First Data to Acquire CardConnect

NEW YORK andFirst Data Corporation (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in commerce-enablingtechnology and solutions, and CardConnect Corp. (NASDAQ: CCN), atechnology-oriented commerce solutions provider, announced today thatthey have entered into a definitive merger agreement for First Data toacquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of CardConnect for$15.00 per share in cash. The transaction is expected to be modestlyaccretive to First Data's adjusted EPS in the first full yearpost-closing