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Blue Apron Files Registration Statement for Previously-Announced, Fully Backstopped Rights Offering as Part of Planned $78 Million Capital Raise
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Rhea-AI Summary
Blue Apron (NYSE: APRN) has filed a registration statement with the SEC for a proposed $45 million fully backstopped equity rights offering, part of a larger $78 million capital raise. The company plans to use the proceeds to support its growth strategy and ESG initiatives, including employee wage enhancements. It has eliminated its dual-class stock structure and aims to diversify its board composition post-2022 annual meeting. Notably, the purchase price for the offering is $10 per share, with commitments from significant investors.
Positive
Planned $78 million capital raise to support growth and ESG initiatives.
Elimination of dual-class stock structure enhances shareholder value.
Commitment to increase employee wages, benefits, and training.
Negative
Closing of capital raise transactions dependent on completion of various conditions.
Potential risks associated with market conditions and shareholder participation.
Company plans to use proceeds to support accelerated growth strategy, adopt new initiatives to benefit employees, and build upon its ESG program
Dual class stock structure eliminated in connection with planned capital raise
Blue Apron intends to further diversify board composition following 2022 annual meeting
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Blue Apron Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: APRN) today filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for its previously announced proposed fully backstopped equity rights offering, which represents $45.0 million of its planned $78.0 million capital raise.
As part of the $78.0 million capital raise, the company previously disclosed a planned $30.0 million investment by RJB Partners LLC, an affiliate of Joseph N. Sanberg, and a $3.0 million investment by Matthew B. Salzberg, Blue Apron’s co-founder and former board chair, on the same terms as the rights offering. RJB Partners LLC is also the backstop provider in the rights offering.
Each of the transactions included in the capital raise is structured to include a combination of shares of Class A common stock and associated warrants, and is priced at an effective purchase price of $10.00 for one share of Class A common stock plus the associated warrants, as described below. As of September 14, 2021, the date prior to the announcement of the transactions, the closing price of the Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $3.88 per share.
Blue Apron intends to use the net proceeds of the full capital raise for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to accelerate its growth strategy to drive new customers and associated revenue growth. The company is also permitted by the terms of the purchase agreement to repay up to $5.0 million of outstanding indebtedness with capital raise proceeds.
In addition, the company has committed to establishing and implementing certain new initiatives to build on its ESG program, including plans to achieve carbon neutrality targets by early 2022. The company also plans to increase wages, benefits and training for its hourly employees.
Further, under the terms of the purchase agreement, Blue Apron agreed to use reasonable best efforts to implement a number of corporate governance reforms. In connection with the transactions, effective as of September 15, 2021, Blue Apron’s dual-class capital structure was eliminated. Other governance reforms include using reasonable best efforts to have the board of directors composed of at least 50% women and at least 50% persons of color following the company’s 2022 annual stockholders meeting. These planned governance initiatives follow the declassification of the board of directors that was approved earlier this year.
Matthew B. Salzberg’s investment closed on September 15, 2021, and the other transactions are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Proposed Rights Offering
The public $45.0 million proposed rights offering consists of subscription rights to purchase Class A common stock and associated warrants offered to all existing shareholders on a pro rata basis as of a yet to be determined record date. The company has included the rights offering as part of its planned capital raise to enable stockholders to participate pro rata in $45.0 million of the capital raise on the same terms as RJB Partners LLC. Certain directors, including Linda Findley Kozlowski and Elizabeth Huebner, have indicated that they intend to exercise the subscription rights they receive in the rights offering in full. The proposed offering is fully backstopped by RJB Partners LLC under a purchase agreement, which commits RJB Partners LLC to purchase any and all unsubscribed shares of Class A common stock and warrants in the rights offering, subject to certain customary closing conditions, including completion of the proposed rights offering. This purchase agreement also governs the RJB Partners LLC and Salzberg private placements.
The subscription rights will entitle eligible holders to purchase for an effective purchase price of $10.00 (i) one share of Class A common stock, (ii) one seven-year warrant to purchase 0.8 of one additional share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $15.00 per share, (iii) one seven-year warrant to purchase 0.4 of one additional share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $18.00 per share, and (iv) one seven-year warrant to purchase 0.2 of one additional share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $20.00 per share.
The subscription price for the proposed rights offering was unanimously approved by the company’s board of directors based on several considerations, including negotiations with RJB Partners LLC regarding the backstop and the company’s financing needs.
Other Important Information
A registration statement relating to the proposed rights offering has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. The proposed rights offering will be made pursuant to such registration statement and a prospectus to be filed with the SEC prior to the commencement of the proposed rights offering. The securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.
The information herein, including the expected terms of the proposed rights offering, is not complete and is subject to change. The company reserves the right to cancel or terminate the planned rights offering at any time with the consent of RJB Partners LLC. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any subscription rights or any other securities to be issued in the proposed rights offering or any related transactions, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of subscription rights or any other securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding the company’s plans to launch a fully backstopped rights offering, the anticipated final terms, timing and completion of the proposed rights offering and related backstop and concurrent private placement, the use of proceeds from the proposed rights offering and related backstop and related financings, and the company’s plans, strategies, and prospects for its business. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “hope,” “may,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from current expectations and beliefs, including, but not limited to: risks and uncertainties related to: whether the proposed transactions will be completed in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that all of the closing conditions under the backstop purchase agreement are not satisfied; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the purchase agreement; the final terms of the proposed rights offering and related backstop and related financings; market and other conditions; the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed rights offering; risks related to the diverting of management’s attention from Blue Apron’s ongoing business operations; the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other important risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Form S-3 filed with the SEC on September 21, 2021, in Blue Apron’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and in any other subsequent filings made with the SEC by Blue Apron. There can be no assurance that Blue Apron will be able to complete the proposed rights offering and related backstop or the related financing transactions on the anticipated terms, or at all. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Blue Apron specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
About Blue Apron
Blue Apron’s vision is “better living through better food.” Launched in 2012, Blue Apron offers fresh, chef-designed recipes that empower home cooks to embrace their culinary curiosity and challenge their abilities to see what a difference cooking quality food can make in their lives. Through its mission to spark discovery, connection and joy through cooking, Blue Apron continuously focuses on bringing incredible recipes to its customers, while minimizing its carbon footprint, reducing food waste, and promoting diversity and inclusion.
