SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX), a leading provider of corporate payment solutions, today announced the execution of the definitive purchase and sale agreement relating to the previously announced proposed acquisition of ExxonMobil’s European commercial fuel card (“Esso Card”) program through a majority owned joint venture, WEX Europe Services Limited. In addition, all necessary regulatory approvals have been received and the employee information and consultation processes have been cleared. The transaction is on track and is expected to close in late 2014 or early 2015.
“The purchase of the Esso Card portfolio remains an important element to building our on-the-ground presence in the European market, and enhances WEX’s long-term growth profile. Our efforts to advance this transaction remain on track and position us to create a substantial and profitable European footprint,” said Melissa Smith, WEX’s president and chief executive officer.
About WEX Inc.
WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX) is a leading provider of corporate payment solutions. From its roots in fleet card payments beginning in 1983, WEX has expanded the scope of its business into a multi-channel provider of corporate payment solutions representing more than 7.8 million cardholders and offering exceptional payment security and control across a wide spectrum of business sectors. The Company’s operations include WEX Bank, Fleet One, Pacific Pride, rapid! PayCard, WEX Australia, WEX New Zealand and WEX Europe, as well as a majority equity position in WEX Europe Services and UNIK S.A., Brazil. WEX and its subsidiaries employ more than 1,400 associates. For more information about WEX, please visit www.wexinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding WEX’s plans to acquire ExxonMobil’s European commercial fuel card, or Esso Card, program and the timing of any such acquisition; future financial performance of the ExxonMobil’s European commercial fuel card, or Esso Card, program and the related underlying assumptions; management’s expectations for future growth opportunities; the expected closing date of the transaction; and, confidence in future performance. Any statements that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "may," "could," "anticipate," "plan," "continue," "project," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including: the effects of general economic conditions; the effects of the Company’s business expansion and acquisition efforts; the Company’s failure to successfully integrate the acquired business; the Company's failure to consummate previously announced business plans; the Company’s failure to maintain or renew key agreements; failure to expand the Company’s technological capabilities and service offerings as rapidly as the Company’s competitors; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on the Company’s operations, revenue and income; changes in interest rates; the impact of the Company’s outstanding debt on its operations; the incurrence of impairment charges if our assessment of the fair value of certain of our reporting units changes; the uncertainties of litigation; as well as other risks and uncertainties identified in Item 1A. of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014 and the Company's subsequent periodic and current reports. The Company's forward-looking statements and these factors do not reflect the potential future impact of any other alliance, merger, acquisition, disposition or stock repurchases. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.