Fidelity National Information Services Inc., a provider of banking and payments technology, agreed to buy software maker SunGard Data Systems Inc. in a deal valued at $9.1 billion, including the assumption of debt.

FIS, as the firm is known, will issue a combination of cash and stock to acquire all of SunGard's equity, Jacksonville, Florida-based FIS said Wednesday in a statement. The combined company will have more than $9.2 billion in annual revenue and 55,000 employees, and will operate in more than 100 countries, according to the statement.

“This is a significant milestone for FIS,” Chief Executive Officer Gary Norcross said in the statement. “We are enhancing our ability to empower our clients and deepen client relationships through an expanded full-service offering.”

The acquisition, financed with a mix of 45 percent cash and 55 percent FIS stock, will help the buyer push into capital markets and wealth-management sectors, according to a presentation on the company's website. The firm forecast $200 million in cost savings by 2017, and said it will temporarily suspend share repurchases.

SunGard, which makes software for financial institutions, is owned by seven private-equity firms, including Silver Lake Management, Providence Equity Partners, and KKR & Co. The Wayne, Pennsylvania-based company filed to go public in June. Its long-term debt was $4.67 billion at the end of March, according to regulatory filings, while cash was $555 million.

SunGard was acquired by the private-equity firms for about $11 billion in 2005, when leveraged buyouts by large groups of investors were more popular.

Fidelity National Financial Inc. spun off Fidelity National Information Services in 2006.

Bank of America Corp. and Centerview Partners LLC were financial advisers to FIS, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal advice. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Barclays Plc, Deutsche Bank AG, and Credit Suisse Group AG were SunGard's financial advisers. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Shearman & Sterling served as legal advisers to SunGard.

The deal is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, according to the statement.

–With assistance from Alex Sherman in New York.

Instant Insights /

SunGard Sold

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