BACKGROUND TO THE SOLICITATION
The following is a chronology of events leading up to this proxy solicitation:
In 1989, William Coulter and Mark Tkach co-founded RideNow Powersports, which sold motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft and other powersports equipment, plus accessories. Over the next few decades, the business grew to more than 40 stores. In August 2020, RumbleOn approached Mr. Coulter and Mr. Tkach, as RideNow’s principal owners, about a potential transaction between RumbleOn and RideNow.
On December 16, 2020, RumbleOn and RideNow agreed to negotiate exclusively with one another regarding a potential transaction in which RumbleOn would purchase RideNow.
On December 17, 2020, RumbleOn formally engaged B. Riley Securities as its financial advisor for the transaction and as its underwriter/placement agent for its planned raising of equity capital, in connection with the transaction. RideNow did not engage a financial advisor in connection with the proposed transaction.
On January 6, 2021, the parties began legal and business due diligence. For the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, RumbleOn generated cumulative revenue of $1,413.5 million and a cumulative net loss of $95.4 million. Over that same time period, RideNow generated cumulative revenue of $2,334.5 million and cumulative net income of $157.0 million.
On Monday, March 15, 2021, RumbleOn and RideNow issued a joint press release announcing the transaction, whereby on March 12, 2021, RumbleOn agreed to acquire RideNow for $400.4 million cash and $201.0 million of Class B Shares.
On June 8, 2021, RumbleOn disclosed the unexpected passing of director and Chief Financial Officer Steven Berrard.
On June 16, 2021, the Company appointed Beverly Rath as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Peter Levy as a member of the Board.
On July 30, 2021, RumbleOn’s stockholders approved the Company’s purchase of RideNow.
On August 31, 2021, RumbleOn closed an equity offering, led by B. Riley Securities, in which RumbleOn issued 5.05 million Class B Shares at $33.00 each, for gross proceeds of $166.7 million and net proceeds of $155.9 million, before transaction expenses.
Also on August 31, 2021, RumbleOn closed its purchase of RideNow, whereby the owners of RideNow received $400.4 million in cash and 5.833 million Class B Shares, valued at $201.0 million as of that day’s closing price. In connection with the closing of the acquisition, RumbleOn entered into employment contracts with Messrs. Coulter and Tkach. Mr. Coulter became Executive Vice Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Tkach became Chief Operating Officer and joined the Company’s Board. On March 15, 2021, before the transaction closed, RumbleOn Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairman Marshall Chesrown told investors “I couldn’t imagine better partners with whom to create this transformational combination,” and on August 25, 2021, touted RumbleOn’s “[s]easoned executive team” consisting of Messrs. Coulter, Tkach, Chesrown, and Levy. As part of the transaction, Mr. Coulter and Mr. Tkach each became substantial stockholders in RumbleOn. Messrs. Coulter and Tkach also entered into agreements whereby they leased to the Company properties under 20-year leases.
On January 31, 2022, the Company appointed Narinder Sahai as Chief Financial Officer.
In a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 4, 2022, RumbleOn announced that Sam Dantzler had resigned from the Board. RumbleOn disclosed that its Board “expects to appoint a new independent director in the coming weeks.”
On Friday, February 11, 2022, the Class B Shares closed at $38.49 per share. Before the market opened on February 14, 2022, RumbleOn announced the resignations of Messrs. Coulter and Tkach from RumbleOn and the Board, explaining that each of them had notified RumbleOn that he was resigning as a director, effective immediately, alleging termination for good reason due to material reductions or diminutions by the Company of his authorities, duties, and responsibilities. RumbleOn also announced on February 14, 2022,