→ Final stage in the financing of the acquisition of Sopra
Banking Software with the launch of a share capital increase with
shareholders' preferential subscription rights for approximatively
€131m; → Birth of a new major player in enterprise software,
achieving critical scale with a bold 2025 ambition of c.€700m
revenue and c.€100m profit on operating activities.
Key terms of the transaction
- Capital increase with shareholders' preferential subscription
rights; - Subscription price: €16.10 per new share; - Subscription
ratio: 3 new shares for 8 existing shares; - Theoretical value of
the preferential subscription right: €3.11; - Trading period for
preferential subscription rights: from July 24, 2024 to August 16,
2024 included; - Subscription period: from July 26, 2024 to August
20, 2024 included; - Settlement and delivery and admission to
trading of the new shares: August 27, 2024; - Subscription
commitments by Sopra GMT for approximately 52.8% of the total
amount of the capital increase on an irreducible basis and for any
new share not subscribed at the end of the subscription period (on
an irreducible and reducible basis).
Regulatory News:
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED, FORWARDED OR DISTRIBUTED,
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA,
AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN
Axway (Paris:AXW) (the “Company”) announces today the launch of
a share capital increase with shareholders' preferential
subscription rights for a gross amount of approximately EUR €131
million to partially finance the acquisition of a significant
portion of Sopra Banking Software's activities.
Following the signing of the Sopra Banking Software acquisition
agreement announced on June 3, 2024 and on the date of the
Prospectus, the Company obtained all regulatory authorizations
required to proceed with the closing of the acquisition. In
addition, the exemption from the mandatory filing of a tender offer
by Sopra GMT for the Company's share capital was granted by the
Autorité des marchés financiers (the “AMF”) on June 4, 2024, under
the number 224C0810.
Completion of the acquisition is expected in early September
2024.
Patrick Donovan, Axway's Chief Executive Officer,
said:
"With the launch of its capital increase, Axway is taking a new
step in the acquisition of Sopra Banking Software announced last
February. We are giving birth to one of France’s top enterprise
software publishers, with unique positions in banking and financial
services. The acquisition of Sopra Banking Software represents a
major leap forward in our development, and is a perfect
illustration of our external growth ambitions. Beyond the change in
dimension, I am proud of our success in building an alliance
project that creates value for all our stakeholders, with
meaningful levers for our customers, employees and shareholders
alike."
Rationale of the issue and use of proceeds
The net proceeds of the capital increase will be used to finance
part of the purchase price1 of Sopra Banking Software's activities
for an amount of €330m, in addition to new confirmed credit
facilities for €200m.
This acquisition will enable Axway to accelerate its strategic
project through:
- the birth of a new major player in
enterprise software, achieving critical scale with a bold 2025
ambition of c.€700m revenue and c.€100m profit on operating
activities2; - a secured leadership position in a combined total
addressable market of c. $90B, with unique strengths in banking and
financial services; - a diversified product portfolio extending
across geographies, clients, and industries, capturing a variety of
profitable niche markets to enhance overall stability; - a
substantial opportunity to accelerate shareholder value creation
through the combined entity’s scale, becoming EPS accretive in
2026; - a maintained prudent and efficient capital structure with a
40% equity and 60% debt financing mix, with quick deleveraging
possibilities; - a reaffirmed software pure-player project founded
on shared DNA, culture, vision, and driven by an experienced
management team.
Birth of the 5th largest French Enterprise Software
Publisher
Axway Software + SBS 2023 Restated*AXW + 12M SBS
2024 GuidanceAXW + 4M SBS 2025 AmbitionAXW + SBS
2027 Ambition3-Years Plan Revenue €651m
c. €460m c. €700m > €750m Margin on
Operating Activities
12%
13 to 17% 14 to 16 % > 17% * Restated items
correspond to end-of-contract revenues and intra-group billings
with Sopra Steria Group considered as non-recurring.
On a restated from non-recurring items basis, the new combined
entity would have generated annual revenue of €651m in 2023, with
operating profit representing 12% of revenue.
Sopra Banking Software's consolidation into Axway is scheduled
for beginning of September 2024. Axway will therefore include Sopra
Banking Software 's activities for the last four months of 2024 in
its next annual financial statements. On this basis, the combined
entity is aiming at 2024 revenue of around €460m and a margin on
operating activities of between 13% and 17%.
By 2025, pursuing its development at an annual organic growth
rate of between 2% and 4%, Axway targets revenue of around €700m
and a margin on operating activities of between 14% (around €100
million) and 16% which will reflect the full materialization of
cost optimizations, of the order of €15m, expected on a full-year
2025 basis.
