- Enhances Concentrix’ position as a leader in $550B+ growing CX market
- Adds clients in attractive growing markets, further diversifying our marquee client list
- Significantly expands footprint in Europe, Latin America, and Africa
- Expands breadth and global reach of high-value services and digital capabilities
- Strengthens support for clients and staff, combining complementary cultures
- Accretive to revenue growth, profitability, and non-GAAP EPS in first year
- Conference call today at 5:00 PM EDT
Concentrix Corporation (Nasdaq: CNXC), a leading global provider of customer experience (CX) services and technologies, today announced they have entered into an agreement to combine with Webhelp in a transaction valued at approximately $4.8 billion, including net debt. Webhelp is a recognized leader in the market, specializing in CX, sales, marketing, and payment services with a strong client and delivery footprint in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The combined company, with approximately $9.8 billion in estimated pro forma 2023 annual revenues and a complementary global presence, will be uniquely positioned to grow faster than the market and transform customer experiences with innovative technology for the world’s best brands.
This combination marks a key milestone for the two companies, as they come together with a complementary culture, footprint, capabilities, and vision. Chris Caldwell, President and CEO of Concentrix, will lead the combined organization. “We are honored and excited to join forces with Webhelp, a recognized and game-changing leader in Europe, Latin America, and Africa that shares our culture, values and fanatical focus on people and the success of our valued clients. As we embark on this new journey together, we will have the most impressive toolkit of high-value services and digital capabilities, and a complementary portfolio of approximately 2,000 amazing clients with a diversified and robust revenue stream. With our combined strengths, we will be uniquely positioned to redefine the industry and design, build and run the future of CX,” said Chris Caldwell.
“I am excited to begin the next chapter as we come together, aligned in our culture, ‘think human’ mentality, and ambitious plans for the future. I’ve always said that Webhelp’s most precious assets are our clients and our people. Blending strengths of both incredible companies will allow us to keep clients at the heart by offering them the most complete range of solutions, while improving our attractiveness toward talent and investing in technology,” said Olivier Duha, Co-founder and CEO of Webhelp.
Ian Gallienne, CEO of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (“GBL”), the majority stakeholder in Webhelp since 2019, said, “Following the remarkable development of Webhelp since our investment in 2019, GBL is looking forward to being part of the continued success and growth story that lies ahead. The combined entity will be a leading and transformative force in the marketplace, positioned to create substantial value for all stakeholders.”
Compelling Strategic Benefits
Enhances Concentrix’ position as a leader in $550B+ growing CX market. Webhelp is a CX leader in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The pro forma combined company is expected to have $9.8 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2023. The combination is expected to create a leading global CX provider with broad capabilities across digital services and technology, delivered at scale, positioned to accelerate growth in a dynamic market of rapidly changing consumer expectations.
Adds clients in attractive growing markets, further diversifying our marquee client list. Webhelp will add approximately 1,000 clients to Concentrix, including 25+ Fortune Global 500 and 200+ new economy clients. The combined company will have approximately 2,000 clients, including 155 Fortune Global 500 clients and 320 new economy clients. Webhelp’s clients are predominantly based outside of North America, and Webhelp will expand Concentrix’ domestic sales presence into 12 additional countries.
Significantly expands footprint in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The transaction establishes one of the most robust, well-balanced global footprints in the industry, enhancing Concentrix’ presence in Europe and Latin America, and establishing its African footprint, all at scale. Webhelp adds over 25 new countries to Concentrix and the combined company will have a robust global footprint across more than 70 countries, with a diversified revenue contribution nearly evenly split between the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Expands breadth and global reach of high-value services and digital capabilities. The transaction brings together a broad set of offerings combining the digital capabilities of the two entities to better serve the needs of our clients with high-value services. The combined organization will have robust platforms meeting the needs of the strategic verticals it serves. Additionally, the combination is also expected to accelerate Concentrix Catalyst’s global reach by adding Webhelp’s engineering talent in Europe and Latin America.
Strengthens support for clients and staff, combining complementary cultures. Both Concentrix and Webhelp have been recognized as leaders globally by Great Places to Work and Comparably. In addition, both companies have earned hundreds of awards for ESG and staff environment, well-being, diversity, and engagement as well as hundreds of client partner of choice awards within the last three years.
Accretive to revenue growth, profitability, and non-GAAP EPS in first year. The combination enhances an already attractive financial profile through accretion to revenue growth, profitability, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Webhelp is expected to generate approximately $3.0 billion of revenue and $500 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2023, reflecting over 8% organic constant currency growth. The transaction is expected to be accretive to non-GAAP EPS in the first full year, with double-digit accretion to non-GAAP EPS in the second full year.
Transaction Details:
- Concentrix has entered into a binding put option agreement to combine with Webhelp. Upon completion of customary works council consultations, the parties will enter into a definitive purchase agreement.
- Under the terms of the agreement, Concentrix will acquire 100% of the shares of Webhelp. Shareholders of Webhelp will receive 14.9 million shares of Concentrix, €500 million of cash proceeds, and a €700 million note payable in two years, bearing an interest rate of 2%, with the right to earn an additional 0.75 million shares of Concentrix if the Concentrix share price reaches $170.00 per share within seven years from the closing of the transaction (based on daily volume weighted average prices measured over a specified period). Additionally, Webhelp’s targeted net debt of approximately €1.55 billion will be refinanced when the transaction closes.
- Upon closing of the transaction, Concentrix shareholders will own approximately 78% of the combined company with Webhelp shareholders owning approximately 22%.
- Maintaining its commitment to a diverse board of directors, the combined company will have a ten-member board, including two new board members that are expected to be Olivier Duha as Vice Chair of the Board and Nicolas Gheysens, as a representative of GBL.
- Cost synergy benefits are expected to be $75 million in the first full year after closing, achieving a minimum of $120 million, net of investments, by the third full year.
- The combined company will benefit from a strong financial foundation and an investment grade profile, generating strong free cash flows. At close, Concentrix is expected to have approximately $5.1 billion of total debt outstanding, consisting of newly issued senior notes, the €700 million note payable, and its existing credit and accounts receivable securitization facilities. Based on estimated pro forma adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.6 billion in 2023 and expected net debt of approximately $4.9 billion at close, net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA is expected to be approximately 3x at transaction close and is expected to decrease to close to 2x within two years (excluding any future acquisitions).
- Total transaction value of $4.8 billion and expected 2023 Webhelp revenue and adjusted EBITDA are based on an assumed exchange rate of 1.08 USD/EUR. The transaction value also reflects a Concentrix share price of $120.00 per share.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Concentrix shareholders and regulatory approvals. Certain shareholders of the company, including MiTAC International Corporation, which collectively owned approximately 15% of Concentrix common stock as of March 29, 2023, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction. Until the transaction is completed, the companies will continue to operate independently.
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