Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:FFEX) ("FFE" or the
"Company") and Duff Brothers Capital Corporation today announced
they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which
Duff Brothers Capital Corporation will offer to acquire all of the
outstanding shares of common stock of FFE (except shares owned by
its affiliates) for $2.10 in cash per share of common stock. Duff
Brothers Capital Corporation is wholly owned by Thomas and James
Duff, who also indirectly own KLLM Transport Services,
LLC. The transaction, which values FFE at approximately $38.2
million in equity value, was unanimously approved by the FFE Board
of Directors.
"For over a year, we have been reviewing a variety of strategic
alternatives for FFE, which included exiting less profitable
businesses, such as dry van truckload services, entering into the
bulk tank water transportation business, and re-engineering our LTL
services with technology enhancements that further differentiate
our service offerings in the marketplace," said Russell Stubbs,
President and CEO of FFE. "As part of this process, we were pleased
when the Duffs expressed an interest in FFE. We believe the value
of this transaction achieves our objective of delivering immediate
and compelling value for our shareholders. Through the Duff's
ownership of KLLM, they have demonstrated a strong track record in
the trucking industry, which will be beneficial to our customers,
vendors, employees and drivers."
On behalf of James and Thomas Duff, Mr. Thomas Duff stated that,
"We are excited about the opportunity to add another leader in the
temperature controlled trucking industry to our family group of
businesses. With the synergies and increased capacity that we
can gain from the ownership of both FFE and KLLM, we know that we
will be able to enhance the quality service that both companies
have been providing to their customers. With our resources, we
will be able to bring to FFE the financial strength that is needed
to preserve and expand its operations for its valued employees for
years to come. Overall, we see great things ahead for both of the
companies."
Under the terms of the merger agreement, FFE's stockholders
will receive $2.10 in cash for each outstanding share of FFE common
stock they own, representing a 23.5% premium over the closing price
on July 12, 2013, the last full trading day before today's
announcement, a 26.5% premium over the closing price on March 1,
2013, the last full trading day before the announcement that the
Duffs had acquired approximately 5.84% of the outstanding shares of
common stock of FFE and expressed an intent to discuss with FFE a
negotiated acquisition and a 144.2% premium over the closing price
on December 18, 2012, the last full trading day before the Duffs
began open market purchases of FFE shares with a view towards
accumulating a significant position.
The transaction is expected to close by late August or early
September 2013.
In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, Duff
Brothers Capital Corporation will commence a tender offer for all
of the outstanding shares of common stock of FEE not already owned
by the Duffs or their affiliates. FFE's Board of Directors has
unanimously recommended that the FFE shareholders tender their
shares into the offer. Under the terms of the agreement, the
transaction is conditioned upon satisfaction of the minimum tender
condition of greater than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
FFE common stock when added to the shares then beneficially owned
by Duff Brothers Capital Corporation and its affiliates and other
customary closing conditions. Consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement is not subject to a financing
condition and Duff Brothers Capital Corporation will pay the offer
price from cash resources on hand.
Concurrent with the execution and delivery of the merger
agreement, Stoney M. Stubbs, Jr., FFE's Chairman of the Board,
Russell Stubbs, FFE's President and CEO, and John Hickerson, FFE's
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, representing
in the aggregate approximately 12.8% of the outstanding shares of
FFE common stock have each entered into separate agreements with
Duff Brothers Capital Corporation and Duff Brothers Subsidiary,
Inc. pursuant to which each has agreed to tender the shares of
common stock beneficially owned by them into the tender offer, as
well as providing certain covenants and releases related to the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
Stephens Inc. is acting as exclusive financial advisor to the
FFE Board of Directors and provided a fairness opinion to the FFE
Board of Directors. Baker & McKenzie LLP is acting as legal
counsel to the FFE Board of Directors. Krage & Janvey, L.L.P.
is acting as legal counsel to Duff Brothers Capital
Corporation.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The tender offer described in the communication has not yet
commenced and this communication is neither an offer to purchase
nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of common stock of
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. ("FFE"). At the time the
tender offer is commenced, Duff Brothers Capital Corporation will
file with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, and FFE
will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9
with respect to the tender offer. FFE stockholders and other
investors are strongly advised to read the tender offer materials
(including the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal
and certain other tender offer documents) and the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, as they may be amended from
time to time, because they will contain important information which
should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect
to the tender offer. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter
of Transmittal and certain other offer documents, as well as the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, will be made available to
all FFE stockholders at no expense to them. The Tender Offer
Statement and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement will also
be available for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Free
copies of these materials and other tender offer documents will
also be made available by the information agent for the tender
offer.
In addition to the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of
Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents, FFE files
annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports,
statements or other information filed by FFE at the SEC public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the public reference room. FFE's filings with the
SEC are also available to the public from commercial
document-retrieval services and at the website maintained by the
SEC at www.sec.gov.
About FFE
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. is one of the leading
temperature-controlled truckload and less-than-truckload carriers
in the United States with core operations in the transport of
temperature-controlled products and perishable goods including
food, health care and confectionery products. Service is offered in
over-the-road and intermodal modes for temperature-controlled
truckload and less-than-truckload, as well as dry truckload on a
non-dedicated fleet basis. We also provide bulk tank water
transportation, brokerage/logistics and dedicated services to our
customers. Additional information about FFE can be found at
www.ffeinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains "forward-looking statements," within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, relating to the acquisition of FFE by Duff Brothers
Capital Corporation. All statements relating to plans,
strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, all statements
identified by words such as "will", "could", "should", "believe",
"expect", "intend", "plan", "schedule", "estimate", "project", and
similar expressions and all statements other than historical facts
included in this communication, including, but not limited to, the
statements regarding the timing and the closing of the tender offer
and merger transactions, the expected benefits of the transaction,
any plans to operate FFE post-closing and any assumptions
underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on current expectations of future
events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown, or
unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could
vary materially from expectations and projections. Risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties as to the
timing of the tender offer and merger; uncertainties as to how many
of FFE's stockholders will tender their stock in the tender offer;
the possibility that various closing conditions to the tender offer
and merger transactions may not be satisfied or waived, including
that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay, or refuse to grant
approval for the consummation of the transaction; that there is a
material adverse change to FFE; any material adverse development in
pending or threatened litigation involving FFE; other business
effects, including effects of industry, economic or political
conditions outside FFE's control; transaction costs; actual or
contingent liabilities; as well as other cautionary statements
contained elsewhere herein and in FFE's periodic reports filed with
the SEC including current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K. Given these
uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this
communication. FFE expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Additional information about FFE is available at
www.ffeinc.com.
CONTACT: Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc.
Russell Stubbs, President and CEO
John Hickerson, EVP and COO
Steve Stedman, VP and Interim CFO
(214) 630-8090
Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:FFEX)
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