Log in to your IBTimes Account

close
ID
Password

United Online to purchase FTD Group



By AP
30 April 2008 @ 09:19 am EST

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. - Internet service provider United Online Inc. said Wednesday it will buy FTD Group Inc., a florist network and Web site operator, for approximately $456 million.

Related Topic

Get stories by e-mail on this topic.

E-mail:
Quotes
UNTD 8.38 0.33
FTD 14.68 0.17

SYMBOL LOOKUP

United said it will fund the transaction with available cash, notes and stock as well as term loans and a revolving credit agreement.

The acquisition will provide additional revenue and help United expand into the growing floral Internet business, the company said.

FTD shareholders will receive $7.34 in cash, 0.4087 of a share of United stock and $3.31 of United's senior secured notes due 2013 for each share they own. The terms give FTD stockholders $15.08 per share based on United's closing price of $10.83 on Tuesday.

The companies put the amount given to FTD stockholders at about $456 million, which contains $222 million in cash, 12.35 million shares of United stock and $100 million notes.

United and FTD valued the total deal at approximately $800 million, which includes FTD debt and expenses.

United said it has the option to not include the notes in the deal, instead raising the per-share amount by $2.81.

The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter, which is subject to a financing condition and other conditions.

When the deal closes former FTD shareholders will own about 15 percent of United Online, which provides consumer Internet and media services. FTD Group will continue to run as a United subsidiary.

United also said it plans to cut its regularly quarterly dividend by 10 cents to 10 cents after the deal is complete.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Click!
  • Rate this article:

Comments

Post Your Comment

You must be an IBTimes member to post a comment. Login | Register


advertisement
More Technology
Qwest Communications International Inc. says it has reached a tentative agreement for a four-year contract with a union representing about 20,000 employe...
YouTube, the largest video-sharing Website, has started to run full-length TV shows from CBS Corp's archive, in its latest step to boost advertising...
Shares of Internet service provider Cogent Communications Group Inc. slipped after an analyst lowered his estimates for the company based on the stumblin...

Advertisement
Corporate Website Design

Professional Website Design For Corporate - Get a Free Quote Today

advertisement
 
IBTimes.com Web
Partners
International Business Times© 2008 The Ibtimes Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms of service | Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us | Contact Us | Archives