By 2027, Axway ambitions to achieve revenue above €750m and a
margin on operating activities of more than 17%. By 2028, the
Company is aiming for a margin on operating activities at around
20% of revenue.
In terms of cash generation and debt leverage, Axway has
outlined the following ambitions:
Axway Software + SBS End-2024Ambition
End-2025Ambition End-2027Ambition Free Cash
Flow / Revenue ≈ 4% ≈ 10% > 15% Net
Leverage Ratio > 2.5x < 2.0x <
1.0x
Free cash flow should represent around 10% of the new entity's
revenue in 2025, gradually improving to over 15% by the end of
2027. This significant improvement in free cash flow will provide
the Company with opportunities to rapidly reduce its financial
leverage.
At year-end 2024, Axway expects its net debt to EBITDA ratio to
exceed 2.5x. By the end of 2025, this ratio should be below 2.0x,
and by 2027 it is expected to be below 1.0x.
Main terms of the capital increase
The capital increase will be carried out with shareholders’
preferential subscription rights, in accordance with the 18th
resolution of Axway's shareholders general meeting held on May 11,
2023, and will result in the issuance of 8 112 597 new shares, at a
subscription price of €16.10 per share (i.e. a nominal value of
€2.0 plus an issue premium of €14.10), to be fully paid up upon
subscription, representing gross proceeds, including the issue
premium, of €130,612,811.70.
The preferential subscription rights will be detached from the
underlying existing shares on July 24, 2024 and the existing shares
will be traded ex-right from July 24, 2024.
Each share that a shareholder holds in its securities account on
July 25, 2024 (as close of trading) will entitle it to receive one
Right. 8 Rights will entitle the holder to subscribe for 3 new
shares, on an irreducible basis.
Subscriptions on a reducible basis will be allowed. Any new
share not subscribed on an irreducible basis will be distributed
and allocated to the holders of Rights having submitted additional
subscription orders on a reducible basis, subject to reduction in
the event of oversubscription.
Based on the closing price of Axway’s share price on the
regulated market of Euronext in Paris on July 19, 2024, i.e.
€27.50, the theoretical value of one Right is €3.11, and the
theoretical value of the ex-right share is €24.39.
For information purposes, the subscription price of the new
shares reflects a discount of 34.0% to Axway’s theoretical ex-right
share price, based on the closing price on July 19, 2024, and a
facial discount of 41.5% to the closing price on July 19, 2024.
These values neither necessarily reflect the value of the Rights
during their trading period, nor the value of Axway shares
ex-rights, as they will be observed in the market.
The capital increase will be opened to the public in France
only.
The capital increase is subject to a placement agreement between
the Company and Crédit Agricole CIB and Société Générale as joint
global coordinators and joint bookrunners.
Indicative timetable of the share capital increase
The Rights will be detached on July 24, 2024 and will be
tradable on Euronext Paris from July 24, 2024 until the close of
the preferential subscription rights trading period, i.e. until
August 16, 2024 included, according to the indicative timetable,
under the ISIN code FR001400QJH1.
The subscription period for the new shares will run from July
26, 2024 to August 20, 2024 included, according to the indicative
timetable. Any Right not exercised before the end of the
subscription period, i.e. on August 20, 2024, shall automatically
become null and void.
The settlement and delivery of the new shares and admission of
trading on Euronext Paris are expected to take place on August 27,
2024. They will be immediately fungible with the Company's existing
shares and will be traded under the same trading line and under the
same ISIN code FR0011040500.
Subscription and other commitments by Axway's main
shareholders
Under the terms of the purchase agreement entered into between
Sopra GMT, as acquirer, and Sopra Steria Group, as seller, dated
May 31, 2024, Sopra GMT undertook to acquire:
- 3,619,423 Axway shares, representing 16.73%
of Axway's share capital and 10.98% of its theoretical voting
rights, from Sopra Steria Group, at a price of €26.50 per Axway
share, i.e. a total price of €95,914,709.5 (“Axway Block
Acquisition”), which was completed on July 19 2024; and - all
3,293,637 preferential subscription rights attached to the Axway
shares held by Sopra Steria Group following the Axway Block
Acquisition, which may be exercised as part of the capital
increase, for a total price of €10,243,211.07 (the "Rights
Acquisition").
Sopra GMT has irrevocably undertaken to subscribe, on an
irreducible basis, to the capital increase by exercising all of its
preferential subscription rights, including those acquired as part
of the Rights Acquisition from Sopra Steria Group, representing a
total of approximately 52.8% of the capital increase.
Moreover, Sopra GMT has irrevocably undertaken to subscribe for
new shares not subscribed at the end of the subscription period
(either on an irreducible or on a reducible basis), in order to
ensure that all new shares are subscribed.
