(all numbers in this release are in US dollars (US$) unless
otherwise noted) Alaris Equity Partners Income Trust (the
“Trust”) (TSX: AD.UN) is pleased to announce that
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alaris Equity Partners USA, Inc.
(collectively with the Trust and its other subsidiaries,
“Alaris”) have completed a strategic
recapitalization transaction (the
“Transaction”)
with Ohana Growth Partners, LLC (collectively
“Ohana” or the
“Company”), a
leading Planet Fitness® franchisee. The Transaction brings together
Ohana, Alaris and a leading third-party private equity investor
(the
“Third Party Investor”) in an Alaris
controlled partnership. The Transaction consists of Alaris securing
$120.0 million (the
“Third Party Investment”) of
capital from the Third-Party Investor as well as Alaris rolling
$130.0 million of its investment in Ohana. Proceeds from the
Transaction were used to redeem equity from the founders of Ohana.
This is the second asset management (
“Asset
Management” or
“AUM”) transaction whereby
Alaris has raised managed capital from independent investors,
resulting in the growth of our third-party AUM to over $520.0
million and our total managed investment assets to over CAD$2.2
billion.
The Transaction includes Alaris exchanging (the
“Exchange”) $130.0 million of its existing
preferred and common equity in Ohana (the “Existing
Equity”) for $59.7 million of senior convertible preferred
equity (the “Convertible Preferred Units”) with a
yield of 14% as well as $70.3 million of new common equity (the
“Common Equity”). Alaris also received cash
proceeds of $20.7 million for the redemption of a portion of its
remaining existing preferred equity in Ohana, which was not part of
the Exchange, including all accrued and deferred distributions
thereon. The Third-Party Investment consists of $60.0 million of
Convertible Preferred Units and $60.0 million of Common Equity. The
Existing Equity has an investment cost basis $110.7 million, with
the Exchange crystalizing a gain of $19.3
million.
In addition to holding the Convertible Preferred
Units and Common Equity, Alaris will manage the Third-Party
Investment and will be entitled to a management fee of $0.5 million
annually (the “Management Fee”) and a carried
interest (the “Carried Interest”), conditional on
the satisfaction of certain performance hurdles of the Third-Party
Investment in Ohana. With its own equity position and managing the
Third-Party Investment, Alaris will have a controlling interest in
Ohana.
President’s Message
Consistent with the growing Alaris Asset
Management Strategy, the Ohana transaction has many layers of
benefits to Alaris as we continue to grow our business. Having
industry leading secondary investors contracting us to manage their
capital is a testament to our 20 year track record of stewardship.
In addition to the Management Fee and Carried Interest, our return
profile on our principal investment improves by having common
equity upside on our entire investment, while maintaining a healthy
cash pay component. Of equal importance, we facilitated an
important milestone transaction for the equityholders of one of our
longest standing and most successful partners.
This transaction also represents the first time
that Alaris will be a control investor taking into account our own
investment in Ohana and the Third-Party Investment managed by
Alaris. This is another important milestone for us. With more than
CAD$1.5 billion of our own investment book value and over CAD$700
million of managed capital, Alaris now manages more than CAD$2.2
billion of investments in the sought-after founder-operated asset
class.
“The Ohana team is thrilled to announce an
exciting new chapter in our 10+ year partnership with Alaris.
Through this transaction, Alaris will play an expanded role in
shaping our strategy, operations, and future growth. Their shared
vision and collaborative approach have been essential in helping us
reach our milestones over the past decade. The relationship we’ve
built with Alaris is truly unique and invaluable— they’ve become an
integral part of our Ohana (family). We are confident that,
together, we will achieve even greater success for both Ohana and
the Planet Fitness brand in the years to come”, Victor Brick,
Executive Chairman, Ohana Growth Partners, LLC.
Transaction Details
The Convertible Preferred Units are entitled to
receive a preferred distribution of 14.0% per annum, payable
monthly (the “New Preferred Distribution”), in
priority to any common equity distributions, resulting in an annual
distribution entitlement for Alaris of $8.4 million. At the
discretion of Ohana, 4.0% of the New Preferred Distribution may be
deferred, and such deferred distributions will compound at the
prevailing New Preferred Distribution yield (the “PIK
Distribution”).
