UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 1)
| Filed by the Registrant x |
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| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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| Check the appropriate box: |
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| x Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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| o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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| o Definitive Proxy Statement |
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| o Definitive Additional Materials |
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| o Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
AVP, Inc. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
n/a |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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o | No fee required. |
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x | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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| (1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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| | Common stock, par value $0.001, per share, of AVP, Inc. (“Common Stock”) |
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| (2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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| | 19,824,539 shares of Common Stock and options and warrants to purchase 11,135,637 shares of Common Stock |
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| (3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
| | $1.23 per share* |
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| (4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
| | $36,000,000* |
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| (5) | Total fee paid: |
| | $7,200* |
* As of May 4, 2007, there were (i) 19,824,539 shares of Common Stock outstanding that are owned by stockholders other than Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P. and any other direct or indirect subsidiary of Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P. and (ii) options and warrants to purchase 11,135,637 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of less than $1.23 per share. The filing fee was determined by adding the (x) the product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that are proposed to be acquired in the merger and (ii) the merger consideration of $1.23 per share, plus (y) $9,151,631, which is the product of options and warrants to purchase 11,735,637 shares of Common Stock with exercise prices less than $1.23 and approximately $0.82 (which is the difference between $1.23 and the weighted average exercise price per share) ((x) and (y) together, the “Total Consideration”). The payment of the filing fee, calculated in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1), was calculated by multiplying the Total Consideration by $.0002. |
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o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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| (1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
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| (2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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| (3) | Filing Party: |
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| (4) | Date Filed: |
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PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS
AVP, Inc.
6100 Center Drive, Suite 900
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 426-8000
Dear Stockholders,
On behalf of the board of directors, I cordially invite you to attend a special meeting of stockholders of AVP, Inc. (“AVP”), which will be held at its offices, 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045, on , 2007 at 10:00 a.m., Pacific Time. At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 5, 2007, among AVP and AVP Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) and AVP Acquisition Corp. (“Acquisition”), two affiliates of Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P. (“Shamrock”).
The merger agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which Acquisition will merge with and into AVP, which will result in our becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. Upon completion of the merger, holders of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock will have the right to receive the liquidation value of their shares, i.e., $33.93, in cash, for each share held, and holders of our common stock (except for Holdings, Acquisition, or holders our of common stock who perfect their appraisal rights) will have the right to receive $1.23, in cash, for each share held.
This proxy statement gives you detailed information about the special meeting, the merger agreement, and the merger, and a copy of the merger agreement is included as Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement. We encourage you to read the proxy statement and the merger agreement carefully.
Our board of directors, after considering the unanimous recommendation of the special committee, which was constituted entirely of independent directors to negotiate the merger agreement, unanimously concluded that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of AVP and its stockholders, including its unaffiliated stockholders. Our board of directors therefore recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the merger agreement.
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please authorize the individuals named on your proxy card to vote your shares, by completing and promptly mailing your proxy card in the return envelope enclosed, or by toll-free telephone number or Internet, as described in the instructions included with your proxy card. This will not prevent you from voting in person at the special meeting, if you so desire. Your failure to vote will have the same effect as a vote against adoption of the merger agreement.
Sincerely yours,
Leonard Armato
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the merger, passed upon the fairness of the merger, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This proxy statement is dated , 2007 and is first being mailed to AVP stockholders on or about , 2007.
AVP, Inc.
6100 Center Drive, Suite 900
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 426-8000
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
To the Stockholders of AVP, Inc.:
A special meeting of AVP, Inc. (“AVP”) stockholders will be held on , 2007 at 10:00 a.m., Pacific Time, at AVP’s offices, 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045, for the following purposes:
(1) To consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 5, 2007, by and among AVP, AVP Holdings, Inc., and AVP Acquisition Corp.; and
(2) To transact such other business as may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting.
Holders of AVP Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Stock”) and common stock of record at the close of business on , 2007 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting.
To adopt the merger agreement, holders of a majority of votes entitled to be cast at the special meeting must vote in favor of adoption. Holders of Series B Stock and common stock vote together as one class for this purpose.
If the merger is completed, any holder of stock who does not vote in favor of the merger agreement will be entitled to have the holder’s shares appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery, but only if the holder submits a written demand for such an appraisal before the vote on the merger agreement and complies with the other Delaware law procedures explained in the accompanying proxy statement.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. Therefore, whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please authorize the individuals named on your proxy card to vote your shares, by completing and promptly mailing your proxy card in the return envelope enclosed, or by toll-free telephone number or Internet, as described in the instructions included with your proxy card. This will not prevent you from voting in person at the special meeting, if you so desire. Your failure to vote will have the same effect as a vote against the merger agreement.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Leonard Armato
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: , 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SUMMARY TERM SHEET | 4 |
Parties to the Merger | 4 |
What You Will Receive in the Merger | 4 |
Effects of the Merger | 4 |
Recommendations of the Special Committee and Our Board of Directors | 4 |
Opinion of the Special Committee's Financial Advisor | 5 |
Interests of AVP Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger | 5 |
The Special Meeting | 6 |
Conditions to the Merger | 6 |
Go shop/no shop | 7 |
Termination of the Merger Agreement | 7 |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences | 7 |
Appraisal Rights | 8 |
Summary Financial Information | 8 |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER | 9 |
SPECIAL FACTORS | 12 |
Background of the Merger | 13 |
Recommendations of the Special Committee and Our Board of Directors | 13 |
Reasons for the Special Committee’s Determination; Fairness of the Merger | 13 |
Opinion of Jefferies & Company, Inc. | 16 |
AVP's Financial Forecasts | 23 |
AVP's Purposes of and Reasons for the Merger | 26 |
Shamrock’s Purposes of and Reasons for the Merger | 27 |
Position of Shamrock , Holdings and Acquisition as to Fairness | 27 |
Certain Effects of the Merger | 27 |
Plans for AVP after the Merger | 28 |
Conduct of AVP’s Business if the Merger is Not Completed | 28 |
Interests of AVP Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger | 28 |
Compensation of the Special Committee | 31 |
Financing the Merger | 31 |
Regulatory Approvals and Other Consents | 31 |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger | 31 |
Accounting Treatment | 33 |
Appraisal Rights | 33 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 37 |
INTRODUCTION | 37 |
PARTIES TO THE MERGER | 37 |
AVP, Inc. | 37 |
AVP Holdings, Inc. and AVP Acquisition Corp. | 38 |
THE SPECIAL MEETING | 38 |
Date, Place and Time | 38 |
Date, Place and Time | 38 |
Matters to be Considered | 38 |
Shares Outstanding and Entitled to Vote; Record Date | 38 |
How to Vote Your Shares | 38 |
Votes Required | 39 |
Shares Owned by AVP Directors and Executive Officers | 39 |
Solicitation of Proxies | 39 |
THE MERGER AGREEMENT | 40 |
The Merger | 40 |
Effective Time of the Merger | 40 |
Charter Documents | 41 |
Payment for Shares, Options, and Warrants | 41 |
Payment of Merger Consideration and Surrender of Stock Certificates | 42 |
Conditions to Consummation of the Merger | 43 |
Representations and Warranties | 44 |
Go Shop/No Shop | 45 |
Covenants and Additional Agreements | 46 |
Termination of the Merger Agreement | 49 |
Expenses | 50 |
Termination Fees | 50 |
Extension and Waiver | 51 |
DESCRIPTION OF AVP’S BUSINESS | 52 |
Business Development | 52 |
Our Business | 52 |
Sources of Revenue | 52 |
Distribution | 54 |
Marketing | 54 |
Operations | 54 |
Employees | 56 |
Competition | 56 |
Reports to Security Holders | 56 |
Description of Property | 57 |
Legal proceedings | 57 |
RISK FACTORS | 57 |
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION | 60 |
Overview | 60 |
Results of Operations | 61 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources | 63 |
Critical Accounting Policies | 63 |
OUR STOCK PRICE | 73 |
Equity Compensation Plans | 74 |
SECURITY OWNERSHIP | 74 |
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF AVP | 76 |
Stock Option Plan; Warrants | 77 |
Employment Agreements | 78 |
Compensation of Directors | 78 |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions | 78 |
INFORMATION CONCERNING SHAMROCK AFFILIATES | 79 |
Holdings and Acquisition | 79 |
Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P. and Shamrock Capital Partners II, LLC | 79 |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE AVP’S NEXT ANNUAL MEETING | 80 |
MULTIPLE STOCKHOLDERS SHARING ONE ADDRESS | 80 |
PROVISIONS FOR UNAFFILIATED STOCKHOLDERS | 81 |
OTHER MATTERS | 81 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 81 |
ANNEXES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Annex A - AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Annex B - OPINION OF JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
Annex C - SECTION 262 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
This summary highlights selected information from the proxy statement and may not contain all of the information that is important to you regarding the document’s subject matter. To fully understand the merger agreement and the merger contemplated thereby, you should read carefully the entire proxy statement, including the merger agreement and the other annexes, as well as the other documents to which we refer you. See “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 81. In this proxy statement, the terms “AVP”, “Company”, “we”, “our,” and “us” refer to AVP, Inc. and its subsidiaries; “Holdings” refers to AVP Holdings, Inc.; and; “Acquisition” refers to AVP Acquisition Corp. Holdings and Acquisition are affiliates of Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P., which, with its affiliates other than Holdings or Acquisition, is referred to as “Shamrock”. Page references in this summary will direct you to a more complete description of the topics.
Parties to the Merger (page 37)
The parties to the merger are AVP; Holdings, a newly formed corporation; and Acquisition, a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings.
What You Will Receive in the Merger (page 40)
Upon completion of the proposed merger of Acquisition with and into AVP, holders of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Stock”) will have the right to receive the liquidation value of their shares, i.e., $33.93, in cash, for each share held, and holders of our common stock (except for Holdings and Acquisition or holders of our common stock who perfect their appraisal rights) will have the right to receive $1.23, in cash, for each share held.
The per share liquidation value of the Series B Stock is approximately $.35 less than the amount of merger consideration a holder of Series B Stock would receive if the holder converted all of the holder's Series B Stock into common stock before consummation of the merger. Holders of Series B Stock wishing to receive the greater amount must convert their shares before the consummation of the merger; however, if a Series B Stock holder converts, and the merger is not consummated for any reason, the common stock received on conversion cannot be converted back into Series B Stock.
Effects of the Merger (page 27)
The merger is a “going private” transaction that will result in our becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. The merger will have the following effects when it is completed:
· | Holdings will own all AVP equity; |
· | public stockholders will no longer participate financially in the potential risks or potential benefits associated with a common equity investment in AVP; |
· | we will no longer be a public company, and AVP common stock will no longer be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board; and |
· | we will no longer be required to file annual, quarterly, and current reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC.” |
Recommendations of the Special Committee and Our Board of Directors (page 14)
Members of our management who are directors may have financial and other interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests in the merger. Therefore, our board of directors decided that, to protect the interests of our unaffiliated stockholders, a special committee of independent directors who were not members of management and had no financial interest in the merger that differed from that of our unaffiliated stockholders, generally, should be formed to evaluate and negotiate the merger agreement and, if the special committee so decided, to recommend to our entire board of directors that it approve the merger and the terms of the merger agreement.
The special committee consists of three of our directors who were not officers or employees of AVP or otherwise affiliated with it, except as directors (and except for a director who became our interim chief financial officer upon the resignation of our preceding chief financial officer, as of March 31, 2007, which was not considered to impair the director’s qualifications for service on the special committee). The special committee, acting with the advice and assistance of AVP’s legal and the special committee's financial advisors, evaluated the merger and negotiated the terms and conditions of the merger agreement with Shamrock. In light of the factors described in the section of this proxy statement entitled, “Special Factors—Reasons for the Special Committee’s Determination; Fairness of the Merger,” the special committee unanimously concluded that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of our stockholders, including our unafilliated stockholders, and unanimously recommended to the board of directors that the merger agreement be adopted.
Based on the recommendation of the special committee, our board of directors unanimously concluded that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of AVP and its stockholders, including AVP’s, unaffiliated stockholders. Our board of directors therefore unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the merger agreement.
Opinion of the Special Committee's Financial Advisor (page 16)
The special committee received an opinion, dated April 5, 2007, from Jefferies & Company, Inc. (“Jefferies”) that, as of such date, and based on and subject to the assumptions made, matters considered, qualifications, and limitations set forth in its opinion, the merger consideration to be received by the holders of AVP's common stock pursuant to the merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders (other than Holdings, Acquisition and their respective affiliates). The full text of Jefferies’ opinion is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B. We encourage you to read Jefferies’ opinion in its entirety and the section titled “Special Factors—Opinion of Jefferies & Company, Inc.” beginning on page 16 for a description of the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Jefferies in rendering its opinion. Jefferies’ opinion was provided for the use and benefit of the special committee in connection with its consideration of the merger transaction and was not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any AVP stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote at the special meeting with respect to the merger agreement or any other matter and does not in any manner address our underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the merger transaction. Although Jefferies limited its opinion as to the fairness of the merger consideration to holders of AVP common stock other than Holdings, Acquisition, and their respective affiliates, the special committee, the board and Mr. Armato believe that the opinion supports their belief as to the fairness of the merger consideration to all holders of common stock unaffiliated with AVP, because, subject to the exception for Holdings, Acquisition, and their respective affiliates, the opinion addressed the fairness of the merger consideration to holders of AVP common stock, generally, giving no basis to believe that the fairness of the merger consideration otherwise should differ depending on whether a holder of common stock was or was not an AVP affiliate.
Interests of AVP Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger (page 28)
In considering the recommendation of our board of directors that you vote to adopt the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, you should be aware that certain of our directors and officers have interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition to, yours. These interests include the following:
· | Mr. Leonard Armato, our chairman and chief executive officer, entered a 5-year employment agreement with Holdings, which will automatically become effective upon the consummation of the merger. Mr. Armato will also be elected to Holdings' board of directors. Mr. Bruce Binkow, our chief marketing officer and a director, will continue his employment with AVP after the merger pursuant to his current employment agreement. |
· | Immediately before consummation of the merger, AVP’s chairman and chief executive officer will exchange his AVP shares and cash for Holdings common stock, instead of receiving the merger consideration. As a result, immediately after the merger, Mr. Armato will own approximately [ ]% of the capital stock of Holdings on a fully-diluted basis. In addition, it is anticipated that Mr. Armato will receive options to purchase up to 5% of Holdings’ common stock, determined on a fully-diluted basis. |
· | Some of our directors and executive officers hold our common stock or have options or warrants to purchase our common stock that we issued in consideration for their services and, as a result, will receive the merger consideration for these shares, options, or warrants upon the closing of the merger; |
· | Mr. Armato agreed to vote all of our common stock that he owns in favor of the approval of the merger agreement and each of the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. |
· | AVP will indemnify our current and former directors and officers and provide these directors and officers with liability insurance for six years following the merger. |
The special committee and our board of directors were aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in approving the merger agreement.
The Special Meeting (page 38)
Date, Time and Place. A special meeting of AVP stockholders will be held on , 2007, at its offices, 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045, at 10:00 a.m., Pacific time. At the special meeting, AVP stockholders will be asked to adopt the merger agreement and to act upon any other matters that may properly come before the special meeting.
Record Date; Outstanding Shares. At the close of business on the record date, ________, 2007, AVP had outstanding, 69,256 shares of Series B Stock, each entitling its holder to 27.87 votes, and 19,824,539 shares of common stock, each entitling its holder to one vote.
Required Votes.To adopt the merger agreement, holders of a majority of votes entitled to be cast at the special meeting must vote in favor of adoption. Holders of Series B Stock and common stock vote together as one class for this purpose. Excluding shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock options or warrants, AVP’s directors and executive officers, as of the record date, collectively owned 1,845,195 shares of common stock, entitling them to cast approximately 9% of the votes that may be cast at the special meeting. We anticipate that each of our directors and executive officers will vote their common stock in favor of the merger. Abstentions and broker non-votes, as well as shares that are not voted, will have the same effect as a vote against adoption of the merger agreement.
Granting and Revocation of Proxies. Stockholders of record may grant a proxy to vote by mail, telephone, or Internet or may attend the special meeting and vote in person. If your shares are held in an account with a bank, broker, or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from the holder of record that you must follow for your shares to be voted.
You will have the power to revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by:
· | prior to the special meeting, delivering a written notice of revocation addressed to Thomas Torii, Controller, AVP, Inc., 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045; |
· | prior to the special meeting, delivering to AVP a properly executed proxy with a later date; |
· | on a date later than the date of the proxy being revoked, but no later than 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, on ____________, 2007, authorizing a proxy by telephone or Internet (only your last telephone or Internet proxy will be counted); or |
· | attending the special meeting and voting in person. |
Each proxy returned to AVP (and not subsequently revoked) by a holder of AVP Series B Stock or common stock will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated thereon and in the discretion of the proxies on any other matter that may properly come before the special meeting. If no instructions are indicated, the proxy will be voted “FOR” adoption of the merger agreement.
Conditions to the Merger (page 43)
Each party’s obligation to consummate the merger is subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions before the effective time of the merger, including:
· | adoption of the merger agreement by AVP stockholders; |
· | the parties’ respective representations and warranties in the merger agreement being true in all material respects; |
· | the parties’ having fulfilled their respective obligations under the merger agreement required to have been satisfied at that time; and |
· | the absence of any legal impediment to the consummation of the merger. |
In addition, Holdings’ and Acquisitions’ obligation to consummate the merger is subject to the condition, among others, that holders of no more than 5% of AVP’s common stock exercise their appraisal rights. By letter dated April 10, 2007, Diker Management LLC, an affiliate of funds owning approximately 3,120,000 of our common shares (approximately 15.7% of our outstanding common stock) and warrants to purchase an additional 541,177 shares, declared that they “will not support the [merger] … and … may also decide to elect appraisal rights” if the merger is not amended “to better reflect the true value of [AVP].”
Go shop/no shop (page 45)
The merger agreement authorized our board of directors, for 45 days after the date of the merger agreement, to solicit, discuss, and negotiate third-party acquisition proposals, as alternatives to the merger, and to authorize AVP to enter an agreement regarding an acquisition proposal superior to the merger, if the board of directors, based on the recommendation of the special committee, determined in good faith after consultation with financial advisors and outside legal advisors, that authorizing such an agreement was necessary for our board of directors to comply with its fiduciary duties.
At the request of the special committee, representatives of Jefferies contacted 35 potential bidders during the go-shop period to determine whether any such parties had an interest in a possible transaction with AVP. Representatives of Jefferies reviewed with the special committee the status of discussions with parties contacted by Jefferies during the go-shop period. We did not receive any acquisition proposals during the go-shop period.
