SPARTANBURG, S.C., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Advance
America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE: AEA) (the "Company")
today announced that it has completed its merger with an indirect
subsidiary of Grupo Elektra S.A.B. de C.V. ("Grupo Elektra"),
effective April 23, 2012. Grupo
Elektra offers banking services, credit, and other financial
products to underserved consumers in Mexico and in other Latin American countries,
including Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Peru. Based in Mexico City, Grupo Elektra is a
publicly-traded company on the Mexican stock exchange.
Under the terms of the merger agreement with Grupo Elektra, an
indirect subsidiary of Grupo Elektra has acquired all of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company for $10.50 per share in cash. Letters of transmittal
enabling the Company's stockholders of record to deliver their
shares to the paying agent in exchange for payment of the merger
consideration will be distributed shortly. If your shares of the
Company's common stock are held in "street name" by your broker,
bank, or other nominee, you will receive instructions after the
effective time of the merger from your broker, bank, or other
nominee as to how to effect the surrender of your "street name"
shares and receive cash for those shares.
In connection with the transaction, the Company was advised by
Wells Fargo Securities LLC and K&L Gates LLP, and Grupo Elektra
was advised by Stephens, Inc. and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton
& Garrison LLP.
About Advance America, Cash
Advance Centers, Inc.
Founded in 1997, Advance America is the leading provider of
non-bank cash advance services in the
United States, with approximately 2,600 centers in 29
states. Advance America offers convenient, less-costly credit
options to consumers whose needs are not met by traditional
financial institutions. Advance America is a founding member of the
Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), whose
mission is to promote laws that provide substantive consumer
protections and to encourage responsible industry practices. Please
visit (www.advanceamerica.net) for more information.
Important Additional
Information and Where to Find It
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") maintains a
website that contains reports, proxy and information statements,
and other information regarding the Company at www.sec.gov.
In addition, any materials the Company files with the SEC may be
read and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room
may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition,
the documents filed with the SEC by Advance America may be obtained
free of charge from Advance America's website at
www.advanceamerica.net.
SOURCE Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.
