DALLAS and HANGZHOU, China, March 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MoneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI) and Ant Financial Services Group today announced that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") has expired with respect to the definitive agreement under which MoneyGram will merge with Ant Financial.

Expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions necessary for the consummation of the merger. The transaction remains subject to the approval of MoneyGram stockholders, other regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to any non-U.S. anti-trust approvals. Both parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2017.

About MoneyGram

MoneyGram is a global provider of innovative money transfer services and is recognized worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. Whether online, or through a mobile device, at a kiosk or in a local store, we connect consumers any way that is convenient for them. We also provide bill payment services, issue money orders and process official checks in select markets. More information about MoneyGram International, Inc. is available at moneygram.com.

About Ant Financial

Ant Financial Services Group is focused on serving small and micro enterprises, as well as consumers. With the vision "bring the world equal access to inclusive financial services," Ant Financial is dedicated to building an open ecosystem of Internet thinking and technologies while working with other financial institutions to support the future financial needs of society. Businesses operated by Ant Financial Services Group include Alipay, Ant Fortune, Zhima Credit and MYbank. For more information on Ant Financial, please visit our website at www.antgroup.com or follow us on Twitter @AntFinancial.

Additional Information for Stockholders

The proposed transactions will be submitted to the stockholders of MoneyGram for their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, MoneyGram will file a proxy statement and other materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). In addition, MoneyGram may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT(S) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement(s) (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by MoneyGram, at MoneyGram's website, corporate.moneygram.com, or at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The proxy statement(s) and other relevant documents may also be obtained for free from MoneyGram by directing such request to Suzanne Rosenberg, telephone: 214-979-1400.

Participants in the Solicitation

MoneyGram and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of MoneyGram in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of MoneyGram is set forth in the Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders for MoneyGram, which was filed with the SEC on April 4, 2016. This document can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements which are protected as forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not limited to historical facts, but reflect MoneyGram's current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The statements in this communication that are not historical statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, among other things, statements regarding the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction, benefits of the proposed transaction, costs and other anticipated financial impacts of the proposed transaction. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond MoneyGram's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the failure to obtain the required votes of MoneyGram's stockholders; the timing to consummate the proposed transaction; the satisfaction of the conditions to closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied or that the closing of the proposed transaction otherwise does not occur; the risk that a regulatory approval (including CFIUS approval) that may be required to consummate the proposed transaction is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; expectations regarding regulatory approval of the transaction; results of litigation, settlements and investigations; actions by third parties, including governmental agencies; global economic conditions; adverse industry conditions; adverse credit and equity market conditions; the loss of, or reduction in business with, key customers; legal proceedings; the ability to effectively identify and enter new markets; governmental regulation; the ability to retain management and other personnel; and other economic, business, or competitive factors.

Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in MoneyGram's SEC filings. MoneyGram's filings may be obtained by contacting MoneyGram or the SEC or through MoneyGram's web site at corporate.moneygram.com or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov. MoneyGram undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Contacts

MoneyGram Contact
Michael Freitag / Joseph Sala / Viveca Tress
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Phone: 212 355 4449

Ant Financial Contact
USA: Sard Verbinnen & Co
Paul Kranhold / Ron Low / Reze Wong
+1 415 618 8750
pkranhold@sardverb.com / rlow@sardverb.com / rwong@sardverb.com

China: Miranda Shek
+86-18616682252
miranda@ant-financial.com

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SOURCE Ant Financial