Inscape Corporation (“
Inscape” or the
“
Company”) (TSX: INQ), today announced that it has
entered into a Support Agreement with HUK 121 Limited (the
“
Offeror”), a subsidiary of Hilco Capital Limited
UK (“
Hilco”), under which the Offeror has agreed
to initiate a take-over bid to acquire all of the Company’s
outstanding subordinated voting shares (the
“
Shares”) for $0.007 in cash per Share (the
“
Offer Price”) by way of a friendly take-over bid
(the “
Offer”).
In connection with the Offer, certain
shareholders of the Company (the “Locked Up
Shareholders”) who collectively represent over 80% of the
Shares, have entered into “hard” Lock-Up Agreements with the
Offeror under which such shareholders have agreed to support the
Offer and to deposit their Shares under the Offer (the
“Lock-Ups”).
The Company also announces that it has entered
into a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with HUK 116 Limited,
another subsidiary of Hilco, for the establishment of a new $5
million demand secured credit facility. The new credit facility
will be used by the Company to finance working capital and for
other corporate purposes.
The Board of Directors of Inscape, after
consultation with financial and legal advisors, has unanimously
approved entering into the Support Agreement and unanimously
recommends the Company’s shareholders (the
“Shareholders”) deposit their Shares under the
Offer. The Inscape Board received a verbal opinion on October 28,
2022 from Evans & Evans, Inc. that the Offer Price was fair,
from a financial point of view, to shareholders of the Company. The
opinion was based on and subject to the assumptions made,
procedures followed, matters considered and limitations and
qualifications on the review undertaken, which will be more fully
described in the written opinion to be provided by Evans &
Evans, Inc. which will be included in the Inscape directors’
circular.
In approving the Take-Over Bid, the Board, among
other things, reviewed and considered:
- The Company’s financial position and business prospects and
that the Company had and continues to face difficulties arising
from the business slowdown caused by COVID 19.
- The Company’s exploration of other strategic alternatives, and
that the Offer is the only alternative available to provide
liquidity and consideration to the Shareholders.
- The Loan Agreement to be entered into concurrently with the
Support Agreement will provide much needed financing to fund the
Company’s short term working capital requirements, and will allow
Inscape to continue to execute on its business plan while also
meeting its financial obligations until the transactions
contemplated by the Offer have been completed.
- The Offer Price was determined to be fair from a financial
point of view to the shareholders, by the financial advisor, Evans
& Evans Inc., in the Fairness Opinion.
- The Shareholders representing approximately 80% of the issued
and outstanding shares in the capital of the Company have
independently agreed to enter into “hard” Lock-Up Agreements to
tender their shares into the Offer, regardless of whether or not
the Company terminates the Support Agreement in the future.
- In order for Shareholders to be able to receive the Offer Price
for their Shares, more than 66⅔% of the outstanding Shares must be
deposited under the Offer prior to the expiry of the initial
deposit period and the Locked Up Shareholders already represent
sufficient shares to exceed the minimum tender condition. Due to
this overwhelming support, the purchase of all of the Shares is
expected to be completed shortly after the expiry of the initial
deposit period, failing which a subsequent acquisition transaction
will be completed by the Offeror in order to acquire the remainder
of the Shares.
- The Offer is not subject to a financing condition.
- The trading volume of Inscape’s Shares is very low and there is
no efficient, liquid market for the Company’s Shares that would
allow Shareholders to realize the value of their Shares.
- The terms and conditions of the Offer and the Support
Agreement, are, in the judgment of the Company and its advisors,
reasonable and were the product of extensive negotiations between
the Company and its advisors and the Offeror and Hilco and their
advisors.
Under the terms of the Support Agreement, the
Offeror has agreed to mail the Offer and the accompanying take-over
bid circular to all registered holders of Shares as soon as
reasonably practicable, and in any event not later than November
18, 2022. The Company and the Offeror have agreed to take the
necessary steps under National Instrument 62-104 in order to reduce
the initial deposit period for the Offer to 35 days from the
commencement of the Offer (subject only to such extensions to the
initial deposit period that are necessary for compliance with
National Instrument 62-104), and will be conditional upon, among
other things, there being validly deposited or tendered and not
withdrawn, a number of Shares that represents at least 66⅔% of the
outstanding Shares. The Support Agreement contains customary deal
protections in favour of the Offeror for a transaction of this
kind, including a non-solicitation covenant in respect of competing
offers from third parties, a termination fee and a right for the
Offeror to match any Superior Proposal made by a third party.
Further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Offer and
the process for tendering Shares will be set out in the take-over
bid circular and related documents which will be mailed to
shareholders and which will be filed on the Company’s profile on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
About Hilco Headquartered in
London, UK, Hilco Capital Limited is subsidiary of US-based group,
Hilco Global. Hilco is a leading turnaround investor in the retail,
wholesale and manufacturing sectors. Hilco’s investment portfolio
includes investments with annual sales revenues ranging from $50
million to $2 billion. Hilco is an experienced private equity
investment group which partners with management teams through
hands-on financial and operational support in order to facilitate
business recoveries.
About Inscape Since 1888, Inscape
has been designing products and services that are focused on the
future, so businesses can adapt and evolve without investing in
their workspaces all over again. Our versatile portfolio includes
systems furniture, storage, and walls – all of which are adaptable
and built to last. Inscape’s wide dealer network, showrooms in the
United States and Canada, along with full service and support for
all our clients, enable us to stand out from the crowd. We make it
simple. We make it smart. We make our clients wonder why they
didn’t choose us sooner.
Cautionary Statements Respecting Forward
Looking Statements and the Offer
This new release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of such statements under the
applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are
frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “continue”,
“except”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,
“may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar words, or
statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur.
These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking statements
in this release include statements regarding the proposed Offer,
the timing of mailing of the Offer and the accompanying take-over
bid circular, and the intention of the Locked Up Shareholders to
tender their Shares. Various assumptions were used in drawing the
conclusions or making the projections contained in the
forward-looking statements throughout this news release, including
assumptions based on the Company’s publicly disclosed information,
and the Company’s current financial condition. Forward-looking
statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at
the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of
risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
events or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and
expressly 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 expressly
required by applicable law.
The Offeror has not yet commenced the Offer
noted above in this news release. Upon commencement of the Offer,
the Offeror will file a take-over bid circular with securities
regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of
Canada. The take-over bid circular will contain important
information about the Offer and should be read in its entirety by
the Company’s shareholders and others to whom the Offer is
addressed. After the Offer is commenced Inscape shareholders (and
others) will be able to obtain, at no charge, a copy of the Offer,
take-over bid circular and various associated documents when they
become available online at www.SEDAR.com. This announcement is for
informational purposes only and does not constitute or form part of
any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe
for, sell or otherwise dispose of or issue, or any other
solicitation of any other solicitation of any offer to sell,
otherwise dispose of, issue, purchase, otherwise acquire or
subscribe for any security. The Offer will not be made in, nor will
deposit of securities be accepted from a person in, any
jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be
in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However, the
Offeror may in its sole discretion, take such action as it deems
necessary to extend the Offer in any such jurisdiction.
For more information, visit
www.myinscape.com.
Investor Contact
Jon Szczur, CMA, CPA Chief
Financial Officer Inscape Corporation T 905 952 4102
jszczur@myinscape.com
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