During the no-shop period, which extends from the end of the go-shop period until the closing date of the merger, we have agreed not to solicit, discuss, or negotiate any alternative acquisition proposal or enter any agreement regarding an alternative acquisition proposal, provided, however, that our board of directors may, based upon the recommendation of the special committee, furnish information to or engage in discussions or negotiations with any person that makes an unsolicited bona fide written acquisition proposal under circumstances set forth in the merger agreement.
Termination of the Merger Agreement (page 49)
The merger agreement may be terminated and the merger and related transactions may be abandoned at any time before the effective time of the merger by mutual consent of Holdings, Acquisition, and AVP or under the following circumstances, among others:
· | by AVP or Holdings and Acquisition, if consummation of the merger is enjoined or unlawful, or the merger is not consummated within 135 days after the date of the merger agreement, in which case, AVP shall reimburse Holdings’ and Acquisition’s transaction expenses not exceeding $500,000 and, if AVP is acquired within 12 months following expiration of this time period, AVP shall pay a $1,800,000 termination fee, plus expenses; |
· | by AVP, if (i) Holdings or Acquisition breaches the merger agreement and fails to cure the breach within seven days of receiving notice of it, in which case Holdings and Acquisition shall pay AVP a termination fee of $1,125,000, plus expenses not exceeding $500,000, or (ii) AVP agrees to a third-party transaction superior to the merger, in which case AVP shall pay Holdings and Acquisition a termination fee of $1,125,000, if AVP terminates during the go-shop period, or of $1,800,000, if AVP terminates during the no-shop period, plus expenses not exceeding $500,000; |
· | by Holdings and Acquisition if AVP breaches the merger agreement and fails to cure the breach within seven days of receiving notice of it, or AVP’s board of directors or the special committee changes its recommendation regarding the merger adversely to Holdings and Acquisition or fails to oppose an acquisition proposal from a third party, in which case AVP shall pay Holdings and Acquisition a termination fee of $1,800,000, plus expenses not exceeding $500,000. |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences (page 31)
The receipt by a U.S. holder of cash for shares of our stock pursuant to the merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and also may be a taxable transaction under applicable state, local, foreign, and other tax laws. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each U.S. holder of our common stock generally will recognize gain or loss as a result of the merger measured by the difference, if any, between the cash received in the merger and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock owned by the U.S. holder. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the merger consideration received by such non-U.S. holder, unless the non-U.S. holder has certain connections to the United States. For additional information regarding material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger to our stockholders, see “Special Factors—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” beginning on page 31. Stockholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences to them of the merger.
Appraisal Rights (page 33)
Instead of accepting the merger consideration or liquidation value for their shares, if the merger is consummated, stockholders not voting in favor of the merger will be entitled to have their shares appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery. This “right of appraisal” is subject to a number of restrictions and technical requirements. Generally, to exercise your appraisal right, among other things:
· | you must NOT vote in favor of adoption of the merger agreement; and |
· | you must make a written demand for appraisal in compliance with Delaware law BEFORE the vote on the merger agreement. |
Merely voting against the adoption of the merger agreement will not preserve your appraisal rights. Also, because a submitted proxy not marked “against” or “abstain” will be voted for the adoption of the merger agreement, the submission of a proxy not marked “against” or “abstain” will result in waiver of appraisal rights. Annex C to this proxy statement contains the Delaware law relating to your right of appraisal. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee, you must instruct the holder to take the steps necessary to enable you to assert appraisal rights. If you or the holder fails to follow all of the steps required by this law, you will lose your right of appraisal.
AVP believes that, under Delaware case law, the fair value of a share of Series B Stock is its liquidation value.
Summary Financial Information
The following information at and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 has been derived from AVP’s historical audited consolidated financial statements for those years.
| | For the three months ended March 31, | | For the years ended December 31, | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Revenue | | $ | 169,000 | | $ | 122,816 | | $ | 21,472,080 | | $ | 15,581,282 | |
Total Gross profit | | | 116,701 | | | 122,816 | | | 6,806,650 | | | 3,780,572 | |
Operating loss | | | (2,205,315 | ) | | (1,500,672 | ) | | (604,142 | ) | | (8,907,327 | ) |
Net loss | | | (2,241,209 | ) | | (1,488,546 | ) | | (336,556 | ) | | (8,963,956 | ) |
Basic and diluted loss per common share | | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (1.03 | ) |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges | | | (25.55 | ) | | (16.08 | ) | | 0.02 | | | (17.80 | ) |
| | As of March 31, | | As of December 31, | |
| | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2006 | | 2005 | |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Working capital | | $ | 3,427,709 | | $ | 5,613,863 | | $ | 5,613,863 | | $ | (1,197,861 | ) |
Total assets | | | 10,184,681 | | | 8,695,020 | | | 8,695,020 | | | 2,675,538 | |
Total stockholders’ equity (deficiency) | | $ | 3,806,294 | | $ | 5,868,524 | | $ | 5,868,524 | | $ | (604,620 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Book value per share, at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 | | $ | 0.24 | | | | | $ | 0.46 | | | | |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER
The following questions and answers address briefly some questions you may have regarding the special meeting and the proposed merger. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you as a stockholder of AVP. Please refer to the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement, the annexes to this proxy statement, and the documents to which you are referred by this proxy statement.
Q: | What is the date, time and place of the special meeting? |
A: | The special meeting will be held on , 2007, at AVP’s offices, 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045 at 10:00 a.m., Pacific time. |
Q: | What am I being asked to vote on? |
A: | You are being asked to vote on a proposal to adopt the merger agreement among AVP, Holdings, and Acquisition. The merger agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which Acquisition will merge with and into AVP. See “The Special Meeting” and “The Merger Agreement” beginning on pages 38 and 40, respectively. |
Q: | What will I receive in the merger? |
A: | If the merger is completed, holders of our Series B Stock will have the right to receive the liquidation value of their shares, i.e., $33.93, in cash, for each share held, and holders of our common stock (except for Holdings and Acquisition or holders of our common stock who perfect their appraisal rights) will have the right to receive $1.23, in cash, for each share held. See “The Merger Agreement—The Merger” beginning on page 40. |
Q: | What does our board of directors recommend? |
A: | Our board of directors, based on the unanimous recommendation of the special committee composed of independent directors, unanimously approved the merger agreement and determined that it and the merger are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of AVP and its stockholders, including its unaffiliated stockholders. Our board of directors therefore recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the merger agreement. We encourage you to review the background and reasons for the merger sections of this proxy statement in greater detail. See “Special Factors—Background of the Merger,” and “Special Factors—Reasons for the Special Committee’s Determination; Fairness of the Merger” beginning on pages 13 and 13, respectively. |
Q: | Why did our board of directors form the special committee? |
A | Our board of directors formed a special committee of independent directors, who were not officers or employees of AVP, to consider the merger proposal, because AVP’s executive officers on the board may have interests in the merger that differ from the interests of unaffiliated stockholders. |
Q: | When do you anticipate the merger will be completed? |
A: | We will try to complete the merger as soon as possible. Before that happens, the merger agreement must be adopted by our stockholders in the required manner at the special meeting. Assuming this and the other customary conditions to the merger are satisfied, we expect to complete the merger during the third quarter of 2007. |
Q: | Who is entitled to vote at the special meeting? |
A: | Holders of record of shares of our outstanding Series B Stock and common stock as of the close of business on , 2007, the record date for the special meeting, are entitled to vote at the special meeting. Holders of Series B Stock are entitled to 27.87 votes, and holders of common stock are entitled to one vote, for each share owned on the record date. |
Q: | What vote is required to approve the merger agreement and the merger? |
A: | To adopt the merger agreement, holders of a majority of votes entitled to be cast at the special meeting must vote in favor of adoption. Holders of Series B Stock and common stock vote together as one class for this purpose. |
Q: | What happens if I sell my AVP Series B Stock or common stock before the special meeting? |
A: | If you sell your AVP shares before the record date, you will not be entitled to vote at the special meeting or to receive the merger consideration. If you sell your shares after the record date but before the special meeting, unless special arrangements are made, you will retain your right to vote at the special meeting, but transfer the right to receive the merger consideration to the person to whom you sold your shares. |
Q: | What do I need to do now? |
A: | After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, please authorize the individuals named on your proxy card to vote your shares by completing and promptly mailing your proxy card in the return envelope enclosed or by toll-free number or Internet, as described in the instructions included with your proxy card. Please do this as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented at the special meeting. See “The Special Meeting” beginning on page 38. |
A: | Yes. You may attend the special meeting and vote your shares in person whether or not you sign and return a proxy card or otherwise vote by proxy. If your shares are held of record by a broker or other nominee, you must obtain a proxy from the record holder of your shares to vote in person at the special meeting. Please note that stockholders may be asked to present photo identification for admittance to the special meeting. |
Q: | Can I change my vote after I have mailed in my proxy card or voted by phone or Internet? |
A: | Yes. You will have the power to revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by (1) prior to the special meeting, delivering a written notice of revocation addressed to Thomas Torii, Controller, AVP, Inc., 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045; (2) prior to the special meeting, delivering to AVP a properly executed proxy with a later date; (3) later than the date of the proxy being revoked, but no later than 7:00 p.m., Eastern time, on , 2007, authorizing a proxy by telephone or Internet (only your last telephone or Internet proxy will be counted); or (4) attending the special meeting and voting in person. See “The Special Meeting” beginning on page 38. |
Q: | If my shares are held in “street” name by my broker, will my broker vote my shares for me? |
A: | Your broker will vote your shares only if you provide instructions to your broker on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares by following the directions provided to you by your broker. If you do not provide instructions to your broker, your shares will not be voted, which will have the same effect as a vote against adoption of the merger agreement. |
Q: | Will my shares held in “street” name or another form of record ownership be combined for voting purposes with shares I hold of record? |
A: | No. Shares you hold in “street” name with a broker or other nominee, and shares you hold of record will be considered held by different stockholders, so they cannot be combined for voting purposes. Similarly, if you own shares in various registered forms, such as jointly with your spouse, as trustee of a trust, or as custodian for a minor, you will receive and need to sign and return separate proxy cards for those shares. Shares held by a corporation or business entity must be voted by an authorized officer of the entity, and shares held in an IRA must be voted under the rules governing the account. |
Q: | Should I send in my stock certificates now? |
A: | No. If the merger is approved, then, promptly after completion of the merger, each stockholder of AVP entitled to receive merger consideration will receive a transmittal letter and instructions specifying the procedures to be followed for surrendering stock certificates in exchange for payment. Upon surrender of your stock certificate(s) with a duly executed letter of transmittal, you will be paid the merger consideration to which you are entitled. You should not send your stock certificate(s) to us or anyone else until you receive written instructions following completion of the merger. |
Q: | I do not know where my stock certificate is. How will I get my cash? |
A: | The materials that will be sent to you after completion of the merger will include the procedures that you must follow if you cannot locate your stock certificate. This will include an affidavit that you will need to sign attesting to the loss of your certificate. We also may require that you provide a bond to cover any potential loss and to enter into an indemnity agreement to indemnify AVP and the paying agent against any claim that may be made against them with respect to your stock certificate. |
Q: | Where can I find more information? |
A: | You may obtain more information from various sources as explained in the section “Where You Can Find More Information,” beginning on page 81. |
Q: | Who can answer further questions? |
A: | If you have additional questions about the merger, you may call MacKenzie Partners. Inc., our proxy solicitor, toll-free at 800-322-2885 or collect at 212-929-5500. If you would like additional copies of this proxy statement or a new proxy card, you may contact us in writing at AVP, Inc., 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045, Attention: Thomas Torii, or by telephone at (310) 426-8000. |
SPECIAL FACTORS
Background of the Merger
In August 2006, Mark Leavitt, Managing Director - Head of Media & Communications Investment Banking, at Jefferies & Company, Inc. (“Jefferies”), introduced Leonard Armato, AVP’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Andrew Reif, then AVP’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to Robert F. Perille and Michael A. LaSalle, of Shamrock Capital Advisors, Inc. Mr. Leavitt has had in the past a business relationship with a senior member of Shamrock Capital Advisors, Inc. and is a member of the board of directors of the HGI Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company of an affiliate of Shamrock Advisors, Inc.
In November 2006, Messrs. Perille and LaSalle expressed to Mr. Reif an interest in acquiring all of AVP’s outstanding capital stock for $1.10 per common share, in cash, on a negotiated basis. Mr. Reif reported this information to Mr. Armato, who met with Mr. Perille, on November 16, 2006. Mr. Armato asked Mr. Perille to prepare a letter formalizing Shamrock's expression of interest, which Shamrock delivered on November 27, 2006. Shamrock’s proposal reflected an implied purchase price premium of 22% to the trading price of $0.90 per common share at the time the proposal was made and exceeded the trailing 30 and 60 day average prices by 49% and 57%, respectively.
Early in December 2006, Mr. Armato had informal discussions with AVP board members about Shamrock’s expression of interest, and, on December 12, 2006, at a special meeting of directors, Mr. Armato presented Shamrock’s letter to AVP’s board.
At a special board meeting held January 8, 2007, Mr. Armato informed the board that he expected AVP would receive a formal offer from Shamrock to acquire AVP. Kenneth Benbassat, of Loeb & Loeb LLP, AVP’s regular counsel, advised the board of its responsibilities in considering such an offer and recommended that the board appoint a special committee of independent directors, to review and negotiate such an offer and recommend to the board the acceptance or rejection of the offer, after the special committee’s review and negotiation of it. At the meeting, the board appointed Messrs. Scott Painter, Chairman, William J. Chardavoyne, and Philip Guarascio to the committee, as well as Mr. Brett Yormark, who resigned from the committee in February 2007, because he lacked time for committee responsibilities. (Mr. Chardavoyne’s assumption of the position of interim chief financial officer on March 31, 2007, upon Mr. Reif’s resignation, was not considered to impair Mr. Chardavoyne’s qualifications for service on the special committee, because the position is part-time, expected to exist for only a few months between Mr. Reif’s resignation and consummation of the merger, and Mr. Chardavoyne will not be employed by AVP or any of its or Shamrock’s other affiliates after the merger. If the merger is not consummated, AVP and Mr. Chardavoyne expect AVP to hire another individual as CFO.) The special committee held its first telephone conference on January 23, 2007, and it continues to meet via conference telephone regularly (generally twice weekly) through the date of filing of this preliminary proxy statement. At the meetings, the committee discussed, among other things, AVP’s strategies, prospects, and financial projections; the performance of its common stock; and the terms of Shamrock’s acquisition proposal. Each meeting was attended by a representative of Loeb & Loeb, and representatives of Jefferies attended a substantial majority of the meetings. After its formation, only the special committee, and no member of management, including Mr. Armato, negotiated or was authorized to negotiate the merger on AVP’s behalf. The special committee also had authority to recommend approval or rejection of the merger terms as finally agreed, but not to authorize execution of the merger agreement on AVP’s behalf or its submission to stockholders.
Mr. Armato’s attorneys, Dreier Stein & Kahan LLP negotiated the voting agreement and subscription and contribution agreement with Shamrock’s attorneys. At the request of Mr. Armato’s attorneys, a fiduciary out clause was added to the voting agreement.
The special committee received a draft acquisition agreement from Shamrock on January 10, 2007. It provided for a merger to be preceded by a tender offer and required AVP to bear Shamrock’s transaction expenses and pay a $1,800,000 fee on termination of the agreement in certain circumstances.
On January 22, 2007, Messrs. Painter, Perille, and LaSalle had an initial meeting to discuss the transaction and Shamrock's views of AVP’s value and prospects.
At its January 23, 2007 meeting, the special committee selected Jefferies as the committee’s financial advisor. At the special committee’s January 25, 2007 meeting, attended by Jefferies, the committee discussed AVP’s future strategy, trading price of AVP’s stock, and timeline for Jefferies’ due diligence investigation of AVP.
By agreement, dated January 26, 2007, the special committee engaged Jefferies to act as the special committee’s financial advisor in connection with a possible sale or other significant transaction or series of transactions including AVP or its subsidiaries. In connection with the engagement, Jefferies agreed, if requested, to render an opinion, in accordance with its customary practices, to the special committee, as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be paid to AVP or its stockholders, in such a transaction. Before the merger agreement was signed, Jefferies did not attempt to identify or solicit other parties that might have an interest in acquring AVP.
Around this time, Mr. Painter spoke by phone on a number of occasions with Mr. LaSalle, regarding deal terms; with Mr. Armato, regarding AVP’s revenue and capital needs; and, on January 29, 2007, Mr. Painter met with Messrs. Reif and Chardavoyne, to discuss assumptions underlying financial projections that management was preparing and areas of risk relating to the projections. On January 30, 2007, the committee met with Mr. Armato to inquire of and discuss with him AVP’s future strategies. The committee discussed AVP’s value and the terms of Shamrock’s offer. On February 12, 2007, management delivered its financial projections to Jefferies, for its review in connection with the rendering of its fairness opinion. On February 14, 2007, Mr. Painter informed Mr. LaSalle that the California Coastal Commission had approved AVP’s plan to charge admission to 90%, rather than 25%, of attendees at AVP’s California events.
At the special committee’s February 15, 2007 meeting, Jefferies reported on its progress in preparing the fairness opinion. The committee requested Jefferies to provide a preliminary analysis at the committee’s February 20, 2007 meeting and began discussing a counteroffer. On February 20, 2007, Jefferies presented its Preliminary Discussion Materials (filed as Exhibit (c)(2) to AVP’s Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13E-3). The committee discussed with Mr. Reif the projections and attendant areas of risk at the committee’s February 21, 2007 meeting.
At its February 22, 2007 meeting, the special committee discussed with Jefferies the financial projections on which Jefferies would base its fairness opinion, as well the procedure for responding to an offer received from Shamrock, to acquire AVP, at a price of $1.10 per share of common stock.
Late in February 2007, representatives of Jefferies discussed with Shamrock representatives the special committee's view that the offered price was inadequate. Jefferies reported on this conversation at the special committee’s February 26, 2007 meeting, at which the committee also considered whether Jefferies should conduct a market check before or after AVP and Shamrock signed an agreement. On February 27, 2007, Mr. Painter spoke with Messrs. Perille and LaSalle to confirm Shamrock’s continued interest in a transaction, discuss transaction structure, and an AVP counteroffer of a price of $1.30 per share of common stock. On March 1, 2007, Mr. LaSalle proposed to Mr. Painter a price of $1.25 per share.
