Bluff Point Associates sells Matrix Financial Solutions to Broadridge

 Lake Success, New York – November 23, 2010 – As part of its strategy to bring new solutions to the mutual fund industry through its Investor Communications business, Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR) has signed an agreement to acquire Matrix Financial Solutions, Inc. for $201 million in cash subject to certain adjustments for Matrix’s net working capital.  Matrix is the leading independent provider of mutual fund processing solutions for the defined contribution market, and holds a substantial position in the rapidly growing small- and medium-sized retirement plan segment. Its open architecture solutions enable customers to leverage distribution arrangements with approximately 25,000 mutual funds from nearly 500 mutual fund families.

“The acquisition of Matrix will significantly expand Broadridge’s position as a provider of data and distribution channel solutions to the mutual fund industry,” stated Richard J. Daly, Chief Executive Officer, Broadridge.  “It will enable Broadridge to bring Matrix’s unique turnkey retirement solutions to Broadridge’s broker-dealer client base, increase Broadridge’s product offering to the bank trust and third party administrator markets, and will deepen Broadridge’s relationship with nearly 500 mutual fund complexes.  Matrix’s reliable, operationally efficient solutions are a natural extension of the core competencies Broadridge has developed over the past four decades.” 

Matrix is expected to generate approximately $80 million of revenue during the year ending December 31, 2010.  Broadridge anticipates the Matrix acquisition to be neutral to its generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net earnings for the remainder of Broadridge’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. Broadridge anticipates that it should be approximately $0.09 accretive to its Non-GAAP net earnings, which excludes the annual amortization of acquisition intangibles, and $0.04 accretive to its GAAP net earnings, in its 2012 fiscal year.

“Broadridge is an outstanding acquirer of Matrix,” commented John Moody, Matrix’s President. “Broadridge is a world-class financial technology services company that shares our commitment to exemplary customer service. Broadridge is uniquely positioned to help our third party administrator customers develop business partnerships with broker-dealers to enable their financial advisors to offer 401(k) and other retirement plan solutions that feature best-of-breed open architecture to their wealth-management clients.” 

“Broadridge is very pleased to be adding Matrix’s talented associates and high-quality customer base,” said Gerard Scavelli, President, Mutual Fund Solutions, Broadridge. “We are committed to providing Matrix’s customers with independent, open-architecture processing, the highest quality service, and an expanded offering that includes Broadridge’s extensive set of processing and investor communication solutions.” 

“The Matrix acquisition emphasizes Broadridge’s commitment to the mutual fund industry and is consistent with our strategy of selectively acquiring closely-related tuck-in businesses where we expect to earn returns on investment in excess of 20% per annum,” stated Mr. Daly. “We remain committed to our balanced capital allocation approach including organic investments, dividends, and opportunistic share repurchases.”

The stock purchase agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. The transaction is expected to close prior to December 31, 2010, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Raymond James & Associates acted as exclusive financial advisor to Matrix in the transaction. Broadridge received strategic advice from Morgan Stanley in connection with the transaction.