MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwired – April 24, 2017) – Garda World Security Corporation (the “Company” or “GardaWorld”) announced today the commencement of a private offering of US$630 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) by GW Honos Security Corporation (the “Escrow Issuer”), an affiliate of the Company. The offering of the Notes is part of the financing of the previously announced stock purchase agreement entered into on March 23, 2017 by an entity held by affiliates of Rhone Capital L.L.C., Stéphan Crétier and an affiliate of Apax Partners LLP pursuant to which the 29.4% equity interest in the GardaWorld business currently owned by an affiliate of Apax Partners LLP will be purchased for cash consideration (the “Stock Purchase”). Upon the consummation of the Stock Purchase, the Escrow Issuer will amalgamate with the Company, the Company will assume the obligations of the Escrow Issuer under the Notes and the related indenture and the Notes will be guaranteed by each of the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries that guarantee the Company’s new senior secured credit facilities. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes offering, together with borrowings under its new senior secured credit facilities and the proceeds from certain equity contributions, to (i) fund the Stock Purchase, (ii) fund the previously announced cash tender offers (the “tender offers”) for any and all of its 7.25% U.S. dollar denominated senior notes due 2021 (the “2021 notes”), (iii) refinance its existing credit facilities and (iv) pay related fees and expenses. As of April 21, 2017, tenders in respect of US$83.1 million, or 18.9%, of the aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2021 notes had been received pursuant to the tender offers. The Company’s new senior secured credit facilities are expected to be comprised of (i) a five-year US$240 million senior secured revolving credit facility, (ii) a seven-year US$850 million US$ senior secured term loan facility; and (iii) a seven-year Cdn$175 million senior secured term loan facility.
The offering of the Notes will be made in a private transaction in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in the United States only to investors who are “qualified institutional buyers,” as that term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and pursuant to the prospectus exemption of section 12 of the Securities Act (Québec) for distribution of securities to persons established outside Québec, or outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act and upon reliance on the accredited investor exemption in Canada.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Notes mentioned herein have not been and will not be qualified for sale to the public under applicable Canadian securities laws and, accordingly, any offer and sale of securities in Canada will be made on a basis which is exempt from the prospectus and dealer registration requirements of such securities laws. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States or Canada without registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or an applicable exemption from the prospectus requirements of Canadian securities legislation.
About GardaWorld
GardaWorld is one of the world’s largest privately owned security services providers, offering a range of highly focused business solutions including cash services, protective services and aviation services. GardaWorld’s more than 62,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals serve clients throughout North America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. GardaWorld works across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, natural resources and retail, and services Fortune 500 companies, governments and humanitarian relief organizations. For more information, visit www.garda.com
Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Statements
Information provided and statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws. Certain statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to GardaWorld’s future outlook and anticipated events, business, operations, financial performance, financial condition or results and, in some cases, can be identified by terminology such as “may”; “will”; “should”; “expect”; “plan”; “anticipate”; “believe”; “intend”; “estimate”; “predict”; “potential”; “continue”; “foresee”, “ensure” or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements regarding the company’s future operating results and economic performance and its objectives and strategies are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions including expected growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities, which GardaWorld believes are reasonable as of the current date. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to the company, they may prove to be incorrect. The company cautions the reader that the current economic conditions make forward-looking information and the underlying assumptions subject to greater uncertainty and that, consequently, they may not materialize, or the results may significantly differ from the company’s expectations. It is impossible for GardaWorld to predict with certainty the impact that the current economic may have on future results. Forward-looking information is also subject to certain factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from what GardaWorld currently expects. These factors include growth management, market competition, cost of financing, key personnel, government regulations, standard customer service contracts, insurance, strikes and other labor protests, information technology systems, operations outside Canada and the United States, currency fluctuations, credit risk, reputational risk, and financial covenants risk. Therefore, future events and results may vary significantly from what management currently foresees. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. We will not update these statements unless applicable securities laws require us to do so. The reader should also take knowledge of the GardaWorld’s Annual MD&A and audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017.