On March 1, 2007, the special committee discussed the revised offer, as well as the merits of Shamrock’s proposal to conduct a tender offer before the proposed merger. On March 2, 2007, Mr. Painter advised Mr. LaSalle that the committee could not reach a consensus that $1.25 per share was an adequate price, but wished to proceed negotiating definitive transaction documents, to learn what additional matters might arise. At its March 6, 2007 meeting, the special committee requested Jefferies to provide examples of transactions priced below market and instructed Loeb & Loeb to deliver to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Shamrock’s counsel, proposed changes to Kirkland’s draft acquisition agreement. On March 8, 2007, Loeb & Loeb delivered a revised draft, eliminating the tender offer, providing for a 60-day go-shop, requiring Shamrock to bear AVP’s expenses and pay a $1,000,000 termination fee, and capping expenses that either side would be required to bear at $350,000. At the special committee's March 13, 2007 meeting, Jefferies presented examples of transactions priced below market, and the committee instructed Loeb & Loeb to research whether any stockholder litigation occurred in connection with the transactions. Loeb & Loeb found none.
On March 19, 2007, Mr. LaSalle informed Mr. Painter that due diligence had revealed to Shamrock that outstanding options and warrants to purchase AVP common stock were more dilutive than existing information had indicated. On March 22, 2007, Mr. LaSalle proposed to reduce the acquisition price to $1.21 per share on account of the dilution. On March 26, 2007, Kirkland & Ellis delivered a revised draft merger agreement proposing to decrease the go-shop period from 60 days to 45, restore the $1,800,000 single-tiered termination fee, eliminate the termination fee payable to AVP, and increase the expense reimbursement cap to $750,000. At its March 27, 2007 meeting, the special committee discussed the revised merger agreement and offer and instructed Mr. Painter to advise Shamrock that the committee would accept $1.23 per share. He discussed the committee’s position with Mr. LaSalle on March 28, 2007, and Shamrock offered to acquire AVP at that price, which Mr. Painter reported to the committee that day. On March 29, 2007, Mr. Painter received from Messrs. LaSalle and Perille what they described as their final offer, to pay $1.23 per common share, restoring the two-tiered break-up fee, increasing the lesser break-up fee payable to Shamrock to $1,125,000, providing for a break-up fee to AVP, and capping expense reimbursements at $500,000. At its meeting that day, the special committee determined that Mr. Painter should inform Shamrock that the committee was satisfied with Shamrock’s offer and that the entire board should meet to decide whether to approve the proposed transaction.
AVP’s board met on April 3, 4, and 5, 2007 to consider the merger proposal. At the April 5 meeting, Jefferies delivered its opinion to the special committee that, as of that date, the merger consideration was fair, from a financial point of view, to AVP’s stockholders (other than Holdings, Acquisition and their respective affiliates), together with Jefferies’ presentation supporting its opinion, described under the caption “Opinion of Jefferies & Company, Inc.,” beginning on page 16, and filed as Exhibit (c)(3) to AVP’s Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13E-3.
Following the board’s approval of the merger agreement, the special committee continued to meet to monitor progress toward consummation of the transaction.
Jefferies reported on the status of the go-shop during its term. Jefferies contacted 35 potential bidders, but received no acquisition proposals. At the special committee’s request, Jefferies provided a supplemental analysis at the special committee’s May 15, 2007 meeting, as described in “Opinion of Jefferies & Company, Inc.,” beginning on page 16, which did not change Jefferies’ April 5, 2007 opinion as to the fairness of the consideration to be received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement. The committee discussed the supplemental analysis on May 29, 2007, and, based on it, reaffirmed the $1.23 per share acquisition price.
Following execution of the merger agreement, Mr. Painter spoke on a few occasions with representatives of AmTrust Financial Group and Diker Management LLC, stockholders of AVP, answering questions about the process by which the special committee was selected and reached its conclusions regarding the merger or factual statements in the preliminary proxy statement. They also discussed that AmTrust and Diker might invest additional funds in AVP to promote a growth strategy, and AVP would remain a public company, but the stockholders made no concrete proposal.
During the second half of June, 2007, Robert F. Perille and Michael A. LaSalle of Shamrock Capital Advisors, Inc. met with representatives of several of AVP's current stockholders and then affiliates, including Diker Micro Value Fund, LP, Diker Micro Value QP Fund, LP, Diker Micro and Small Cap Fund, LP, Diker Micro, Small Cap Offshore Fund, Ltd., and Amtrust Financial Group, and as well as Siar Capital LLC, to discuss the merger. During the meetings, the stockholders reiterated to Shamrock the stockholders' view that the $1.23 per share that would be paid in the merger is inadequate and that the stockholders intend to vote their shares against the merger and to exercise their dissenters' rights. Shamrock listened to the stockholders' concerns and expressed Shamrock's view that the $1.23 per share that would be paid in the merger is not inadequate.
Recommendations of the Special Committee and Our Board of Directors
Members of our management who are directors may have financial and other interests that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests in the merger. Therefore, our board of directors decided that a special committee of independent directors, who were not members of management and had no financial interest in the merger that differed from that of our unaffiliated stockholders, generally, other than indemnification rights under the merger agreement, should be formed, to evaluate and negotiate the merger agreement and, if the special committee so decided, to recommend approval of the merger agreement and merger to our entire board.
The special committee negotiated the terms of the merger and unanimously concluded that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the merger, are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of our stockholders, including our unaffiliated stockholders, and, at the board meeting held April 5, 2007, unanimously recommended to the board of directors that the merger agreement and the merger be approved and adopted. The special committee considered a number of factors in reaching its determinations and recommendations, as more fully described below.
Our board of directors and Mr. Armato, based upon the unanimous recommendation of the special committee and the other factors more fully described below, which the board and Mr. Armato expressly adopt, unanimously concluded that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the merger, are advisable, substantively and proceduarally fair to, and in the best interests of AVP and our stockholders, including our unaffiliated stockholders, In addition, our board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the merger.
Our board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the adoption of the merger agreement.
Reasons for the Special Committee’s Determination; Fairness of the Merger
In determining the fairness of the merger and recommending adoption of the merger agreement and approval of the merger to our board of directors, the special committee considered the following factors which, in the opinion of the members of the special committee, supported the special committee’s recommendation:
· | the special committee’s substantial experience in the kinds of businesses in which AVP engages, and its members’s understanding of and familiarity with AVP’s business, finanical condition, results of operations, and prospects; |
· | AVP’s value as a going concern, which the special committee based on a variety of factors including the various analyses, methodologies and information provided by AVP’s financial advisor, Jefferies, which is described below under “Opinion of Jefferies & Company, Inc.” beginning on page 16; |
· | the written opinion of Jefferies that, as of April 5, 2007, the merger consideration was fair, from a financial point of view, to holders of our common stock (other than Holdings, Acquisition and their respective affiliates), which supported the special committee’s belief that the merger consideration was fair to unaffiliated holders of our common stock, and which the special committee, the board and Mr. Armato expressly adopt. Although Jefferies limited its opinion as to the fairness of the merger consideration to holders of AVP common stock other than Holdings, Acquisition, and their respective affiliates, the special committee, the board and Mr. Armato believe that the opinion supports their belief as to the fairness of the merger consideration to all holders of common stock unaffiliated with AVP, because, subject to the exception for Holdings, Acquisition, and their respective affiliates, the opinion addressed the fairness of the merger consideration to holders of AVP common stock, generally, giving no basis to believe that the fairness of the merger consideration otherwise should differ depending on whether a holder of common stock was or was not an AVP affiliate. |
· | that the merger consideration will be paid entirely in cash to our stockholders, so that the transaction allows our unaffiliated stockholders to immediately realize a fair value, in cash, for their investment and provides such stockholders certainty of value for their shares; |
· | that there is no financing contingency to the merger, and that Shamrock has the financial and capital resources to complete the merger without needing to obtain financing and without undue delay, which provides additional certainty that our unaffiliated stockholders will realize a fair value, in cash, for their investment; and |
· | the ability of our stockholders who may not support the merger to exercise appraisal rights under Delaware law. |
The special committee also considered the following factors relating to the procedural safeguards that the special committee believes were and are present to ensure the fairness of the merger and to permit the special committee to represent the interests of AVP’s unaffiliated stockholders. The special committee believes these factors support its decision and provide assurance as to the procedural fairness of the merger to AVP stockholders, including its unaffiliated stockholders:
· | our board of directors established a special committee to consider and negotiate the terms of the merger and the merger agreement; |
· | the special committee is composed of directors who were not officers, employees, or controlling stockholders of AVP, and, other than the indemnification rights under the merger agreement, do not have a financial interest in the proposed transaction that differs from that of our unaffiliated stockholders (For the reasons stated previously, under the caption, Background of the Merger, beginning on page 13, Mr. Chardavoyne’s appointment as interim chief financial officer upon the resignation of our preceding chief financial officer, as of March 31, 2007, was not considered to impair Mr. Chardavoyne’s qualifications for service on the committee); |
· | the members of the special committee are receiving adequate compensation for their services, which is not contingent on approval of the merger; |
· | the special committee retained and received advice from its financial advisors in evaluating, negotiating, and recommending the terms of the merger agreement; |
· | the special committee and its advisors took an active and direct role in the negotiations with respect to the merger and extensively deliberated the proposed transaction; |
· | the prices per share and the other terms and conditions of the merger agreement resulted from active arms-length negotiations between the special committee and Shamrock; and |
· | that the merger agreement permitted AVP’s board, for 45 days from the date of the merger agreement, to solicit and, thereafter, until consummation of the merger, permits AVP’s board to consider, unsolicited bona fide alternative proposals and to authorize AVP to consummate an alternative proposal, instead of the merger, if necessary to comply with the board’s fiduciary duties; the merger agreement required the preliminary copies of this proxy statement to be filed before the go-shop period had expired, but the special committee and the board believed that this requirement did not impair the effectiveness of the go-shop provision as an assurance of procedural fairness, because AVP's ability or authority under the merger agreement to respond to expressions of interest were the same during the go-shop period, both before and after the filing of the preliminary proxy statement, and because filing the preliminary proxy material during the go-shop period might encourage third parties to propose alternative transactions. |
The special committee, board of directors and Mr. Armato believe that the transaction is procedurally fair to unaffiliated stockholders, notwithstanding the absence of a requirement that the transaction be approved by unaffiliated stockholders or unaffiliated representative acting solely on behalf of the unaffiliated stockholders. For the reasons stated above, the special committee, board of directors and Mr. Armato believe that the special committee sufficiently represented the interests of unaffiliated stockholders, as a whole. The special committee, board of directors and Mr. Armato also note that affiliated stockholders do not own a majority of the common stock outstanding and issuable on exercise of outstanding in-the-money stock options and stock purchase warrants. Although affiliated stockholders own approximately 29.1% of the shares calculated on this basis, three unaffiliated stockholders own approximately 25.0% of the shares calculated on this basis.
The special committee also considered a variety of risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the merger. The material risks and potentially negative factors considered by the special committee were as follows:
· | although the go shop/no shop provisions of the merger agreement authorized AVP to solicit and authorize AVP to consider unsolicited alternative proposals, the merger agreement’s breakup fee and expense reimbursement provisions might discourage third-party bids; |
· | upon consummation of the merger, the Company will cease to be a public company, and our stockholders will no longer be equity holders in the Company and therefore will no longer participate in any potential future growth; |
· | even if the merger agreement is adopted by stockholders, there can be no assurances that all conditions to the parties’ obligations to complete the merger agreement will be satisfied, and, as a result, the merger may not be consummated; |
· | for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the merger consideration will be taxable to our stockholders receiving the merger consideration; and |
· | the restrictions on the conduct of our business prior to the consummation of the merger require us to conduct our business in the ordinary course, subject to specific limitations, which might delay or prevent us from undertaking business opportunities that may arise pending completion of the merger. |
The special committee concluded, however, that, overall, the potentially negative factors associated with the merger were outweighed by the potential benefits of the merger.
The special committee considered that the merger consideration per share is less than the $1.50 closing price of AVP’s common stock on April 4, 2007, the last trading day before announcement of the proposed merger; but, given the illiquidity of the market for AVP’s common stock, the committee concluded that the market price at that time might not necessarily accurately reflect the value of the shares or assure that all AVP stockholders could receive that price for their shares. The special committee noted, for example, that, on March 22, 2007, when 347,200 shares traded, the prices of the vast majority of the trades ranged between $1.15 and $1.18 per share, suggesting that the merger consideration was likely to exceed the price that all stockholders would receive, if they wished, simultaneously, to receive cash for their shares in market trading. The special committee also noted the trading range of the common stock in the year before the merger was announced and Jefferies’ analysis that the weighted average price per share during the period was $1.04 per share. The special committee did not consider our net book value, because it believes net book value not to be a meaningful measure of our value, or liquidation value, because the special committee considers AVP to be a viable going concern. There were no affiliate purchases of shares or firm offers for an acquisition or business combination with us in the last two years.
In view of the number and variety of factors, the amount of information considered, and the complexity of these matters, the special committee did not find it practicable to, and did not attempt to, rank, quantify, make specific assessments of, or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination. In addition, individual members of the special committee may have assigned different weights to various factors. The special committee conducted extensive discussions of, among other things, the factors described above, including asking questions of our management and AVP’s financial and legal advisors. The special committee considered the factors described above as a whole, and overall considered them to be favorable to, and in support of, its determination that the transaction is fair to and in the best interests of our unaffiliated shareholders.
Opinion of Jefferies & Company, Inc.
The special committee engaged Jefferies on January 26, 2007 to serve as the special committee’s financial adviser, an engagement that subsequently included rendering an opinion to the special committee as to whether the consideration to be received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Jefferies is an internationally recognized investment banking and advisory firm. Jefferies, as part of its investment banking services, is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, financial restructuring and other financial services.
On April 5, 2007, Jefferies delivered its opinion to the special committee to the effect that, as of that date, and based upon and subject to the assumptions made, matters considered, qualifications and limitations set forth in the written opinion (which are described below), the consideration of $1.23 per share in cash to be received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of such shares (other than Holdings, Acquisition and their respective affiliates).
The full text of the written opinion of Jefferies, which sets forth assumptions made, matters considered and, qualifications and limitations on the scope of review undertaken by Jefferies, is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B and is incorporated into this proxy statement by reference. The following summary of the Jefferies opinion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Jefferies opinion. Shareholders are urged to read and should read the entire Jefferies opinion carefully.
The Jefferies opinion is addressed to our special committee in connection with its consideration of the merger and addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view, as of the date of the opinion, of the consideration to be received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the merger agreement. The amount of the consideration to be received by the holders of our common stock was determined through negotiations between the special committee, Jefferies, and Shamrock. The Jefferies opinion does not address the merits of AVP’s underlying business decision to engage in the merger and does not constitute, nor should it be construed as, a recommendation to any holder of common stock as to how the holder of such common stock should vote with respect to the proposed merger or any other matter.
In its review, Jefferies made no independent investigation of any legal or accounting matters affecting AVP, and Jefferies assumed the correctness in all respects material to our analysis of all legal and accounting advice given to AVP and the special committee, including, without limitation, advice as to the legal, accounting and tax consequences of the terms of, and transactions contemplated by, the merger agreement to AVP and its stockholders. In addition, in preparing its opinion, Jefferies did not take into account any tax consequences of the merger to any holder of our common stock. Jefferies assumed that the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be consummated as described in the merger agreement and that the final form of the merger agreement would be substantially similar to the last draft reviewed by Jefferies. Jefferies has also assumed that in the course of obtaining the necessary regulatory or third party approvals, consents and releases for the merger, no delay, limitation, restriction or condition will be imposed that would have an adverse effect on us or the contemplated benefits of the merger.
In arriving at its opinion, Jefferies, among other things:
· | Reviewed a draft of the merger agreement dated April 5, 2007; |
· | Reviewed certain publicly available financial and other information about us; |
· | Reviewed certain information furnished to Jefferies by our management, including financial forecasts and analyses, relating to our business, operations and prospects; |
· | Held discussions with members of our senior management concerning the matters described in the preceding two points and certain other matters Jefferies believed necessary or appropriate to its inquiry; |
· | Reviewed the share trading price history and valuation multiples for our common stock and compared them with those of certain publicly traded companies that Jefferies deemed relevant; |
· | Compared the proposed financial terms of the merger with the financial terms of certain other transactions that Jefferies deemed relevant; and |
· | Conducted such other financial studies, analyses and investigations as Jefferies deemed appropriate. |
In its review and analysis and in rendering its opinion, Jefferies assumed and relied upon, but did not assume any responsibility to independently investigate or verify, the accuracy and completeness of all financial and other information that we supplied or otherwise made available or that was publicly available to Jefferies (including, without limitation, the information described above), or that was otherwise reviewed by Jefferies. In its review, Jefferies did not obtain any independent evaluation or appraisal of any of our assets or liabilities, nor did it conduct a physical inspection or appraisal of any of our properties, assets or facilities, nor was Jefferies furnished with any such evaluations or appraisals of such physical inspections, nor did Jefferies assume any responsibility to obtain any such evaluations or appraisals.
With respect to the financial forecasts provided to and examined by Jefferies, Jefferies noted within its opinion that projecting future results of any company is inherently subject to uncertainty. We informed Jefferies, however, and Jefferies assumed, that such financial forecasts were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and good faith judgments of our management as to our future financial performance. Jefferies expressed no opinion as to our financial forecasts or the assumptions on which our financial forecasts are made.
The Jefferies opinion is based on economic, monetary, regulatory, market, and other conditions existing and that can be evaluated as of the date of the opinion. Jefferies expressly disclaims any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any fact or matter affecting its opinion of which it becomes aware after the date of its opinion.
In performing its analyses, Jefferies made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions, and other matters, many of which are beyond Jefferies’ and our control. The analyses performed by Jefferies are not necessarily indicative of actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by those analyses. In addition, analyses relating to the value of businesses or assets do not purport to be appraisals or to necessarily reflect the process at which businesses or assets may actually be sold and are inherently subject to uncertainty. The analyses performed were prepared solely as part of Jefferies’ analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of common stock of the merger consideration and were provided to our special committee in connection with Jefferies’ delivery of its opinion.
The following is a summary of the material financial and comparative analyses performed by Jefferies that were presented to our special committee on April 5, 2007 in connection with the delivery of Jefferies’ opinion. The financial analyses summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand Jefferies’ financial analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of financial analyses. Considering the data described below without considering the full narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Jefferies’ financial analyses.
