Veritiv Corporation to be Acquired by CD&R

Credit: PR Newswire

Veritiv Corporation, a distributor of packaging, facility solutions and print products, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R). Under the terms of the agreement, each share of Veritiv common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the transaction will be entitled to receive $170 per share in cash, representing a nearly 31% premium over Veritiv's 30-day volume-weighted average price of $129.89.

Having determined that the offer is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders, Veritiv's Board of Directors has unanimously voted to approve the transaction and recommends that shareholders vote in favor of the transaction.

"This agreement is a pivotal moment in Veritiv's history," said Sal Abbate, Chief Executive Officer of Veritiv. "CD&R's interest in our company is a testament to our team's hard work, innovation, and dedication. Fueled by this partnership, we will continue to evolve towards our greatest potential, delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to our customers today – and into the future."

Rob Volpe, Partner at CD&R, said, "Veritiv is a very well-positioned industry leader with differentiated capabilities that deliver value to customers. We look forward to supporting Veritiv's talented leadership team in this next phase of the company's growth, as they continue to pursue their long-term strategic objectives while maintaining an unwavering commitment to employees, suppliers, and customers."

The transaction remains subject to shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023. Upon the completion of the transaction, Veritiv will become a privately held company and shares of Veritiv common stock will no longer be listed on any public markets.

"As Veritiv's largest shareholder, we are supportive of this transaction," said Greg Ciongoli, Partner, The Baupost Group. "The Veritiv management team has successfully executed on its multi-year strategy to drive significant growth and they have built substantial value in the business, which is reflected in the premium paid for the shares. Combined with CD&R's business-building expertise, we believe Veritiv's future is very bright."

In connection with the transaction, funds managed by Baupost entered into a Support Agreement under which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Alston & Bird LLP served as legal counsel to Veritiv.

CD&R obtained committed financing from Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, BMO Capital Markets Corp., and UBS Investment Bank. Guggenheim Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities served as lead financial advisors to CD&R, and BMO Capital Markets Corp., Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and UBS Investment Bank also served as financial advisors. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to CD&R.

Quarterly Dividend

Veritiv Corporation's Board of Directors approved a dividend of $0.63 per share payable on September 13, 2023 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 17, 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, assuming the transaction closes on or prior to December 31, 2023, Veritiv will not declare or pay any additional dividends to its shareholders.

Source: Veritiv

The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Packaging Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Packaging Impressions.