OREANDA-NEWS. SciQuest, Inc. the leading public provider of spend management solutions delivering value beyond savings, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Accel-KKR (“AKKR”), a leading technology-focused private equity firm, for $17.75 per share in cash, representing a total equity value of approximately $509 million.

The offer represents a 34% premium over the Company’s closing pricing on May 27, 2016. Upon closing, AKKR will own 100% of the outstanding shares of SciQuest common stock. AKKR, which has been a stockholder since 2014, currently owns 4.9% of SciQuest’s outstanding shares.

“This transaction provides SciQuest’s stockholders with a significant premium over the pre-announcement market price and we believe it will allow us to increase our focus on long-term success that will benefit customers, employees, partners and suppliers. As a private company, we expect to continue to accelerate innovation, increase efficiency and expand our solution suite,” said Stephen Wiehe, Chief Executive Officer of SciQuest.

“As long-standing and significant investors in SciQuest, we have been impressed by the breadth, depth and cohesiveness of the Company’s leading technology,” said Tom Barnds, Managing Director of Accel-KKR. “We look forward to partnering with the SciQuest team to continue to accelerate innovation and bring value to customers in this large and growing market.”

SciQuest’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposed transaction and resolved to recommend that stockholders vote their shares in favor of this transaction at a stockholders meeting to be held at a later date.

The transaction, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of SciQuest’s stockholders and required regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, SciQuest may solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties during a 25-day "go-shop" period, following the date of execution of the merger agreement. There is no guarantee that this process will result in a superior proposal, and the merger agreement provides AKKR with a customary right to match a superior proposal. The Company does not intend to disclose any developments with respect to this process unless and until its Board of Directors makes a decision regarding a potential superior proposal. Upon closing, SciQuest will become a privately held company with its headquarters remaining in Morrisville, NC. 

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP are serving as SciQuest’s financial and legal advisors, respectively, for this transaction. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as AKKR’s legal advisor.