Avila Energy Corporation (CSE: VIK)
(
"Avila" or the
"Company"), an
established producer, explorer, and developer of energy in Western
Canada, and
Insight Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: INAQ)
(
“Insight”), a special purpose acquisition
company, today announced they have entered into a business
combination agreement. Upon closing of the transaction, the
combined company will continue to operate as “Avila Energy Inc.”
and intends to list on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Avila is a Canadian-based energy company with a
diversified and growing portfolio of 100%-owned and operated wells,
three (3) oil and natural gas processing facilities and over 300
kms of gathering and sales pipelines that provides the Company the
ability to economically increase natural gas, liquids production
and conventional oil production. The Company’s development plans
are projected to continue to materially increase revenues
year-over-year that will result in additional sustainable free cash
flow. The location of the Company’s wells and facilities, in
Central Alberta, ensures upstream operations are able to continue
to grow with year-round access (other than seasonal road
restrictions during the second quarter). The Company’s team of
professionals and seasoned field staff collectively represent over
200 years of combined experience in the industry and have a proven
track record of developing and maintaining profitable and
sustainable operations. Avila Energy is
well-positioned to capitalize on a growth opportunity given the
recent launch of the Company’s “Vertically Integrated
Energy Business”.
Established in November 2022, Avila’s vertically
integrated energy business is expected to deliver its first
direct-to-consumer energy sales in North America in 2023, with a
goal to deliver net zero tier 3 (scope 3) CO2 emission energy to
consumers by 2027. The vertically integrated business is supported
by over 10 years of research and development, including Avila’s
equity investment in Micro Turbine Technology
(“MTT”). Through this investment, Avila obtained
preferred licensing rights to manufacture, sell, lease, and service
the “EnerTwin,” a plug-and-play cleantech product designed for
domestic and light commercial environments that runs on natural
gas, LPG, biomethane and hydrogen mixes.
Through the integration of the EnerTwin
technology into its revenue stream, Avila aims to become a net zero
energy company through the development of three strategic
phases:
- Upstream, Avila Energy will continue to invest towards becoming
a low-cost carbon-neutral energy producer that can generate
sustainable free-cashflow over the long term.
- Downstream, Avila Energy through the development of its
Direct-to-Consumer sales, the Company will be diversifying its
revenue stream, to increase demand, margins, and
profitability.
- Providing customers with the option to convert to Avila’s
developing hydrogen-fueled solutions, expected to be commercially
available in 2027, as part of its Corporate Vision.
Management Comments
Leonard Van Betuw, Avila’s President & CEO,
stated, “Today marks an important milestone for the Avila team as
we progress towards our mission to become a leading producer that
delivers a diversified choice of environmentally responsible energy
to consumers around the globe. We look forward to leveraging our
industry expertise with Insight’s veteran team of capital market
professionals to expand our presence across the U.S. and
international markets, which we believe will position us to become
a carbon neutral producer by year-end 2024, with a path toward to
net zero by 2027.”
Michael Singer, Insight’s Executive Chairman,
said, “We are excited to join forces with Avila through the
proposed business combination. Our disciplined approach of
identifying businesses that are changing their traditional
industries aligns well with Avila’s mission to become a
transformational and carbon-neutral energy provider.’’
Jeff Gary, Insight’s CEO, added, “As Avila paves
the way to deliver a diversified choice of environmental and
climate-friendly means of energy production, we look forward to
providing the support that is necessary to continue rewarding its
global stakeholders.”
Transaction Overview
Under the business combination agreement,
Insight will continue from the State of Delaware to the Province of
Alberta and acquire Avila in an amalgamation pursuant to a
court-approved plan of arrangement under Alberta law. Following the
closing, the combined company will continue to operate as “Avila
Energy Inc.” and intends to list on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The
board of directors of the combined company will consist of seven
members, including five directors appointed by Avila and two
directors appointed by Insight, and Leonard B. Van Betuw will
remain the CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Resulting Company.
A majority of the board will be independent under applicable stock
exchange standards.
Avila’s shareholders will exchange their
existing securities, including common shares, options, warrants and
debentures, into the combined company based on a conversion ratio
as set forth in the business combination agreement. At the time of
signing, the number of fully diluted common shares of Avila
outstanding was 150,540,414 common shares that will be exchanged
for 12,580,000 common shares priced on March 30, 2023 at US$10.30.
The remaining options, warrants, and debentures shall be assumed by
the new public company, the terms of which will be amended to
reflect the same exchange ratio. Depending on the number of
redemptions by Insight’s public shareholders, (2,848,607 shares as
of the date hereof), Avila shareholders will own the following
interest in the post-closing combined company:
- 100% Redemption (Proceeds retained from trust of US$ 1,250,000)
67.2% by Avila’s shareholders;
- 50% Redemption (Proceeds retained from trust of US$15,781,215)
62.4% by Avila’s shareholders;
- 0% Redemption (Proceeds retained from trust of US$29,062,430)
57.9% by Avila’s shareholders.
