A deal like Realogy Holding Corp.’s planned $166 million acquisition of brokerage and real estate tech provider ZipRealty doesn’t just happen overnight.
In a pitch to shareholders, ZipRealty reveals that starting in March, it shopped itself around to 43 companies, including “25 major companies in the real estate brokerage, services and technology” business, and “18 financial sponsors with a focus on technology, real estate and business services.”
The search for suitors came after Realogy turned down an offer to take a 20 percent stake in ZipRealty last fall. Starting in January, ZipRealty explored not only a sale of the whole company, but a sale of the brokerage business and software business to two distinct buyers, or a brokerage-only sale and a software-only sale.
Realogy says the acquisition, expected to close by the end of September, was attractive not only because of ZipRealty’s “established, highly productive, technology-based national residential brokerage operation,” but because it plans to “capitalize on the innovative technology platform that ZipRealty has honed over more than a decade of development.”
ZipRealty’s 1,800 sales associates handled $2.7 billion in sales volume in 23 markets last year. Realogy will integrate 17 of ZipRealty’s brokerage offices into existing Coldwell Banker offices operated by Realogy’s brokerage subsidiary, NRT. The remaining six ZipRealty offices — Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Las Vegas, Houston, Austin, and Richmond (Virginia) — will continue to operate on a stand-alone basis under the ZipRealty brand.
Realogy will make ZipRealty’s Powered by Zip technology platform, which generates and manages leads, available to all Realogy franchisees. Realogy’s franchise brands include Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, ERA and Sotheby’s International Realty.
Although ZipRealty’s “Powered by Zip” referral network will continue to operate in 21 markets — more than half of participating brokerages are owned by NRT or affiliated with Realogy brands — it’s unclear if the Powered by Zip platform will still be offered as a “white label” product to other brokerages.
Realogy has said it valued ZipRealty’s brokerage business at $100 million to $120 million, its technology platform at $25 million to $45 million, and tax write-offs tied to past ZipRealty net operating losses at $21 million.
ZipRealty CEO Lanny Baker will stay on in that role, reporting to Alex Perriello, president and chief executive officer of the Realogy Franchise Group.
Excerpts from a ZipRealty filing with securities regulators tell the story of how the deal got done:
Looking for a “strategic partner”
In 2013, ZipRealty executives “met on several occasions with representatives of Realogy regarding a potential strategic relationship.”
On Aug. 19, 2013, Ryan Gorman, senior vice president of strategic operations of Realogy’s brokerage subsidiary, NRT, introduced ZipRealty CEO Charles “Lanny” Baker to Realogy CEO Richard Smith. “Mr. Baker, Mr. Gorman and Mr. Smith discussed the potential for a strategic relationship between Realogy and the company. However, after careful consideration, Realogy chose to not pursue a large-scale strategic relationship at that time.”
On Sept. 12, 2013, “Mr. Baker contacted Mr. Gorman to discuss whether Realogy would be interested in purchasing a block of shares representing approximately 20 percent of the company’s outstanding shares from an unidentified stockholder, but noted that Realogy would be required to make a determination regarding such acquisition quickly enough so that a closing could occur within several days. Realogy evaluated the opportunity in the short time frame provided, but ultimately decided against the potential acquisition of shares while indicating that it would be interested in similar opportunities in the future if given more time to consider the acquisition.”
January 2014: laying the groundwork for an acquisition
“During January 2014, members of the company board discussed with members of senior management the possibility of whether it was an appropriate time to seek to determine what a third party may be willing to pay to acquire the company and that this type of process would likely involve not only discussions with a financial adviser, but also contacting third parties to gauge their interest in any such potential acquisition.
“The company’s decision to explore strategic alternatives, including a potential acquisition, was based on the risks of operating its more cyclical brokerage business while simultaneously pursuing the growth opportunity held within its emerging technology licensing business unit. The relatively more established brokerage business faced a more difficult external operating environment around this time, while the perceived growth potential and investment needs of its technology business were increasing at the same time. Senior management and the company board believed that in light of these risks and the possibility that a third-party acquirer could provide significant additional value to the company’s stockholders, it would be in the best interests of the stockholders and the company for the company board to further consider and evaluate a possible sale of the company.”
February: hiring an investment bank
The company’s senior management “contacted seven investment banks and began to review proposals from several of those investment banks to serve as a strategic financial adviser to the company … The company discussed with investment banks their strategies for identifying competing bidders in a merger and acquisition process, proposed approaches for assisting the company in evaluating strategic alternatives, and fee structures.”
Feb. 27: GCA Savvian Advisors LLC makes its pitch
On Feb. 27, “the company board held a meeting … at which they further discussed the engagement of an investment bank.” At the meeting, ZipRealty CEO Baker “reported that the company’s senior management had interviewed three investment banks and had narrowed the group to one candidate, GCA Savvian Advisors LLC (“GCA Savvian”), which made a presentation to the company board at the meeting. GCA Savvian provided its recommendations for conducting a sale process and potential transaction structures, including a sale of the whole company, a sale of the brokerage business and software business to two distinct buyers, a brokerage-only sale and a software-only sale.”
