Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC ("Bridger” or the “Company”),
a leading independent provider of aerial firefighting services, and
Jack Creek Investment Corp. (“Jack Creek”) (NASDAQ: JCIC), a
special purpose acquisition company, today announced a definitive
merger agreement that will result in Bridger becoming a publicly
traded company. Upon completion of the proposed combination, the
combined company will be named Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings,
Inc. and is expected to list on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the
ticker symbol "BAER."
Founded in 2014 and led by current Chief Executive Officer and
former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, Bridger is a mission-driven company
focused on addressing the year-round threat of economic and
environmental damage caused by wildfires. Through its effective,
modern and purposefully designed fleet of aircraft, Bridger
provides its federal agency and state government client base with a
comprehensive range of aerial firefighting solutions. Bridger
operates a large and sophisticated fleet of firefighting aircraft,
which includes “Super Scoopers” (CL-415EAF), air attack and
logistical support aircraft (Next Generation Daher Kodiaks, Pilatus
PC-12s, DeHavilland Twin Otter and legacy Twin Commanders), and
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Bridger also offers FireTRAC, an
innovative, proprietary data gathering, aerial surveillance and
reporting platform that complements its fleet of firefighting
assets.
Bridger has the ability to operate in all 50 states and a track
record of strong financial performance supported by a recurring
revenue model and multiple federal and state contracts. As climate
conditions continue to evolve and create a longer, more intense
wildfire season, a consistent and cost-effective solution is
required. Bridger’s experience and expertise positions it to be the
aerial firefighting solution of choice for federal, state and local
governments.
Mr. Sheehy, who will continue to lead Bridger as Chief Executive
Officer, commented, “Our mission at Bridger is simple: to save
lives, preserve our environment, and protect the people and
communities that are impacted by the growing wildfire crisis across
the globe. Our team is proud to be on the frontlines, bringing our
tactical military experience, operational capabilities, focus on
safety and the technology solutions required to attack this problem
head-on. In Jack Creek, we have found the right partner to meet
this challenge, as they will provide us with the additional
resources and management support to grow our fleet and expand our
geographic presence.”
Through its partnership with Jack Creek, Bridger expects to be
uniquely positioned to expand throughout North America and globally
to meet the rising demand for these critical services. Jack Creek’s
executive team has an extensive track record of building and
operating high-performing, private and publicly traded businesses
across various sectors. They will bring this expertise and history
of entrepreneurship, innovation and capital allocation to create
significant value for shareholders with this transaction. Jack
Creek’s Executive Chairman, Jeffrey Kelter, will become Chairman of
Bridger’s Board, which will include another member of Jack Creek’s
deeply experienced leadership team. Funds managed by Blackstone
Tactical Opportunities, as an early investor in Bridger, will
remain an equity holder in the Company and retain two Board
seats.
Mr. Kelter added, “Our priority for this transaction was to
identify a company with exceptional leadership and operational
expertise to take public and with which we could develop a true
partnership. As a private company, Bridger has attracted the
support of leading institutional investors and counts as equity
holders some of the leading financial institutions and asset
managers in the world. With its strong recurring revenue model,
experienced management team and industry-leading aircraft fleet,
the Company is well-positioned to grow and create significant and
sustained value for investors and all stakeholders as it works to
meet critical environmental and community needs.”
Transaction Overview
The business combination values Bridger at an implied $869
million pro forma enterprise value. The transaction, which does not
have a minimum cash requirement or require a PIPE offering, is
expected to deliver up to approximately $345 million of cash to
Bridger’s balance sheet, assuming no redemptions by Jack Creek’s
public shareholders and before payment of transaction expenses,
leaving the Company better positioned to further expand its fleet
and explore proprietary strategic investments.
The Boards of Directors of both Bridger and Jack Creek have
unanimously approved the proposed business combination, which is
expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to
satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the
approval of Jack Creek’s shareholders.
Additional information about the proposed transaction, including
a copy of the merger agreement and investor presentation, will be
provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Jack Creek
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at
www.sec.gov.
Advisors
Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal advisor to Bridger. Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as legal advisor to Jack
Creek.
About Bridger Aerospace
Based in Bozeman, Montana, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, LLC
is one of the nation's largest privately held aerial firefighting
companies. Bridger is committed to utilizing its team, aircraft and
technology to save lives, property and habitats threatened by
wildfires. Bridger provides aerial firefighting and wildfire
management services to federal and state government agencies,
including the United States Forest Service, across the nation. More
information about the company is available at
www.bridgeraerospace.com.
About Jack Creek Investment Corp.
Jack Creek Investment Corp. is a special purpose acquisition
company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share
exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or
similar business combination with one or more businesses.
Media Contact
Jeremy Jacobs and Will Braun Abernathy MacGregor
212-371-5999jrj@abmac.com / whb@abmac.com
Investor Contact
Lauren OresKSH Capital 212-710-5073lores@kshcapital.com
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase,
any securities in any jurisdiction, or the solicitation of any
vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with
the potential business combination between Bridger Aerospace Group
Holdings, LLC (“Bridger”) and Jack Creek Investment Corp. (“Jack
Creek”) and related transactions (the “Potential Business
Combination”), nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of
any securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom,
such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful under the laws of
such jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute either
advice or a recommendation regarding any securities. No offering of
securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an
exemption therefrom.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release are not
historical facts but are forward-looking statements, including for
purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,”
“may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,”
“expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,”
“predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,”
“target,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future
events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters,
but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is
not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but
are not limited to, (1) references with respect to the anticipated
benefits of the Potential Business Combination and anticipated
closing timing; (2) the sources and uses of cash of the Potential
Business Combination; (3) the anticipated capitalization and
enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation
of the Potential Business Combination; (4) current and future
potential commercial and customer relationships; and (5)
anticipated investments in additional aircraft, capital resource,
and research and development and the effect of these investments.
