United Rentals completed its previously announced acquisition of RSC Holdings Inc. in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $18.00 per share at the time of announcement, for a total enterprise value of $4.2 billion, including $2.3 billion of net debt.
The combination of the two companies creates a leading North American equipment rental company with a more attractive customer mix, greater scale and enhanced growth prospects. The combination will accelerate the combined company's potential for growth with industrial customers, as well as provide a lower cost base and a less volatile revenue profile that is expected to better position the combined company through all phases of the business cycle. The combined company will continue to be called United Rentals.
"We are pleased to announce the closing of this historic combination,” said Michael Kneeland, president and CEO of United Rentals. “This combination will bring together two highly respected businesses to create a company that will provide our customers with an unparalleled level of fleet availability and customer service. We look forward to immediately begin working with our new colleagues at RSC to leverage the operational and cultural strengths of both companies."
In connection with the closing of the transaction, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program of up to $200 million of the company's common stock. Under this program, United Rentals may purchase shares of common stock in open market transactions or in privately negotiated transactions. The approved program has no expiration date, but the company expects that the share repurchase program will be completed as market conditions allow within 18 months after the closing of the transaction. The actual number and timing of share repurchases, if any, will be subject to market conditions and applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules.
To ensure a swift and smooth integration, United Rentals and RSC have made significant progress on the integration planning process, which will begin immediately and will incorporate the "best practices" of both companies across all operating business functions.
Jenne Britell will remain chairman of the board of directors of United Rentals. The directors of the combined company will be comprised of the existing United Rentals directors and three of RSC's independent directors, James Ozanne, Pierre Leroy and Donald Roof, who were elected to the Board, effective today.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, each outstanding share of RSC common stock has been converted into the right to receive $10.80 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, and 0.2783 of a share of United Rentals common stock. As a result of the merger, RSC's common stock will no longer be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
As part of the RSC acquisition, the company merged all of RSC's U.S. domestic subsidiaries, including RSC's principal operating subsidiary RSC Equipment Rental, Inc., and certain of the company's existing subsidiaries, including United Rentals Northwest Inc. and United Rentals (North America), Inc., into a newly formed operating company. Upon completion of the subsidiary reorganization, the new company became URI's sole operating subsidiary in the United States and was renamed United Rentals (North America) Inc.
In connection with the completion of the combination, the proceeds from the $1,325 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625 percent senior unsecured notes due 2022, $750 million aggregate principal amount of 7.375 percent senior unsecured notes due 2020 and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75 percent senior secured notes due 2018 issued by UR Escrow Financing Corporation on March 9, were released from escrow. A portion of the net cash proceeds from the notes offerings was used to pay the cash portion of the consideration paid to RSC's stockholders in connection with the combination. The company used additional proceeds from the notes offerings to fully repay RSC's senior secured asset-based loan revolving facility in the amount of $549.6 million, satisfy and discharge $400 million principal amount of RSC's 10 percent senior secured notes due 2017, satisfy and discharge $503 million principal amount of RSC's 9.50 percent senior notes due 2014 and pay related transaction fees and expenses.
Centerview Partners and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisors to United Rentals, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as the company's legal advisor. Barclays Capital and Goldman, Sachs & Co. were lead financial advisors to RSC, and Deutsche Bank also provided financial advice. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as RSC's legal advisors.
United Rentals is the largest equipment rental company in the world, with an integrated network of more than 970 rental locations in 48 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The company, based in Greenwich, Conn., is No. 1 on the RER 100.
