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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2015
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
JOE'S JEANS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
2300 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
11-2928178 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
2340 South Eastern Avenue
Commerce, California 90040
(323) 837-3700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Samuel J. Furrow
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Joe's Jeans Inc.
2340 South Eastern Avenue
Commerce, California 90040
(323) 837-3700
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Russell W. Parks Jr.
Erica D. McGrady
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-1564
(202) 887-4000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective and all other conditions to the proposed transaction described herein have been satisfied or waived.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer ý | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Smaller reporting company o |
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) o
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee(3) |
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Common stock, par value $0.10 per share |
8,870,968(1) | N/A | $0(2) | $0 | ||||
TOTAL |
$0 | |||||||
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further Amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is a part, is declared effective. This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY JOINT PROXY AND CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2015
2340 South Eastern Avenue
Commerce, California 90040
(323) 837-3700
[ · ], 2015
To the Stockholders of Joe's Jeans Inc. and Equity Holders of RG Parent LLC:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Joe's Jeans Inc., which we refer to as the Company, and the Board of Managers of RG Parent LLC, which we refer to as RG or Robert Graham, we are pleased to deliver to you this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus relating to, among other matters, a proposed merger transaction, described below, which is part of a series of transactions pursuant to which the Company intends to combine its Hudson® brand and business with the Robert Graham® premium lifestyle apparel brand and business.
If you are a stockholder of the Company, you are cordially invited to attend the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be held at the [ · ], on [ · ], 2015. The 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will begin promptly at [ · ]. At the annual meeting, the Company's stockholders will be asked to vote on the proposed issuance and sale by the Company of its shares of common stock in connection with the proposed merger transaction involving RG and an amendment to the Company's certificate of incorporation to effect a one-for-thirty reverse stock split, each as described below. In addition, at the annual meeting the Company's stockholders will be asked to elect directors, approve, on an advisory basis, the executive compensation of its named executive officers in connection with the merger and to ratify the appointment of our auditors. Information about this meeting and the merger is contained in the attached document, which we refer to as a joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
On September 8, 2015 the Company and RG entered into an agreement and plan of merger, which we refer to as the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which the Company intends to acquire all the outstanding equity interests of RG in exchange for cash and the issuance of the Company's common stock. JJ Merger Sub LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, will merge with and into RG, so that RG, as the surviving entity, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, which transaction we refer to as the Merger. In the Merger, each membership interest in RG will be converted into the right to receive cash and shares of the Company's common stock. RG is a portfolio company of Tengram Capital Partners, L.P. and its principal business activity involves the design, development and marketing of luxury lifestyle brand apparel products that bear the brand Robert Graham®.
Consummation of the Merger is subject to a number of conditions described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, including, among others, approval of the Merger Agreement by RG's equity holders and the approval by the Company's stockholders of (1) the issuance of up to 14,505,449 shares of the Company's common stock (after giving effect to the reverse stock split described below) consisting of (a) 8,870,968 shares of the Company's common stock issuable to holders of membership interests in RG pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (b) 1,154,194 shares of the Company's common stock issuable to holders of the Company's Convertible Notes pursuant to the Rollover Agreement as described herein and (c) 4,480,287 shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in connection with the Merger as described herein; and (2) an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to effect a one-for-thirty reverse stock split of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock, which reverse stock split will not change the par value or the amount of authorized shares of our common stock. For a description of the conditions for the Merger, see the section entitled "Summary of Merger AgreementConditions to the Merger" in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
If you are a holder of equity interests in RG, you are urged to complete, date and sign the enclosed written consent and promptly return it to RG. See the section entitled "Solicitation of Written Consents From RG's Equity Holders" beginning on page 52.
After careful consideration, the Company's Board of Directors and RG's Board of Managers have approved the Merger Agreement and the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is advisable to enter into the Merger. The Company's Board of Directors has approved the respective proposals referred to above and recommends that the Company's stockholders vote "FOR" the proposals listed in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus by executing and returning the enclosed proxy card, voting by telephone or Internet or voting in person at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As more fully described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, if certain proposals are not approved, we will not be able to complete the Merger. We encourage you to read this entire joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus carefully, as well as the appendices and information included therewith.
The Company's common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "JOEZ." RG is a privately held company and there is no public market for its membership interests.
FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE RISKS RELATING TO THE MERGER AND AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 29.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the transactions described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus or the securities to be issued pursuant to such transactions or determined that this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Board of Managers of RG, we thank you for your support and continued interest in our companies.
Sincerely, | ||
Samuel J. Furrow INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS JOE'S JEANS INC. |
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William Sweedler CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS RG PARENT LLC |
This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is first being mailed on or about [ · ], 2015 to the Company's common stockholders and RG's equity holders.
JOE'S JEANS INC.
2340 South Eastern Avenue
Commerce, California 90040
(323) 837-3700
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON [ · ], 2015
Time and Date | [·] on [·], 2015 | |
Place |
[·] |
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Items of Business |
(1) Share Issuance ProposalTo approve, under applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Rollover Agreement, and common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued in connection with the Merger; |
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(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalTo approve an amendment to our Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock such that each thirty shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock is reclassified into one share of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock, which reverse stock split will not change the par value or the amount of authorized shares of the Company's common stock; |
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(3) Director Election ProposalTo elect the five director nominees named in the attached joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus to serve on the Board of Directors until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, that if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus; |
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(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalTo approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that the Company's named executive officers may receive in connection with the Merger pursuant to existing agreements or arrangements with the Company; |
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(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalTo ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2015; and |
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(6) To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
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Record Date |
You can vote if, at the close of business on [·], 2015, you were a holder of record of our common stock. |
Proxy Voting | All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person. However, to ensure your representation at the annual meeting, you are urged to vote promptly by signing and returning the enclosed proxy card or by telephone or Internet, or if you hold your shares in street name using the voting instruction form provided by your broker, bank or nominee, or by accessing the website or toll-free number indicated on the voting instructions accompanying your proxy card to vote via the Internet or phone. | |
Board of Directors Recommendation |
The Board of Directors has approved the foregoing proposals and recommends that you vote: |
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"FOR" the Share Issuance Proposal; |
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"FOR" the Reverse Stock Split Proposal; |
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"FOR" each of the directors named in the Director Election Proposal; |
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"FOR" Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal; and |
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"FOR" the Auditor Ratification Proposal. |
You are requested to complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and promptly return it in the enclosed envelope or vote by telephone or Internet, whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting. If you attend the meeting, you may vote in person even if you have previously submitted a proxy card. Regardless of the number of shares you own or whether you plan to attend the annual meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted. If you hold your shares in "street name" (that is, through a broker, bank or other nominee), please complete, date and sign the voting instruction form that has been provided to you by your broker, bank or other nominee and promptly return it in the enclosed envelope or review the instructions in the materials forwarded by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding the option to vote on the Internet or by telephone. If you hold your shares directly and plan to attend the meeting in person, please remember to bring a form of personal identification with you and, if you are acting as a proxy for another stockholder, please bring written confirmation from the record owner that you are acting as a proxy. If you hold your shares in "street name" and plan to attend the meeting in person, please remember to bring a form of personal identification with you and proof of beneficial ownership.
Pursuant to the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, we have elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including a proxy card, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the Internet.
All share information set forth herein, unless otherwise noted, is after giving effect to the reverse stock split as described herein.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on [ · ], 2015. This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, our 2014 Annual Report, and the accompanying financial statements are available free of charge at http://www.joesjeans.com/2015proxy.
By Order of the Board of Directors, | ||
Samuel J. Furrow Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors Commerce, California [·], 2015 |
RG PARENT LLC
264 West 40th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(855) 214-3350
NOTICE OF SOLICITATION OF WRITTEN CONSENTS
To Equity Holders of RG Parent LLC:
This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is being delivered to you on behalf of the RG Board of Managers to request that holders of RG's equity interests execute and return written consents to approve the Merger Agreement.
This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus describes the proposed Merger and the actions to be taken in connection with the Merger and provides additional information about the parties involved. Please give this information your careful attention. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Appendix A to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
RG's Board of Managers has considered the Merger and the terms of the Merger Agreement and has determined that the Merger and the Merger Agreement are arms' length transactions and are in the best interests of RG and its members.
Please complete, date and sign the written consent furnished with this consent solicitation statement/prospectus and return it promptly to RG by one of the means described in the section entitled "Solicitation of Written Consents From RG's Equity Holders" beginning on page 52 of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
By Order of the Board of Managers, | ||
William Sweedler Chairman of the Board of Managers New York, New York [·], 2015 |
This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus incorporates by reference important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. You may request this information, which includes copies of our annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information, from us, without charge, excluding all exhibits, unless we have specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit or appendix attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. Our stockholders and holders of membership interests in RG may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus by requesting them from us in writing or by telephone at the following address or telephone number:
Joe's Jeans Inc.
Attention: Corporate Secretary
2340 South Eastern Avenue
Commerce, California 90040
(323) 837-3700
To obtain timely delivery, any request for information should be made no later than [ · ], 2015.
In addition, we provide copies of our Forms 8-K, 10-K, 10-Q, Proxy Statement, and Annual Report at no charge to investors upon request and we make electronic copies of our most recently filed reports available through the investor relations section of our website at www.joesjeans.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with the SEC.
For a more detailed description of the information incorporated by reference into this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus and how you may obtain it, see the section entitled "Where You Can Find More Information".
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ABOUT THIS JOINT PROXY AND CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This document forms a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This document constitutes a prospectus of the Company under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the shares of the Company's common stock to be issued to RG equity holders pursuant to the Merger Agreement. In addition, this document constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the Company's annual meeting and a proxy statement under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and a consent solicitation statement of RG with respect to the approval of the Merger Agreement.
The Company and RG have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any statement about the transaction that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus or in any of the materials that the Company has attached as an appendix and incorporated by reference into this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. The information contained in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus speaks only as of the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.
Holders of the Company's common stock who have questions about the annual meeting or how to vote or revoke their proxy please contact:
[Insert Proxy Solicitor Contact info].
Holders of RG's equity interests who have questions about the Merger or how to give their written consent please contact:
Robert Graham
C/O Investor Relations
264 West 40th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 869-8001
If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities offered by this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus or the solicitation of proxies is unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus does not extend to you.
As used in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, the terms "we," "us," "our," and "the Company" refer to Joe's Jeans Inc. and our subsidiaries and affiliates, and the terms "RG" and "Robert Graham" refer to RG Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in each case unless the context indicates otherwise.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING, THE CONSENT SOLICITATION,
THE MERGER AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Although we encourage you to read the joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus in its entirety, we include these "Questions and Answers" to provide background information and brief answers to several questions that you may have about this proxy and consent materials and prospectus in general.
Questions and Answers about the Merger and Related Transactions for both the Stockholders of the Company and Equity Holders of RG
The Company and RG have agreed to a merger transaction (the "Merger") in which RG will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and, upon consummation of the Merger, the RG equity holders, the holders of Convertible Notes (as defined below) and certain other third parties that will provide financing for the Merger will own, in the aggregate, approximately 86% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company and the existing stockholders of the Company will own, in the aggregate, approximately 14% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company. The terms of the Merger are set forth in an agreement and plan of merger, dated September 8, 2015 (as amended and restated effective as of September 8, 2015, the "Merger Agreement"). The Merger Agreement is attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as Appendix A. You are encouraged to read this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, including all appendices hereto. In order to complete the Merger, among other things:
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors" or the "Board") is also providing these proxy materials to the Company's stockholders in connection with our annual meeting of stockholders, which will take place on [ · ], 2015. Our common stockholders are invited to attend the annual meeting and are entitled to and requested to vote on the proposals described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
The Board of Managers of RG (the "Board of Managers" or the "RG Board") is also providing these consent materials to the equity holders of RG in connection with RG's solicitation of the written consent of such equity holders. These consent solicitation materials also constitute a
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prospectus with respect to the shares of the Company's common stock to be issued to the equity holders of RG in connection with the Merger.
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designated as "Series A Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series A Convertible Preferred Stock"), representing approximately 24.0% of our common stock on an as converted, fully diluted basis after giving effect to the Merger and related Merger Transactions, for an aggregate purchase price of $50 million in cash. For more information, see "Ancillary AgreementsStock Purchase Agreement."
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matters affecting their rights; (v) upon any liquidation event, holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to receive the greater of the liquidation preference on the date of determination and the amount that would be payable to the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had such holders converted their shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock immediately prior to such liquidation event; and (vi) each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder, at an initial conversion price of $11.10 (after taking into account the Reverse Stock Split (as defined below)), subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. For more information, see "Ancillary AgreementsStock Purchase Agreement."
Questions and Answers about the Annual Meeting for the Stockholders of the Company
(1) Share Issuance ProposalTo approve, under applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Rollover Agreement, and common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued in connection with the Merger (the "Share Issuance Proposal");
(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalTo approve an amendment to our Seventh Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Current Charter") to effect a reverse stock split (the "Reverse Stock Split") of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock such that each thirty shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock is reclassified into one share of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock, which reverse stock split will not change the par value or the amount of authorized shares of the Company's common stock (the "Reverse Stock Split Proposal");
(3) Director Election ProposalTo elect the five director nominees named in the attached joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus to serve on the Board of Directors until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, that if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus (the "Director Election Proposal");
(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalTo approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that the Company's named executive officers may receive in connection with the
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Merger pursuant to existing agreements or arrangements with the Company (the "Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal");
(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalTo ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2015 (the "Auditor Ratification Proposal"); and
(6) To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Further, obtaining approval of the Reverse Stock Split is a condition to closing that is set forth in the Merger Agreement. While the parties to the Merger Agreement may have the ability to waive this requirement, we cannot be certain that any such party would be willing to do so. As a consequence, a failure to obtain approval of the Reverse Stock Split could also jeopardize our ability to complete the Merger.
Finally, because the Reverse Stock Split will not change the amount of our authorized shares of common stock, it will have the effect of increasing the number of our authorized but unissued shares. This will help to ensure the availability of our common stock for general corporate purposes that may be identified from time to time, such as financings, acquisitions, strategic business relationships, stock dividends, including stock splits in the form of stock dividends, or issuances under our benefit plans.
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common stock representing approximately 17% of our outstanding voting power. The full text of the Voting Agreement is attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as Appendix G and is incorporated in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus by reference.
Common Stockholder of Record
If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, you are considered with respect to those shares the common stockholder of record and these proxy materials are being sent directly to you by us. As the common stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to us or to vote in person at the annual meeting. We have enclosed a proxy card for you to use and have provided instructions on how to vote by Internet or telephone.
Beneficial Owner
If your shares are held in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares of our common stock held in street name, and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your broker, bank or nominee who is considered with respect to those shares the common stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote and are also invited to attend the annual meeting. However, since you are not the common stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the annual meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the broker, bank, or nominee that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares at the annual meeting. Your broker, bank or nominee has enclosed a voting instruction form for you to use in directing the broker or nominee regarding how to vote your shares. You may also be able to vote your shares by Internet or telephone as described below under "How can I vote my shares without attending the annual meeting?"
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instruction form provided by your broker, bank or nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership. If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above upon request, you will not be admitted to the annual meeting.
By MailOur common stockholders of record may submit proxies by completing, signing and dating their proxy cards and mailing them in the accompanying pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope. Our common stockholders who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by mail by completing, signing and dating the voting instruction form provided by their broker, bank or nominee and mailing them in the accompanying pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope.
By InternetOur common stockholders of record or those who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by accessing the website specified on the proxy cards provided by us or the voting instruction forms provided by their brokers, banks or nominees, respectively. Please check the voting instruction form for Internet voting availability, as applicable.
By TelephoneOur common stockholders of record or those who hold shares beneficially in street name may vote by telephone by calling the number specified on the proxy cards provided by us or the voting instruction forms provided by their brokers, banks or nominees, respectively. Please check the voting instruction form for telephone voting availability, as applicable.
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Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the existence of a quorum at the annual meeting.
If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee and you do not return a voting instruction form, your broker may vote your shares on routine matters, but not on non-routine matters. As a result, your broker may not vote your shares without receipt of a voting instruction form with respect to the Share Issuance Proposal, the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the Director Election Proposal and the Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal because each such proposal is a non-routine matter, but may vote your shares without your instructions with respect to the Auditor Ratification Proposal (ratification of independent registered public accounting firm) because this matter is considered routine.
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(1) Share Issuance ProposalPursuant to the shareholder approval requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ"), the Share Issuance Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal.
(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalThe Reverse Stock Split Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of our issued and outstanding common stock. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the Reverse Stock Split Proposal.
(3) Director Election ProposalFor the Director Election Proposal, the five nominees receiving a plurality of "FOR" votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon will be elected. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalThe Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal.
(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalThe Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. If you hold your shares in street name and do not provide voting instructions to your broker, the shares may be voted on the Auditor Ratification Proposal at the discretion of your broker.
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by electronic communication by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. To further assist in the solicitation process, we have hired [ · ] as proxy solicitor to solicit proxies by personal interviews, telephone, telegram or otherwise. We have agreed to pay to them an initial fee of $[ · ] and additional compensation on an as-needed basis for telephone solicitation and solicitations made by other means.
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Any such written notice must comply with and include the information requirements set forth in our Bylaws. We expect to hold our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in or around May or June 2016. Any stockholder proposal (other than director nominations) will be deemed to have satisfied the advance notice requirements if the stockholder has notified the Company of their intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act of 1934 and such stockholder's proposal has been included in the Company's proxy statement.
Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, some stockholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in our 2016 proxy statement. Any such stockholder proposals must be submitted in writing to and received by the Corporate Secretary of the Company at 2340 South Eastern Avenue, Commerce, California 90040 a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We expect to hold our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in or around May or June 2016. Such proposals may be submitted by eligible stockholders and must comply with the relevant regulations of the SEC regarding stockholder proposals. The submission of a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in our proxy statement.
Questions and Answers about the Consent Solicitation Statement for the Equity Holders of RG
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Effective as of the date of the Merger Agreement, TCP RG, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and affiliate of TCP (the "Preferred Member"), entered into a voting agreement with the Company. Under the voting agreement, the Preferred Member agreed, promptly following its receipt of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as declared effective by the SEC, to execute and deliver a written consent with respect to the preferred units held by the Preferred Member and, if necessary, to seek enforcement of the applicable provisions under RG's limited liability company agreement to cause the holders of RG's voting common units to give their consent to approve the Merger Agreement.
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This summary highlights selected information from this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. Because this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should carefully read this entire document and the other documents we refer to in this document before you decide how to vote or whether to provide your consent, as applicable. These references will give you a more complete description of the Merger Agreement and the related transactions and the other matters to be considered by the stockholders of the Company at our annual meeting. We have included page references in this summary to direct you to more complete descriptions of the topics provided elsewhere in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. References to "the Company," "we," "our" or "us" in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus refer to Joe's Jeans Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and references to "RG" and "Robert Graham" refer to RG Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its subsidiaries, in each case unless otherwise indicated by the context.
Why You Are Receiving this Joint Proxy and Consent Solicitation Statement/Prospectus
This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is:
Annual Meeting/Proposals (Page 53)
The annual meeting of the Company's stockholders will be held at [ · ] on [ · ], 2015, at the [ · ] for the following purposes:
(1) Share Issuance ProposalTo approve, under applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Rollover Agreement, and common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued in connection with the Merger;
(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalTo approve an amendment to our Current Charter to effect the Reverse Stock Split of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock such that each thirty shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock is reclassified into one share of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock, which reverse stock split will not change the par value or the amount of authorized shares of the Company's common stock;
(3) Director Election ProposalTo elect the five director nominees named in the attached joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus to serve on the Board of Directors until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, that if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus;
(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalTo approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that the Company's named executive officers may receive in connection with the Merger pursuant to existing agreements or arrangements with the Company;
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(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalTo ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2015; and
(6) To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Stockholders of the Company can vote if, at the close of business on the Record Date, they were a holder of record of our common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote at the annual meeting for each share of common stock held that was issued and outstanding as of the Record Date. On the Record Date, there were [ · ] shares of common stock outstanding and [ · ] common stockholders of record.
All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person. However, to ensure stockholders of the Company are represented at the annual meeting, they are urged to vote promptly by signing and returning the enclosed proxy card or by telephone or Internet, or if they hold their shares in street name using the voting instruction form provided by their broker, bank or nominee, or by accessing the website or toll-free number indicated on the voting instructions accompanying your proxy card to vote via the Internet or phone.
The Board of Directors is seeking the proxy of the Company's stockholders to use at the annual meeting. We have prepared this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus to assist them in deciding how to vote and whether or not to grant their proxy. Stockholders of the Company are urged to indicate on their proxy card or voting instruction card how they want to vote. Then sign, date and mail the proxy card or voting instruction card as soon as possible so that their shares will be represented at the annual meeting.
If stockholders of the Company sign, date and mail their proxy card or voting instruction card without indicating how they wish to vote, their proxy will be counted as a vote "FOR" the Share Issuance Proposal, "FOR" the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, "FOR" each of the five director nominees named in the Director Election Proposal, "FOR" the advisory Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal, "FOR" the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
Common stockholders of record may change their vote by granting a new proxy card bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy), by providing written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary prior to their shares being voted.
Stockholders cannot vote shares held by their brokers in "street name." Only the stockholders' brokers can vote those shares, with the stockholders' instructions. Stockholders who do not provide their broker with instructions on how to vote their shares will not be permitted to vote their shares other than on the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
Who Can Give Consent? (Page 52)
The Board of Managers is seeking the consent of its equity holders to approve the Merger Agreement. This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus has been prepared to assist equity holders of RG in deciding whether to give their consent.
The holders of RG's preferred units and voting common units are entitled to sign and deliver written consents with respect to the Merger Agreement. Such equity holders of RG may give their consent by completing, dating and signing the written consent enclosed with this consent solicitation statement/prospectus and returning it to RG by faxing it to RG, Attention: Scott Vogel, at (212) 869-5965, by emailing a .pdf copy to svogel@robertgraham.us or by mailing it to 264 West 40th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY10018.
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The voting requirement to approve each of the proposals is as follows:
(1) Share Issuance ProposalPursuant to the shareholder approval requirements of NASDAQ, the Share Issuance Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal.
(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalThe Reverse Stock Split Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of our issued and outstanding common stock. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the Reverse Stock Split Proposal.
(3) Director Election ProposalFor the Director Election Proposal, the five nominees receiving a plurality of "FOR" votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon will be elected. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalThe Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal.
(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalThe Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. If you hold your shares in street name and do not provide voting instructions to your broker, the shares may be voted on the Auditor Ratification Proposal at the discretion of your broker.
The consent of the holders of RG's preferred units who own, collectively, more than fifty percent (50%) of the interest in the profits of RG owned by such equity holders and the consent of the holders of RG's voting common units who own, collectively, more than fifty percent (50%) of the interest in the profits of RG owned by such equity holders are required to approve the Merger Agreement.