Our management provided Jefferies with two projection cases for purposes of its analysis.
The Target Management Case reflects our budget objectives for the current fiscal year and our targeted objectives for the 2008-2010 period. The 2007-2010 financial forecast is predicated on our success in growing our major source of revenue, sponsorship fees, at a high rate through renewals and the acquisition of new sponsors. Specifically, sponsorship revenue is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 20% over the period 2007-2010. AVP’s cost structure is largely fixed and does not vary materially with the level of sponsorship revenue.
The Conservative Management Case reflects a scenario with lower sponsorship revenue growth, growing at a compound annual rate of 14% over the 2007-2010 period. In this lower growth scenario, our costs remain largely the same. In this case, we project hosting the same number of events and incurring the same infrastructure costs. This case represents our management’s assessment of a less optimistic growth scenario.
Historical Share Price Performance. Jefferies reviewed the historical trading performance of our common stock and observed that the closing low and high trading prices for shares of our common stock over the 52 weeks ended April 4, 2007 ranged from $0.55 per share to $1.75 per share and compared this range of trading prices to the $1.23 per share cash merger consideration. Jefferies noted that 69.5% of the cumulative volume of shares of our common stock traded during this period traded below the $1.23 per share cash merger consideration, and the weighted average price per share during this period was $1.04.
Comparable Company Analysis. Given the unique nature of our main business, Jefferies believes no public company is directly comparable to AVP. Therefore, Jefferies reviewed the trading multiples of a number of micro-cap companies in the media sector with market capitalizations and financial operating metrics similar to ours. The comparable companies were selected based on the following criteria: market capitalization of less than $100 million, enterprise value of less than $50 million, and EBITDA margins less than 10%. Global Entertainment Corp. and WPT Enterprises Inc. were included because they offer sports and gaming league-related services, but with very different business models than ours. Using publicly available information and information provided by our management, Jefferies reviewed our trading multiples and the corresponding trading multiples of a group consisting of the following companies:
· | Access Worldwide Communications Inc. |
· | Broadview Institute, Inc. |
· | Burst Media Corporation |
· | CoActive Marketing Group Inc. |
· | Global Entertainment Corp. |
· | Questar Assessment, Inc. |
In its analysis, Jefferies derived and compared our multiples and the multiples of the selected companies, calculated as follows:
· | the enterprise value divided by revenue for the latest-twelve-month period, or LTM, which is referred to as Enterprise Value/LTM Revenue |
· | the enterprise value divided by estimated revenue for the calendar year 2007, which is referred to as Enterprise Value/2007E Revenue, |
· | the enterprise value divided by estimated revenue for the calendar year 2008, which is referred to as Enterprise Value/2008E Revenue, |
· | the enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA for the calendar year 2007, which is referred to as Enterprise Value/2007E EBITDA, and |
· | the enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA for the calendar year 2008, which is referred to as Enterprise Value/2008E EBITDA. |
The data underlying the comparable company analysis is summarized in the table below. All data represents market values, historical and projected financials as of April 4, 2007.
| | Revenue | | EBITDA | |
Company | | Terminal Equity Value | | LTM | | 2007E(1) | | 2008E(1) | | LTM | | 2007E(1) | | 2008E(1) | |
Access Worldwide Communications Inc. | | $ | 26.9 | | $ | 45.4 | | $ | 35.2 | | $ | 43.7 | | $ | 1.7 | | $ | 1.2 | | $ | 3.6 | |
Broadview Institute, Inc. | | | 13.3 | | | 10.6 | | | N/A | | | N/A | | | 1.1 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
Burst Media Corporation | | | 23.3 | | | 23.5 | | | 26.3 | | | 29.0 | | | 2.3 | | | 3.1 | | | 3.7 | |
CoActive Marketing Group Inc. | | | 14.1 | | | 105.9 | | | N/A | | | N/A | | | 2.1 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
Datascension Inc. | | | 11.5 | | | 13.7 | | | N/A | | | N/A | | | 0.6 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
EMAK Worldwide Inc. | | | 20.7 | | | 181.4 | | | N/A | | | N/A | | | 0.7 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
Global Entertainment Corp. | | | 22.7 | | | 22.6 | | | 26.7 | | | 38.1 | | | (1.5) | | | (0.4) | | | 1.3 | |
Guideline, Inc. | | | 26.2 | | | 46.2 | | | N/A | | | N/A | | | 3.3 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
Questar Assessment, Inc. | | | 29.4 | | | 30.2 | | | 42.4 | | | N/A | | | 2.6 | | | 5.2 | | | N/A | |
Traffix Inc. | | | 50.7 | | | 72.8 | | | 75.0 | | | 83.0 | | | 5.8 | | | 7.0 | | | 8.0 | |
WPT Enterprises Inc. | | | 63.3 | | | 29.3 | | | 24.0 | | | 30.2 | | | 0.9 | | | (4.7) | | | 0.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AVP - Target Management Case | | | 36.9 | | $ | 21.5 | | $ | 28.3 | | $ | 35.3 | | | ($0.4) | | $ | 3.0 | | $ | 6.2 | |
(1) Projected Financials taken from Wall St. Research, except AVP which is based on management projections.
This analysis indicated the following based upon our Target Management Case projections:
Comparative Public Company Multiples
Benchmark | | High | | Low | | Median | | Mean | | Transaction |
Enterprise Value/LTM Revenue | | 2.2x | | 0.1x | | 0.8x | | 0.8x | | 1.7x |
Enterprise Value/2007E Revenue | | 2.6x | | 0.7x | | 0.8x | | 1.1x | | 1.3x |
Enterprise Value/2008E Revenue | | 2.1x | | 0.6x | | 0.6x | | 0.9x | | 1.0x |
Enterprise Value/2007E EBITDA | | 22.4x | | 5.7x | | 7.4x | | 10.7x | | 12.5x |
Enterprise Value/2008E EBITDA | | 17.5x | | 6.3x | | 6.9x | | 9.4x | | 6.0x |
Using a reference range of 0.6x to 1.0x our LTM revenue, 0.6x to 1.0x our estimated 2007 revenue, 0.4x to 0.8x our estimated 2008 revenue, 6.4x to 8.4x our estimated 2007 EBITDA, and 5.9x to 7.9x our estimated 2008 EBITDA, Jefferies determined our implied enterprise value. Given the disparity of business models of the comparable companies, Jefferies based its reference ranges on equal deviations from the median multiple of the total comparable set. Jefferies then subtracted debt from the implied enterprise value to determine an implied equity value. Our cash balance as of December 31, 2006 was not added in the derivation of the implied equity value. After accounting for the outstanding common stock (adjusted for the dilutive effect of the outstanding options and warrants using the treasury stock method), this analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.47 to $0.76 using the LTM revenue multiples, $0.61 to $0.97 using the 2007E revenue multiples, $0.51 to $0.97 using the 2008E revenue multiples, $0.68 to $0.87 using the 2007E EBITDA multiples and $1.22 to $1.59 using the 2008E EBITDA multiples, in each case compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. On May 15, 2007, at the special committee’s request, Jefferies provided an amended analysis to reflect an alternative treatment of our cash balance at December 31, 2006. Under this alternate treatment, $4.0 million was considered discretionary cash on hand, rather than the prior treatment of cash as not being available for distribution. As a result, in the amended analysis, Jefferies added such $4.0 million of our December 31, 2006 cash balance to the implied equity value determined above. This amended analysis, which is filed as Exhibit (c)(4) to Amendment No. 1 to AVP’s Schedule 13E-3, indicated a transaction multiple of 1.5x and range of implied equity values per share of $0.61 to $0.89, using the LTM revenue reference multiples; a 1.2x transaction multiple and $0.75 to $1.09 range, using the 2007E revenue reference multiples; a .9x transaction multiple and $0.65 to $1.09 range, using the 2008E revenue reference multiples; an 11.1x transaction multiple and $0.82 to $1.00 range, using the 2007E EBITDA reference multiples; and a 5.3x transaction multiple and $1.34 to $1.71 range, using the 2008E EBITDA reference multiples.
Using our Conservative Management Case projections, this analysis indicated the following:
Comparative Public Company Multiples
Benchmark | | High | | Low | | Median | | Mean | | Transaction |
Enterprise Value/LTM Revenue | | 2.2x | | 0.1x | | 0.8x | | 0.8x | | 1.7x |
Enterprise Value/2007E Revenue | | 2.6x | | 0.7x | | 0.8x | | 1.1x | | 1.4x |
Enterprise Value/2008E Revenue | | 2.1x | | 0.6x | | 0.6x | | 0.9x | | 1.2x |
Enterprise Value/2007E EBITDA | | 22.4x | | 5.7x | | 7.4x | | 10.7x | | 23.1x |
Enterprise Value/2008E EBITDA | | 17.5x | | 6.3x | | 6.9x | | 9.4x | | 16.8x |
Using a reference range of 0.6x to 1.0x our LTM revenue, 0.6x to 1.0x our estimated 2007 revenue, 0.4x to 0.8x our estimated 2008 revenue, 6.4x to 8.4x our estimated 2007 EBITDA and 5.9x to 7.9x our estimated 2008 EBITDA, Jefferies determined our implied enterprise value. Jefferies then subtracted debt from the implied enterprise value to determine an implied equity value. Our cash balance as of December 31, 2006 was not added in the derivation of the implied equity value. After accounting for the outstanding common stock (adjusted for the dilutive effect of the outstanding options and warrants using the treasury stock method), this analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.47 to $0.76 using the LTM revenue multiples, $0.58 to $0.93 using the 2007E revenue multiples, $0.45 to $0.87 using the 2008E revenue multiples, $0.37 to $0.48 using the 2007E EBITDA multiples and $0.46 to $0.61 using the 2008E EBITDA multiples, in each case compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Jefferies’ supplemental analysis on May 15, 2007, indicated a 1.5x transaction multiple and range of implied equity values per share of $0.61 to $0.89, using the LTM revenue reference multiples; a 1.2x transaction multiple and $0.72 to $1.05 range, using the 2007E revenue reference multiples; a 1.1 transaction multiple and $0.59 to $0.99 range using the 2008E revenue reference multiples; a 20.6 transaction multiple and $0.52 to $.63 range, using the 2007E EBITDA reference multiples; and a 15.0 transaction multiple and $0.61 to $0.76 range, using the 2008E EBITDA reference multiples.
No company utilized in the comparable company analysis is identical to us. While Jefferies considered the trading and operating characteristics of a number of publicly traded companies, the unique nature of our main business lessens the relevance of comparable public company analysis. In evaluating selected companies, Jefferies made judgments and assumptions with regard to industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions, and other matters, many of which are beyond our and Jefferies’ control.
Selected Comparable Transactions Analysis. Using publicly available information, Jefferies examined the following seven transactions involving transactions announced between January 1, 2002 and April 4, 2007, in sectors composed of advertising and marketing, broadcasting, motion pictures / audio visual, other media and entertainment, publishing, recreation and leisure, with enterprise values at announcement of less than $150 million and market capitalization four weeks prior to announcement of less than $200 million. The transactions considered and the month and year each transaction was announced were as follows:
Buyer | | Target | | Month and Year Announced |
infoUSA Inc. | | Opinion Research Corp | | August 2006 |
Vista Group Holdings LLC | | Outlook Group Corp | | March 2006 |
Lamar Advertising Co | | Obie Media Corp | | September 2004 |
Management-led Investor group | | Integrity Media Inc | | November 2003 |
Eastman Kodak Co. | | Laser-Pacific Media Corp | | August 2003 |
Scientific Games Corp | | MDI Entertainment Inc | | November 2002 |
Mosaic Media Group Inc, Jules Haimovitz, and CDP Capital Communications | | dick clark productions inc | | February 2002 |
Using publicly available information for each of these transactions, Jefferies reviewed the transaction value as a multiple of the target company’s LTM Revenue (our LTM EBITDA is negative so such a metric could not be used in the analysis) immediately preceding announcement of the transaction, which is referred to below as Transaction Value/LTM Revenue. This analysis indicated the following:
| | | | | | | | Transaction Value/ | |
Date Announced | | Acquiror | | Target | | Transaction Value | | LTM Revenue(1) | | LTM Revenue(1) | |
08/04/06 | | | infoUSA Inc | | | Opinion Research Corp | | | $134.3 | | | $192.0 | | | 0.7x | |
03/20/06 | | | Vista Group Holdings LLC | | | Outlook Group Corp | | | 47.0 | | | 84.9 | | | 0.6x | |
09/20/04 | | | Lamar Advertising Co | | | Obie Media Corp | | | 66.0 | | | 47.4 | | | 1.4x | |
11/21/03 | | | Management-led Investor group | | | Integrity Media Inc | | | 52.4 | | | 69.9 | | | 0.7x | |
08/01/03 | | | Eastman Kodak Co. | | | Laser-Pacific Media Corp | | | 30.5 | | | 35.4 | | | 0.9x | |
11/19/02 | | | Scientific Games Corp | | | MDI Entertainment Inc | | | 21.9 | | | 17.0 | | | 1.3x | |
02/14/02 | | | Mosaic Media Group Inc, Jules Haimovitz, and CDP Capital Communications | | | Dick Clark Productions inc | | | 72.1 | | | 45.1 | | | 1.6x | |
Source: Securities Data Corporation and public filings.
(1) LTM refers to latest twelve months.
| | Selected Comparable Transaction Multiples | |
Benchmark | | High | | Low | | Median | | Mean | |
Transaction Value/LTM Revenue | | | 1.6x | | | 0.6x | | | 0.9x | | | 1.0x | |
Jefferies used a reference range of 0.7x to 1.1x our LTM revenue, based on equal deviations from the median multiple of the total set of comparable transactions, to determine our implied enterprise value of $15.1 million to $23.1 million. Jefferies then subtracted debt from the implied enterprise value to determine an implied equity value. Our cash balance as of December 31, 2006 was not added in the derivation of the implied equity value. After accounting for the outstanding common stock (adjusted for the dilutive effect of the outstanding options and warrants using the treasury stock method), this analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.54 to $0.83 using the LTM revenue multiples, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Jefferies’ supplemental analysis indicated a range of implied equity values per share of $0.68 to $0.95 using the LTM revenue multiples, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share.
No transaction utilized as a comparison in the comparable transaction analysis is identical to the merger. In evaluating the merger, Jefferies made numerous judgments and assumptions with regard to industry performance, general business, economic, market, and financial conditions, many of which are beyond our and Jefferies’ control.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Jefferies performed a discounted cash flow analysis, which values us as the sum of our unlevered (before financing costs) free cash flows over a four year forecasted period and our terminal or residual value at the end of such period. The discounted free cash flow approach assumed a range of discount rates of 26% to 30%, a range of perpetuity growth rates of 5.0% to 7.0% (perpetual growth method), and a range of 2010 terminal EBITDA multiples of 5.5x to 7.5x (terminal multiple method), using certain financial projections for us prepared by our management. The terminal multiple method estimates the terminal or residual value of free cash flows beyond the forecast period by applying an appropriate industry or comparable company multiple to the projected EBITDA at the end of the forecast period. The perpetuity growth method estimates the terminal value by assuming a long-term growth rate for free cash flows in perpetuity. Jefferies selected its range of perpetual growth rates (5.0% - 7.0%) based on blended average of growth rates over the long-term, which Jefferies deemed most reasonable in light of projected above average growth in the near and medium-term and an eventual maturing of the free cash flow growth rate over the long-term. Jefferies selected a terminal EBITDA multiple at a discount to the median EBITDA multiple of the comparable companies in order to reflect a more reasonable set of implied perpetual growth rates. Jefferies performed discounted cash flow analyses utilizing both sets of management projections, the Target Management Case and the Conservative Management Case. Given the unique nature of our main business and the lack of directly comparable companies, the discount factor of 26% to 30% was calculated using our stand-alone weighted average cost of capital as opposed to a weighted average cost of capital of the comparable companies. The analysis considered the standalone value of our net operating loss carry-forwards. Based on this analysis, Jefferies determined our implied enterprise value. Jefferies then subtracted debt from the implied enterprise value to determine an implied equity value. Our cash balance as of December 31, 2006 was not added in the derivation of the implied equity value. After accounting for the outstanding common stock (adjusted for the dilutive effect of the outstanding options and warrants using the treasury stock method), this analysis utilizing the Target Management Case projections indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.70 to $0.85 per share using the perpetual growth method and implied equity values per share of $0.97 to $1.26 per share using the terminal multiple method, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Utilizing the Conservative Management Case projections, the discounted cash flow analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.29 to $0.36 per share using the perpetual growth method and implied equity values per share of $0.34 to $0.44 per share using the terminal multiple method, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Jefferies’ supplemental analysis on May 15, 2007, using Target Management Case projections, indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.83 to $0.97 per share using the perpetual growth method and implied equity values per share of $1.09 to $1.38 per share using the terminal multiple method, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Using the Conservative Management Case projections, Jefferies’ discounted cash flow analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.43 to $0.50 per share using the perpetual growth method and implied equity values per share of $0.48 to $0.58 per share using the terminal multiple method, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. For more information concerning the management projections that were used in Jefferies’ discounted cash flow analysis, see AVP’s Financial Forecasts, beginning on page 23.
Liquidity Analysis. Jefferies also analyzed the trading liquidity of our common stock by reviewing our trading volume relative to the average trading volume of broad market averages. Our shares have been highly illiquid, with only 21,349 shares traded daily on average during the last three months prior to the April 5, 2007 announcement, representing only 0.11% of the basic shares outstanding. Our shares trade approximately one-sixth the volume (relative to outstanding shares of the S&P 600 Small Cap index), which traded 223,091 shares daily on average during the same time period, representing 0.61% of the average shares outstanding. Our lack of equity research coverage also plays a role in our illiquidity.
Present Value of Projected Share Price Analysis. Jefferies performed a present value of projected share price analysis, which projects our future share price based on forecasted financial results and discounts the value to the present day. This analysis assumed a range of discount rates of 26% to 30% and a range of 2010 terminal EBITDA multiples of 5.5x to 7.5x and used the projected 2010 EBITDA figure as projected by our management in the Target Management Case and Conservative Management Case. Utilizing the Target Management Case projections, the analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.65 to $1.00 per share, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Utilizing the Conservative Management Case projections, the analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.19 to $0.29 per share, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. Jefferies’ supplemental analysis, using Target Management Case projections, indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.70 to $1.06 per share. The supplemental analysis assumed a range of discount rates of 26% to 30% and a range of 2010 terminal EBITDA multiples of 5.5x to 7.5x and used the projected 2010 EBITDA figure as projected by our management in the Target Management Case and Conservative Management Case. Utilizing the Conservative Management Case projections, the supplemental analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share of $0.24 to $0.34 per share, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share.
