The consortium includes Funds advised by BC Partners ("the BC Funds"), alongside several of its limited partners, including La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec ("La Caisse") and StepStone. Longview Asset Management, which owns or manages approximately 9% of PetSmart's outstanding shares has committed to vote in favor of the transaction. Longview will participate in the consortium only with respect to approximately one-third of its holdings, with the balance of its holdings receiving the same $83.00 per share cash transaction consideration as PetSmart's public shareholders will receive.
The transaction would be valued at approximately $8.7 billion, representing a 9.1x multiple of PetSmart's adjusted EBITDA1 for the twelve months ending November 2, 2014.
The announcement follows a review of strategic alternatives undertaken by the PetSmart Board of Directors to maximize shareholder value which began over the summer. The transaction was unanimously approved by the PetSmart Board and is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. The consortium has received fully committed debt financing in connection with the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2015.
"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with BC Partners, which maximizes value for all of our shareholders and best positions PetSmart to continue to meet the needs of pet parents," said Gregory P. Josefowicz, Chairman of PetSmart. "This transaction represents the successful conclusion of our extensive review of strategic alternatives."
"We are very pleased to add PetSmart to our portfolio of investments. PetSmart is an iconic brand and the category leader in the growing pet retail industry. We look forward to working with management to continue growing PetSmart's business and executing against its recently announced strategic initiatives," said Raymond Svider, a Managing Partner at BC Partners.
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