Effective as of the date of the Merger Agreement, the Preferred Member entered into a voting agreement with the Company. Under the voting agreement, the Preferred Member agreed, promptly following its receipt of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as declared effective by the SEC, to execute and deliver a written consent with respect to the preferred units held by the Preferred Member and, if necessary, to seek enforcement of the applicable provisions under RG's limited liability company agreement to cause the holders of RG's voting common units to give their consent to approve the Merger Agreement.
Joe's Jeans Inc. (Page 150)
The Company's principal business activity is the design, development and worldwide marketing of apparel products, which include denim jeans, related casual wear and accessories that bear the brand Hudson®. Hudson was established in 2002, and the brand is recognized in the premium denim industry, an industry term for denim jeans with price points generally of $120 or more, for its quality, fit and fashion-forward designs of women's and men's premium branded denim apparel. Because we focus on design, development and marketing, we rely on third parties to manufacture our apparel products. We
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sell our products through to numerous retailers, which include major department stores, specialty stores and distributors around the world.
RG (Page 158)
RG is a portfolio company of TCP and its principal business activity involves the design, development and marketing of luxury lifestyle brand apparel products that bear the brand Robert Graham®. Since its launch in 2001, RG was created on the premise of introducing sophisticated, eclectic style to the fashion market as an American-based company with an intention of inspiring a global movement. RG received the 2014 "Menswear Brand of the Year" award from the American Apparel & Footwear Association. As of September 30, 2015, RG operates freestanding stores in 28 locations nationwide. The brand also sells at luxury department stores and boutiques, and it has showrooms located in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver (www.robertgraham.us).
On September 8, 2015, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement with Merger Sub and RG, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into RG on the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, so that RG, as the surviving company, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Merger is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2016.
Reasons for the Proposed Merger and Recommendation of the Company's Board of Directors (Page 72)
We were in default under our Term Loan Credit Agreement (the "Term Loan Credit Agreement") with Garrison Loan Agency Services LLC ("Garrison") and our revolving credit agreement with CIT (the "Revolving Credit Agreement") and our lenders were not willing to amend covenants or provide long-term relief. As such, maintaining the status quo was not an option and there was a need for us to pursue a strategic alternative. After considering the possibility of refinancing our indebtedness, ceasing operations, selling off assets and liquidating, filing for bankruptcy, and the possibility of finding an alternative strategic transaction, our Board of Directors determined that the Merger and the related Merger Transactions represented the strategic option most likely to preserve stockholder value after consideration of the risks associated with the other strategic alternatives available to the Company. The Board of Directors believed that the Merger and the related Merger Transactions were the only strategic option that would resolve all of the Company's operational, management and financial issues. The Merger and related Merger Transactions will allow the Company to refinance its outstanding debt obligations, to reduce indebtedness to the holders of its Convertible Notes and to combine its Hudson brand with the Robert Graham brand which offers a full luxury lifestyle line of products, which has experienced rapid growth and which we believe will be complementary to our Hudson brand of premium denim products. Furthermore, the combined company will be led by Michael Buckley, a seasoned CEO with public company experience and premium denim experience.
Based on the reasons for the Merger described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, our Board of Directors has recommended that holders of our common stock vote "FOR" the Share Issuance Proposal and "FOR" the Reverse Stock Split Proposal.
What Robert Graham's Equity Holders will Receive in the Merger (Page 61)
At the Effective Time of the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, all of the membership interests of RG will be converted into the right to receive an aggregate of $81 million in cash (subject to adjustment to satisfy certain indebtedness of RG) and
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8,870,968 shares of our common stock (after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split) representing approximately 47.5% of our common stock on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the Merger and related transactions.
Merger Agreement (Page 100)
The Merger Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2015, as amended and restated effective as of that same date, sets forth the terms and conditions of the Merger, including representations and warranties, covenants of each party, closing conditions and termination provisions.
Stock Purchase Agreement (Page 130)
The Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2015, provides for the issuance and sale of $50 million of the Company's Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in a private placement to the Series A Purchaser, an affiliate of TCP, representing approximately 24.0% of our common stock on an as converted, fully-diluted basis after giving effect to the Merger and related transactions
Rollover Agreement (Page 132)
The Rollover Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2015, provides for the exchange of $34.2 million aggregate principal amount of the Company's outstanding Convertible Notes, representing 100% of the outstanding principal amount of our Convertible Notes, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, for a combination of approximately $8.6 million in cash, shares of our common stock representing 6.7% of our issued and outstanding common stock after giving effect to the Merger and related transactions, and approximately $16.5 million aggregate principal amount of our Modified Convertible Notes, which, immediately after giving effect to the Merger and the related transactions, would give the holders of the Modified Convertible Notes aggregate ownership of 14.1% of the combined company on an as-converted, fully diluted basis.
Opinion of the Company's Financial Advisor (Page 78)
At a meeting of our Board of Directors on August 30, 2015, Cronkite & Kissell LLC ("Cronkite & Kissell") rendered its oral opinion to our Board of Directors, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion of the same date, that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the assumptions and other matters described in the written opinion, the Merger and related Merger Transactions are fair from a financial point of view to our stockholders. The full text of the written opinion of Cronkite & Kissell is attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as Appendix C and is incorporated in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus by reference. The discussion under the section entitled "The MergerOpinion of the Company's Financial Advisor," together with Cronkite & Kissell's written opinion, set forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and limitations on and scope of the review undertaken by Cronkite & Kissell in connection with its opinion. Holders of our common stock should read this opinion and the aforementioned section carefully and in its entirety. Cronkite & Kissell provided its opinion to our Board of Directors for the information and assistance of our Board of Directors in connection with and for purposes of the Board of Directors' evaluation of the Merger and the Merger Transactions.
Cronkite & Kissell's opinion relates only to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Merger and the Merger Transactions to our stockholders. The Cronkite & Kissell opinion does not address the underlying business decision by us to effect the Merger and the Merger Transactions or any other aspect of the Merger and the Merger Transactions and is not a recommendation as to how any
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holder of our common stock should vote or act with respect to the proposals related to the Merger and the Merger Transactions or any other matter.
In deciding how to vote your shares of stock (if you are a stockholder of the Company) or whether to give your consent (if you are an equity holder of RG), as applicable, on the matters described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, and in connection with the delivery of our shares of common stock to direct and indirect holders of membership interests in RG, you should carefully consider the risks related to the Merger and the combined company. The Merger may not achieve the expected benefits because of, among other things, the risks and uncertainties discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information." Such risks include, among other things, risks relating to the uncertainty that we and RG will be able to combine our businesses successfully, uncertainties as to whether the Merger will result in the timely elimination of expected redundancies, and uncertainties relating to the performance of the combined company following the Merger.
Conditions to the Merger (Page 123)
There are a number of closing conditions in the Merger Agreement, including that RG's equity holders have approved the Merger Agreement and the Company's stockholders have approved the Share Issuance Proposal and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal and consummation of the debt and equity financing transactions described herein.
Termination of the Merger Agreement (Page 125)
The Merger Agreement may be terminated under certain circumstances, including if the Merger has not been consummated on or before February 8, 2016.
Termination Fees and Expenses (Page 127)
The Company has agreed to pay RG a termination fee of $5.25 million, less certain expenses that may have been previously reimbursed by the Company to RG, if (i) the Company terminates the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances and within twelve months after such termination, consummates a takeover proposal or enters into a definitive agreement with respect to a takeover proposal that is subsequently consummated; (ii) the Merger Agreement is terminated by RG as a result of the Board of Directors of the Company changing its recommendation with respect to the Merger and related transactions; or (iii) the Merger Agreement is terminated by the Company because the Company has received a superior proposal and enters into a definitive agreement with respect thereto. In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated by the Company because of RG's failure to obtain financing or by RG because the Merger has not occurred by February 8, 2016 at a time that the Company would have the right to terminate pursuant to a financing issue and has provided notice of such right, in each case, so long as the Company is not in breach of certain obligations related to obtaining the financing, then RG must pay the Company a reverse termination fee of $7.5 million, less certain expenses that may have been previously reimbursed by RG to the Company. If either party terminates the Merger Agreement as a result of the other party's breach, then the breaching party must pay the non-breaching party up to an aggregate amount of $3 million for all of the documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and related Merger Transactions.
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Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger (Page 87)
Certain directors, executive officers, and significant stockholders of the Company and RG have interests in the Merger that may be in addition to or different from those of other Company stockholders and RG equity holders as described in more detail in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger (Page 96)
It is anticipated that the Merger will qualify as a tax-deferred exchange under Section 351 of the Code. In such event, U.S. holders of RG Units generally will recognize gain to the extent of the cash received plus the excess, if any, of the amount of liabilities of RG allocable to the U.S. holder's RG Units over the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in such RG Units. U.S. holders will recognize all realized gain if the Merger does not so qualify. There should be no tax consequences to existing stockholders of the Company. For more information, see the section entitled "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences," beginning on page 96.
Anticipated Accounting Treatment of the Merger (Page 141)
Upon analyzing the applicable accounting literature and considering post transaction factors such as ownership and voting interest percentages, composition of the Company's Board of Directors, and composition of management, the Company has determined that RG will be the accounting acquirer following the consummation of the Merger. As a result following the consummation of the Merger, RG's historical financial statements will become the financial statements of the combined company, and the assets and liabilities of the Company will be recorded at their acquisition date fair values using the acquisition method of accounting.
In addition to having the Registration Statement on Form S-4, of which this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is a part, declared effective by the SEC, and having the common stock to be issued in the Merger authorized for listing on NASDAQ, certain information and documentary materials relating to the Merger were required to be provided to the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") and the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") by the Company and RG, pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") and the rules promulgated thereunder by the FTC. A transaction notifiable under the HSR Act may not be completed until the expiration of a 30 calendar day waiting period following the parties' filing of their respective HSR Act notification forms or the early termination of that waiting period. The Company and RG filed their respective HSR Act notifications on October 13, 2015. On October 23, 2015, the Company and RG received notice of early termination of the waiting period.
Directors and Management of the Company Following Completion of the Merger (Page 92)
Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the certificate of designation regarding the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, at the Effective Time, three of our directors will resign from the Board of Directors and the remaining members of the Board of Directors will appoint three designees of the Series A Purchaser to be identified at least five business days prior to the closing of the Merger and Michael Buckley (who will also be appointed Chief Executive Officer).
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Under Delaware law and our Current Charter, holders of our common stock are not entitled to any rights to seek appraisal of their shares or to exercise any dissenter's or preemptive rights in connection with the Merger and Merger Transactions.
Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of the Company and Equity Holders of Robert Graham (Page 220)
We are incorporated in the state of Delaware, and the rights of our stockholders are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and by our Current Charter and our Bylaws. RG is a limited liability company incorporated in the state of Delaware and the rights of RG equity holders are currently governed by the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and RG's certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement. After the completion of the Merger, equity holders of RG who receive shares of our common stock in the Merger will become stockholders of the Company and will become subject to our Current Charter, as may be amended, our Bylaws and the applicable provisions of Delaware law.
Reverse Stock Split (Page 236)
The principal purpose of the Reverse Stock Split would be to help increase the per share market price of our common stock by up to a factor of thirty (30). The Reverse Stock Split will not change the par value or the amount of authorized shares of the Company's common stock. The Board of Directors has determined that by increasing the market price per share of our common stock we will meet the initial listing requirements required for listing upon consummation of the Merger and maintain compliance with the continuing listing requirements of NASDAQ. Additionally, approval of the Reverse Stock split is a condition to the consummation of the Merger and will ensure the availability of our common stock for general corporate purposes that may be identified from time to time, such as financings, acquisitions, strategic business relationships, stock dividends, including stock splits in the form of stock dividends, or issuances under our benefit plans.
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SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY
The following table sets forth the Company's selected condensed consolidated financial data for the periods ended and as of the dates indicated. The income statement data for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the balance sheet data as of November 30, 2014 and 2013 have been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The income statement data for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2011 and 2010 and the balance sheet data as of November 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010 have been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements, which have been retrospectively adjusted for the effects of discontinued operations, that are not included or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The income statement data for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 and 2014 and the balance sheet data as of August 31, 2015 have been derived from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The balance sheet data as of August 31, 2014 has been derived from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements that are not included or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The data presented below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Business of the Company" and the Company's consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
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(in thousands, except per share data) |
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11/30/14 | 11/30/2013 | 11/30/12 | 11/30/11 | 11/30/10 | 8/31/15 | 8/31/14 | |||||||||||||||
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Net sales |
$ | 84,225 | $ | 28,417 | $ | 9,484 | $ | 7,231 | $ | 4,283 | $ | 61,266 | $ | 68,957 | ||||||||
Cost of goods sold |
44,502 | 14,451 | 2,835 | 2,448 | 1,590 | 35,190 | 36,301 | |||||||||||||||
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Gross profit |
39,723 | 13,966 | 6,649 | 4,783 | 2,693 | 26,096 | 32,656 | |||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
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Selling, general and administrative |
42,329 | 21,956 | 10,728 | 9,363 | 6,882 | 34,895 | 31,220 | |||||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill |
23,585 | | | | | |||||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
3,637 | 1,319 | 565 | 588 | 361 | 2,448 | 2,728 | |||||||||||||||
Retail stores impairment |
840 | | | 1,144 | | 470 | 332 | |||||||||||||||
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70,391 | 23,275 | 11,293 | 11,095 | 7,243 | 37,813 | 34,280 | |||||||||||||||
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Operating loss from continuing operations |
(30,668 | ) | (9,309 | ) | (4,644 | ) | (6,312 | ) | (4,550 | ) | (11,737 | ) | (1,624 | ) | ||||||||
Interest expense |
5,141 | 1,032 | | | | 4,637 | 3,796 | |||||||||||||||
Other expense |
(2,268 | ) | 209 | | | | | (2,268 | ) | |||||||||||||
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Loss before taxes |
(33,541 | ) | (10,550 | ) | (4,644 | ) | (6,312 | ) | (4,550 | ) | (16,374 | ) | (3,152 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax (benefit) provision |
(5,059 | ) | (3,134 | ) | (2,012 | ) | (2,555 | ) | (1,884 | ) | 1,698 | (860 | ) | |||||||||
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Loss from continuing operations |
(28,482 | ) | (7,416 | ) | (2,632 | ) | (3,757 | ) | (2,666 | ) | (18,072 | ) | (2,292 | ) | ||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
766 |
102 |
8,197 |
2,392 |
5,267 |
(1,213 |
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2,729 |
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Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income |
$ | (27,716 | ) | $ | (7,314 | ) | $ | 5,565 | $ | (1,365 | ) | $ | 2,601 | $ | (19,285 | ) | $ | 437 | ||||
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Earnings (loss) per common sharebasic |
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Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (0.42 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.03 | ) | |||
Earnings from discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.00 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.08 | (0.02 | ) | 0.04 | ||||||||||||||
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Earnings (loss) per common sharebasic |
$ | (0.41 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.08 | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.04 | $ | (0.28 | ) | $ | 0.01 | ||||
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Earnings (loss) per common sharediluted |
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Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (0.42 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.03 | ) | |||
Earnings from discontinued operations |
0.01 | 0.00 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.08 | (0.02 | ) | 0.04 | ||||||||||||||
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Earnings (loss) per common sharediluted |
$ | (0.41 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.08 | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.04 | $ | (0.28 | ) | $ | 0.01 | ||||
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Weighted average shares outstanding |
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Basic |
68,226 | 67,163 | 65,496 | 64,001 | 62,362 | 69,314 | 68,151 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted |
68,226 | 67,163 | 66,849 | 64,001 | 64,505 | 69,314 | 68,935 | |||||||||||||||
Balance sheet data: |
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Total assets |
$ | 203,949 | $ | 223,023 | $ | 86,024 | $ | 80,162 | $ | 81,469 | $ | 171,529 | $ | 227,416 | ||||||||
Long term debt(3) |
24,733 | 89,982 | | | | 26,762 | 83,841 | |||||||||||||||
Stockholders' equity |
40,997 | 65,769 | 71,739 | 64,757 | 64,873 | 22,553 | 68,632 |
23
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF RG
The following table sets forth RG's selected condensed consolidated financial data for the periods ended and as of the dates indicated. The income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 have been derived from RG's audited consolidated financial statements included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The income statement data for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 and the balance sheet data as of June 30, 2015 have been derived from RG's unaudited consolidated financial information included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The data presented below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Business of RG" and RG's consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
|
Year ended | Six months ended | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12/31/14 | 12/31/13 | 12/31/12 | 6/30/15 | 6/30/14 | |||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||
Net sales |
$ | 68,802 | $ | 59,421 | $ | 45,098 | $ | 35,203 | $ | 30,296 | ||||||
Cost of goods sold |
26,541 | 25,453 | 19,095 | 13,367 | 11,725 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit |
42,261 | 33,968 | 26,003 | 21,836 | 18,571 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
33,183 | 28,445 | 19,437 | 19,587 | 15,312 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
3,123 | 2,429 | 1,806 | 1,833 | 1,438 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
36,306 | 30,874 | 21,243 | 21,420 | 16,750 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from operations |
5,955 | 3,094 | 4,760 | 416 | 1,821 | |||||||||||
Interest expense |
529 | 853 | 782 | 267 | 242 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before provision for income taxes |
5,426 | 2,241 | 3,978 | 149 | 1,579 | |||||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
175 | 128 | 242 | 6 | 63 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
5,251 | 2,113 | 3,736 | 143 | 1,516 | |||||||||||
Loss from discontinued operations |
| (395 | ) | (1,411 | ) | | | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income |
5,251 | 1,718 | 2,325 | 143 | 1,516 | |||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
10 | 25 | 22 | | 10 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comprehensive income |
$ | 5,261 | $ | 1,743 | $ | 2,347 | $ | 143 | $ | 1,526 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance sheet data: |
||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 78,796 | $ | 70,453 | $ | 78,907 | ||||||||||
Long term debt |
1,653 | | 1,069 | |||||||||||||
Members' equity |
48,673 | 46,458 | 47,558 |
24
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been derived from the historical consolidated financial statements of each of the Company and RG, which are included elsewhere in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The table below should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the historical financial statements, including the notes thereto, of the Company and RG, respectively, as well as the information provided in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Business of the Company" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Business of RG" beginning on page 159 and 192, respectively, of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet gives effect to the Asset Sale and the Merger as if they had occurred on August 31, 2015. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of net loss and comprehensive loss for the nine months ended August 31, 2015, and for the year ended November 30, 2014, are presented as if the Asset Sale and the Merger had occurred on December 1, 2013.
The Company and RG have different fiscal year ends, with the most recent annual period of the Company ended on November 30, 2014 and the most recent annual period of RG ended on December 31, 2014. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of August 31, 2015 includes (1) the Company's balance sheet information as of August 31, 2015 and (2) RG's balance sheet information as of June 30, 2015. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended November 30, 2014 includes (1) the Company's year ended November 30, 2014 and (2) RG's year ended December 31, 2014. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the nine months ended August 31, 2015 includes (1) the Company's nine months ended August 31, 2015 and (2) RG's trailing nine months ended June 30, 2015, which is comprised of RG's statement of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 2015 plus RG's statement of operations for the three month period ended December 31, 2014. An interim review was not performed with respect to RG's three month period ended December 31, 2014.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of or intended to represent what the combined company's condensed consolidated financial position or results of operations actually would have been had the Asset Sale and the Merger occurred as of the dates indicated. In addition, the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not purport to project the future financial position or operating results of the combined company. The pro forma adjustments
25
are based on the information available at the time of the preparation of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
|
Pro Forma Combined |
Pro Forma Combined |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11/30/2014 | 8/31/2015 | |||||
Net sales |
$ | 153,026 | $ | 117,699 | |||
Cost of goods sold |
72,461 | 56,585 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Gross profit |
80,565 | 61,114 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Operating expenses |
|||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
75,512 | 63,951 | |||||
Impairment of goodwill |
23,585 | | |||||
Depreciation and amortization |
6,223 | 4,749 | |||||
Retail stores impairment |
840 | 470 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
106,160 | 69,170 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
(25,595 | ) | (8,056 | ) | |||
Interest expense |
6,141 | 4,610 | |||||
Other income |
(2,268 | ) | | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Loss from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes |
(29,468 | ) | (12,666 | ) | |||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
(2,909 | ) | 2,833 | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Loss from continuing operations |
$ | (26,559 | ) | $ | (15,499 | ) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Loss per share: |
|||||||
Net loss: |
$ | (26,559 | ) | $ | (15,499 | ) | |
Less: Preferred dividends |
5,191 | 4,243 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Net loss attributable to shareholders |
(31,750 | ) | (19,742 | ) | |||
Participating securitiesSeries A Preferred Stock |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Net loss attributable to common shareholders |
$ | (31,750 | ) | $ | (19,742 | ) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Weighted average common shares outstanding |
370,642 | 370,642 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted loss per common share |
$ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Balance sheet data: |
|||||||
Total assets |
$ | 191,140 | |||||
Long term debt |
$ | 63,051 | |||||
Stockholders' equity |
$ | 61,913 |
26
STOCK PRICE AND DIVIDEND/DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
Our common stock is currently traded under the symbol "JOEZ" on The NASDAQ Capital Market maintained by NASDAQ. The following chart sets forth the high and low closing price quotations for our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market for the periods indicated. This information reflects inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. No representation is made by us that the following quotations necessarily reflect an established public trading market in our common stock:
|
High | Low | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiscal 2015 |
|||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 0.55 | $ | 0.17 | |||
Second Quarter |
$ | 0.24 | $ | 0.10 | |||
Third Quarter |
$ | 0.25 | $ | 0.14 | |||
Fourth Quarter (through October 30, 2015) |
$ | 0.36 | $ | 0.17 | |||
Fiscal 2014 |
|||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 1.50 | $ | 1.06 | |||
Second Quarter |
$ | 1.41 | $ | 0.91 | |||
Third Quarter |
$ | 1.24 | $ | 0.96 | |||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 1.05 | $ | 0.60 | |||
Fiscal 2013 |
|||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 1.49 | $ | 0.88 | |||
Second Quarter |
$ | 2.01 | $ | 1.39 | |||
Third Quarter |
$ | 1.86 | $ | 1.15 | |||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 1.26 | $ | 1.03 |
As of October 2, 2015, there were approximately 724 record holders of our common stock. We have never declared or paid a cash dividend and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. In deciding whether to pay dividends on our common stock in the future, our Board of Directors will consider certain factors they may deem relevant, including our earnings and financial condition and our capital expenditure requirements.
RG is a private company, and there is no public trading market for the RG Units, which consist of (i) preferred units; (ii) voting common units; and (iii) non-voting common units. The preferred units are held by one member, the Preferred Member, the voting common units are held by twelve members (the "Voting Common Members") and the non-voting common units are held by five members (the "Non-Voting Common Members").
As a private limited liability company, RG makes distributions to the RG members several times a year to fund the RG members' respective pass-through tax liabilities associated with their ownership interests. The following tables set forth cash distributions made by RG to the Preferred Member and the Voting Common Members during the 2014, 2013 and 2012 fiscal years and the first three quarters of the 2015 fiscal year. No cash distributions have been made to the Non-Voting Common Members.