March 7, 2014: GCA Savvian hired as exclusive financial adviser
ZipRealty hired GCA Savvian on March 7 to explore the sale of the company, and between March 17 and April 11, the investment bank “contacted a total of 43 entities, including Realogy and Parties A, B and C to solicit their interest in a potential strategic transaction involving the company. This total includes 25 major companies in the real estate brokerage, services and technology markets, and 18 financial sponsors with a focus on technology, real estate and business services. The company entered into, or had previously entered into, separate confidentiality agreements with 19 potential acquirers, and provided confidential and nonconfidential information to those interested parties in furtherance of their respective due diligence investigations of the company.”
March 27: Realogy proposes acquisition
On March 27, “Mr. Baker visited Realogy’s offices in Madison, New Jersey, and informed representatives from Realogy that the company had been developing its Powered by Zip software for third-party use. Mr. Smith then informed Mr. Baker that Realogy was interested in exploring a potential acquisition of the company.”
Other suitors
On March 31, ZipRealty’s board of directors was briefed on the process so far. “Baker reported that to date GCA Savvian had contacted 41 parties, including both financial and strategic parties. Of that number, 14 were in the process of executing confidentiality agreements with the company, 15 were reviewing initial materials and 12 had declined to engage further. Mr. Baker updated the company board on his meeting with Realogy and that he planned to continue discussion with Realogy with the involvement of GCA Savvian.”
“Mr. Baker informed representatives from Realogy that the company board was open to exploring a potential acquisition and had retained GCA Savvian as its financial adviser.”
“Between April 9, 2014 and April 16, 2014, senior management met with six additional interested parties, including Party A. Party A discussed with senior management a range of options for a strategic alliance, including partial business combinations, modifications in the company’s business model and approach, and a strategic investment in the company.”
On April 18, representatives of GCA Savvian presented “an extensive presentation on the process to date” to ZipRealty’s board of directors.
“As of that date, 43 parties had been contacted; of those, 17 had expressed interest in moving forward, 21 had declined to engage further and five were still evaluating the opportunity. GCA Savvian updated the company board on the six senior management meetings with interested parties other than Realogy that had taken place (including Party A) between April 9, 2014 and April 16, 2014.”
“Between April 21, 2014 and May 1, 2014, senior management and GCA Savvian met with an additional eight interested parties, including with Party C.”
“Between April 23, 2014 and May 20, 2014, the company provided similar product demonstrations to four other interested parties.”
April 25: Realogy and ZipRealty get serious
On April 25, Realogy Holdings Corp. and ZipRealty “entered in a mutual nondisclosure agreement (the “confidentiality agreement”) permitting the parties to disclose confidential information to one another solely for the purpose of exploring potential business opportunities. The confidentiality agreement also included a customary standstill provision restricting certain actions by each party. Following the execution of the confidentiality agreement, representatives for Realogy and the company had extensive discussions regarding the potential acquisition. The company provided a product demonstration for the representatives from Realogy, and GCA Savvian informed the representatives from Realogy of the process schedule for the sale of the company and provided to Realogy a report setting forth a management presentation.”
April 28: Invitations to 11 suitors
On April 28, GCA Savvian “delivered to 11 interested parties a detailed process letter inviting them to provide a proposal to acquire the company and to provide a nonbinding indication of interest no later than May 28, 2014. Those interested parties were provided access to certain confidential information through an electronic data room.
“Between May 3, 2014 and July 14, 2014, the company provided representatives from Realogy and its advisers access to additional information about the company in Phase II of the electronic data room. Realogy, together with its advisers, conducted detailed business, financial, technical, regulatory, intellectual property and legal due diligence investigations of the company and its business and operations.
May 28: Realogy floats a price
On May 28, “Realogy submitted its first proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of the company at a preliminary price of $6 to $7 per share, subject to further due diligence. Of the 10 other interested parties who received a process letter, three parties were actively continuing due diligence as of May 28, 2014, and the balance had declined to submit a proposal.”
Still shopping
“On May 28, 2014, senior management and GCA Savvian met with representatives of Party B at Party B’s offices and discussed a potential merger transaction.”
“Between May 6, 2014 and May 22, 2014, Party A indicated that it was interested in a large, strategic partnership with the company that it viewed could create competitive stockholder value relative to a sale transaction, and inquired about potentially meeting with the company board at an upcoming meeting. The company continued an ongoing dialogue with Party A regarding a framework for a strategic alliance.”
