Communications Systems, Inc. Receives Shareholder Approval to Merge With Pineapple Energy and Announces Expected Merger Closing Date

Rhea-AI Summary

Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JCS) announced that shareholders approved the merger with Pineapple Energy LLC during a special meeting on March 25, 2022.

The merger is expected to close on March 28, 2022, with shareholders receiving one Contingent Value Right (CVR) per share. Following the merger, CSI will rebrand as Pineapple Holdings, Inc., with trading under the new symbol PEGY starting March 29, 2022.

Positive

• Shareholder approval of the merger with Pineapple provides a strategic transition to energy management.
• Expectations of increased market presence through the merger, potentially enhancing revenue growth.

Negative

• Uncertainty regarding the finalization of the merger on the expected closing date.
• Potential delays and costs associated with the merger may impact operations and financial performance.

- CSI Shareholders Approved Merger Proposal at Special Meeting on March 25, 2022

- CSI Expects Closing of Merger to Occur on Monday, March 28, 2022

- CSI Shareholders of Record as of the Close of Business on Friday, March 25, 2022 Will Receive CVRs Assuming Closing on March 28, 2022

MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Communications Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: JCS) (“CSI” or the “Company”) today announced that CSI shareholders approved Proposal #1, the proposal to approve the merger transaction with Pineapple Energy LLC (“Pineapple”), at the reconvened special meeting of CSI shareholders that was held on March 25, 2022 at 9 a.m. CT.

Roger Lacey, Executive Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer of CSI, commented, “On behalf of the CSI board of directors, I want to thank all of the CSI shareholders that voted FOR the Pineapple merger. This is a major milestone and a step closer to transforming CSI into the nation’s leading residential energy management company. We are excited to be on the path to closing the merger with Pineapple and completing the other related transactions.”

CSI also announced that the merger transaction with Pineapple is expected to close on Monday, March 28, 2022. Assuming that closing date:

• CSI shareholders of record as of the close of business on Friday, March 25, 2022 will receive one contractual non-transferable Contingent Value Right (CVR) per share of CSI common stock held, which will entitle the CVR holder to a portion of the proceeds of dispositions of CSI’s pre-merger assets after the effective time of the merger.
• CSI will change its corporate name to “Pineapple Holdings, Inc.” on the closing date.
• Pineapple Holdings, Inc. common stock will begin to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the new symbol “PEGY” as of the opening of the stock market on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.

About Communications Systems, Inc.

Communications Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: JCS), has operated as an IoT intelligent edge products and services company. For more information regarding CSI, please see www.commsystems.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It; Participants in the Solicitation

In connection with the proposed merger with Pineapple, Communications Systems, Inc. (“CSI”) filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-260999) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 12, 2021 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement includes a proxy statement/prospectus, and was declared effective by the SEC on February 3, 2022. Beginning February 4, 2022, a copy of the proxy statement/prospectus dated February 3, 2022 was sent to CSI shareholders as of the close of business on January 27, 2022, the record date established for the special meeting.

CSI URGES INVESTORS, SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

The Registration Statement, preliminary and definitive proxy statement/prospectus, any other relevant documents, and all other documents and reports CSI files with or furnishes to the SEC are (or, when filed, will be) available free of charge under the "Financial Reports" tab of the Investors Relations section of our website at www.commsystems.com or by directing a request to: Communications Systems, Inc., 10900 Red Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343. The contents of the CSI website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this press release, the Registration Statement, or the proxy statement/prospectus. The documents and reports that CSI files with or furnishes to the SEC are (or, when filed, will be) available free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

CSI and its directors and executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies by CSI in connection with approval of the proposed merger and other proposals to be presented at the special meeting. Information regarding the names of these persons and their respective interests in the transaction, by securities holdings or otherwise, are set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus dated February 3, 2022. To the extent the Company's directors and executive officers or their holdings of the Company's securities have changed from the amounts disclosed in such filing, to the Company's knowledge, these changes have been reflected on statements of change in ownership on Form 4 on file with the SEC. You may obtain these documents (when they become available, as applicable) free of charge through the sources indicated above.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future financial performance, future growth, and future acquisitions. These statements are based on Communications Systems’ current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. There can be no guarantee that the proposed transactions described in this press release will be completed, or that they will be completed as currently proposed, or at any particular time. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements here due to changes in economic, business, competitive or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of Communications Systems’ business.

These risks, uncertainties and contingencies are presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and, from time to time, in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read considering such risks. Further, investors should keep in mind that the Company’s financial results in any period may not be indicative of future results. Communications Systems is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise. In addition to these factors, there are several additional factors, including:

- the expected timing of the closing of the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction;

- the conditions to the closing of CSI-Pineapple merger transaction may not be satisfied;

- the occurrence of any other risks to consummation of the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction, including the risk that the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period or any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction;

- the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction has involved greater than expected costs and delays and may in the future involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays;

- the Company’s ability to sell its other legacy operating business assets and its real estate assets at attractive values;

- there is no assurance that CSI will receive any of the maximum $7.0 million earnout relating to the August 2, 2021 sale of CSI’s Electronics & Software Segment;

- the combined company will be entitled to retain ten percent of the net proceeds of CSI legacy assets that are sold pursuant to agreements entered into after the effective date of the merger;

- risks that the merger will disrupt current CSI plans and operations or that the business or stock price of CSI may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction;

- the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction;

- the fact that CSI cannot yet determine the exact amount and timing of any additional pre-CSI-Pineapple merger cash dividends, if any, or the ultimate value of the Contingent Value Rights that CSI intends to distribute to its shareholders immediately prior to the closing of the CSI-Pineapple merger transaction; and

- the anticipated benefits of the proposed merger transaction with Pineapple may not be realized in the expected timeframe, or at all.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220324006034/en/

For Communications Systems, Inc.

Roger H. D. Lacey

Executive Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer

+1 (952) 996-1674

Mark D. Fandrich

Chief Financial Officer

+1 (952) 582-6416

mark.fandrich@commsysinc.com

The Equity Group Inc.

Lena Cati

Senior Vice President

+1 (212) 836-9611

lcati@equityny.com

Source: Communications Systems, Inc.

FAQ

What was the outcome of the CSI shareholders' meeting on March 25, 2022?

CSI shareholders approved the merger with Pineapple Energy LLC.

When is the CSI and Pineapple merger expected to close?

The merger is expected to close on March 28, 2022.

What will happen to CSI shares after the merger?

CSI shareholders will receive one Contingent Value Right per share, and CSI will change its name to Pineapple Holdings, Inc.

What is the new trading symbol for the merged company?

The new trading symbol for Pineapple Holdings, Inc. will be PEGY, effective March 29, 2022.

What are the potential risks associated with the CSI-Pineapple merger?

Risks include delays in closing the merger, unexpected costs, and operational disruptions.