Mitel announces to acquire Polycom at $1.96 billion

Mitel and Polycom announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement in which Mitel will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Polycom common stock in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $1.96 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Polycom stockholders will be entitled to $3.12 in cash and 1.31 Mitel common shares for each share of Polycom common stock, or $13.68 based on the closing price of a Mitel common share on April 13, 2016. The transaction represented a 22% premium to Polycom shareholders based on Mitel’s and Polycom’s “unaffected” share prices as of April 5, 2016 and it is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The communications and collaboration industry is undergoing a period of intense change that is rapidly redrawing the competitive landscape and breaking down barriers between previously discrete markets and technology domains. Through a series of strategic acquisitions, Mitel has successfully capitalised on changing market dynamics and transformed the company to help customers operate more efficiently and cost effectively. The combination of Mitel and Polycom will create a new industry leader leveraging Mitel’s recognised leadership as a pioneer in global communications with Polycom’s well-known premium brand and industry-leading portfolio in the conference and video collaboration market.

The combined company will be headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and will operate under the Mitel name while maintaining Polycom’s strong global brand. Richard McBee, Mitel’s Chief Executive Officer will lead the combined organisation. Steve Spooner, Mitel’s Chief Financial Officer, will also continue in that role. On the closing of the proposed transaction, it is expected that Polycom will assume two seats on the Mitel board. Once merged, the combined company will have a global workforce of approximately 7,700 employees.

“Mitel has a simple vision - to provide seamless communications and collaboration to customers. To bring that vision to life we are methodically putting the puzzle pieces in place to provide a seamless customer experience across any device and any environment,” said Mitel CEO Rich McBee. “Polycom is one of the most respected brands in the world and is synonymous with the high quality and innovative conference and video capabilities that are now the norm of everyday collaboration. Together with industry-leading voice communications from Mitel, the combined company will have the talent and technology needed to truly deliver integrated solutions to businesses and service providers across enterprise, mobile and cloud environments.”

“Together, Polycom and Mitel expect to drive meaningful value for our shareholders, customers, partners and employees around the world,” said Peter Leav, President and CEO of Polycom. “We look forward to working closely with the Mitel team to ensure a smooth transition and continued innovation to bring the workplace of the future to our customers.”

Mitel intends to finance the cash portion of the consideration for the acquisition, and the refinancing of its existing credit facilities and those of Polycom, using a combination of cash on hand from the combined business and proceeds from new financing and has received financing commitments from BofA Merrill Lynch of approximately $1.1 billion in the aggregate.

BofA Merrill Lynch is serving as Mitel’s financial advisor, with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP providing legal advice to Mitel.Morgan Stanley is serving as Polycom’s financial advisor, with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati providing legal advice to Polycom and Morrison & Foerster LLP providing legal advice to Polycom’s Board of Directors.

Updated Guidance for Mitel First Quarter for the period ended March 31, 2016.

While Mitel is still early in the process of closing the quarter ended March 31, 2016, it is expected that revenue and adjusted EBITDA margin will be within the company’s prior guidance range. Based on preliminary information available at this time, Mitel now expects quarterly non-GAAP revenue will be in the range of $270 million to $280 million and adjusted EBITDA margin will be in the range of 7.5% to 9.5%.

Mitel's first quarter 2016 results are planned to be issued before the market opens on Thursday, May 5, 2016. Details of the first quarter 2016 conference call will be confirmed by Mitel in a separate announcement.

Mitel and Polycom held a joint conference call and webcast accompanied by slides to discuss the transaction.  Presentation slides will be available on April 15 in conjunction with this release.

A rebroadcast of this call will be available on Monday, April 18, 2016 after 9:00 a.m. ET (6:00 a.m. PT).

Mitel, Polycom and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the respective shareholders of Mitel and Polycom in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus described above when it is filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Additional information regarding Mitel’s directors and executive officers is also included in Mitel’s proxy circular for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on April 15, 2015, and information regarding Polycom’s directors and executive officers is also included in Polycom’s proxy statement for its 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 15, 2015. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

Mitel is the registered trademark of Mitel Networks Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Polycom and its global partner ecosystem provide flexible collaboration solutions for any environment that deliver the best user experience, the broadest multi-vendor interoperability and unmatched investment protection.