UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
February 15, 2022
BLACK KNIGHT, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
001-37394
(Commission File Number)
Delaware |
| 81-5265638 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of | (IRS Employer Identification Number) | |
Incorporation or Organization) |
601 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204
(Addresses of Principal Executive Offices)
(904) 854-5100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On February 15, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), Black Knight, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Black Knight”), through Optimal Blue I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black Knight (“Optimal Blue I”), completed its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Optimal Blue Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a subsidiary of Black Knight (“Optimal Blue Holdco”), owned by (i) Cannae Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and subsidiary of Cannae Holdings, Inc. (“Cannae”) and (ii) certain investment entities affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (collectively, “THL”) (such transaction, the “Transaction”), pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of February 15, 2022, by and among Black Knight, Optimal Blue I, Cannae, THL, Optimal Blue Holdco and Black Knight Technologies, LLC a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black Knight (“Black Knight Technologies”), in exchange for aggregate consideration of (y) $433,500,000 in cash, funded with borrowings under Black Knight’s revolving credit facility and (z) 36,376,360 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“DNB”), owned by Black Knight. The aggregate consideration and number of shares of DNB common stock paid to Cannae and THL in connection with the Transaction was based on the 20-day VWAP trading price of DNB for the period ending on February 14, 2022. Following the consummation of the Transaction, Black Knight will indirectly own 100% of the issued and outstanding Class A Units of Optimal Blue Holdco.
The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure
On February 15, 2022, Black Knight issued a press release announcing the Transaction. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information set forth under this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit |
| Description |
2.1 | ||
99.1 | ||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Black Knight, Inc. | ||||
Date: | February 15, 2022 | By: | /s/ Kirk T. Larsen | |
Name: | Kirk T. Larsen | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 2.1
Execution Version
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of February 15, 2022 by and among
(i) Black Knight, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Black Knight”);
(ii) Optimal Blue I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Buyer”);
(iii) the Blocker Owners, as set forth on Schedule I hereto (the “Blocker Owners”);
(iv) Cannae Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Cannae” and, together with the Blocker Owners, the “Sellers” and each a “Seller”);
(v) solely for the purposes of Section 7, THL Optimal Blue Blocker Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Blocker” and, together with Cannae, the “Members”);
(vi) solely for the purposes of Section 7, Optimal Blue Holdco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”); and
(vii) solely for the purposes of Section 7(c), Section 7(d), Section 7(e), Section 7(f), Section 7(h), Section 7(i), Section 7(j), Section 7(k), Section 7(l), Section 7(m), Section 7(n), Section 7(o) and Section 7(p), Black Knight Technologies, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Black Knight Technologies”).
RECITALS
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the promises, agreements and mutual covenants set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and INTENDING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND HEREBY, the parties hereto agree as follows:
i. | “VWAP” means, for any security as of any date(s), the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “HP” function (set to weighted average). |
ii. | “Trading Day” means any day on which publicly traded common equity securities of D&B are actually traded on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which publicly traded common equity securities of the D&B are then traded. |
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i. | to Cannae, (i) the Cannae Cash Consideration by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account(s) as specified by Cannae prior to the Closing Date and (ii) the Cannae Stock Consideration which will be represented by book-entry shares, and which shall bear legends as to the restrictions on transfer or stop transfer notations with respect thereto; and |
ii. | to the recipients set forth on Schedule I hereto, (i) the THL Cash Consideration, as allocated among such recipients as set forth on Schedule I hereto, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account(s) as specified by the Blocker Owners (or their applicable designees) prior to the date hereof and (ii) the THL Stock Consideration, as allocated among such recipients as set forth on Schedule I hereto, which will be represented by book-entry shares, and which shall bear legends as to the restrictions on transfer or stop transfer notations with respect thereto. |
i. | to Buyer, instruments of assignment, transfer or other instruments of conveyance of the Sold Securities, duly executed by each Seller for transfer to Buyer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer; and |
ii. | to Buyer, a duly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or, in the case of a Blocker Owner that is not a U.S. person, in the Blocker Sellers’ discretion, a certification from the Blocker complying with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3) with respect to the transfer of Blocker). |
Each party shall deliver such other documents as may be reasonably requested by another party for the purpose of facilitating the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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i. | The parties hereto will cooperate fully as and to the extent reasonably requested by another party in connection with the filing of tax returns of Blocker. Such cooperation will include the retention and (upon request) provision of records and information reasonably relevant to such tax returns, including tax returns of Blocker for years prior to the date of this Agreement. |
[Signature Pages Follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereby have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first set above.
