All amounts in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted
TORONTO, April 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Difference Capital Financial Inc. ("Difference" or the "Company") (TSX: DCF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) pursuant to which Difference will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Mogo Finance Technology Inc. ("Mogo") (TSX: MOGO, NASDAQ: MOGO), which it does not already own (the "Transaction").
The Transaction will be carried out by way of a statutory plan of arrangement of Mogo under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), which will involve, among other things, a three-cornered amalgamation whereby Mogo will amalgamate with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Difference to form a new British Columbia Difference subsidiary.
Difference and certain of its directors and officers currently own approximately 23% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Mogo (the "Mogo Shares") (on a basic basis). Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, holders of Mogo Shares (the "Mogo Shareholders") will be entitled to receive one common share of Difference (the "Difference Shares") for each Mogo Share they hold (the "Consideration"). The Consideration represents an aggregate equity value, on a fully-diluted-in-the-money basis of approximately C$110 million1 for Mogo and represents approximately a 43% premium to the closing traded price of the Mogo Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"), and approximately a 38% premium to the 20-day volume weighted average trading price of Mogo’s common shares on the TSX, each as of April 12, 2019. Upon the completion of the Transaction, existing holders of Difference Shares (the "Difference Shareholders") and Mogo Shareholders will each hold approximately 20% and 80% of the then-issued and outstanding Difference common shares, respectively.
Henry Kneis, CEO and co-founder of Difference, will continue to operate the Company through the Transaction and will ensure an orderly transition to Mogo’s management team thereafter. Once such transition is complete, Mr. Kneis will retire from the Company. In anticipation of his departure, Mr. Kneis resigned from Difference’s board of directors. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Kneis for his dedicated service since 2012.
Transaction Highlights:
- The combination of Difference and Mogo creates a well-capitalized Canadian financial technology (“FinTech”) leader with a strong organic growth trajectory.
- Participation for Difference Shareholders in the growth potential offered by Canada’s premier non-bank FinTech leader.
- Continued participation for Difference Shareholders in the potential upside offered by future exits from Difference’s investment portfolio.
- The Transaction will result in anticipated operational efficiencies through lower corporate, public company, and Board costs of the combined entities.
- Strong, supportive combined corporate, retail and institutional shareholder base for the combined entity providing enhanced market visibility and liquidity.
“We are very pleased with the outstanding opportunity presented by the combination of Difference and Mogo,” stated Michael Wekerle, Executive Chairman of Difference. “Since its formation in 2012, Difference has made numerous investments in emerging technology and growth companies, and we are very excited about the next evolution and prospects of Difference with the combination with Mogo, the Canadian non-bank FinTech leader,” Mr. Wekerle continued.
Board Approvals and Recommendations
Difference's board of directors (the "Board"), after receiving the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of the Board comprised solely of non-management directors (the "Special Committee"), and in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, has unanimously determined that the Transaction is in the best interests of Difference and is unanimously recommending that Difference Shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.
Canaccord Genuity, independent fairness opinion provider to the Special Committee, has delivered a fairness opinion to the effect that, as of April 14, 2019, the consideration to be paid pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement by Difference Shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to Difference, subject to certain assumptions, limitations, and qualifications set out therein. The full text of the fairness opinion, which describes, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, factors considered and limitations and qualifications on the review undertaken, and the term and conditions of the Transaction, will be included in the management information circular of Difference.
Certain Difference Shareholders, including Difference's directors and officers, which collectively control approximately 49.8% of the outstanding Difference Shares (on a basic basis), have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to vote in favour of the Transaction.
Transaction Details
Pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, each Mogo Shareholder will be entitled to receive one Difference Share in exchange for each Mogo Share held (the "Exchange Ratio"). The outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and warrants of Mogo will remain outstanding and will be exchanged for stock options, restricted stock units and warrants of Difference, as adjusted by the Exchange Ratio as appropriate in accordance with their respective terms. Mogo’s outstanding convertible debentures will continue to remain outstanding and will be adjusted by the Exchange Ratio.
