Copernic Inc. ("Copernic") (NASDAQ: CNIC) and N. Harris Computer
Corporation ("Harris"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Constellation
Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), jointly announce that they have entered
into a definitive arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement
Agreement") with Comamtech Inc. ("Comamtech"), a newly incorporated
corporation, with respect to an arrangement (the "Arrangement")
pursuant to which Copernic will ultimately be acquired and taken
private by Harris and current shareholders of Copernic will become
shareholders of Comamtech, which shall retain certain assets of
Copernic. All dollar amounts referred to herein are U.S. dollars
unless otherwise stated.
The Arrangement will be completed by way of a plan of
arrangement under section 182 of the Business Corporations Act
(Ontario) (the "Plan of Arrangement") pursuant to which current
shareholders of Copernic shall be issued new shares of Copernic
which will then be exchanged for voting shares of Comamtech. New
voting shares of Copernic shall also be issued to Comamtech so that
Comamtech shall become the sole shareholder of Copernic. All
currently existing voting shares of Copernic shall then be
cancelled. Copernic shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption
Agreement with Comamtech to transfer certain of its assets and
Comamtech shall thereafter sell all the issued and outstanding
shares of Copernic to Harris. In addition, options to purchase
Copernic's existing common shares under Copernic's existing stock
option plan will be exchanged into equivalent options to purchase
common shares of Comamtech under the stock option plan of
Comamtech. The transactions outlined in the Plan of Arrangement,
subject to various conditions, are expected to close by the end of
October, 2010.
The purchase price to be paid by Harris to Comamtech for the
shares of Copernic is equal to $7,200,000 payable as to $5,700,000
at closing, with an additional $1,500,000 payable on the 18th month
anniversary of the closing. The initial payment at closing will be
subject to an initial price adjustment whereby it will be decreased
on a dollar for dollar basis by the amount that the cash balances
of Copernic at closing are less than $2,500,000. In addition,
Harris has agreed to pay an earn-out in the maximum aggregate
amount of $400,000, based on certain net sales revenues and
software license bench marks. Furthermore, the Arrangement
Agreement provides for closing adjustment provisions based on
whether the net tangible assets of Copernic are greater than or
less than $2,500,000 which threshold will be decreased if the cash
balances of Copernic are less than $2,500,000 at closing. Such
proceeds will be used for the payment of transaction costs and the
remaining for the operating costs of Comamtech and to finance any
potential business acquisition by Comamtech. In addition to the
cash proceeds payable by Harris to Comamtech resulting from the
sale of the shares of Copernic, Comamtech shall also have retained
assets having a current fair market value of approximately
$2,800,000.
The Board of Directors of Copernic has unanimously approved the
Arrangement and has determined that the Arrangement is in the best
interest of the shareholders of Copernic and recommends that the
shareholders of Copernic approve the Arrangement. This
recommendation is based in part on a fairness opinion prepared by
ModelCom Inc. ("ModelCom"). ModelCom was retained to provide an
opinion as to the fairness of the Arrangement from a financial
point of view to the shareholders of Copernic and has determined
that the proposed transaction is fair from a financial point of
view to the shareholders of Copernic.
The executive officers, directors and certain shareholders of
Copernic holding approximately 2% of the outstanding Copernic
existing common shares have agreed to vote their shares in favour
of the Arrangement, subject to certain rights to rescind, and have
signed support agreements with Harris evidencing such
commitment.
Completion of the Arrangement will be subject to certain
customary conditions, including approval of the Arrangement by not
less than 66 2/3 percent of the votes cast at a special meeting of
the shareholders of Copernic. The completion of the Arrangement is
also subject to court approvals and certain regulatory approvals.
Copernic's shareholders are cautioned that the failure to occur of
any of these conditions, as well as others as outlined in the
Arrangement Agreement, will result in the termination of the
Arrangement Agreement.
