WEX Completes Acquisition of eNett and Optal
WEX Inc. (NYSE:WEX) has completed its acquisition of eNett and Optal for approximately $577.5 million, funded from cash reserves. This strategic acquisition aims to enhance WEX’s B2B payment solutions within the Travel and Corporate Solutions segment. Following the acquisition, Anthony Hynes has been appointed as President of the Travel division. Despite limited visibility due to COVID-19, WEX anticipates the acquisition's impact on adjusted net income to be immaterial through 2021. Additionally, WEX has settled litigation related to the purchase agreement.
- Acquisition of eNett and Optal enhances WEX's B2B payment capabilities.
- Strategic leadership appointments expected to drive growth in Travel and Corporate Solutions.
- Settlement of litigation related to acquisition could reduce future legal uncertainties.
- Anticipated acquisition impact on adjusted net income is immaterial through 2021, indicating potential short-term challenges.
- Integration of eNett and Optal may incur unexpected costs and operational challenges.
WEX Inc. (NYSE:WEX), a leading financial technology service provider, today announced the completion of its previously announced agreement to acquire eNett, a leading provider of B2B payments solutions, and Optal, a company that specializes in optimizing B2B transactions. WEX paid total consideration of approximately
In conjunction with this acquisition, WEX is expanding the leadership team within the B2B payments-focused Travel and Corporate Solutions segment. Anthony Hynes, former Managing Director and CEO of eNett International, will be President of the Travel division, responsible for customers in the travel marketplace. Jay Dearborn will remain President of Corporate Payments, responsible for WEX’s B2B payments products targeted at financial institutions, technology companies and corporate customers. Both Jay and Anthony will report directly to CEO Melissa Smith.
Additionally, contemporaneously with the completion of the acquisition, WEX and the former shareholders of eNett and Optal have agreed to a full and final settlement of the litigation pending in the English courts relating to the previously announced purchase agreement.
Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding: WEX’s acquisition of eNett and Optal (the “Acquisition”), future financial and operating results, and any other statements about WEX or eNett or Optal’s managements’ future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects. Any statements that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “may,” “could,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including: potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the Acquisition and the associated litigation; competitive responses to the Acquisition; uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the combined operations following completion of the Acquisition; the ability to successfully integrate WEX’s and eNett and Optal’s operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated synergies and cost savings; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Acquisition and associated litigation; as well as other risks and uncertainties identified in Item 1A of WEX’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2020 and Item 1A of WEX’s Quarterly Reports for the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 filed on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2020 and October 29, 2020, respectively. WEX’s forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential future impact of any alliance, merger, acquisition, disposition or stock repurchases, other than the Acquisition. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. WEX disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About WEX Inc.
Powered by the belief that complex payment systems can be made simple, WEX (NYSE:WEX) is a leading financial technology service provider across a wide spectrum of sectors, including fleet, travel and healthcare. WEX operates in more than 10 countries and in 20 currencies through approximately 5,000 associates around the world. WEX fleet cards offer 15 million vehicles exceptional payment security and control; purchase volume in its travel and corporate solutions grew to approximately
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FAQ
What was the amount WEX paid to acquire eNett and Optal?
What is the expected impact of the acquisition on WEX's financials?
Who are the new leaders in WEX's Travel division after the acquisition?
Did WEX settle any litigation related to the acquisition?
