- Cash consideration of $3.66
per Common Share under the Offer represents premiums of
approximately:
- 20% based on the closing price of $3.05 per Common Share on the TSX on October 2, 2023 (the last trading day prior to
the Offeror's announcement of its intention to make the Offer);
and
- 23% to the volume weighted average trading price of
$2.98 per Common Share on the TSX
over the 20 trading days ended October 2,
2023.
- Letter to shareholders and offer and takeover bid circular
outlining the Offer available on
www.cashpremiumforaimia.com and on Aimia's profile at
www.sedarplus.ca
- Shareholders with questions or in need of assistance
accepting the Offer can contact Carson Proxy Advisors at
1-800-530-5189 or go to www.cashpremiumforaimia.com
- Mithaq is seeking a court order requiring that Aimia
immediately call and promptly hold a special meeting of
shareholders because Mithaq has reason to believe, based on
information provided by Aimia, that none of the directors of Aimia
were elected at the most recent Annual Meeting
TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2023
/CNW/ - Mithaq Canada Inc. (the "Offeror"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Mithaq Capital SPC ("Mithaq"), the largest
shareholder of Aimia Inc. (TSX: AIM) ("Aimia"), today
advised shareholders that it has formally commenced an all-cash
takeover bid (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and
outstanding common shares (the "Common Shares") of Aimia not
already owned by the Offeror or its affiliates, together with the
associated rights issued and outstanding under the shareholder
rights plan of Aimia, at a price of $3.66 per Common Share. The Offeror previously
announced its intention to make the Offer earlier this week.
The Offeror has filed an offer and takeover bid circular (the
"Circular") in respect of the Offer and an accompanying
letter to shareholders outlining the compelling reasons to tender
their Aimia common shares to the Offer. The letter to shareholders
and Circular and accompanying Offer documents are accessible to
shareholders under Aimia's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca
and at www.cashpremiumforaimia.com and will also be mailed to
shareholders.
"It is evident that the Aimia board and management remain intent
on proceeding with their misguided and misaligned business
strategy, even though it is clear that the results continue to
disappoint and that a large proportion of Aimia's shareholders have
lost confidence in that path," the Offeror writes in the letter to
shareholders. "Tendering your shares to this takeover bid is your
opportunity to get off that path and receive a premium, cash
payment for your Aimia shares."
MITHAQ'S OFFER
The letter to shareholders and Circular outline further details
regarding the compelling all-cash Offer, which represents premiums
of approximately:
- 20% based on the closing price of $3.05 per Common Share on the TSX on October 2, 2023 (the last trading day prior to
the Offeror's announcement of its intention to make the Offer);
and
- 23% to the volume weighted average trading price of
$2.98 per Common Share on the TSX
over the 20 trading days ended October 2,
2023.
In addition to the attractive premium, the Offer is attractive
to Aimia shareholders for reasons that include:
- Liquidity, Certainty of Value and Ability to Redeploy
Capital. The Offer immediately crystalizes full and certain
value to shareholders by providing 100% cash
consideration for the Common Shares, giving depositing
shareholders certainty of value and immediate liquidity while
removing the financing, market and execution risks to shareholders.
Further, the Offer provides depositing shareholders the ability to
fully monetize and de-risk their investment and, ultimately,
redeploy their capital into the market.
- Fully Financed Cash Offer. The Offer is not subject
to a financing condition. The Offeror will pay for the Common
Shares subject to the Offer with funds made available to the
Offeror pursuant to committed financing facilities.
- Risks of Status Quo. There is considerable risk to
shareholders if the Aimia board and management team continue to
pursue their current strategy. The poor track record of the
current leadership team is reflected in Aimia's:
- disappointing performance, with the full-year share price
performance falling short of management's expectations;
- misaligned investment strategy, including with respect to the
pursuit of acquisitions of Tufropes and Bozetto (as well as other
acquisitions Aimia has indicated it is considering), despite
Aimia's previously announced intention to pursue acquisitions in
cash-generative businesses in either the U.S. or Canada;
- misguided focus on private equity transactions, despite the
encouragement from Mithaq to seek opportunities in the public
markets;
- low equity ownership by the Aimia board, resulting in a
misalignment with the interests of shareholders; and
- ineffective executive compensation program, which lacks
tangible and/or calculable performance-based key performance
indicators.
- Potential for Negative Impact to Common Share Price if Offer
Not Accepted. The Offer represents a premium to the market
price of Aimia Common Shares on the last trading day prior to the
date the Offeror announced its intention to make the Offer. If
the Offer is not successful, and no other offer is made for Aimia,
the Offeror believes it is likely the trading price of Aimia Common
Shares will decline to pre-Offer levels.
AIMIA'S DIRECTORS WERE NOT
PROPERLY ELECTED
In respect of the close reported results of Aimia's annual
general meeting on April 18, 2023,
Mithaq commenced a proceeding to seek a review of the voting
records, which Aimia agreed to produce at the last minute. Based on
those records, Mithaq is unable to reproduce the results of the
meeting and has not received a substantive response to its request
for additional information.
