Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE: GDI) and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR) announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement in a transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion, including the assumption of debt.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, KKR will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Gardner Denver common stock for $76 per share in cash. This price represents a premium of approximately 39 percent to Gardner Denver’s share price on October 24, 2012, the day before the Company confirmed that it had begun to explore strategic alternatives. The merger is subject to approval from Gardner Denver’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Board of Directors of Gardner Denver unanimously approved the merger agreement and recommends that Gardner Denver shareholders vote in favor of the transaction. The transaction is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2013.
The transaction is being made through KKR’s investment funds.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. is serving as financial advisor to Gardner Denver and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor. UBS Securities LLC and Simmons & Company International are serving as financial advisors to KKR and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal advisor. Fully committed debt financing will be provided by UBS Securities LLC, Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., and KKR Capital Markets, an affiliate of KKR, in the form of senior secured credit facilities. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Citigroup, Barclays, UBS Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., and KKR Capital Markets also arranged debt financing in the form of a senior unsecured bridge facility.
Join StreetInsider.com FREE and get immediately alerted when news breaks on your stocks and other market items – JOIN NOW