- The Competition Tribunal has released a summary of its
decision ordering the divestiture of 29 of the 103 facilities
acquired in connection with SECURE's merger with
Tervita
- SECURE plans to appeal the decision and seek a stay pending
that appeal
CALGARY,
AB, March 4, 2023 /CNW/ - SECURE ENERGY
Services Inc. ("SECURE" or the "Corporation") (TSX: SES) announced
today that the Competition Tribunal (the "Tribunal") issued its
decision in connection with SECURE's merger with Tervita
Corporation ("Tervita"). While the Tribunal agreed with SECURE that
not all of the 41 facilities the Commissioner was seeking to have
SECURE dispose of should be sold, it issued an order requiring
SECURE to divest of 17 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities,
6 landfills, 4 water disposal wells and 2 disposal caverns all
formerly owned by Tervita (the "Facilities"). This
represented 29 of the 103 facilities acquired in connection with
SECURE's merger with Tervita Corporation.
SECURE will file a notice of appeal together with a motion for a
stay of the Tribunal's order within 30 days.
The merger with Tervita was completed on July 2, 2021 pursuant to an arrangement agreement
announced on March 9, 2021 under
which SECURE acquired all of the issued and outstanding common
shares of Tervita, following which Tervita amalgamated with
SECURE.
The Tribunal's order to divest of the Facilities, if not
overturned or modified on appeal, could have a material impact
on the business, financial condition or results of operations of
the Corporation. SECURE would expect to receive sale proceeds
relating to such divestitures which could mitigate, in whole or in
part, any such impact.
Rene Amirault Chief Executive
Officer of SECURE, stated: "We thank the Tribunal members for their
work in rendering a decision, but respectfully disagree with the
outcome. The combination of these two great companies has
already better positioned us to serve our customers, and pursue our
ESG objectives, and has achieved significant efficiencies by
optimizing our existing infrastructure assets and operations."
ABOUT SECURE
SECURE is a leading environmental and energy infrastructure
business headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The Corporation's extensive
infrastructure network located throughout key resource plays in
western Canada and North Dakota includes
midstream processing and storage facilities, crude oil and water
pipelines, industrial landfills, waste transfer and metals
recycling facilities. Through this infrastructure network, the
Corporation carries out its principal business operations,
including the gathering, optimization and storage of crude oil and
natural gas liquids, and the processing, recovery and disposal of
waste streams generated by our energy and industrial customers. The
solutions the Corporation provides are designed not only to help
reduce costs, but also lower emissions, increase safety, manage
water, recycle by-products and protect the environment.
SECURE's shares trade under the symbol SES and are listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information,
visit www.secure-energy.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this news release constitute
forward-looking information and statements (collectively,
"forward-looking statements") including, but not limited to,
statements concerning the Tribunal's decision and the required
divestiture of the Facilities, the nature and scope of the
financial impact of the required divestitures; SECURE's intention
to appeal the Tribunal's decisions and seek a stay pending such
appeal; the appeal period for the Tribunal's decision; the effect
of the merger with Tervita on SECURE's ability to serve its
customers, pursue its ESG objectives and optimize its existing
infrastructure operations; annual EBITDA, its business, financial
condition and the results of operations; the timing and process to
effect the divestitures; the impact of the divestitures on SECURE's
ability to serve its customers and enhance its business; and other
statements that are not historical facts. The use of any of the
words ''anticipate'', ''plan'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''may'',
''will'', ''should'', ''could'', ''would'', ''believe'', ''pursue''
and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking
statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these
expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking
statements included in this news release should not be unduly
relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this
news release. The Corporation does not undertake any obligations to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as
required by securities law. Actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a
result of numerous risks and uncertainties including, but not
limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in
"Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors"
included in the Corporation's current Annual Information
Form, as filed on SEDAR and available on the SECURE website
at www.secure-energy.com.
Website: www.secure-energy.com
TSX Symbol: SES
SOURCE SECURE Energy Services Inc.