Belzberg Technologies Inc. Announces Strategic Direction and Acquisition of Frontline Technologies Inc.
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Company to refocus on technology.
Combined entity to leverage expertise, scale and reach to deliver competitive technologies and services for the professional trading community.
TORONTO, Feb. 23 - Belzberg Technologies, Inc. (TSX: BLZ) and Frontline Technologies Corp. announces a definitive agreement to merge the two companies through an acquisition of Frontline by Belzberg. The Frontline transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2011 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals and approval by the shareholders of Belzberg.
Belzberg offers trading technology and market connectivity in Canada to sell-side institutions and their buy-side clients. Frontline offers infrastructure as well as a varied suite of IT outsourcing services to clients in the financial industry including a comprehensive platform for managing various aspects of trading including order management, position management, post trade matching and electronic ticketing. Frontline had revenues of approximately $3.9 million and net income of approximately $0.2 million in their most recent fiscal year.
The combined entity, which will operate under the Frontline brand name,
will establish a larger, more diversified and competitive provider of
services and technologies for the professional trading community.
Together, the company will also benefit from cost savings and synergies
in operations, infrastructure and administration.
Hoss Astaraki, President of Frontline Technologies, will become the CEO
and Chairman of the combined entity on closing. David Evans of
Belzberg will continue as VP Finance.
"This transaction represents an exciting and significant turning point
for Frontline," said Hoss Astaraki, President of Frontline Technologies. "It is an opportunity for two highly complementary businesses to come
together to compete more effectively. The potential benefits are
far-reaching, from operational synergies, to cross-business revenue
growth opportunities."
As part of this new strategic direction, Belzberg separately announces
that it has entered into an agreement to refer most of the clients of
its US execution businesses operated under its wholly-owned
subsidiaries, Electronic Brokerage Systems, LLC and R.C. Sheehan and
Associates, LLC, to ConvergEx Group. The transition is expected to be
seamless to clients.
"The merger with Frontline is a 'win-win'," said Judith Robertson, President and CEO of Belzberg. "Our combined expertise will enhance our product offering to clients.
In addition, we are very happy to have found such an ideal partner for
our US brokerage businesses in ConvergEX Group. Their products and
services are a great fit for our clients which will offer opportunities
for the technology company going forward."
Transaction Details
Under the terms of the Frontline agreement, approved by the Boards of
Directors of both companies, Frontline shareholders will receive $1.0
million in cash plus 7,881,826 Class A Restricted Shares of Belzberg.
Each Class A Restricted Share will be convertible into Belzberg common
shares on a 1 for 1 basis subsequent to the Belzberg special
distribution described below. The holders of the Class A Restricted
Shares will be entitled to one vote per share, but will not be entitled
to receive dividends until the special distribution described below is
paid in full. Following the closing of the transaction the former
shareholders of Frontline will own approximately 35% of the Belzberg
shares on a fully diluted basis.
Belzberg Special Distribution
It is Belzberg's intention to pay a special distribution to the holders
of its existing common shares within a year of the closing of the
Frontline transaction. The amount of the distribution will be
equivalent to the amount by which the working capital of Belzberg as of
closing of the Frontline transaction exceeds $2.75 million plus the
total proceeds received for the referral of the US execution clients of
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, less any costs related thereto or to the
sale or wind-up of the businesses of Electronic Brokerage Systems, LLC
and R.C. Sheehan and Associates, LLC.
About Belzberg Technologies, Inc.
Belzberg Technologies Inc. is a provider of trading technology in Canada and technology-based
brokerage services for equities and options in the U.S. through its
wholly owned broker-dealer, Electronic Brokerage Systems, LLC. Using
Belzberg's suite of integrated trading tools and network connectivity,
Belzberg's customers have direct access to all North American equities
and options markets. Belzberg Technologies is listed on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (Ticker-BLZ). Additional information is available at www.belzberg.com.
About Frontline Technologies Inc.
Frontline Technologies is an established, innovative technology service
company serving the professional, financial and investment banking
communities across Canada. Frontline Technologies provides IT
infrastructure support, managed services, technical support, hosted
environment including email and file servers, remote backup, VoIP
services, ISP, disaster recovery and much more. Customers are able to
access an array of services through one reliable provider - Frontline
Technologies. Additional information is available at www.frontline.ca.
SOURCE Belzberg Technologies Inc.
Contact:
Hoss Astaraki
Frontline Technologies Corp.
President
416.637.7462
hoss@frontline.ca
Judith Robertson
Belzberg Technologies Inc.
President and Chief Executive Officer
416.360.1812
investorinfo@belzberg.com
