New Delhi, January 2024.
BLS International Services
Ltd.
(BLS), a leading
global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens, today
announced that it has entered into a definitive Share Purchase Agreement through its wholly
owned subsidiary BLS International FZE, UAE, to acquire 100% stake in iData
Danismanlik Ve Hizmet Dis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (“iDATA”) and its wholly owned
subsidiaries for an Enterprise Value of Euro 50 Million (~ Rs. 450
Crores) and
additional milestones based payments. iDATA, a prominent player based
in Turkey, specializes in Visa and Consular Services, making it a strategic
addition to BLS's expanding portfolio.
Incorporated in Turkey, iDATA
provides comprehensive visa applications and consular services to various
governments. The company currently operates more than 37 Visa Application
Centres (VAC) across 15+ countries, serving diplomatic missions of Germany,
Italy and the Czech Republic. Notably, iDATA has been the exclusive provider of
Visa & Consular Services to the Italy Diplomatic mission since 2006 and the
German Government since 2012 in certain geographies. As per the audited consolidated financials for the calendar
year 2022, iDATA achieved revenues of EURO 19.9 million (~Rs. 180 Crores) and EBITDA of EURO 10.4
million (~Rs. 94 Crores).
The acquisition would be
funded mainly through our internal accruals. Further, the transaction will be
EPS accretive from day one and is anticipated to be completed in the current
financial year, subject to Government & Regulatory approvals.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC),Turkey and Lagrange Point
Advisors LLP, Mumbai jointly acted as transaction advisors to BLS on this transaction.
Dentons Link Legal, India and Balcioğlu Selçuk Ardiyok Keki Attorney
Partnership (BASEAK), Turkey acted as legal advisors for the transaction.
"Mr.
Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International Services Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of iDATA and its
subsidiaries, marking a significant milestone in BLS International's journey.
This strategic move underscores our commitment to becoming a global leader in
tech-enabled services for Governments and citizens. This acquisition not only
expands our operational footprint but also reinforces our dedication to
fostering enduring relationships with Governments. We look forward to the
completion of this transaction, which will further exemplify our core values of
reliability, transparency, and efficiency while supporting the essential
functions of Governments across the world.”