27
Distributions made to the Preferred Member
|
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payment Month
|
Distribution Amount(1) |
Distribution Amount |
Distribution Amount |
Distribution Amount |
|||||||||
March |
| $ | 395,749 | $ | 96,911 | $ | 491,841 | ||||||
June |
$ | (17,600 | ) | $ | 95,676 | $ | 599,501 | | |||||
September |
$ | 5,100 | $ | 607,195 | $ | 22,236 | $ | 251,157 | |||||
December |
| $ | 454,424 | $ | 561,042 | $ | 140,644 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
$ | (12,501 | ) | $ | 1,553,044 | $ | 1,279,689 | $ | 883,642 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions made to the Voting Common Members
|
2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payment Month
|
Distribution Amount(1) |
Distribution Amount |
Distribution Amount |
Distribution Amount |
|||||||||
March |
| $ | 380,233 | $ | 208,932 | $ | 472,661 | ||||||
June |
$ | 348,626 | $ | 381,936 | $ | 426,620 | | ||||||
September |
$ | 39,900 | $ | 293,375 | $ | 134,725 | $ | 540,748 | |||||
December |
| $ | 436,906 | $ | 112,754 | $ | 182,069 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
$ | 388,524 | $ | 1,492,450 | $ | 883,031 | $ | 1,195,478 | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
28
Our stockholders should carefully consider the following factors in evaluating whether to approve the issuance of our common stock in connection with the transaction, and RG's direct or indirect equity holders should carefully consider the following factors in in evaluating whether to consent to the Merger. These factors should be considered in conjunction with the other information included or incorporated by reference in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that are not currently believed to be important to you, also may adversely affect the former equity holders of RG and us following the transaction.
The Merger and the related Merger Transactions may not achieve its intended results and could adversely affect our financial results.
We entered into various agreements in connection with the Merger with the expectation that the Merger and the related Merger Transactions would result in various benefits, including, among other things, cost savings, operating efficiencies, growth opportunities and the alleviation of certain issues related to our liquidity. Our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Merger and the related Merger Transactions is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether the business of RG is combined with Hudson in an efficient and effective manner. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues generated by the combined company and diversion of management's time and energy and could have an adverse effect on the combined company's business, financial results and prospects.
Additionally, the Merger is subject to a number of conditions beyond our control that may prevent, delay or otherwise have a material adverse effect on its completion. We cannot predict whether and when these conditions will be satisfied. Any delay in completing the Merger could cause the combined company not to realize the benefits that we expect to achieve if the Merger is successfully completed within its expected timeframe. See the section entitled "The MergerConditions to Completion of the Merger" of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
Moreover, our future financial results will depend in part on our ability to profitably manage our core businesses, including any growth related to our combination with RG. Over the past several years, both we and RG have engaged in the identification of, and competition for, growth and expansion opportunities. In order to achieve those initiatives, we will need to, among other things, recruit, train, retain and effectively manage employees and expand our operations and financial control systems. If we are unable to manage our businesses effectively and profitably, including, without limitation, in connection with the wind down of certain retail leases as discussed below, our business and financial results could suffer.
The combined company may be unable to integrate the businesses of the Company and RG successfully or realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger and the related Merger Transactions and the future business and financial results of the combined company may be negatively impacted.
The combined company is expected to incur substantial expenses in connection with the Merger and the related Merger Transactions and the integration of the businesses of the Company and RG. There are a large number of processes, policies, procedures, operations, technologies and systems that must be integrated. While we have assumed that a certain level of expenses will be incurred, there are many factors beyond our control that could affect the total amount or the timing of the integration expenses. Moreover, many of the expenses that will be incurred are, by their nature, difficult to estimate accurately. These expenses could, particularly in the near term, exceed the savings that the combined company expects to achieve from the elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of cost savings. These integration expenses likely will result in the combined company taking significant
29
charges against earnings following the completion of the Merger, and the amount and timing of such charges are uncertain at present. There can be no assurance that the elimination of duplicative costs or the realization of any other efficiencies related to the combination of the businesses will allow us to offset transaction-related costs in the near term, or at all.
The combined company's ability to operate profitably depends on its ability to implement its strategic plan with success, including its ability to successfully and efficiently integrate the businesses operations and personnel of the Company and RG. In order to achieve a successful integration of the RG and the Hudson businesses, the combined company will need to, among other things, retain and effectively manage employees. The combined company's success will be dependent on its ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified management, designers, administrative talent and sales associates to support existing operations and future growth. Competition for qualified talent in the apparel and fashion industry is intense, and we compete for these individuals with other companies that in many cases have greater financial and other resources. If the combined company experiences a large-scale loss of employees as a result of the combination, the combined company may be unable to manage its business effectively and profitably, and its business and financial results could suffer. Even if integration is successful, the financial performance of the combined business may not be as expected and there can be no assurance the combined company will realize the benefits that we expect to achieve. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefit could result in increased costs or decreases in the amount of expected revenues and could adversely affect the combined company's future business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
Following the Merger, the business of the combined company will expand beyond the current businesses of each of us and RG individually. The combined company's future success depends, in part, upon its ability to manage this expanded business, which will pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity. There can be no assurances that the combined company will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings, revenue enhancements or other benefits currently anticipated from the Merger.
Current stockholders of the Company will have a minority ownership and voting interest after the Merger which, together with the rights of the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the concentration of ownership among affiliates of TCP, will substantially reduce our current stockholders' ability to influence management of the Company, including through the election of directors, and may result in decisions that do not always coincide with their interests.
In connection with the Merger and the Merger Transactions, we will effect the Reverse Stock Split and issue or reserve for issuance 15,984,481 shares of our common stock consisting of (1) 8,870,968 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (2) up to 4,480,287 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, (3) 1,154,194 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the Rollover Agreement and (4) 1,479,032 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Modified Convertible Notes, based on the market price of common stock as of September 30, 2015. It is anticipated that, upon the closing of the Merger, on a fully diluted basis, the current stockholders of the Company, including management equity holders, will own approximately 14.3% of the outstanding voting power of the combined company on a fully diluted basis and affiliates of TCP will own an aggregate of approximately 32.04% of the outstanding voting power of the combined company.
The holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which upon the closing of the Merger will be an affiliate of TCP, will, for so long as they represent, upon conversion, the lowest percentage of the shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock allowed by NASDAQ, have certain rights and privileges, such as the election of three (3) Series A Directors. Additionally, the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote, on an as converted basis, on all matters presented
30
to the common stockholders for approval. Accordingly, the ability of the current stockholders of the Company following the Merger to influence management of the combined company, including through the election of directors, will be substantially reduced. At the same time, affiliates of TCP will be in a position to exert significant control over the combined company and will have the ability to substantially influence all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election and removal of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, an increase in the number of shares authorized for issuance under our stock option plans, and to exert significant control over the management and affairs of the combined company, which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in or discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the business of the combined company, even if such a transaction would be beneficial to other stockholders.
Additionally, under the terms of the Modified Convertible Notes that will be issued pursuant to the Rollover Agreement, the Company will choose how it settles the conversion of the Modified Convertible Notes. The Company will be able to settle by issuing shares of common stock, cash, or a combination of cash and common stock, at the combined company's election. If the combined company settles through the issuance of common stock, the ownership interest held by its then existing stockholders will be reduced.
The pendency of the Merger could have an adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock and the business, financial condition, results of operations or business prospects of us, RG or the combined company.
The pendency of the Merger could disrupt our and RG's business in the following ways, including:
Any of these matters could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock or harm the financial condition, results of operations or business prospects of us, RG and the combined company.
The Merger may create a market overhang of the Company's common stock.
Sales of shares of the Company's common stock after the completion of the Merger may cause the market price of our common stock to fall. We will issue 8,870,968 shares of common stock, after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split, in connection with the Merger to RG's equity holders. Some of these holders may decide to sell the shares of the Company's common stock that they will receive in the Merger. Such sales of the Company's common stock could have the effect of depressing the market price for our common stock and may take place promptly following the Merger.
31
The Merger Agreement contains provisions that could discourage a potential competing acquirer of the Company.
The Merger Agreement contains no solicitation provisions that, subject to limited exceptions, restrict our ability to solicit, initiate or facilitate or encourage any third party proposals for the acquisition of the Company. Further, even if we receive an unsolicited superior proposal, RG must be given the opportunity to offer to modify the terms of the Merger in response to such competing proposal before our Board may withdraw its recommendation with respect to the Merger. In addition, if we breach the covenant on non-solicitation contained in the Merger Agreement, we may be required to pay RG a termination fee of $5.25 million.
These provisions could discourage a potential third party acquirer from considering or proposing an acquisition of our Company, even if it were prepared to pay consideration with a higher per share cash or market value than the market value proposed to be received or realized in the Merger. These provisions might also result in a potential third-party acquirer proposing to pay a lower price to the shareholders than it might otherwise have proposed to pay because of the added expense of the termination fee that may become payable in certain circumstances. If the Merger Agreement is terminated and we determine to seek another business combination, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction with another party on terms comparable to, or better than, the terms of the Merger.
Although we expect to file a listing application with respect to the Company's common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market in connection with the Merger, there can be no assurance that the common stock will be so listed or, if listed, that the Company will be able to comply with the continued listing standards.
We expect to file an application to list the Company's common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market upon consummation of the Merger as required by The Nasdaq Capital Market. Additionally, RG's obligation to effect the Merger is conditioned upon our common stock being authorized by NASDAQ for initial listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market. As part of the listing process, the Company will be required to evidence that it meets the initial listing requirements rather than the continued listing requirements because the former equity holders of RG will hold in the aggregate the largest percentage of our common stock immediately following the Merger. In certain respects the initial listing requirements are more onerous than the continued listing requirements, such as the minimum bid price of the common stock of $4.00 per share for initial listing compared to $1.00 per share for continued listing. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet the initial listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other exchange or, if its stock is listed, that the Company will be able to maintain such listing.
In addition, if after listing The Nasdaq Capital Market delists the Company's stock from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the continued listing standards, the Company and its stockholders could face significant material adverse consequences including:
32
There can be no assurance that RG will be able to secure the funds necessary to enable the combined company to pay the cash portion of the Merger consideration and refinance certain existing indebtedness of the Company and RG on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all.
The Company intends to fund the cash consideration in the Merger and to refinance certain of the parties' existing indebtedness with a combination of cash on hand of the companies and debt financing. To this end, RG has entered into the Term Commitment Letter containing commitments as of the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus for a term loan facility in an aggregate amount of up to $50 million. As of the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, RG is engaging in discussions with a lender to provide a secured asset-based revolving credit facility at the closing of the Merger. Furthermore, as of the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, neither RG nor any of its subsidiaries have entered into definitive agreements for such debt financing. There can be no assurance that RG will be able to secure such debt financing pursuant to the Term Commitment Letter.
In the event that the debt financing contemplated by the Term Commitment Letter and a secured asset-based revolving credit facility are not available, other financing may not be available on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all. If RG is unable to secure alternative financing, the Merger and related transactions may not be completed and, so long as we are not in breach of certain obligations related to obtaining the financing, RG must pay us a reverse termination fee of $7.5 million, less certain expenses that may have been previously reimbursed by RG to us.
Risks Related to the Combined Company
Future results of the combined company may differ materially from the unaudited pro forma financial statements included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus and the financial projections prepared by us in connection with the discussions concerning the Merger.
The unaudited pro forma financial statements contained in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus are presented for illustrative purposes only, are based on various adjustments, assumptions and preliminary estimates and may not be an indication of the combined company's financial condition or results of operations following the Merger for several reasons. See the section entitled "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information" and the related notes. The financial projections were prepared by management of the Company for internal use. See the section entitled "The MergerProjected Financial Information of the Company." The actual financial condition and results of operations of the combined company following the Merger may not be consistent with, or evident from, these pro forma financial statements or the financial projections prepared by us. In addition, the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial information may not prove to be accurate, and other factors may affect the combined company's financial condition or results of operations following the Merger. Any potential decline in the combined company's financial condition or results of operations may cause significant variations in the stock price of the combined company and could lead to covenant breaches under the New Credit Agreements (as defined below).
The combined company will be bound by the New Credit Agreements, which we expect will contain restrictive covenants that may limit the operational flexibility of the combined company. Furthermore, if the combined company defaults on its obligations under the New Credit Agreements, its operations may be interrupted and its business and financial results could be adversely affected.
It is expected that the combined company will be bound by a new asset-based revolving credit facility and a new term loan credit facility (the "New Credit Agreements"). While we have not finalized the terms of the New Credit Agreements as of the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, we expect covenants to include restrictions on the combined company's ability to do the following: incur indebtedness; create liens; consolidate, merge, liquidate or dissolve; sell, lease or
33
otherwise transfer any assets; substantially change the nature of the business; make investments or acquisitions; pay dividends; enter into transactions with affiliates; amend material documents, prepay indebtedness and make capital expenditures. In addition, substantially all of the combined company's assets, including its trademarks, will secure the combined company's obligations under the New Credit Agreements.
After giving effect to the Transactions, the restrictive covenants contained in the New Credit Agreements and the degree to which the combined company will be leveraged following the transaction could have important consequences to the combined company's shareholders, including, but not limited to, potentially:
In addition, any failure of the combined company to comply with the various covenants could have material adverse consequences. Such noncompliance may result in the combined company's inability to borrow under the New Credit Agreements, which the combined company will utilize to access its working capital, and as a result may adversely affect the combined company's ability to finance its operations or pursue any expansion plans. An event of default under the New Credit Agreements could also result in the acceleration of all indebtedness of the Company. If the financing under the New Credit Agreements or other material indebtedness becomes due and payable, the combined company may be required to refinance, restructure, or otherwise amend some or all of such obligations, sell assets, or raise additional cash through the sale of its equity. The combined company cannot make any assurances that it would be able to obtain such refinancing in a timely manner, on favorable terms or at all or that such restructuring activities, sales of assets, or issuances of equity can be accomplished or, if accomplished, would raise sufficient funds to meet these obligations. Additionally, upon the occurrence of an "event of default" under the New Credit Agreements, all of the combined company's assets could be subject to liquidation by the creditors, which liquidation could result in no assets being left for the stockholders of the combined company after the creditors receive their required payment.
The combined company will have a significant amount of indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial performance and impact our ability to service our indebtedness.
The combined company will carry significant debt under the New Credit Agreements and the Modified Convertible Notes. The pro forma indebtedness at August 31, 2015, after giving effect to the Merger and the related Merger Transactions and the anticipated incurrence of indebtedness in connection therewith, will be approximately $86.5 million.
34
If we incur additional debt, the risks associated with our leverage, including the risk that we will be unable to service our debt obligations, will increase. The degree to which we, together with our subsidiaries, are leveraged or incur additional debt could have important consequences to our ability to meet debt obligations. For example, the degree of our consolidated leverage:
To service its indebtedness after the Merger, the combined company will require a significant amount of cash and its ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond its control.
After the completion of the Merger, the combined company's ability to make cash payments on and to refinance its indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate significant operating cash flow in the future. This ability is, to a significant extent, subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that will be beyond our control.
Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. In any such circumstance, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, on or before maturity. We may not be able to refinance any indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we cannot service its indebtedness, we may have to take actions such as selling assets, seeking additional equity or reducing or delaying capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions and investments. Any such action, if necessary, may not be effected on commercially reasonable terms or at all. The instruments governing our indebtedness may restrict our ability to sell assets and our use of the proceeds from such sales.
The combined company's success will further depend on implementing a shift in Hudson's denim production from primarily domestic production to foreign production.
The Hudson® brand has historically produced substantially all of its denim apparel in Los Angeles, California. The combined company's ability to improve operational efficiencies and profitably will depend in part upon the successful implementation of shifting all or substantially all of Hudson's® denim production to Mexico, Turkey and other foreign countries to achieve better production costs and
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margin improvement. To date, only a minor portion of Hudson's production has been shifted to Mexico, Turkey and other foreign countries. There are risks and uncertainties when undertaking large-scale changes in denim production and sourcing, particularly in a foreign country. There can be no assurances that such a large-scale move will not affect the fit, quality or construction or timely deliveries to retailers of the combined company's Hudson® branded denim.
The combined company's success will further depend on customer reception to Hudson producing non-United States denim products.
While the Company was successful in making the transition from domestic production to Mexico production for its former Joe's® branded products, and it saw negligible, if any, negative reaction from its customers, who came to accept the Joe's® branded products regardless of where they were produced, because Hudson has different brand awareness amongst its loyal customers and because Hudson® has historically produced substantially all of its denim in the United States, the combined company may experience negative reaction from the Hudson® customer base and negative reception for denim not produced in the United States.
Problems with the third party distribution system could harm the combined company's ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales and achieve targeted operating efficiencies.
The Hudson brand and RG brand rely on distribution facilities operated by third parties. Our ability to meet the needs of our wholesale partners and our own retail stores depends on the proper operation of these distribution facilities. These third parties will continue to provide distribution services, until we elect to terminate such services. There can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into other contracts for alternate or replacement distribution centers on acceptable terms or at all. Such an event could disrupt our operations. In addition, because substantially all of Hudson's products are distributed from one location and RG's products are distributed from a limited number of locations, our operations could also be interrupted by labor difficulties, or by floods, fires, earthquakes or other natural disasters near such facilities. We maintain business interruption insurance; however, this coverage may not adequately protect us from the adverse effects that could result from significant disruptions to our distribution system. If we encounter problems with our distribution system, our ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales and achieve targeted operating efficiencies could be harmed. Any of the foregoing factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
The combined company is subject to risks associated with leasing retail space, is generally subject to long-term non-cancelable leases and is required to make substantial lease payments under both the Company's and RG's retail store leases, and any failure to make these lease payments when due would likely harm our business, profitability and results of operations.
Neither the Company nor RG owns any of our retail stores, but instead lease all of our retail stores under retail store leases and are subject to all of the risks associated with leasing real estate. Our leases generally have initial terms of 5 to 10 years for the Company, and some of the Company's leases can be extended for one additional 5- to 10-year term. RG's leases generally have terms of 10 years with no option to renew. We generally cannot terminate our Company's leases, though RG's leases are generally terminable after three to five years, and we each have restrictions in connection with assigning or subletting our leases. All of our leases require a fixed annual rent, and most require the payment of additional "percentage" rent if store sales exceed a negotiated amount. Most of the retail store leases are "net" leases, which require us to pay all of the cost of insurance, taxes, maintenance and utilities. Most of RG's leases require RG to pay the cost of common area maintenance, which, in one case, attributes up to 44% of the applicable lease cost. Additionally, certain of the leases may allow the lessor to terminate the lease or not renew if the combined company does not achieve a specified
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gross sales threshold in a particular year. We cannot assure you that we will achieve any of these thresholds. Any loss of the combined company's store locations due to underperformance may harm our results of operations, stock price and reputation.
Additional sites that we lease are likely to be subject to similar long-term leases. If an existing or future store is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may nonetheless be committed to perform our obligations under the applicable lease including, among other things, paying the base rent for the balance of the lease term if we cannot negotiate a mutually acceptable termination payment. In addition, as our leases expire, we may fail to negotiate renewals, either on commercially acceptable terms or at all, which could cause us to close stores in desirable locations. Further, we intend to, upon the closing of the Merger, close 23 of the Company's retail stores that are not being delivered to the Operating Asset Purchaser under the Operating Asset Purchase Agreement. While we do not anticipate that the expenses we have agreed to incur in connection with the these closures will be material, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully negotiate with the applicable landlords as we expect. If we are unable to enter into new leases or renew existing leases on terms acceptable to us or be released from our obligations under leases for stores that we close, the combined company's business, profitability and results of operations may be harmed.
Our ability to attract customers to our stores depends heavily on successfully locating our stores in suitable locations and any impairment of a store location, including any decrease in customer traffic, could cause our sales to be less than expected.
Our approach to identifying locations for our retail stores typically favors street and mall locations near premium and contemporary retailers that we believe are consistent with our key customers' demographics and shopping preferences. Sales at these stores are derived, in part, from the volume of foot traffic in these locations. Changes in areas around our existing retail locations that result in reductions in customer foot traffic or otherwise render the locations unsuitable could cause our sales to be less than expected and the related leases are generally non-cancelable. Store locations may become unsuitable due to, and our sales volume and customer traffic generally may be harmed by, among other things:
Our ability to successfully open and operate new retail stores depends on many factors, including, among others, our ability to:
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As of September 30, 2015, the Company had 32 Joe's® brand stores, which consisted of 12 full price retail stores and 20 outlet locations. As of September 30, 2015, RG had 28 retail stores, which consist of 17 full price stores and 11 outlet stores. One additional full price stores and one additional outlet are scheduled to open this year and two additional leases for full price stores have been signed for 2016 openings. The combined company's new stores may not be immediately profitable and the combined company may incur losses until these stores become profitable. Unavailability of desired store locations, delays in the acquisition or opening of new stores, delays or costs resulting from a decrease in commercial development due to capital restraints, difficulties in staffing and operating new store locations or a lack of customer acceptance of stores in new market areas may negatively impact our new store growth and the costs or the profitability associated with new stores. Other than the RG stores opening in 2015 and 2016 as mentioned above, there can be no assurance that the combined company we will open new stores in fiscal 2015 or thereafter. Any failure to successfully open and operate new stores may adversely affect the combined company's business, financial condition and operating results.
We may be unable to grow comparable store sales or average sales per square foot in our retail stores, which could cause our share price to decline.
We may not be able to grow our comparable store sales or average sales per square foot in our retail stores. If our future comparable store sales or average sales per square foot decline or fail to meet market expectations, the price of our common stock could decline. In addition, the aggregate results of operations through our wholesale partners and at our retail locations have fluctuated in the past and can be expected to continue to fluctuate in the future. The continued operation of our retail locations depends on our ability to hire, train and retain store associates and field management. A variety of factors affect both comparable store sales and average sales per square foot, including, among others, consumer spending patterns, fashion trends, competition, current economic conditions, pricing, inflation, the timing of the release of new merchandise and promotional events, changes in our product assortment, the success of marketing programs and weather conditions. If we misjudge the market for our products, we may incur excess inventory for some of our products and miss opportunities for other products. These factors may cause our comparable store sales results and average sales per square foot in the future to be materially lower than recent periods or our expectations, which could harm our results of operations and result in a decline in the price of our common stock.
Uncertain economic conditions in the United States and other parts of the world can affect consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns.
