Yucaipa Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: YAC) (“Yucaipa”), a
publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company led by Chairman
and President Ron Burkle and CFO and COO Ira Tochner, and SIGNA
Sports United (“SSU”), a leading global sports, e-commerce and
technology platform, today announced that its respective
shareholders approved the business combination between Yucaipa and
SSU announced on June 11, 2021. The business combination also
includes the acquisition of the WiggleCRC Group (“WiggleCRC”), the
second largest online bike retailer globally after SSU, currently
owned by Bridgepoint. The respective boards of directors of both
Yucaipa and SSU had previously approved the business
combination.
Following the Yucaipa shareholder vote, SSU and Yucaipa have
commenced final procedures towards the closing of the business
combination and expect the closing to be completed by December 14,
2021. It is further expected that the trading of the shares of the
combined company, called SIGNA Sports United N.V. (formerly known
as SIGNA Sports United B.V., “Pubco”), will commence on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SSU” on the first trading day
thereafter. SSU will continue to operate under its existing
management team led by Chief Executive Officer, Stephan Zoll.
Transaction Overview
Yucaipa has agreed to combine with SSU and WiggleCRC based on a
$3.2 billion pro forma enterprise valuation.
The transaction is expected to raise at least $484 million from
Yucaipa trust proceeds and a fully committed ordinary share private
investment in public equity (“PIPE”) from institutional and
high-tech investors, sovereign wealth funds and high net-worth
individuals.
Ron Burkle and SIGNA International Sports Holding GmbH (“SISH”),
the majority shareholder of SSU, are both investing in the PIPE and
are joined by top tier global institutional investors. The existing
shareholders have agreed to convert 100 percent of their ownership
stakes into the new public company.
Additional information about the proposed transaction, including
a copy of the business combination agreement and an investor
presentation, has been provided in a current report on Form 8-K
filed by Yucaipa with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) and available at www.sec.gov, on SSU’s
website at https://ir.signa-sportsunited.com/ and on Yucaipa’s
website at https://www.yucaipayac.com/investor-relations. SSU has
filed a registration statement (and Yucaipa has filed a proxy
statement/prospectus forming part of the registration statement)
with the SEC in connection with the transaction. The SEC declared
the registration statement effective on November 24, 2021.
Advisors
Citi acted as lead financial advisor to SSU. Moelis &
Company LLC acted as lead financial advisor to Yucaipa. Jefferies
acted as capital markets advisor to Yucaipa.
Citi and Jefferies LLC acted as co-placement agents on the
PIPE.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as lead legal
advisor to SSU, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as lead legal
advisor to Yucaipa.
About SIGNA Sports United
Inspiring performance. United by passion. SSU is a group
of specialist sports web shops powered by our leading sports
commerce and technology platform. Our specialist strategy allows us
to uniquely spotlight the best of our 1000+ brand partners across
the bike, tennis, outdoor and team sports categories. Together we
serve our 7M+ active customers by uniting the world’s sports data
pools, digital talent and passion for active living.
About Yucaipa Acquisition Corporation
Yucaipa is a special purpose acquisition company led by Ron
Burkle and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share
exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or
similar business combination with one or more businesses or
entities.
Additional Information
On June 10th, 2021, SSU and Yucaipa entered into a Business
Combination Agreement (as it may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination
Agreement”) by and among Yucaipa, SSU, Pubco, Olympics I Merger
Sub, LLC and SISH. On July 2, 2021, Pubco submitted a registration
statement on Form F-4 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) with respect to the proposed business
combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the
“Business Combination”), which was amended on August 31, 2021,
October 18, 2021, November 4, 2021, November 17, 2021, November 23,
2021 and November 24, 2021 and declared effective on November 24,
2021, which includes a document that serves as a prospectus of
Pubco with respect to the securities to be issued in connection
with the proposed business combination of Yucaipa with SSU
contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and a proxy
statement of Yucaipa with respect to the General Meeting. The
definitive proxy statement/prospectus was filed with the SEC on
November 26, 2021 (the “Definitive Proxy/Prospectus”). Yucaipa has
mailed the Definitive Proxy/Prospectus and other relevant documents
to its shareholders. This Press Release is not a substitute for the
Definitive Proxy/Prospectus or any other document that Yucaipa will
send to its shareholders in connection with the Business
Combination. Investors and security holders of Yucaipa are advised
to read the Definitive Proxy/Prospectus in connection with
Yucaipa’s solicitation of proxies for its extraordinary general
meeting of shareholders to be held to approve the Business
Combination (and related matters) because the Definitive
Proxy/Prospectus contains important information about the Business
Combination and the parties to the Business Combination. The
Definitive Proxy/Prospectus has been mailed to shareholders of
Yucaipa as of the November 22, 2021 record date established for
voting on the Business Combination. Shareholders are also able to
obtain copies of the Definitive Proxy/Prospectus, without charge at
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to:
Yucaipa Acquisition Corporation, 9130 West Sunset Boulevard, Los
Angeles, CA 90069.
