Heelys, Inc. (the "Company" or "Heelys") (Nasdaq:HLYS) and
Sequential Brands Group, Inc. ("Sequential") (OTCBB:SQBG) announced
today they have entered into an agreement and plan of merger dated
December 7, 2012 (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which
Sequential will acquire all of the outstanding shares of common
stock of Heelys for $2.25 per share in cash, or approximately $63.2
million (the "Sequential Transaction").
Heelys also announced that, before entering into the Merger
Agreement with Sequential, the Company's board of directors (the
"Board") unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement
constitutes a "superior proposal" under the terms and provisions of
the Company's previously-announced asset purchase agreement dated
October 22, 2012 among The Evergreen Group Ventures, LLC
("Evergreen"), the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Evergreen
Purchase Agreement"). Heelys has terminated the Evergreen Purchase
Agreement, and the Company has agreed to pay Evergreen a
termination fee, which, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, will be
reimbursed by Sequential.
"The Sequential transaction represents an attractive outcome and
is in the best interest of Heelys stockholders," said Tom Hansen,
Heelys President and CEO. "Their all-cash offer provides our
stockholders with a fixed cash value and eliminates the need to
proceed with the previously announced Plan of Dissolution."
Yehuda Shmidman, CEO of Sequential, commented, "We are excited
to be adding the Heelys brand to our portfolio. Heelys is
recognized globally as a pioneer of skate shoes, and with its brand
DNA rooted in innovation and skate, we see the potential for
expansion in the future as a global lifestyle brand." Mr.
Shmidman added, "Fitting with Sequential's brand-management
business model, we have identified our long-term worldwide
licensing partner for the core category of footwear, and will
announce the partner and the team managing the Heelys brand
shortly."
Tengram Capital Partners advised Sequential on the
transaction. William Sweedler, Managing Partner of Tengram and
Chairman of Sequential, stated, "The Sequential model is simple:
find great brands and marry them with equally great operating
licensees to build on their core DNA. The acquisition of
Heelys represents the second transaction completed by Sequential
Brands Group since Tengram's involvement with the company began
earlier this year, and we are excited about the pipeline of
opportunities to add more brands to Sequential's portfolio in the
future."
The proposed merger with Sequential, which is subject to
customary closing conditions, including receipt of Heelys
stockholder approval, is expected to close in the first quarter of
2013. In connection with the Merger Agreement, Capital
Southwest Venture Corporation and another stockholder of the
Company, who collectively hold approximately 35.1% of the issued
and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, have entered
into voting agreements with Sequential pursuant to which they have
agreed, among other things, to vote their shares in favor of the
merger.
The Company's Special Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for
December 13, 2012 to consider and vote upon, among other things,
the transactions contemplated by the Evergreen Purchase Agreement,
the change of the Company's name and the dissolution of the Company
pursuant to a Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution ("Plan of
Dissolution"), has been canceled. The Company's
stockholders are instructed to disregard the Company's previously
filed proxy statement and related solicitation materials regarding
the Evergreen Purchase Agreement, the name change, and the
dissolution of the Company pursuant to the Plan of
Dissolution.
Additional information regarding the Sequential Transaction will
be included in a proxy statement the Company intends to file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and distribute to its
stockholders. The Company's proxy statement will include
information regarding the timing of a Special Meeting of the
Company's stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement.
Roth Capital Partners, LLC is serving as exclusive financial
advisor to Heelys and has delivered a fairness opinion in
connection with the merger. Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP is
serving as legal advisor to Heelys. Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor to
Sequential.
THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ
CAREFULLY THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ITS ANNEXES AND THE NOTICE OF
SPECIAL MEETING AND THE OTHER MATERIALS FILED OR PROVIDED TO THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION REGARDING THE SEQUENTIAL
TRANSACTION WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS
WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY AND THE
MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. ANY STOCKHOLDER
WHO IS IN DOUBT AS TO HOW TO MAKE ANY DECISION REGARDING THE
MATTERS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE MEETING SHOULD CONSULT HIS, HER OR
ITS FINANCIAL, LEGAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS.
About Heelys, Inc.
Heelys, Inc. designs, markets and distributes innovative,
action sports-inspired products primarily under the
HEELYS(R) brand targeted to the youth market. The Company's
primary product, HEELYS-wheeled footwear, is patented dual purpose
footwear that incorporates a stealth, removable wheel in the heel.
HEELYS-wheeled footwear allows the user to seamlessly transition
from walking or running to rolling by shifting weight to the
heel. Users can transform HEELYS-wheeled footwear into street
footwear by removing the wheel. HEELYS-wheeled footwear
provides users with a unique combination of fun and style that
differentiates it from other footwear and wheeled sports
products.
About Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (OTC:SQBG) owns, promotes,
markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands that presently
include William RastĀ®, People's LiberationĀ® and DVS Action Sports.
Sequential ensures that its brands continue to thrive and
grow by employing strong brand management, design and marketing
teams. Sequential has licensed and intends to license its brands in
a variety of consumer categories to retailers, wholesalers and
distributors in the United States and in certain international
territories. For more information, please visit Sequential's
corporate web site at: www.sequentialbrandsgroup.com. The reference
to such website address does not constitute incorporation by
reference of the information contained on, or linked to, such
website and none of such information is part of this press release
or any other document.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in
respect of the Sequential Transaction and related matters.
The proxy statement, a Notice of Special Meeting and related
materials with respect to the Sequential Transaction, when they
become available, will be available without charge on our website
at http://investors.heelys.com or by writing to: Corporate
Secretary, Heelys, Inc., 3200 Belmeade Drive, Ste. 100, Carrollton,
Texas 75006. These documents also will become available on the
website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at
www.sec.gov. The reference to such website addresses does not
constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained
on, or linked to, such websites and none of such information is
part of this press release or any other document.
Participants in Solicitation
The Company and its directors, executive officers and other
members of its management may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from the Company's stockholders in
connection with the Sequential Transactions and related
matters. Information concerning the interests of the Company's
participants in the solicitation, and any deemed participants in
the solicitation, will be set forth in the proxy statement with
respect to the Sequential Transaction and in the Company's periodic
reports previously or in the future filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Each of these documents is, or will be,
available as described above.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release and oral statements
made from time to time by representatives of the Company are
forward-looking statements ("forward-looking statements") that
involve risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements
contained in this press release that are not statements of
historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.
When used in this press release and in documents referenced herein,
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
regarding our expectations, beliefs or intentions that are
signified by terminology such as "subject to," "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "may,"
"will," "should," "can," the negatives thereof, variations thereon
and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect
the Company's current views with respect to future events, based on
what the Company believes are reasonable assumptions; however, such
statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other
factors. Our actual results may differ materially from those
anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. The section
entitled "Risk Factors" set forth in Item 1A of Part I of our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, in
Item 1A of Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended September 30, 3012 and in similar
discussions in our other Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may affect our business, results of operations
and financial condition. The Company's stockholders are urged
to consider such risks, uncertainties and factors carefully in
evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. Should one or more of these risks,
uncertainties or factors materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or review
any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses,
expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of the
Company, the Sequential Transaction or related matters.
CONTACT: Heelys, Inc.
Craig Storey, 214-390-1831
Chief Financial Officer
Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
Gary Klein, gklein@sequentialbrandsgroup.com
Chief Financial Officer
Heelys, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:HLYS)
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