Mithaq also has reason to believe, based on the information that
Aimia did provide, that none of the directors of Aimia were elected
at the meeting and is now seeking declaratory relief and an order
requiring that Aimia immediately call and promptly hold a special
meeting of shareholders.
Additionally, Aimia had sought but then on the eve of the
hearing withdrew a motion for an interlocutory injunction in a
lawsuit alleging undisclosed joint actorship and misuse of
confidential information, allegations Mithaq believes will fail; a
trial on these issues is scheduled for four days starting
January 8, 2024.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE
OFFER
The Offer will remain open for acceptance until 11:59 p.m. (Vancouver time) on January 18, 2024, unless otherwise extended,
accelerated or withdrawn by the Offeror. The initial
deposit period under the Offer may be shortened to 35 days in
certain circumstances.
The Offer will be subject to customary conditions, including,
among other things: (i) there having been validly deposited under
the Offer and not withdrawn that number of Common Shares
representing more than 50% of the outstanding Common Shares,
together with the associated rights, excluding those Common Shares
beneficially owned, or over which control or direction is
exercised, by the Offeror, any associate or affiliate of the
Offeror, or any person acting jointly or in concert with the
Offeror, which is a non-waivable condition; (ii) there having been
validly deposited pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn that
number of Common Shares, together with the associated rights and
the Common Shares held by the Offeror at the expiry of the Offer,
representing at least 66⅔% of the outstanding Common Shares (on a
fully-diluted basis); (iii) the Offeror having determined that
Aimia has not taken or proposed to take any action, or disclosed
any previously undisclosed action or intention to take any action,
that might result in a material adverse effect in respect of Aimia;
(iv) neither Aimia nor any other person having taken any action or
authorized, recommended, proposed or announced an intention to take
any action that has had or could have the effect of impairing the
ability of the Offeror to acquire the Common Shares, diminishing in
any respect the expected economic value to the Offeror of the
acquisition of Aimia, or that would make it inadvisable for the
Offeror to proceed with the Offer or related transactions; and (v)
certain regulatory approvals having been obtained and/or waiting
periods expired.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition.
Full details of the Offer are included in the letter to
shareholders and Circular and accompanying Offer documents filed
with securities regulatory authorities and accessible under Aimia's
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
The letter to shareholders and Circular are also available at
www.cashpremiumforaimia.com. The Circular and accompanying Offer
documents will be mailed to shareholders following receipt of the
applicable securityholder lists from Aimia, in compliance with
applicable securities laws.
Shareholders with questions or in need of assistance accepting
the Offer can contact Carson Proxy Advisors by telephone at
1-800-530-5189 (North American Toll-Free Number) or
416-751-2066 (outside North
America) or by email at info@carsonproxy.com.
Further information is also available at
www.cashpremiumforaimia.com, which will be updated as the tender
process proceeds.
This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or the
solicitation of an offer to sell any securities of the Offeror,
Mithaq or Aimia.
EARLY WARNING DISCLOSURE
This press release is being issued pursuant to National
Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related
Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which requires a
report to be filed under Aimia's profile on SEDAR+
(www.sedarplus.ca) containing additional information respecting the
foregoing matters. Aimia's head office address is 176 Yonge Street,
6th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5C
2L7.
Mithaq has filed an amended early warning report to disclose
changes in certain material facts relating to its ownership of
securities of Aimia, in compliance with National Instrument 62-103.
In the amended report, Mithaq discloses, among other things, that
it has effected the commencement of the Offer. In addition to
effecting the commencement of the Offer, Mithaq may explore from
time to time a variety of alternatives it deems appropriate, in
each case to the extent permitted under applicable law, including
(i) increasing its position in Aimia through, among other things,
the acquisition of securities of Aimia, and/or (ii) entering into
transactions that increase or hedge its economic exposure to such
securities without affecting its beneficial ownership of such
securities.
