Ellie Mae has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Thoma Bravo LLC, a private equity investment firm, in a cash transaction that values Ellie Mae at around $3.7 billion.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ellie Mae shareholders will receive $99.00 in cash per share. The price per share represents a 47 percent premium to the 30-day average closing share price and 49 percent premium to the 60-day average closing price as of Feb. 1, 2019.
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“Since the founding of Ellie Mae more than 20 years ago, our mission has been simple--to automate everything for the residential mortgage industry,” said Jonathan Corr, president and CEO of Ellie Mae. “As we enter this next phase of our digital mortgage journey, we are thrilled to provide immediate value to our shareholders. With the investment and support from Thoma Bravo, we will remain committed to our customers’ success, innovation and growth of the Encompass Digital Lending Platform while maintaining our position as a best place to work.”
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Jonathan Corr[/caption]
“Ellie Mae delivers powerful and innovative mortgage technology solutions across every channel of the residential mortgage sector, enabling lenders to originate more loans while reducing costs and driving efficiency, quality and compliance throughout the mortgage process,” said Holden Spaht, a managing partner at Thoma Bravo. “Ellie Mae is leading the digital transformation of the residential mortgage industry and we look forward to building on the company’s successes and to our partnership through this next chapter of growth.”
Ellie Mae’s board unanimously approved the definitive agreement and recommended that stockholders vote their shares in favor of the transaction. Ellie Mae’s headquarters will remain in Pleasanton, California, with regional offices across the U.S. Closing of the transaction is subject to approval by Ellie Mae stockholders and regulatory authorities and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2019 and is not subject to a financial condition.
The agreement includes a 35 day “go-shop” period, which permits Ellie Mae’s Board and advisors to actively initiate, solicit, encourage, and potentially enter negotiations with parties that make alternative acquisition proposals.
Ellie Mae will have the right to terminate the merger agreement to enter into a superior proposal subject to the terms and conditions of this merger agreement.
There can be no assurance that this 35 day “go-shop” will result in a superior proposal, and Ellie Mae does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the solicitation process unless and until the board makes a determination requiring further disclosure.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Ellie Mae and Cooley LLP is serving as the legal advisor to Ellie Mae. Jefferies LLC served as financial advisor to Thoma Bravo and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal advisor to Thoma Bravo. Financing for the transaction is being provided by Jefferies Finance LLC.
