Crown Capital backs DATA Communications Management’s Perennial Group acquisition

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By Ted Liu

DATA Communications Management Corp. (TSX: DCM) has entered into an agreement to acquire privately-held Perennial Group of Companies. To fund the acquisition, DCM has arranged a $12 million term loan from Crown Capital Fund IV LP, to fund the cash component of the acquisition and repay other indebtedness.

On June 28, 2017, DCM established a one-year non-revolving credit facility with Bridging Finance Inc. A portion of the loan proceeds is likely to repay the bridging financing.

As of December 31, 2017, DCM had $31.993 million in term loans due 2022 and 2023 with Integrated Private Debt Fund III LP, Integrated Private Debt Fund IV LP and Integrated Private Debt Fund V LP.

In November 2017, DATA Communications Management acquired Calgary based BOLDER Graphics with the backing of a new $5 million senior credit facility with Integrated Private Debt Fund V LP.

photo creidt: DCM

News Release

DATA Communications Management Corp. Announces Strategic Acquisition of Perennial Group of Companies and $12 million Term Loan with Crown Capital Partners

BRAMPTON, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 1, 2018–DATA Communications Management Corp. (TSX: DCM):

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

DATA Communications Management Corp. (TSX: DCM) (“DCM” or the “Company”) announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately-held Perennial Group of Companies (the “Perennial Group”). DCM also announces it has arranged a $12 million term loan from Crown Capital Fund IV LP, an investment fund managed by Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown”) (TSX: CRWN), to fund the cash component of the acquisition and repay other indebtedness.

Perennial Group of Companies

For more than 25 years, the Perennial Group has been the trusted partner for many of North America’s top brands in retail, financial services, and consumer packaged goods. The acquisition includes Perennial Inc., one of Canada’s leading design firms focused on creating and delivering design strategies for major retail brands in Canada and around the world, and The Finished Line Studios Inc., an independent, multi-function creative, execution and production art studio.

The Perennial Group generated approximately $7 million in revenues (unaudited) for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2017, with offices in Toronto and Bolton, Ontario. The Perennial Group’s suite of services includes business and brand strategy, consumer insights, environmental and graphic design, and
communications and retail operations design and strategy.

“We are very excited to welcome the Perennial and The Finished Line teams to DCM,” said Michael G. Sifton, CEO of DCM. “This transaction represents an important step in our strategic evolution from a business communications-focused provider to a marketing communications provider,” he added. “Our customers are dealing with a fundamental shift in their businesses as their customers are becoming more knowledgeable and enhancing the customer experience is becoming critical to their own competitive success,” said Gregory J. Cochrane, President of DCM. “Perennial’s insights will enable us to play a much more strategic role in helping them get closer to their customers, whether it be offline or online, in store or remote, tactile or digital,” he added.

Transaction Overview

DCM will acquire Perennial for a total purchase price of approximately $12 million, comprised of $7 million payable in cash on closing, $2.5 million through the issuance of common shares of DCM and $2.5 million in the form of a subordinated, unsecured non-interest bearing vendor take back note, with $1 million payable on the first anniversary of closing, $1 million on the second anniversary of closing and $0.5 million on the third anniversary of closing.

The purchase price will be subject to certain customary working capital and other closing adjustments.

The acquisition will be completed pursuant to a share purchase agreement dated April 30, 2018 (the “SPA”) between DCM and the Perennial Group shareholders (the “Vendors”). The SPA contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and other terms and conditions. DCM has secured lock-up agreements with the Vendors, pursuant to which the Vendors have agreed not to sell DCM common shares issued pursuant to the sale transaction for a period of twelve months from closing. A total of 1,394,856 common shares of DCM will be issued to the Vendors and the number of DCM’s issued and outstanding common shares will increase from 20,039,159 to 21,434,015 common shares outstanding. The issuance of common shares to the Vendors is subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Chris Lund, President & CEO of the Perennial Group, will assume the role of Chief Creative and Innovation Officer of DCM. Kevin Lund, Managing Director of Global Retail Programs for Perennial, will become Senior Vice President, Chief Brand Officer of DCM. George Athanasiou, Managing Director, The Finished Line, will become Vice President, Digital Product Innovation and Development of DCM.

“We see a tremendous opportunity to leverage DCM’s size and scale to assist our clients in executing the delivery of their brand promise to their customers as well as to help drive improved customer engagement strategies for DCM’s top clients with our capabilities,” said Chris Lund, President & CEO of the Perennial Group.

Credit Facilities

In connection with the acquisition, DCM has established a $12 million non-revolving term loan facility with Crown, of which approximately $7 million will be used to fund the up-front cash component of the Perennial Group acquisition and $3.5 million will be used to repay in full the outstanding balance of the Company’s non-revolving credit facility with Bridging Finance Inc., with the balance being used for general working capital purposes. The Crown term loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 10% per annum and the principal amount of the loan is due at maturity, which is 60 months from closing. DCM’s obligations under the Crown term loan are secured by conventional security charging all the property and assets of DCM and its subsidiaries. In addition, a total of 960,000 warrants have been issued to Crown in connection with the facility. Each warrant entitles the holder to acquire one DCM common share at an exercise price of $1.75 for a period of five years from closing. The issuance of the warrants and underlying DCM common shares to Crown is subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Cormark Securities Inc. was engaged by DCM as its exclusive advisor in connection with the Crown term loan.

Closing of the acquisition of the Perennial Group and funding of the Crown term loan is expected to occur on or about May 7, 2018 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

About DATA Communications Management Corp.

DCM is a leading provider of business communication solutions, bringing value and collaboration to marketing and operation teams in companies across North America. We help marketers and agencies unify and execute communications campaigns across multiple channels, and we help operations teams streamline and automate document and communications management processes. Our core capabilities include direct marketing, print services, labels and asset tracking, event tickets and gift cards, logistics and fulfilment, content and workflow management, data management and analytics, and regulatory communications. We serve clients in key vertical markets such as financial services, retail, healthcare, lottery and gaming, not‐for‐profit, and energy. We are strategically located across Canada to support clients on a national basis and serve the U.S. market through our facilities in Chicago, Illinois and Manhattan, New York.

Additional information relating to DATA Communications Management Corp. is available on www.datacm.com, and in the disclosure documents filed by
DATA Communications Management Corp. on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com.

CONTACT:
DATA Communications Management Corp.
Mr. Gregory J. Cochrane, (905) 791-3151
President
or
Mr. James E. Lorimer, (905) 791-3151
Chief Financial Officer
ir@datacm.com