Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
July 17, 2018
Clean Seed Capital Group Ltd. (“Clean Seed” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: CSX), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) dated July 16, 2018, to acquire Harvest International, Inc. (“Harvest International”) for $13,100,000 USD and future additional earn-out considerations. Pursuant to the Agreement, Clean Seed will acquire 100% of the shares and outstanding shareholder loans of Harvest International together with Harvest International’s manufacturing facilities located in Storm Lake, Iowa from the Friesen family (the “Acquisition”).
The Friesen family has been extremely successful in the agricultural manufacturing business since 1963, firstly as the founders of Meridian Industries, subsequently founding Friesen of Iowa and then most recently, Harvest International.
Harvest International was founded in 2007 with a commitment to design, develop and manufacture high quality augers and conveyor systems. After several years of success and a firm ear to the farming community, Harvest recognized an opportunity to add significant value to the planter market. In 2014, they transformed their business by creating and developing farmer focused planter technologies to complement their product offerings. Harvest International successfully secured patents for key components of their planter row units setting them apart from the competition. They subsequently developed and patented a unique toolbar design from the same farmer focused philosophy which has allowed them to advance from component producers towards full planter producers. To focus primarily on advancing its planter business, Harvest International sold its auger and conveyor product lines in 2017 and transformed its 75,000 square foot manufacturing facility and head office in Storm Lake, Iowa to commit 100% to the planter market. Harvest International has become a respected, recognized brand in the U.S. farming community by delivering farmer-driven, high quality products. Demand for their products continues to grow at a rapid pace.
Graeme Lempriere, President and CEO of the Company, commented:
“Following the recent granting of Clean Seed’s patents in the U.S., we embarked upon a program to source a synergistic industry partner that could accelerate our growth and position our company to play a major role in the U.S. and international planter markets, complementing our SMART Seeder technology initiatives. One company stood out as a seamless fit for Clean Seed, U.S. based Harvest International. This transaction is a transformational event for our collective organizations and drives our speed to market.
The management team of Harvest International has decades of experience in manufacturing agricultural equipment and a clear insight into farming community requirements. This strategic acquisition is best described as a merger of two cutting edge technology pioneers. Our combination will lead to developing robust market share which will be protected by an international portfolio of patented, innovative technologies for both the planting and seeding segments. The amalgamation of our management teams and technological prowess is the catalyst to expeditious growth.”
Byron Friesen, President and CEO of Harvest International, stated:
“Harvest International has a proud history of farmer-focused innovations in agricultural manufacturing and intellectual property development. Partnering with Clean Seed greatly advances our technological edge. Joining forces with a like-minded tech forward company like Clean Seed will allow our combined companies to deliver innovations not yet seen by North American farmers.”
Clean Seed will satisfy the purchase price of the Acquisition by way of: (i) the issuance of 8,000,000 Clean Seed common shares at closing, which will be subject to the standard four month hold period under applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX-V”) rules; (ii) a cash payment at closing of $2,580,718 USD, subject to customary closing adjustments; (iii) the assumption or restructuring at closing of notes payable of Harvest International and an affiliate aggregating approximately $7,519,282 USD; and (iv) future additional cash payments of up to $6,000,000 USD, based on Harvest International’s achievement of certain earn-out performance milestones, which will be paid out at the earliest in $2,000,000 USD annual installments over a three year period from December 31, 2019.The Company has initiated discussions with tier one Canadian financial institutions specializing in agriculture to provide structured debt financing to facilitate the Acquisition.
On closing of the Acquisition, Byron Friesen, President and CEO of Harvest International, and other key Harvest International management will continue in their senior management roles. Byron will also be appointed to Clean Seed’s board of directors.
Closing of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions including: (i) obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX-V; (ii) completion of satisfactory due diligence; (iii) Clean Seed having obtained financing necessary to pay the closing cash portion of the purchase price; and (iv) other conditions typical of a transaction of this nature. Clean Seed anticipates closing the Acquisition in late 2018.
The common shares of Clean Seed are currently halted from trading on the TSX-V at the Company’s request and will remain so until the TSX-V has received all requisite documentation in connection with the Acquisition.
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