General. The summary set forth above does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by Jefferies. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. Jefferies believes that selecting any portion of its analyses or of the summary set forth above, without considering the analyses as a whole, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying the Jefferies opinion. In arriving at its opinion, Jefferies considered the results of all its analyses. The analyses performed by Jefferies include analyses based upon forecasts of future results, which results may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by the Jefferies analyses. The analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which our common stock may trade at any time after announcement of the proposed merger. The analyses were prepared solely for purposes of Jefferies providing its opinion to our special committee. Because the analyses are inherently subject to uncertainty, being based upon numerous factors and events, including, without limitation, factors relating to general economic and competitive conditions beyond the control of the parties or their respective advisors, neither Jefferies nor any other person assumes responsibility, if future results or actual values are materially different from those forecasted.
Preliminary Presentation. On February 20, 2007, Jefferies made a preliminary presentation to our special committee relating to Jefferies’ preliminary valuation analysis. The financial and comparative analyses presented by Jefferies to our special committee on April 5, 2007 in connection with Jefferies’ delivery of its fairness opinion supercede the terms, provisions and preliminary analyses contained within Jefferies’ preliminary presentation to our special committee on February 20, 2007. The following is a summary of the material financial and comparative analyses performed by Jefferies that were preliminarily presented to our special committee on February 20, 2007.
Preliminary Comparable Company Analysis. Given the unique nature of our main business, Jefferies believes no public company is directly comparable to AVP. Therefore, Jefferies reviewed the trading multiples of a number of micro-cap companies in the media sector with market capitalizations and financial operating metrics similar to ours. The comparable companies for Jefferies’ preliminary presentation were selected based on the following criteria: market capitalization of less than $50 million and enterprise value of less than $70 million. Using publicly available information and information provided by our management, Jefferies reviewed our trading multiples and the corresponding trading multiples of a group consisting of the following companies:
| · | Access Worldwide Communications Inc. |
| · | ACT Teleconferencing Inc. |
| · | BrandPartners Group Inc. |
| · | Broadview Institute, Inc. |
| · | CoActive Marketing Group Inc. |
| · | DAC Technologies Group International Inc. |
| · | Financial Media Group, Inc. |
| · | Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc. |
| · | ilinc Communications, Inc. |
| · | QRS Music Technologies Inc. |
| · | Singing Machine Co. Inc. |
| · | Value Management & Research AG |
In its preliminary analysis, Jefferies derived and compared our multiples and the multiples of the selected companies, calculated as follows:
| · | the enterprise value divided by revenue for the latest-twelve-month period, or LTM, which is referred to as TEV/LTM Revenue and |
| · | the enterprise value divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, for the LTM, which is referred to as TEV/LTM EBITDA. |
This preliminary analysis indicated the following:
Comparative Public Company Multiples
Benchmark | | High | | Low | | Median | | Mean | |
TEV/LTM Revenue | | 5.5x | | 0.1x | | 0.7x | | 1.0x | |
TEV/LTM EBITDA | | 22.4x | | 5.7x | | 7.4x | | 10.7x | |
Preliminary Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Jefferies performed a preliminary discounted cash flow analysis, which values us as the sum of our unlevered (before financing costs) free cash flows over a four year forecasted period and our terminal or residual value at the end of such period. The preliminary discounted free cash flow analysis assumed a range of discount rates of 19.7% to 23.7%, a range of perpetuity growth rates of 2.0% to 4.0% (perpetual growth method), and a range of 2010 terminal revenue multiples of 0.70x to 1.30x (terminal multiple method), using certain financial projections for us prepared by our management. The terminal multiple method estimates the terminal or residual value of free cash flows beyond the forecast period by applying an appropriate industry or comparable company multiple to the projected revenue at the end of the forecast period. The perpetuity growth method estimates the terminal value by assuming a long-term growth rate for free cash flows in perpetuity. Jefferies selected its range of perpetual growth rates (2.0% - 4.0%) for its preliminary analysis based on blended average of growth rates over the long-term, which Jefferies deemed most reasonable in light of projected above average growth in the near and medium-term and an eventual maturing of the free cash flow growth rate over the long-term. Jefferies selected a terminal revenue multiple at a discount to the median revenue multiple of the comparable companies in order to reflect a more reasonable set of implied perpetual growth rates. Given the unique nature of our main business and the lack of directly comparable companies, the discount factor of 19.7% to 23.7% was calculated using our stand-alone weighted average cost of capital as opposed to a weighted average cost of capital of the comparable companies. The preliminary analysis considered the standalone value of our net operating loss carry-forwards. Based on this preliminary analysis, Jefferies determined our implied enterprise value. Jefferies then subtracted debt and added cash from the implied enterprise value to determine an implied equity value. After accounting for the outstanding common stock (adjusted for the dilutive effect of the outstanding options and warrants using the treasury stock method), this preliminary analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share for the aggressive case of $0.93 to $1.18 per share using the perpetual growth method and implied equity values per share of $0.99 to $1.48 per share using the terminal multiple method, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share. The preliminary analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share for the base case of $0.37 to $0.45 per share using the perpetual growth method and implied equity values per share of $0.57 to $0.96 per share using the terminal multiple method, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share.
Preliminary Leveraged Buyout Analysis. Jefferies also analyzed AVP from the perspective of a potential purchaser that was primarily a financial buyer that would effect a leveraged buyout of AVP using a ratio of debt to last twelve months EBITDA consistent with the ratio of debt to last twelve months EBITDA that could be expected upon completion of the merger. Jefferies observed the transaction prices per share that would be necessary for an acquiror to achieve certain internal rates of return assuming a 2010 exit of the investor’s investment. The analysis assumed (i) the base management case and aggressive management case through 2010, (ii) realization of the equity investment through the sale of 100% of AVP at the end of calendar 2010 at a valuation of 4.0x - 6.0x 2010 EBITDA for both the base management case and the aggressive management case, and (iii) an investor’s targeted internal rate of return of 20% - 30% for the base management case and the aggressive management case assuming a 2010 exit of the investor’s investment. The preliminary analysis indicated a range of our implied equity values per share for the aggressive case of $0.74 to $1.30 per share, compared to the merger consideration of $1.23 in cash per share.
Jefferies’ presentations to the special committee and board of directors are filed as Exhibits (c)(2), (c)(3), and (c)(4) to Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13E-3 filed by AVP and certain affiliates in connection with the merger. The special committee selected Jefferies as its financial adviser because of Jefferies’ reputation as an internationally recognized investment banking and advisory firm with experience in transactions similar to the proposed merger. In the ordinary course of its business, Jefferies may actively trade shares of our common stock and other of our securities, for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. Jefferies has not provided services to us in the past two years, other than acting as the financial advisor to the special committee with respect to the merger.
Under the terms of a letter agreement dated January 26, 2007, pursuant to which the special committee engaged Jefferies, we agreed to pay Jefferies for its services a fee equal to $250,000 upon the delivery of its fairness opinion and a transaction advisory fee of $750,000 upon the closing of the merger or sale to a third party. The fairness opinion fee is creditable against the transaction advisory fee. In addition, we agreed to pay Jefferies an incentive fee for any increase in the merger consideration to be paid to us or our security holders from the announced $1.23 per share, subject to a $250,000 minimum incentive fee. In addition to any fees payable to Jefferies under the letter agreement, we have agreed to reimburse Jefferies for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with its engagement, including the reasonable fees of its legal counsel. We have also agreed to indemnify Jefferies and related parties against various liabilities, including liabilities arising under United States federal securities laws or relating to or arising out of the merger or the engagement of Jefferies.
AVP’s Financial Forecasts
Management’s two projections cases, the Target Management Case and the Conservative Management Case, which we provided to Jefferies for the purposes of its analysis appear on the following pages. We do not, as a matter of course, make public projections as to our future performance or earnings beyond the current fiscal year, and we are especially wary of making projections for extended periods due to the unpredictability of the underlying assumptions and estimates.
Our forecasts were not prepared with a view to public disclosure. We did not prepare the forecasts with a view to complying with the published guidelines of the SEC regarding forecasts, and we did not prepare the forecasts in accordance with the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of financial forecasts. The projected financial information set forth below has been prepared by and is the responsibility of our management. The financial projections do not reflect any of the effects of the merger or other changes that may in the future be deemed appropriate concerning AVP and its assets, business, operations, properties, policies, corporate structure, capitalization or management in light of the circumstances then existing. Neither our independent auditors nor any other independent accountants have compiled, examined or performed any procedures with respect to the prospective financial information contained in the projections, nor have they expressed any opinion or given any form of assurance on the projections or their achievability. Furthermore, the projections:
§ | necessarily make numerous assumptions, many of which are beyond our control and may not prove to have been, or may no longer be, accurate; |
§ | do not necessarily reflect revised prospects for AVP’s business, changes in general business or economic conditions or any other transaction or event that has occurred or that may occur and that was not anticipated at the time the projections were prepared; |
§ | do not necessarily indicate current values or future performance, which may be significantly more favorable or less favorable than as set forth below; and |
§ | should not be regarded as representations that they will be achieved. |
The projected financial information set forth below constitutes forward-looking statements. It is not possible to predict whether the assumptions made in preparing the forecasts will be valid, and we caution stockholders that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. We cannot assure you that our forecasts will be realized, and actual results may be materially more or less favorable than those contained in the forecasts set forth below. Investors should consider the risks and uncertainties in our business that may affect future performance and that are discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements” and in “Risk Factors.”
Our including the forecasts should not be regarded as an indication that we, the special committee, our board of directors or Jefferies considered or consider the forecasts to be a reliable prediction of future events. To the extent that our forecasts represent our management’s best estimate of possible future performance, this estimate is made only as of the date of the forecasts and not as of any later date. We do not intend to update, revise or correct these forecasts if they become inaccurate. Stockholders should take this into account when evaluating any factors or analyses based on our forecasts.
Projected Financial Performance - Target Management Case
($Millions)
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, | | 2007 Budget | | 2008 Projection | | 2009 Projection | | 2010 Projection | |
Revenue | | | | | | | | | |
National Sponsorship Fees | | $ | 22.4 | | $ | 27.2 | | $ | 31.9 | | $ | 34.9 | |
Activation Fees | | | 0.9 | | | 1.1 | | | 1.3 | | | 1.4 | |
Total Local Revenue | | | 3.7 | | | 5.5 | | | 5.2 | | | 4.9 | |
Other Revenue Streams: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Indoor Showcase and Other Exhibition Events | | | 0.2 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.4 | | | 0.4 | |
International Television Licensing, Sponsorship and Merchandising | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | |
Trademark Licensing | | | 0.8 | | | 0.9 | | | 1.2 | | | 1.4 | |
Grass Roots Marketing | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | |
Total Other Revenue | | | 1.3 | | | 1.5 | | | 2.0 | | | 2.3 | |
Total Revenue | | $ | 28.3 | | $ | 35.3 | | $ | 40.3 | | $ | 43.5 | |
Total Direct Costs | | | 17.1 | | | 18.7 | | | 19.8 | | | 20.9 | |
Gross Margin | | | 11.2 | | | 16.7 | | | 20.5 | | | 22.6 | |
% | | | 39.6 | % | | 47.2 | % | | 50.9 | % | | 52.0 | % |
Total Overhead Costs | | | 8.3 | | | 10.4 | | | 12.2 | | | 12.9 | |
Total Expenses | | | 24.5 | | | 29.1 | | | 32.0 | | | 33.8 | |
EBITDA and Extra Ordinary Items | | $ | 3.0 | | $ | 6.2 | | $ | 8.3 | | $ | 9.7 | |
Margin % | | | 10.4 | % | | 17.6 | % | | 20.6 | % | | 22.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Amortization | | | 0.0 | | | 0.0 | | | 0.1 | | | 0.1 | |
Depreciation | | | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | |
Interest Income | | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.3 | ) | | (0.4 | ) |
Income Tax Expense (Net of NOL Carryforward)(1) | | | — | | | — | | | 0.1 | | | 3.8 | |
Net Income (Loss) | | $ | 2.8 | | $ | 6.2 | | $ | 8.2 | | $ | 6.0 | |
Source: Target Management Case provided by management.
(1) | Assumes available NOL offsets income tax expense. At December 31, 2006, AVP had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $16,200,000, which expire at various intervals from the years 2019 to 2025. |
Projected Financial Performance - Conservative Management Case
($Millions)
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, | | 2007 Budget | | 2008 Projection | | 2009 Projection | | 2010 Projection | |
Revenue | | | | | | | | | |
National Sponsorship Fees | | $ | 21.0 | | $ | 23.1 | | $ | 25.4 | | $ | 28.0 | |
Activation Fees | | | 0.7 | | | 0.9 | | | 1.1 | | | 1.2 | |
Total Local Revenue | | | 3.7 | | | 5.5 | | | 5.2 | | | 4.9 | |
Other Revenue Streams: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Indoor Showcase and Other Exhibition Events | | | 0.2 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.4 | | | 0.4 | |
International Television Licensing, Sponsorship and Merchandising | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | |
Trademark Licensing | | | 0.8 | | | 0.9 | | | 1.2 | | | 1.4 | |
Grass Roots Marketing | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | |
Total Other Revenue | | | 1.3 | | | 1.5 | | | 2.0 | | | 2.3 | |
Total Revenue | | $ | 26.8 | | $ | 31.1 | | $ | 33.7 | | $ | 36.4 | |
Total Direct Costs | | | 16.9 | | | 18.5 | | | 19.6 | | | 20.7 | |
Gross Margin | | | 9.8 | | | 12.6 | | | 14.1 | | | 15.7 | |
% | | | 37 | % | | 41 | % | | 42 | % | | 43 | % |
Total Overhead Costs | | | 8.3 | | | 10.4 | | | 12.2 | | | 12.9 | |
Total Expenses | | | 25.2 | | | 28.9 | | | 31.8 | | | 33.6 | |
EBITDA and Extra Ordinary Items | | $ | 1.6 | | $ | 2.2 | | $ | 1.9 | | $ | 2.8 | |
Margin % | | | 59 | % | | 7.0 | % | | 5.5 | % | | 7.7 | % |
Amortization | | | 0.0 | | | 0.0 | | | 0.1 | | | 0.1 | |
Depreciation | | | 0.3 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.2 | |
Interest Income | | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.2 | ) |
Income Tax Expense (Net of NOL Carryforward)(1) | | | — | | | — | | | 0.1 | | | 3.8 | |
Net Income (Loss) | | $ | 1.4 | | $ | 2.1 | | $ | 1.7 | | $ | 2.7 | |
Source: Target Management Case provided by management.
(1) | | Assumes available NOL offsets income tax expense. At December 31, 2006, AVP had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $16,200,000, which expire at various intervals from the years 2019 to 2025. |
AVP’s Purposes of and Reasons for the Merger
The purposes of and reasons for the merger of AVP and Mr. Armato are as follows:
Purposes
The purpose of the merger is for AVP to be acquired by Shamrock, thereby allowing AVP to avoid public company reporting and other public company obligations.
Reasons
The primary reason for wishing to go private is that AVP is a very small company, as to which the burdens of being public outweigh the benefits. AVP and Mr. Armato recognize that being public can lower the cost of capital of a company with sufficient market capitalization and that a publicly traded stock can be used as a “currency” for acquisitions and a platform for employee incentive plans. However, AVP and Mr. Armato believe that these factors benefit AVP little, because the small, illiquid market for its stock, which trades thinly on the OTCBB, restrict its usefulness for raising capital or acquisitions or as a basis for incentive compensation. A significant number of institutions are unable to invest in AVP stock, because of its market characteristics, and the stock generates no analyst coverage. With its capital and access to additional capital limited, AVP and Mr. Armato believe that AVP faces difficulties in expanding management and building infrastructure necessary for AVP to grow its business.
By contrast, AVP’s reporting obligations as a public company divert attention of some members of management from operating to reporting on the business and require AVP to employ additional personnel, as well as to engage outside accountants and lawyers to handle matters that private companies have no obligations to deal with. As a public company AVP must file with the SEC annual and quarterly reports containing financial and other information, as well as current reports of significant corporate events, and various contracts and other corporate documents, and must elect directors and submit other matters to stockholders pursuant to SEC proxy rules. Besides compliance costs, many of these requirements reduce AVP’s flexibility or ability to respond quickly to business developments. Similarly, a number of corporate governance obligations of public companies, such as beneficial ownership reporting, maintaining audit and other committees, codes of ethics, and websites with prescribed disclosure, and special compensation rules and other limitations on a company’s relations with its officers and directors, add costs, reduce flexibility, and require AVP to maintain a compliance regime that is disproportionately burdensome to a small company.
AVP and Mr. Armato recognize that the merger will deprive the unaffiliated stockholders of an opportunity to participate in any AVP future growth, but believe that unaffiliated stockholders will benefit from the merger by receiving cash payments at a price per share exceeding the volume weighted average price over the last year and that unaffiliated stockholders could not receive, if they wished all at the same time to sell their shares.
AVP is undertaking the merger now, because the opportunity has arisen at this time, and there can be no assurance that the opportunity otherwise will arise in the foreseeable future. AVP and Mr. Armato believe that this conclusion is supported by the results of the go-shop, inasmuch as Jefferies was unable to identify other parties interested in acquiring AVP. The special committee and Shamrock considered, as an alternative transaction, a cash tender offer to precede the merger, but decided against it because of the additional time and expense it would entail and considered the go-shop a suitable substitute in terms of determining third-party interest in acquiring AVP. No alternative form of transaction, such as a self-tender or reverse stock split, to enable AVP to de-register under the Exchange Act was considered, because AVP lacks the financial ability to buy back or cash out sufficient amounts of shares.
Shamrock’s Purposes of and Reasons for the Merger
The purposes of and reasons for the merger, of Holdings, Acquisition, Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P. , and Shamrock Capital Partners II, LLC are as follows:
Purposes
The purpose of the merger is to enable Holdings to acquire all of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the merger. Shamrock believes that the Company’s future business prospects can be improved through Shamrock’s active participation in the strategic direction and operations of the Company. In addition, Shamrock believes that its access to capital sources may provide the Company with development opportunities of the sort not currently available to it.
