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CALGARY, Nov. 21, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Target Capital
Inc. ("Target" or the "Corporation") (TSXV:
TCI) and (CSE: TCI) is pleased to announce that it has entered
into a definitive reorganization and investment agreement (the
"Agreement") with Sonny
Mottahed, Bill Macdonald and
David Cheadle (the "Initial
Investor Group") which provides for: (i) a non-brokered private
placement of up to an aggregate of $5.0
million (the "Private Placement"); (ii) the
appointment of a new management team (the "New Management
Team") and board of directors; and (iii) a rights offering (the
"Rights Offering") to holders of common shares ("Common
Shares") of Target (collectively, the
"Transaction"). Completion of the Transaction is
subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of
the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and the Canadian
Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). Upon completion of
the Transaction, it is anticipated that the shareholders of Target
will be asked to approve, at a special meeting called for such
purpose, a change of the Corporation's name to
"CBi2 Capital Corp.".
The New Management Team will be led by Sonny Mottahed as President & Chief
Executive Officer, Bill Macdonald as
Executive Vice President – Corporate Development and David Cheadle as Chief Financial Officer.
Upon closing of the Transaction, the new board of directors will
be comprised of Sonny Mottahed,
Bill Macdonald, Gregory Turnbull, Matteo
Volpi and Chad Oakes.
Sony Gill, a partner in the Business Law Group in the Calgary office of the national law firm
McCarthy Tétrault LLP, will act as Corporate Secretary.
New Management Team
The New Management Team are founding shareholders, senior
officers and board members of two late stage licensed applicants
under Health Canada's Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes
Regulations ("ACMPR") and they have developed a deep
network of contacts within the legal cannabis sector in
Canada, Europe, and all other legal international
jurisdictions. The New Management Team has significant investment
banking, direct investing, and legal advisory experience and are
skilled at identifying, evaluating and adding value to start-up
companies.
Sonny
Mottahed,
Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer
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Mr. Mottahed has been
the Chairman, CEO and co-founder of Fifty First Parallel Life
Sciences Ltd. ("51st Parallel"), an Alberta-based late stage
license applicant under ACMPR since October 2016 and the CEO and a
Managing Partner of Black Spruce Merchant Capital ("Black
Spruce"), a boutique energy-focused investment bank, since
April 2012. Prior thereto, Mr. Mottahed was the Managing Director,
Investment Banking at Raymond James Ltd.
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Bill
Macdonald,
Executive Vice President – Corporate Development and a
Director
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Bill Macdonald has
deployed capital in over 60 private start-ups since 2001. Mr.
Macdonald is currently a director of Grunewahl Organics Inc., an
Alberta-based late stage licensed applicant under ACMPR. Mr.
Macdonald is also a Director of Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd., the
only cannabis-related company to become a member of the Canadian
Franchise Association.
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David
Cheadle,
Chief Financial Officer
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David Cheadle has
over 11 years of investment banking experience and is currently a
Managing Partner of Black Spruce and CFO of 51st
Parallel.
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New Board of Directors
The directors have strong track records, distinguished careers
and have held prominent lead positions within a range of successful
companies, including in the cannabis sector. Their combined
experience and expertise will provide the New Management Team with
invaluable advice, guidance and mentorship.
Gregory
Turnbull
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Greg Turnbull is a
partner with the McCarthy Tétrault LLP law firm in the Calgary
office. He has worked as a lawyer since 1980, having held a variety
of roles with firms such as Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, Donahue LLP
and MacKimmie Matthews. Mr. Turnbull is currently a director of
Crescent Point Energy Corp., Storm Resources Ltd. and Oyster Oil
and Gas Ltd. and a number of private companies, including 420
Investments Ltd., which operates medical marijuana resource
clinics.
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Matteo
Volpi
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Matteo Volpi has over
20 years of leadership experience directing operations management,
strategies, negotiations, supply chain optimization, business
development and public/government relations with focus on the
Europe & Africa. Mr. Volpi is the CEO of Interoil Materials
Services Ltd.
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Chad Oakes
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Chad Oakes is a
television and movie producer and writer, best known for "Hell on
Wheels", "Fargo" and "Broken Trail". Mr. Oakes is the co-chair of
Nomadic Pictures Corp., a Calgary based production company that
develops, finances and produces movies and TV series and has
garnered 58 Emmy nominations.
