MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 20,
2024 /CNW/ - goeasy Ltd. (TSX: GSY)
("goeasy" or the "Company"), one of
Canada's leading non-prime
consumer lenders, is pleased to announce that it priced
US$400 million aggregate principal
amount of 7.625% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the
"Notes"). The Notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured
basis by certain of goeasy's current and future subsidiaries. The
Company is also expected to enter into a currency swap agreement
(the "Currency Swap") to fix the foreign currency exchange
rate for the proceeds from the offering, which it expects will
reduce the effective cost of borrowing of the Notes when converted
into Canadian currency.
goeasy estimates the net proceeds from the offering will be
approximately C$532 million, based on
the Bank of Canada daily rate on
February 16, 2024 for the Canadian
dollar/U.S. dollar exchange rate, after deducting fees and
estimated offering expenses, and subject to adjustment as a result
of the Currency Swap. goeasy intends to use the proceeds from the
sale of the Notes to partially repay indebtedness under its secured
facilities and for general corporate purposes.
The offering of the Notes is expected to close on February 23, 2024, subject to customary closing
conditions.
The Notes and related guarantees have not been and will not be
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and the
Notes may not be offered or sold in the
United States or to any U.S. persons unless the Notes are
registered under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. This
offering will be made only to qualified institutional buyers in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside
the United States to non-U.S.
persons in offshore transactions in compliance with Rule 903 of
Regulation S under the Securities Act. Additionally, in
Canada the offering will be made
pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements of
applicable Canadian securities laws.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be
any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or
jurisdiction.
About goeasy
goeasy Ltd. is a Canadian company, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, that provides non-prime
leasing and lending services through its easyhome, easyfinancial
and LendCare brands. Supported by over 2,400 employees, the Company
offers a wide variety of financial products and services including
unsecured and secured instalment loans, merchant financing through
a variety of verticals and lease-to-own merchandise. Customers can
transact seamlessly through an omnichannel model that includes
online and mobile platforms, over 400 locations across Canada, and point-of-sale financing offered in
the retail, powersports, automotive, home improvement and
healthcare verticals, through over 9,500 merchant partners across
Canada. Throughout the Company's
history, it has acquired and organically served over 1.3 million
Canadians and originated over $12.8
billion in loans.
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau, goeasy is the proud
recipient of several awards in recognition of its exceptional
culture and continued business growth including 2023 Best
Workplaces™ in Financial Services & Insurance, Waterstone
Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, ranking on the 2022
Report on Business Women Lead Here executive gender diversity
benchmark, placing on the Report on Business ranking of
Canada's Top Growing Companies,
ranking on the TSX30, Greater Toronto Top Employers Award and has
been certified as a Great Place to Work®. The Company is
represented by a diverse group of team members from 78
nationalities who believe strongly in giving back to communities in
which it operates. To date, goeasy has raised and donated over
$5.5 million to support its
long-standing partnerships with BGC Canada and many other local
charities. In 2023, the Company announced a 3-year, $1.4 million commitment to BGC Canada's Food Fund
to help address the rising issue of food insecurity amongst
Canadian households.
goeasy Ltd.'s common shares are listed on the TSX under the
trading symbol "GSY".
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements about
goeasy, including, but not limited to, its business operations,
strategy and expected financial performance and condition.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements with respect to the expectations regarding the
completion and the use of proceeds of the Notes offering, the
guarantee of the Notes by certain of goeasy's current and future
subsidiaries, and the entry into the Currency Swap and the
anticipated effects thereof. In certain cases, forward-looking
statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to
future events or conditions, and/or can be identified by the use of
words such as "expect", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "aim",
"plan", "believe", "budget", "estimate", "forecast", "foresee",
"target" or negative versions thereof and similar expressions,
and/or state that certain actions, events or results "may",
"could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be
achieved.
Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and
assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations and
business prospects and are inherently subject to, among other
things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company's
operations, economic factors and the industry generally. There can
be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be
accurate as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking
statements made by the Company. Some important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in
the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
goeasy's ability to enter into new lease and/or financing
agreements, collect on existing lease and/or financing agreements,
open new locations on favourable terms, offer products which appeal
to customers at a competitive rate, respond to changes in
legislation, react to uncertainties related to regulatory action,
raise capital under favourable terms, compete, manage the impact of
litigation (including shareholder litigation), control costs at all
levels of the organization and maintain and enhance the system of
internal controls.
The Company cautions that the foregoing list is not exhaustive.
These and other factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from our expectations expressed in the forward-looking
statements, and further details and descriptions of these and other
factors are disclosed in the Company's Management's Discussion and
Analysis, including under the section entitled "Risk Factors". The
reader is cautioned to consider these, and other factors carefully
and not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company is
under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation)
to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless
required by law.
SOURCE goeasy Ltd