DST Sells NACC - O'Keeffe and O'Malley

DST Sells NACC

Jun 14, 2016

Kansas City, MO-based DST Systems, Inc., a global provider of specialized technology, strategic advisory, and operations outsourcing to the financial and healthcare industries, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its North American Customer Communications ("NACC") business to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. for cash consideration of $410.0 million, subject to customary working capital and other closing adjustments (the "Transaction"). Broadridge is a leading global provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for capital markets, wealth management, and asset management firms and corporations. The Transaction is expected to close in July 2016, and follows the completion of a sale and leaseback transaction of three of DST's U.S. production facilities and its Canadian production facility announced in October 2015 for pre-tax proceeds totaling $129.0 million.

With over 2,300 employees and four production facilities located in El Dorado Hills, CA, South Windsor, CT, Kansas City, MO, and Markham, Ontario, Canada, NACC is the largest transactional printer in North America and a leading provider of customer communication services including print and digital communication solutions, content management, postal optimization and fulfillment.

Steve Hooley, Chairman and CEO of DST said, "The sale of the North American Customer Communications business is an important step in executing our well-defined strategy of focus and growth within our financial and healthcare services segments.  In connection with on-going strategic review of DST businesses, our management team and Board of Directors have decided to exit the customer communications business.  As a result, we are also currently pursuing the divesture of our U.K. Customer Communications business.  We are confident that this is the right time to obtain the full value of the Customer Communications businesses on behalf of our shareholders so that we can more fully realize the opportunities within our core Healthcare and Financial Services segments and continue driving long-term growth and value creation at DST."

Hooley continued, "We are confident that Broadridge is the right partner for our North American Customer Communications business as they are best-positioned to support evolving client requirements by taking advantage of their large-scale multi-channel print and digital communications platform."

DST estimates that the pending sale of the NACC business will result in after-tax proceeds of approximately $310.0 million. The Company intends to use its net after tax proceeds in accordance with its capital plan including investments in the business, share repurchases, strategic acquisitions, debt repayments and other corporate purposes. Once completed, the North American Transaction is expected to result in a reduction to DST's earnings per share of approximately $1.15 on an annual basis, excluding any impacts of the use of proceeds from the sale.

During April 2016, DST spent $75.0 million to purchase 0.7 million DST shares, which completed the existing share repurchase plan.  Concurrent with the approval of the Transaction, the Board of Directors of DST authorized a new $300.0 million share repurchase plan.