=======
--press release |
HOUSTON and DENVER -- Rick's Cabaret International, Inc., VCG Holding Corp. and Troy Lowrie and his affiliates have signed a letter of intent under which Rick's Cabaret will acquire all of the outstanding shares of VCG Holding to form the largest publicly traded operator of upscale gentlemen's clubs in North America, the two companies announced today.
Rick's Cabaret currently operates 18 nightclubs in seven states while VCG Holding operates 20 clubs in ten states. The two companies had combined revenues of $131.3 million for the 12 month period ending September 30, 2009.
Eric Langan [pictured], President and CEO of Rick's Cabaret International, said: "The combination of these two companies will result in a powerful operator that we believe would have generated earnings before income tax and depreciation (EBITDA) for the 12 months ended September 30, 2009 of approximately $25.3 million without any of the add-backs we anticipate we will achieve through synergistic cost savings. I am confident that the combined entities can achieve meaningful savings through streamlined management and elimination of duplicate costs associated with being two separate public companies, including lower legal and accounting expenses."
Troy Lowrie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VCG Holding Corp., said: "We at VCG are very pleased that this merger will create the leading adult entertainment nightclub operator in the United States. There are significant similarities in the companies' cultures and capabilities, and this should ultimately be a great combination for our shareholders, customers, and employees. We believe that the combined company will be better positioned to generate strong financial results and capitalize on future growth opportunities."
Rick's Cabaret International currently operates clubs under the Rick's Cabaret brand in New York City, Las Vegas, Houston, Ft. Worth, Austin, Minneapolis and San Antonio; under the Tootsie's Cabaret brand in Miami; under the XTC Cabaret brand in Austin, Dallas, Houston (two clubs) and San Antonio; under the Club Onyx brand in Houston, Charlotte, Dallas and Philadelphia; and under Cabaret North in Ft. Worth. A Rick's Cabaret in Austin that had been closed temporarily is scheduled to re-open under a new concept next month.
VCG Holding operates Imperial Showgirls in Anaheim; Diamond Cabaret, La Boheme, The Penthouse Club, PT's Showclub, PT's All Nude, all in Denver; PT's Showclub in Colorado Springs, Portland Maine, Louisville and Miami; The Men's Club in Raleigh; PT's Brooklyn, PT's Centreville, PT's Sports, The Penthouse Club and Roxy's, all in East St. Louis, Illinois; Jaguars in Dallas; Jaguars in Ft. Worth; PT's Showclub in Indianapolis; and Schieks Palace Royale in Minneapolis.
"The addition of the PT's Showclub brand and the opportunity to re-brand certain VCG Holding properties as Rick's Cabaret will be a great enhancement to our portfolio," Mr. Langan said.
"Troy Lowrie has built a terrific organization that we expect will fit nicely with ours, giving us new strength in the Midwest and Western states in particular and added market strength in key areas where we both now operate competitively. We are pleased that Troy has agreed to stay on as a consultant."
Under the non-binding (except as to certain provisions, including exclusivity and confidentiality) letter of intent, the companies anticipate a potential merger (structured to qualify as a tax-free reorganization), in which VCG Holding's shareholders will receive shares of Rick's common stock based on certain exchange ratios valuing each share of VCG Holding's common stock between $2.20 and $3.80 per share, determined based on the weighted average closing price of Rick's common stock as traded on the Nasdaq Global Market for the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the second trading day prior to the closing of the Merger. As of February 16, 2010 (and assuming the potential merger were to close on such date and that the weighted average closing price per share of Rick's common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days ending on February 11, 2010 was equal to the closing price of Rick's common stock on February 11, 2010 of $11.76 per share), the value of each share of VCG Holding's common stock under this formula would be $2.66 per share.
In the event the price per share of Rick's common stock as determined by this formula is below $8.00, Rick's may terminate the merger agreement, subject to the payment to VCG Holding of a termination fee to be negotiated by the parties in connection with the preparation of the merger agreement.
Contemporaneously with the merger, Rick's will acquire 5,770,197 shares of VCG Holding common stock held by Troy Lowrie and his affiliates, for cash in an amount equal to the lesser of $2.44 per share or the per share price of common stock received by VCG Holding's shareholders in the proposed merger. Mr. Lowrie may elect to receive shares of Rick's common stock at the same exchange rate received by VCG Holding's shareholders, for up to 30% of his VCG Holding common stock.
In addition, in exchange for additional payments to be made to Mr. Lowrie as detailed in the letter of intent, Mr. Lowrie will refinance (at a lower interest rate) and continue to carry a $5.7 million note from VCG Holding (as acquired by Rick's), continue to personally guarantee certain VCG Holding's obligations in exchange for a fair market value cash payment for such guarantees, sell to Rick's the outstanding capital stock of Club Licensing, Inc., a subsidiary of Lowrie Management, LLLP, sell to Rick's the trademarks "Diamond Cabaret" and "PT's," and enter into a three-year consulting agreement with Rick's.
The Letter of Intent also provides for an exclusivity period through March 12, 2010, during which time VCG Holding and its representatives agree to negotiate exclusively with Rick's, subject to termination and a termination fee payable to Rick's upon VCG Holding's receipt of a "superior proposal" to acquire 20% or more of VCG Holding, by way of a sale of assets, tender offer, merger, consolidation or other business combination, that in the opinion of VCG Holding's financial advisor, is, or is reasonably likely to lead to, a proposal that is more favorable to the shareholders of VCG Holding than the proposed merger. If definitive merger documents are not entered into as of such date, the letter of intent will terminate, unless otherwise extended by the parties. Under the letter of intent, the merger agreement is expected to contain customary representations and warranties including the absence of a material adverse change of Rick's and VCG Holding and other customary closing conditions, including but not limited to, the receipt of material consents, the approval of the merger by the shareholders of Rick's and of VCG Holding, and the effectiveness of a registration statement containing a joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Form S-4 to be filed by Rick's, which, among other things, registers the shares of Rick's common stock to be issued to VCG Holding's shareholders in the merger. There can be no assurance that Rick's and VCG Holding will enter into any definitive transaction agreement, that the entry into a transaction agreement, if any, will result in the closing of any specific transactions, or that the terms of any definitive transaction documents will reflect the terms of the proposed merger as outlined in the letter of intent. A copy of the Letter of Intent has been filed on Form 8-K filed by both companies today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The definitive merger agreement, if consummated, will include final terms and conditions of the proposed transaction negotiated by the parties, and will be disclosed upon execution.
=======
It's nice 2 know that some strip clubs r makin' $$$...
No comments:
Post a Comment