LeddarTech® Holdings Inc. (“LeddarTech” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:
LDTC), an automotive software company that provides patented
disruptive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software
technology, LeddarVision™, for ADAS, AD and parking applications,
announced today that the Company entered into definitive agreements
with certain of its principal shareholders, FS Investors (“FS”) and
Investissement Québec (“IQ”), and its senior lender, Fédération des
caisses Desjardins du Québec (“Desjardins” and, collectively with
FS and IQ, the “Bridge Lenders”), pursuant to which the Bridge
Lenders make available to the Company bridge loans (the “Bridge
Loans”) in an aggregate amount of up to US$9.0 million (the “Bridge
Financing”). Under the Bridge Financing, FS and IQ have the right,
but not the obligation, to convert their respective Bridge Loan
into common shares in the capital of the Company (“Common Shares”)
at an initial conversion price of US$5.00 per Common Share, subject
to adjustment, representing a premium of 852% above the closing
price of the Common Shares on August 16, 2024.
In connection with the Bridge Financing, FS has
agreed to convert US$1.5 million of its existing convertible notes
into Common Shares at an above-market conversion price of US$2.00
per share, reducing the convertible note balance by US$1.5
million.
The Bridge Financing is comprised of two
tranches, with the first tranche of US$6.0 million funding
immediately and the second tranche of US$3.0 million to be funded
on or about October 15, 2024. The second tranche of the Bridge
Financing is conditioned on the absence of a default under the
Bridge Loans and the receipt by the Company of a commitment from a
strategic investor to invest a minimum amount of US$5.0 million in
a subsequent equity capital raise. The Bridge Loans from FS and IQ
will be issued at a 25% original issue discount (meaning that
US$8.0 million of such Bridge Loans will be issued by the Company
in exchange for gross proceeds of US$6.0 million). Amounts
outstanding under the Bridge Loans bear interest at the US base
rate (currently 9.0%), plus 4.00%. Interest under the Bridge Loans
is to be capitalized monthly (instead of being payable in cash) and
added to the outstanding principal amount of the Bridge Loans. The
Bridge Loans have a maturity date of November 15, 2024 and will be
due and payable earlier upon the occurrence of certain other
events, such as a change in control.
In connection with the Bridge Financing, the
Company and Desjardins have also entered into a Thirteenth Amending
Agreement to the Amended and Restated Financing Offer dated as of
April 5, 2023 (the “Desjardins Credit Facility”) to harmonize the
Desjardins Credit Facility with the terms and conditions set forth
in the Bridge Loans, and to include an amendment fee in
consideration of Desjardins’ agreement to authorize the
indebtedness under the Bridge Financing and that the security under
the Bridge Financing will rank pari passu to the security of
Desjardins under the Desjardins Credit Facility.
The Bridge Financing constitutes a
“related-party transaction” within the meaning of Regulation 61-101
– Protections of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions
(“Regulation 61-101”) as each of FS and IQ is an “insider” of the
Company under Canadian securities laws. However, in light of the
fact that the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) have
determined that the Company is in serious financial difficulty, the
Company is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation and
minority shareholder approval requirements contained in Regulation
61-101 on the basis of the “financial hardship” exemption
therein.
After considering and reviewing all of the
circumstances currently surrounding the Company and the Bridge
Financing, the Board, including all independent members of the
Board who are free from interest in the Bridge Financing and
unrelated to the Bridge Lenders, acting in good faith, unanimously
determined that (i) the Company is in serious financial difficulty,
(ii) the Bridge Financing is designed to improve the financial
condition of the Company, and (iii) the terms of the Bridge
Financing are reasonable in the Company’s circumstances. The
Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days
before entering into the Bridge Loans as details of the related
parties’ participation in the Bridge Financing had not been
settled.
Maxim Group LLC is acting as financial advisor
to the Company for the Bridge Financing.
The Bridge Loans have not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or
applicable State securities laws, and accordingly may not be
offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an
effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such
applicable State securities laws.
This press release does not constitute an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor
will there be any sales of any securities in any jurisdiction in
which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of such
jurisdiction.
About LeddarTech
A global software company founded in 2007 and
headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in
Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides
comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception
software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous
driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s
automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision
algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to
achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This
high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available
to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive
and off-road vehicle ADAS solutions.
LeddarTech is responsible for several
remote-sensing innovations, with over 160 patent applications
(87 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better
awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility
safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what
drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor
fusion and perception software solution.
Additional information about LeddarTech is
accessible at www.LeddarTech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter (X),
Facebook and YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this Press
Release may be considered forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(which forward-looking statements also include forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities laws), including, but not limited
to, statements relating to LeddarTech’s anticipated financing and
business strategy, future operations, prospects, objectives and
financial projections and other financial metrics. Forward-looking
statements generally include statements that are predictive in
nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and
include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,”
“intend” and other similar expressions among others. Statements
that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and
assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not
guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as
a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the
possibility that anticipated benefits of LeddarTech’s recent
business combination will not be realized; (ii) the risk that
shareholder litigation in connection with the business combination
or other settlements or investigations may result in significant
costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (iii) changes in
general economic and/or industry-specific conditions; (iv) possible
disruptions from the business combination that could harm
LeddarTech’s business; (v) the ability of LeddarTech to retain,
attract and hire key personnel; (vi) potential adverse
reactions or changes to relationships with customers, employees,
suppliers or other parties, including as a result of the business
combination; (vii) potential business uncertainty, including
changes to existing business relationships following the business
combination that could affect LeddarTech’s financial performance;
(viii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (ix)
unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including,
but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak or escalation of
war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak
(including COVID-19), as well as management’s response to any of
the aforementioned factors; (x) access to capital and financing and
LeddarTech’s ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants;
(xi) LeddarTech’s ability to execute its business model, achieve
design wins and generate meaningful revenue; and (xii) other risk
factors as detailed from time to time in LeddarTech’s reports filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and on
the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, including the
risk factors contained in LeddarTech’s Annual Report on Form 20-F
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC and
on SEDAR+. The foregoing list of important factors is not
exhaustive. Except as required by applicable law, LeddarTech does
not undertake any obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Contact:Daniel Aitken,
Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications and Investor
Relations, LeddarTech Holdings Inc. Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232
daniel.aitken@LeddarTech.com
- Investor relations
website: investors.LeddarTech.com
- Investor relations
contact: Kevin Hunt, ICR Inc. kevin.hunt@icrinc.com
- Financial media
contact: Dan Brennan, ICR Inc. dan.brennan@icrinc.com
Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarVision, LeddarSP,
VAYADrive, VayaVision and related logos are trademarks or
registered trademarks of LeddarTech Holdings Inc. and its
subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may
be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or
services of their respective owners.
LeddarTech Holdings Inc. is a public company
listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LDTC.”
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