Patrick Donovan, the Company’s CEO, has indicated that he
intends to exercise all his preferential subscription rights,
representing 0.7% of the capital increase.
As of the date of the Prospectus, Axway is not aware of any
subscription intentions from shareholders of the Company other than
that mentioned above, nor of any subscription intentions from
members of its administrative bodies.
Lock-up undertakings
Axway has committed to a lock-up period starting on the signing
date of the placement agreement and ending 180 calendar days
following the settlement and delivery date of the new shares,
subject to certain customary exceptions.
Patrick Donovan, Chief Executive Officer, Sopra GMT and Sopra
Steria Group have committed to a lock-up period starting on the
date of approval by the AMF of the Prospectus related to the
capital increase and ending 180 calendar days following the
settlement and delivery date of the new shares, subject to certain
customary exceptions (including, with respect to Patrick Donovan,
his ability to pledge existing shares for the purposes of
benefiting a financing dedicated to the subscription of new shares
resulting from the exercise of his preferential subscription
rights).
Dilution
For illustrative purposes only, following the issue of the new
shares, a shareholder holding 1% of the Company's share capital as
of July 22, 2024 and who does not participate in the capital
increase, would hold 0.73% of the share capital.
Availability of the Prospectus
Copies of the French language Prospectus approved by the AMF on
July 22 2024 under number 24-328, comprising and (i) the 2023
universal registration document filed with the AMF on March 25,
2024 under number D.24-0175 (Document d'Enregistrement Universel
2023), (ii) its amendment filed with the AMF on July 22 2024 under
number D.24-0175-A01 (Amendement au Document d'Enregistrement
Universel 2023), and (iii) a securities note (Note d'Opération)
(including the summary of the Prospectus) is available free of
charge from the Company's registered office, PAE Les Glaisins - 3
rue du Pré Faucon, Annecy-le-Vieux - 74940 Annecy, France, as well
as on the website of Axway Software (www.investors.axway.com/fr)
and the AMF (www.amf-france.org).
Risk factors
Investors’ attention is drawn by Axway Software to the chapter
2.1 ("Risk Factors") of the 2023 universal registration document
filed with the AMF on March 25, 2024 under number D. 24-0175 and
its amendment filed with the AMF on July 22 2024 under number
D.24-0175-A01 and to section 2 "Risk factors related to the
offering" of the securities note.
About Sopra Banking Software
Sopra Banking Software (SBS) is a global financial technology
company that is helping banks and the financial services industry
to reimagine how to operate in an increasingly digital world. SBS
is a trusted partner of more than 1,500 financial institutions and
large-scale lenders in 80 countries worldwide. Its cloud platform
offers clients a composable architecture to digitize operations,
ranging from banking, lending, compliance, to payments, and
consumer and asset finance. SBS is recognized as a Top 10 European
Fintech company by IDC and as a leader in Omdia’s Universe: Digital
Banking Platforms.
About Axway
Axway enables enterprises to securely open everything by
integrating and moving data across a complex world of new and old
technologies. Axway’s API-driven B2B integration and MFT software,
refined over 20 years, complements Axway Amplify, an open API
management platform that makes APIs easier to discover and reuse
across multiple teams, vendors, and cloud environments. Axway has
helped over 11,000 businesses unlock the full value of their
existing digital ecosystems to create brilliant experiences,
innovate new services, and reach new markets.
This document may not be published,
forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United
States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan.
This document does not constitute a public offer, an offer to
purchase or an intention to solicit the interest of the public for
a public offering of any securities.
The distribution of this document in these and certain other
countries may be restricted by law. The persons into whose
possession this document comes should inform themselves about and
observe any such restrictions.
Disclaimer:
This document is an advertisement and does not constitute a
prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the
European Parliament and the Council of June 14th, 2017 (as amended,
the “Prospectus Regulation”).
Potential investors are advised to read the Prospectus before
making an investment decision in order to fully understand the
potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest
in the securities.
The approval of the Prospectus by the AMF should not be
understood as an endorsement of the securities offered or admitted
to trading on a regulated market.
This document does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of Axway Software in
the United States or in any other jurisdiction.
The securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in
the United States or to US persons unless such securities are
registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 ("U.S. Securities
Act"), as amended, or an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Act is available. Axway Software shares have
not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act
and Axway Software does not intend to undertake a public offering
of its securities in the United States.
