occurring after the date of this release.
DOUBLECLICK CONTACT: Jennifer Miller
VP, Corporate Communications, DoubleClick
212-381-5705
HELLMAN & FRIEDMAN CONTACT: Melissa Ma, Hellman & Friedman LLC
415-788-5111;
Steve Bruce, Abernathy MacGregor Group
212-371-5999;
DATASOURCE: DoubleClick Inc.
CONTACT: Jennifer Miller, VP, Corporate Communications, DoubleClick,
, +1-212-381-5705; or Melissa Ma, Hellman & Friedman
LLC, +1-415-788-5111, ; or Steve Bruce, Abernathy MacGregor Group,
+1-212-371-5999;
Web site: http://www.doubleclick.com/