June 2: Merger floated
“On June 2, 2014, Party C submitted a verbal indication of interest outlining proposed terms for a potential stock merger. Party C reached out to GCA Savvian, Mr. Baker and one member of the company board to express its interest in a potential 100 percent stock combination with the company.
“On June 2, 2014, the company and GCA Savvian provided Realogy and Party C with access to additional information about the company in Phase II of the electronic data room, and on June 3, 2014, GCA Savvian forwarded an initial draft of the merger agreement to Realogy.
“On June 4, 2014, Party C delivered a written summary of the potential financial and strategic benefits of a combination between the company and Party C. This proposal was shared with the company Board.”
On June 6, 2014, GCA Savvian “communicated to Party C that the company was interested in further exploring the possibility of a potential merger between the company and Party C.
“On June 11, 2014, Party C submitted a written analysis of the potential financial benefits of a combination and reiterated their interest in a 100 percent stock merger between the company and Party C. The analysis included Party C’s preliminary view on an ownership split between the company and Party C. Party C indicated that a final ownership split between the company and Party C would be determined during final due diligence.”
Strategic alliance, merger or acquisition? Weighing the offers
“On June 13, 2014, GCA Savvian prepared an analysis of Party C’s 100 percent stock proposal, based on information provided by Party C, for the company’s consideration.
“On June 16, 2014, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher … legal counsel to Realogy, provided a revised draft markup of the Merger Agreement to GCA Savvian, which GCA Savvian sent to the company and to Orrick.
“On June 17, 2014, the company presented Party A with a proposed strategic alliance framework as a potential alternative to a merger transaction, which Party A indicated it would review and respond to quickly.
“On June 17, 2014, GCA Savvian contacted Party C and indicated that the board required a formal written transaction proposal in order to fully evaluate Party C’s offer. Party C responded that it would require substantial additional work to refine their proposal, and while they remained interested in a 100 percent stock merger with the company, they would discontinue working on their stock merger proposal until it was clear that the company had no other superior alternatives. In the absence of such clarity, Party C indicated that they would not be submitting a final merger proposal at that time.
“On June 18, 2014, Party B indicated that they would not be submitting a final proposal to acquire the company.”
Realogy names its price
“Between June 18, 2014 and June 20, 2014, Realogy conducted in person due diligence at the company’s offices. Representatives of Goldman Sachs and PricewaterhouseCoopers, advisers to Realogy, attended the due diligence sessions.
“On June 24, 2014, Realogy submitted its second proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of the company at $6.75 per share, less the company’s transactions costs (including the company’s financial adviser and legal expenses). The company estimated its transaction costs to be approximately $0.24 per share, which resulted in a net price per share of approximately $6.51.”
ZipRealty asks for more
On June 25, 2014, ZipRealty’s board of directors held a conference call to “discuss the proposal from Realogy and the status of discussions with Parties A, B and C. Representatives of Orrick discussed with the company board their fiduciary duties in the context of the sale of the company. Representatives of GCA Savvian then provided the company board with an overview of the Realogy proposal and informed the company board that Parties A, B and C had declined to submit a final proposal. After further discussion, the company board instructed GCA Savvian to request that Realogy improve its offer price and remove certain other terms in its offer.”
“On June 26, 2014, Realogy revised its offer price to $6.80 per share, less the company’s transaction expenses. The company estimated its transaction costs to be approximately $0.25 per share, which resulted in a net price per share of approximately $6.55.
“On June 26, 2014, the company board held a meeting to discuss the revised proposal and, after extensive discussion, instructed GCA Savvian to inform Realogy that it needed to improve its offer price and provide a clearly defined path to a transaction announcement.
“On June 27, 2014, Realogy revised its offer price to $6.75 per share, with no reduction for transaction expenses and eliminated certain other transaction terms as requested by the company board, subject to receipt of a period of exclusivity to finalize due diligence and complete a definitive agreement.
Final negotiations
“On June 27, 2014, the company informed Realogy that it had selected Realogy’s proposal to acquire the company subject to the ability to negotiate a definitive agreement. Realogy and the company agreed to a nonbinding letter of intent providing Realogy the ability to negotiate exclusively with the company until July 7, 2014, which was subsequently extended through July 14, 2014.”
“During the period between June 27, 2014 through the signing of the merger agreement, negotiations regarding the merger agreement took place among Realogy, [Zip Realty], GCA Savvian, Orrick and Gibson Dunn, including, but not limited to, negotiations regarding provisions relating to the definition of a material adverse effect permitting termination of the merger agreement, nonsolicitation commitments, provisions allowing the company to terminate the merger agreement if necessary in order to allow the company board to satisfy its fiduciary duties, a termination fee in the event of certain possible termination events, the scope of representations and warranties of each party, and conditions to the offer.”
On July 14, 2014, ZipRealty’s board of directors held a conference call with the company’s legal and financial advisers. The board discussed the provisions of the merger agreement before voting unanimously to approve the merger.
