The Talbots, Inc. Moves Closer to Completing Acquisition of BPW Following Successful BPW Shareholder Vote
24 Fevereiro 2010 - 2:16PM
Business Wire
The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE:TLB) said it is moving closer to
completing its previously announced acquisition of BPW Acquisition
Corp. (“BPW”) (AMEX: BPW). At a Special Meeting held today, BPW
stockholders voted to adopt the previously announced Agreement and
Plan of Merger as amended on February 16, 2010, providing for the
acquisition of BPW by The Talbots, Inc. Based on preliminary voting
results from the independent inspector of elections, approximately
91 percent of votes cast were in favor of the merger proposal.
Additionally, based on preliminary results, less than one percent
of BPW shares outstanding elected to convert their shares into
cash.
Trudy F. Sullivan, Talbots President and Chief Executive Officer
commented, “We are very pleased by the outcome of today’s BPW
stockholder vote in favor of our transaction. Once completed, we
believe the merger will provide us with the solid financial
foundation needed to position us to achieve our long-term growth
objectives and create value for all of our stakeholders.”
Talbots also said it will promptly commence an exchange offer
for existing BPW warrants held by public warrantholders.
The proposed transaction remains subject to customary closing
conditions, the receipt of necessary financing by Talbots and the
completion of the BPW warrant exchange offer on the terms described
in the merger agreement.
The BPW acquisition is expected to close in the first calendar
quarter of 2010.
About The Talbots,
Inc.
The Talbots, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer and direct
marketer of women’s apparel, shoes and accessories. At the end of
fourth quarter 2009, the Company operated 580 Talbots brand stores
in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. Talbots brand
on-line shopping site is located at www.talbots.com.
Cautionary Statement and Certain Risk Factors to
Consider
In addition to the information set forth in this press release,
you should carefully consider the risk factors and risks and
uncertainties included in each of Talbots and BPW’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as in this
press release below.
This press release contains forward-looking information. These
statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as
“expect,” “achieve,” “plan,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,”
“outlook,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “potential,” or similar
statements or variations of such terms. All of the information
concerning Talbots or BPW’s outlook, future liquidity, future
financial performance and results, future credit facilities and
availability, future cash flows and cash needs, and other future
financial performance or financial position, as well as assumptions
underlying such information, constitute forward-looking
information. Forward looking statements are based on a series of
expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about BPW
and/or Talbots, are not guarantees of future results or
performance, and involve substantial risks and uncertainty,
including assumptions and projections concerning liquidity,
internal plans, regular-price and markdown selling, operating cash
flows, and credit availability for all forward periods. Business
and forward-looking statements involve substantial known and
unknown risks and uncertainties, including the following risks and
uncertainties:
- Talbots and BPW’s ability to
satisfy the conditions to consummation of the contemplated
transactions;
- BPW’s ability to obtain the
necessary support of its stockholders to approve the transactions,
including required affirmative vote of BPW stockholders approving
the transactions as well as the risk that the exercise of
conversion rights by BPW’s stockholders, together with transaction
costs incurred by BPW, may cause the balance of the BPW trust
account to fall below the level necessary to consummate the
transaction;
- BPW’s and Talbots ability to
obtain the necessary participation of BPW warrant holders in the
exchange of BPW warrants for Talbots stock or warrants;
- Talbots ability to satisfy the
conditions to the $200 million credit commitment provided by GE or,
failing that, to obtain sufficient alternative financing on a
timely basis;
- the availability of sufficient
proceeds of the BPW trust account following any exercise by
stockholders of their conversion rights and the incurrence of
transaction expenses;
- the continuing material impact
of the deterioration in the U.S. economic environment over the past
two years on Talbots business, continuing operations, liquidity,
financing plans, and financial results, including substantial
negative impact on consumer discretionary spending and consumer
confidence, substantial loss of household wealth and savings, the
disruption and significant tightening in the U.S. credit and
lending markets, and potential long-term unemployment levels;
- Talbots level of indebtedness
and its ability to refinance or otherwise address its short-term
debt maturities, including all Aeon short-term indebtedness due
April 16, 2010, on the terms or in amounts needed to satisfy
maturities and to address its longer-term liquidity and cash needs,
as well as its working capital, strategic initiatives and other
cash requirements;
- any lack of sufficiency of
available cash flows and other internal cash resources to satisfy
all future operating needs and other Talbots cash
requirements;
- satisfaction of all borrowing
conditions under all Aeon credit facilities including no events of
default, accuracy of all representations and warranties, solvency