Participants in the Solicitation
Yucaipa, SSU, Pubco and their respective directors, executive
officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC
rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies of Yucaipa’s shareholders in connection with the Business
Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more
detailed information regarding the names and interests in the
Business Combination of Yucaipa’s directors and officers in
Yucaipa’s filings with the SEC, and such information and names of
SSU’s directors and executive officers is also included in the
Definitive Proxy/Prospectus.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein, including the description of the
transactions, agreements and other information contained herein
(collectively, this “Press Release”) are not historical facts but
are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor
provisions under The 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,” “could,” “would,”
“plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,”
“outlook,” “suggests,” “targets,” “projects,” “forecast” and
similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or
trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding future events, the Business Combination
between Yucaipa and SSU, the acquisition of WiggleCRC, the
estimated or anticipated future results and benefits of the
combined company following the Business Combination, including the
likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate
the Business Combination and the acquisition of WiggleCRC, future
opportunities for the combined company, future planned products and
services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for
future operations of SSU, market size and growth opportunities,
competitive position, technological and market trends, and other
statements that are not historical facts. These statements are
based on the current expectations of SSU’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. All
forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and forecasts
and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of
Yucaipa and SSU, which are all subject to change due to various
factors including, without limitation, changes in general economic
conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any such
estimates, assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions,
whether or not identified in this Press Release, should be regarded
as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only and
should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future
results.
Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of
Yucaipa and SSU. These statements are subject to a number of risks
and uncertainties regarding SSU’s businesses and the Business
Combination, and actual results may differ materially. These risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general
economic, political and business conditions; changes in domestic or
foreign business, market, financial, political and legal
conditions; the timing and structure of the Business Combination;
changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that
may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or
regulations; the inability of the parties to consummate the
Business Combination or the occurrence of any event, change or
other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the
Business Combination Agreement; the PIPE investment and the other
transactions in connection therewith, including as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic or the risk that any 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 Business Combination; the outcome of any legal
proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following
the announcement of the Business Combination; the receipt of an
unsolicited offer from another party for an alternative business
transaction that could interfere with the Business Combination;
failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business
Combination, including as a result of a delay in consummating the
potential transaction or difficulty in integrating the businesses
of Yucaipa, SSU and WiggleCRC; the risk that the Business
Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of
the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; the
ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth
profitably and retain its key employees including its executive
team; the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the
post-acquisition company’s securities on NYSE following the
Business Combination; costs related to the Business Combination;
the overall level of demand for SSU’s services; general economic
conditions and other factors affecting SSU’s business; SSU’s
ability to implement its business strategy; SSU’s ability to manage
expenses; changes in applicable laws and governmental regulation
and the impact of such changes on SSU’s business, SSU’s exposure to
litigation claims and other loss contingencies; the risks
associated with negative press or reputational harm; disruptions
and other impacts to SSU’s business, as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic and government actions and restrictive measures
implemented in response; SSU’s ability to protect patents,
trademarks and other intellectual property rights; any breaches of,
or interruptions in, SSU’s technology infrastructure; changes in
tax laws and liabilities; and changes in legal, regulatory,
political and economic risks and the impact of such changes on
SSU’s business and those factors discussed in Yucaipa’s final
prospectus relating to its initial public offering, dated July 29,
2020, and other filings with the SEC.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should
carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and
uncertainties that are described in the “Risk Factors” section of
the Definitive Proxy/Prospectus, and described in Yucaipa’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed by Yucaipa or Pubco
from time to time with the SEC. There may be additional risks that
Yucaipa or Pubco presently do not know or that Yucaipa or Pubco
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 provide Yucaipa
and Pubco’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and
views as of the date of this Press Release. Yucaipa and Pubco
anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause
Yucaipa and Pubco’s assessments to change. However, while Yucaipa
and Pubco may elect to update these forward-looking statements at
some point in the future, Yucaipa and Pubco specifically disclaim
any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should
not be relied upon as representing Yucaipa and Pubco’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.
Disclaimer
This Press Release is for informational purposes only and is
neither an offer to purchase, sell or exchange nor a solicitation
of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy or exchange any
securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction
pursuant to the Business Combination or otherwise, nor will there
be any sale, issuance or transfer or securities in any jurisdiction
in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities will be
made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of
Section 10 of the Securities Act. The proposed Business Combination
will be submitted to shareholders of Yucaipa for their
consideration.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY
AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS
OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211213006034/en/
SSU: Press Erin Classen
Allison + Partners erin.classen@allisonpr.com +1 202 756 7246
Investor Contact Matt Chesler, CFA
Allison + Partners matt.chesler@allisonpr.com +1 646 809 2183
Yucaipa Acquisition Corporationt: Frank Quintero
pressrelations@yucaipaco.com +1 310 228 2860
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