Mithaq may explore from time to time other alternatives in
addition to effecting the commencement of the Offer with respect to
its investment in Aimia, in each case to the extent permitted under
applicable law, including, but not limited to, developing plans or
intentions or taking actions itself or with joint actors which
relate to or would result in one or more of the transactions or
matters referred to in paragraphs (a) through (k) of Item 5 of
Mithaq's Early Warning Report filed on SEDAR+. For greater
certainty, Mithaq may: (a) engage with management and/or the board
of Aimia concerning the foregoing and its business, management,
operations, capitalization, financial condition, governance,
strategy and future plans (including taking any actions it deems
appropriate to influence the affairs of Aimia); (b) initiate or
make public or private proposals or offers involving Aimia,
including (i) any takeover bid, amalgamation, consolidation,
acquisition, business combination, arrangement, recapitalization,
restructuring, liquidation, dissolution, disposition of assets or
other similar transactions involving Aimia (including its
subsidiaries and joint ventures or any of their respective
securities or assets), and (ii) any waiver, amendment or
modification to Aimia's articles of incorporation or by-laws; (c)
initiate, solicit or join as a party, any litigation, arbitration
or other proceeding (including regulatory proceedings) involving
Aimia or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their respective
current or former directors or officers (including derivative
actions and exercising any dissent rights); (d) initiate, propose,
encourage, advise, influence or otherwise participate in the
solicitation of proxies with respect to the voting of any
securities of Aimia on any matter (including pursuant to any
available exemptions under applicable laws); (e) grant any proxy
with respect to the securities of Aimia; (f) engage in any short
sale or similar transaction that derives value from a decline in
Aimia's securities; (g) deposit any securities of Aimia into a
voting trust, or subject any securities of Aimia to any agreement
or arrangement with respect to the voting of such securities; (h)
(i) call, requisition or seek to call or requisition a meeting of
the shareholders of Aimia, (ii) seek election or appointment to, or
representation on, the board of Aimia or (iii) effect the removal
of any member of the board of Aimia or otherwise alter the
composition of the board of Aimia (including by voting against the
directors or through any "no vote" or similar campaign or proposing
nominees); (i) submit, or induce any person to submit, any
shareholder proposal; (j) enter into any agreement with Aimia
(including any settlement or resolution agreement); (k) retain any
advisors in furtherance of any of the foregoing; (l) make any
request for securityholder list materials or other books and
records of Aimia or any of its subsidiaries including under any
statutory or regulatory provisions providing for shareholder access
to such securityholder list materials, books and records of Aimia
or its subsidiaries; (m) enter into discussions, agreements or
understandings with any person with respect to or in contemplation
of the foregoing or advise, assist, support or encourage any person
to take any action consistent with the foregoing; and (n) make any
public disclosure of any consideration, intention, plan or
arrangement with respect to or in contemplation of any of the
foregoing.
Although the foregoing reflects activities presently
contemplated by Mithaq in addition to effecting the commencement of
the Offer with respect to its investment in Aimia, the foregoing is
subject to a number of factors, including but not limited to, the
price of Aimia's securities, Aimia's business and financial
condition and prospects, conditions in the securities markets and
general economic and industry conditions, the availability of
funds, the evaluation of other investment opportunities available
to Mithaq, and is subject to change at any time, and there can be
no assurance that Mithaq will take any of these additional actions
referred to above.
For further information, including a copy of the corresponding
report filed with Canadian securities regulators, please visit
www.sedarplus.ca or contact Mithaq Capital SPC, Saudi Arabia, P.O. Box 86611, Riyadh 11632, Attention: Turki Saleh AlRajhi
(mithaq-capital@mithaqholding.com).
ABOUT MITHAQ
Mithaq is the largest shareholder of Aimia, holding 26,059,000
Common Shares representing approximately 30.96% of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares. Mithaq is a segregated portfolio company
and affiliate of Mithaq Holding Company, a family office based
in Saudi Arabia with investments in public equities, real
estate, private equity and income-producing assets in local and
international markets.
ADVISORS
Torys LLP is acting as legal advisor, Carson Proxy Advisors is
acting as Information Agent and Longview Communications and Public
Affairs is acting as communications advisor to the Offeror and
Mithaq in respect of the Offer.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This document contains "forward-looking statements" (as
defined under applicable securities laws). These statements relate
to future events or future performance and reflect the Offeror and
Mithaq's expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates, intentions, and
similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results,
circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical
facts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding: the Offer, including the anticipated timing
of the Offer; reasons to accept the Offer and expectations that
such reasons continue to be prevailing; risks and challenges facing
Aimia; Mithaq's beliefs with respect to its investment in Aimia and
its related strategy; and statements in respect of litigation with
Aimia. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Offeror and
Mithaq's current beliefs and are based on information currently
available. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should",
"expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict",
"potential", "continue", "target", "intend", "could" or the
negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and a
number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ
materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should
specifically consider various factors that may cause actual results
to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. These
factors include, but are not limited to, market and general
economic conditions (including slowing economic growth, inflation
and rising interest rates) and the dynamic nature of the industry
in which Aimia operates.
Although the forward-looking information contained in this
document is based upon what the Offeror and Mithaq believe are
reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual
results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made
as of the date of this document and should not be relied upon as
representing views as of any date subsequent to the date of this
document. Except as may be required by applicable law, the Offeror
and Mithaq do not undertake, and specifically disclaim, any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information,
whether as a result of new information, further developments or
otherwise.
Neither the Offeror, Mithaq nor or any of their subsidiaries,
affiliates, associates, officers, partners, employees,
representatives and advisers, make any representation or warranty,
express or implied, as to the fairness, truth, fullness, accuracy
or completeness of the information contained in this document or
otherwise made available, nor as to the reasonableness of any
assumption contained herein, and any liability therefore (including
in respect of direct, indirect, consequential loss or damage) is
expressly disclaimed. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be
relied upon as, a promise or representation, whether as to the past
or the future and no reliance, in whole or in part, should be
placed on the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of
the information contained herein.
SOURCE Mithaq Canada Inc.