conditions, absence of material adverse effect or change, and all
other borrowing conditions;
- risk of any default under
Talbots Aeon credit facilities;
- Talbots ability to achieve its
2009 financial plan for operating results, working capital,
liquidity and cash flows;
- risks associated with Talbots
appointment of and transition to a new exclusive global merchandise
buying agent and that the anticipated benefits and cost savings
from this arrangement may not be realized or may take longer to
realize than expected, and risk that upon any cessation of the
relationship for any reason Talbots would be able to successfully
transition to an internal or other external sourcing function;
- Talbots’ ability to continue to
purchase merchandise on open account purchase terms at existing or
future expected levels and with extended payment of accounts
payable and risk that suppliers could require earlier or immediate
payment or other security due to any payment concern or
timing;
- risks and uncertainties in
connection with any need to source merchandise from alternate
vendors;
- any disruption in Talbots’
supply of merchandise;
- Talbots ability to successfully
execute, fund, and achieve supply chain initiatives, anticipated
lower inventory levels, cost reductions, and other
initiatives;
- the risk that anticipated
benefits from the sale of the J. Jill brand business may not be
realized or may take longer to realize than expected and the risk
that estimated or anticipated costs, charges and liabilities to
settle and complete the transition and exit from and disposal of
the J. Jill brand business, including both retained obligations and
contingent risk for assigned obligations, may materially differ
from or be materially greater than anticipated;
- Talbots ability to accurately
estimate and forecast future regular-price and markdown selling,
operating cash flows and other future financial results and
financial position;
- the success and customer
acceptance of Talbots merchandise offerings;
- future store closings and
success of and necessary funding for closing underperforming
stores;
- risk of impairment of goodwill
and other intangible and long-lived assets; and
- the risk of continued compliance
with NYSE continued listing conditions.
All of the forward-looking statements are as of the date of this
press release only. In each case, actual results may differ
materially from such forward-looking information. Neither Talbots
nor BPW can give any assurance that such expectations or
forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence
of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk
factors or risks and uncertainties referred to in this press
release or included in Talbots and/or BPW’s periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission could materially and
adversely affect Talbots and/or BPW’s continuing operations and
Talbots and/or BPW’s future financial results, cash flows,
prospects, and liquidity. Except as required by law, neither
Talbots nor BPW undertakes or plans to update or revise any such
forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in
plans, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other
circumstances affecting such forward-looking statements occurring
after the date of this release, even if such results, changes or
circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information
will not be realized. Any public statements or disclosures by
Talbots and BPW following this release which modify or impact any
of the forward-looking statements contained in this release will be
deemed to modify or supersede such statements in this release.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of
any vote or approval. Talbots has filed with the SEC, and the SEC
has declared effective, a Registration Statement on Form S-4
containing a Prospectus/Proxy Statement/Information Statement
regarding the proposed transaction between Talbots and BPW. The
final Prospectus/Proxy Statement/Information Statement and a
supplement thereto regarding the proposed transaction have been
mailed to stockholders of Talbots and BPW. Talbots intends to file
a tender offer statement and other documents, as required, with the
SEC in connection with the warrant exchange offer. Investors and
security holders are urged to read the final Prospectus/Proxy
Statement/Information Statement, the supplement, the tender offer
statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other
relevant documents filed with the SEC when available carefully
because they contain important information. Investors and
security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
Registration Statement, the final Prospectus/Proxy
Statement/Information Statement, the supplement, the tender offer
statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and other
documents filed with the SEC by Talbots and BPW through the web
site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and
security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
Registration Statement, the final Prospectus/Proxy
Statement/Information Statement, the supplement, the tender offer
statement and any amendments or supplements thereto and other
related documents filed by Talbots with the SEC when they become
available from Talbots by requesting them in writing at Investor
Relations Department, One Talbots Drive, Hingham, MA 02043, or
by telephone at (781) 741-4500. The documents filed by BPW may also
be obtained by requesting them in writing to BPW at BPW Acquisition
Corp., Arjay (Richard) Jensen, SVP at BPW Acquisition Corp., 767
Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, NY, NY 10153, or by telephone at (212)
287-3310.
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