World Kinect Corporation to Acquire Universal Weather and Aviation's Trip Support Services Business
World Kinect Corporation (NYSE:WKC) today announced that a wholly owned subsidiary of the company has signed a definitive agreement with Universal Weather and Aviation to acquire their Trip Support Services (TSS) division. The total purchase price is approximately $220 million, consisting of $160 million of cash payable at closing and $60 million payable over four years.
Universal Weather, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a pioneer in trip support services with deep expertise in international travel regulations, logistics, and supply chain management. It serves business and general aviation customers globally.
"We're excited to announce the agreement to acquire Universal Weather's TSS division, which will significantly expand our trip support services business," said John P. Rau, Chief Operating Officer. "This strategic move complements our fuel business and enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive flight operations support—including flight planning, overflight permits, and ground support services—at more than 3,000 airports worldwide. We look forward to welcoming Universal's team and believe this acquisition will bring immediate value to our customers while positioning us for continued success."
"This acquisition aligns with our disciplined approach to capital allocation and strengthens a core capability within our aviation segment," said Ira M. Birns, President and Chief Financial Officer. "This investment complements our ongoing commitment to shareholder returns through share repurchases and dividends, while also demonstrating our focus on strategically driving growth in our core business activities."
The transaction is expected to be approximately 7% accretive to the company's adjusted earnings per share in the first year after closing, with further accretion expected over time as synergies are realized. The company expects to achieve approximately $15 million in annual net cost synergies by the end of the second year after closing, driven by operational efficiencies and integrated platforms.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed within 60 to 90 days.
About World Kinect Corporation
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, World Kinect Corporation (NYSE:WKC) is a global energy management company offering fulfillment and related services to customers across the aviation, marine, and land-based transportation sectors. The company also supplies natural gas and power in the United States and Europe along with a broad suite of sustainability-related products and services.
Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "project," "could," "would," "will," "will be," "will continue," "plan," or words or phrases of similar meaning. Specifically, this release includes forward-looking statements regarding the expected impact of the acquisition on our trip support business, earnings per share, and cost structure, as well as the timing for the closing of the acquisition. Our forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosures contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Our actual results may differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results and events anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the effects of tariffs and other trade restrictions, which can lead to continuing uncertainty and volatility in global financial and commodity markets, declining consumer confidence, lower personal and business travel and consequent demand for our fuel products; customer and counterparty creditworthiness and our ability to collect accounts receivable and settle derivative contracts; changes in the market prices of energy or commodities or extremely high or low fuel prices that continue for an extended period of time; adverse conditions in the industries in which our customers operate; our inability to effectively mitigate certain financial risks and other risks associated with derivatives and our physical fuel products; our ability to achieve the expected level of benefit from our restructuring activities and cost reduction initiatives; relationships with our employees and potential labor disputes associated with employees covered by collective bargaining agreements; our failure to comply with restrictions and covenants governing our outstanding indebtedness; the impact of cyber and other information technology or security related incidents on us, our customers or other parties; changes in the political, economic or regulatory environment generally and in the markets in which we operate, including as a result of geopolitical conflicts, including the current conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and the actions of the U.S. presidential administration; greenhouse gas reduction programs and other environmental and climate change legislation adopted by governments around the world, including cap and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased efficiency standards and mandates for renewable energy, each of which could increase our operating and compliance costs as well as adversely impact our sales of fuel products; changes in credit terms extended to us from our suppliers; non-performance of suppliers on their sale commitments and customers on their purchase commitments; non-performance of third-party service providers; our ability to effectively integrate and derive benefits from acquired businesses; our ability to meet financial forecasts associated with our operating plan; lower than expected cash flows and revenues, which could impair our ability to realize the value of recorded intangible assets and goodwill; the availability of cash and sufficient liquidity to fund our working capital and strategic investment needs; currency exchange fluctuations; inflationary pressures and their impact on our customers or the global economy, including sudden or significant increases in interest rates or a global recession; our ability to effectively leverage technology and operating systems and realize the anticipated benefits; failure to meet fuel and other product specifications agreed with our customers; environmental and other risks associated with the storage, transportation and delivery of petroleum products; reputational harm from adverse publicity arising out of spills, environmental contamination or public perception about the impacts on climate change by us or other companies in our industry; risks associated with operating in high-risk locations, including supply disruptions, border closures and other logistical difficulties that arise when working in these areas; uninsured or underinsured losses; seasonal variability that adversely affects our revenues and operating results, as well as the impact of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires; declines in the value and liquidity of cash equivalents and investments; our ability to retain and attract senior management and other key employees; changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws, including changes resulting from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, interpretations of such laws, changes in the mix of taxable income among different tax jurisdictions, or adverse results of tax audits, assessments, or disputes; our failure to generate sufficient future taxable income in jurisdictions with material deferred tax assets and net operating loss carryforwards; changes in multilateral conventions, treaties or other arrangements between or among sovereign nations; our ability to comply with U.S. and international laws and regulations, including those related to anti-corruption, economic sanction programs and environmental matters; the outcome of litigation, regulatory investigations and other legal matters, including the associated legal and other costs; and other risks described from time to time in our SEC filings. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or to assess the impact of such risks on our business. Accordingly, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in expectations, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
For more information, visit www.world-kinect.com.
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Braulio Medrano, Senior Director FP&A and Investor Relations
[email protected]