Reasons
Shamrock believes that it is best for the Company to operate as a privately-held entity. As a privately-held entity, the Company will have the flexibility to focus on continuing improvements to its business without the constraints and distractions caused by the public equity market’s valuation of the Company. In addition, as an entity whose common stock is not publicly traded, the Company will be able to make decisions that may negatively affect quarterly earnings but that may, in the long-run, increase the value of the Company’s assets or earnings. In other words, in a public equity market setting, it is often difficult for a company to make decisions that could negatively affect earnings in the short-term when the result of those decisions is often a reduction in the per share price of the publicly-traded equity securities of such company.
In addition, after the merger, the Company will no longer be subject to Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements with respect to its equity securities, which will allow the Company to eliminate the time devoted by its management and certain other employees to matters related exclusively to having equity securities publicly-traded and the significant cost associated with such matters.
Position of Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition as to Fairness
The view of Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition as to fairness of the proposed merger should not be construed as a recommendation to any stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote on the proposal to approve and adopt the merger agreement.
Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition attempted to negotiate the terms of a transaction that would be most favorable to themselves, and not to stockholders of AVP, and, accordingly, did not negotiate the merger agreement with the goal of obtaining terms that were fair to AVP’s unaffiliated stockholders. Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition did not participate in the deliberations of AVP’s board of directors or the special committee regarding, or receive advice from AVP’s or the special committee's legal or financial advisors as to, the substantive and procedural fairness of the proposed merger, nor did Shamrock, Holdings, or Acquisition undertake any independent evaluation of the fairness of the proposed merger or engage a financial advisor for such purposes. Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition believe, however, that the proposed merger is fair to AVP's unaffiliated stockholders based on the following factors:
· | AVP’s value as a going concern and AVP’s historical share prices; |
· | the fact that the merger consideration will be paid entirely in cash to the stockholders, so that the transaction allows the unaffiliated stockholders to immediately realize a fair value, in cash, for their investment and provides such stockholders certainty of value for their shares; |
· | the fact that there is no financing contingency to the merger, and that Shamrock has the financial and capital resources to complete the merger without needing to obtain financing and without undue delay, which provides additional certainty that the unaffiliated stockholders will realize a fair value, in cash, for their investment; |
· | the fact that the merger agreement permitted AVP’s board, for 45 days from the date of the merger agreement, to solicit and, thereafter, until consummation of the merger, permits AVP’s board to consider unsolicited bona fide alternative proposals and to authorize AVP to consummate an alternative proposal, instead of the merger, if necessary to comply with the board’s fiduciary duties; |
· | the ability of the stockholders who may not support the merger to exercise appraisal rights under Delaware law; |
· | the fact that AVP’s board of directors established a special committee to consider and negotiate the terms of the merger and the merger agreement; |
· | the fact that the special committee is composed of directors who were not officers, employees, or controlling stockholders of AVP, were independent of the Company’s management, and, other than the indemnification rights under the merger agreement, do not have a financial interest in the proposed transaction that differs from that of our unaffiliated stockholders; |
· | the fact that the members of the special committee received adequate compensation for their services that is not contingent on approval of the merger; |
· | the fact that the special committee retained and received advice from AVP’s financial advisors in evaluating, negotiating and recommending the terms of the merger agreement; |
· | the fact that the special committee and its advisors took an active and direct role in the negotiations with respect to the merger, and extensively deliberated the proposed transaction; and |
· | the prices per share and the other terms and conditions of the merger agreement resulted from active arms-length negotiations between the special committee and Shamrock. |
The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered and given weight by Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition in connection with the fairness of the merger is not intended to be exhaustive but is believed to include all material factors considered by Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition. Shamrock, Holdings, and Acquisition did not find it practicable to assign, and did not assign, relative weights to the individual factors considered in reaching their conclusions as to the fairness of the proposed merger. Rather, their fairness determinations were made after consideration of all of the foregoing factors as a whole.
Certain Effects of the Merger
The merger is a “going private” transaction, which will result in all of our outstanding shares of common stock being wholly owned by Holdings. The merger will have the following effects when it is completed:
Participation in Future Growth. After the completion of the merger, holders of AVP common stock will cease to have ownership interests in AVP or rights as our stockholders. As a result of the merger, Shamrock and Mr. Armato will be the sole beneficiaries of our future earnings and growth, if any. Similarly, Shamrock and Mr. Armato also will bear the risk of any losses generated by our operations and any decrease in our value after the merger.
Effect on the Market for AVP Common Stock. If the merger is completed, there will be no publicly traded AVP common stock.
Delisting of AVP Common Stock. Following the merger, the AVP common stock will no longer be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board.
Deregistration of AVP’s Common Stock under the Exchange Act. Following the merger, the registration of AVP common stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or “Exchange Act,” will be terminated. Due to this termination, we will no longer be required to file annual, quarterly, and current reports with the SEC. Moreover, we will no longer be subject to the requirement to furnish proxy statements in connection with meetings of stockholders pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the related requirement to furnish an annual report to stockholders.
Plans for AVP after the Merger
It is expected that after the merger, the operations and business of the Company will be conducted substantially as they are currently conducted. Neither AVP nor Shamrock has any present plans or proposals, other than the merger, that would result in an extraordinary transaction, such as a reorganization or liquidation involving AVP, any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of AVP’s assets, or any material changes in AVP’s business. However, AVP and Shamrock will continue to evaluate AVP’s business and operations after the merger from time to time, and may propose or develop new plans and proposals which they consider to be in the best interests of AVP and its stockholders, including the disposition or acquisition of material assets, joint ventures and other extraordinary transactions.
Conduct of AVP’s Business if the Merger is Not Completed
If the merger is not completed for any reason, AVP’s stockholders will not receive any merger consideration. Instead, AVP will remain a public company; its common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the OTC Bulletin Board; and we expect that current management will continue to operate the business substantially as currently operated. AVP’s stockholders will continue to be subject to the same risks and opportunities as they currently have with respect to their ownership of AVP Series B Stock or common stock. There can be no assurance as to the effects of these risks and opportunities on the future value of your Series B Stock or common stock or that any other transaction acceptable to AVP will be offered.
Interests of AVP Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger
In considering the recommendation of our board of directors with respect to the merger, you should be aware that some of our directors and executive officers have interests in the merger that may differ from or be in addition to the interests of our stockholders generally. These interests may present our directors and officers with actual or potential conflicts of interest and, to the extent material, are described below. Our board of directors was aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in approving the merger agreement.
Anticipated New Employment Agreement
Mr. Leonard Armato, the Company’s chairman and chief executive officer, entered an employment agreement with Holdings, which agreement will automatically become effective upon the consummation of the merger and will replace his current employment arrangement with the Company.
Dreier Stein & Kahan LLP represented Mr. Armato in the negotiation of his new employment agreement and other plans and agreements described below.
The new employment agreement will be for an initial 5-year term and entitle Mr. Armato to certain customary benefits, including paid vacation, car allowance, medical and other insurance coverage and travel reimbursement, and make him eligible to participate in any incentive, savings, retirement, and welfare benefit plans maintained or established by AVP or its affiliates.
Under the employment agreement, Mr. Armato’s initial base salary will be $450,000. The determination of Mr. Armato’s salary was not part of the negotiation of the merger agreement. Mr. Armato’s new agreement also provides for bonuses based on AVP’s performance.
Under the terms of Mr. Armato’s new employment agreement, if Mr. Armato’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, by Mr. Armato with good reason, or due to his death or disability, Mr. Armato will be entitled to, in addition to his base salary through the date of termination:
| · | continue to receive his base salary until the later of (A) April 5, 2011 and (B) the first to occur of (x) the 2-year anniversary of such termination and (y) the 5-year anniversary of the commencement date of the employment agreement; and |
| · | a pro-rata portion of any bonus, if any, that would have been payable to him for the fiscal year in which the termination occurred had he not been terminated during such year. |
Mr. Bruce Binkow, a director and our chief marketing officer, will continue his employment pursuant to his current employment agreement with AVP.
Equity Ownership in Holdings after the Merger
Immediately following the merger, it is anticipated that Shamrock and co-investors will own [ ]% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Holdings and that Mr. Leonard Armato, our chairman and chief executive officer, will own approximately [ ]% of the capital stock of Holdings on a fully-diluted basis. See the table and notes under the caption “Common Stock, Stock Options, and Warrants” on page 30. It is expected that upon closing of the merger, the AVP Holdings, Inc. 2007 Stock Option Plan, which will permit the issuance of options for the purchase of Holdings’ common stock, will become effective. Under this plan, the board of directors of Holdings (or a committee thereof) may, in its discretion, grant options to executives or other key employees or directors of Holdings. It is anticipated that Mr. Armato will receive options to purchase up to 5% of Holdings’ common stock, determined on a fully-diluted basis.
Stockholders Agreement
Upon closing of the merger, it is anticipated that Holdings, Shamrock and Mr. Armato will enter a stockholders agreement with respect to their Holdings’ stock. Certain terms of the stockholders agreement are described below:
| · | all parties to the stockholders agreement will be obligated to vote for the following Holdings’ board members: Leonard Armato, three members appointed by Shamrock, and three members appointed by the majority of holders of common stock of Holdings who are approved by Shamrock; |
| · | all stockholder parties to the stockholders agreement, other than Shamrock, will be restricted from transferring their shares, subject to customary exceptions; |
| · | all stockholder parties to the stockholders agreement, other than Shamrock, will have customary “tag-along” rights to participate on a pro rata basis with Shamrock in sales of equity securities, subject to certain exceptions; |
| · | all stockholder parties to the stockholders agreement will have preemptive rights with respect to offerings of new securities by Holdings to Shamrock, subject to customary exceptions; and |
| · | all parties to the stockholders agreement, other than Shamrock, will be subject to customary “drag-along” rights by which they may be required to sell their shares along with Shamrock in a transaction following which a person or group other than Shamrock or its affiliates would have voting power under ordinary circumstances to appoint a majority of the Holdings board of directors, subject to certain exceptions. |
Upon completion of the merger, it is anticipated that Holdings, Shamrock and Mr. Armato will enter into a registration agreement that will give such stockholders registration rights with respect to their Holdings’ securities, subject to customary restrictions and limitations. No public offering of Holdings securities is contemplated, but Shamrock and its co-investors customarily enter such agreements with respect to acquired businesses.
Voting Agreement
Holdings, Acquisition, and Leonard Armato entered a voting agreement, dated as of April 5, 2007, whereby Mr. Armato agreed to vote all of the common stock that he owns (i) in favor of the approval of the merger agreement and each of the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement to be performed by AVP and any actions required in furtherance thereof, and (ii) against (A) approval of any proposal made in opposition to or competition with consummation of the merger or the merger agreement, or any acquisition proposal (as defined in the merger agreement) by any person or entity other than Holdings or Acquisition or any other action or agreement that, directly or indirectly, is inconsistent with or that is reasonably likely, to impede, interfere with, delay or postpone the merger, (B) any proposal that is intended to, or is reasonably likely to, result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of AVP under the merger agreement or the conditions to Holdings, or Acquisition’s obligations under the merger agreement not being fulfilled, and (C) any change in AVP’s directors, any change in AVP’s present capitalization, any amendment of AVP’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any other material change in AVP’s corporate structure or business that is not requested or expressly approved by Holdings. The foregoing does not prohibit or restrict Mr. Armato from performing his duties as an AVP director. The voting agreement automatically terminates upon termination of the merger agreement and may be terminated by agreement of the parties.
Directors and Officers Insurance
For a period of 6 years from the effective time of the merger, the surviving corporation will maintain in effect the exculpation, indemnification, and advancement of expenses provisions of the Company’s organizational documents in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the merger or in any indemnification agreements with any of their respective directors, officers or employees in effect as of the date of the merger agreement. Further, the surviving corporation has agreed to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of our and our subsidiaries’ present and former directors, officers and employees against all costs or expenses in connection with any claim, proceeding, or investigation arising out of any act or omission occurring before or after the effective time of the merger.
For a period of 6 years from the effective time of the merger, the surviving corporation will purchase “run-off policies” of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous in the aggregate than policies currently maintained by AVP with respect to matters arising on or before the effective time of the merger for cost not to exceed 300% of the annual premium that we currently pay.
The indemnification and insurance provisions of the merger agreement are more fully described under “The Merger Agreement—Covenants and Additional Agreements—Indemnification” on page 49.
Common Stock, Stock Options, and Warrants
At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding option or warrant to buy common stock, whether vested or unvested (excluding certain unvested warrants not held by any AVP director or executive officer), will be converted into the right to receive in cash, without interest, the product of (a) the excess, if any, of $1.23 over the exercise price per share of common stock for such option or warrant and (b) the number of shares of common stock then subject to such option or warrant (except for certain warrants that entitle their holders to receive an amount calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model). All restricted shares under AVP’s equity plans will be vested in full immediately prior to the effective time and will be converted into the right to receive $1.23 in cash, without interest. Our directors and executive officers will be able to receive the same cash consideration for their shares of common stock, options, and warrants as all of our other stockholders and holders of vested options or warrants, as applicable.
The following table sets forth (i) the number of shares of our common stock, including restricted shares, held, as of the record date, by each person who, in 2007, has been an AVP director or executive officer, as well as the value of the shares of common stock based on the merger consideration and (ii) the number of shares of our common stock subject to options or warrants held, as of the date of the record date, by each person who, during 2007, has been a director or executive officer, as well as the value of the options or warrants based on the merger consideration after deducting the exercise price for any such options.
Name | | Number of Shares of Common Stock | | Payment Upon Completion of the Merger (1) | | Number of Warrant or Option Shares to be Cashed Out (2) | | Payment Upon Completion of the Merger (1) | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Leonard Armato | | | 1,795,798 | | | N.A.(3 | ) | | 4,964,684 | | $ | 5,259,198(4 | ) |
Bruce Binkow | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | $ | 0 | |
William J. Chardavoyne | | | 23,704 | | $ | 29,156 | | | 50,000 | | $ | 27,500 | |
Philip Guarascio | | | 8,835 | | $ | 10,867 | | | 129,903 | | $ | 73,422 | |
Jack Kemp | | | 3,049 | | $ | 3,750 | | | 0 | | | N.A. | |
Scott Painter | | | 7,686 | | $ | 9,454 | | | 120,903 | | $ | 73,422 | |
Andrew Reif | | | 0 | | | N.A. | | | 788,476 | | $ | 700,551 | |
Thomas Torii | | | 0 | | | N.A. | | | 0 | | | N.A. | |
Brett Yormark | | | 1,546 | | $ | 1,902 | | | 0 | | | N.A. | |
Kathy Vrabeck | | | 4,577 | | $ | 5,630 | | | 50,000 | | $ | 24,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | Before deduction of applicable withholding taxes. |
(2) | Excludes out-of-the-money options and warrants. |
(3) | Mr. Armato will receive shares of Holdings for his AVP shares, rather than merger consideration. |
(4) | Mr. Armato will invest $1,362,142 of the proceeds in Holdings shares. |
For further information regarding the beneficial ownership of our securities by our directors and executive officers, see “Securities Ownership” beginning on page 74.
Compensation of the Special Committee
In February 2007, our board of directors agreed to compensate the chairman of the special committee a fee at the rate of $10,000 per month, and the other committee members fees, at the rate of $5,000 per month, to compensate the committee members for service on the special committee and the significant additional time that was required of them in fulfilling their responsibilities as members of the special committee. The fees are payable whether or not the merger is completed. Fees through March 31, 2007 have been paid. The members of the special committee are also reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other expenses incurred in connection with their services on the special committee.
Financing the Merger
The total amount of funds required to complete the merger (excluding related fees and expenses) is estimated to be approximately $36.9 million. Acquisition will obtain such funds from cash on hand, and cash on hand at AVP will be used to pay transaction fees and expenses. AVP expects that its transaction expenses and expenses incurred in soliciting proxies for the special meeting will be as follows: financial advisory, legal, accounting, and tax fees and expenses, $0,000,000; SEC filing fees, $7,200; printing, proxy solicitation, and mailing costs, $20,000; and miscellaneous, $5,000; totaling 0,000,000.
Regulatory Approvals and Other Consents
We do not believe that any material federal, state, or foreign regulatory approvals, filings or notices are required in connection with the merger other than approvals, filings, or notices required under federal securities laws and the filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each, as defined below) who receive cash in the merger in exchange for shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock. The discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Internal Revenue Code,” applicable current and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations, judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The discussion applies only to holders who hold shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code and exchange all of their AVP Series B Stock or common stock for cash as a result of the merger and who, after the merger, have no interest in AVP (whether directly or indirectly pursuant to certain tax attribution rules). The tax considerations of the merger may differ for holders who have any direct or indirect interest in AVP after the merger.
This discussion is a summary only and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to holders of AVP Series B Stock or common stock in light of their particular circumstances, or that may apply to holders that are subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws (including, for example, banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions or other financial services entities, broker-dealers, traders in securities who elect to mark their securities to market, mutual funds, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, or other tax deferred accounts, persons having a functional currency other than the US dollar, S corporations, holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons who validly exercise appraisal rights, partnerships (or other entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (collectively, “partnerships”)) or other pass-through entities and persons holding shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock through a partnership or other pass-through entity, persons who acquired AVP common stock in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, United States expatriates, “passive foreign investment companies,” “controlled foreign corporations” and persons who hold shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction).
This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local, or foreign tax laws or U.S. federal tax laws other than U.S. federal income tax laws.
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. Holder” is a holder of shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock, who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
· | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
· | a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized (or treated for federal income tax purposes as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; |
· | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
· | a trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons is or are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a domestic trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
A “Non-U.S. Holder” is a person (other than a partnership or other pass-through entity) that is not a U.S. Holder.
If shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock are held by a partnership, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold AVP Series B Stock or common stock and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the merger.
We have not sought a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or an opinion of counsel as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger. The IRS may disagree with the description herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Each AVP stockholder is urged to consult with the stockholder’s tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences of the merger to the stockholder and effects of state, local, or non-U.S. tax laws, as well as U.S. federal income and other tax laws.
U.S. Holders. The receipt of cash for AVP Series B Stock or common stock in the merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, a U.S. Holder who surrenders AVP Series B Stock or common stock for cash in the merger will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received in exchange for such shares and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares. If a U.S. Holder acquired different blocks of AVP Series B Stock or common stock at different times or different prices, such holder must determine its tax basis and holding period separately with respect to each block of AVP Series B Stock or common stock. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss provided that a U.S. Holder’s holding period for such shares is more than one year at the time of completion of the merger and short-term capital gain or loss, otherwise. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders will be subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15%. Long-term capital gains recongnized by corporations and short-term capital gains recognized by corporate and non-corporate taxpayers are taxable at a maximum federal rate of 35%. There are limitations on the deductibility of capital losses.
