Computershare Agrees to Acquire Italy's Leading Supplier of Issuer Services
LONDON and PARIS, April 5, 2011 -- Computershare Limited (ASX:CPU) has agreed to purchase Servizio Titoli SpA, Italy's leading provider of issuer services, from the London Stock Exchange Group PLC.
Operating since 1995, Servizio Titoli has approximately 50 employees based in Milan, Turin and Rome, delivering meeting and dividend register management services to more than 50% of Italy's listed companies.
"The agreement to purchase Servizio Titoli follows through on our commitment to build our Continental European business, as reflected in the recent separation of management of Continental Europe from the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Ireland and Africa", said Stuart Crosby, Computershare's CEO. "Our global clients expect us to be able to offer them services across the world, and this acquisition materially enhances our Italian offering. We support our clients in over 20 countries on five continents."
Steffen Herfurth, Computershare's Group Managing Director for Continental Europe said: 'We're really excited to be extending our footprint in Continental Europe with this acquisition. As the leading provider in the Italian market, Servizio Titoli is a perfect fit for our business and continues our strategy of offering premium services across major CE countries."
Computershare already owns Georgeson, a leading global proxy solicitation business and an established brand in the Italian marketplace.
Computershare is practiced at the integration of acquisitions, having successfully undertaken over 80 globally in the past 15 years. Existing clients of Servizio Titoli can expect service to continue as usual.
The acquisition is expected to complete in mid May following satisfaction of various formal conditions.
About Computershare Limited (CPU)
Computershare (ASX:CPU) is a global market leader in transfer agency and share registration, employee equity plans, proxy solicitation and stakeholder communications. We also specialise in corporate trust services, tax voucher solutions, bankruptcy administration and a range of other diversified financial and governance services.
Founded in 1978, Computershare is renowned for its expertise in data management, high volume transaction processing, payments and stakeholder engagement. Many of the world's leading organisations use these core competencies to help maximise the value of relationships with their investors, employees, creditors, members and customers.
Computershare is represented in all major financial markets and has over 10,000 employees worldwide.
For more information, visit www.computershare.com
About Georgeson Italy
Georgeson is the world's leading provider of stakeholder intelligence; global information agent; proxy solicitation and corporate governance advisory services. In 2010, Georgeson was the No. 1 proxy solicitor for M&A transactions worldwide. Georgeson has been present in Italy since 1999, offering its portfolio of services to listed companies representing more than 80% of total Italian market capitalization. For more information, please visit
http://www.georgeson.it
About Servizio Titoli
Servizio Titoli offers a complete range of products and services for listed companies and IPOs. Our support is targeted towards the management of shareholders, annual general meetings, corporate secretaries and investor relations. Thanks to our branches in Milan, Rome and Turin which assure a presence in the main financial centres and proximity to our clients'
premises, our service is always efficient, timely and innovative.
http://www.computershare.com
Source: Computershare
Lucy Newcombe, Computershare, Corporate Communications Director, lucy.newcombe@computershare.com, T +44(0)870-703-0041, M +44(0)7887-687921, F +44(0)870-7036018, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS13 8AE, United Kingdom