The Arrangement Agreement is subject to customary non-solicitation provisions, including each party’s right to consider and accept unsolicited superior proposals that may be submitted by arm’s length third-parties. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for break-fee, reverse break-fee and expense reimbursement payments in certain circumstances.
The Transaction constitutes a “related party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”) given that a Difference control person and certain of Difference’s directors and officers hold Mogo Shares, which will be acquired by Difference pursuant to the Transaction. The Transaction is exempt from the MI 61-101 formal valuation requirement pursuant to section 6.3(2) of MI 61-101. Minority Approval (as such term is defined in MI 61-101) will be sought at a special meeting of Difference shareholders, which is expected to occur in June 2019 (the “Difference Meeting”).
Closing of the Transaction is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including court approval, certain third-party consents and the approval of:
- 66⅔% of the votes cast by the Difference Shareholders at the Difference Meeting;
- a majority of the votes cast by Difference Shareholders, excluding Difference related parties that hold Mogo securities and any other votes that are required to be excluded in determining such approval in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSX rules, at the Difference Meeting;
- 66⅔% of the votes cast by the Mogo Shareholders at a special meeting expected to take place in June 2019;
- a majority of the votes cast by the Mogo Shareholders, excluding Difference, its affiliates and any other votes that are required to be excluded in determining such approval in accordance with applicable securities laws; and
- TSX approval.
Further information regarding the Transaction will be provided in a management proxy circular which Difference expects to mail to their shareholders in May. Copies of the Arrangement Agreement, the management proxy circular and the voting support agreements will be available on the SEDAR profile of Difference at www.sedar.com. Difference anticipates that the Transaction will be completed in the summer of 2019.
Advisors
Eight Capital is acting as exclusive financial advisor to the Board. DLA Piper (Canada) LLP is acting as legal advisor to the Special Committee, and Canaccord Genuity is acting as independent fairness opinion provider to the Special Committee.
About Difference Capital Financial Inc.
Difference Capital Financial Inc. invests in and advises growth companies. It leverages its capital market expertise to help unlock value in technology, media and healthcare companies as they approach important milestones in their business lifecycle.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance, including statements as to the likelihood and timing of completing the Transaction, likelihood of receiving shareholder and other third-party approvals for the Transaction, ability to receive court approvals in respect of the Transaction, timing for mailing of the management information circular, the shareholder meeting dates and the timing for closing of the Transaction. The use of any of the words “could”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “projected”, “estimated” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the current belief or assumptions of Difference as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Whether actual results and developments will conform with the expectations of Difference is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including factors underlying management's assumptions, such as risks related to: the potential risk that the Transaction will not be approved by shareholders or that the Arrangement Agreement could be terminated in certain circumstances; failure to, in a timely manner, or at all, obtain the required regulatory, court, stock exchange or other third party approvals for the Transaction or any ancillary transaction; failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to complete the Transaction; the possibility that the board of directors of Mogo or Difference could receive an acquisition proposal and approve a superior proposal; significant Transaction costs or unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation or adverse actions or awards that would prevent or hinder the completion of the Transaction; failure to realize the expected benefits of the Transaction; compliance with all applicable laws and other customary risks associated with transactions of this nature; and general economic conditions. If the Transaction is not completed and Difference continues as an independent entity, there are serious risks that the announcement of the Transaction and the dedication of substantial resources of Difference to the completion of the Transaction could have an adverse impact on its business, strategic relationships, and operating results. Failure to comply with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement on the part of Difference may, in certain circumstances, also result in Difference being required to pay a termination fee or expense reimbursement to Mogo, the result of which could have a material adverse effect on the financial position, operating results and ability to fund growth prospects of Difference. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Actual future results may differ materially. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and Difference is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.
Contact Information
Henry Kneis
Chief Executive Officer
(416) 649-5090
hkneis@differencecapital.com
www.differencecapital.com
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1 Excludes existing Difference ownership