Certain employees of Alaris will be entitled to
participate in the above-mentioned Carried Interest if certain
return-based performance thresholds are met. This employee
participation will be up to 50% of the Carried Interest and be
divided into three tranches that are designed to promote the
alignment of employees and Alaris unitholders. Receipt of the first
tranche will be conditional on the satisfaction of certain
performance hurdles based on Alaris’ performance as a whole during
the term of the Alaris investment in Ohana. Receipt of the second
tranche will be subject to the discretion of the Trust’s board of
trustees (the “Board”) and will be evaluated by
the Board over the course of the investment. Receipt of the third
tranche will not be subject to any additional conditions above the
base Ohana performance conditions. If any such performance hurdles
or conditions are not satisfied, then Alaris’ portion of the
Carried Interest will increase accordingly. Certain employees of
Alaris indirectly co-invested an aggregate of US$0.7 million into
Ohana in exchange for newly issued Convertible Preferred Units and
Common Equity of Ohana on substantially the same terms as
Alaris.
Additional terms of the Convertible Preferred
Units include: (i) customary pre-emptive rights in favour of Alaris
and the Third Party Investor; (ii) customary consent rights for a
controlling equity holder in favour of Alaris and the Third Party
Investor; (iii) the right of Alaris to appoint three (3) board
members and the Third Party Investors to appoint one (1) board
member to Ohana’s 5 member board; and (iv) and the right of Alaris
to cause and control a sale of Ohana, subject to certain conditions
in favour of the Third Party Investor.
ABOUT ALARIS:The Trust, through
its subsidiaries, indirectly provides alternative financing to
private companies ("Partners") in exchange for
distributions with the principal objective of generating stable and
predictable cash flows for payment of distributions to unitholders
of the Trust. Distributions from the Partners are adjusted each
year based on the percentage change of a "top line" financial
performance measure such as gross margin and same-store sales and
rank in priority to the owners' common equity position.
ABOUT OHANA:Founded in 2008,
Ohana is a franchisee of Planet Fitness®, which is one of the
largest fitness franchise systems in the U.S. and the dominant
brand in the High Value – Low Price segment. Through its
affiliates, Ohana operates over 80 fitness clubs in Maryland,
Tennessee, Florida, District of Columbia, Washington State and
California and has area development agreements ("ADAs") to open
over 50 new Planet Fitness® clubs in those same states. Ohana grew
to become one of the largest founder-led franchisees in the Planet
Fitness® system, and the seasoned management team expects continued
sustained growth. Ohana has its head office in Timonium,
Maryland.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking
statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning
of "safe harbor" provisions under applicable securities laws
(“forward-looking statements”). Statements other than statements of
historical fact contained in this news release may be
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
management's expectations, intentions and beliefs concerning: the
financial impact of the Transaction, including the New Preferred
Distribution, the Management Fee, the Carried Interest and the
impact on Alaris’ revenue, net cash from operating activities and
returns (to both Alaris and Alaris’ unitholders; Ohana’s future
operations and Alaris’ growth profile. Many of these statements can
be identified by words such as "believe", "expects", "will",
"intends", "projects", "anticipates", "estimates", "continues" or
similar words or the negative thereof. Any forward-looking
statements herein which constitute a financial outlook or
future-oriented financial information (including the impact on
revenues and net cash from operating activities) were approved by
management as of the date hereof and have been included to provide
an understanding of Alaris' financial performance and are subject
to the same risks and assumptions disclosed herein. There can be no
assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which
these forward-looking statements are based will occur.