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Corporate Strategy
The New Management Team, together with the proposed new members
of the board of directors, have extensive experience in creating
shareholder value through a focused full-cycle business plan and
believe the current market environment provides an excellent
opportunity to reposition Target as a high growth cannabis
investment vehicle. The New Management Team believes that
Target will be well positioned to take advantage of investment
opportunities in the current market.
Following the completion of the Transaction, Target expects to
execute on a cannabis-focused investment strategy, developing and
managing a diversified portfolio of predominantly early stage
cannabis investment opportunities. The recapitalized
corporate structure will allow Target to explore and invest in a
number of strategic investment opportunities in the medical and
recreational cannabis industry and in businesses offering ancillary
products and services. Target's existing revenue base (annualized
rate of $476,000 based on 1Q18
actuals) is expected to fund a significant portion of Target's
near-term operating costs.
Immediately prior to the completion of the Transaction, the
recapitalized Target is expected to have a net cash position of
approximately $5.0 million, assuming
the Private Placement is fully subscribed, providing the New
Management Team a platform to aggressively grow the business
through strategic investments in the cannabis market.
Upon completion of the Transaction and subject to all regulatory
and shareholder approvals, it is anticipated that the New
Management Team will change the name of the Corporation from
"Target Capital Inc." to "CBi2 Capital Corp.".
Private Placement
Pursuant to the Private Placement, the Initial Investor Group,
together with additional subscribers identified by the Initial
Investor Group, will subscribe for up to a maximum of 83,333,333
units (the "Units") of Target at a price of $0.06 per Unit for maximum total proceeds of
$5.0 million. Each Unit shall
be comprised of one Common Share and, in the case of subscriptions
by the New Management Team, one Common Share purchase warrant (a
"Warrant") and, in the case of all other subscribers, one
half of one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to
purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.10 for a period of five years. The
Warrants will vest and become exercisable as to one-third upon the
20-day weighted average trading price of the Common Shares (the
"Market Price") equaling or exceeding $0.12, an additional one-third upon the Market
Price equaling or exceeding $0.16 and
a final one-third upon the Market Price equaling or exceeding
$0.20.
The completion of the Private Placement is expected to occur on
or about December 15, 2017, and may
be completed in one or more tranches (the "Closing"). The
resignation of the current board of directors and management team
of Target and the appointment of the New Management Team will occur
contemporaneous with the Closing. The closing of subscriptions for
any remaining Units will occur on such dates as determined by the
Initial Investor Group.
Proceeds from the Private Placement will be used: (i) to make
investments and deposits in connection with letters of intent
signed with strategic cannabis investment opportunities; (ii) for
working capital and general corporate purposes; and (iii) to pay
all amounts owing with respect to all of Target's long-term bonds
issued and outstanding (the "Bonds").
Rights Offering
Upon completion of the Private Placement, and subject to Target
receiving the Written Consent (as defined below) on or before
November 30, 2017 or the approval of
the resolutions put forward at the Target Meeting (as defined
below) on or before January 26, 2018,
if applicable, Target shareholders will be entitled to participate
in the Rights Offering, which is expected to be conducted by way of
a Rights Offering Circular. Pursuant to the Rights Offering, each
shareholder as of the record date for such offering (the "Record
Date") will be issued one right ("Right") for each
Common Share held on the Record Date, entitling that holder to
purchase one Common Share for every four Rights held at a price of
$0.06 per Common Share at or before
the expiry time of the Rights Offering, following which all
outstanding Rights shall terminate and expire. Subscribers of
Common Shares under the Private Placement will waive their right to
participate in the Rights Offering with respect to any securities
acquired pursuant to the Private Placement. The Rights Offering is
subject to applicable regulatory approval, including the TSXV and
the CSE.
Shareholder and Stock Exchange Approvals
Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of
conditions and approvals including, but not limited to, the
approval of the TSXV, the CSE and the shareholders of Target.
Under the policies of the TSXV and the CSE, the completion of the
Private Placement is subject to the approval of the shareholders of
Target as the completion of the Private Placement will result in
the creation of a new "control person" (as defined under the
policies of the TSXV). In addition thereto, the appointment
of the New Management Team is subject to shareholder approval under
the policies of the TSXV and the CSE. The required
disinterested shareholder approval may be obtained by Target either
by receipt of written consents by holders of more than 50% of the
issued and outstanding voting shares of Target (the "Written
Consent") effective as of the close of business on December 15, 2017 or by approval of a resolution
at a special meeting of shareholders (the "Target
Meeting"). Pursuant to the Agreement, Target has agreed
to obtain the Written Consent on or before November 30, 2017, failing which the Initial
Investor Group has the right to terminate the Agreement. In
the event that the Written Consent is not obtained on or before
November 30, 2017 and the Initial
Investor Group waives its termination right, Target has agreed to
convene and hold the Target Meeting on or before January 26, 2018.
