Fintech
Platform 9 Capital Corp. Announces Qualifying Transaction with Sol Cuisine Inc.
Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – March 8, 2021) – Platform 9 Capital Corp. (TSXV: PN.P) (the “Company” or “Platform 9“) is pleased to announce that it has entered into of a Letter of Intent dated March 5, 2021 with Sol Cuisine Inc. (“Sol Cuisine“) to enable Sol Cuisine to complete a going-public transaction in Canada (the “Proposed Transaction“).
ABOUT SOL CUISINE
Sol Cuisine is a fast-growing producer of branded, consumer-preferred plant-based protein offerings across key center-of-plate and appetizer categories. Sol Cuisine’s products are offered through an established omni-channel distribution platform in Canada and the U.S. and are available in over 11,000 stores and more than 41,000 unique points of distribution. Over a history of 20+ years, Sol Cuisine has consistently demonstrated an ability to innovate and delight customers in Canada and the U.S., while remaining true to its commitment to producing great tasting products that are nutritionally superior both to meat-based offerings and to competitive plant-based products. Sol Cuisine’s taste and nutritional superiority has also resulted in private label contracts with some of the most recognized grocery retailers in North America. These products are all produced at a state of the art, 35,000 square foot facility in Mississauga, Ontario, capable of supporting up to 10 million kilograms of volume per annum. Sol Cuisine is incorporated under the laws of Canada.
In conjunction with, and prior to the closing of the Proposed Transaction, Sol Cuisine intends to complete a brokered private placement offering of subscription receipts of Sol Cuisine (each, a “Subscription Receipt“) for gross proceeds of $30.0 million, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the “Private Placement“), with an option to be granted to the agents to increase the size of the Private Placement by up to $4.5 million for total gross proceeds of $34.5 million. It is anticipated that each Subscription Receipt will be automatically exchanged for one common share of Sol Cuisine (each, a “Sol Cuisine Share“) upon the satisfaction of specified escrow release conditions, which will include, among other things, the completion or waiver of all conditions precedent to the Proposed Transaction and the conditional approval for listing of the common shares of the resulting issuer (the “Resulting Issuer“) on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV“).
ADDITIONAL TERMS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
For the purposes of the Proposed Transaction, the deemed value of each outstanding common share of Platform 9 will be approximately $0.1327 (on a pre-consolidation basis). Pursuant to the Proposed Transaction, it is currently intended that: (i) the outstanding common shares of Platform 9 will be consolidated at a consolidation ratio to be determined by the parties to the Proposed Transaction based on the price per Subscription Receipt of the Private Placement (the “Consolidation“); and (ii) the holders of Sol Cuisine Shares (including those investors in the Private Placement) will receive one (1) common share of the Resulting Issuer (on a post-Consolidation basis) in exchange for each outstanding Sol Cuisine Share. Following the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the securityholders of Sol Cuisine (including those investors under the Private Placement) will hold a significant majority of the outstanding common shares of the Resulting Issuer.
Platform 9 intends that the Proposed Transaction will constitute its “Qualifying Transaction” under Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies of the TSXV. The Proposed Transaction will be an arm’s length transaction.
A comprehensive news release with further particulars relating to the Proposed Transaction, financial particulars, transaction structure, descriptions of the proposed management and directors of the Resulting Issuer, terms of any sponsorship, if applicable, among other particulars, will follow in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.
Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to: (a) completion of satisfactory due diligence; (b) execution of a definitive agreement; (c) receipt of regulatory approvals; (d) acceptance of the Proposed Transaction as Platform 9’s Qualifying Transaction by the TSXV; (e) receipt of approval for the listing of the common shares of the Resulting Issuer by the TSXV; (f) shareholders of Platform 9 approving certain matters ancillary to the Proposed Transaction, including the Consolidation, the appointment of new director nominees of Sol Cuisine and a change in name of Platform 9 to include “Sol Cuisine”, all subject to the completion of the Proposed Transaction. There can, however, be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.
Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.
Trading in securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. Shares of Platform 9 are currently halted from trading on the TSXV, and trading is not expected to resume until closing of the Proposed Transaction.
This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities described in this press release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.
The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws regarding Platform 9, Sol Cuisine and their respective businesses, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, the terms on which the Proposed Transaction is intended to be completed, the ability to obtain regulatory and shareholder approvals and other factors. Often but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “expect”, “intends”, “anticipated”, “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the management of each entity, and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the management of each entity believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release, including completion of the Proposed Transaction (and the proposed terms upon which the Proposed Transaction is proposed to be completed), may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the companies, including risks regarding the industry, market conditions, economic factors, management’s ability to manage and to operate the business of the Resulting Issuer and the equity markets generally. Although Platform 9 and Sol Cuisine have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and neither Platform 9 and Sol Cuisine undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About Platform 9 Capital Corp.
Platform 9 Capital Corp. is incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario and is a Capital Pool Company listed on the TSXV. It has not commenced commercial operations and has no assets other than cash. For further information, please see the final prospectus of the Company dated May 17, 2018 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
For more information please contact:
John Travaglini, Chief Executive Officer
Platform 9 Capital Corp.
Telephone: (416) 861-1100
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/76380