Cash payments made pursuant to the merger agreement will be reported to holders of AVP Series B Stock or common stock and the Internal Revenue Service to the extent required by the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations of the U.S. Treasury. Under the Internal Revenue Code, a U.S. Holder of AVP Series B Stock or common stock (other than a corporation or other exempt recipient) may be subject, under certain circumstances, to information reporting on the cash received in the merger. Backup withholding at a rate of 28% also may apply with respect to the amount of cash received in the merger, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders. Any gain realized on the receipt of cash in the merger by a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:
· | the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States (and, if applicable, is attributable to a fixed-base or permanent establishment of the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States); or |
· | the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the merger, and certain other conditions are met. |
A Non-U.S. Holder whose gain is described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax on its net gain in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. In addition, if a Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, such holder may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits (including such gain) to the extent that such profits are not reinvested and maintained in U.S. property, or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
An individual Non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to tax at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate) on the gain recognized, equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received in exchange for shares of AVP Series B Stock or common stock and the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses even though the individual is a Non-U.S. Holder.
Cash received by Non-U.S. Holders in the merger will be subject to information reporting, unless an exemption applies. Moreover, backup withholding of tax (at a rate of 28%) may apply to cash received by a Non-U.S. Holder in the merger, unless the holder or other payee establishes an exemption in a manner satisfactory to the paying agent and otherwise complies with the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
The summary set forth above is not intended to constitute a complete description of all tax consequences relating to the merger. Because individual circumstances may differ, each stockholder should consult the stockholder’s own tax advisor regarding the applicability of the rules discussed above and the particular tax effects to the stockholder of the merger, including the application of state, local and foreign tax laws.
Accounting Treatment
Holdings intends to account for this transaction using the purchase method of accounting. The excess of the purchase price over net identifiable assets acquired will be allocated to goodwill.
Appraisal Rights
Under Delaware law, AVP stockholders not voting for the merger are entitled to have their shares appraised by the Delaware Chancery Court, if the merger is consummated. To exercise these appraisal rights, a stockholder must comply with the provisions of Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).
The following discussion is not a complete statement of appraisal rights under Delaware law and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of Section 262 of the DGCL, which explains the procedures and requirements for exercising appraisal rights and is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement and incorporated herein by reference. All references in Section 262 of the DGCL and in this summary to a “stockholder” are to the record holder of the shares of our Series B Stock or common stock as to which appraisal rights are asserted, and "stock" refers to Series B Stock or common stock held by such stockholders. Stockholders intending to exercise appraisal rights should carefully review Annex C. This proxy statement constitutes notice to our stockholders concerning the availability of appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL.
A stockholder who wishes to exercise appraisal rights should carefully review the following discussion and Annex C to this proxy statement, because failure to timely and fully comply with the procedures required by Section 262 of the DGCL will result in the loss of appraisal rights.
Under the DGCL, stockholders who do not wish to accept the merger consideration have the right, subject to compliance with the requirements summarized below, to demand an appraisal by the Delaware Court of Chancery of the “fair value” of their shares and to be paid in cash such fair value in lieu of the merger consideration that they otherwise would receive upon consummation of the merger. For this purpose, the fair value of our shares of stock will be their fair value, excluding any element of value arising from the consummation or expectation of consummation of the merger, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders who desire to exercise their appraisal rights must satisfy all of the conditions of Section 262 of the DGCL, including:
· | Written Demand for Appraisal Prior to the Vote at the Special Meeting. A stockholder must deliver to us a written demand for appraisal, meeting the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, before the taking of the stockholders’ vote on the adoption of the merger agreement at the special meeting. Voting against or abstaining with respect to the adoption of the merger agreement, failing to return a proxy, or returning a proxy voting against or abstaining with respect to the proposal to adopt the merger agreement will not constitute the making of a written demand for appraisal. The written demand for appraisal must be separate from any proxy, abstention from the vote on, or vote against the merger agreement. The written demand must reasonably inform us of the identity of the stockholder and of the stockholder’s intent thereby to demand appraisal of their shares. Failure to deliver a written demand for appraisal before the taking of the stockholders’ vote on the adoption of the merger agreement at the special meeting will cause loss of the stockholder’s appraisal rights. |
· | Refrain from Voting in Favor of Adoption of the Merger Agreement. In addition to making a written demand for appraisal, a stockholder must not vote in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement. A submitted proxy not marked “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” will be voted in favor of adoption of the merger agreement and result in the waiver of appraisal rights. A stockholder that has not submitted a proxy will not waive appraisal rights solely by failing to vote, if the stockholder satisfies all other provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL. |
· | Continuous Ownership of AVP Stock. A stockholder must also continuously hold our stock from the date the stockholder makes the written demand for appraisal through the effective time of the merger. Accordingly, a stockholder who is the record holder of shares of our stock on the date the written demand for appraisal is made but who thereafter transfers the shares prior to the effective time of the merger will lose any right to appraisal with respect to the transferred shares. |
· | Filing Petition with the Chancery Court. Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger (but not thereafter), either AVP or any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, must file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a judicial determination of the value of the stock held by all stockholders entitled to appraisal rights. This petition in effect initiates a court proceeding in Delaware. We, as the surviving corporation, have no obligation or any intention at this time to file such a petition, if a demand for appraisal is made, and stockholders seeking to exercise appraisal rights should not assume that we will file such a petition or that we will initiate any negotiations with respect to the fair value of such shares. Accordingly, because we intend not to file such a petition, if no stockholder files such a petition with the Delaware Court of Chancery within 120 days after the effective date of the merger, appraisal rights will be lost, even if a stockholder has fulfilled all other requirements to exercise appraisal rights. |
A demand for appraisal must be executed by or on behalf of the stockholder of record, fully and correctly, as such stockholder’s name appears on the stock certificate. If the shares are owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as by a trustee, guardian or custodian, this demand must be executed by or for the fiduciary. If the shares are owned by or for more than one person, as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, such demand must be executed by or for all joint owners. An authorized agent, including an agent for two or more joint owners, may execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record. However, the agent must identify the record owner and expressly disclose the fact that, in exercising the demand, he is acting as agent for the record owner. A person having a beneficial interest in our stock held of record in the name of another person, such as a broker or nominee, must act promptly to cause the record holder to follow the steps summarized below in a timely manner to perfect whatever appraisal rights the beneficial owners may have. Stockholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts or other nominee forms and who wish to exercise appraisal rights are urged to consult with their brokers to determine appropriate procedures for the making of a demand for appraisal by such nominee. A record holder, such as a broker, fiduciary, depositary, or other nominee, who holds shares of our stock as a nominee for others, may exercise appraisal rights with respect to the shares held for all or less than all beneficial owners of shares as to which such person is the record owner. In such case, the written demand must set forth the number of shares covered by such demand. Where the number of shares is not expressly stated, the demand will be presumed to cover all shares of our stock outstanding in the name of such record owner.
A stockholder who elects to exercise appraisal rights should mail the written demand to us at our principal executive offices at AVP, Inc., 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045, ATTN: Thomas Torii, Controller. The written demand for appraisal should state the stockholder’s name and mailing address, the number of shares and class of our stock owned by the stockholder, and must reasonably inform us that the stockholder intends thereby to demand appraisal of the stock. Within ten days after the effective date of the merger, we will provide notice of the effective date of the merger to all of our stockholders who have complied with Section 262 of the DGCL and have not voted in favor of adoption of the merger agreement.
Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger (but not thereafter), any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL for demanding and perfecting appraisal rights may deliver to us a written request for a statement listing the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of adoption of the merger agreement and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. AVP, as the surviving corporation in the merger, must mail such written statement to the stockholder making such request within ten days after the stockholder’s request is received by us or within ten days after the latest date for delivery of a demand for appraisal under Section 262 of the DGCL, whichever is later.
A former AVP stockholder who timely files a petition for appraisal with the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware within 120 days after the effective date of the merger as set forth above, must serve a copy of the petition upon us. We must then, within 20 days after service, file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by us. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the court, will give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to us and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated, and notice also will be given by publishing a notice at least one week before the day of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or such publication as the court deems advisable. The court must approve the forms of the notices by mail and by publication, and we must bear the costs of the notices.
At the hearing on the petition, the Court of Chancery will determine which stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights. The court may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares (and who hold stock represented by certificates) to submit their stock certificates to the Register in Chancery for notation of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings, and the Court of Chancery may dismiss the proceedings as to any stockholder that fails to comply with such direction.
After determining which stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights, the court will appraise the shares owned by these stockholders, determining the “fair value” of such shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger, together with a fair rate of interest to be paid, if any, upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the court shall take into account all relevant factors. Our stockholders considering seeking appraisal of their shares should note that the fair value of their shares determined under Section 262 of the DGCL could be more than, the same as or less than the consideration they would receive pursuant to the merger agreement if they did not seek appraisal of their shares. AVP believes that, under Delaware case law, the fair value of a share of Series B Stock is its liquidation value.This belief is based on the Chancery Court’s ruling in In the Matter of the Appraisal of Ford Holdings, Inc. Preferred Stock that a clear statement in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation of the amount that a preferred stockholder will receive in a merger binds the preferred stockholders, who cannot seek “additional consideration in the merger through the appraisal process.” AVP’s certificate of incorporation states clearly that, in the case of a merger in which AVP’s stockholders “own less than fifty percent (50%) of the Corporation’s voting power immediately after such … merger,” holders of Series B Stock will receive the liquidation preference of $33.93 for each share held, and no more.
The costs of the appraisal proceeding may be determined by the court and taxed against the parties as the court deems equitable under the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder who has perfected appraisal rights, the court may order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and the fees and expenses of experts, be charged pro rata against the value of all shares entitled to appraisal.
If a stockholder demands appraisal rights in compliance with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, then, after the effective time of the merger, such stockholder will not be entitled to: (i) vote such stockholder’s shares of our common stock for any purpose; (ii) receive payment of dividends or other distributions on such stockholder’s shares that are payable to stockholders of record at a date after the effective time of the merger; or (iii) receive payment of any consideration provided for in the merger agreement.
A stockholder may withdraw a demand for appraisal rights and accept the liquidation value of the Series B Stock or the merger consideration in writing at any time within 60 days after the effective time of the merger, or at any time thereafter with our written approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery will be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the court deems just. If any AVP stockholder withdraws a demand for appraisal before an appraisal petition is filed, the stockholder’s shares will be automatically converted, as applicable, into the right to receive the liquidation value of the Series B Stock or merger consideration, in cash, pursuant to the merger agreement, without interest.
Any stockholder wishing to exercise appraisal rights is urged to consult the stockholders’ own legal counsel before attempting to exercise appraisal rights. Failure to comply strictly with all of the procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL may result in the loss of a stockholder’s appraisal rights.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement, and any documents that we incorporate by reference in this proxy statement, may contain “forward-looking statements.” Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to anticipated financial and operating results, the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions and other statements including words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “may,” and other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and involve a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause or contribute to such material differences: change in general economic conditions; the performance of financial markets and interest rates; the ability to obtain governmental approvals to the merger or to satisfy other conditions to the merger on the proposed terms and schedule; increased competition; and the Company’s business and financial results.
INTRODUCTION
This proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being furnished to all record holders of AVP Series B Stock and common stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies by AVP’s board of directors for use at the special meeting of stockholders of AVP to be held on , 2007 and any adjournment or postponement of this meeting. The purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the merger agreement, dated as of April 5, 2007, by and among AVP, Holdings, and Acquisition, a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings, which sets forth the terms and conditions under which Acquisition will merge with and into AVP. If the proposed merger is completed, AVP will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings; holders of our Series B Stock will have the right to receive the liquidation value of their shares, i.e., $33.93, in cash, for each share held; and holders of our common stock (except for Holdings and Acquisition or holders of our common stock who perfect their appraisal rights) will have the right to receive $1.23, in cash, for each share held.
PARTIES TO THE MERGER
AVP, Inc.
AVP owns and operates the sole nationally recognized U.S. professional beach volleyball tour. AVP has more than 200 of the top professional players under exclusive contracts, as well as a base of spectators and television viewers that we believe represents an attractive audience for national, regional, and local sponsors. AVP's business includes establishing and managing tournaments; sponsorship sales and sales of broadcast, licensing, and trademark rights; sales of food, beverage, and merchandise at tournaments; contracting with players on the tour; and associated activities. AVP produced 16 men's and 16 women's professional beach volleyball tournaments throughout the United States in 2006 and has scheduled 18 men's and 18 women's professional beach volleyball tournaments in 2007.
AVP’s executive offices are located at 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045, and our telephone number there is (310) 426-8000.
AVP Holdings, Inc. and AVP Acquisition Corp.
Holdings, a newly formed Delaware corporation, is owned by Shamrock Capital Growth Fund II, L.P. (“Shamrock”), a private equity investment fund. Holdings was organized solely for the purpose of acquiring shares of the Company pursuant to the merger and has not engaged in any business other than in connection with the merger agreement. Except as contemplated by the terms of the merger agreement, the voting agreement with Leonard Armato, and the related transactions, Shamrock does not have any relationship with AVP, its affiliates or its board of directors. At the closing of the merger, all of the outstanding equity interests of Holdings will be owned by Shamrock, those AVP officers who are acquiring equity interests in Holdings, and certain co-investors.
Acquisition is a newly formed Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. Acquisition was organized solely for the purpose of merging with and into the Company and has not engaged in any business other than in connection with the merger agreement.
Holdings’ and Acquisition’s principal executive offices are located at c/o Shamrock Capital Advisors, Inc., 4444 Lakeside Drive, Burbank, CA 91505. Their general telephone number at that location is (818) 845-4444.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Date, Place and Time
A special meeting of AVP’s stockholders will be held at 10:00 a.m., Pacific time, on , 2007 at AVP’s offices, 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Matters to be Considered
The purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the merger agreement, dated as of April 5, 2007, among AVP, Holdings, and Acquisition and on any other matter that may be properly submitted for a vote at the special meeting. At this time, our board of directors is unaware of any matter, other than the proposal to adopt the merger agreement, that may be presented for action at the special meeting.
Shares Outstanding and Entitled to Vote; Record Date
We have fixed the close of business on , 2007 as the record date for the determination of holders of our capital stock entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting. At the close of business on the record date, AVP had outstanding 69,256 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Stock”), each entitling its holder to 27.87 votes, and 19,824,539 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, each entitling its holder to one vote.
How to Vote Your Shares
Stockholders of record may grant a proxy to vote by mail, telephone, or Internet or may vote in person by attending the special meeting.
· | Granting a Proxy by Mail: If you choose to grant a proxy to vote by mail, simply mark the enclosed proxy card, date, and sign it, and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. |
· | Granting a Proxy by Telephone: You can grant a proxy to vote your shares by telephone, by calling the toll-free telephone number on your proxy card. Telephone voting is available 24 hours a day. Easy-to-follow voice prompts allow you to vote your shares and confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. Our telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders by using individual control numbers. If you vote by telephone, you do not need to return your proxy card. |
· | Granting a Proxy by Internet: You can grant a proxy to vote your shares by Internet, by accessing the web site listed on your proxy card and following the instructions you will find on the web site. Internet voting is available 24 hours a day. As with telephone voting, you will be given the opportunity to confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote by Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. |
If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee, you will receive instructions from the holder of record that you must follow for your shares to be voted. Also, please note that if the holder of record of your shares is a broker or other nominee, and you wish to vote in person at the special meeting, you must bring a letter from the broker or other nominee confirming that you are the beneficial owner of the shares and granting you a proxy to vote those shares.
You will have the power to revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised by:
· | prior to the special meeting, delivering a written notice of revocation addressed to Thomas Torii, Controller, AVP, Inc., 6100 Center Drive, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90045; |
· | prior to the special meeting, delivering to AVP a properly executed proxy with a later date; |
· | later than the date of the proxy being revoked, but no later than 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time on ___________, 2007, by telephone or Internet (only your last telephone or Internet proxy will be counted); or |
· | attending the special meeting and voting in person. |
Merely attending the special meeting will not revoke a proxy.
If you provide specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as instructed. If you hold shares in your name and sign and return a proxy card or vote by telephone or Internet without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted “FOR” the adoption of the merger agreement.
At this time, our board of directors is unaware of any matter, other than adoption of the merger agreement, that may be presented for action at the special meeting. If other matters are properly presented, however, the persons named as proxies will vote in accordance with their judgment with respect to such matters.
Vote Required
Quorum. A quorum, consisting of the holders of Series B Stock and common stock entitling them to cast a majority of votes that stockholders are entitled to cast at the meeting must be present in person or by proxy before any action may be taken at the special meeting.
The Merger Agreement. To adopt the merger agreement, holders of a majority of votes entitled to be cast at the special meeting must vote in favor of adoption. Holders of Series B Stock and common stock vote together as one class for this purpose. Approval of the merger agreement by a majority of stockholders unaffiliated with management and the board of directors is not a condition to the merger.
Other Matters. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the votes cast at the special meeting is required to approve any other matter properly submitted at the special meeting.
Effect of Abstentions, “Broker Non-Votes,” and Failures to Vote. “Broker non-votes” refers to shares held by brokers or other nominees as to which they have no discretionary voting power under rules applicable to broker-dealers and received no voting instructions from the persons entitled to vote the shares. Abstentions and broker non-votes, as well as shares that are not voted, will have the same effect as a vote against adoption of the merger agreement.
Shares Owned by AVP Directors and Executive Officers
Excluding shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock options or warrants, as of the record date, AVP’s directors and executive officers collectively owned 1,845,195 shares of common stock, entitling them to cast approximately 9% of the votes that may be cast at the special meeting. Each AVP director and officer owning AVP common stock has expressed an intention to vote for the merger. See “Securities Ownership” on page 74.
Solicitation of Proxies
AVP will pay the cost of filing, printing and mailing this proxy statement. In addition to solicitation by mail, the directors, officers, and employees of AVP may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, telegram, facsimile, or other electronic method, without receiving any additional compensation, other than reimbursement for their actual expenses.
We will reimburse brokers and other nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners of stock held of record by the brokers or other nominees.
We have retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc., a professional proxy solicitation firm, to assist us in soliciting proxies. We have agreed to pay the firm a fee of $7,500, and reimburse its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
This is a summary of the material provisions of the merger agreement. The full text of the merger agreement is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement and incorporated in this document by reference. You are urged to read the full text of the merger agreement carefully and in its entirety, because it, and not this proxy statement, is the legal document that governs the merger.
