D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE: DHI) (“D.R. Horton”), America’s
Builder, and Vidler Water Resources, Inc. (Nasdaq: VWTR) (“Vidler”)
announced today that the two companies have entered into a
definitive merger agreement pursuant to which D.R. Horton will
acquire Vidler for $15.75 per share in an all-cash transaction
which represents a 19% premium to the 90-day volume-weighted
average share price and a 39% premium to Vidler’s book value of
equity.
Vidler owns a portfolio of premium water rights and other
water-related assets in the southwestern United States in markets
where D.R. Horton operates that require water for development, but
face a lack of adequate supply. Vidler’s highly experienced
management team has a proven track record of accessing, developing
and realizing value for premium water assets while expertly
navigating local regulations and working with governmental
entities. Post-closing, Vidler will operate as a separate operating
division within D.R. Horton.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, D.R. Horton, through
its directly owned acquisition subsidiary, will commence a tender
offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Vidler for $15.75 per
share. Upon the successful completion of the tender offer, D.R.
Horton’s acquisition subsidiary will be merged into Vidler, and any
remaining shares of Vidler will be canceled and converted into the
right to receive the same consideration payable pursuant to the
tender offer. Following completion of the merger, the common stock
of Vidler will no longer be listed for trading on the Nasdaq. The
total equity value of the transaction is approximately $291
million, and the transaction is expected to close during the second
calendar quarter of 2022 subject to customary closing
conditions.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal counsel to
D.R. Horton. BofA Securities, Inc. is acting as financial advisor
to Vidler and Dorsey & Whitney LLP is serving as legal
counsel.
About D.R. Horton, Inc.
D.R. Horton, Inc., America’s Builder, has been the largest
homebuilder by volume in the United States since 2002. Founded in
1978 in Fort Worth, Texas, D.R. Horton has operations in 102
markets in 32 states across the United States and closed 81,622
homes during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2021. D.R.
Horton is engaged in the construction and sale of high-quality
homes through its diverse brand portfolio that includes D.R.
Horton, Emerald Homes, Express Homes and Freedom Homes ranging from
$150,000 to over $1,000,000. Through its mortgage, title and
insurance subsidiaries, D.R. Horton provides mortgage financing,
title services and insurance agency services for its homebuyers.
D.R. Horton also constructs and sells both single-family and
multi-family rental properties and is the majority-owner of
Forestar Group Inc., a national residential lot development
company.
About Vidler Water Resources, Inc.
Vidler Water Resources, Inc.’s primary holding is Vidler Water
Company, Inc., a water resource and water storage business, with
assets and operations primarily in the southwestern United States.
Vidler’s business is to source, develop and provide sustainable
potable water resources to fast-growing communities that lack, or
are running short of, available water resources.
Vidler conducts its business by working closely with many
constituents in these communities: regulators, utilities, Native
North American tribes, community leaders, residential and
commercial developers and alternative energy companies. Vidler
ensures the water resources it develops and sells are sustainable
and provide benefit to the citizens of the communities and regions
it serves.
Additional Information about the Acquisition and Where to
Find It
In connection with the proposed acquisition, D.R. Horton will
commence a tender offer for the outstanding shares of Vidler. The
tender offer has not yet commenced. This document is for
informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor
a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Vidler, nor is it a
substitute for the tender offer materials that D.R. Horton and its
acquisition subsidiary will file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) upon commencement of the tender offer. At
the time the tender offer is commenced, D.R. Horton and its
acquisition subsidiary will file tender offer materials on Schedule
TO, and Vidler will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer. The
tender offer materials (including an Offer to Purchase, a related
Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents) and
the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will contain important
information. Holders of shares of Vidler common stock are urged to
read these documents carefully when they become available (as each
may be amended or supplemented from time to time) because they will
contain important information that holders of shares of Vidler
common stock should consider before making any decision regarding
tendering their shares. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter
of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as
the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available
to all holders of shares of Vidler at no expense to them. The
tender offer materials and the Solicitation/Recommendation
Statement will be made available for free at the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov.
In addition to the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of
Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, as well as
the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, Vidler files annual,
quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC,
which are available at the website maintained by the SEC at
http://www.sec.gov.
Forward-Looking Statements
Portions of this document may constitute “forward-looking
statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Although D.R. Horton and Vidler believe any such
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no
assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different.
All forward-looking statements are based upon information available
to D.R. Horton and Vidler on the date this release was issued.
Neither D.R. Horton nor Vidler undertake any obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Some
forward-looking statements discuss D.R. Horton’s and Vidler’s
plans, strategies and intentions. They use words such as “expects,”
“may,” “will,” “believes,” “should,” “would,” “could,”
“approximately,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “targets,” “intends,”
“likely,” “projects,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “future,” and
“plans.” In addition, these words may use the positive or negative
or other variations of those terms. Forward-looking statements also
include all other statements in this press release that are not
historical facts.
Factors that may cause the actual results to be materially
different from the future results expressed by the forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to: the ability of D.R.
Horton and Vidler to complete the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement dated April 13, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”) in
the anticipated timeframe or at all, including the parties’ ability
to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the offer
contemplated thereby and the other conditions set forth in the
Merger Agreement; the potential effects of the acquisition on
Vidler; the participation of third parties in the consummation of
the transaction and the combined company; the risk that stockholder
litigation in connection with the transaction may result in
significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability;
uncertainties as to how many of Vidler’s stockholders will tender
their shares in the offer; the risk that competing offers or
acquisition proposals will be made; and other risks and
uncertainties, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” and
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” sections of D.R. Horton’s and Vidler’s
respective most recent annual reports on Form 10-K and their
respective most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, all of which
are filed with the SEC.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220413006096/en/
D.R. Horton Jessica Hansen, 817-390-8200 Vice President of
Investor Relations InvestorRelations@drhorton.com Vidler Dorothy
Timian-Palmer, (775) 885-5000 President and Chief Executive
Officer
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