The general economy in the United States and abroad continues to be in the midst of uncertainty. The apparel industry has historically been subject to cyclical variations, recessions in the general economy or uncertainties regarding future economic prospects that affect consumer spending habits which could negatively impact the combined company's business overall, the carrying value of its tangible and intangible assets, sales, gross margins and profitability. The combined company's business will depend on the general economic environment and levels of consumer spending that affect not only the ultimate consumer, but also retailers, which will be its largest direct customers. Purchases of high-fashion apparel and accessories tend to decline in periods of recession or uncertainty regarding future economic prospects, when consumer spending, particularly on discretionary items, and disposable
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income decline. Many factors affect the level of consumer spending in the apparel industry, including, among others: prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, energy costs, interest rates, the availability of consumer credit, taxation and consumer confidence in future economic conditions. During periods of recession or economic uncertainty, the combined company may not be able to maintain or increase its sales to existing customers, make sales to new customers, open and operate new retail stores, or maintain or improve its earnings from operations as a percentage of net sales. Additionally, the strength of the United Sates dollar relative to foreign currencies can impact the demand for our products by foreign tourists, as has been experienced in recent periods. As a result, the combined company's operating results may be adversely and materially affected by downward trends in the United States or global economy.
Economic conditions have also led to a highly promotional environment and strong discounting pressure from both wholesale partners and retail customers, which could lead to a negative impact on the combined company's revenues and profitability. This promotional environment may continue even after economic growth returns, as consumer spending trends are expected to remain at historically depressed levels for the foreseeable future. The domestic and international political situation also affects consumer confidence. The threat, outbreak or escalation of terrorism, military conflicts, civil unrest or other hostilities around the world could lead to further decreases in consumer spending.
The combined company will face risks associated with constantly changing fashion trends, including consumer's response to its products. Also, the combined company intends to expand into other product classifications. If the combined company is unable to adapt to changing fashion trends as to its existing or new products, its business and financial condition could be adversely affected.
The combined company's success will depend on its ability to anticipate, gauge and respond to changing consumer demand and fashion trends in a timely manner, both as to existing products and as to other product classifications initiated by the combined company. Any failure by the combined company to anticipate, identify and respond effectively to changing consumer demands and fashion trends could adversely affect the acceptance of its existing or new products and leave it with a substantial amount of unsold inventory or missed opportunities in the marketplace. If that occurs, the combined company may be forced to rely on markdowns or promotional sales to dispose of excess, slow-moving inventory, which may negatively affect its ability to achieve profitability. At the same time, a focus on tight management of inventory may result, from time to time, in the combined company not having an adequate supply of products to meet consumer demand and may cause the combined company to lose sales.
The combined company will likely attempt to minimize its risk associated with delivering items through early order commitments by retailers. Accordingly, the combined company will generally place production orders with manufacturers before it has received all of a season's orders and orders may be cancelled by retailers before shipment. Therefore, if the combined company fails to anticipate accurately and respond to consumer preferences, it could experience lower sales, excess inventories or lower profit margins, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's results of operations and financial condition.
Our business and results of operations could be negatively impacted by a change in consumer demand for denim and premium lifestyle apparel in the marketplace.
Because consumer demands and fashion trends are subject to cyclical variations as well as the fact that the general economy and future economic prospects can often affect consumer spending habits, a change in any one of the following:
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may result in lower sales, excess inventories or lower profit margins for our Hudson® or Robert Graham® products, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results operations and financial condition.
The combined company will face intense competition in the denim and premium lifestyle apparel industries. If we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be negatively impacted.
We face a variety of competitive challenges from other domestic and foreign fashion-oriented apparel producers, some of whom may be significantly larger and more diversified and have greater financial and marketing resources than we have. We do not currently hold a dominant competitive position in any market. Our Hudson brand competes with other denim manufacturers such as AG, Paige Premium Denim, Rag and Bone, Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, J Brand and True Religion and other larger competitors. Our Robert Graham brand competes with other premium lifestyle brands such as Armani, Burberry, Hugo Boss, John Varvatos, Paul Smith, Peter Millar, Ralph Lauren, Ted Baker, Theory, Tommy Bahama, Zegna, and other larger competitors. We compete primarily on the basis of:
Furthermore, some of our competitors are larger and may have resources available to them that we do not have or are privately held without the restraint of a public company and with limited reporting of their results of operations. Therefore, it may be difficult for us to effectively gauge consumer response to our products and how our products are competing with these and other competitors in the marketplace. We cannot be certain that we will be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors, or that competitive pressure will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The combined company's business will depend on a strong brand image, and if it is not able to maintain or enhance its brand, particularly in new markets where it has limited brand recognition, it may be unable to sell sufficient quantities of its merchandise, which would harm the combined company's business and cause its results of operations to suffer.
Maintaining and enhancing the combined company's brands will be critical to maintaining and expanding its customer base. Maintaining and enhancing the combined company's brands may require it to make substantial investments in areas such as visual merchandising, marketing and advertising, employee training and store operations. It is anticipated that, as the combined company's business expands into new markets and new product classifications and further penetrates existing markets, and
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as the markets in which it will operate become increasingly competitive, maintaining and enhancing the combined company's brand may become increasingly difficult and expensive. Certain of the combined company's competitors in the apparel industry have faced adverse publicity surrounding the quality, attributes and performance of their products. The combined company's brand may similarly be adversely affected if its public image or reputation is tarnished by failing to maintain high standards for merchandise quality and integrity. Any negative publicity about these types of concerns may reduce demand for the combined company's merchandise. Maintaining and enhancing its brand will depend largely on the combined company's ability to be a leader in the contemporary apparel industry and to continue to provide high quality products. If the combined company is unable to maintain or enhance its brand image, the combined company's results of operations may suffer and its business may be harmed.
A substantial portion of the combined company's net sales and gross profit will be derived from a small number of large customers, and the loss of any of these large customers could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's financial condition and results of operations.
The combined company's Hudson® brand will be substantially dependent on its 10 largest customers and customer groups, which accounted for approximately 66% of the Company's net sales during fiscal 2014. The Company's largest customer, Nordstrom, Inc., accounted for over 40% of its net sales in fiscal 2014. The combined company's RG brand will be substantially dependent on its 10 largest customers and customer groups, which accounted for approximately 41% and 42% of RG's net sales during fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively. RG's largest customer is also Nordstrom, Inc., which accounted for approximately 13% of its net sales in fiscal 2014 and its two largest customers accounted for approximately 29% of its net sales in fiscal 2013. The combined company typically will not enter into any type of long-term agreements or firm commitment orders with any of its customers. Instead, the combined company will enter into a number of individual purchase order commitments with its customers. A decision by the controlling owner of a group of stores or any other significant customer, including the combined company's limited number of private label customers, whether motivated by competitive conditions, financial difficulties or otherwise, to decrease the amount of merchandise purchased from the combined company, to change their manner of doing business with the combined company, to cancel orders previously placed in advance of shipment dates or a decision to cease carrying the combined company's products could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.
The combined company's plans to improve and expand its product offerings may not be successful, and the implementation of these plans may divert its operational, managerial and administrative resources, which could harm the combined company's competitive position and reduce its net revenue and profitability.
The combined company plans to grow its business by increasing its core product offerings, which includes expanding its Hudson product collection and its RG product collection, including into new product classifications. The combined company will continue to evaluate its plan to develop and introduce select new product categories and pursue select additional licensing opportunities in other categories.
If the combined company's expected product offerings fail to maintain and enhance its brand identity, the combined company's image may be diminished or diluted. The expansion into new products and classifications may require the establishment of new sourcing relationships, increasing our sourcing risk. See "Risk FactorsProblems with sourcing, along with the extent of the combined company's foreign sourcing, may adversely affect its business." As we expand our licensing activities, we increase risks associated with having a limited ability to conduct comprehensive final quality checks on merchandise, which could affect product quality.
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In addition, the combined company's ability to successfully carry out its plans to improve and expand its product offerings may be affected by economic and competitive conditions, changes in consumer spending patterns and changes in consumer preferences and style trends. These plans could be abandoned, could cost more than anticipated and could divert resources from other areas of the combined company's business, any of which could impact its competitive position and reduce its net revenue and profitability.
The combined company's licensing arrangements may not be successful and may make it susceptible to the actions of third parties who may not comply with the combined company's product quality, manufacturing standards, marketing and other requirements, which may have an adverse effect on the combined company's brand equity, reputation or its business.
The combined company expects to license its Hudson® trademarks to third parties for manufacturing, marketing and distribution of children's products. Additionally, the combined company expects to license trademarks associated with its Robert Graham® trademarks to third parties for manufacturing, marketing and distribution of apparel and accessories. We believe that licensing the combined company's brands for certain product categories will broaden and enhance the products available under these brand names.
The combined company's licensing arrangements may not be successful and may make it susceptible to the actions of third parties over whom it has limited control. We have entered into one license agreement for Hudson: children's. RG has entered into certain license agreements for Robert Graham: men's dress shirts, neckwear, tailored clothing, hosiery, leather goods (including bags and belts and small leathers), sun and optical eyewear, headwear, jewelry, footwear, underwear and loungewear and fragrances. In the future, the combined company may enter into select additional licensing arrangements for product offerings which require specialized expertise. The combined company may also enter into select licensing agreements pursuant to which it may grant third parties the right to distribute and sell its products in certain geographic areas.
Although the combined company will take steps to select potential licensing partners carefully and to monitor the activities of its licensing partners (which may include, among other things, approval rights over product design, production quality, packaging, merchandising, marketing, distribution and advertising), such arrangements may not be feasible or successful. The combined company's licensing partners may fail to fulfill their obligations under their license agreements or have interests that differ from or conflict with the combined company, such as the pricing of the combined company's products and the offering of competitive products. In addition, the risks applicable to the business of the combined company's licensing partners may be different than the risks applicable to the combined company's business, including risks associated with each such partner's ability to:
Any of the foregoing risks, or the inability of any of the combined company's licensing partners to successfully market the combined company's products or otherwise conduct the licensing partners' business, may result in loss of revenue and competitive harm to the combined company's operations and reputation in regions or product categories where it has entered into such licensing arrangements.
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If the combined company is unable to accurately forecast customer demand for its products, its manufacturers may not be able to deliver products to meet the combined company's requirements, and this could result in delays in the shipment of products to its stores and to wholesale partners.
The combined company will stock its stores, and provide inventory to its wholesale partners, based on the combined company's or its wholesale partners' estimates of future demand for particular products. The combined company's inventory management and production planning team will determine the number of pieces of each product that it will order from its manufacturers based upon past sales of similar products, sales trend information and anticipated demand at its suggested retail prices. However, if the combined company's inventory and planning team fails to accurately forecast customer demand, the combined company may experience excess inventory levels or a shortage of products. There can be no assurance that the combined company will be able to successfully manage its inventory or production at a level appropriate for future customer demand.
Factors that could affect the combined company's inventory management and production planning team's ability to accurately forecast customer demand for its products include:
If the combined company were to experience rapid growth, it may place insufficient levels of desirable product with its wholesale partners and in its retail locations such that it would be unable to fully satisfy customer demand at those locations. The combined company cannot guarantee that it will be able to match supply with demand in all cases in the future, whether as a result of the combined company's inability to produce sufficient levels of desirable product or its failure to forecast demand accurately. As a result of these inabilities or failures, the combined company may encounter difficulties in filling customer orders or in liquidating excess inventory at discount prices and may experience significant write-offs. Additionally, if the combined company over-produces a product based on an aggressive forecast of demand, retailers may not be able to sell the product and cancel future orders or require give backs. These outcomes could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's brand image and adversely impact sales, gross margins and profitability.
The combined company's business could be negatively impacted by the financial health of its retail customers.
The combined company will sell its products primarily to retail and distribution companies around the world based on pre-qualified payment terms. Financial difficulties of a customer could cause the combined company to curtail business with that customer. The combined company may also assume more credit risk relating to that customer's receivables. The combined company will be dependent primarily on lines of credit that it establishes from time to time with customers, and should a substantial number of customers become unable to pay to the combined company their respective debts as they become due, the combined company may be unable to collect some or all of the monies owed by those customers. In particular, because the combined company's customers and customer groups are expected to be somewhat concentrated, the combined company's results of operations could be
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adversely affected if any one of these customers fails to satisfy its payment obligations to the combined company when due.
In recent years, the retail industry has experienced consolidation, restructurings, reorganizations and other ownership changes that have resulted in one entity controlling several different stores or the elimination of stores. This consolidation can result in fewer customers for the combined company's products or the closing of some stores or the number of "doors" which carry the combined company's products. As a result, the potential for consolidation or ownership changes, closing of retail outlets and fewer customers could negatively impact sales of the combined company's products and have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.
If the combined company is unable to manage its operations at its currently anticipated size or is unable to manage any future growth effectively, the combined company's business results and financial performance may suffer.
The combined company will make investments to support its near and longer-term growth. If its operations grow over the longer term, of which there can be no assurance, the combined company will be required to expand its sales and marketing, product development and distribution functions, to upgrade its management information systems and other processes, and to obtain more space for its expanding administrative support and other headquarters personnel. The integration by the combined company of Hudson and RG could strain existing resources. As a result, the combined company could experience operating difficulties, including obtaining sufficient raw materials at acceptable prices, securing manufacturing capacity to produce its products and experiencing delays in production and shipments. These difficulties would likely lead to a decrease in net revenue, income from operations and the price of the combined company's common stock, and such decreases could be significant.
Problems with sourcing, along with the extent of the combined company's foreign sourcing, may adversely affect its business.
The products of the combined company will primarily be produced by, and purchased or procured from, independent manufacturing contractors, many of whom are located outside of the United States. For fiscal 2014, substantially all of RG's total revenue was attributable to manufacturing contractors located outside of the United States, with approximately 92% of RG's purchases for fiscal 2014 attributable to manufacturing contractors located in Asia, including India. For fiscal 2014, 38% of the total revenue from Hudson was attributable to manufacturing contractors located outside of the United States, with approximately 38% of Hudson's purchases attributable to manufacturing contractors located in Mexico. It is anticipated that the percentage of the combined company's total revenue sourced from outside of the United States for fiscal 2015 will increase because of the combined company's plan to shift a substantial portion of Hudson's denim production to Mexico, Turkey and other foreign countries. A manufacturing contractor's failure to ship products to the combined company in a timely manner or to meet the required quality standards could cause the combined company to miss the delivery date requirements of its customers for those items. The failure to make timely deliveries may cause customers to cancel orders, refuse to accept deliveries or demand reduced prices, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the combined company. As a result of the magnitude of its foreign sourcing, the combined company's business is subject to the following risks:
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If these risks limit or prevent the combined company from manufacturing products in any significant international market, prevent the combined company from acquiring products from foreign suppliers or significantly increase the cost of the combined company's products, its operations could be seriously disrupted until alternative suppliers are found or alternative markets are developed, which could negatively impact the combined company's business.
The combined company will not have written agreements with any of its third-party manufacturing contractors. As a result, any single manufacturing contractor could unilaterally terminate its relationship with the combined company at any time. Supply disruptions from any of its third-party manufacturing contractors could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's ability to meet customer demands, if the combined company is unable to source suitable replacement materials in a timely manner, at acceptable prices or at all. The combined company's inability to promptly replace manufacturing contractors that terminate their relationships with the combined company or cease to provide high quality products in a timely and cost-efficient manner could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's business, financial condition and operating results.
The combined company's business could suffer as a result of a manufacturer's inability to produce the combined company's goods on time and to the combined company's specifications or if the combined company needs to replace manufacturers.
The combined company will not own or operate any manufacturing facilities and therefore will depend upon independent third parties for the manufacture of all of its products. The combined company will enter into a number of purchase order commitments each season specifying a time for delivery, method of payment, design and quality specifications and other standard industry provisions, but will not have long-term contracts with any manufacturer. None of the manufacturers the combined company will use will produce the combined company's products exclusively. The inability of a certain manufacturer to ship orders of the combined company's products in a timely manner or to meet the combined company's quality standards could cause the combined company to miss the delivery date requirements of its customers for those items, which could result in cancellation of orders, refusal to accept deliveries or a reduction in purchase prices, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's financial condition and results of operations. Because of the seasonality of
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the combined company's business, and the apparel and fashion business in particular, the dates on which customers need and require shipments of products are critical, as styles and consumer tastes change so rapidly in the apparel and fashion business, particularly from one season to the next. Further, because quality is a leading factor when customers and retailers accept or reject goods, any decline in quality by the combined company's third-party manufacturers could be detrimental not only to a particular order, but also to the combined company's future relationship with that particular customer.
The combined company will compete with other companies for the production capacity of its manufacturers. Some of these competitors will have greater financial and other resources than the combined company, and thus may have an advantage in the competition for production and import quota capacity. If the combined company experiences a significant increase in demand, or if a manufacturer of the combined company must be replaced, the combined company may have to expand its third-party manufacturing capacity. The combined company cannot provide assurance that this additional capacity will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to the combined company or similar to any existing terms which it may have with its manufacturers, either from a production standpoint or a financial standpoint.
If an independent manufacturer used by the combined company fails to use acceptable labor practices, the combined company's business could suffer.
While the combined company will require its independent manufacturers to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the combined company will have no control over the ultimate actions of its independent manufacturers. The violation of labor or other laws by one of the combined company's independent manufacturers or the divergence of an independent manufacturer's labor practices from those generally accepted as ethical in the United States, could interrupt or otherwise disrupt the shipment of finished products to the combined company or damage its reputation. Any of these, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's financial condition and results of operations. In particular, the laws governing garment manufacturers in the State of California could impose joint liability upon the combined company and its independent manufacturers for the labor practices of those independent manufacturers. As a result, should one of the combined company's independent manufacturers be found in violation of state labor laws, the combined company could suffer adverse financial or other unforeseen adverse consequences.
Increases in the price of raw materials or their reduced availability could increase the cost of goods and decrease the combined company's profitability.
The principal fabrics that will be used in the combined company's business are cotton, blends, synthetics and wools. The prices the combined company will pay its suppliers for its products are dependent in part on the market price for the raw materialsprimarily cottonused to produce them. The price and availability of cotton may fluctuate substantially, depending on a variety of factors, including demand, crop yields, weather, supply conditions, transportation costs, work stoppages, government regulation, economic climates and other unpredictable factors. Increases in raw material costs, together with other factors, could result in a decrease in the combined company's profitability unless it is able to pass higher prices on to its customers. Moreover, any decrease in the availability of cotton could impair the combined company's ability to meet its production requirements in a timely manner, which could adversely affect its revenues and working capital requirements.
The combined company will be dependent on its relationships with its vendors.
The combined company will purchase its raw materials, including fabric, yarns, threads and trims, such as zippers, buttons and tags, from a variety of vendors. While the combined company will not be reliant exclusively on one or more particular vendor for the supply of the raw materials or component
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parts required to meet the combined company's manufacturing needs, it will depend on its relationships and these vendors to ensure the combined company's supply of these raw materials or component parts. Any problems or disputes with these vendors could result in the combined company having to source these raw materials or component parts from another vendor, which could delay production and in turn have a material adverse effect on the combined company's financial condition and results of operations.
The combined company will be subject to heightened cybersecurity risks and may incur an increase in costs in an effort to minimize those risks.
The combined company will utilize systems and websites that allow for the secure storage and transmission of proprietary or confidential information regarding its customers, employees, and others, including credit card information and personal identification information. A security breach may expose the combined company to a risk of loss or misuse of this information, litigation, and potential liability. The combined company may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyberattacks. Attacks may be targeted at the combined company, its customers, or others who have entrusted the combined company with information. Actual or anticipated attacks may cause the combined company to incur costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and protection technologies, train employees, and engage third-party experts and consultants. Advances in computer capabilities, new technological discoveries, or other developments may result in the technology used by the combined company to protect transaction or other data being breached or compromised. In addition, data and security breaches can also occur as a result of non-technical issues, including breach by the combined company or by persons with whom it has commercial relationships that result in the unauthorized release of personal or confidential information. Any compromise or breach of the combined company's security could result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, and a loss of confidence in the combined company's security measures, which could have an adverse effect on the combined company's results of operations and its reputation.
Any potential future acquisitions, strategic investments or mergers may subject us to significant risks, any of which may harm our business and may lead to substantial dilution or negative effects on the market price of our common stock.
The combined company's strategy includes identifying and acquiring, investing in or merging with suitable candidates on acceptable terms in order to grow or complement our business. Acquisitions would involve a number of risks and present financial, managerial and operational challenges, including:
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For any or all of these reasons, our pursuit of an acquisition, investment or merger may cause the combined company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.
As the combined company is expected to be highly levered, we expect that we may need to issue additional equity to support our growth; however, as the combined company will not be eligible to use a Form S-3, the process of raising capital to support our growth may be more expensive and time consuming and the terms of any offering transaction may not be as favorable as they would have been if we were eligible to use Form S-3. Moreover, the addition of a substantial number of shares of the combined company's common stock into the market or the registration of any other securities may significantly and negatively affect the prevailing market price for its common stock and would dilute the ownership of its then existing stockholders.
The seasonal nature of the combined company's business will make management more difficult, severely reduce cash flow and liquidity during parts of the year and could force the combined company to curtail its operations.
The combined company's business will be seasonal. The majority of its marketing and sales activities will take place from late fall to early spring. The greatest volume of shipments and sales typically occurs from late spring through the early fall, which will coincide with the third and fourth fiscal quarters. This will require the combined company to build-up inventories during its first and second fiscal quarters when its cash flow is weakest. Cash flow for the combined company's business is typically strongest in the third and fourth fiscal quarters. Unfavorable economic conditions affecting retailers during the fall and holiday seasons in any year could have a material adverse effect on the combined company's results of operations for the year. The combined company is likely to experience periods of negative cash flow throughout each year, including, a drop-off in business commencing each December, which could force the combined company to curtail operations if adequate liquidity is not available. There is no assurance that the effects of such seasonality will diminish in the future.
The combined company's trademark and other intellectual property rights may not be adequately protected and some of its products are targets of counterfeiting.
The combined company's trademarks and other proprietary rights will be important to its success and competitive position. The combined company may, however, experience conflict with various third parties who acquire or claim ownership rights in certain trademarks as the combined company expands its product offerings and expand the number of countries where it sells its products. The combined company cannot ensure that any actions taken to establish and protect these trademarks and other proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent imitation of the combined company's products by others or to prevent others from seeking to block sales of the combined company's products as a violation of their trademarks and proprietary rights. Also, there can be no assurance that others will not assert rights in, or ownership of, trademarks and other proprietary rights of the combined company or that the combined company will be able to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to its satisfaction. In addition, the laws of certain foreign countries may not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
The combined company's products are sometimes the target of counterfeiters. As a result, there are often products that are imitations or "knock-offs" of the combined company's products that can be found in the marketplace or consumers can find products that are confusingly similar to those of the combined company. The combined company intends to vigorously defend its trademarks and products bearing its trademarks, however, we cannot assure you that our efforts will be adequate to prosecute and block all sales of infringing products from the marketplace.
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The combined company's ability to conduct business in international markets may be affected by legal, regulatory, political and economic risks.
