Chilean superfruit producer and exporter is building a global
superfruits platform.
ATLANTA and REQUINOA, Chile, Oct. 20,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rose Hill Acquisition
Corporation (Nasdaq: ROSE) ("Rose Hill"), and Inversiones e
Inmobilaria GHC Ltda ("Prize" or the "Company"), a leading exporter
of superfruits based in Chile,
announced today that they have entered into a definitive business
combination agreement (the "Business Combination Agreement") that
is expected to result in Prize becoming a U.S. publicly listed
company with an initial enterprise value of approximately
US$425 million.
The proposed transaction is expected to close in the first
quarter of 2023 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary
closing conditions. As a result of the business combination, Prize
and Rose Hill shareholders will exchange their shares for shares in
a new combined company, which is expected to be publicly listed on
the Nasdaq Global Market ("Nasdaq"). The combined company will be
the first Chilean enterprise to initially list directly on a
U.S. Exchange, representing the start of a new wave of
opportunities for investors abroad to access rapidly growing,
profitable Latin American enterprises. Upon closing, the combined
company expects its ordinary shares and warrants to trade on Nasdaq
under the ticker symbols "PRZE" and "PRZE WS", respectively.
In addition, Rose Hill has entered into a definitive
$150 million Standby Equity Purchase
Agreement ("SEPA") with Yorkville Advisors as an additional equity
financing source for future opportunistic expansion for the
combined company.
Prize, based in Chile, is a
leading Latin American producer and distributor of berries and
cherries in the Southern Hemisphere with plans to expand
internationally for year-round production. The business combination
with Rose Hill and resulting public listing is expected to result
in the growth of Prize in the international superfruit farming and
processing segments, particularly focused on Peruvian footprint
expansion.
"Over the last 16 years, we have developed Prize into a global
company providing quality, nutritious fruits to tens of millions of
people in 30+ countries to feed the world. The next stage of
accomplishing this goal starts with expanding the global palette
for superfruits by producing new, tastier varieties targeting
differentiated consumers in the nascent Chinese market alongside
more mature markets like the U.S," Alejandro García-Huidobro,
founder and CEO of Prize. "The team at Rose Hill shares our vision
of creating a global superfruits platform utilizing
innovative technologies and production systems to improve our
operations across the value chain and increase our fields'
productivity and resilience to climate change."
The Nasdaq listing provides a launching pad for Prize to enter
the next phase in its global evolution, supported internally
through vertical integration in its business segments and
externally through a robust and diversified set of growers and
retailers. Prize's current position places it attractively at the
intersection of best-in-class varieties of fruits grown in
specially selected environments, state-of-the-art processing, and
long-standing commercial alliances to ensure a successful sale.
The current business operations of Prize in Peru and Chile allow for a counter-cyclical farming
cycle to provide high-value markets such as the U.S., China, and Europe with fresh fruit when their production
is out of season. Chile, the
world's largest exporter of cherries, is best positioned to supply
the substantial demand in the Chinese market in their off-season,
which is driven by high cherry consumption per capita and a yearly
surge in demand for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Prize currently
maintains the position as the fifth largest exporter of cherries
globally. The Company additionally operates two processing plants
in Chile, including one of the
largest in the country measured by kilos processed annually.
Prize's Peruvian operations focus primarily on blueberries, the
fastest-growing fruit by consumption in the United States. Through a thoughtful
process, Prize has carefully selected farmland with unique
climactic conditions for fruit production and blueberry varieties
chosen for their exceptional size, firmness, and sweetness. The
Company plans to commit a substantial portion of the proceeds from
the proposed business combination towards acquiring and cultivating
additional land to maximize strong consumption trends in the
overall market and shifting consumer tastes towards higher-quality
fruits.
"Rose Hill set out to unlock Latin
America's potential to produce world-class companies using
the tools of the most international markets on Earth, the U.S.
markets, and conversely, to provide U.S. and international
investors with access to well-managed, profitable, rapidly growing
Latin American businesses at a time when value appeared to be a
fleeting proposition locally. After speaking with dozens of
companies, we believe we have found in Prize an exceptional
enterprise at the intersection of our goals, and we share the Prize
team's excitement in building this company into an internationally
renowned super-fruits platform," Albert
Hill, Co-Founder and Co-CFO of Rose Hill.
The business combination and resulting capital injection come at
a critical inflexion point globally. Latin America is vital in the global food
ecosystem during uncertainty in traditional food production markets
like Eastern Europe and
India. Prize and Rose Hill plan to
help address food insecurity in a stakeholder-driven but
profit-oriented manner, driving value to shareholders in terms of
impact and financial return.
