Following a strategic review process initiated in October 2006 and announced on January 12, 2007 coffee company Van Houtte Inc.
Following a strategic review process initiated in October 2006 and announced on January 12, 2007 coffee company Van Houtte Inc. has entered into a definitive acquisition agreement to be acquired and taken private by a company controlled by Littlejohn & Co LLC, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based private equity firm.
Founded in 1919, Van Houtte is one of North America’s leading gourmet coffee roasters, marketers and distributors. Under the terms of the Agreement, Littlejohn will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company for a consideration of USD 25.00 per share. The Total Enterprise Value of the transaction is approximately USD 600 million including the assumption of existing indebtedness. The USD 25.00 per share consideration represents a 44% premium over the volume-weighted average price of USD 17.36 for the 20-day period ending prior to the Announcement Date.
In addition, the USD 0.25 per share special dividend payable on June 15, 2007 to shareholders of record on June 7, 2007 will be maintained. However, the regular quarterly dividend of USD 0.08 per share will not be declared.
The strategic review process was led by the Strategic Orientation Committee of Van Houtte with the assistance of CIBC World Markets Inc. This committee is composed of six non-management Board members: Paul-André Guillotte, Pierre Brodeur, Roger Desrosiers, Robert Parizeau, Christian Pouliot and Pierre-Luc Van Houtte.
Speaking on behalf of the Strategic Orientation Committee, Pierre Brodeur said: ‘In the past five months, Van Houtte has sought interest from a wide variety of parties with respect to a potential sale of the Company. Through a broad and thorough sale process, the Company contacted approximately 50 potential strategic and financial buyers from across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. As our process was announced prior to the deadline for initial bids, we are confident any potential buyer who wanted to express an interest in the Company had ample opportunity to do so. Ultimately, extensive discussions took place with several buyers who had previously executed confidentiality and standstill agreements. The transaction with Littlejohn is the culmination of this extensive process.’
Van Houtte’s founding and principal shareholders, Famille Pierre Van Houtte Inc., Société Agro-Alimentaire Sogal Inc., Les Placements Michel Ouellet (1986) Inc. and Les Placements Christian Pouliot (1986) Inc., have agreed, pursuant to support and voting agreements, to irrevocably support and vote in favour of the transaction. Pursuant to the support and voting agreements, such shareholders cannot agree to or contemplate any competing transaction until January 1, 2008. These shareholders collectively hold approximately 36% of the outstanding Van Houtte shares representing 68% of voting rights, consisting of 5.3 million or 100% of the Multiple Voting Shares, and approximately 2.5 million, or 16% of the Subordinate Voting Shares of the Company.
Speaking on behalf of the founding and principal shareholders, Paul-André Guillotte, Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Strategic Orientation Committee, said: ‘The decision to put up for sale our controlling interest in Van Houtte was a difficult one to make, but this transaction is the right one for all the stakeholders of the Company. Much has been done in the last 25 years to build Van Houtte into what is now one of the largest and finest roasters and distributors of gourmet coffee in North America. The time has now come for a new group of owners to sponsor the next stage of the Company’s growth. Following a comprehensive and rigorous process, we strongly support the proposed transaction. Our vision from the outset has always been to build Van Houtte into a North American leader. The Company has found in Littlejohn a partner who shares this vision.’
Van Houtte said that its Board of Directors unanimously approved the transaction (with interested directors abstaining) upon a unanimous recommendation of its Strategic Orientation Committee and also resolved to recommend to the Company’s shareholders that they vote in favour of the transaction.
In reviewing the proposed transaction, Van Houtte’s Strategic Orientation Committee has received an opinion from both National Bank Financial and CIBC World Markets that the consideration offered to the Van Houtte shareholders is fair from a financial point of view.
The transaction will be implemented by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act and will have to be approved by the shareholders of Van Houtte at a Special Meeting to be held at the end of June or early July 2007. The plan of arrangement will be subject to approval by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by the holders of Subordinate Voting Shares and Multiple Voting Shares, each voting separately as a class, and by a majority of the votes cast by the holders of Subordinate Voting Shares (other than interested shareholders). Once approved by the shareholders, the plan of arrangement will then have to be sanctioned by the Superior Court of Quebec.
Following the transaction, Van Houtte will continue to be headquartered in Montreal under the Van Houtte name and the leadership of its existing management team. In particular, Jean-Yves Monette, Gérard Geoffrion and David Larimer will remain as Van Houtte’s CEO, Executive Vice-President and Filterfresh’s and Van Houtte USA’s president and COO respectively. No significant changes in staffing levels, strategic orientations or operations are expected as a result of the transaction.
Littlejohn is making its investment in Van Houtte through an affiliate of its Littlejohn Fund III, LP (‘Fund III’). It is anticipated that certain members of senior management, including Jean-Yves Monette and Gérard Geoffrion, will retain an equity interest in the combined company. Littlejohn is supporting the transaction along with certain co-investors from Fund III and the Solidarity Fund QFL.
‘We have found in Van Houtte a well-managed company with a superior product, a strong brand and heritage and a solid development plan’, said Michael I. Klein, President of Littlejohn. ‘We are confident that Van Houtte’s management can deliver on their plan for broad-based growth, deployment of the Van Houtte brand across Canada and the United States and optimal use of the Van Houtte Coffee Services network, the only one of its kind in North America’, added David E. Simon, Managing Director of Littlejohn.
‘Owners may be new, but the Company will stay the same’, said Van Houtte’s President and CEO Jean-Yves Monette. ‘Van Houtte will remain the name that millions of consumers have come to associate with great tasting coffee and with excellent products and services. We are more than ever dedicated to provide coffee lovers of North America a superior coffee experience, one cup at a time.’