The combined company's ability to capitalize on growth in new and existing international markets is subject to risks associated with international operations. Some of these risks include:
The combined company will also be subject to general political and economic risks associated with conducting international business, including:
The combined company cannot predict whether quotas, duties, taxes, or other similar restrictions will be imposed by the United States, Mexico, the European Union, Canada, China, Japan, India, South Korea or other countries upon the import or export of the combined company's products in the future, or what effect any of these actions would have on the combined company's business, financial condition or results of operations. Changes in regulatory or geopolitical policies and other factors may adversely affect the combined company's business in the future or may require it to modify its current business practices.
The combined company's price of its common stock price will likely be volatile and may decrease. The market price of the Company's common stock after the Merger will continue to fluctuate and may be affected by factors different from those affecting RG Units currently.
The market price of the Company's common stock after the Merger will continue to fluctuate and may be affected by factors different from those affecting the value of RG Units currently. Upon completion of the Merger, holders of RG Units will become holders of the Company's common stock. The market price of the Company's common stock may fluctuate significantly following consummation of the Merger and holders of RG Units could lose the value of their investment in the Company's common stock. In addition, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in recent times which could have a material adverse effect on the market for, or liquidity of, the Company's common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, our business differs in respects from that of RG, and accordingly, the results of operations of the combined Company and the market price of the company's common stock after the completion of the Merger may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the independent results of operations of each of the Company and RG
The trading price and volume of the combined company's common stock will likely be subject to fluctuations in response to factors such as the following, some of which are beyond the combined company's control:
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In the 52 week period prior to the filing of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, the closing price of the Company's common stock has ranged from $0.08 to $1.08. In addition, stock markets generally have experienced price and volume trading volatility in recent years. This volatility has had an effect on the market prices of securities of many companies for reasons unrelated to the operating performance of the specific companies. These broad market fluctuations may negatively affect the market price of the combined company's common stock.
Certain RG equity holders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest in the combined company after the Merger relative to their current ownership and voting interest in RG and, as a result, will be able to exert less influence over management.
In the Merger, each RG equity holder will receive shares of our common stock as a portion of the Actual Merger Consideration, which will result in such RG equity holder becoming a stockholder of the Company with a percentage ownership of the Company after the Merger that is smaller than such equity holder's current percentage ownership of RG. We expect that RG equity holders will own, in the aggregate, approximately 47.5% of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock immediately after the Closing of the Merger, on a fully diluted basis. Accordingly, individual RG equity holders will have substantially less influence on the management and policies of the Company after the Merger than they may now have with respect to the management and policies of RG.
There has been no public market for RG Units and the lack of a public market makes it difficult to determine the fair market value of RG.
RG Units are privately held and are not traded on any public market. The lack of a public market may make it more difficult to determine the fair market value of RG Units than if they were traded publicly. The value ascribed to RG's equities in other contexts may not be indicative of the price at which the RG Units may have traded if they were traded on a public market. The Aggregate Merger Consideration to be paid to RG equity holders was determined based on negotiations between the parties and likewise may not be indicative of the price at which the RG Units may have traded if they were traded on a public market.
The rights of RG equity holders who become the stockholders of the Company at the consummation of the Merger will be governed by the our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
RG equity holders that receive shares of the Company's common stock in the Merger will become the stockholders of the Company and will be governed by the our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, rather than the RG limited liability company agreement. There are material differences between the current rights of the RG equity holders, as compared to the rights they will have as the stockholders of the Company. For more information, see the section entitled "Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of the Company and Equity Holders of Robert Graham" on page 220.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategies, capital and other expenditures, competitive positions, growth opportunities for existing products, plans and objectives of management and other matters. Statements in this document that are not historical facts are identified as forward-looking statements for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act.
When we use the words "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "plan," "believe," "should," "likely" and similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are found at various places throughout this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus and any other documents we incorporate by reference in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
These forward-looking statements, including statements relating to future business prospects, revenues, working capital, liquidity, capital needs and income, wherever they occur in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, are estimates reflecting our best judgment. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus and those discussed from time to time in our SEC reports, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 13, 2015, our annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended November 30, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2015 and our subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. You should read and consider carefully the information about these and other risks set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in such filings.
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SOLICITATION OF WRITTEN CONSENTS FROM RG'S EQUITY HOLDERS
Purpose of the Consent Solicitation
You are being asked to consent to the Merger Agreement proposal and thereby approve the Merger Agreement.
The Board of Managers has determined that the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are arms' length transactions and are in the best interests of RG and its equity holders and adopted and approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger.
RG Equity Holders Entitled To Consent
The holders of RG's preferred units and common voting units are entitled to sign and deliver written consents with respect to the Merger Agreement. You are urged to return a completed, dated and signed written consent by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on [ · ], 2015.
Consents; Required Consents
The consent of (i) the holders of RG's preferred units who own, collectively, more than fifty percent (50%) of the interest in the profits of RG owned by such holders and (ii) the holders of RG's voting common units who own, collectively, more than fifty percent (50%) of the interest in the profits of RG owned by such holders are required to approve the Merger Agreement.
Effective as of the date of the Merger Agreement, the Preferred Member entered into a voting agreement with the Company. Under the voting agreement, the Preferred Member agreed, promptly following its receipt of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as declared effective by the SEC, to execute and deliver a written consent with respect to the preferred units held by the Preferred Member and, if necessary, to seek enforcement of the applicable provisions under RG's limited liability company agreement to cause the holders of RG's voting common units to give their consent to approve the Merger Agreement.
Submission of Consents
You may consent to the Merger Agreement proposal with respect to your equity interest in RG by completing, dating and signing the written consent enclosed with this consent solicitation statement/prospectus and returning it to RG.
If you wish to give your written consent, you must fill out the enclosed written consent, date and sign it, and promptly return it to RG. Once an equity holder has completed, dated and signed the written consent, such equity holder may deliver it to RG by faxing it to RG, Attention: Scott Vogel, at (212) 869-5965, by emailing a .pdf copy to svogel@robertgraham.us or by mailing it to 264 West 40th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
The Board of Managers has set 12:00 noon, New York City time, on [ · ], 2015 as the target date for the receipt of written consents. RG reserves the right to extend the final date for the receipt of written consents beyond [ · ], 2015. Any such extension may be made without notice to you. Once a sufficient number of consents to approve the Merger Agreement has been received, the consent solicitation will conclude.
Executing Consents; Revocation of Consents
You may execute a written consent to either approve or disapprove of the Merger Agreement. A written consent to approve the Merger Agreement proposal is equivalent to a vote for approval.
If you do not return your written consent, it will have the same effect as a vote against the Merger Agreement.
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ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS
General
We are furnishing this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus to holders of our common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors for use at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on [ · ], 2015 and at any adjournment, postponement, or continuation thereof. This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is first being furnished to our stockholders on or about [ · ], 2015. In addition, this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is being mailed to the RG equity holders as a prospectus of the Company in connection with the issuance by us of shares of our common and preferred stock to RG in connection with the transaction described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Stockholders Meeting To Be Held on [ · ], 2015
We are providing you access to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, the accompanying form of proxy card and our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2014 both by sending you these proxy materials and by notifying you of the availability of these proxy materials on the Internet. These proxy materials are available on the Internet at [ · ].
Date, Time, and Place
The annual meeting of stockholders of the Company will be held at [ · ] on [ · ], 2015, at the [ · ].
Purpose of the Company's Annual Meeting
At the annual meeting of our stockholders, and at any adjournment, postponement, or continuation thereof, our stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
(1) Share Issuance ProposalTo approve, under applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules, the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Rollover Agreement, and common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued in connection with the Merger;
(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalTo approve an amendment to our Current Charter, to effect the Reverse Stock Split of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock such that each thirty shares of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock is reclassified into one share of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock, which reverse stock split will not change the par value or the amount of authorized shares of the Company's common stock;
(3) Director Election ProposalTo elect the five director nominees named in the attached joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus to serve on the Board of Directors until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their respective successors are elected and qualified; provided, however, that if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus;
(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalTo approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that the Company's named executive officers may receive in connection with the Merger pursuant to existing agreements or arrangements with the Company;
(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalTo ratify the appointment of Moss Adams LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2015; and
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(6) To transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Board Recommendation
Our Board of Directors recommends that our stockholders vote "FOR" the Share Issuance Proposal; "FOR" the Reverse Stock Split Proposal; "FOR" each of the directors named in the Director Election Proposal; "FOR" the Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal; and "FOR" the Auditor Ratification Proposal.
Record Date, Outstanding Shares, and Quorum
Only holders of records of our common stock as of the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to vote at our annual meeting and any adjournments thereof. As of the Record Date, [ · ] shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and [ · ] common stockholders of record.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote at the annual meeting for each share of common stock held that was issued and outstanding as of the Record Date.
The presence, in person or by proxy, of stockholders holding at least a majority of shares of our common stock entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at our annual meeting. If a quorum is not present at the annual meeting, we expect that the meeting will be adjourned or postponed to solicit additional proxies. Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy or vote at the annual meeting.
How to Vote
Voting in Person
All stockholders as of the close of business on [ · ], 2015 can attend the annual meeting. If you plan to attend the annual meeting and wish to vote in person, you will be given a ballot at the annual meeting. You may vote at the annual meeting if you are a stockholder of record (your shares are directly registered in your name on our books and not held through a broker, bank or other nominee). In order to vote at the annual meeting shares held in "street name," you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank, or other nominee, and bring it to the meeting. Follow the instructions from your broker, bank, or other nominee included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker, bank, or other nominee to request a proxy form.
Voting by Proxy
We request that our stockholders complete, date, and sign the accompanying proxy and promptly return it in the accompanying envelope or otherwise mail it to us. All properly executed proxies that we receive prior to the vote at the annual meeting (that have not been revoked) will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on the proxies. All properly executed proxies that we receive prior to the vote at the annual meeting that do not provide any direction as to how to vote will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our Board of Directors.
If your shares are held in street name, you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker to vote your shares.
Revocation of Proxies
You may change your vote at any time prior to the vote at the annual meeting. If you are a common stockholder of record, you may change your vote by granting a new proxy card bearing a later
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date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy), by providing written notice of revocation to our Corporate Secretary prior to your shares being voted, or by attending the annual meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the annual meeting alone will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked. To revoke a previously granted proxy, you must specifically request or vote in person at the annual meeting. For shares you hold beneficially in street name, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or nominee, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker, bank or nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the meeting and voting in person.
Voting Your Shares
If you complete and submit your proxy voting instructions, the persons named as proxies will follow your instructions. If you submit your proxy voting instructions but do not direct how to vote on each item, the persons named as proxies will vote your shares:
Votes Required
The voting requirement to approve each of the proposals is as follows:
(1) Share Issuance ProposalPursuant to the shareholder approval requirements of NASDAQ, the Share Issuance Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal.
(2) Reverse Stock Split ProposalThe Reverse Stock Split Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of our issued and outstanding common stock. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the Reverse Stock Split Proposal.
(3) Director Election ProposalFor the Director Election Proposal, the five nominees receiving a plurality of "FOR" votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon will be elected. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Merger is completed the Board of Directors will be reconstituted as described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
(4) Golden Parachute Say on Pay ProposalThe Golden Parachute Say on Pay Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Broker non-votes and abstentions will have no effect on this proposal.
(5) Auditor Ratification ProposalThe Auditor Ratification Proposal requires the affirmative "FOR" vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Abstentions will have no effect on this proposal. If you hold your shares in street name and do not provide voting instructions to your broker, the shares may be voted on the Auditor Ratification Proposal at the discretion of your broker.
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Proxy Solicitation
We are making this solicitation and will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. In addition to the mailing of these proxy materials, the solicitation of proxies or votes may be made in person, by telephone or by electronic communication by our directors, officers and employees, who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation activities. To further assist in the solicitation process, we have hired [ · ] to solicit proxies by personal interviews, telephone, telegram or otherwise. We have agreed to pay to them an initial fee of $[ · ] and additional compensation on an as-needed basis for telephone solicitation and solicitations made by other means.
Other Business; Adjournments
We do not expect that any matter other than the proposals presented in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus will be brought before our annual meeting. However, if other matters incident to the conduct of the annual meeting are properly presented at the annual meeting or any adjournment, postponement, or continuation of the annual meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment with respect to those matters.
Adjournments may be made for the purpose of, among other things, soliciting additional proxies.
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PROPOSAL 1THE SHARE ISSUANCE PROPOSAL
We are seeking the approval of our stockholders, as required under applicable NASDAQ listing rules, for the issuance of up to 14,505,449 shares of our common stock consisting of (1) 8,870,968 shares of common stock issuable to holders of membership interests in RG pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (2) 1,154,194 shares of our common stock issuable to holders of our Convertible Notes pursuant to the Rollover Agreement and (3) 4,480,287 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in connection with the Merger. Approval of our stockholders of the issuance of such securities is a condition to the obligations of the Company and RG to complete the Merger under the Merger Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock under the Stock Purchase Agreement. If the proposal is not approved, we cannot effect such transactions under the terms set forth in the respective agreements.
NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(a) requires stockholder approval prior to the issuance of securities in connection with the acquisition of another company if such securities are not issued in a public offering and (A) have, or will have upon issuance, voting power equal to or in excess of 20% of the voting power outstanding before the issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock); or (B) the number of shares of common stock to be issued is or will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding before the issuance of the stock or securities;
NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(b) requires stockholder approval when any issuance or potential issuance will result in a "change of control" of the issuer (which may be deemed to occur if after a transaction a single investor or affiliated investor group acquires, or has the right to acquire, 20% or more of the common stock (or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock) or voting power of an issuer and such ownership would be the largest ownership position of the issuer).
After giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split described in the Reverse Stock Split Proposal, the issuance of shares of common stock (1) pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (2) the Rollover Agreement and (3) upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, assuming a conversion price of $11.10 per share, would exceed 20% of our voting power and 20% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding before the issuance of such securities. Further, affiliates of TCP will control in excess of 20% of the voting power and 20% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding before the issuance and such ownership would be our largest ownership position. As a result of the foregoing, we are seeking stockholder approval of the issuance of up to 14,505,449 shares of our common stock consisting of (1) 8,870,968 shares of common stock issuable to holders of membership interests in RG pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (2) 1,154,194 shares of our common stock issuable to holders of our Convertible Notes pursuant to the Rollover Agreement and (3) 4,480,287 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement in connection with the Merger.
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Stockholders should note that a "change of control" as described under Rule 5635(b) applies only with respect to the application of such rule, and does not constitute a "change of control" for purposes of Delaware law, our organizational documents, or any other purpose.
We seek your approval of the Share Issuance Proposal in order to comply with the applicable NASDAQ Listing Rules and to comply with our obligations to seek such approval pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and Stock Purchase Agreement.
See "Summary of Merger Agreement" for a description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. See "Ancillary AgreementsRollover Agreement" for a description of the Rollover Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. See "Ancillary AgreementsStock Purchase Agreement" for a description of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Stock Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
Our historical financial statements and the historical financial statements of RG and pro forma condensed combined financial statements of our Company together with RG as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 are included with this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. The pro forma information is included the section entitled "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information."
The actual number of shares of common stock that will be issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will not be known until such conversion occurs. As described more fully above in "Ancillary AgreementsStock Purchase Agreement," the conversion price of the Preferred Stock, which will initially be $11.10 per share, will be subject to certain adjustments that are typical for convertible preferred stock of this type and such adjustments may increase the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.
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stock will be issued are in our best interest and the interest of our common stockholders. In reaching its decision, the Board of Directors considered a number of factors generally supporting its decision that we should enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the Merger Transactions contemplated thereby, including, among others, (i) the ability to repay the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement in full, (ii) the ability to add a new CEO for the Company who has experience leading a premium denim public company, (iii) the ability to combine our Hudson brand with the Robert Graham brand which offers a full luxury lifestyle line of products which has experienced rapid growth and which we believe will be complementary to our Hudson brand of premium denim products, (iv) the combined company being the foundation of a new, premium branded consumer platform that can focus on organically growing its owned brands through a global, omni-channel strategy, including premium wholesale department store and specialty stores, direct-to-consumer retail stores, e-commerce, and licensing (v) the ability of the combined company to seek opportunities to acquire accretive, complementary, premium-plus brands, and (vi) the ability to reduce indebtedness to the holders of our Convertible Notes, contingent upon consummation of the Merger. The Board of Directors also considered a variety of risks and other potentially negative factors generally relating to the Merger Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, in reaching its decision. For a description of such risks and potentially negative factors see "Risk Factors."
For a description of the interests of our other directors and executive officers in the Merger and the related transactions see "The MergerInterests of Certain of the Company's Directors, Officers and Affiliates in the Merger."
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The following is a description of the material aspects of the Merger. While the Company believes that the following description covers the material terms of the Merger, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to the Company's stockholders and RG's equity holders. The Company encourages its stockholders and RG's equity holders to carefully read this entire joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, including "Summary of Merger Agreement" starting on page 100 and the Merger Agreement attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference, for a more complete understanding of the Merger.
The Company's Board of Directors has approved, and on September 8, 2015 we entered into, the Merger Agreement, which provides for Merger Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to be merged with and into RG, with RG surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
At the Effective Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, all of the RG Units outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into the right to receive an aggregate of $81 million in cash (the "Aggregate Cash Consideration") and 8,870,968 shares of common stock (after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split) (the "Aggregate Stock Consideration" and, together with the Aggregate Cash Consideration, the "Aggregate Merger Consideration"). The portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration constituting the Aggregate Cash Consideration will be reduced by an amount necessary to satisfy certain indebtedness of RG outstanding as of the Effective Time (the Aggregate Cash Consideration, as adjusted, the "Actual Cash Consideration" and, together with the Aggregate Stock Consideration, the "Actual Merger Consideration"). See "Summary of Merger AgreementTreatment of RG Units" located on page 101 of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus for further information.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company entered into:
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transactions, would give the holders of the Modified Convertible Notes ownership of 14.1% of our issued and outstanding common stock on an as-converted, fully diluted basis (for more information, see "Ancillary AgreementsRollover Agreement" beginning on page 132).
We began our operations in April 1987 as Innovo, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Innovo"), to manufacture and domestically distribute cut and sewn canvas and nylon consumer products for the utility, craft, sports-licensed and advertising specialty markets. In 1990, Innovo merged into Elorac Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and was renamed Innovo Group Inc. The Company was renamed Joe's Jeans Inc. in October 2007. We have evolved from producing craft and accessory products to designing and selling apparel products under the Joe's Jeans® and Hudson® brands.
On September 30, 2013, we acquired all of the outstanding equity interests in Hudson Clothing Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Hudson"), a designer and marketer of women's and men's premium branded denim apparel (the "Hudson Business"). This acquisition provided us with an additional proven premium denim brand and enhanced our prospects for growth across wholesale, retail and e-commerce, both domestically and overseas, and created the potential for improved purchasing authority with current and future vendors and other operational efficiencies.
The growth potential from the Hudson acquisition relied on the integration of the Hudson Business and the Joe's Business. As a result of the challenges arising from the Hudson acquisition, we did not achieve the desired level of integration, and we failed to meet certain financial covenants set forth in our Term Loan Credit Agreement with Garrison. On November 6, 2014, we received a notice of default and demand for payment of default interest from Garrison, under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. As a result of the default under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, we were also in default under the terms of our Revolving Credit Agreement and our factoring facility with CIT and we were prohibited from making payments under the Convertible Notes and the obligations to Joseph M. Dahan.
Beginning November 2014, we began negotiations with Garrison and CIT on their willingness to provide a forbearance agreement, waiver of the defaults and amendments to the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement and factoring facility. In connection with those conversations, at the request of Garrison, we engaged a consulting group to perform due diligence and conduct an initial assessment of process improvement opportunities for the Company.
Beginning in December 2014, management and the full Board of Directors and, separately, certain of the non-management members of our Board of Directors began meeting on a regular basis to discuss alternatives for the Company as a result of the defaults under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Board considered whether it should further explore refinancing alternatives and/or a transaction that had been proposed in early December 2014 by a brand management company where the Company would contribute the intellectual property owned by the Company to a joint venture in exchange for an $80 million upfront payment and a share of future royalties generated by the joint venture. The Board also considered engaging a consultant to implement and help expedite the integration of the Joe's Business and the Hudson Business with the goal of achieving some immediate cost savings. Ultimately, at that time, the Board determined it should continue to pursue all possible alternatives to remedy its financial situation and address the issues with its lenders. We preliminarily explored the joint venture proposal but we had significant concerns that the tax that would be owed as a result of the transaction caused the transaction to not be a viable alternative and the talks between the parties stalled.
In January 2015, after the consultants we engaged on behalf of Garrison completed their due diligence review, the Company and Garrison discussed alternatives to address the defaults under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. Garrison stated that, as a result of the due diligence findings, it was not
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willing to amend the Term Loan Credit Agreement to provide the Company with more flexibility to implement process and other operational improvements, but instead was only willing to provide a short term forbearance agreement if the Company maintained certain new financial covenants, provided a budget for 2016 by a date certain, and engaged an investment banker to assist the Company in finding alternative lenders, capital providers or acquirers for the Company that would allow the Company to repay the Garrison debt in full. Garrison wanted the transaction to be closed by the end of April. Throughout this period, the Company received advice from its longtime outside counsel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP ("Akin Gump"), regarding the defaults, management and operational issues, and alternatives for the Company.
Management continued to work on, but was unable to finalize in a timely manner, a detailed budget for fiscal 2016 for the Board to approve and for the Company to provide to Garrison. Management was unable to come to consensus on several components of the budget, including the integration plan and the magnitude of selling, general and administrative expenses for each brand, each of which were big drivers of the budget. At the same time, Peter Kim, the Chief Executive Officer of Hudson and a Director of the Company expressed concerns to the Board about the Company's financial situation and the need for a plan to assess the Company's options as soon as possible.
On January 15, 2015, we received a term sheet from another third party, which we refer to as Party A, that was also proposing a joint venture transaction in which the Company would contribute its intellectual property to a joint venture in exchange for an upfront payment and a share of future royalties generated by the joint venture (the "IP Sale Proposal"). The Company would license from the joint venture the trademarks and other intellectual property necessary to continue to operate the Joe's Business and the Hudson Business. The licenses would require the Company to pay the joint venture a minimum royalty and a guaranteed marketing expenditure. If the license was breached or a minimum threshold of royalties was not met, the license in favor of the Company would terminate. Management and the Board reviewed the proposal and discussed the proposal with Akin Gump. Primarily, the Board was concerned about the tax impact of the IP Sale Proposal, the Company's ability to service the royalty payments under the license and grow the business going forward, the Company's future borrowing power as a result of the capitalization of the Company, the transfer of the Company's ownership of the intellectual property assets to the joint venture entity formed for the purpose of carrying out the IP Sale Proposal, the Company's ability to pay its remaining debt obligations that would not be repaid as a result of this transaction closing and how to resolve the Company's management and operational issues after the transaction. The Board authorized management, Akin Gump and, once they were retained, the Carl Marks Advisory Group Inc. ("Carl Marks") to continue discussions with Party A to address these concerns and met regularly over the next month to receive updates on the discussions with Party A and to give direction to management, Akin Gump and Carl Marks.
