BlackBerry has announced the redemption of existing Convertible Debentures and the issuance of new Convertible Debentures.
Nasdaq-listed shares of BlackBerry had been halted prior to the announcement and resumed trading nearly flat on Friday afternoon. Trading halts are implemented to ensure a “fair and orderly market,” according to the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.
The company announced the amendment of the indenture governing its 6% unsecured convertible debentures (BB.DB.U) (the “6% Debentures”) to permit optional redemption prior to November 13, 2016.
Additionally, there will be an issuance of a notice of redemption to holders of the 6% Debentures pursuant to which BlackBerry will redeem the entire outstanding principal amount of the 6% Debentures on September 2, 2016 (the “Redemption Date”). As of the date hereof, approximately USD$1.245 billion aggregate principal amount of 6% Debentures remains outstanding.
The 6% Debentures will be redeemed on the Redemption Date at a redemption price of 106.7213% of the outstanding principal amount of the Debentures. The redemption price includes all of BlackBerry’s obligations in respect of principal and interest, and no additional amounts will be payable under the 6% Debentures.
BlackBerry may revoke the redemption notice at any time prior to the close of business on the business day prior to the Redemption Date. The normal course issuer bid for the 6% Debentures announced by BlackBerry on August 4, 2016 will terminate upon the completion of the redemption.
Holders of 6% Debentures remain entitled to convert their 6% Debentures into common shares of BlackBerry (“Common Shares”) at a conversion price of USD$10.00 per Common Share at any time on or prior to September 1, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the 6% Debentures. Based on the conversion price, BlackBerry expects that none of the 6% Debentures will be converted.
BlackBerry also announced that it has entered into an agreement pursuant to which Fairfax Financial Holdings (“Fairfax”) and other institutional investors will subscribe for 3.75% unsecured convertible debentures of BlackBerry (the “3.75% Debentures”) on a private placement basis for an aggregate subscription price of USD$605 million.
The transaction is expected to be completed on September 2, 2016. The 3.75% Debentures will be convertible into common shares of BlackBerry at a price of USD$10.00 per Common Share and will be due on November 13, 2020.
Based on the number of Common Shares currently outstanding, if all of the USD$605 million of 3.75% Debentures were converted, the Common Shares issued upon conversion would represent approximately 11.57% of the Common Shares outstanding after giving effect to the conversion. The other terms of the 3.75% Debentures are substantially identical to those of the 6% Debentures, except that the 3.75% Debentures are not redeemable prior to maturity.
“The restructuring of our convertible debt will enable us to significantly reduce our interest expense and potential future dilution for our shareholders,” said John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry.
“I am pleased that Fairfax will continue as BlackBerry’s leading lender, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to the company as we continue to execute on our strategy of pursuing growth and sustainable profitability.”
The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange.
In light of Fairfax’s interest in the 6% Debentures being redeemed and its subscription for 3.75% Debentures, these transactions are “related party transactions” that will be exempt from the minority approval and valuation requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions of the Canadian Securities Administrators. BlackBerry intends to complete these transactions in fewer than 21 days in order to achieve the financing objectives described above.
A convertible debenture is a hybrid security: half-stock, half-loan. Companies issue convertible debentures as a way to raise money. Investors buy them, not because of their great interest rates but for the option of converting them into stock – shares of the company – when the debenture matures.
Convertible debentures are soft loans for companies in need of capital to expand or maintain their businesses. They provide businesses with much-needed cash at excellent rates when conventional lenders might want nothing to do with them.