The Merger
Purposes
When the merger occurs, Acquisition, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings, will be merged with and into AVP. AVP will survive the merger and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings.
Merger Consideration
In the merger, each share of our common stock outstanding immediately before the merger (except for certain shares held by Holdings, Acquisition, or AVP, which will be canceled for no consideration, or shares for which appraisal rights have been properly exercised) will be converted into the right to receive $1.23 in cash, without interest or dividends. Each person holding our common stock before the merger will no longer have any rights with respect to our common stock, except for the right to receive this merger consideration.
Each share of our Series B Stock outstanding immediately before the merger will have the right to receive the Series B Stock liquidation value, i.e., $33.93 in cash, without interest or dividends. Each person holding our Series B Stock before the merger will no longer have any rights with respect to our Series B Stock, except for the right to receive this liquidation value.
The per share liquidation value of the Series B Stock is approximately $.35 less than the amount of merger consideration a holder of Series B Stock would receive if the holder converted all of the holder's Series B Stock into common stock before consummation of the merger. Holders of Series B Stock wishing to receive the greater amount must convert their shares before the consummation of the merger; however, if a Series B Stock holder converts, and the merger is not consummated for any reason, the common stock received on conversion cannot be converted back into Series B Stock.
Prior to the closing date of the merger, we will take all actions necessary so that each outstanding option to buy our common stock issued under our stock option plan, that has vested or will vest in connection with the merger, will become exercisable in full immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and that, at the effective time of the merger, all such options will be canceled. In consideration of such cancellation, each holder of such options that has an exercise price per share less than $1.23 will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the product of (1) the total number of shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of such option and (2) the amount, if any, by which $1.23 exceeds the applicable exercise price per share.
Also prior to the closing date of the merger, to the extent permitted under the relevant warrant agreements, we will take all actions necessary so that all warrants will be canceled at the effective time of the merger. In consideration of such cancellation, and, in any event, upon the exercise of a warrant by the holder of the warrant, each holder of a warrant that was exercisable immediately prior to the effective time of the merger and canceled or exercised will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to either an amount calculated pursuant to the terms of such warrants or with respect to all other warrants having an exercise price less than $1.23 per share, the product of (1) the total number of shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of such warrant and (2) the amount by which $1.23 exceeds the applicable exercise price per share (except for certain warrants that entitle their holders to receive an amount calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model).
Effective Time of the Merger
On the closing date of the merger, Acquisition and AVP will cause a certificate of merger to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and take such other and further actions as may be required by law to make the merger effective. The date and time the merger becomes effective in accordance with applicable law is the “effective time of the merger.”
Charter Documents
At the effective time of the merger, the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws shall be amended and restated in accordance with the merger agreement.
Payment for Shares, Options, and Warrants
Prior to the effective time of the merger, Acquisition will establish a payment fund by depositing with its exchange agent the merger consideration for record holders of our Series B Stock, common stock, options and warrants.
Surrender of Stock Certificates, Option Agreements, and Warrant Agreements
As soon as reasonably practicable after the effective time of the merger, AVP, as the surviving corporation, will instruct the exchange agent to mail to each record holder of our Series B Stock and common stock a notice of the effectiveness of the merger, a letter of transmittal, and instructions for the surrender of stock certificates to the exchange agent in exchange for payment of the merger consideration. After surrendering stock certificates to the exchange agent, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal and all other documents and materials required by the exchange agent to be delivered with the stock certificate, the holder of the stock certificate will be entitled to receive the merger consideration with respect to the shares represented by the certificate. Until so surrendered, each outstanding stock certificate will be deemed after the effective time of the merger, for all corporate purposes, to evidence only the right to receive the Series B Stock liquidation value or the merger consideration into which the shares represented by such certificate have been converted. Each surrendered share will be canceled. No interest or dividends will be paid or accrued on the merger consideration.
If a transfer of ownership of any shares of our common stock is made before the effective time of the merger and is not registered in our transfer records, the merger consideration into which those shares have been converted will be paid to the transferee only if the certificate representing such stock is presented to the exchange agent as provided above and accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that all applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid.
In connection with the merger, AVP, as the surviving corporation, will provide each option holder and each warrant holder instructions for the surrender of option agreements and warrant agreements in exchange for payment of the merger consideration, less the exercise price of the options and warrants as described above. After surrendering option agreements or warrant agreements, together with all other documents and materials required by AVP, as the surviving corporation, in connection therewith, the holder of such option agreement or warrant agreement will be entitled to receive the merger consideration, less the exercise price of the options and warrants as described above (except for certain warrants that entitle their holders to receive an amount calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model), with respect to the options and vested warrants outstanding immediately prior to the effective time. Until so surrendered, each outstanding option agreement and warrant agreement will be deemed after the effective time of the merger, for all corporate purposes, to evidence only the right to receive the merger consideration, less the exercise price of the options and warrants as described above, into which the options and warrants represented by such option agreements and warrant agreements have been converted. No interest will be paid or accrue on the merger consideration.
You should not send in your stock certificates, option agreements or warrant agreements until you receive a letter of transmittal from the exchange agent or instructions from AVP, as the surviving corporation. All cash paid upon the surrender of stock certificates, option agreements, or warrant agreements in accordance with the merger agreement will be in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the underlying shares, options, and warrants.
Lost Stock Certificates, Option Agreements and Warrant Agreements
If your AVP Series B Stock or common stock certificate has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, you may receive the liquidation value or merger consideration upon compliance with the replacement requirements established by the paying agent. In addition, you may be required to post a bond in a reasonable amount as an indemnity against any claim that may be made against the paying agent or AVP with respect to the lost, stolen, or destroyed AVP stock certificate and enter an indemnity agreement satisfactory to AVP and the paying agent against any claim that may be made against them with respect to the lost, stolen or destroyed AVP stock certificate.
Withholdings
The exchange agent, Acquisition, and AVP are entitled to deduct and withhold from the Series B Stock liquidation value or the merger consideration otherwise payable to any former holder of our Series B Stock, common stock, options or warrants to purchase our common stock, all amounts required by federal, state, local or foreign tax law to be deducted or withheld therefrom. All deducted or withheld amounts paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by the exchange agent, Holdings, or AVP shall be treated for all purposes of the merger agreement as having been paid to the person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid.
Appraisal Rights
The merger agreement provides that any issued and outstanding shares of common stock held by a person who has not voted in favor of the merger or consented thereto in writing and who has properly demanded appraisal for such shares of common stock in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware will not be converted into a right to receive the merger consideration for the common stock, but shall represent and become the right to receive such consideration as may be determined to be due to such a person pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware. If, after the effective time of the merger, such a person fails to perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses such person’s right to appraisal, then such shares of common stock will be deemed to have been converted as of the effective time of the merger into the merger consideration, as applicable, in cash, without interest or dividends.
Payment of Merger Consideration and Surrender of Stock Certificates
Promptly following completion of the merger, the paying agent will send each record holder of our Series B Stock or common stock a letter of transmittal and instructions for use in surrendering certificates in exchange for the merger consideration. The paying agent will pay the liquidation value or merger consideration after surrender of AVP stock certificates to the paying agent and receipt by the paying agent of a duly completed letter of transmittal and other documents as are specified in the letter of transmittal or accompanying instructions.
Any portion of the payment fund that remains unclaimed 180 days after the closing date of the merger will be delivered to the Company upon demand, and each holder of shares of our Series B Stock, common stock, or options or warrants to purchase our common stock who has not previously surrendered stock certificates, option agreements, or warrant agreements as provided above must thereafter look only to AVP, as a general unsecured creditor thereof, for satisfaction of any claims for the Series B Stock liquidation value or the merger consideration. None of Holdings, Acquisition, or AVP will be liable to any former holder of our Series B Stock, common stock, or options or warrants to purchase our common stock for any portion of the merger consideration delivered to any public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar law.
After completion of the merger, there will be no further transfers on the stock transfer books of AVP.
Please do not send your AVP Series B Stock or common stock certificates to us or any other party at this time. You will receive instructions for surrendering your certificates with a letter of transmittal after completion of the merger.
Conditions to Consummation of the Merger
Each party’s obligation to consummate the merger is subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions before the effective time of the merger, including (1) our stockholders’ adoption of the merger agreement, in accordance with applicable law, our certificate of incorporation, and our bylaws, and (2) no governmental authority having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law, rule or regulation or executive order or decree, judgment, injunction, ruling or other order, that is then in effect and has the effect of preventing or prohibiting consummation of the merger or otherwise impose material limitations on the ability of Holdings and Acquisition to acquire or hold our business.
Holdings’ and Acquisition’s obligation to consummate the merger is subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions before the effective time of the merger, including:
| · | our representations and warranties in the merger agreement being true and correct in all material respects as of April 5, 2007 and as of the closing date of the merger; |
| · | our having performed all obligations and complied with all agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by us under the merger agreement by that time; |
| · | Holdings having received satisfactory evidence that all licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of governmental authorities and other third parties under material contracts necessary for the consummation of the merger and related transactions; |
| · | there being no pending suit, action or proceeding challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the merger or any related transactions or seeking to obtain from Holdings, Acquisition, or any of their respective affiliates any damages related to the merger or the other related transactions or seeking to impose limitations on the ability of Holdings, Acquisition, or any of their respective affiliates to acquire or hold, or exercise full rights of ownership of, any of our common stock. |
| · | no events or changes have had or are reasonably likely to have or constitute, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on us; |
| · | holders of no more than 5% of our outstanding common stock have demanded appraisal of their shares in accordance with applicable Delaware law; |
| · | our having delivered an officers’ certificate to Holdings and Acquisition at the closing of the merger; and |
| · | our having obtained and delivered to Holdings and Acquisition copies of resignations of certain of our directors and officers. |
By letter dated April 10, 2007, Diker Management LLC, an affiliate of funds owning approximately 3,120,000 of our common shares (approximately 15.7% of our outstanding common stock) and warrants to purchase an additional 541,177 shares, declared that they “will not support the [merger] … and … may also decide to elect appraisal rights” if the merger is not amended “to better reflect the true value of [AVP].”
Our obligation to consummate the merger is subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions before the effective time of the merger, including:
| · | Holdings’ and Acquisition’s representations and warranties in the merger agreement being true and correct in all material respects as of April 5, 2007 and as of the closing date of the merger; |
| · | Holdings' and Acquisition's having performed all obligations and complied with all agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by them under the merger agreement; and |
| · | each of Holdings' and Acquisition's having delivered an officers’ certificate to us at the closing of the merger. |
Any or all of the conditions that have not been satisfied may be waived prior to the effective time of the merger. Even if our stockholders adopt the merger agreement, we cannot assure you that the merger will be completed.
Representations and Warranties
In the merger agreement, we make various customary representations and warranties subject to exceptions that were disclosed to Holdings and Acquisition. These representations and warranties cover various matters, such as:
| · | corporate organization and qualification; |
| · | certificates of incorporation and bylaws; |
| · | capital structure and ownership of subsidiaries; |
| · | authorization, execution, and delivery relating to the merger agreement and related matters; |
| · | no violation of any laws and required filings and consents; |
| · | the filing of past required reports and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission and their compliance with applicable securities laws, completeness and accuracy, financial statements, accounts receivable, disclosure controls and procedures and liabilities; |
| · | compliance with applicable laws; |
| · | the absence of certain material changes since January 1, 2007; |
| · | contracts with provisions triggered by a change of control; |
| · | the filing of present or future required reports and other documents, including this proxy statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the merger and their compliance with applicable securities laws, completeness and accuracy; |
| · | tax returns and other tax matters; |
| · | possession of all necessary licenses, permits and other similar rights; |
| · | environmental and safety matters; |
| · | opinion of our financial advisor of the financial fairness of the merger consideration; |
| · | broker’s fees with respect to the merger; |
| · | special committee and board of directors in connection with the merger; |
| · | stockholders’ vote in connection with the merger; |
| · | title or appropriate leasehold interest to all properties and assets; |
| · | labor and employment matters; |
| · | the existence and sufficiency of our insurance policies; |
| · | expenses in connection with the merger; |
The merger agreement also contains customary representations and warranties by Holdings and Acquisition relating to:
| · | corporate organization and qualification; |
| · | certificates of incorporation and bylaws; |
| · | authorization, execution and delivery relating to the merger agreement and related matters; |
| · | no violation of any laws and required filings and consents; |
| · | broker’s fees with respect to the merger; |
| · | completeness and accuracy of information supplied in connection with this proxy statement and related communications; |
| · | Acquisition was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the merger and related transactions; and |
| · | financial capability to consummate the merger and related transactions. |
The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement referred to above will not survive the effective time of the merger or termination of the merger agreement.
Go Shop/No Shop
During the go-shop period, which extended from the execution of the merger agreement on April 5, 2007 until 45 days thereafter, our board of directors had the right to:
| · | solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage, or facilitate any inquiries in connection with or the making of any acquisition proposals; |
| · | enter into, explore, maintain, participate in or continue any discussion or negotiation with any person regarding an acquisition proposal, or furnish to any person any non-public information pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement; or |
| · | cause us to enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to, or otherwise endorse, any superior proposal as long as our board of directors, based on the recommendation of its special committee, has determined in good faith after consultation with financial advisors and outside legal advisors, that such action is necessary for our board of directors to comply with its fiduciary duties and as long as we give Holdings and Acquisition a 5 business day notice prior to entering into such agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to, or otherwise endorsing, any superior proposal. |
At the request of the special committee, representatives of Jefferies contacted 35 potential bidders during the go-shop period, including both strategic and financial buyers, to determine whether any such parties had an interest in a possible transaction with AVP. Representatives of Jefferies distributed descriptive materials on AVP to several parties who had not previously been involved in the process, and engaged in an active dialogue with the potential buyers. In addition, confidential information pertaining to our business and projected financial performance was placed in a data room available to all prospective buyers that executed a confidentiality agreement.
Between April 5, 2007 and May 20, 2007, the special committee held several telephonic meetings to discuss the status of the go-shop following the execution of the Shamrock merger agreement. Representatives of Jefferies reviewed with the special committee the status of discussions with parties contacted by Jefferies during the go-shop period. Representatives of Jefferies noted that while several strategic and financial buyers were contacted, only one party executed a confidentiality agreement to review the contents of the data room. We did not receive any acquisition proposals during the go-shop period.
During the no-shop period, which extends from the end of the go-shop period until the closing date of the merger, we have agreed not to, directly or indirectly:
| · | solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage, or facilitate any inquiries in connection with or the making of any acquisition proposals; |
| · | enter into, explore, maintain, participate in or continue any discussion or negotiation with any person regarding an acquisition proposal, or furnish to any person any non-public information or otherwise assist or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any known effort or attempt by any person to make or effect an acquisition proposal; |
| · | enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to, or otherwise endorse, any acquisition proposal; or |
| · | authorize or permit any of our representatives to take any such action, provided, however, that our board of directors may, based upon the recommendation of its special committee, furnish information to or engage in discussions or negotiations with any person that makes an unsolicited bona fide written acquisition proposal under certain specified circumstances. |
Our board of directors always has the right to take, and disclose to our stockholders, a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2 with regard to any tender offer as long as we, our board of directors or the special committee do not propose to approve or recommend any acquisition proposal except as otherwise permitted under the merger agreement.
An “acquisition proposal” is any offer or proposal for, or any indication of interest in:
| · | any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of 10% or more of the our total consolidated assets in a single transaction or series of transactions; |
| · | any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of 10% or more of any class of our equity securities in a single transaction or series of transactions; |
| · | any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person beneficially owning 10% or more of any class of our equity securities; |
| · | any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, liquidation or dissolution or other similar transaction involving us; or |
| · | any public announcement of an agreement, proposal, plan or intention to do any of the foregoing. |
A “superior proposal” is any bona fide written acquisition proposal (as defined immediately above), by a person (1) on terms (which shall in any event include payment of consideration per share in excess of the merger consideration for shares of our common stock) that our board of directors has determined in good faith, after consultation with our financial advisors and legal advisors, is more favorable from a financial point of view to our stockholders than the merger and (2) that our board of directors, based upon the recommendation of its special committee, has determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal advisors, is of such a nature that they must accept such acquisition proposal in order for our board of directors to comply with its fiduciary duties.
Covenants and Additional Agreements
The material covenants and additional agreements in the merger agreement are summarized below.
Interim Operations of the Company
In the merger agreement we made various affirmative and negative covenants with respect to our business and operations during the period from the date of the merger agreement until the effective time of the merger. During this time, except as otherwise contemplated by the merger agreement or as consented to in writing by Holdings, we are required to conduct our business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice, to use our reasonable best efforts to preserve intact our business organizations, keep available the services of our current officers and employees and preserve our relationships with our material customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, advertisers, distributors and other material third parties having business dealings with us and to preserve the goodwill of our respective businesses and relationships with third parties, and to maintain our present officers and employees. Also, except as otherwise contemplated by the merger agreement, we must obtain Holdings’ prior written consent before we (including, here and in other portions of this merger agreement summary, our subsidiary), among other things:
| · | authorize, issue, deliver, sell, pledge, encumber, acquire or redeem any of our securities; |
| · | change our ownership of our subsidiary, change our charter documents or alter our capital structure; |
| · | declare, set aside or pay any dividends; |
| · | increase or add or pay new compensation or benefits; |
| · | acquire businesses or merge or consolidate with any entity; |
| · | sell, lease, license, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of our properties or assets; |
| · | incur, guarantee, assume or pre-pay liabilities or indebtedness; |
| · | make or forgive any loans, advances or capital contributions to, guarantee for the benefit of, or investments in, any person or entity; |
| · | assume, guarantee, or otherwise become liable or responsible for obligations of others; |
| · | adopt or put into effect a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any subsidiary; |
| · | enter into, terminate or materially amend any contract outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or waive, release, grant, assign or transfer any of our material rights or claims; |
| · | make capital expenditures beyond a threshold level; |
| · | change, cancel or otherwise not continue in force our insurance; |
| · | establish or acquire subsidiaries; |
| · | amend, modify or waive any term of any outstanding options or warrants or other securities of the Company; |
| · | fail to maintain in all material respects ownership or leasehold interest in any real property, except where expiration of such real property is in accordance with their terms; |
| · | enter into, terminate or materially amend any agreements or commitment to or relating to any labor union except as required by law; |
| · | conduct any plant closing or layoff that could implicate the WARN Act; |
| · | enter into any material settlement, conciliation or similar agreement; |
| · | settle or compromise any pending or threatened litigation or other claims beyond a threshold level; |