Based on the pricing of US$10.30 per share on
March 30, 2023, the market value of the combined Company is
estimated to be US$192.6 million (US$10.30 share price multiplied
by approximately 18,705,000 shares outstanding on closing). The
assumptions to determine this value are the following: all
shareholders of Insight vote in favor of the transaction, the
redemption is 95%, and the share price is equal to the retained
value of US$10.00 per share. There is a risk that the market value
assumed above comes in lower than estimated. The Company, as deemed
necessary and as per security legislation, will seek an independent
fairness opinion to evaluate the Company prior to closing.
Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other
statements about future events that are based on current
expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from the expected results.
In addition to the securities to be issued to
Avila’s shareholders at closing, a pool of 7 million earnout shares
will be issuable to certain directors, officers, employees,
consultants and designees of Avila and Insight following the
closing, subject to restrictions and forfeiture depending on the
satisfaction of post-closing performance milestones, including for
any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30)-consecutive
trading day period beginning on the closing date and ending on the
date that is forty-eight (48) months following the closing date,
the volume weighted average price of the shares equals or exceeds
$15.00 per share. Leonard B. Van Betuw, President & CEO, has
been assigned 750,000 shares.
Avila expects to use the proceeds from the
proposed business combination, following the payment of transaction
expenses, to fund the development of its business, including the
development of its Vertically Integrated Energy Business in
parallel with the development of its Alberta assets and
international opportunities currently undergoing due diligence and
negotiations.
The boards of directors of both Avila and
Insight have unanimously approved the proposed business
combination, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter
of 2023. The transaction requires the approval of the shareholders
of both Avila and Insight and is subject to other customary closing
conditions, including a requirement to list the common shares of
the combined company on either the NYSE or Nasdaq. Avila’s board
has a customary “fiduciary out,” subject to payment of a break fee
plus expense reimbursement, and may seek a fairness opinion in
connection with the transaction. There is no minimum cash closing
condition, although the parties have entered into certain financing
arrangements, as discussed below.
Contemporaneously with the execution of the
business combination agreement, certain holders of common stock of
Insight entered into the amended and restated Sponsor Support
Agreement, pursuant to which such holders agreed to approve the
business combination agreement and the proposed transactions. Mr.
Leonard Van Betuw also entered into a Company Support & Lock-Up
Agreement, pursuant to which he agreed to approve the business
combination agreement and the proposed transactions.
Financing Arrangements
Simultaneously with the execution of the
business combination agreement, Insight and Avila entered into a
prepaid forward purchase agreement with certain affiliates of
Meteora Capital Partners (“Meteora”). Pursuant to
the forward purchase agreement (“FPSA”), Meteora
has committed to purchase up to 2,500,000 Class A common Insight
Shares at approximately US $10.00 per share totaling US$25,000,000
(the “Backstop”) in advance of the consummation of
the business combination. This purchase shall take place and is
subject to the outcome of the final redemptions exercised by the
Insight public shareholders prior to closing. Assuming no such
redemptions, there would be US$29,065,243 held in trust at closing.
Of the shareholders who exercise such redemption rights, up to the
first 2,500,000 shares may be purchased by Meteora,
(US$25,000,000). 5% of any funds used to purchase such shares will
be released to the Company at closing of the business combination
with the remaining 95% of these funds to a maximum of US$23,750,000
to be held in escrow in support of the future sale of shares, at
the investor’s election. Shares held by the investor and subject to
the Backstop may be sold into the market by Meteora. Therefore,
subject to market conditions at the time of the completion of the
sale of shares by Meteora, the Company may receive up to
US$22,562,500 in proceeds from the future sale shares from the
funds being held in escrow, less fees, and commissions, pursuant to
the Backstop terms.
It should be noted that some of Meteora’s funds
also purchased units of Insight in its initial public offering and
received founder shares in consideration for such purchases.
In addition to the forward purchase agreement,
the business combination agreement provides that Avila and Insight
will use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct a private
placement of up to US$35,000,000 in Avila’s convertible debentures
prior to the closing of the Business Combination, that are to be
priced within the context of the redemption price of the Insight
shares in trust of US$10.00.
Conversion of Convertible Preferred Shares
The execution of the business combination
agreement triggered the conversion of 30,000,000 convertible
preferred shares of Avila held by Leonard Van Betuw, Avila’s
President & CEO. The preferred shares were converted to common
shares of Avila on a one-for-one basis.
This press release is issued pursuant to
National Instrument 62-104 - Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids and
National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related
Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. As a result of the
conversion of the convertible preferred shares, Mr. Van Betuw will
hold 28.36% of the issued and outstanding common shares of
Avila.
This conversion constitutes a related party
transaction pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 –Protection
of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI
61-101”) as Mr. Van Betuw is an officer and director of
the Company. However, the Company expects such participation would
be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder
approval requirements of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the
common shares subscribed for, nor the consideration for the common
shares paid by Mr. Van Betuw, would exceed 25% of the Company's
market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change
report in respect of the related party transaction at least 21
days before the conversion of the convertible preferred shares,
which the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances to complete
the execution of the business combination agreement in an
expeditious manner.
