INNOVATE Corp. Announces Commencement of Rights Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

INNOVATE Corp. announces a $19.0 million rights offering for its common stock, giving stockholders the opportunity to participate and subscribe for new shares. The offering includes over-subscription privileges and is backstopped by Lancer Capital. Holders of preferred stock and convertible notes can also participate. The offering involves the purchase of newly issued Series C Non-Voting Participating Convertible Preferred Stock if the common stock limit is reached. Lancer Capital will purchase up to $19.0 million of Preferred Stock and an additional $16.0 million in a private placement transaction. The terms of the Preferred Stock include a liquidation preference junior to existing preferred stock. If settlement does not occur by March 28, 2024, Lancer Capital will purchase $25.0 million of Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock can be convertible into common stock subject to shareholder approval. The investment agreement includes standstill provisions restricting Lancer Capital's actions. The offering will expire on March 25, 2024, unless extended by the Company, with trading in the rights ceasing on March 20, 2024.

Financial Analyst

The commencement of INNOVATE Corp's $19.0 million rights offering represents a strategic move to raise capital and potentially dilute existing shares. This offering allows current stockholders to maintain their proportionate ownership in the company by purchasing additional shares at a discounted price. The involvement of Lancer Capital, led by the company's Chairman and largest stockholder, Avram A. Glazer, adds a layer of confidence for other investors, as it signals strong insider support and a commitment to the company's future.

However, the issuance of Series C Non-Voting Participating Convertible Preferred Stock to Lancer Capital, due to limitations on common stock acquisition, introduces a complexity in the company's capital structure. This could impact the voting power of existing shareholders and the future conversion of these preferred shares could lead to further dilution. The terms of the Preferred Stock, including the liquidation preference and mandatory redemption features, are critical for investors to understand as they can affect the risk profile of the investment.

Investors should also consider the 8% interest rate on the Preferred Stock, which is a significant cost of capital for INNOVATE Corp. This rate is above typical corporate bond yields, reflecting the higher risk associated with the company. The standstill agreement with Lancer Capital may also limit potential strategic actions by the company, which could affect its growth trajectory and stock price performance.

Legal Expert

From a legal perspective, the rights offering and concurrent private placement with Lancer Capital are governed by an investment agreement, the details of which have been filed with the SEC. This document is crucial for investors to review as it includes terms, conditions and restrictions that could influence the company's operational flexibility. The standstill provisions, for example, prevent Lancer Capital from acquiring additional equity or debt securities beyond a certain threshold, which could impact the company's governance and future financing options.

The transaction's adherence to the rules of the NYSE and compliance with the SEC's regulations on rights offerings and private placements is also significant. Any deviations or amendments to the offering could lead to regulatory scrutiny and potential investor litigation, which are risk factors that must be considered.

Market Research Analyst

Analyzing the market implications of INNOVATE Corp's rights offering, it is essential to understand the investor sentiment towards such capital raising activities. Rights offerings are often viewed as a way for companies to raise capital without incurring significant debt, but they can also signal to the market that the company might be in need of immediate capital, which could be interpreted negatively.

The backstop provided by Lancer Capital not only ensures the success of the offering but also could indicate a bullish outlook from the company's largest shareholder. However, the market will also assess the potential dilutive impact on earnings per share (EPS) and how the additional capital will be used to drive future growth. The company's stock price reaction to the news will reflect the collective market view on these factors.

Furthermore, the offering's timing, set to expire on March 25, 2024 and the subsequent trading cessation of the rights on March 20, 2024, will likely lead to increased volatility in the stock's trading patterns. Market participants will closely monitor the uptake of the rights offering and any subsequent announcements regarding the use of proceeds.

NEW YORK, March 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INNOVATE Corp. (“INNOVATE” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VATE), a diversified holding company, announced today that it has commenced its previously announced $19.0 million rights offering for its common stock.

All INNOVATE stockholders will have the opportunity to participate in the offering and subscribe for their basic subscription amount of newly issued shares of common stock in proportion to their respective existing ownership amounts. INNOVATE stockholders who exercise their respective full basic subscription rights will have over-subscription privileges giving such INNOVATE stockholders the option to subscribe for any shares of common stock that remain unsubscribed at the expiration of the rights offering. If the aggregate subscriptions (basic subscriptions plus over-subscriptions) exceed the amount offered in the rights offering, then the aggregate over-subscription amount will be pro-rated among the stockholders exercising their respective over-subscription privileges based on the basic subscription amounts of such stockholders.

The Company is distributing to each holder of the Company’s common stock as of 5:00 p.m., New York time, March 6, 2024 (the “rights offering record date”), one transferable subscription right to purchase 0.2858 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.70 per whole share for each share of the Company’s common stock held as of the rights offering record date. Holders of the Company’s existing preferred stock and convertible notes that are entitled to participate in dividend distributions to holders of the Company’s common stock are also entitled to participate in the rights offering.

The rights offering is being backstopped by Lancer Capital LLC (“Lancer Capital”), an investment fund led by Avram A. Glazer, the Chairman of the Board and the Company’s largest stockholder. Lancer Capital will not be permitted to exercise or transfer any subscription rights received by it, or to acquire other rights, in the rights offering, which rights are required to be held by Lancer Capital until the expiration thereof. Due to limitations of common stock that can be acquired by Lancer Capital, in lieu of exercising its subscription rights, Lancer Capital will purchase up to $19.0 million of the Company’s newly issued Series C Non-Voting Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), for an issue price of $1,000 per share. In connection with the backstop commitment, and as a result of limitations in the amount of common equity that can be raised under the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, Lancer Capital has agreed to purchase an additional $16.0 million of Preferred Stock in a private placement transaction to close concurrently with the settlement of the rights offering. The Preferred Stock terms will include a liquidation preference junior to the Company’s existing preferred stock and equal to the Company’s common stock (other than a preference of $0.001 per share of Preferred Stock that will be paid to the holders of the Preferred Stock before any payment or distribution is made to the holders of the common stock).