Transaction Overview
The business combination values Prize at an implied initial
enterprise value of approximately $425
million. In connection with the business combination, Rose
Hill will seek a Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE)
offering that, if obtained, is expected to result in $65 million in total cash proceeds to Prize after
closing, including the cash held in the trust account of Rose Hill
(following any redemptions).
Prize will use the proceeds of the business combination to
invest in its growing strategy, including its expansion in new
regions through partnerships, organic growth and acquisitions.
After the consummation of the business combination and depending
on total redemptions and PIPE proceeds, existing Prize shareholders
are expected to own approximately 80% of the shares of the combined
company, Rose Hill Sponsor LLC ("Rose Hill Sponsor") is expected to
own 1.7% of the shares, and the remaining shares are expected to be
owned by PIPE investors, if any, and the non-redeeming public
shareholders of Rose Hill. The proposed transaction also includes a
share price-based earnout structure for Rose Hill Sponsor and
existing Prize shareholders.
Certain officers of Rose Hill will join the combined company in
its expansion strategy in support of the long-term commitment
behind the business combination to realize the value of the Company
long-term: Felipe Canales, the
former CFO of Axtel and Head of Strategy for Grupo Alfa and the
current co-CEO of Rose Hill, will join the board as an independent
director; Pablo Armas, Partner and
CEO of Ameris Capital and current board member of Copeval, will
join the board as an independent director, Albert Hill, co-founder and co-CFO of Rose Hill
will join the board as a non-independent board member; and
Juan Jose Rosas, co-founder and
co-CFO of Rose Hill will join the company in the role of Chief
Strategy Officer. The board of directors of the combined company is
expected to be comprised of at least 50% independent directors. The
proposed transaction has been approved by the boards of directors
of Rose Hill and the administrator of Prize, and both parties
expect it to close in the first quarter of 2023.
Investor Information
A joint presentation made by the management teams of Prize and
Rose Hill is available on the websites:
https://prize.cl/
https://rosehillacq.com/
Additional information about the proposed transaction, including
a copy of the business combination agreement, will be available in
a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Rose Hill with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") which will be
available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
Advisors
BTG Pactual is acting as placement agent and capital markets
advisor to Rose Hill and Prize.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP is U.S. legal advisor to Rose Hill and
Paul Hastings LLP is U.S. legal advisor to Prize.
Cohen Capital Markets is the capital markets advisor to Rose
Hill.
About Prize
Founded in 2006, Prize is a leading farmer, processor and
exporter of Superfruits & nuts in the Southern Hemisphere
exporting to more than 100 clients in 30 countries. Prize works
with more than 300 growers in Chile and Peru and has commercial offices in
China and Canada.
Prize is the fifth largest global exporter of cherries and
exports 10 other fruits and walnuts offering a year-round supply of
superfruits.
You can read more about Prize at Prize.cl.
About Rose Hill
Rose Hill Acquisition Corporation is a US$146 million special purpose acquisition
company (SPAC) listed on Nasdaq under the ticker ROSE. Its goal is
to partner with one Latin American company to provide growth
capital, strategic advisory, and a U.S. listing avenue.
Strategic partners: Cohen & Co. provides the Rose Hill team
with a strong supportive structure; while Ameris Capital, a Chilean
alternative investments asset manager, brings its extensive reach
in Latin America.
Additional Information
This press release relates to a proposed transaction between
Rose Hill and Prize. This press release does not constitute an
offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy
or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of
securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or
exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification
under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection
with the proposed transaction described herein, Rose Hill, Prize
and/or the combined company intend to file relevant materials with
the SEC, including a registration statement on Form F-4 with the
SEC, which will include a document that serves as a joint
prospectus and proxy statement, referred to as a proxy
statement/prospectus. A proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to
all Rose Hill shareholders. Rose Hill, Prize and/or the combined
company will also file other documents regarding the proposed
transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting or
investment decision, investors and security holders of Prize and
Rose Hill are urged to read the registration statement, the proxy
statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that
will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed
transaction as they become available because they will contain
important information about the proposed transaction.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free
copies of the registration statement, the proxy
statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that
will be filed with the SEC by Rose Hill, Prize and/or the combined
company through the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov.
The documents filed by Rose Hill, Prize and/or the combined
company with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge upon
written request to Rose Hill Acquisition Corporation, 981 Davis
Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 or via
email at info@rosehillacq.com.