A report respecting this acquisition will be electronically
filed with the Securities Commission in each jurisdiction where
Avila is reporting and will be available for viewing on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
Advisors
WeirFoulds LLP and Dorsey & Whitney LLP are
serving as legal advisors to Avila. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving
as legal advisor to Insight.
About Avila Energy
Corporation
The Company is an emerging CSE listed
corporation trading under the symbol VIK, and in combination with
an expanding portfolio of 100% Owned and Operated oil and natural
gas production, pipelines and facilities is a licensed producer,
explorer, and developer of energy in Canada. The Company, through
the implementation of a closed system of carbon capture and
sequestration and an established path underway towards the material
reduction of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 emissions, continues to
work towards becoming a Vertically Integrated low-cost Carbon
Neutral Energy Producer. The Company continues to grow and achieve
its results by focusing on the application of a combination of
proven geological, geophysical, engineering, and production
techniques. For additional information, please visit
avilaenergy.com.
About Insight Acquisition
Corp.
Insight Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose
acquisition company formed solely to effect a merger, capital stock
exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or
similar business combination with one or more businesses. Insight
Acquisition Corp. is sponsored by Insight Acquisition Sponsor LLC.
For additional information, please visit insightacqcorp.com.
Additional Information and Where to Find
It
Additional information relating to the proposed
business combination, including a copy of the business combination
agreement, will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be
filed by Insight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”). Insight also intends to file with the
SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a proxy
statement/prospectus covering the securities of Insight to be
issued in the transaction and soliciting the vote of Insight’s
shareholders to approve the transaction. Once the registration
statement is declared effective by the SEC, Insight will mail the
definitive proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders. The
documents filed by Insight with the SEC may also be obtained free
of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or upon written
request to Insight as set forth further below under “Contacts”.
Avila will be filing a copy of the business
combination agreement under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Additional details relating to the proposed business combination
will be available in the management information circular to be
provided to shareholders in order to approve the transaction. Once
mailed to the shareholders of Avila it will also be filed under the
Company’s profile on SEDAR.
This press release does not contain all
the information that should be considered relating to the proposed
business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any
investment or other decision in respect of the transaction. Insight
and Avila urge their investors and other interested persons to
read, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and
other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the
transaction as they become available, as these materials will
contain important information about Insight, Avila, and the
transaction.
Participants in the
Solicitation
Insight and Avila and their respective directors
and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from Insight’s shareholders and Avila’s
shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination.
A list of the names of the directors and executive officers of
Avila and Insight and information regarding their interests in the
transaction will be contained in the proxy statement when
available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as
described in the second paragraph under the above section titled
“Additional Information and Where to Find It.”
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not constitute an offer
to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a
solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale
of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation
or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information set forth in this press
release contains "forward-looking statements" with respect to the
proposed business combination between the Company and Insight.
Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use
of words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,”
“project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,”
“future,” “outlook,” “target” or other similar expressions (or the
negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or
indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of
historical matters. Forward-looking statements are predictions,
projections, and other statements about future events that are
based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual
results to differ materially from the expected results. These
statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not
identified in this communication. These forward-looking statements
are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to
serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee,
an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or
probability. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the
control of the Company and Insight.
All statements in this press release, other than
statements of historical facts, that address events or developments
that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements,
including, but not limited to the execution of the business
combination agreement, the occurrence of and the anticipated date
of closing of the transaction, the availability of financing for
the transaction and Insight at the time of signing, the anticipated
price per share post-closing of the transaction which will affect
the enterprise value, and the post-Closing governance of the
Resulting Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements are
subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are
beyond the Company’s and Insight’s control, including completion of
customary due diligence with respect to the transaction, approval
by the Insight shareholders of an extension of the time by which
they must consummate an initial business combination, outstanding
proceeds remaining in trust following redemption by Insight
shareholders, listing approval by a United States exchange and the
impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, the
regulatory environment, volatility of commodity prices, currency
fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition
from other industry participants and stock market volatility,
success and commitment of customers to the EnerTwin product,
maintaining the licensing rights to manufacture, sell, lease, and
service the EnerTwin, become a carbon neutral energy provider by
year-end 2024 and net zero by 2027, expansion in the U.S. and
international markets. Although the Company and Insight believe
that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are
reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on
factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to
be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon
currently available information. Such statements are subject to
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could
influence actual results or events and cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated, or
implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking
statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results,
levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material
assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are
discussed in the Company’s public disclosure documents available at
www.sedar.com and Insight’s public disclosure documents available
through the EDGAR filing system at www.sec.gov. Furthermore, the
forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as
of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable
law, neither the Company nor Insight undertake any obligation to
publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this
document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Contacts
Avila Energy Corporation
- Ronnie Shporer, Investor Relations, North America
(ron.s@avilaenergy.com)
- Peter Nesveda, Investor Relations, International
(peter@intuitiveaustralia.com.au)
- Leonard B. Van
Betuw, President & CEO (leonard.v@avilaenergy.com)
Insight Acquisition
Corp.Gateway GroupCody Slach and Georg Venturatos
949-574-3860INAQ@gatewayir.com
Insight Acquisition (NYSE:INAQ)
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