| | BLACK KNIGHT: | ||
| | BLACK KNIGHT, INC. | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Kirk T. Larsen | |
| | | Name: | Kirk T. Larsen |
| | | Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| | BUYER: | ||
| | OPTIMAL BLUE I, LLC | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Colleen E. Haley | |
| | | Name: | Colleen E. Haley |
| | | Title: | Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
| | SELLERS: | ||
| | CANNAE HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Bryan D. Coy | |
| | | Name: | Bryan D. Coy |
| | | Title: | Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer |
| | |||
| | THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY FUND VIII, L.P. | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | THL Equity Advisors VIII, LLC, its general partner | |
| | By: | Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member | |
| | By: | Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner | |
| | By: | THL Holdco, LLC, its managing member | |
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Michael McDonnell | |
| | | Name: | Michael McDonnell |
| | | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
| | |||
| | THOMAS H. LEE PARALLEL FUND VIII, L.P. | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | THL Equity Advisors VIII, LLC, its general partner | |
| | By: | Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member | |
| | By: | Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner | |
| | By: | THL Holdco, LLC, its managing member | |
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Michael McDonnell | |
| | | Name: | Michael McDonnell |
| | | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
| | |||
| | THL EQUITY FUND VIII INVESTORS (OB), L.P. | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | THL Equity Advisors VIII, LLC, its general partner | |
| | By: | Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., its sole member | |
| | By: | Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC, its general partner | |
| | By: | THL Holdco, LLC, its managing member | |
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Michael McDonnell | |
| | | Name: | Michael McDonnell |
| | | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
| | BLOCKER: | ||
| | Solely for purposes of Section 7, | ||
| | | | |
| | THL OPTIMAL BLUE BLOCKER CORP. | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Ganesh Rao | |
| | | Name: | Ganesh Rao |
| | | Title: | President |
| | COMPANY: | ||
| | Solely for purposes of Section 7, | ||
| | | | |
| | OPTIMAL BLUE HOLDCO, LLC | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Colleen E. Haley | |
| | | Name: | Colleen E. Haley |
| | | Title: | Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
| | BLACK KNIGHT TECHNOLOGIES: | ||
| | Solely for purposes of Section 7(c), Section 7(d), Section 7(e), Section 7(f), Section 7(h), Section 7(i), Section 7(j), Section 7(k), Section 7(l), Section 7(m), Section 7(n), Section 7(o) and Section 7(p) | ||
| | | | |
| | BLACK KNIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC | ||
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Colleen E. Haley | |
| | | Name: | Colleen E. Haley |
| | | Title: | Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
Black Knight Acquires Remaining Interest in Optimal Blue from Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Cannae Holdings, Inc.
Transaction Funded with Shares of Dun & Bradstreet and Cash
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – February 15, 2022 – Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) announced that it has acquired the outstanding interests of Optimal Blue Holdco, LLC (Optimal Blue) from co-investors Cannae Holdings, Inc. and investment entities affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.
The aggregate purchase consideration of $1.156 billion was a combination of 36,376,360 shares of Dun & Bradstreet Holdings, Inc. (Dun & Bradstreet) stock valued at $722.5 million and $433.5 million in cash, funded by borrowings under Black Knight’s revolving credit facility. The aggregate purchase consideration and number of shares of Dun & Bradstreet is based on the 20-day volume-weighted average price of Dun & Bradstreet shares ending on February 14, 2022. The transaction is expected to increase 2022 Adjusted EPS by $0.11 and raise our December 31, 2021 gross leverage ratio to 3.9X on a pro forma basis. The transaction will also simplify our organizational structure with Optimal Blue as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Black Knight.
“The performance of Optimal Blue has been outstanding by any measure. The integration has gone very well, and there continue to be opportunities to go even further with our industry-leading solutions,” said Black Knight Chairman and CEO Anthony Jabbour. “We are looking forward to the continued strong performance of Optimal Blue and the great cross-sell opportunities we have as we move forward as one company.”
Jabbour added, “When we invested in Dun & Bradstreet three years ago, we had a high degree of conviction that the investment would generate outstanding returns for our shareholders, and that is the result we have seen. With the value of our Dun & Bradstreet investment more than doubling, we are taking those gains and investing them in this transaction, which is strategically important to Black Knight.”
Following the transaction, Black Knight owns approximately 18.5 million shares of Dun & Bradstreet with a fair value of $352.8 million based on the February 14, 2022 closing price of $19.10. Black Knight will continue to evaluate its remaining holdings in Dun & Bradstreet in an effort to maximize value for Black Knight shareholders.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Black Knight.
About Black Knight
Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.
Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serving their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com/.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release references Adjusted EPS, which is considered a “non-GAAP” measure. Adjusted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted net earnings by the diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding. This is not intended to be considered in isolation of or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to revenues, operating income, operating margin, net earnings, net earnings per share, net earnings margin or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or liquidity.
We have not provided a reconciliation of forward-looking Adjusted EPS to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, due primarily to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections of non-operating matters that may arise, as not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation is available to Black Knight without unreasonable effort.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Black Knight management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. Black Knight undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The risks and uncertainties that forward-looking statements are subject to include, but are not limited to:
● | changes in general economic, business, regulatory and political conditions, including those resulting from pandemics such as COVID 19, particularly as they affect foreclosures and the mortgage industry; |
● | the outbreak of COVID 19 and measures to reduce its spread, including the effect of governmental or voluntary actions such as business shutdowns and stay-at-home orders; |
● | security breaches against our information systems or breaches involving our third-party vendors; |
● | our ability to maintain and grow our relationships with our clients; |
● | our ability to comply with or changes to the laws, rules and regulations that affect our and our clients’ businesses; |
● | our ability to adapt our solutions to technological changes or evolving industry standards or to achieve our growth strategies; |
● | our ability to protect our proprietary software and information rights; |
● | the effect of any potential defects, development delays, installation difficulties or system failures on our business and reputation; |
● | risks associated with the availability of data; |
● | the effects of our existing leverage on our ability to make acquisitions and invest in our business; |
● | risks associated with the recruitment and retention of our skilled workforce; |
● | our ability to successfully consummate, integrate and achieve the intended benefits of acquisitions, including our ability to successfully achieve the intended benefits of our acquisition of Optimal Blue; |
● | risks associated with our investment in Dun & Bradstreet; and |
● | other risks and uncertainties detailed in the “Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information”, “Risk Factors” and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10 K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
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SOURCE: BLACK KNIGHT, INC.
For more information:
Michelle Kersch
Black Knight
904.854.5043
michelle.kersch@bkfs.com
Steve Eagerton
Black Knight
904.854.3683
Steven.eagerton@bkfs.com