Total Systems Services, Inc. (NYSE:TSS) announced that its shareholders would receive $3.03 per share in connection with the company's nearly completed spin-off from parent Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE:SNV). Shareholders applauded the spin-off and one-time dividend as effective methods for unlocking value in the company's hares.

Synovus shareholders will receive 0.484 shares of TSYS common stock for each share of Synovus stock in connection with the spin-off. Shareholders that hold fractional shares will receive cash for the fraction. TSYS shareholders on record as of December 17th will also receive a $3.03 all-cash one-time dividend on December 31st. Combined, these two actions will divest Synovus' 80.6% stake in TSYS and enable shareholders to realize value in both.

Spin-offs in general tend to outperform the overall market for several reasons. First, parent company shareholders are occasionally uninterested or unable to hold (mutual funds, for example) stock in the spin-off and therefore automatically sell. Secondly, the management team at a spin-off company are typically heavily incentivized to perform since it is a new company that is still well capitalized. And finally, pure-play assets are typically valued higher than conglomorate assets.

In the end, this is great news for Synovus shareholders and TSYS shareholders as they will likely see a significant appreciation in value over the next two years. Combined, these factors make TSS a stock worth watching closely!

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