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DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED
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TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Accord Financial Corp.
("Accord" or the "Company") (TSX: ACD) announced today that it has
filed a preliminary short form prospectus with the securities
regulatory authorities in all of the provinces of Canada in connection with a marketed public
offering (the "Offering") of $20
million aggregate principal amount of convertible unsecured
subordinated debentures of Accord (the "Debentures"). The Offering
is being made through a syndicate of underwriters led by RBC
Capital Markets and CIBC Capital Markets. The pricing of the
Debentures will be determined in the course of marketing. Accord
will use the net proceeds of the Offering to repay a portion of its
outstanding indebtedness under its credit facilities and the
remainder for general corporate purposes.
Accord is raising capital in the public markets after seven
straight quarters of growth in its average funds employed. "We're
excited to invite a new round of investors to participate in our
growth", said Simon Hitzig, CEO,
adding "This debenture issue will form an important part of our
capital base, allowing us to continue our growth path".
The Debentures will mature on December
31, 2023 (the "Maturity Date") and interest will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on June 30
and December 31 of each year,
commencing June 30, 2019. At the
holder's option, the Debentures may be converted into common shares
of Accord ("Common Shares") at any time prior to the close of
business on the earliest of (i) the business day immediately
preceding the Maturity Date; (ii) if called for redemption, on the
business day immediately preceding the date specified by the
Company for redemption of the Debentures; or (iii) if the Company
is required to offer to purchase such Debentures pursuant to a
change of control purchase offer, on the business day immediately
preceding the payment date. The conversion price (the "Conversion
Price") will be determined at the time of pricing, and will be
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
The Debentures will be direct, subordinated, unsecured
obligations of Accord and will rank equally with one another and
subordinate to all other existing and future senior secured and
senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company, including accounts
payable to trade creditors, and will rank pari passu with all
future subordinated unsecured indebtedness of the Company.
The Debentures will not be redeemable by the Company prior to
December 31, 2021, except in limited
circumstances. On or after December 31,
2021 and at any time prior to December 31, 2022, the Debentures may be redeemed
by Accord, in whole or in part from time to time, on not more than
60 days' and not less than 40 days' prior notice at a redemption
price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, if any, up to but excluding the date set
for redemption, provided that the arithmetic average of the volume
weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (the "TSX") for the 20 consecutive trading days
ending five trading days prior to the date on which notice of
redemption is provided is at least 125% of the Conversion Price. On
or after December 31, 2022 and prior
to the Maturity Date, Accord may, at its option, redeem the
Debentures, in whole or in part, from time to time at a redemption
price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, if any.
The Offering is expected to close prior to mid-December, 2018
and is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including,
but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals,
including the approval of the TSX.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.
The Debentures and the Common Shares issuable upon the conversion,
redemption or maturity of the Debentures, have not been and will
not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933
Act") or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the Debentures may
not be offered or sold in the United
States, except pursuant to applicable exemptions from the
registration requirements of the 1933 Act and in compliance with
applicable state securities laws.
About Accord Financial Corp.
Accord Financial Corp. is a leading North American finance
company providing distinctive working capital solutions to
companies from coast to coast. Accord's flexible finance programs
cover the full spectrum of asset-based lending, including:
factoring, inventory finance, equipment leasing, trade finance and
film/media finance. For 40 years, Accord has helped businesses
manage their cash flows and maximize financial opportunities.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements about
Accord, including, but not limited to, Accord's use of proceeds of
the Offering as well as the expected closing of the Offering.
In certain cases, forward-looking statements are statements that
are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, and/or can be identified by the use of words such as
'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'plans', 'believes',
'budgeted', 'estimates', 'forecasts', 'targets' or negative
versions thereof and similar expressions, and/or state that certain
actions, events or results 'may', 'could', 'would', 'might' or
'will' be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and
assumptions and are inherently subject to, among other things,
risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Accord's operations,
economic factors and the industry generally, as well as those
factors referred to in the "Risk Factors" section of the
preliminary short form prospectus filed in connection with the
Offering and in the "Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect
Future Results" section on pages 23 and 24 of Accord's annual
report for the year ended December 31,
2017, which is incorporated by reference into its Annual
Information Form dated March 21,
2018. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by
forward-looking statements made by Accord. The reader is
cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which may not
be appropriate for other purposes. Accord is under no obligation
(and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter
the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, unless required by
law.
A preliminary prospectus containing important information
relating to the Debentures has been filed with the securities
regulatory authorities in all of the provinces of Canada. The preliminary prospectus is still
subject to completion or amendment. Copies of the preliminary
prospectus may be obtained from RBC Capital Markets at 416-842-5349
or Distribution.RBCDS@rbccm.com. There will not be any sale or any
acceptance of an offer to buy the Debentures until a receipt for
the final prospectus has been issued.
SOURCE Accord Financial Corp.