ST. JOHN'S, Jan. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Rutter Inc. ("Rutter" or the "Company") (TSX: RUT) and 8758875 Canada Inc. (the "Offeror") today announced that the Offeror has commenced its offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Shares") of the Company, other than Shares beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by Messrs. Fraser Edison, Ryan Hinz, James White and Donald
Clarke (collectively, the "Offering Shareholders") and their joint actors, for cash at a price of $0.061 per Share, and
mailed the Offer and take-over bid circular (the "Take-over Bid Circular") to the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders"). The directors' circular (the "Directors' Circular") of the Company's board of directors (the "Board") has been mailed concurrently with the Offer and Take-over Bid
Circular.
Each of the Offering Shareholders is a director of the Company, and Mr.
Edison is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Accordingly, the
Offer is an "insider bid" under applicable securities laws. A valuation
of the Shares by Klein Farber Corporate Finance Inc. that has been
prepared under the supervision of the independent committee of the
Board (the "Independent Committee") is included with the Take-over Bid Circular. Klein Farber's
valuation concludes that the fair market value of the Shares is in the
range of $0.075 to $0.115 per share.
The Board, after careful consideration and acting upon the unanimous
recommendation of the Independent Committee, and with the Offering
Shareholders abstaining by reason of their interest in the Offer, is
not making a recommendation to Shareholders as to whether or not to
accept the Offer. The factors considered by the Independent Committee
in determining not to make a recommendation to Shareholders with
respect to the Offer are set out in the Directors' Circular. The
Offeror, the Offering Shareholders, Rutter and certain members of the
Board have entered into an agreement negotiated on behalf of Rutter by
the Independent Committee (the "Offer Agreement") with respect to the Offer, which is summarized in the Take-over Bid
Circular and the Directors' Circular. A copy of the Offer Agreement is
available under Rutter's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
The Offer will be open for acceptance until 5:00 p.m. (Eastern) on March
17, 2014 (the "Expiry Time"), unless extended or withdrawn. The Offer is subject to the condition,
among others, that there shall have been deposited pursuant to the
Offer and not withdrawn at the Expiry Time, a number of Shares which
represents, in each case, on a fully-diluted basis (i) together with
the Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Offering
Shareholders and their joint actors, at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate
number of outstanding Shares and (ii) at least a majority of the
outstanding Shares the votes of which would be included in the
applicable minority approval of a subsequent acquisition transaction
pursuant to applicable securities laws, as described in the Take-over
Bid Circular. The Offeror has agreed with Rutter under the Offer
Agreement not to waive this condition or amend the other conditions of
the Offer.
In the event that the conditions of the Offer are satisfied by 5:00 p.m.
(Eastern) on March 7, 2014, the Offeror intends on March 10, 2014 to
take up all Shares deposited to the Offer at that time, and will issue
a press release announcing the same. The Offer will remain open until
5:00 p.m. (Eastern) on March 17, 2014. In the event that the Offeror
takes up Shares deposited to the Offer, the Offeror intends to proceed
with a compulsory acquisition or subsequent acquisition transaction to
acquire any Shares not deposited to the Offer.
Full details of the Offer are contained in the Take-over Bid Circular of
the Offeror which, together with the Directors' Circular, are available
under Rutter's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Jones Gable & Company Limited is the depositary for the Offer.
Shareholders whose Shares are registered in the name of an investment
dealer, stockbroker, bank, trust company or other nominee should
contact such nominee if they wish to accept the Offer.
About 8758875 Canada Inc. - The Offeror is wholly-owned by the Offering Shareholders and was
incorporated for the sole purpose of making the Offer and has not
conducted any business activities to date.
About Rutter Inc. - Rutter is an enterprise focused on providing innovative technologies
and engineering solutions. Rutter's global network supplies
technologies to improve efficiency and safety in the marine, defense,
transportation, oil and gas sectors from its headquarters in the
Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information see www.rutter.ca.
About OceanWaveS GmbH - OceanWaveS GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rutter, is an
enterprise focused on technology development for the real time
measurement of directional ocean wave spectra. For more information see
www.oceanwaves.org.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking information within the
meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements")
that relate to the Offer. Such forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and assumptions that
may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rutter to
differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or
achievements or developments expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such statements and factors include, but
are not limited to, the take-over bid and the compulsory acquisition or
subsequent acquisition transaction; the outcome and merits of the
Offer; expected timing of the take-up, expiry and compulsory
acquisition or subsequent acquisition transaction; delivery and
availability of circulars and relevant materials in connection with the
take-over bid; developments in the capital markets; material adverse
developments in Rutter's business; and other factors discussed under
"Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form of Rutter dated November
29, 2013 and other documents filed with Canadian provincial securities
regulatory authorities.
These forward-looking statements reflect beliefs and assumptions which
are based on Rutter's perception of historical trends, current
conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors
management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In making
these statements, Rutter has made assumptions with respect to: the
current business prospects of Rutter; strategy and outlook of Rutter;
the effect of the potential take-over bid may have on the operational
or financial conditions of Rutter; availability of financing if
required in connection with the offer; expectations related to future
general economic and market conditions; no material developments in the
regulatory and competitive environment facing Rutter; future results
being similar to historical results; and other matters. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date made. Rutter does not
undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect
any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required
by law.
SOURCE Rutter Inc.
Karen Snook, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, Rutter Inc. +1 709 576 6666