The completion of the Arrangement will result in the delisting
of trading of Copernic's shares from the Nasdaq Capital Markets
("Nasdaq"). However, it is the intention of Comamtech to seek a
successor listing of its common shares on the Nasdaq. Subject to
completion of a business acquisition, Copernic expects the Nasdaq
listing requirements to be met by Comamtech and anticipates the
Nasdaq listing to be granted. Copernic and Comamtech are actively
seeking a business acquisition opportunity. However, should no
business acquisition be completed within a reasonable time from the
closing of the Arrangement, Comamtech will consider other
alternatives, the details of which will be outlined in the
Information Circular (as defined below) to be sent to the
shareholders in connection with the Arrangement, including the
seeking, at that time, shareholders approval for an alternative
transaction.
Copernic will in due time mail an information circular and proxy
statement (the "Information Circular") in connection with the
Arrangement. The Arrangement will be considered by the shareholders
of Copernic at a special meeting (the "Meeting") to be held at the
time and location to be set forth in the Information Circular. The
Information Circular will contain details concerning the
Arrangement, including the conditions and procedures for it to
become effective and will include a copy of ModelCom's fairness
opinion. The shareholders of Copernic are urged to carefully review
the Information Circular and accompanying materials as they will
contain important information regarding the Arrangement and their
rights and entitlements in connection therewith.
Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Copernic has agreed to
pay Harris a termination fee of $500,000 in certain circumstances
if the proposed Arrangement is not completed. Harris, likewise, has
agreed to pay Copernic a termination fee of $500,000 in the event
of a material breach or non-performance by Harris of its
obligations under the Arrangement Agreement. The Arrangement
Agreement also contains non-solicitation covenants on the part of
Copernic and a right in favour of Harris to match any superior
proposal.
Full details of the Arrangement will be included in the
Information Circular and related documents that will be mailed soon
to all shareholders of Copernic.
About Copernic Inc.
Copernic Inc. specializes in developing, marketing and selling
cutting-edge search technology, providing innovative home and
business software products and solutions for desktop, web and
mobile users, through its online properties, including
www.mycopernic.com and www.copernic.com. With its award winning
Copernic Desktop Search® software search engine product, Copernic
brings the power of a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use search engine
to the user's PC. More information can be found at
www.copernic.com.
About N. Harris Computer Corporation
Harris is a wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation and is a
leading provider of financial management and Customer Information
Systems (CIS) software solutions. Since 1976, Harris has focused on
providing feature-rich and robust turnkey solutions to all levels
of local government, public power and water entities as well as
school districts throughout North America. Harris' focus is on
creating long-term relationships with our customers and ensuring
that we meet the changing needs of our customers over time. For
further information on Harris Computer Systems, please visit our
website at http://www.harriscomputer.com, or call 888-847-7747.
About Constellation Software Inc.
Constellation acquires, manages and builds vertical market
software businesses that provide mission critical software
solutions. Constellation's common shares are listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange under the symbol "CSU". Further information about
Constellation may be obtained from the Company's web site at
www.csisoftware.com.
Statements contained in this press release, which are not
historical facts, are forward-looking statements as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that can cause actual outcomes to differ materially
from plans, projections, expectations and other anticipated
results. Some of these risks and uncertainties are detailed in the
Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
and the Ontario Securities Commission. The Company expressly
disclaims an intent or obligation to update any description of the
scope, focus or subject matter of the forward-looking statements or
any other matters contained in this press release except as
otherwise required by law.
Contacts: Copernic Inc. Marc Ferland, President and Chief
Executive Officer 418-527-0528 #1013 Telephone Toll Free:
877-289-4682 #1013 mferland@copernic.com www.copernic.com Harris
Computer Systems N. Harris Computer Corporation Bryce Cooper,
Executive Vice President 613-226-5511 ext 2132
bcooper@harriscomputer.com www.harriscomputer.com Constellation
Software Inc. John Billowits, Chief Financial Officer 416-861-2279
info@csisoftware.com www.csisoftware.com
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