TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 7, 2013) -
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Global Champions Split Corp. (the "Company") (TSX:GCS.PR.A) announced today that it has completed its initial public offering of Class A Preferred Shares, Series 1 (the "Series 1 Shares"). The offering raised gross proceeds of $50.0 million, and was offered by a syndicate of agents led by National Bank Financial Inc., CIBC World Markets, RBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank and TD Securities Inc. and includes BMO Capital Markets, Canaccord Genuity Corp., GMP Securities L.P., Raymond James Ltd., Macquarie Private Wealth Inc. and Brookfield Financial Corp. (the "Agents"). A total of 2,000,000 Series 1 Shares were issued at a price of $25.00 per Series 1 Share. The Company also announced today that it has completed the issuance of 2,000,000 capital shares of the Company to BAM Investments Corp.
The Company has granted the Agents an over-allotment option to acquire up to an additional 300,000 Series 1 Shares at a price of $25.00 per Series 1 Share for a period of 30 days after closing of the offering which, if exercised in full, would increase the total gross proceeds of the offering to $57.5 million.
The Series 1 Shares have been rated Pfd-2 (low) by DBRS Limited. The Series 1 Shares will commence trading today on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "GCS.PR.A".
The Company's investment objectives with respect to the Series 1 Shares are (i) to provide holders of Series 1 Shares with fixed cumulative preferential quarterly cash distributions in the amount of $0.25 per Series 1 Share to yield 4.00% per annum on the original issue price of the Series 1 Shares and (ii) on or about July 31, 2019, to pay the holders of Series 1 Shares the original issue price of $25.00 of those shares, through the redemption of each Series 1 Share held on July 31, 2019. Such quarterly distributions are expected to be paid by the Company to holders of record on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December in each year with payments being made on or before the 15th day of the following month. The initial distribution will be prorated from today's date until March 31, 2013 and is expected to be payable on or before April 15, 2013 to holders of record on March 28, 2013. The final prospectus is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Initially, the Portfolio will consist of 15 large capitalization companies and will be approximately equally weighted on a U.S. dollar equivalent basis.
The Series 1 Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. persons" (as defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended). This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Series 1 Shares in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons.
About Global Champions Split Corp.
Global Champions Split Corp. is a mutual fund corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The Company invests in a diversified portfolio of large capitalization companies that Brookfield Investment Management (Canada) Inc., as investment fund manager of the Company, believes are best in class within their respective industries. The Company invests in the portfolio in order to generate fixed cumulative quarterly cash distributions for holders of the Company's Series 1 Shares and to enable the holders of the capital shares to participate in any capital appreciation in the securities that comprise the portfolio.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include the factors discussed under "Investment Considerations and Risk Factors" in the final prospectus of the Company dated February 28, 2013. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
For more information, visit the Company's website at www.globalchampions.com and its issuer profile at www.sedar.com.
Contact Information:
Allen Taylor
Chief Financial Officer
(416) 359-7864
www.globalchampions.com