On January 19, 2015, the Board accepted the resignation of the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Marc. B. Crossman, effective as of January 19, 2015. In light of the credit agreement defaults, the request of Garrison to pursue a transaction that would repay Garrison in full by April 2015 and the resignation of the CEO of the Company, at a meeting held on January 19, 2015, the Board determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to engage an investment bank to help the Company explore all of its strategic alternatives. The Board reviewed the credentials of three investment banks, including Carl Marks, who had been recommended by Garrison. After conducting interviews and a thorough review of credentials, the Board decided that the Company should engage Carl Marks and requested that management negotiate an engagement letter with Carl Marks. On January 29, 2015, the Company executed an engagement letter with Carl Marks pursuant to which it would explore strategic alternatives on the Company's behalf and advise the Company with respect thereto. In order to help stabilize the management of the Company after the resignation of its CEO, Carl Marks also agreed to act as a restructuring advisor to assist the Company in implementing
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cost saving measures, financial and operational oversight and to examine and advise on integration matters to ensure continued compliance with its minimum availability requirements under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Agreement.
On February 13, 2015, the Company filed its annual report on Form 10-K. The filing disclosed the Company's results of operations for the year ended November 30, 2014 as well as the defaults under all of the Company's outstanding indebtedness. As a result of the continuing defaults under all of the Company's outstanding indebtedness, the net working capital deficiency and recurring operating losses, the Company's auditors expressed substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
On February 14, 2015, William Sweedler, co-founder of TCP, contacted Carl Marks to express interest in a transaction involving the Company and TCP's portfolio company, RG. Carl Marks conducted an introductory call with Mr. Sweedler on February 15, 2015. The Company and TCP executed a confidentiality agreement on February 17, 2015 and thereafter, on February 19, 2015, Mr. Sweedler and other representatives from TCP and representatives of the Company and Carl Marks conducted a conference call to discuss the Company's business, future prospects and financial situation.
On February 22, 2015, the Board, together with representatives from Akin Gump and Carl Marks, met and discussed the strategic alternative transaction process. Akin Gump advised the Board of its fiduciary duties in conducting the strategic alternative transaction process and in reviewing any proposals resulting from that process. Given the unwillingness of the Company's lenders to engage in discussions regarding longer-term operational solutions for the Company, the Board discussed the need for a transaction that would generate enough funds that would allow the Company to repay its lenders in full. The Board also discussed the potential timeline for such a transaction and strategies for seeking interest from parties that might be interested in such a transaction with the Company. The Board also discussed the possibility of the Company filing for bankruptcy if it was unable to find a suitable transaction partner or if its lenders were unwilling to provide the Company with enough time to complete a transaction. After further discussion, the Board approved the launch of the strategic transaction process by Carl Marks as soon as the confidential information memorandum and other related documents were finalized. The Board authorized management to work with Carl Marks to finalize those documents.
On February 25, 2015, Carl Marks received an indication of interest from TCP regarding a potential transaction between the Company and RG. The potential transaction was structured as a merger in which RG equity holders would receive 50% of the consideration in cash and 50% in common stock of the Company. The number of shares of stock to be issued to the RG equity holders would be based upon the relative valuations of the Company and RG to be mutually agreed by the parties. Additionally, upon the consummation of the merger, TCP would invest $40 million in a new series of convertible preferred stock of the combined company. TCP would arrange for financing for the potential transaction sufficient to (i) restructure the Company's existing indebtedness, (ii) pay all transaction fees, (iii) satisfy the cash payment to the RG equity holders and (iv) provide the Company with working capital on a go-forward basis. Finally, TCP would have the right to appoint four of the members of the Board of the combined company, one of whom would be Michael Buckley, who would serve as CEO of the combined company.
On March 4, 2015, the Company and its advisors received supplemental information from TCP regarding RG and the proposed transaction, including a description of RG's business and future prospects and TCP's anticipated goals for the combined company. TCP also provided additional detail on the proposed transaction terms including clarification regarding the financing that it was arranging, which would, among other things, refinance all of the Company's and RG's outstanding debt in full, and that the current Joe's stockholders would own approximately 18% of the common stock of the Company on a fully diluted basis after the closing of the Merger.
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Also on March 4, 2015, Carl Marks launched its strategic transaction process. After receiving input from the Company on potential transaction partners and utilizing their internal expertise, Carl Marks contacted 84 brand/licensing, strategic and financial investors regarding a potential transaction involving the Company. Of the parties contacted, 64 potential bidders requested a confidentiality agreement, 21 potential bidders executed confidentiality agreements and six bidders submitted indications of interest, including TCP and Party A. For bidders that executed confidentiality agreements, they were permitted access to confidential due diligence information and were instructed as to when final indications of interest were due and the timeline after that point if they were chosen to move forward in the process.
On March 7, 2015, the Board met to discuss the proposal from TCP, the IP Sale Proposal and the strategic alternative process that had been launched by Carl Marks. Throughout the process, Akin Gump advised the Board of its applicable fiduciary duties. Although the Board believed that both the TCP proposal and the IP Sale Proposal were potential transactions that the Company should further consider, the Board believed that it was in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to run a comprehensive process with the intent of exploring alternative transaction proposals that would provide the greatest value for the Company and its stockholders. The Board did not want to commit to a proposal and enter into an exclusivity arrangement prior to knowing that it had made a reasonable effort to explore other potential transactions for the Company. Additionally, the Board believed that more information as to what others might propose would facilitate the analysis of the fairness of the purchase price for each transaction. Therefore, the Board determined that TCP and Party A should become part of the overall transaction process being conducted by Carl Marks and it was requested that they conduct their due diligence and submit formal indications of interest at the time indicated in the transaction process procedures along with the other potential bidders. Carl Marks also updated Garrison and CIT on the strategic alternative process and the bids that had already been received. While both lenders indicated their willingness to allow the Company to complete the process, they also indicated their preference for a transaction that could be closed quickly over a transaction that may require significant third party approvals, including stockholder approval, which would delay a closing.
During March 2015 and continuing throughout the process, the Board, certain members of management, Carl Marks and Akin Gump met regularly to discuss the strategic transaction process, the Company's current status with its lenders and remain informed about other financial and operational matters. Carl Marks updated the Board on the strategic transaction process, the number of bidders that had been contacted, the number of bidders that had requested a confidentiality agreement and the number of bidders that were conducting due diligence on the Company.
On April 6, 2015, in compliance with the process timeline, the Board received an updated indication of interest from TCP regarding a transaction between RG and the Company, an updated indication of interest from Party A as well as four other indications of interest from other bidders. The indications of interest were for a wide variety of potential transactions, including a merger/recapitalization, an IP sale and license-back transaction, a partial refinancing of the Company's debt, an acquisition of one or both of the Company's brands for cash and an acquisition of 100% of the Company's common stock for cash. The terms of the various proposals are summarized below:
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serve as CEO of the combined company. The remaining three members of the Board would be comprised of existing board members.
The Board, together with representatives of Akin Gump and Carl Marks, met on April 9, 2015 to discuss the indications of interest received by Carl Marks. Carl Marks described to the Board the terms of each of the indications of interest that were submitted. There was significant discussion amongst Board members and with Carl Marks and Akin Gump regarding the benefits and concerns with each proposal. The Board felt that the two loan proposals did not generate enough proceeds to repay both of its lenders, pay delinquent interest and principal on the convertible subordinated notes and Dahan Note and provide sufficient working capital, and neither of the brand acquisition proposals would provide enough proceeds to even repay Garrison. The stock transaction would not provide any payment to stockholders at the lower end valuation after payment of all outstanding debt and at the higher end valuation was comparable to the TCP/RG proposal but failed to give the stockholders any interest in any future increase in value of the Company. Additionally, the stock transaction bidder had not conducted any due diligence so the Board had concerns that the proposed valuation would decrease once the bidder conducted its due diligence investigation. Additionally, the Board had concerns that the bidder would not be able to consummate the transaction as quickly as the other parties that had already completed a significant amount of due diligence, which could further complicate discussions with the Company's lenders.
The Board also had concerns with both the TCP/RG Proposal and the IP Sale Proposal. For the TCP/RG Proposal, the Board was concerned about the substantial dilution to the existing stockholders after the transaction, the execution risk of the transaction, the potential for further dilution to the stockholders once TCP/RG completed their due diligence and TCP's ability to arrange the financing to
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fund the repayment of all of the Company's indebtedness, including any change of control payments. For the IP Sale Proposal, the Board was concerned about the covenants that the Company would need to comply with in order to maintain its license for the IP, the likelihood that the Company would default on the loan, the tax impact to the Company upon default which would trigger a sale of the IP and preserving bankruptcy as an option for the Company to protect the license in the event of a default under the license or the loan. The Board directed management and its advisors to further explore the TCP/RG proposal and the IP Sale Proposal and to seek to address these concerns that the Board had with each proposal after having determined that the other proposals delivered significantly less value to the Company's stockholders.
As instructed by the Board, senior management of the Company, Carl Marks and Akin Gump had discussions with TCP and Party A to refine their proposals. Carl Marks also updated the lenders on the process and discussions with potential bidders. Both lenders reiterated their preference for a transaction that could be closed quickly over a transaction that may require significant third party approvals, including stockholder approval, which would delay a closing for several months. On each of April 9, 2015, April 13, 2015, April 14, 2015 and April 15, 2015, the Board met with its advisors and management and discussed the progress of negotiations with TCP and Party A. At the Board Meeting on April 16, 2015, due to the fact that certain members of the Board of Directors were also members of management who were involved in the negotiations of the proposals with the two potential bidders and the fact that it was reasonably likely that management members would have an interest in any transaction that was ultimately approved by the Board of Directors, the Board formed a special committee comprised of Samuel Furrow, Joanne Calabrese, Kelly Hoffman and Kent Savage to consider, negotiate and recommend a transaction for approval by the Board of Directors. None of the members of the Special Committee were also members of management nor had any other conflicting interests with respect to the transactions being proposed by TCP and Party A.
At a meeting of the Special Committee on April 16, 2015, the Special Committee discussed the TCP/RG proposal and the IP Sale Proposal. The Special Committee liked the TCP/RG proposal because it provided a comprehensive resolution to the debt, management and operational issues that the Company was facing. After the transaction, the Company would be significantly de-levered and would therefore have more flexibility to expand the existing business. The existing stockholders would also participate in the growth of the Company in the future by retaining equity in the combined company. The Company would also have a new CEO who had successfully run another public premium denim company. However, the transaction would require stockholder approval and take several months to complete. There was also significant dilution to the existing stockholders. TCP/RG had indicated that they were willing to consider reducing the amount of the dilution to the stockholders and to work toward a solution regarding the repayment of the Convertible Notes. The IP Sale Proposal would provide enough proceeds to pay Garrison and the default interest payments on the Convertible Notes and the Dahan Note and could likely be completed more quickly than the Merger. The current stockholders would maintain 100% ownership of the Company. However, since there were not enough funds to repay CIT, CIT's consent would be needed for the transaction and the Company was not sure that it could be obtained on the terms requested by Party A. There were also concerns regarding whether the Company would be able to comply with the covenants in the loan agreement Party A was proposing, the fact that the Company could potentially lose its license (and ownership of its intellectual property) in the event of a default under the loan agreement or license agreement and the fact that the Company would remain significantly leveraged. Further, the Company would still need to resolve its management and operational issues. These issues would significantly impact the Company's ability to meet the covenants, especially during the first year, thereby substantially increasing the risk of default and ultimately bankruptcy. Given these and other considerations, the Board determined that it wanted to further explore a transaction with TCP/RG and the discussions with Party A were suspended.
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Later on April 16, 2015, TCP submitted a non-binding letter of intent to the Board that outlined a proposal for a merger/recapitalization transaction with the Company and provided for a period of mutual exclusivity for 45 days to allow TCP and the Company to finalize their due diligence and negotiate a definitive agreement. The non-binding letter of intent also provided for expense reimbursement for TCP and the Company if the other party breached the exclusivity provisions. Representatives of TCP and the Company negotiated the terms of the non-binding letter of intent for several days before executing the non-binding letter of intent on April 27, 2015. This final non-binding letter of intent contained the same terms previously described except that the RG equity holders would receive 50% cash and 50% stock for consideration, with the option to take a seller note in lieu of the cash, the Company stockholders would retain no less than 15% of the outstanding stock of the Company, the transaction would be structured in a manner that was intended to avoid a change of control under certain of the Company's debt obligations and TCP would purchase up to $50 million of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The final non-binding letter of intent also provided that the agreed upon enterprise valuations of RG and the Company would be $183.6 million and $149.2 million, respectively. The lenders were updated on the execution of the non-binding letter of intent and urged the Company to make sure that transaction was completed as soon as possible, although they understood the need for stockholder approval.
During May 2015, the Company, TCP and RG conducted their respective due diligence examinations, including on site meetings at the Company with participants from all parties. On May 15, 2015, Akin Gump and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, legal counsel to TCP ("Skadden"), had a conversation regarding a change to the structure of the proposed transaction. It was proposed that the Joe's Business be sold for $60 million in two separate transactions to two separate buyers, including a sale of the IP associated with the Joe's Business to a public company in which TCP had an interest. The closing of these transactions, which we refer to as the Asset Sale, would occur simultaneously with the Merger. As a result of the Asset Sale and the proposed $50 million investment by an affiliate of TCP in the Company's preferred stock, TCP would need to arrange less debt financing to fund the Merger and the Company would not be as highly levered after the Merger. The parties discussed a proposed structure and certain tax implications of such a transaction. In addition, TCP negotiated with the holders of a majority of the Convertible Notes to obtain agreement on their participation in the Merger transaction.
On May 27, 2015, TCP provided an updated non-binding proposal to the Board that contemplated, in addition to the Merger, the simultaneous sale of the Joe's Business to the IP Assets Purchaser and the Operating Assets Purchaser and the exchange of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest on such notes, for 50% cash and 50% in shares of our common stock.
On May 28, 2015, the Special Committee met to discuss this proposal with its advisors. The Special Committee was open to the idea of selling the Joe's Business and moving forward with a company that consisted of the Hudson Business and RG. However, the Special Committee had questions over the purchase price for the Joe's Business and had concerns over whether adding additional parties to the transaction would slow down the transaction and/or increase the likelihood that the transaction would not close. While not providing a formal opinion, Carl Marks indicated that the proposed price for the Joe's Business was consistent with the valuation implied from the other offers received by the Company as part of the strategic transaction process. Also, the Special Committee did not want the Company to be exposed to the additional risk that the entire transaction would not close if the Asset Sale did not close. The Special Committee was also concerned about the reaction of the Company's lenders to this change in the transaction. To mitigate some of these concerns, prior to or concurrently with executing any definitive agreement, the Special Committee wanted to see executed commitment letters from the lenders for the financing necessary to close all of the transactions. Management, Akin Gump and Carl Marks worked to address these concerns in their discussions with Skadden and TCP. Specifically, Carl
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Marks had discussions with TCP about the Special Committee's concerns regarding the execution risk in this transaction and, among other things, TCP indicated that it would be receiving executed commitment letters for the financing of the Merger concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement and expressed its confidence that the Asset Purchasers would be able to consummate the Asset Sale.
On June 3, 2015, Akin Gump provided a draft of the Merger Agreement to Skadden and TCP, and the draft included a provision that RG would be obligated to close whether or not the financing for the Merger or Asset Sale closed. The parties also continued their due diligence. On June 4, 2015, the Special Committee met to discuss an unsolicited indication of interest from another party and its obligations under the exclusivity provision of the letter of intent. The indication of interest contained only high level terms and provided for the purchase of 51% of the outstanding stock of the Company for $0.50 per share. The indication of interest included a statement that the potential buyer was prepared to "settle" with all of the Company's current creditors, but no further information was provided in the indication of interest. This party had not conducted any due diligence. Given the Company's need to close a transaction soon to pay off its lenders, the lack of clarity on the transaction structure and whether or not it was a viable option as well as the Company's exclusivity obligations under the letter of intent with TCP, the Special Committee determined that it would continue to finalize the agreements with TCP/RG. On June 5, 2015, as required by the letter of intent with TCP, the Company notified this party of its obligations under the exclusivity provision. The Company also provided notice to TCP that an indication of interest had been received and that the other party had been notified of the Company's obligations under the exclusivity arrangement.
On June 11, 2015, the parties extended the exclusivity period until June 30, 2015, to give the parties additional time to negotiate the terms of the Merger Agreement and the asset sale agreements for the Joe's Business. Also during this period, TCP was negotiating with various lenders for a commitment letter to finance the Merger, which, as stated above, was a requirement of the Special Committee to recommend approval to the full Board of the Merger and related Merger Transactions. Due to the multiple responsibilities of Carl Marks in connection with the transactions, including negotiating with the Company's lenders, serving as a restructuring advisor to the Company and managing the strategic transaction process, on June 19, 2015, the Company determined to engage Cronkite & Kissell to provide a fairness opinion to the Board on the transactions instead of Carl Marks. On June 20, 2015, the Company provided a draft of the disclosure schedules to TCP/RG as well as a draft of the Rollover Agreement with the convertible noteholders. On June 23, 2015, Skadden provided comments on the Merger Agreement to the Company. Among other things, Skadden's draft provided that the consummation of the financing and the Asset Sale were conditions to TCP/RG's obligations to close. However, to mitigate this issue, (i) the draft included a reverse termination fee and provided that financing commitments would be delivered by TCP/RG concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement and (ii) TCP orally reiterated its confidence in the Asset Purchasers' ability to consummate the Asset Sale. On June 29, 2015, Skadden provided comments on the Rollover Agreement with the convertible noteholders and initial drafts of the Registration Rights Agreement and the certificate of designations containing the proposed terms of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.
During the week of June 22, 2015, as a result of a need to amend the Company's credit agreements to provide for continued availability under the revolving credit facility and in order to give the Company more time to negotiate definitive agreements with TCP and the Asset Purchasers, the Company began negotiating a forbearance agreement with Garrison and CIT. Without the amendments, the Company would not have had availability under the revolving credit facility for its day to day working capital needs. The Company also wanted a formal forbearance from its lenders to allow it complete the Merger and related Merger Transactions. As part of the forbearance agreement, the Company agreed to a schedule to finalize and close a transaction that would cause Garrison and CIT
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to be paid in full. The first milestone in the schedule was the execution of a definitive transaction agreement by July 15, 2015. Also, the transaction needed to close by October 15, 2015, which period could be extended until November 15, 2015 if the Company was only waiting on stockholder approval to close the transaction. While the Company tried to obtain a more flexible and longer transaction schedule, the lenders insisted upon this schedule. The Forbearance Agreement with both lenders was executed on June 26, 2015.
During the remainder of June 2015, there were numerous discussions between Skadden and Akin Gump and Carl Marks and TCP regarding various aspects of the proposed Merger and related Merger Transactions, including conditionality of the transactions and when TCP would receive a commitment letter from its lenders. William Sweedler and Samuel Furrow spoke on the phone about these issues. TCP's lenders were not completing their due diligence as quickly as TCP had hoped. Additionally, the Hudson Business had experienced a decline in revenue that was also making the financing process more challenging. As a result, TCP was negotiating with the convertible noteholders to pay less cash to the convertible noteholders and more stock consideration and the parties were also negotiating to increase the purchase price for the Joe's Business. If these negotiations were successful, the amount of debt financing that would be necessary to consummate the transactions would be reduced, which the parties believed would increase the likelihood that TCP's lenders would execute a firm commitment letter and the combined company would have significantly less leverage going forward. TCP continued to take the position that (i) the consummation of the financing and the Asset Sale remain conditions to the Merger and (ii) the Company would need to rely on the fully committed financing commitment from TCP's lenders, along with TCP's obligation to pay a reverse termination fee, for comfort on the closing of the Merger.
On June 30, 2015, the Special Committee met to discuss the progress on the transaction and definitive documents, including the issue regarding the conditionality of the transactions. While the Special Committee remained concerned about the increased execution risk in the transaction, it still believed that the TCP/RG transaction preserved the most value for existing stockholders and could be completed on the timeline agreed to with the lenders. Further, based upon conversations with Carl Marks and the lenders regarding the topic, the Special Committee did not believe that the lenders would be willing to extend the forbearance milestones to allow the Company to pursue a different transaction. But given the July 15, 2015 deadline to sign a definitive agreement, the Special Committee was anxious as to whether the deadline would be met since a draft of the asset purchase agreement had not yet been delivered. The Special Committee requested to see a draft of the asset purchase agreement before it executed another exclusivity extension. Later that evening, the Company received a draft of the Asset Purchase Agreement with the IP Assets Purchaser and also executed a second extension to the exclusivity period until July 13, 2015.
On July 1, 2015, Akin Gump sent revised drafts of the Merger Agreement and Rollover Agreement to Skadden and TCP. TCP continued to negotiate with the Company and the convertible noteholders. On July 9, 2015, Skadden sent an initial draft of the preferred stock purchase agreement and limited guaranty agreement to Akin Gump. On July 10, 2015, Skadden sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Akin Gump. On July 13, 2015, the date that the exclusivity expired, the Special Committee met to review and discuss the various agreements currently being negotiated by the parties in connection with the Merger and related Merger Transactions, the status of the financing commitment letter being arranged by TCP and the sale of the Joe's Business to the IP Assets Purchaser and the Operating Assets Purchaser. It was discussed that the parties were fairly close on the Merger Agreement. Further, as a result of the negotiations among TCP and the Asset Purchasers, the purchase price for the Joe's Business had been increased to $80 million. However, the Company was just starting negotiations with the IP Assets Purchaser on definitive agreements and it had not yet received a draft of the purchase agreement from the Operating Assets Purchaser. Also, TCP had not yet received a financing commitment letter from its lenders. It was clear that the Company would not
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meet the July 15 deadline in the Forbearance Agreement to execute a definitive agreement. The Special Committee was concerned about the Company's lenders' reaction to missing the deadline and had concerns as to whether TCP/RG would be able to complete the transaction at all. Akin Gump advised the Special Committee regarding the bankruptcy process and what may happen if Garrison and CIT terminated the Forbearance Agreement and decided to seize the Company's assets. TCP and each of the Asset Purchasers orally reiterated to the Company their confidence in consummating the Merger and the related Merger Transactions, including the Asset Sale.
Given the increase in the purchase price for the Joe's Business, the Special Committee and Akin Gump discussed the idea of bifurcating the closing of the transactions and closing the Asset Sale first and completing the Merger thereafter. It was the Company's belief that the Asset Sale could be closed very quickly and this would provide the Company with enough proceeds to pay Garrison in full and make a partial payment to CIT which would relieve the time pressure on the Merger. Closing the Asset Sale first also reduced the execution risk on the Merger since a significant condition to closing would have already been accomplished. Additionally, the Asset Purchasers were eager to close the Asset Sale as well and were in favor of closing as soon as possible. Akin Gump and Skadden and Carl Marks and TCP discussed this idea as a way to try to satisfy the lenders so that they would not terminate the Forbearance Agreement.
