DIFC Investments to Acquire Smartstream Technologies

From TA Asscoicates, Management and Employees

DIFC Investments, the investment arm of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and TA Associates, a leading growth private equity and buyout firm, today announced that DIFC Investments has agreed to acquire SmartStream Technologies (SmartStream), the UK based software licensing and professional services business.

DIFC Investments will acquire SmartStream from TA Associates, SmartStream management and employees in an all cash deal, which values the company at approximately £200 million. The management team remains highly committed to the business and will be incentivised to continue SmartStream's development as a leader in the industry.

His Excellency Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Chairman of DIFC Investments, said: "This acquisition enhances the DIFC's role in the global financial services industry and further establishes the DIFC as a global gateway for international financial business".

DIFC Investments aims to create a new generation of hosted information and trade processing services, and its intention is that SmartStream will be at the heart of the secure, scaleable trade processing and data management platform it is building.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bisher Barazi, Managing Director of DIFC Investments, said: "We are pleased to acquire SmartStream, a recognized global leader in the development of transaction lifecycle management software used in the back and middle office of many of the world's leading banks, asset managers, hedge funds and money managers. It has excellent products, a committed management team and exciting plans for future development in what is the world's largest IT market, financial services technology."

Ajit Nedungadi, Managing Director of TA Associates said: "We are delighted to reach this agreement with DIFC Investments. This has proven to be a very successful relationship for SmartStream and TA Associates, and we thank the management team for their hard work and support during this period. The DIFC is an exciting strategic platform that will support continued growth and investment in SmartStream."

Ken Archer, CEO of SmartStream, said: "SmartStream has established itself as a global leader in transaction lifecycle management. As we enter the next phase of our development, we are delighted to have the backing and support of DIFC Investments, which has an obvious interest in and a deep understanding of the global financial services industry in which we operate. For our customers, partners and employees it is very much business as usual. Being at the heart of this massive industry transformation that DIFC Investments are driving will undoubtedly create exciting opportunities for SmartStream to accelerate our growth over the medium and long term."

The transaction is expected to close in approximately one month from now.

DIFC was advised on the transaction by Deutsche Bank AG, while Close Brothers advised SmartStream and TA Associates.