Participants in the
Solicitation
Rose Hill, Prize, the combined company and their respective
directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies from Rose Hill's shareholders in
connection with the proposed transaction. A list of the names of
such directors and executive officers, and information regarding
their interests in the business combination and their ownership of
Rose Hill's securities are, or will be, contained in Rose Hill's
filings with the SEC, and such information and names of Prize's
directors and executive officers will also be in the Registration
Statement on Form F-4 to be filed with the SEC by Rose Hill, Prize
and/or the combined company, which will include the proxy statement
of Rose Hill.
Non-Solicitation
This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a
proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or
in respect of the proposed transaction and shall not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities
of Rose Hill, Prize or the combined company, nor shall there be any
sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of such
state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except
by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
Forward-Looking
Statements
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to
the proposed transaction between Prize and Rose Hill, including
statements regarding the benefits of the proposed transaction, the
anticipated timing of the completion of the proposed transaction,
Prize's plans for expansion, Prize's ability to improve its
operations across the value chain and increase its productivity and
resilience to climate change, the products offered by Prize and the
markets in which it operates, the expected total addressable market
for the products offered by Prize, the sufficiency of the net
proceeds of the proposed transaction to fund Prize's operations,
expansion plans and other business plans, a potential PIPE
offering, Prize's projected future results and the expected
composition of the board of directors of the combined company.
These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the
words "believe," "project," "expected," "expect," "targeted,"
"anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future,"
"opportunity," "plans," "planned," "may," "should," "will,"
"would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and
similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions,
projections and other statements about future events that are based
on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual
future events to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements in this document, including, but not limited to: (i) the
risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely
manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Rose
Hill's securities; (ii) the risk that the proposed transaction may
not be completed by Rose Hill's business combination deadline and
the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business
combination deadline if sought by Rose Hill; (iii) the failure to
satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed
transaction, including the adoption of the Business Combination
Agreement by the shareholders of Rose Hill and Prize, the
satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following
redemptions by Rose Hill's public shareholders and the receipt of
certain governmental and regulatory approvals; (iv) the lack of a
third-party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the
proposed transaction; (v) the occurrence of any event, change or
other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the
Business Combination Agreement; (vi) the inability to complete a
PIPE offering; (vii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of
the proposed transaction on Prize's business relationships,
performance, and business generally; (viii) risks that the proposed
transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Prize as a
result; (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be
instituted against Prize, Rose Hill or others related to the
Business Combination Agreement or the proposed transaction; (x) the
ability of the combined company to meet Nasdaq listing standards at
or following the consummation of the proposed transaction; (xi) the
ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed
transaction, which may be affected by a variety of factors,
including changes in the competitive and highly regulated
industries in which Prize operates, variations in performance
across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting
Prize's business and the ability of Prize and the combined company
to retain its management and key employees; (xii) the ability to
implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after
the completion of the proposed transaction, gauge and adapt to
industry or market trends and changing consumer preferences, and
identify and realize additional opportunities; (xiii) the risk of
adverse or changing economic conditions, including the impact of
pricing and other actions by Prize's competitors; (xiv) the impact
of governmental trade restrictions, including adverse governmental
regulation that may impact Prize's ability to access certain
markets or continue to operate in certain markets; (xv) the risk
that Prize and its current and future growers and
retailers have access to sufficient liquidity to fund their
operations; (xvi) the risk that Prize will need to raise additional
capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on
acceptable terms or at all; (xvii) the risk that the combined
company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and
expanding operations; (xviii) the availability of sufficient labor
during Prize's peak growing and harvesting seasons; (xix) the risk
of changing consumer preferences or consumer demand for products
such as those offered by Prize; (xx) the impact of crop disease;
(xxi) the risk that Prize is unable to secure or protect its
intellectual property; (xxii) the effects of COVID-19 or other
public health crises on Prize's business and results of operations
and the global economy generally; and (xxiii) costs related to the
proposed transaction. The foregoing list of factors is not
exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and
the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors"
section of the registration statement on Form F-4 and proxy
statement/prospectus discussed above and other documents filed or
to be filed by Rose Hill, Prize and/or the combined company from
time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other
important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events
and results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Rose Hill and
Prize assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise
these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise. Neither Rose Hill nor
Prize gives any assurance that Rose Hill, Prize or the combined
company will achieve its expectations.
Press contact
Magdalena Echeverría
mecheverria@proyectacomunicaciones.cl
+56 9 88391056
PRESS PHOTOS
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SOURCE Rose Hill Acquisition Corporation