By their nature, forward-looking statements
require Alaris to make assumptions and are subject to inherent
risks and uncertainties. Assumptions about the performance of the
Canadian and U.S. economies over the next 24 months and how that
will affect Alaris’ business and that of its Partners are material
factors considered by Alaris management when setting the outlook
for Alaris. Key assumptions include, but are not limited to,
assumptions that: interest rates will not rise in a matter
materially different from the prevailing market expectations over
the next 12 to 24 months; no widespread global health crisis will
impact the economy or any Partners’ operations in a material way in
the next 12 months; the businesses of the majority of our Partners
will continue to grow; the businesses of new Partners and those of
existing partners will perform in line with Alaris’ expectations
and diligence; more private companies will require access to
alternative sources of capital and that Alaris will have the
ability to raise required equity and/or debt financing on
acceptable terms. Management of Alaris has also assumed that the
Canadian and U.S. dollar trading pair will remain in a range of
approximately plus or minus 15% of the current rate expectations
over the next 6 months. In determining expectations for economic
growth, management of Alaris primarily considers historical
economic data provided by the Canadian and U.S. governments and
their agencies as well as prevailing economic conditions at the
time of such determinations.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions and should not be read as guarantees
or assurances of future performance. The actual results of the
Trust and the Partners could materially differ from those
anticipated in the forward-looking statements contained herein as a
result of certain risk factors, including, but not limited to: the
ability of our Partners and, correspondingly, Alaris to meet
performance expectations for 2024 and beyond; any change in the
senior lenders’ outlook for Alaris’ business; management's ability
to assess and mitigate the impacts of any local, regional, national
or international health crises like COVID-19 or its variants; the
dependence of Alaris on the Partners; reliance on key personnel;
general economic conditions in Canada, North America and globally;
failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefit of Alaris’
financing arrangements with the Partners; a failure of the Trust or
any Partners to obtain required regulatory approvals on a timely
basis or at all; changes in legislation and regulations and the
interpretations thereof; risks relating to the Partners and their
businesses, including, without limitation, a material change in the
operations of a Partner or the industries they operate in;
inability to close additional Partner contributions in a timely
fashion, or at all; a change in the ability of the Partners to
continue to pay Alaris’ distributions; a material change in the
unaudited information provided to Alaris by the Partners; a failure
of a Partner (or Partners) to realize on their anticipated growth
strategies; a failure to achieve the expected benefits of the
third-party asset management strategy or similar new investment
structures and strategies; conflicts of interest that may arise
under the asset management strategy or otherwise; a failure to
achieve resolutions for outstanding issues with Partners on terms
materially in line with management’s expectations or at all; and a
failure to realize the benefits of any concessions or relief
measures provided by Alaris to any Partner or to successfully
execute an exit strategy for a Partner where desired. Additional
risks that may cause actual results to vary from those indicated
are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and "Forward Looking
Statements" in the Trust’s Management Discussion and Analysis for
the year ended December 31, 2021, which is filed under the Trust’s
profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at
www.alarisequitypartners.com.
This news release contains future-oriented
financial information and financial outlook information
(collectively, "FOFI") about increases to the Trust's net operating
cash from activities and revenues, each of which are subject to the
same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as
set forth above. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in
the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable
at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such,
undue reliance should not be placed on FOFI and forward-looking
statements. Alaris' actual results, performance or achievement
could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by,
these forward-looking statements and FOFI, or if any of them do so,
what benefits the Trust will derive therefrom. The Trust has
included the forward-looking statements and FOFI in order to
provide readers with a more complete perspective on Alaris’ future
operations and such information may not be appropriate for other
purposes. Alaris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on any forward-looking information contained in this news
release as a number of factors could cause actual future results,
conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the
targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the
forward-looking statements. Statements containing forward-looking
information reflect management’s current beliefs and assumptions
based on information in its possession on the date of this news
release. Although management believes that the assumptions
reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
prove to be correct.
The forward-looking statements contained herein
are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement. The forward-looking statements included in this news
release are made as of the date of this news release and Alaris
does not undertake or assume any obligation to update or revise
such statements to reflect new events or circumstances except as
expressly required by applicable securities legislation.
Neither the TSX nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
For further information please
contact:
ir@alarisequity.comP: (403) 260-1457Alaris Equity
Partners Income TrustSuite 250, 333 24th Avenue S.W.Calgary,
Alberta T2S 3E6www.alarisequitypartners.com
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