Resolute Forest Products Inc. and Fibrek Inc. have announced that Fibrek has entered into an agreement with RFP Acquisition Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Resolute, for a proposed arrangement (the "Arrangement") to amalgamate and form a new corporation, wholly-owned by Resolute. The Arrangement constitutes the second step transaction for Resolute to acquire all the Fibrek shares not deposited in the take-over bid it launched on December 15, 2011, which expired on May 17. Resolute holds approximately 74.56% of the outstanding Fibrek shares.
Under the terms of the Arrangement, holders of Fibrek common shares, other than RFP Acquisition Inc., will be given the same choices of per share consideration previously offered in the take-over bid, namely:
- C$0.55 in cash and 0.0284 of a Resolute share; or
- C$1.00 in cash (subject to proration, as described in the circular); or
- 0.0632 of a Resolute share (subject to proration, as described in the circular).
The maximum amount of cash consideration available under the Arrangement is approximately C$18.2 million and the maximum number of shares of Resolute common stock available to be issued is approximately 940,000.
Under the terms of the Arrangement, Fibrek and RFP Acquisition have agreed to apply for an interim order of the Superior Court of Quebec to convene a special meeting of Fibrek's shareholders to vote on the proposed Arrangement. The independent members of Fibrek's board have received an opinion from their financial advisor, Sanabe & Associates, LLC, that the consideration payable to Fibrek shareholders in the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of Fibrek (other than RFP Acquisition). Based on their own analysis and various other factors, including the fairness opinion, the independent members of Fibrek's board unanimously approved the transaction and have recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the Arrangement. The special meeting is expected to be scheduled for July 23, 2012, with a June 20 record date. Fibrek's motion for the interim order is expected to be heard on June 20. Resolute, through RFP Acquisition, is committed in the arrangement agreement to vote all of its Fibrek shares, representing approximately 74.56% of the outstanding shares, in favor of the Arrangement.
Subject to the interim order, full details of the transaction will be included in a management information circular, which is expected to be filed by Fibrek with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and mailed to Fibrek shareholders in the week of June 25. The circular will also contain full details on the terms of the proposed plan of arrangement, the factors considered by Fibrek's independent directors as well as a summary and complete copy of Sanabe & Associates' fairness opinion.
Important Notice
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.