If for any reason the settlement of the rights offering does not occur by March 28, 2024, then on that date Lancer Capital will purchase $25.0 million of Preferred Stock. Upon the settlement of the rights offering, to the extent that Lancer Capital would have, based on the number of shares of common stock actually sold upon exercise of the rights, purchased less than $25.0 million of Convertible Preferred Stock under the backstop commitment and the concurrent private placement, the Company will redeem such excess Preferred Stock from Lancer Capital at the redemption price of $1,000 per share.

The Preferred Stock can be convertible into common stock at the price equivalent to the subscription price under the rights offering contingent on shareholder approval, which will be voted on at the next annual meeting. If the Preferred Stock is not converted to common stock, it may be redeemed at the Company’s option and must be mandatorily redeemed on the sixth anniversary of issuance, in each case at a cash redemption price per share of $1,000 plus accrued, uncompounded interest of 8% per annum, which is due only upon redemption and not on conversion.

The investment agreement includes customary standstill provisions that restrict the ability of Lancer Capital and its affiliates from, among other things, acquiring (i) our equity securities that would result in having beneficial ownership of more than that percentage of the then-outstanding common stock beneficially owned immediately following the closing of the rights offering, (ii) equity securities of our subsidiaries or (iii) any debt securities or indebtedness of us or our subsidiaries until 90 days after the closing of the rights offering.

Lancer Capital’s backstop commitment and the concurrent private placement will be effected in the manner set forth in the investment agreement entered into with the Company in connection with the commencement of the rights offering, a copy of which has been filed by the Company with the SEC.

The offering will expire at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on March 25, 2024, unless extended by the Company. Trading in the rights will cease at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on March 20, 2024. The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the rights offering at any time prior to its expiration date.

The shares of common stock to be issued upon exercise of the rights, like the Company's existing shares of common stock, will be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “VATE.” 

The Company expects that the information agent for the rights offering will mail rights certificates and a copy of the prospectus and prospectus supplement for the rights offering to stockholders as of the rights offering record date beginning on or about March 8, 2024. Holders of shares of common stock in “street name” through a brokerage account, bank or other nominee will not receive physical rights certificates and must instruct their broker, bank or nominee whether to exercise subscription rights on their behalf. For any questions or further information about the rights offering, please call Okapi Partners LLC, the information agent for the rights offering, at (855) 208-8902 (toll-free).

Neither the Company nor its Board of Directors has, or will, make any recommendation to stockholders regarding the exercise or sale of rights in the rights offering. Stockholders should make an independent investment decision about whether or not to exercise or sell their rights based on their own assessment of the Company’s business and the rights offering.

INNOVATE expects to use the proceeds from the rights offering for general corporate purposes.

The rights offering will be made pursuant to INNOVATE’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on September 29, 2023 and declared effective on October 6, 2023, and a prospectus supplement containing the detailed terms of the rights offering to be filed with the SEC. The information in this press release is not complete and is subject to change. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities (including without limitation the preferred stock to be issued and sold in the concurrent private placement), nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The rights offering will be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement. Copies of the prospectus and related prospectus supplement, when they become available, will be distributed to all eligible stockholders as of the rights offering record date and may also be obtained free of charge at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by contacting the information agent for the rights offering.

The preferred stock to be issued to Lancer Capital pursuant to the backstop commitment and the concurrent private placement will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

About INNOVATE

INNOVATE Corp. is a portfolio of best-in-class assets in three key areas of the new economy – Infrastructure, Life Sciences and Spectrum. Dedicated to stakeholder capitalism, INNOVATE employs approximately 4,000 people across its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit: www.INNOVATECorp.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains, and certain oral statements made by our representatives from time to time may contain, forward-looking statements regarding the proposed rights offering and concurrent private placement, including, among others, statements related to the expected timing, eligible offerees, backstop purchasers and expectations regarding participation in the rights offering, the use of proceeds from the rights offering, the size of the rights offering and other terms of the rights offering, all of which involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company's control, and are subject to change. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the rights offering or concurrent private placement will be consummated on the terms described above or at all. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and unless legally required, INNOVATE undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Solebury Strategic Communications
Anthony Rozmus
ir@innovatecorp.com
(212) 235-2691

FAQ

What is the purpose of INNOVATE Corp.'s $19.0 million rights offering?

The purpose is to allow stockholders to participate and subscribe for new shares of common stock.

Who is backstopping the rights offering by INNOVATE Corp.?

Lancer Capital LLC, led by Avram A. Glazer, is backstopping the offering.

What will Lancer Capital purchase if the common stock limit is reached in the rights offering?

Lancer Capital will purchase up to $19.0 million of the Company's newly issued Series C Non-Voting Participating Convertible Preferred Stock.

What happens if the settlement of the rights offering does not occur by March 28, 2024?

Lancer Capital will purchase $25.0 million of Preferred Stock.

What are the terms of the Preferred Stock in the offering?

The Preferred Stock includes a liquidation preference junior to the Company's existing preferred stock.