CALGARY,
AB, April 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Exro Technologies
Inc. (TSX: EXRO) (OTCQB: EXROF) (the "Company" or "Exro")
and SEA Electric Inc. ("SEA Electric") are pleased to announce the
closing of the previously announced merger (the "Transaction"),
pursuant to which Exro acquired all of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock and preferred stock of SEA Electric ("SEA
Stock") that it did not already own. The Transaction was approved
at a special meeting of shareholders of Exro held on April 4, 2024.
Pursuant to the Transaction, former SEA Electric stockholders
received 31.463 common shares of Exro ("Common Shares") and 34.4999
convertible preferred shares of Exro ("Preferred Shares") for each
share of SEA Stock. As a result of the Transaction, Exro issued an
aggregate of 146,453,200 Common Shares and 160,589,446
Preferred Shares and SEA Electric became an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Exro.
Following closing of the Transaction, the combined company (the
"Combined Company") will continue to operate under the name Exro
Technologies Inc. and continue to be listed and trade on the
Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the ticker symbol "EXRO".
Concurrent with the closing of the Transaction, Tony Fairweather, CEO of SEA Electric, and
John MacLeod, a director of SEA
Electric, have joined the board of directors of the Combined
Company and Terence Johnsson and
Anita Ganti have resigned from the
board of directors.
In addition, concurrently with the closing of the Transaction,
31,600,000 subscription receipts of Exro ("Subscription Receipts")
issued pursuant to the previously announced bought deal private
placement of subscription receipts (the "Offering") were
automatically converted into 31,600,000 Common Shares and the net
proceeds of the Offering of approximately $27.85 million were released to Exro in
accordance with the subscription receipt agreement dated
February 16, 2024 between Exro,
Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Odyssey Trust Company. Settlement of
the Common Shares issued on conversion of the Subscription Receipts
through the facilities of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.
will occur on April 8, 2024 with an
effective issuance date of April 5,
2024. Exro intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering
to support the business plan of the Combined Company, including but
not limited to production, capital expenditures, working capital
requirements, and normal course corporate and operating needs.
Early Warning Disclosure
John Bell-Allen
Prior to the closing of the Transaction, Mr. John Bell-Allen beneficially owned, or exercised
control or direction over, an aggregate of (A) 878,502 shares of
common stock of SEA Electric ("SEA Common Stock"), (B) 15,803
shares of preferred stock of SEA Electric ("SEA Preferred Stock")
and (C) 24,133 restricted stock units of SEA Electric (each, a "SEA
RSU"). Mr. John Bell-Allen did not
beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, any Common
Shares or Preferred Shares prior to the closing of the
Transaction.
Following completion of the Transaction, Mr. John Bell-Allen beneficially owned, or exercised
control or direction over, an aggregate of (A) 28,500,554 Common
Shares, representing approximately 9.00% of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares, (B) 31,251,541 Preferred Shares,
representing approximately 19.46% of the issued and outstanding
Preferred Shares and (C) 1,591,880 restricted stock units of Exro
("Exro RSUs"), of which 761,145 were vested Exro RSUs and were
settled immediately following completion of the Transaction for an
aggregate of (i) 363,051 Common Shares and (ii) 398,094 Preferred
Shares, and of which 830,735 are unvested Exro RSUs representing
the right to receive an aggregate of (i) 396,243 Common Shares and
(ii) 434,492 Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of the
Exro RSUs. After giving effect to the conversion of all of the
issued and outstanding Preferred Shares into Common Shares and all
Exro RSUs held by Mr. John Bell-Allen, Mr. John Bell-Allen would,
directly or indirectly, beneficially own, or exercise control or
direction over, an aggregate of 60,582,830 Common Shares
representing approximately 12.67% of the issued and outstanding
Common Shares.
The Common Shares, Preferred Shares and Exro RSUs were issued in
connection with the Transaction and were acquired by Mr.
John Bell-Allen for investment
purposes. Mr. John Bell-Allen may
further purchase, hold, vote, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in
the securities of Exro, in such manner as he deems advisable from
time to time, subject to applicable laws, and the terms of the
applicable securities and lock-up provisions contained in the
stockholders' agreement of SEA Electric. Further to the
requirements of National Instrument 62-104 – Take Over Bids and
Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 – The Early
Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting
Issues, Mr. John Bell-Allen will
file an early warning report in accordance with applicable
securities laws. Mr. John
Bell-Allen's address is Level 13, 1 Eagle Street,
Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.
Warren Fairweather
Prior to the closing of the Transaction, Mr. Warren Fairweather beneficially owned, or
exercised control or direction over, an aggregate of (A) 1,256,529
shares of SEA Common Stock and (B) 2,014 shares of SEA Preferred
Stock. Mr. Warren Fairweather did
not beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, any
Common Shares or Preferred Shares prior to the closing of the
Transaction.
