PenderFund Capital Management Ltd., as manager of the Pender Small
Cap Opportunities Fund (together, “Pender” or “we”), directly or
indirectly controls 1,209,184 common shares of Altius Renewable
Royalties Corp. (TSX:ARR) (OTCQX:ATRWF) (the “Company”).
Further to its press release dated November 5, 2024, Pender
re-affirms its intent to file a written objection and notice of
dissent with respect to all of its common shares of the Company,
and re-affirms its intent to vote all such shares “AGAINST” the
Transaction. We urge fellow Minority Shareholders to vote AGAINST
and exercise DISSENT rights with respect to the Transaction.
On November 11, 2024, Pender sent a letter to the Company’s
legal advisor detailing its serious concerns regarding the process
undertaken by the special committee, as described in the background
to the Transaction in the Company’s management information circular
dated October 18, 2024, including:
- the special committee did not engage independent legal counsel
or explain why;
- the Company’s 58% controlling shareholder that is also the sole
continuing shareholder in the Transaction (the “Continuing
Shareholder”) was made aware of the Transaction within about three
weeks of Northampton’s initial approach, calling into question the
Continuing Shareholder’s influence on the special committee’s
independence and its ability to properly discharge its fiduciary
duties;
- the independent financial advisors to the special committee
were engaged after the key terms of the Transaction had been
largely negotiated among the special committee, Northampton and the
Continuing Shareholder, including the consideration of $12 per
minority share;
- other than the independent financial advisors engaged to
prepare the formal valuation and fairness opinion required by
securities laws, the special committee did not have the benefit of
advice from financial advisors in evaluating Northampton’s offer or
available alternatives thereto; and
- other than generic references to considering strategic
alternatives which were undertaken without the engagement of a
financial advisor and a one-week engagement between May 16 and 23,
2024 in respect of an unsolicited non-binding offer from a
third-party to acquire the minority shares which was rejected by
the special committee without the benefit of advice of a financial
advisor, there was no meaningful market check for available
alternatives.
We are alarmed by what appears to be a flawed process by the
special committee who, as fiduciaries, are duty-bound to consider
and protect the reasonable expectations of, among others, Minority
Shareholders. Based on the extent of the Continuing Shareholder’s
involvement, it appears that the special committee was more
concerned with the Continuing Shareholder’s interests than those of
Minority Shareholders.
We are also deeply troubled by the extent of the lock-up
agreements entered into which render the upcoming special meeting
to consider the Transaction meaningless. With approximately 81% of
the outstanding Common Shares subject to such lock-up agreements,
both the 66 and 2/3% approval and the minority approval (excluding
the shares held by the Continuing Shareholder and other interested
parties whose votes must be excluded under applicable securities
laws) of the arrangement resolution are guaranteed to pass. We
believe the Continuing Shareholder’s early support and involvement
in the Transaction influenced other shareholders to enter into such
lock-up agreements.
Based on the specific circumstances of the Transaction,
practically, the extent of such lock-up agreements and a flawed
process have resulted in the defeat of the fairness checks and
balances enshrined in applicable corporate and securities laws for
statutory arrangements and the deprivation of any meaningful
protection for Minority Shareholders.
Accordingly, we urge fellow Minority Shareholders to vote
AGAINST the Transaction by submitting a duly completed form of
proxy by 1 pm (EST) on November 15, 2024 and to exercise DISSENT
rights with respect to the Transaction by submitting a written
objection by 4 pm (EST) on November 15, 2024. As only registered
shareholders may submit a form of proxy or to exercise dissent
rights, Minority Shareholders who hold their Common Shares in
non-registered form should contact their brokers or intermediaries
as soon as possible before such deadlines to ensure that their
votes AGAINST and DISSENT in respect of the Transaction are timely
voted and exercised.
We are seeking to engage the Company in constructive dialogue on
behalf of all Minority Shareholders with the objective of resolving
these serious concerns and ensuring that our investments in the
Company are fairly valued.
AdvisorsPender has engaged Norton Rose
Fulbright Canada LLP as legal advisor.
About PenderPender was founded in 2003 and is
an independent, employee-owned investment firm located in
Vancouver, British Columbia. Our goal is to protect and grow wealth
for our investors over time. We have a talented investment team of
expert analysts, security selectors and independent thinkers who
actively manage our suite of differentiated investment funds,
exploiting inefficient parts of the investing universe to achieve
our goal.
For more information on Pender, visit www.penderfund.com and
www.fondspender.com.
Please read important disclosures at
www.penderfund.com/disclaimer.
For further information, please contact:Amar
PandyaPortfolio Manager, PenderFund Capital Management
Ltd.apandya@penderfund.com (604) 688-1511Toll Free: (866)
377-4743
Additional InformationThe information contained
in this press release does not and is not meant to constitute a
solicitation of a proxy within the meaning of applicable securities
laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pender is voluntarily
providing the disclosure required under section 9.2(4) of National
Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations and Alberta
Securities Commission Blanket Order 51-520 in accordance with
securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations.
Any solicitation made by Pender in advance of the special
meeting to be held to consider the Transaction (the “Meeting”) is,
or will be, as applicable, made by Pender, and not by or on behalf
of management of the Company. All costs incurred for any
solicitation will be borne by Pender, provided that, subject to
applicable law, Pender may seek reimbursement from the Company for
out-of-pocket expenses, including proxy solicitation expenses and
legal fees.
Any proxies solicited by Pender may be solicited in reliance
upon the public broadcast exemption to the solicitation
requirements under applicable Canadian corporate and securities
laws, conveyed by way of public broadcast, including press release,
speech or publication, and by any other manner permitted under
applicable Canadian securities laws. In addition, solicitation may
be made by mail, telephone, facsimile, email or other electronic
means as well as by newspaper or other media advertising and in
person by representatives of Pender in accordance with Canadian
securities laws and regulations. All costs incurred for such
solicitation will be borne by Pender. To the extent any dissent
notices are solicited by Pender in connection with the Meeting,
they may be revoked by a failure to follow the strict requirements
provided for under law to exercise dissent rights, or in any other
manner permitted by law or set out in the Circular.
Other than in respect of the Transaction, Pender does not, to
its knowledge, or any of its associates or affiliates, have any
material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the
commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial
year, or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected
or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Pender does not, to its knowledge, or any of its associates or
affiliates, have any material interest, direct or indirect, by way
of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter
to be acted upon at any upcoming shareholders meeting (including
the Meeting), other than as set out herein.
Based upon publicly available information, the Company’s head
office is located at 38 Duffy Pl. 2nd Floor, St Johns, Newfoundland
and Labrador, A1B 4M5, Canada. A copy of this press release may be
obtained on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com.
Forward-looking Statements and Forward-looking
Information This news release contains certain
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such statements
under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are
frequently characterized by words such as “expect” or “proposed”
and other similar words, or statements that certain events or
conditions “may” or “will” occur. These statements are only
predictions. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions
and estimates of the manager at the date the statements are made,
and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual events or results to differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements.
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