First Capital Sets the Record Straight on Sandpiper’s Misleading Statements
27 Februar 2023 - 12:42PM
Business Wire
First Capital REIT’s (“First Capital” or the
“REIT”) (TSX: FCR.UN) board of trustees (the “Board”)
is addressing a February 24, 2023 letter from Samir Manji, CEO of
Sandpiper Group (“Sandpiper”) and CEO of Artis Real Estate
Investment Trust (TSX: AX.UN) (“Artis”) to First Capital’s
unitholders that included a number of mischaracterizations.
The Board has repeatedly engaged in good faith with Sandpiper
and Artis (the “Sandpiper Group”) in an effort to avoid the
cost and distraction associated with a proxy contest. As
demonstrated in the support and cooperation agreement reached with
Vision Capital and Ewing Morris, the Board is willing to find
compromises that are beneficial to all unitholders. Unfortunately,
the Sandpiper Group’s demands continue to be self-serving,
unreasonable, not in the best interest of First Capital and its
unitholders, and disproportionate relative to their ownership
interest.
Sandpiper and Artis have a troubling track record. Sandpiper has
a history of value destruction at other REITs, including Artis, and
a pattern of self-dealing, poor corporate governance and
self-enrichment. Artis has been fundamentally changed, to the
detriment of its unitholders, by Mr. Manji and his fellow Sandpiper
nominees since they acquired control of its board of trustees. Mr.
Manji, who is the CEO of both Sandpiper and Artis, has substantial
conflicts of interest.
Extensive without prejudice discussions preceded our proposal to
appoint an independent, non-Sandpiper trustee to the Board. This
proposal was an attempt, after much back and forth, to grant the
Sandpiper Group representation on our refreshed Board while
guarding against the conflicts posed by Mr. Manji. Mr. Manji’s
characterization of it, including of the time that he had to
consider it, is misleading. His outright rejection of this proposal
makes it clear that he is intent on installing himself on the Board
to advance the interests of Sandpiper and Artis, rather than those
of First Capital and its unitholders.
The Board continues to focus on ensuring that First Capital is
positioned to drive value for all unitholders. It has
constructively engaged and continues to engage with all unitholders
and has also acted decisively to respond to unitholder feedback in
a balanced, pragmatic and considered manner. This is reflected in
the REIT’s successful Enhanced Capital Allocation and Portfolio
Optimization Plan and the refreshed Board that will be presented to
unitholders for their support.
Unitholders will receive detailed information about the matters
to be presented at the annual and special meeting of unitholders to
be held on March 28, 2023 (the “Meeting”), and the Board has
every confidence that unitholders will carefully consider that
information before deciding how to vote. At this time, there is no
need for unitholders to take any action in respect of the
Meeting.
First Capital Advisors
Kingsdale Advisors is acting as strategic shareholder advisor to
First Capital. Gagnier Communications is acting as communications
advisor to First Capital. Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as legal
counsel to the Board. RBC Capital Markets is acting as financial
advisor to First Capital.
About First Capital REIT (TSX: FCR.UN)
First Capital owns, operates and develops grocery-anchored,
open-air centres in neighbourhoods with the strongest demographics
in Canada.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT ADVISORY
This press release contains forward-looking statements and
information within the meaning of applicable securities law,
including but not limited to the Meeting and matters relating
thereto. These forward- looking statements are not historical facts
but, rather, reflect First Capital’s current expectations and are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to
differ materially from current expectations. Such risks and
uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions;
tenant financial difficulties, defaults and bankruptcies; increases
in operating costs, property taxes and income taxes; First
Capital’s ability to maintain occupancy and to lease or release
space at current or anticipated rents; development, intensification
and acquisition activities; residential development, sales and
leasing; risks in joint ventures; environmental liability and
compliance costs and uninsured losses; and risks and uncertainties
related to the impact of the ongoing pandemic, epidemics or other
outbreaks on First Capital which are described in First Capital’s
MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022 under the heading
“Risks and Uncertainties - Ongoing Pandemic, Epidemics or New
Outbreaks”. Additionally, forward- looking statements are subject
to those risks and uncertainties discussed in First Capital’s
MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in its current
Annual Information Form. Readers, therefore, should not place undue
reliance on any such forward-looking statements. First Capital
undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such
forward-looking statement or to reflect new information or the
occurrence of future events or circumstances except as required by
applicable securities law. All forward-looking statements in this
press release are made as of the date hereof and are qualified by
these cautionary statements.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230227005510/en/
For further information:
Adam Paul President & CEO (416) 216-2081
adam.paul@fcr.ca
Neil Downey Executive Vice President, Enterprise Strategies
& CFO (416) 530-6634 neil.downey@fcr.ca
Media: Dan Gagnier Gagnier Communications +1 646 569-5897
FirstCapital@gagnierfc.com
www.fcr.ca TSX: FCR.UN
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