ICE, Black Knight announce revised terms of Merger Agreement
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) and Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) today announced that, in connection with their previously announced merger agreement for ICE’s acquisition of Black Knight, they have agreed to sell Black Knight’s Empower loan origination system (LOS) business, including its Exchange, LendingSpace and AIVA solutions, to a subsidiary of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX:CSU).
ICE and Black Knight have also amended the terms of their merger agreement.
ICE and Black Knight entered into the divestiture agreement in connection with efforts to secure clearance of ICE’s proposed acquisition of Black Knight under the Hart-Scott Rodino Act. The divestiture transaction is subject to the closing of ICE’s acquisition of Black Knight and other customary closing conditions.
The amended merger agreement terms value Black Knight at $75 per share, or a market value of $11.7 billion, with consideration in the form of a mix of approximately $68 per share in cash and stock with an exchange ratio of 0.0682 based on ICE’s 10-day VWAP as of March 3, 2023 of $102.62. As under the original terms, Black Knight shareholders can elect to receive either cash or stock, subject to proration, with the value of the cash election and the stock election equalized at the closing of the acquisition.
ICE’s proposed acquisition of Black Knight remains under review by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and closing is subject to the receipt of required regulatory clearances, Black Knight shareholder approval of the amended merger agreement and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. In connection with the amendment to the merger agreement, ICE has committed to, among other things, litigate with the FTC, if necessary, to obtain approval of the merger.
Truist Securities, Inc. served as lead financial advisor to Intercontinental Exchange and Black Knight for the sale of the Empower LOS.