With respect to the Member States of the European Economic Area
(each a “Relevant Member State”), no action has been
undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public (as
defined in the Prospectus Regulation) of the securities requiring a
publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State, other
than France. As a result, the new or existing shares of Axway
Software may not be offered and will not be offered in any Relevant
Member State other than France, except (i) to any legal entity
which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus
Regulation, (ii) to fewer than 150, natural or legal persons (other
than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation)
as permitted under the Prospectus Regulation; or (iii) in any other
circumstances not requiring Axway Software to publish a prospectus
as provided under Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation and/or
regulations applicable in the Relevant Member State, provided that
such an offer of new or existing shares in Axway Software does not
give rise to an obligation for Axway Software to publish a
prospectus pursuant to Article 3(1) of the Prospectus Regulation or
a prospectus supplement pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus
Regulation.
In the United Kingdom, this document does not constitute an
approved prospectus for the purpose of and as defined in section 85
of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the
“FSMA”), has not been prepared in accordance with the
Prospectus Rules issued by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the
“FCA”) pursuant to section 73A of the FSMA and has not been
approved by or filed with the FCA or any other authority which
would be a competent authority for the purposes of the Prospectus
Regulation. The new and existing shares in Axway Software may not
be offered or sold and will not be offered or sold to the public in
the United Kingdom (within the meaning of sections 85 and 102B of
the FSMA) save in the circumstances where it is to be lawful to do
so without an approved prospectus (within the meaning of section 85
of the FSMA) being made available to the public before the offer is
made. This document is for distribution in the United Kingdom only
to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating
to investments falling within section 19(5) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as
amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons
falling within sections 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies,
corporate, unincorporated associations etc”) of the Financial
Promotion Order, or (iii) are persons otherwise permitted by law to
receive it (all such persons together being referred to as
“Relevant Persons”). In the United Kingdom this document is
directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be distributed to,
acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any
investment or investment activity to which this document relates is
available in the United Kingdom only to Relevant Persons and will
be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.
This document is not, and under no circumstances is it to be
construed as, a prospectus, offering memorandum, advertisement or
an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the
securities referred to herein in Canada. Any offering in Canada
will be made on a private placement basis only to purchasers
resident in Ontario who subscribe for or acquire offered shares or
rights, or are deemed to subscribe for or acquire them, for their
own account and are “accredited investors”, within the meaning of
National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions or subsection
73.3 (1) of the Securities Act (Ontario).
The release, publication or distribution of this document in
certain jurisdictions may be restricted by laws or regulations.
Persons in such jurisdictions into which this document is released,
published or distributed must inform themselves about and comply
with such laws or regulations.
Any decision to subscribe for or purchase the shares or other
securities of Axway Software must be made solely based on
information publicly available about Axway Software. Such
information is not the responsibility of Crédit Agricole Corporate
and Investment Bank and Société Générale and has not been
independently verified by Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment
Bank and Société Générale.
Forward-looking
statements:
This document contains certain forward-looking statements about
Axway Software and its subsidiaries. These statements include
financial projections and estimates and their underlying
assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and
anticipated results as well as events, operations, future services
or product development and potential or future performance.
Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words
“expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends,” “estimates,”
“anticipates,” “projects,” “seeks,” “endeavors,” “strives,” “aims,”
“hopes,” “plans,” “may,” “goal,” “objective,” “projection,”
“outlook” and similar expressions. Although the management of Axway
Software believes that these forward-looking statements are
reasonably made, investors and holders of the group’s securities
are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to
a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors, a large number of which are difficult to predict and
generally outside the control of Axway Software, that may cause
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievement
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These
risks and uncertainties include those developed or identified in
any public documents approved by the French financial markets
authority (the Autorité des marchés financiers – the “AMF”)
made or to be made by the group, in particular those described in
Chapter 2.1 “Risk Factors” of the 2023 universal registration
document filed with the AMF under number D. 24-0175 on March 25,
2024 and in Chapter 3 of the 2023 universal registration document
amendment filed with the AMF under number D. 24-0175-A01 on July
22, 2024. These forward-looking statements are given only as of the
date of this document and Axway Software expressly declines any
obligation or commitment to publish updates or corrections of the
forward-looking statements included in this document in order to
reflect any change affecting the forecasts or events, conditions or
circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based.
Any information relating to past performance contained herein is
not a guarantee of future performance. Nothing herein should be
construed as an investment recommendation or as legal, tax,
investment or accounting advice.
____________________ 1 At the date of the prospectus, taking
into account the factors and adjustments, it is indicated for
illustrative purposes that the purchase price of 100% of SBS’s
share capital and voting rights should be between €113m and €128m
and that the current shareholder account to be repaid should be
approximately of an amount of €190m. 2 Profit from recurring
operations adjusted for the non-cash share-based payment expense,
as well as the amortization of allocated intangible assets.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240722546784/en/
Investor Relations: Arthur Carli – +33 (0)1 47 17 24 65 –
acarli@axway.com
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