Skyline Corporation (SKY) and ECN Capital Announce Strategic Relationship

ECN Capital Corp. nd Skyline Champion Corporation (NYSE: SKY) (“Skyline Champion”) today announced that they have entered into a share subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) pursuant to which Skyline Champion has agreed to make an approximately C$185 million (US$138 million) equity investment in ECN Capital on a private placement basis (the “Private Placement”) in exchange for 33,550,000 common shares of ECN Capital (the “Common Shares”) and 27,450,000 mandatory convertible preferred shares, Series E of ECN Capital (“Convertible Preferred Shares”). Upon closing of the Private Placement, Skyline Champion is expected to beneficially own an approximately 19.9% interest in ECN Capital (assuming the conversion of all Convertible Preferred Shares).

In connection with the Private Placement, ECN Capital and Skyline Champion will form a captive finance company that will be 51% owned by Skyline Champion and 49% owned by Triad Financial Services, Inc. (“Triad”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECN Capital. The captive finance company will provide a tailored retail finance loan program for customers and a new branded floorplan offering for Skyline Champion and its affiliates in the manufactured home finance space and will operate with services provided by Triad.

The captive finance company is expected to enable both companies to work more closely together to grow their respective businesses and create value for their stakeholders. Among other things, the captive finance company is expected to:

• drive greater demand for product by providing broader and more attractive financing options and services for Skyline Champion’s customers;
• enhance Skyline Champion’s turn-key homebuying solutions while magnifying the benefits of their digital and direct-to-consumer strategic investments; and
• generate increased retail loan originations and floorplan balances, driving growth and scale efficiencies for Triad.

"We are pleased to announce this new and expanded partnership with Skyline Champion, a leading participant in the North American manufactured housing sector”, said Steven Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of ECN Capital. “This transaction represents the culmination of the strategic review process that we commenced earlier this year, and we are very excited by the significant growth opportunities that the establishment of the new captive finance company will bring to Triad. The concurrent equity and preferred share investments in ECN Capital also represent a strong endorsement of ECN Capital’s business model and the value of our platform.”

“We are excited to announce this new strategic collaboration with one of our long-standing business partners,” said Mark Yost, Skyline Champion’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The partnership with Triad will help streamline the homebuying experience for our channel partners as well as the consumers of our homes. This will allow us to expand our ability to offer affordable housing solutions more efficiently while driving company-wide growth. The asset-light model of these financing solutions combined with the strength of our balance sheet allow us to partner with ECN Capital while continuing our investments in our longer-term commercial and operational initiatives. We are excited about the future and the benefits this investment will bring to both companies’ stakeholders.”

Key Private Placement Details

Equity Investment

Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, Skyline Champion has agreed acquire 33,550,000 Common Shares and 27,450,000 Convertible Preferred Shares, in each case at a price per share equal to C$3.04(the “Share Issue Price”).

The Convertible Preferred Shares are initially convertible on a one-for-one basis into an aggregate of 27,450,000 Common Shares based on an initial liquidation preference and conversion price equal to the Share Issue Price, which are subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. The Convertible Preferred Shares are convertible at any time at the option of Skyline Champion, are convertible at the option of ECN Capital in connection with a change of control of ECN Capital and will automatically convert into Common Shares on the fifth anniversary of closing of the Private Placement, in each case subject to a conversion cap in the event that, as a result of any conversion, Skyline Champion would hold in excess of 19.9% of outstanding Common Shares.

The Convertible Preferred Shares will receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate of 4.0% per annum on the liquidation preference, payable semi-annually.

The holder of the Convertible Preferred Shares will be entitled to vote on an as-converted basis for all matters on which holders of Common Shares vote and, except as otherwise required by law, will vote together as a single class with the Common Shares.

The Convertible Preferred Shares will not be transferrable other than to affiliates of Skyline Champion or with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of ECN Capital. The Common Shares to be acquired by Skyline Champion pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a two-year lock-up period, subject to permitted transfers to affiliates of Skyline Champion.

While the Convertible Preferred Shares will not be listed on any stock exchange, ECN Capital has applied for conditional approval for the listing of the underlying Common Shares on the TSX. ECN Capital has also applied for conditional approval from the TSX for the listing of the Common Shares to be acquired by Skyline Champion pursuant to the Private Placement.

ECN Capital intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for general corporate purposes.

Investor Rights Agreement

Pursuant to an investor rights agreement to be entered into on closing of the Private Placement (the “Investor Rights Agreement”), Skyline Champion will have the right to nominate one director to serve on the Board of Directors of ECN Capital. On closing, ECN Capital intends to appoint Mark Yost, President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyline Champion, to the Board of Directors of ECN Capital.

The Investor Rights Agreement will also provide for, among other things, customary piggy-pack registration rights, pre-emptive rights, standstill and voting support obligations. In addition, in light of the strategic partnership between ECN Capital and Skyline Champion, consisting of the Private Placement and the captive finance company, ECN Capital will also agree pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement that for a two-year period from closing of the Private Placement: (i) unanimous approval of the Board of Directors of ECN Capital will be required in order to market the sale of Triad, pursue any material acquisitions or dispositions outside of the ordinary course (subject to certain agreed upon dispositions) or pay any dividends in excess of ECN Capital’s current quarterly dividends on its Common Shares and existing preferred shares and dividends on the Convertible Preferred Shares; and (ii) Skyline Champion will have a right to match in connection with unsolicited offers to acquire ECN Capital or Triad.

Conditions to Closing

The Private Placement is anticipated to close in September 2023, subject to certain customary closing conditions including the receipt of conditional approval from the TSX and the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

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