CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - January 17, 2017) -
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), OR ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
Aveda Transportation and Energy Services Inc. ("Aveda" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AVE), a leading provider of oilfield hauling services and equipment rentals to the energy industry, is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary short form prospectus (the "Preliminary Prospectus") with the securities regulatory authorities in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario (the "Offering Jurisdictions") in connection with its public offering (the "Offering") of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares"), on a commercial best-efforts basis, at a price per Common Share to be determined in the context of the market (the "Offering Price"), for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $10,000,000. The Company has entered into an engagement agreement with a syndicate of agents co-led by Beacon Securities Limited and Canaccord Genuity Corp., and including PI Financial Corp. and Mackie Research Capital Corporation (collectively the "Agents"), pursuant to which the Agents will offer the Common Shares for sale in the Offering Jurisdictions on a commercially reasonable best efforts basis. In addition, the Company has granted the Agents an option, exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time in the 30 day period following the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional 15% of the Offering at the Offering Price to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.
The Company and the Agents will conduct a marketing roadshow in respect of the Offering over several weeks, thereby providing investors an opportunity to better understand the material improvements in the Company's affairs attributable to actions taken by the new management team as well as the Company's growth potential, particularly in the Permian Basin of Texas, arising from increased drilling activity. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for debt reduction, enhanced working capital and general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about February 8, 2017. Werklund Capital Corporation and Werklund Ventures Ltd. (collectively "WCC"), Aveda's largest shareholders holding approximately 40% of the Company, have committed to subscribe for up to $5,000,000 of the Offering on the same terms and conditions as public investors. Senior executives of Aveda are also anticipated to participate in the Offering.
In an earlier press release dated January 13, 2017, the Company provided an operational update which highlighted a 45% improvement in revenue for the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2016. In the same press release, the Company provided an update with respect to its banking arrangements in which the Company announced it had successfully renegotiated its asset-based operating facility. The new facility, among other things, reduces covenant test thresholds and provides room for the Company to expand its business. Under the terms of the new facility, and as described in more detail in the January 13, 2017 press release, the covenant tests will be reduced provided the Company raises a minimum of $8,500,000 of equity, net of fees and expenses, in the first quarter of 2017. Under the terms of the new banking arrangement, WCC has agreed to provide Aveda's banking syndicate with a $5,000,000 standby debt facility. The foregoing is in addition to WCC's commitment to purchase up to $5,000,000 of Common Shares in the Offering described above.
The participation of WCC in the Offering is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). In addition, because WCC and the Company are related parties (within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and pursuant to the policies of the Exchange) the participation of WCC in the Offering would make the Offering a related party transaction (within the meaning of MI 61-101 and pursuant to the policies of the Exchange), and the Company is required to obtain a formal valuation and obtain minority approval of shareholders, to complete a related party transaction, in the absence of exemptions therefore. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement pursuant to section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101. With respect to the minority approval requirement, there is no exemption available to the Company for the proposed participation of WCC as described above. Because holding a shareholders' meeting is costly and time consuming, the Company intends to apply to the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") for an exemption to allow it to obtain the minority shareholder approval described above by way of written approval from the majority of the minority shareholders rather than holding a shareholders' meeting. The Company anticipates receiving exemptive relief from the OSC in due course.
The Company will file on SEDAR a disclosure document so that minority shareholders can be well informed to provide their consent. Such disclosure document will be accessible at www.sedar.com.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the Common Shares under the Offering in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Common Shares offered under the Offering have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and accordingly will not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly within the United States, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction or to, or for the account or for the benefit of, a U.S. person, except pursuant to applicable exemptions from the registration requirements.
About Aveda Transportation and Energy Services
Aveda provides specialized transportation services and equipment required for the exploration, development and production of petroleum resources in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and in the United States of America principally in and around the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wyoming and North Dakota. Transportation services include both the equipment necessary to move the load as well as a trained, professional driver capable of securing, moving and manipulating the load at its origin and destination. Aveda's rental operations include the rental of well-sites, tanks, mats, pickers, light towers and other equipment necessary for oilfield operations.
Aveda was incorporated in 1994 as a private company to serve the oil and gas industry. In the spring of 2006 the Company went public on the TSX Venture Exchange. Aveda has major operations in Calgary, AB, Leduc, AB, Edson, AB, Pleasanton, TX, Midland, TX, Pecos, TX, Marshall, TX, Williamsport, PA, Casper, WY, Williston, ND, and Oklahoma City, OK. Aveda is publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol AVE. For more information on Aveda please visit www.avedaenergy.com.
This News Release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "potential" or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking statements relating to: the Offering and its pricing, timing and WCC's participation therein; demand for the Company's services and general industry activity level; the Company's growth opportunities; and expectations regarding the Company's revenue. Aveda believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.
Various material factors and assumptions are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Those material factors and assumptions are based on information currently available to Aveda, including information obtained from third party industry analysts and other third party sources. In some instances, material assumptions and material factors are presented elsewhere in this News Release in connection with the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the following list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Specific material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to:
• a receipt of all applicable approvals to close the Offering;
• the performance of Aveda's businesses, including current business and economic trends;
• oil and natural gas commodity prices and production levels;
• capital expenditure programs and other expenditures by Aveda and its customers;
• the ability of Aveda to retain and hire qualified personnel;
• the ability of Aveda to obtain parts, consumables, equipment, technology, and supplies in a timely manner to carry out its activities;
• the ability of Aveda to maintain good working relationships with key suppliers;
• the ability of Aveda to market its services successfully to existing and new customers;
• the ability of Aveda to obtain timely financing on acceptable terms;
• currency exchange and interest rates;
• risks associated with foreign operations;
• changes under governmental regulatory regimes and tax, environmental and other laws in Canada and the United States; and
• a stable competitive environment.
The forward-looking statements regarding Aveda's potential revenue are included herein to provide readers with an understanding of Aveda's anticipated cash flow and Aveda's ability to fund its expenditures based on the assumptions described herein. Readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Aveda's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, approvals from the Exchange, the OSC and minority shareholders in connection with the Offering, the risks identified in Aveda's annual information form and management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "MD&A"), which are available for viewing on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Aveda assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