Target will apply to the TSXV for an exemption from the
sponsorship requirements in connection with the appointment of the
New Management Team. There is no assurance that such exemption will
be granted.
The Corporation
Target is a Calgary, Alberta
based company engaged in making strategic investments in private
companies, including small start‐up operations and land development
corporations. Target's principal revenue stream is from acquiring
controlling interests in private companies. The nature of the
Corporation's investment in the controlled private companies
enables the debt securities of the companies to be eligible for
registered retirement savings plans, registered education savings
plans, registered retirement income funds, locked‐in retirement
accounts and tax‐free savings accounts (each, a "Deferred
Plan"). The promoters managing these companies use the capital
raised at their own discretion, without reliance on the management
or resources of Target. Target's management and capital are not
committed to these controlled private companies. Target earns
fees from each company for enabling these companies to raise funds
from Deferred Plans. The annual fee is generally the greater
of $2,500 or 0.5% of the total
capital raised by each private company from Deferred Plans. The
controlled private companies have raised capital via investments
from Deferred Plans varying in size from nil to several million
dollars.
Upon the completion of the Transaction, the Corporation is
expected to continue its existing business, in addition to
executing on a cannabis-focused investment strategy.
The Corporation has 3,851,863 Common Shares and no dilutive
securities outstanding. The Corporation currently has a working
capital balance of approximately $450,000, including approximately $200,000 of cash, and a current net debt position
of approximately $1.3 million
including the Bonds but excluding the costs of the Transaction.
Upon completion of the Private Placement and assuming the exercise
of all Rights issued in connection with the Rights Offering, Target
will have approximately 88.1 million Common Shares, and assuming
the exercise of all Warrants issued in connection with the Private
Placement, there will be up to approximately 142.3 million Common
Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis.
Board of Directors' Recommendation
The board of directors of Target has determined that the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement are in the best
interests of its shareholders, has unanimously approved such
transactions and recommends that Target's shareholders approve the
Agreement and the Transaction and execute the Written
Consent. Any shareholder of Target wishing to obtain and
execute the Written Consent should contact Target as set forth
below.
Directors, officers and other shareholders of Target who, in
aggregate, own, directly or indirectly or exercise control or
direction over approximately 75% of the Common Shares, have entered
into support agreements or agreed to enter into support agreements
pursuant to which they have agreed or will agree, among other
things, to execute a Written Consent.
The Agreement
The Agreement contains a number of customary representations,
warranties and conditions. The complete Agreement will be
accessible on Target's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Reader Advisory
Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of
conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV and CSE acceptance.
The Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder
approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the
Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.
Trading in the securities of Target should be considered
highly speculative.
Neither the 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 news release.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described
herein. The securities have not been and will not be registered
under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be
offered or sold within the United
States or to United States Persons unless registered under
the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an
exemption from such registration is available.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may include forward-looking statements
including opinions, assumptions, estimates, the New Management
Team's assessment of future plans and operations, and, more
particularly, statements concerning the completion of the
Transaction contemplated by the Agreement, the number of securities
issued by way of the Private Placement, the business plan of the
New Management Team, the change of name of the Corporation, use of
proceeds and debt levels following completion of the
Transaction.
When used in this document, the words "will," "anticipate,"
"believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project,"
"should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the
statements that identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of
expectations and assumptions made by Target which include, but are
not limited to, the timing of the receipt of the required
shareholder, regulatory and third party approvals, the future
operations of, and transactions completed by Target as well as the
satisfaction of other conditions pertaining to the completion of
the Transaction.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of
risks and uncertainties, and although Target believes that the
expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will
be realized.
Any number of important factors could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
including, but not limited to, shareholder, regulatory and third
party approvals not being obtained in the manner or timing set
forth in the Agreement, the ability to implement corporate
strategies, the state of domestic capital markets, the ability to
obtain financing, changes in general market conditions and other
factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and
filings made by Target with securities regulatory
authorities.
Except as required by applicable laws, neither Target nor the
Initial Investor Group undertake any obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Target Capital Inc.