As of July 15, 2015, TCP's lenders had not yet completed their due diligence and needed additional time to finalize a commitment letter to finance the Merger. At this time, the parties began to focus on negotiating and finalizing the asset purchase agreements with the IP Assets Purchaser and the Operating Assets Purchaser. The Company also informed Garrison and CIT of the intent to bifurcate the closing of the transactions which would allow the Company to close a transaction and repay Garrison sooner and to make a substantial payment to CIT with full repayment of indebtedness to CIT to occur upon closing of the Merger. The lenders were pleased to hear about the bifurcated closing but still wanted to see executed definitive agreements for the Merger and the Asset Sale as soon as possible, and indicated that they would not be willing to wait much longer for the Company to enter into one or more transactions that would repay them in full before exercising their remedies. Throughout July and August, the Special Committee continued to meet on a regular basis to receive updates about the status of the negotiations, the status of the debt financing commitment letter being arranged by TCP, the status of discussions with the Company's lenders and other financial and operational matters.
On July 23, 2015, the Company received a notice of default and reservation of rights letter from Garrison notifying it that the Forbearance Agreement had been terminated due to the Company's failure to sign a definitive agreement by July 15, 2015 for a transaction that would repay Garrison in full. On July 24, 2015, the Company received a similar notice of default and reservations of rights letter from CIT terminating the forbearance agreement with CIT. The Company continued to meet with each of CIT and Garrison on a weekly basis to update them on the process of the negotiations for the Merger and the Asset Sale in an effort to prevent any further exercise of remedies by CIT or Garrison. At each meeting, Garrison and CIT indicated that if a definitive agreement was not executed soon, they would be forced to further exercise their remedies and begin discussions with the Company on an orderly bankruptcy process. The Company continually reiterated that the parties were close on documents but there were a few outstanding issues that needed to be resolved and requested more time to complete negotiations and execute definitive agreements.
The parties continued to negotiate the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements and other transaction documents during the weeks of August 17 and August 24, 2015. The Special Committee met to approve and recommend the Asset Sale, the Merger and the other Merger Transactions on August 24, 2015. There remained a few open issues between the parties on the Asset Purchase Agreements. The Special Committee gave management, Akin Gump and Carl Marks direction on how to resolve those issues. After the Special Committee meeting, the parties negotiated
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the remaining open issues and reached agreement on definitive documents that management, Akin Gump and Carl Marks believed would have the support of the Special Committee and the Board. In addition to the Merger Agreement, Asset Purchase Agreement and related ancillary documents, the parties negotiated a voting agreement with Joseph M. Dahan, who owns approximately 17% of the outstanding common stock, pursuant to which, Mr. Dahan agreed to vote in favor of all items necessary to facilitate the Merger.
At a meeting held on August 30, 2015, the Board of Directors met to review and discuss the Merger Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements and related documents as negotiated by the parties and to receive the recommendation of the Special Committee. At this meeting, Cronkite & Kissell made a presentation to the Board of Directors concerning its analysis of the transactions and delivered to the Board of Directors its oral opinion, which was later confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated August 30, 2015, to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to various assumptions and other matters considered and limitations described in its opinion, the Merger and related Merger Transactions were fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company and its stockholders. Representatives from Akin Gump also reviewed the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the terms of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the Rollover Agreement and related ancillary agreements with the Board of Directors in detail. Management and Carl Marks also reviewed for the Board of Directors the due diligence process engaged in by the outside advisors to the Company with respect to RG and the other strategic alternatives considered. At the conclusion of these presentations and the ensuing discussion by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors determined the Merger and related Merger Transactions were fair to, and in the best interest of, the Company and its stockholders and approved the Merger Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Rollover Agreement and all ancillary transaction documents, with one abstention by Mr. Dahan, and authorized and directed the officers of the Company to execute such agreements and all related documents on behalf of the Company. After the meeting, the Company then waited for additional corporate approvals to be obtained by all other parties prior to executing the transaction documents. The Merger Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreement, the Rollover Agreement and related ancillary transaction documents were executed by the parties on September 8, 2015. The Asset Sale closed on September 11, 2015, amounts outstanding under the Term Loan Credit Agreement were repaid in full and the Revolving Credit Agreement was amended and restated pursuant to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement.
Reasons for the Merger and Recommendation of the Company's Board of Directors
The Board established a special committee, consisting of directors who are not employees of the Company and who do not have conflicting interests with respect to the transactions being considered (the "Special Committee"), to, among other things, review and evaluate, and to negotiate the terms of, the Merger and related Merger Transactions. The Special Committee, acting with the advice of legal and financial advisors, evaluated and negotiated the Merger Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreements, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Rollover Agreement and related ancillary transaction documents. The Special Committee unanimously resolved to recommend to the Board of Directors that the Board approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger and related Merger Transactions.
In reaching its decision, in the case of the Special Committee, to recommend the approval of or, in the case of the Board of Directors, to approve, the Merger Agreement and recommend approval of the issuance of shares of Company common stock to RG equity holders pursuant to the Merger, to the Series A Purchaser in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement and to the convertible noteholders in connection with the Rollover Agreement, the Special Committee and the Board of
72
Directors each considered the potential benefits and potentially positive factors of the proposed transactions, including:
73
The actual benefits to be derived from the Merger, costs of integration and ability of the combined company to achieve expected business synergies and growth could differ materially from the estimates and expectations discussed above. Accordingly, the potential benefits described above, or the potential benefits described elsewhere in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, may not be realized. The Special Committee and the Board of Directors also considered potential risks and potentially negative factors concerning the Merger in connection with their respective deliberations of the proposed transaction, including:
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The Special Committee and the Board of Directors each concluded that the uncertainties, risks and potentially negative factors relevant to the Merger and the related Merger Transactions were outweighed by the potential benefits that they expected the Company's stockholders would achieve as a result of the combination.
This discussion of the information and factors considered by the Special Committee and the Board of Directors includes the principal positive and negative factors considered by both the Special Committee and the Board of Directors, but is not intended to be exhaustive and may not include all of the factors considered.
In view of the wide variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the Merger and the complexity of these matters, the Special Committee and the Board of Directors did not find it useful to and did not attempt to quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to these factors. Further, the Special Committee and the Board of Directors did not place particular reliance or weight
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on any particular factor. Rather, the Special Committee and the Board of Directors each viewed its position and recommendation as being based on the totality of the information presented to it and the factors it considered.
In addition, individual members of the Special Committee and the Board of Directors may have given differing weights to different factors. It should be noted that this explanation of the reasoning of the Special Committee and the Board of Directors and certain information presented in this section is forward-looking in nature and, therefore, that information should be read in light of the factors discussed in the section entitled "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information."
Projected Financial Information of the Company and RG
Neither the Company nor RG as a matter of course makes public projections as to its future performance, and the Company and RG each are, respectively, especially reluctant to disclose forecasts of its future performance for extended periods due to the unpredictability of the underlying assumptions and estimates. However, management of the Company and RG provided to Cronkite & Kissell for use in connection with the rendering of its fairness opinion to the Board of Directors and performing its related financial analysis, certain internal non-public financial forecasts regarding the Company's or RG's, as applicable, anticipated future operations, which we refer to collectively as the Projections. Each party also provided its Projections to the other party in connection with such other party's due diligence review. None of the internal financial forecasts were prepared with a view toward public disclosure, nor were they prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the SEC or the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of financial forecasts.
None of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, RG's independent accounting firm, or any other independent accountants, have examined, compiled or otherwise applied procedures to the financial forecasts presented herein and, accordingly, (i) none of them express an opinion or any other form of assurance on such information or its achievability or assume any responsibility for the prospective financial information and (ii) each of them disclaims any association with, or responsibility for, the prospective financial information. The reports of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and RG's independent accounting firm included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus relate to the Company's or RG's, as applicable, historical financial information. None of such reports extend to the prospective financial information and none should be read to do so. The summary of these internal financial forecasts is being included in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus for informational purposes because these internal financial forecasts were considered by the financial advisors for purposes of evaluating the transactions described in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus.
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The following is a summary of the Projections:
|
Joe's Business Projections Year Ending November 30, |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2016E | 2017E | 2018E | 2019E | 2020E | |||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||||||
Net Revenues |
$ | 113,321 | $ | 116,976 | $ | 120,143 | $ | 123,387 | $ | 126,729 | ||||||
Operating IncomeEBITDA(1) |
$ | 7,313 | $ | 8,647 | $ | 9,437 | $ | 10,245 | $ | 11,090 |
|
Hudson Business Projections Year Ending November 30, |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2016E | 2017E | 2018E | 2019E | 2020E | |||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||||||
Net Revenues |
$ | 79,889 | $ | 83,518 | $ | 86,021 | $ | 88,296 | $ | 90,673 | ||||||
Operating IncomeEBITDA(1) |
$ | 10,886 | $ | 13,704 | $ | 14,952 | $ | 16,140 | $ | 17,393 |
|
RG Projections Year Ending December 31, |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
2015E | |||
|
(in thousands) |
|||
Net Revenues |
$ | 81,610 | ||
Operating IncomeAdjusted EBITDA(1) |
$ | 15,506 |
While management of the Company and RG believed the assumptions used in developing the applicable internal financial forecasts to be reasonable in light of the circumstances at the time they were made, the Projections necessarily were based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and many of which are beyond the control of the Company's management or RG's management, as applicable. These variables and assumptions may therefore not prove to be accurate, or other factors could affect the Company's or RG's, as applicable, actual financial condition or results of operations. Because the Projections cover multiple years, by their nature, they become subject to greater uncertainty with each successive year. The assumptions in early periods have a compounding effect on the projections shown for the later periods. Thus, any failure of an assumption to be reflective of actual results in an early period would have a greater effect on the projected results failing to be reflective of actual events in later periods. The assumptions upon which the Projections were based necessarily involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and financial market conditions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company's or RG's control, as applicable. The Projections also reflect assumptions as to certain business decisions that are subject to change. Important factors that may affect actual results and result in the Projections not being achieved include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the business of the Company or RG, as applicable (including the Company's or RG's, as applicable, ability to achieve strategic goals, objectives and targets over applicable periods, including before the closing of the Merger), industry performance, the regulatory environment, general business and economic conditions and other factors described herein in the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year
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ended November 30, 2014, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Projections will be realized, and actual results may vary materially from those shown. The inclusion of the Projections in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus should not be regarded as an indication that the Company, RG or any of their respective affiliates, advisors or representatives considered or consider the Projections to be predictive of actual future events, and the Projections should not be relied upon as such. None of the Company, RG or any of their respective affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives can give any assurance that actual results will not differ from the Projections, and none of them undertakes any obligation to update or otherwise revise or reconcile the Projections to reflect circumstances existing after the date the Projections were generated or to reflect the occurrence of future events even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the Projections are shown to be in error. Neither the Company nor RG intends to make publicly available any update or other revision to the Projections, except as otherwise required by law. None of the Company, RG, or any of their respective affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives has made or makes any representation to any stockholder or other person regarding the ultimate performance of the Company, RG or, if the Merger is consummated, the combined company, compared to the information contained in the Projections or that the Projections will be achieved by the Company, RG or, if the Merger is consummated, the combined company. Neither the Company nor RG has made any representation to the other in the Merger Agreement or otherwise, concerning the Projections.
In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in the Projections, the Company's stockholders and RG's equity holders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the Projections.
The Projections set forth above do not give effect to the Merger and the Merger Transactions and also do not take into account the effect of any failure of the Merger and the Merger Transactions to be consummated.
Opinion of the Company's Financial Advisor
We retained Cronkite & Kissell, a valuation advisory firm, to render an opinion as to the fairness of the Merger and related Merger Transactions, from a financial point of view, to our stockholders. Cronkite & Kissell was not requested to, and did not, solicit third-party indications of interest to merge with or acquire us. Furthermore, Cronkite & Kissell did not negotiate the Merger and the Merger Transactions or advise us with respect to alternatives to it. On August 30, 2015, at a meeting of our Board of Directors held to evaluate the Merger and related Merger Transactions, Cronkite & Kissell rendered to our Board of Directors an oral opinion, which it subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the assumptions and other matters described in the written opinion, the Merger and related Merger Transactions are fair from a financial point of view to our stockholders.
The complete text of Cronkite & Kissell's opinion, which sets forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of the review undertaken by Cronkite & Kissell, is attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as Appendix C and is incorporated by reference in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus. Cronkite & Kissell provided its opinion for the information and assistance of our Board of Directors in connection with and for the purpose of the Board of Directors' evaluation of the Merger and the Merger Transactions. Cronkite & Kissell's opinion relates only to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of the Company. Cronkite & Kissell's opinion does not address any other aspect of the Merger and the Merger Transactions and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how that stockholder should vote or act on any matter relating to the Merger and the Merger Transactions.
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Cronkite & Kissell was not requested to, and it did not, recommend the specific consideration payable in the Merger or the Merger Transactions or that any given consideration constituted the only appropriate consideration in the Merger or the Merger Transactions. The type and amount of consideration payable in the Merger and the Merger Transactions were determined through negotiations between the Company, TCP and RG, and the decision to enter into the Merger and the Merger Transactions was solely that of our Board of Directors. Cronkite & Kissell's opinion and financial analyses were only one of many factors considered by our Board of Directors in its evaluation of the Merger and the Merger Transactions and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of our Board of Directors or management with respect to the Merger or the Merger Transactions or the consideration payable in the Merger or the Merger Transactions. Cronkite & Kissell's opinion as expressed in its opinion letter reflected and gave effect to Cronkite & Kissell's general familiarity with the Company as well as information which it received during the course of its engagement, including information provided by the Company's management in the course of discussions relating to the Merger and the Merger Transactions as more fully described below. In arriving at its opinion, Cronkite & Kissell neither conducted a physical inspection of the properties or facilities of the Company, RG or any other entity, nor made or obtained any evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities (contingent, off-balance sheet or otherwise) of the Company, RG or any other entity or conducted any analysis concerning the solvency or fair value of the Company, RG or any other entity.
In connection with its opinion, Cronkite & Kissell has made such reviews, analyses and inquiries as they have deemed necessary and appropriate under the circumstances. Among other things, Cronkite & Kissell has:
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In connection with its review and in arriving at its opinion, Cronkite & Kissell has relied upon and assumed, with the Company's consent and without independent verification, that the financial information provided to them has been reasonably prepared and reflects the financial results and condition of the Joe's, Hudson and RG businesses, and that there has been no material change in the assets, financial condition, business or prospects of these businesses since the date of the most recent financial statements made available to them. With respect to the Company projections that Cronkite & Kissell was directed by the management of the Company to utilize for purposes of its analyses, Cronkite & Kissell was advised by such management and Cronkite & Kissell assumed, at the Company's direction, that they were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of such management as to the future operating and financial performance of the Joe's Business and the Hudson Business and the other matters covered thereby. Cronkite & Kissell assumed, with the Company's consent, that the financial projections and other estimates reflected in the RG 2015 Budget relating to RG prepared by the management of RG were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of such management as to the future operating and financial performance of the RG business and the other matters covered thereby. Cronkite & Kissell further assumed, with the Company's consent, that the financial results reflected in the Company's projections, the RG 2015 Budget and the other information and data utilized in its analyses would be realized at the times and in the amounts projected. Cronkite & Kissell assumed no responsibility for and expressed no view or opinion as to any projections, estimates or other information or data, including the Company projections, the RG 2015 Budget, potential cost savings and other benefits or financial forecasts, or the assumptions on which they were based.
Cronkite & Kissell has not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of the information supplied to them with respect to the Joe's, Hudson and RG businesses and does not assume any responsibility with respect to it. Further, Cronkite & Kissell's opinion was necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Cronkite & Kissell as of, the date of its opinion. It should be understood that subsequent developments may affect the conclusion expressed in Cronkite & Kissell's opinion and that Cronkite & Kissell assumed no responsibility for advising any person of any change in any matter affecting its opinion or for updating or revising its opinion based on circumstances or events occurring after the date of its opinion. Cronkite & Kissell has also assumed that TCP and the IP Assets Purchaser have or will obtain all financing required to enable them to consummate the Merger and the Merger
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Transactions and that the Merger and the Merger Transactions will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Rollover Agreement, the IP Asset Purchase Agreement, the Operating Asset Purchase Agreement and the other ancillary documents to be entered into in connection therewith, without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement therein.
In connection with its engagement, Cronkite & Kissell was not requested to, and it did not, undertake a third-party solicitation process on the Company's behalf with respect to the acquisition of all or a part of the Company. Cronkite & Kissell did not express any opinion as to the fairness, financial or otherwise, of the amount, nature or any other aspect of any compensation or consideration payable to any officers, directors or employees of any party to the transaction, or any class of such persons or any other party, relative to the merger consideration or otherwise.
In preparing its opinion, Cronkite & Kissell performed a variety of financial and comparative analyses. The following paragraphs summarize the material financial analyses performed by Cronkite & Kissell. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. The tables are not intended to stand alone, and in order to more fully understand the financial analyses used by Cronkite & Kissell, the tables must be read together with the full text of each summary. The following quantitative information, to the extent it is based on market data, is, except as otherwise indicated, based on market data as it existed on or prior to August 30, 2015, and is not necessarily indicative of current or future market conditions.
General Approach and Consideration
In arriving at its opinion, Cronkite & Kissell considered the value of the Company's common equity prior to the Merger and the Merger Transactions compared to the indicated value of the Company's stockholders' portion of the post-Merger combined company's equity based on the Company's stockholders' ownership of the combined company immediately after the consummation of the Merger.
Company Valuation Analyses
Cronkite & Kissell reviewed general background information concerning the Company, including the range of the Company's stock price over the five months prior to announcement of the Merger and the Merger Transactions. The low and high market closing prices of the Company's stock were used to develop the indicated range of the Company's market capitalization over the five months prior to the announcement of the Merger, as indicated below. A five month period was chosen as this was deemed most indicative of the value of the Company's common equity as of the announcement of the Merger:
Market Capitalization
|
Low | |
High | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common Shares Outstanding |
69,833,890 | - | 69,833,890 | ||||||
Price Per Share |
$ | 0.11 | - | $ | 0.25 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Indicated Range of Market Capitalization |
$ | 7,700,000 | - | $ | 17,500,000 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
In addition, Cronkite & Kissell undertook an analysis of the Company on a component basis utilizing the discounted cash flow and guideline public companies methods. Indicated ranges of fair market value for the Company's Hudson and Joe's components were developed, which were then
81
reduced by the Company's outstanding debt to arrive at an indicated range of the fair market value of the equity of the Company as indicated in the following table:
Valuation of Components
|
Low | |
High | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fair Market Value of Hudson |
$ | 72,000,000 | - | $ | 80,000,000 | ||||
Fair Market Value of Joe's |
47,500,000 | - | 52,500,000 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Indicated Fair Market Value of Total Capital |
$ | 119,500,000 | - | $ | 132,500,000 | ||||
Less: Outstanding Debt |
(118,835,000 | ) | - | (118,835,000 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Indicated Range of the Fair Market Value of the Equity of the Company |
$ | 700,000 | - | $ | 13,700,000 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
As a result of these analyses, Cronkite & Kissell concluded that the current value of the Company's common stock is estimated between $7.5 million and $15.0 million, or $0.11 to $0.21 per share, as shown below:
Current Value of Company's Equity
|
Low | |
High | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indicated Range of Market Capitalization |
$ | 7,700,000 | - | $ | 17,500,000 | ||||
Indicated Range of ValueValuation of Components |
$ | 700,000 | - | $ | 13,700,000 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Current Value of the Company's Common Stock |
$ | 7,500,000 | - | $ | 15,000,000 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Per-Share Basis |
$ | 0.11 | - | $ | 0.21 |
Post-Merger Combined Company Valuation Analysis
Discounted Cash Flow Method
The discounted cash flow method involves an analysis of future cash flow projections for the subject entity. Cash flows are discounted at a rate reflective of the perceived risks inherent in the projections. A terminal value (the estimated value of the entity at the end of the discrete forecast) is calculated by dividing the terminal year net cash flow by an appropriate capitalization rate, which assumes constant growth into perpetuity.
Cash flows attributable to the Joe's business were forecast by the Company's management through the fiscal year ending November 30, 2020. Cash flows attributable to the RG business were forecast by RG's management through the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 and then estimated by Cronkite & Kissell through December 31, 2020 for purposes of conducting its analysis. Cash flows attributable to the Hudson business were forecast by the Company's management through the fiscal year ending November 30, 2021.
The present value of these cash flows was calculated based on discount rates ranging from 13.0 to 14.5 percent. A discount rate is an expected total yield (or rate of return) that investors require for a particular class of investment. In our analysis, we developed a weighted average cost of capital which measures the after-tax costs of debt and equity for each entity weighted by the percentage of debt and equity in each entity's estimated target capital structure. The weighted average cost of capital was developed using the capital asset pricing model method and the build-up method.
Indications of value were developed for the Joe's, Hudson and RG businesses, as follows:
Discounted Cash Flow Method
|
Indicated Fair Market Value |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Fair Market Value of Joe's |
$ | 49,500,000 | ||
Fair Market Value of RG |
$ | 138,000,000 | ||
Fair Market Value of Hudson |
$ | 77,000,000 |
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Guideline Public Companies Method
Cronkite & Kissell focused on identifying guideline companies that operate in the same (or similar) line of business as the Company and RG with the same (or similar) operating characteristics. Cronkite & Kissell considered publicly available financial, operating, and stock market information for the following eight publicly traded companies that Cronkite & Kissell determined, in their professional judgment, met these criteria:
Market value of invested capital ("MVIC") multiples of revenue, EBITDA, EBIT, total assets and book equity plus debt were calculated for the selected guideline companies as of June 30, 2015 and operating data as of the latest twelve month period available for each company. Multiples were calculated net of cash on the guideline companies' balance sheets and were then adjusted to be comparative to each of the Joe's, Hudson, and RG businesses as provided below.
The table below provides the minimum, median, mean and maximum adjusted multiples calculated for the guideline companies:
Measure
|
MVIC / Revenue |
MVIC / EBITDA |
MVIC / EBIT |
MVIC / Total Assets |
MVIC / Book Equity + Debt |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum |
0.50 | 4.97 | 5.88 | 0.77 | 1.05 | |||||||||||
Median |
1.49 | 12.87 | 17.40 | 2.09 | 2.82 | |||||||||||
Mean |
1.41 | 11.10 | 14.51 | 2.02 | 2.66 | |||||||||||
Maximum |
2.55 | 15.79 | 21.47 | 3.23 | 4.25 | |||||||||||
Harmonic Mean |
1.08 | 9.19 | 11.92 | 1.48 | 2.01 |
In Cronkite & Kissell's selection of appropriate multiples for application to the Joe's, Hudson, and RG businesses, they compared the EBITDA and EBIT margins for the Joe's, Hudson and RG businesses to those of the guideline companies, and selected a multiple based on the observed range of MVIC / revenue, MVIC / EBITDA, and MVIC / EBIT multiples and consideration of the observed relationship multiples and profitability, and return on investment ratios of the guideline companies. Factors also considered included size, projected growth and risk of each guideline company relative to Joe's, Hudson and RG.