These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not
identified in this press release, and on the current expectations
of Jack Creek’s and Bridger’s management and are not predictions of
actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided
for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as,
and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an
assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or
probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or
impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual
events and circumstances are beyond the control of Bridger. These
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, including: changes in domestic and foreign business,
market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of
the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Potential
Business Combination, including the risk that any required
stockholder or regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed
or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely
affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the
Potential Business Combination is not obtained; failure to realize
the anticipated benefits of the Potential Business Combination;
risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial
information with respect to Bridger; Bridger’s ability to
successfully and timely develop, sell and expand its technology and
products, and otherwise implement its growth strategy; risks
relating to Bridger’s operations and business, including
information technology and cybersecurity risks, loss of requisite
licenses, flight safety risks, loss of key customers and
deterioration in relationships between Bridger and its employees;
risks related to increased competition; risks relating to potential
disruption of current plans, operations and infrastructure of
Bridger as a result of the announcement and consummation of the
Potential Business Combination; risks that Bridger is unable to
secure or protect its intellectual property; risks that the
post-combination company experiences difficulties managing its
growth and expanding operations; the ability to compete with
existing or new companies that could cause downward pressure on
prices, fewer customer orders, reduced margins, the inability to
take advantage of new business opportunities, and the loss of
market share; the amount of redemption requests made by Jack
Creek's shareholders; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the
ability to successfully select, execute or integrate future
acquisitions into the business, which could result in material
adverse effects to operations and financial conditions; and those
factors discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and
“Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in JCIC’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022,
JCIC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2021, and in those documents that JCIC or Wildfire New PubCo, Inc.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Jack Creek (“New PubCo”) has filed, or
will file, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”). If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results
implied by these forward-looking statements. The risks and
uncertainties above are not exhaustive, and there may be additional
risks that neither Jack Creek nor Bridger presently know or that
Jack Creek and Bridger currently believe are immaterial that could
also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. In addition, forward looking statements
reflect Jack Creek’s and Bridger’s expectations, plans or forecasts
of future events and views as of the date of this press release.
Jack Creek and Bridger anticipate that subsequent events and
developments will cause Jack Creek’s and Bridger’s assessments to
change. However, while Jack Creek and Bridger may elect to update
these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Jack
Creek and Bridger specifically disclaim any obligation to do so.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as
representing Jack Creek’s and Bridger’s assessments as of any date
subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue
reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking
statements.
Important Information for Shareholders and
Investors
The Potential Business Combination will be submitted to
shareholders of Jack Creek for their consideration and approval at
a special meeting of shareholders. Jack Creek and Bridger will
prepare a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration
Statement”) to be filed with the SEC by New PubCo, which will
include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be
distributed to Jack Creek’s shareholders in connection with Jack
Creek’s solicitation for proxies for the vote by Jack Creek’s
shareholders in connection with the Potential Business Combination
and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as
well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to
be issued to Jack Creek’s shareholders and certain of Bridger’s
equityholders in connection with the completion of the Potential
Business Combination. After the Registration Statement has been
filed and declared effective, Jack Creek will mail a definitive
proxy statement and other relevant documents to its shareholders as
of the record date established for voting on the Potential Business
Combination. Jack Creek’s shareholders and other interested persons
are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy
statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once
available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, in connection
with Jack Creek’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting
of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the
Potential Business Combination, because these documents will
contain important information about Jack Creek, Bridger and the
Potential Business Combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy
of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available,
as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the
Potential Business Combination and other documents filed with the
SEC by Jack Creek, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at
www.sec.gov. Copies of these filings may be obtained free of charge
on Jack Creek’s “Investor Relations” website at
https://www.jackcreekinvestmentcorp.com/ or by directing a request
to KSH Capital LP, Attention: Lauren Ores, 386 Park Avenue South,
Floor 20, New York, NY 10016.
Participants in the Solicitation
Jack Creek and Bridger and their respective directors and
executive officers, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies of Jack Creek’s
shareholders in connection with the Potential Business Combination.
Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information
regarding Jack Creek’s directors and executive officers in Jack
Creek’s filings with the SEC, including Jack Creek’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 21, 2022. Information
regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed
participants in the solicitation of proxies to Jack Creek’s
shareholders in connection with the Potential Business Combination,
including a description of their direct and indirect interests,
which may, in some cases, be different than those of Jack Creek’s
shareholders generally, will be set forth in the Registration
Statement. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested
persons should read the Registration Statement carefully when it
becomes available before making any voting or investment
decisions.
This press release is not a substitute for the Registration
Statement or for any other document that Jack Creek or New PubCo
may file with the SEC in connection with the Potential Business
Combination. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE
DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN
THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies
of other documents filed with the SEC by Jack Creek and New PubCo
through the website maintained by the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov.
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