Following completion of the Transaction, Mr. Warren Fairweather beneficially owned, or
exercised control or direction over, an aggregate of (A) 39,597,518
Common Shares, representing approximately 12.51% of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares and (B) 43,419,627 Preferred Shares,
representing approximately 27.04% of the issued and outstanding
Preferred Shares. After giving effect to the conversion of all of
the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares into Common Shares, Mr.
Warren Fairweather would, directly
or indirectly, beneficially own, or exercise control or direction
over, an aggregate of 83,017,145 Common Shares, representing
approximately 17.40% of the issued and outstanding Common
Shares.
The Common Shares and Preferred Shares were issued in connection
with the Transaction and were acquired by Mr. Warren Fairweather for investment purposes. Mr.
Warren Fairweather may further
purchase, hold, vote, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in the
securities of Exro, in such manner as he deems advisable from time
to time, subject to applicable laws, and the terms of the
applicable securities and lock-up provisions contained in the
stockholders' agreement of SEA Electric. Further to the
requirements of National Instrument 62-104 – Take Over Bids and
Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 – The Early
Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting
Issues, Mr. Warren Fairweather
will file an early warning report in accordance with applicable
securities laws. Mr. Warren
Fairweather's address is 2/79 Fourth St, Beaumaris, Victoria 3193, Australia.
For further information or to obtain a copy of the early warning
reports filed under applicable Canadian securities laws in
connection with the foregoing matters, please see the Company's
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or contact the Corporate
Secretary of the Company at +1-604 674-7746.
About Exro Technologies
Exro Technologies Inc. is a leading clean technology company
that has developed new generation power control electronics that
change how the world optimizes energy by expanding the capabilities
of electric motors and batteries. The company's innovative
technologies serve to bridge the performance-cost gap in e-mobility
(Coil Driver™) and stationary energy storage (Cell Driver™), and
act to accelerate adoption towards a circular electrified economy
by delivering more with less – minimum energy for maximum
results.
Exro's head office is located at: 12–21 Highfield Circle
S.E., Calgary, Alberta, T2G
5N6.
For more information visit our website at www.exro.com.
To view our Investor Presentation visit us at
www.exro.com/investors.
Visit us on social media @Exrotech.
About SEA Electric
SEA Electric is a leading automotive and e-mobility technology
company that provides 100% electric drivetrain system technology.
SEA Electric has a worldwide presence, deploying products in the
USA, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, Thailand,
Indonesia, India, and South
Africa, collectively achieving more than three million miles
of service via independent OEM-testing and real-world
operation.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to
future events or future performance and reflect management's
expectations regarding the Company's growth, results of operations,
performance and business prospects and opportunities. Such
forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and
are based on information currently available to management. In some
cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology
such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate",
"believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "target"
or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates
and assumptions made by management in light of management's
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions
and expected future developments, as well as factors management
believe are appropriate. Forward-looking statements may include but
are not limited to statements respecting: the realization of the
benefits of the Transaction by the Combined Company; the use of net
proceeds of the Offering; and the Combined Company's ability to
commercialize its technology.
These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the
management of Exro and on assumptions which such management
believes to be reasonable, based on information available at the
time such statements were made. However, there can be no assurance
that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Such
assumptions and factors include, among other things: demand for the
technology of the Combined Company; the Combined Company's ability
to maintain existing partners and attract new partners; the impact
of competition; the Combined Company's ability to obtain and
maintain existing financing on acceptable terms; the Combined
Company's ability to retain skilled management and staff; currency,
exchange and interest rates; the availability of financing
opportunities, risks associated with economic conditions,
dependence on management; volatility of stock price and market
conditions; technology risks and risks associated with the
commercialization of the Combined Company's technology; the
Combined Company's reliance on key personnel; the Combined
Company's limited operating history; market uncertainties; the
protection of patents and intellectual property; conflicts of
interest; market competition; and operating in an environment
subject to regulation.
The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible factors.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these
statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and the
Company cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with
these forward-looking statements. Given these risks, uncertainties
and assumptions, any investors or users of this document should not
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Whether
actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the
Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other
factors.
Please refer to the management information circular of the
Company dated March 6, 2024, the
Company's annual information form and other public continuous
disclosure documents filed with the Canadian securities regulators
under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com for
additional disclosure respecting the risks affecting the Company
and its business.
Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's
forward-looking statements, as the Company's actual results,
performance or achievements may differ materially from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks, uncertainties
or other factors affect the Company's business, or if the Company's
estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. The Company does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as, and
to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory
Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this press release.
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SOURCE Exro Technologies Inc.