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The tables below provide the minimum, median, mean and maximum adjusted multiples calculated for the guideline companies for the Joe's, Hudson, and RG businesses:
Joe's Business
Measure
|
MVIC / Revenue |
MVIC / EBITDA |
MVIC / EBIT |
MVIC / Total Assets |
MVIC / Book Equity + Debt |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum |
0.36 | 3.97 | 4.41 | 0.48 | 0.65 | |||||||||||
Median |
0.83 | 6.64 | 7.98 | 1.15 | 1.47 | |||||||||||
Mean |
0.81 | 6.25 | 8.31 | 1.14 | 1.51 | |||||||||||
Maximum |
1.27 | 8.56 | 13.26 | 2.06 | 2.47 | |||||||||||
Harmonic Mean |
0.68 | 5.87 | 7.51 | 0.94 | 1.26 |
Hudson Business
Measure
|
MVIC / Revenue |
MVIC / EBITDA |
MVIC / EBIT |
MVIC / Total Assets |
MVIC / Book Equity + Debt |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum |
0.44 | 3.97 | 4.41 | 0.60 | 0.80 | |||||||||||
Median |
0.94 | 8.17 | 9.63 | 1.38 | 1.87 | |||||||||||
Mean |
0.92 | 7.39 | 9.83 | 1.32 | 1.75 | |||||||||||
Maximum |
1.38 | 10.54 | 16.32 | 2.06 | 2.47 | |||||||||||
Harmonic Mean |
0.81 | 6.72 | 8.56 | 1.10 | 1.48 |
RG Business
Measure
|
MVIC / Revenue |
MVIC / EBITDA |
MVIC / EBIT |
MVIC / Total Assets |
MVIC / Book Equity + Debt |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum |
0.55 | 5.36 | 5.95 | 0.75 | 1.00 | |||||||||||
Median |
1.33 | 10.42 | 12.14 | 1.87 | 2.40 | |||||||||||
Mean |
1.22 | 9.51 | 12.62 | 1.72 | 2.27 | |||||||||||
Maximum |
1.91 | 13.17 | 20.40 | 2.78 | 3.34 | |||||||||||
Harmonic Mean |
1.02 | 8.71 | 11.15 | 1.41 | 1.90 |
In selecting the multiples for application to the Joe's, Hudson, and RG businesses, Cronkite & Kissell considered the relationships observed between the guideline companies' multiples and the guideline companies' margins and return on asset ratios. In addition, Cronkite & Kissell considered the following: (i) total size of each entity based on assets, as compared to the guideline companies; (ii) total size of each entity based on revenue, as compared to the guideline companies; (iii) profitability of each entity, as measured by EBITDA and EBIT, as compared to the guideline companies, and (iv) revenue growth of each entity, as compared to the guideline companies.
Application of the selected multiples, which were accorded equal weight, to each entity's financial statistics resulted in indications of MVIC. Each entity's cash balance was added, resulting in indications of fair market value as follows:
Guideline Public Companies Method
|
Indicated Fair Market Value |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Fair Market Value of Joe's |
$ | 50,000,000 | ||
Fair Market Value of RG |
$ | 135,500,000 | ||
Fair Market Value of Hudson |
$ | 74,500,000 |
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Backsolve Method
Cronkite & Kissell also undertook a backsolve method in developing an indication of value for the post-Merger company's equity. The backsolve technique can be used in the context of an option pricing model ("OPM") when the subject company has completed a recent preferred stock financing round where new outside investors have participated. When there is a recent financing round that can be relied on to establish the value of a preferred security in the capital structure, the OPM can be used to imply (or backsolve) a value for the total equity of the company as well as the other securities in the capital structure.
A back-solve calculation obviates the need to establish the total equity value of the company based on fundamental analysis, which can be a subjective exercise. It can also provide an indication of the total equity value of the company that can be used to triangulate value based on fundamental analyses. Cronkite & Kissell used the price of the proposed post-Merger company's preferred stock to develop an indication of value for the common stock of the post-Merger company.
Application of the back-solve method yielded the following indicated range of values for the common equity of the combined company:
Back-Solve Method
|
Low | |
High | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indicated Range of Fair Market Value |
$ | 77,000,000 | - | $ | 85,000,000 |
Post-Merger Indication of Value
The Company's stockholders' portion of the post-Merger combined company's common equity was developed through the application of income and market approaches to value described above, with indications of value as follows:
Post-Merger Combined Company
|
Low | |
High | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discounted Cash Flow / Guideline Public Company Methods |
$ | 78,000,000 | - | $ | 105,000,000 | ||||
Backsolve Method |
$ | 77,000,000 | - | $ | 85,000,000 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Indicated Range of Post-Merger Common Equity Value |
$ | 77,500,000 | - | $ | 95,000,000 | ||||
Proposed Company Stockholder's Portion of Common Equity Value |
18.1 | %* | - | 18.1 | %* | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Indicated Value of Company Stockholder's Portion of Common Equity Value |
$ | 14,100,000 | - | $ | 17,200,000 | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Per-Share Basis |
$ | 0.20 | - | $ | 0.25 |
Miscellaneous
The Company selected Cronkite & Kissell to render a fairness opinion in connection with the transaction based on Cronkite & Kissell's reputation and experience. Cronkite & Kissell is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private placements and related financings, and valuations for corporate and other purposes.
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The Company paid Cronkite & Kissell a fee of $75,000 to render its fairness opinion, which fee is not contingent upon the consummation of the Merger or any of Cronkite & Kissell's conclusions or recommendations.
Cronkite & Kissell in the past has provided and in the future may provide valuation services to the Company in connection with the preparation of the Company's annual audited financial statements, for which services Cronkite & Kissell has received and/or may receive compensation, including during the two-year period prior to the date of its opinion. During such two-year period, Cronkite & Kissell received aggregate fees of $96,000 from the Company for such services.
Conditions to Completion of the Merger
The completion of the Merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including, among others, (i) approval of the Merger Agreement by RG's equity holders, (ii) Company stockholder approval of: (x) the issuance of common stock in connection with the Merger Agreement and the Rollover Agreement, (y) the issuance of common stock upon conversion of the Company's Series A Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, and (z) a charter amendment to effect the Reverse Stock Split, (iii) consummation of the Asset Sale pursuant to Asset Purchase Agreements (which condition was satisfied on September 11, 2015), (iv) consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, (v) consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Rollover Agreement, (vi) RG must have obtained financing or the persons who have committed to provide financing must be prepared to provide the financing immediately following the Effective Time, (vii) the Registration Statement on Form S-4, of which this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus is a part, must have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement on Form S-4 shall have been issued and be in effect and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated by the SEC and not withdrawn, (viii) the common stock to be issued in the Merger must be authorized for listing on NASDAQ, (ix) all waiting periods applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act and any other applicable antitrust laws shall have expired or be terminated, which such waiting period under the HSR Act terminated on October 23, 2015, (x) no law or order enacted, promulgated, issued, entered, amended or enforced by any governmental authority shall be in effect enjoining, restraining, preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Merger or making the consummation of the Merger illegal and (xi) since the date of the Merger Agreement, there must not be any changes, events, effects, developments, occurrences or state of facts that, individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or RG, subject to customary exceptions.
For further information relating to the various conditions to closing of the Merger, see the section entitled "Summary of Merger AgreementConditions to the Merger" on page 132.
We and RG expect to complete the Merger after all the conditions to the Merger in the Merger Agreement are satisfied or waived, including after the receipt of approval of our stockholders of the Share Issuance Proposal and the Reverse Stock Split Proposal at our annual meeting, and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. We and RG currently expect to complete the Merger during the first calendar quarter of 2016. However, it is possible that factors outside of either the Company's or RG's control could cause the Merger to be completed at a later time or not at all. The Merger Agreement provides that the Merger Agreement may be terminated under certain circumstances, including if the Merger has not been consummated on or before February 8, 2016.
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Material US Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger
It is anticipated that the Merger will qualify as a tax-deferred exchange under Section 351 of the Code. In such event, U.S. holders of RG Units generally will recognize gain to the extent of the cash received plus the excess, if any, of the amount of liabilities of RG allocable to the U.S. holder's RG securities over the U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in such RG securities. U.S. holders will recognize all realized gain if the Merger does not so qualify. There should be no tax consequences to existing stockholders of the Company. For more information, see the section entitled "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences," beginning on page 96.
Under Delaware law and our Current Charter, holders of our common stock are not entitled to any rights to seek appraisal of their shares or to exercise any dissenter's or preemptive rights in connection with the Merger and Merger Transactions.
Securities Law Restrictions on Shares of Common Stock Received in the Merger
We anticipate that all shares of common stock issued to RG equity holders in connection with the Merger will be freely transferable under applicable U.S. securities laws, except as to each recipient of shares of common stock that is considered an "affiliate" (as such term is defined in the Securities Act) of the Company, in which case such affiliates will be permitted to sell the shares of common stock received in the Merger only pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. This joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus does not register the resale of shares of our common stock held by affiliates. Additionally, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), we will provide certain demand registration rights to register the shares of common stock issued in connection with the Rollover Agreement, and issuable upon conversion of the Modified Convertible Notes and the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, on registration statements on Form S-1 or Form S-3. For more information, see "Ancillary AgreementsRegistration Rights Agreement" beginning on page 133.
Rights Pertaining to Shares of Common Stock Received in the Merger
The shares of common stock to be issued in the Merger will be the same class of capital stock as our currently outstanding common stock and thus have rights identical to our currently outstanding shares of common stock. See the section entitled "Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of the Company and Equity Holders of Robert Graham" on page 220.
Dividends on the Company's Common Stock Received in the Merger
We have never declared or paid a cash dividend and do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Following completion of the Merger, in deciding whether to pay dividends on our common stock in the future, our Board of Directors will consider certain factors they may deem relevant, including our earnings and financial condition and our capital expenditure requirements.
Interests of Certain of the Company's Directors, Officers and Affiliates in the Merger
Interests of Peter Kim
Employment Agreement
On September 8, 2015, in connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, we entered into a new three-year employment agreement with Mr. Kim (the "Employment Agreement"), to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Hudson, that will replace Mr. Kim's previous employment agreement as of
87
the Effective Time. Mr. Kim's annual base salary will initially be $600,000, and Mr. Kim will also be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus targeted at 50% of his base salary, based on the satisfaction of criteria and performance standards as established in advance by the Compensation Committee. The Employment Agreement also provides Mr. Kim with certain other benefits and the reimbursement of certain expenses, which are discussed in detail in the Employment Agreement. At the Effective Time (after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split), we have agreed to grant Mr. Kim (i) restricted stock units ("RSUs") in respect of 166,667 shares of common stock (the "Restricted Stock Award") that will vest and become transferable in three equal, annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the Effective Time, subject to Mr. Kim's continuous employment and (ii) performance share units in respect of 166,667 shares of our common stock (the "Performance Shares") that will be earned over a three-year performance period beginning on the later to occur of the closing of the Merger and January 1, 2016. One-third of the Performance Shares will be entitled to vest each year based on annual performance metrics established by the Compensation Committee of the Board at the beginning of the applicable year. The Restricted Stock Award and Performance Shares will be settled in cash, unless the Company is able to attain stockholder approval of a new equity incentive plan covering such awards. Mr. Kim will also be entitled to participate in all regular long-term incentive programs maintained by us or Hudson on the same basis as similarly-situated employees of us and/or Hudson.
In the event of a termination of Mr. Kim's employment for any reason or no reason, Hudson has agreed to pay Mr. Kim for (i) his accrued but unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any accrued but unused vacation time, (iii) any unreimbursed expenses, and (iv) if not previously paid to Mr. Kim: any bonus amounts that have been earned but have not been paid; any bonus for the period in which termination occurred, prorated for the partial period, with the amount, if any, based on actual performance and paid when bonuses for the applicable period are paid to other senior executives of the Company or Hudson; any rights under any benefit or equity or long-term incentive plan, program or practice; and his rights to indemnification and directors and officers liability insurance.
In addition, in the event of a termination of Mr. Kim's employment by Hudson without "cause" (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or in the event that Mr. Kim voluntarily terminates his employment for "good reason" (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Hudson will also be required to make a severance payment to Mr. Kim equal to 12 months of his base salary, payable in 12 monthly installments. Additionally, any unvested portion of the Restricted Stock Award will immediately vest and become transferable and any unvested Performance Shares will continue to vest without regard to Mr. Kim's continued employment. Hudson has agreed to also pay for the COBRA premiums (to the extent they exceed applicable active employee rates and subject to Mr. Kim timely electing continuation coverage under COBRA) on Hudson's group medical plan for Mr. Kim and his spouse and dependents for the shorter of the first 12 months of such coverage or his period of COBRA eligibility. Hudson's obligation to provide the foregoing severance benefits is subject to Mr. Kim's execution of a settlement agreement and release of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Rollover Agreement
Mr. Kim is a party to the Rollover Agreement, pursuant to which, immediately prior to the Effective Time (the "Rollover Time"), he will exchange his Convertible Note, which before the completion of the Merger and related transactions is expected to be in the principal amount of approximately $14.8 million, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, for approximately 334,527 shares of our common stock (after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split), approximately $3.7 million in cash and approximately $7.4 million principal amount of our Modified Convertible Notes. For a discussion of the Rollover Agreement and terms of the Modified Convertible Notes, see "Ancillary AgreementsRollover Agreement."
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Interests of Joseph M. Dahan
Separation Agreement and Mutual Limited Release
In connection with the Asset Sale, we entered into a Separation Agreement and Mutual Limited Release, dated as of September 8, 2015 (the "Separation Agreement"), with Joseph M. Dahan, Creative Director and Director of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Dahan resigned as a member of the Board and as Creative Director of the Company, effective as of September 11, 2015, the closing date of the Operating Asset Purchase Agreement. In exchange for a release of all claims related to Mr. Dahan's employment, we have agreed to pay Mr. Dahan his termination severance, as provided in his employment agreement.
Voting Agreement
On September 8, 2015, we entered into the Voting Agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Dahan has agreed to vote all of the common stock he holds in a manner so as to facilitate consummation of the Merger and related matters. As of September 30, 2015, Mr. Dahan owns shares of our common stock representing approximately 17% of our outstanding voting power. The full text of the Voting Agreement is attached to this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus as Appendix G and is incorporated in this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus by reference.
Acceleration of Equity Awards
The Merger, if consummated, will constitute a "change in control" under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Upon a change in control, the unvested equity awards outstanding under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and 2004 Stock Incentive Plan will fully vest. Certain of the Company's executive officers and directors have unvested shares that will vest at the close of the Merger, which may permit them to realize financial benefits of their compensation sooner than would otherwise be the case. For Mr. Sandhu, 116,934 RSUs will vest fully upon consummation of the Merger. For Mr. Dahan, 137,076 RSUs fully vested on September 11, 2015 in connection with the consummation of the Asset Sale. If Mr. Kim's employment is terminated by Hudson without cause or Mr. Kim voluntarily terminates his employment for good reason, then pursuant to his Employment Agreement, which is effective upon consummation of the Merger, Mr. Kim's Restricted Stock Award of 166,667 RSUs will vest immediately and Mr. Kim's 166,667 Performance Shares will continue to vest without regard to Mr. Kim's continued employment.
Golden Parachute Compensation
The Merger is considered a change in control under the terms both of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.
The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of "golden parachute" compensation (for purposes of Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K) that each named executive officer of the Company could receive in connection with the Merger. These amounts assume, where applicable, that the named executive officer is entitled to the full amount of severance benefits for which he is eligible pursuant to the employment agreements, in the case of Messrs. Sandhu, Dahan and Kim, or employment arrangement, in the case of Mr. Furrow. Certain of the amounts payable may vary depending on the actual date on which the Merger is completed and whether or not, and if so the circumstances under which, a named executive officer terminates employment. As a result, the actual amounts received by a named executive officer may differ in material respects from the amounts set forth below.
Please note that the amounts indicated below are estimates based on multiple assumptions that may or may not actually occur or be accurate on the relevant date, including assumptions described
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below, and do not reflect certain compensation actions that may occur before the closing of the Merger. For purposes of calculating such amounts, we have assumed:
Golden Parachute Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
|
Cash ($) | Equity ($)(5) | Pension/ NQDC ($) |
Perquisites Benefits ($)(7) |
Tax Reimbursement ($) |
Other ($) | Total | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel J. Furrow(1) |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Interim Executive Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Hamish Sandhu |
$ |
325,000 |
(2) |
$ |
23,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
19,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
367,000 |
|||||||
Chief Financial Officer |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Dahan |
$ |
35,000 |
(3) |
$ |
29,000 |
(6) |
$ |
|
$ |
19,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
1,668,000 |
(8) |
$ |
1,732,000 |
|||||
Former Creative Director |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter Kim |
$ |
600,000 |
(4) |
$ |
67,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
19,000 |
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
667,000 |
|||||||
Chief Executive Officer of Hudson |
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Interests of Certain RG Directors, Officers and Affiliates in the Merger
Interests of Michael Buckley
Employment Arrangement
In connection with the Merger, Michael Buckley, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of RG, will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. As of the date of this joint proxy and consent solicitation statement/prospectus, the Company and Mr. Buckley have not entered into an agreement regarding Mr. Buckley's employment with the Company. However, we expect that, as soon as reasonably practicable following the closing of the Merger, our Board of Directors will approve a definitive employment agreement with Mr. Buckley, the principal terms of which will be consistent with a term sheet related to Mr. Buckley's employment relationship with the Company executed by Mr. Buckley, RG and TCP on September 5, 2015 (the "Term Sheet").
The Term Sheet provides for an initial three-year term with automatic, one-year renewal terms, unless the Company or Mr. Buckley gives notice 180 days prior to the end of the then-current term, that the Company will pay Mr. Buckley an annual base salary of $600,000 and that Mr. Buckley an annual base salary of $600,000, and Mr. Buckley will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus of up to 150% of his base salary, based on the Company's consolidated EBITDA during the applicable year. The Term Sheet also provides that Mr. Buckley will be awarded (i) restricted stock units in respect of 2.5% of the Company's fully diluted shares determined as of closing of the Merger, subject to three year annual vesting beginning on the anniversary of Mr. Buckley's start date with the Company ("RSU Award") and (ii) performance stock units in respect of 2.0% of the Company's fully diluted shares determined as of closing of the Merger, subject to a three year performance-based vesting period beginning in 2016, based on the Company's consolidated EBITDA during the performance period ("PSU Award"). The Term Sheet further provides that the RSU Award and PSU Award will be settled in cash in the event that there are insufficient Company shares available to settle the applicable award in Company common stock.
The Term Sheet further provides that, in the event of a termination of Mr. Buckley's employment by the Company without cause or in the event that Mr. Buckley terminates his employment for good reason, in either case, prior to the expiration of the agreement's then-current term, the Company will be required to make a severance payment to Mr. Buckley equal to 1.5 times the sum of (i) his then-current base salary and (ii) the greater of (x) his actual annual bonus for the year immediately preceding the year in which the date of termination occurs and (y) 150% of his then-current base salary. In the event such resignation or termination occurs following the Company's first fiscal quarter of any year, the Term Sheet provides that Mr. Buckley will also be entitled to a prorated annual bonus for the year in which his employment terminates. Additionally, any unvested portion of Mr. Buckley's RSU Award or PSU Award will immediately vest upon such resignation or termination (or in the event of a change in control of the Company). The Company's obligation to provide the foregoing severance
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benefits will be subject to Mr. Buckley's execution and non-revocation of a release of claims against the Company and its affiliates.
The Term Sheet also provides that Mr. Buckley's employment agreement with the Company will contain customary provisions relating to non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and non-disparagement.
Interests of Scott Vogel
Profits Interest Award Agreement
Under the terms of the profits interest award agreement by and between Scott Vogel and RG, dated February 26, 2013, and the RG Incentive Compensation Plan, the unvested portion of Mr. Vogel's profits interest award will accelerate in connection with the consummation of the Merger. The remaining unvested portion represents 33.3% of the profits interest award granted to Mr. Vogel and was scheduled to vest on February 28, 2016.
Treatment of RG Units Held By RG Directors, Officers and Affiliates in the Merger
The RG Units held by RG directors, executive officers and affiliates will be treated in the same manner as all RG Units. At the Effective Time, the RG Units will be converted into the right to receive a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration. Each RG Unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted automatically at the Effective Time into the right to receive, upon the surrender of the certificate representing the RG Unit, such portion of the Actual Merger Consideration, as indicated in the merger consideration schedule to the Merger Agreement.
Directors and Management of the Company Following the Merger
Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the certificate of designation for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, at the Effective Time three of our directors will resign from the Board of Directors and the remaining members of the Board of Directors will appoint three designees of the Series A Purchaser to be identified at least five business days prior to the closing of the Merger and Michael Buckley (who will also be appointed Chief Executive Officer).
From and after the Effective Time, we must, and must cause our subsidiaries to, indemnify and hold harmless each individual who is or was a director, manager or officer of us or RG or any of our or RG's subsidiaries against all actions threatened, brought or involving such a person by reason of the fact that such a person is or was a director, manager or officer, as applicable, of us or RG or any of our or RG's subsidiaries, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time. In the event that such an action is brought after the Effective Time, we, or our applicable subsidiary, must advance expenses incurred by such a person within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of a written request therefor. Additionally, we must indemnify such persons to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and, in the case of directors, managers, officers, employees and agents of RG, on terms no less favorable than as provided in the organizational and governing documents of RG or any of its subsidiaries on the date of the Merger Agreement. For a period of six years from and after the Effective Time, we must, and we must cause our applicable subsidiaries to, maintain liability insurance to cover claims arising from acts, omissions, facts or events that occurred on or before the Effective Time, including in connection with the approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. This obligation is subject to a cap of 300% of the annual premium amount that we are currently paying for such insurance but, if we are unable to obtain the amount of insurance required for an amount less than such cap, we must obtain as much insurance as can be obtained for
92
aggregate premiums not in excess of the cap. At our option, we may elect to obtain a six-year "tail" or "runoff" insurance policy with respect to acts, omissions, facts or events occurring on or prior to the Effective Time. If we purchase a "tail" or "runoff" insurance policy, it shall be in lieu of our obligations to maintain officers' and directors' liability insurance. In the event we purchase a "tail" or "runoff" policy prior to the Effective Time, we must use its reasonable best efforts to maintain such tail or runoff policy in full force and effect for its term.
We will apply to have the shares of our common stock to be issued in the Merger approved for listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market, where our common stock is currently traded. Following the Merger, RG equity holders who receive shares of our common stock and wish to trade their shares on NASDAQ should contact such stockholders' financial or brokerage institution for assistance in making the necessary arrangements. Certain limitations may apply to making such arrangements. RG equity holders who become holders of our common stock are responsible for and must bear all costs arising in connection with the above arrangements.