Tonbridge Power (TSXV:TBZ)
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TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2011 /CNW/ --
TSX Venture Exchange
Symbol: TBZ
TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2011 /CNW/ - Tonbridge Power Inc. (TSXV-TBZ) ("Tonbridge" or the "Corporation"), announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to
be acquired by Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) ("Enbridge") through a plan of arrangement for $0.54 per share in cash (the "Arrangement"), representing a premium of 116% to Tonbridge's closing share price of
$0.25 on August 8, 2011 and a premium of 74% to the 20-day volume
weighted average trading price of $0.31 as of August 8, 2011. The
Tonbridge shares were halted from trading at the request of Tonbridge
before market open on August 9, 2011. Pricing in respect of the
Arrangement was based, in part, on management's updated determination
that at least US$50 million in additional funding is required to
complete the construction of the Corporation's Montana Alberta Tie Ltd.
("MATL") transmission line project (the "MATL Project"). The agreement is subject to Tonbridge shareholder approval,
regulatory approval and other closing conditions.
Tonbridge also announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement
with its EPC contractor in respect of construction activities on the
MATL Project. The Corporation is in negotiations with a number of
parties in order to effect a resumption of construction as quickly as
possible with a view to meeting the Corporation's goal of delivering an
operating transmission line by mid-2012.
"We are pleased to effect this transaction as it addresses both
Tonbridge's capital and project needs while at the same time giving our
shareholders value for their investment. We look forward to completing
the MATL Project and accelerating our development of future projects as
a part of Enbridge," said Robert van Beers, Tonbridge Chief Executive
Officer.
Acquisition of Tonbridge
Under the Arrangement, in addition to acquiring all of the outstanding
common shares of Tonbridge, Enbridge will repay approximately $50
million of debt incurred in the development of the Corporation's MATL
Project to date. Enbridge may be entitled to receive approximately $9
million in a combination of cash and warrants should the Arrangement
not be completed.
Tonbridge's Board of Directors, after receiving the recommendation of
its Special Committee and consulting with its financial and legal
advisors, has unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the
best interest of the Corporation and its shareholders and to recommend
that Tonbridge shareholders vote in favour of it. Stephens Inc. and
J.J.R. Capital Corp. have acted as financial advisors to the
Corporation. Clarus Securities Inc., acting as financial advisor to
the Special Committee, has provided an opinion that the consideration
to be received by Tonbridge shareholders is fair, from a financial
point of view, to Tonbridge shareholders. A complete copy of the
opinion will be appended to Tonbridge's management information circular
in respect of the Arrangement.
The directors, senior officers and certain institutional shareholders of
Tonbridge, holding together approximately 22.4% in the aggregate of the
issued and outstanding common shares of Tonbridge, have entered into
lock-up agreements under which they have agreed to vote in favour of
the Arrangement.
Additional Transaction Details
The terms and conditions of the Arrangement will be summarized in a
management information circular, which is expected to be mailed to
Tonbridge shareholders before the end of August and filed on SEDAR.
The Arrangement will be subject, among other things, to the approval of
at least 66 ⅔% of the votes cast at a special meeting of Tonbridge
shareholders to be called to consider the Arrangement. In addition, the
Arrangement will be subject to certain customary conditions, including
court approval, relevant regulatory approvals and the absence of any
material adverse effect with respect to the Corporation.
The transaction is expected to close before September 30, 2011, subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of various closing conditions.
Settlement Agreement with EPC Contractor
Tonbridge has settled all outstanding disputes with Rocky Mountain
Contractors ("RMC"), and has terminated all aspects of its contractual relationship with
respect to the engineering, procurement and construction contract with
RMC to build the MATL Project.
In consideration for unpaid invoices, change requests and other claims
as well as for agreeing to terminate this contract on amicable terms,
MATL has agreed to forfeit US$12 million in security that RMC is
holding in escrow against payables in respect of labour, equipment and
certain materials as well as pay a further US$1 million. The
Corporation has also agreed to the following other elements in respect
of the settlement agreement: (i) MATL has agreed to take assignment of
all of RMC's subcontractors associated with the MATL Project and will
take responsibility, at its expense, for all remediation work in
connection with the MATL Project; and (ii) MATL will also pay RMC
approximately US$1.7 million for materials and equipment invoiced and
payable under an arrangement with under the Western Area Power
Administration. Under this arrangement, MATL will receive
reimbursement once it has settled this account. Future purchase orders
under this arrangement will become the responsibility of MATL. MATL
has also agreed to release RMC from all future liabilities and
obligations arising from the EPC contract including RMC's specific
warranty obligations under the contract related to the MATL Project.
In consideration of the above, RMC has agreed to remove all liens
associated with MATL and the MATL Project. RMC has also covenanted to
work quickly to enable an efficient transfer of all MATL Project
related assets and materials including, crossing agreements, IFC
drawings, subcontractor information, yards, residual equipment, MATL
Project related data, permits, matting and other matters necessary for
MATL to smoothly transition the contract to a new contractor(s). RMC
retains responsibility for any financial obligations to subcontractors
that occurred up to the date of this agreement and covenants to ensure
that all subcontractors, leases and suppliers will be paid within 30
days of this agreement for work completed but not yet invoiced and any
liens resulting from failure to pay will be RMC's responsibility. All
transferable manufacturers and subcontractor warranties will be
transferred to MATL and in the event that these are not transferrable
RMC will hold those warranties for MATL's benefit. RMC has agreed to
release MATL from all future liabilities and obligations arising from
the EPC contract and the MATL Project with the exception of those
spelled out in the agreement.
The settlement and the termination of its relationship on amicable terms
with RMC enables MATL to re-start construction of the MATL Project with
other contractors and avoids costly and time consuming litigation.
Tonbridge Power Inc. is a Toronto-based developer of electrical transmission assets, whose
principal asset is a 100% interest in Montana Alberta Tie Ltd. Shares
of the Corporation are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the
symbol "TBZ". The Corporation's financial statements and other filings
can be found on SEDAR.
Should you wish to receive news via email, please email info@tonbridgepower.com and specify "company news".
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements", within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, concerning the
business, operations and financial performance and condition of the
Corporation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to, statements with respect to the acquisition of Tonbridge and the
costs and timeline to complete the MATL Project. Generally, these
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not
expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates",
"forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or
"believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would",
"might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking
statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to: the conditionality of the
revenue contracts, risks related to the financing or construction of
the transmission line; risks related to the performance of parties
contracting for transmission capacity; delays in obtaining governmental
approvals, permits or project financing or in the completion of
development or construction activities, requirements for additional
capital, government regulation, environmental risks as well as those
factors discussed in the Corporation's MD&A for the three months ended
March 31, 2011 available on www.sedar.com. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially
from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are
incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as
that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2011/16/c4010.html
p Robert McFarlane, Chief Financial Officerbr/ (416) 850-2150 email: a href="mailto:rmcfarlane@tonbridgepower.com"rmcfarlane@tonbridgepower.com/a /p p align="left" Brisco Capital Partners Corp.br/ Graeme A. Dick, Partnerbr/ (403) 561-8989 email: a href="mailto:graeme@briscocapital.com"graeme@briscocapital.com/a /p p align="left" Please Visit the Company's Website at: a href="http://www.tonbridgepower.com/"www.tonbridgepower.com/a /p