Score Media Inc. today announced it has entered into an agreement with Rogers Media Inc. pursuant to which (i) Rogers Media will acquire the television business of Score Media via an acquisition of all of the outstanding Class A Subordinate Voting Shares and Special Voting Shares of Score Media for $1.62 per share; and (ii) the digital media business of Score Media will be spun-out to Score Media’s shareholders as a new corporation to be formed under the Canada Business Corporations Act. Shareholders representing approximately 30% of the outstanding Class A Shares and 100% of the Special Voting Shares have agreed to vote their shares in favour of the transaction.
Score Media’s television business is comprised of theScore Television Network, closed captioning service provider Voice2Visual, and theScore Fighting Series. Score Media’s digital business includes theScore.com and its mobile applications ScoreMobile, ScoreMobileFC and Sportstap. John Levy, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Score Media will lead the digital media business following the spin-out.
Under the terms of the agreement, Rogers Media will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Score Media and a 10% equity interest in Score Digital for total cash consideration of $167 million. The total consideration includes the per share cash consideration of $1.62, funds to repay Score Media’s outstanding credit facility, up to $12 million to initially capitalize Score Digital, and funds to pay certain advisory, professional and other expenses related to the transaction. In addition, as part of the transaction, Score Digital and Rogers Media will enter into a software development and licensing arrangement under which Rogers Media will have access to Score Digital’s mobile technology to immediately enhance its mobile sports offerings.
“I am extremely proud of our team at theScore Television Network and the unique original content we produce each and every day,” said Mr. Levy. “As part of Rogers Media’s inventory of sports properties, its extensive programming assets and senior management’s commitment to securing premium sports content, I am confident the network will continue to grow and contribute to the Canadian sports scene.”
“This deal allows us to continue to pursue our vision and strategy that has formed a huge part of what we’ve been doing at Score Media for some time. We can now focus 100 percent on our digital products, building on the tremendous strides we have made in growing the international audience of our website and mobile apps.”
The transaction will be carried out by way of a plan of arrangement under the CBCA. Under the plan of arrangement, (i) holders of Class A Shares will receive $1.62 in cash and one Class A subordinate voting share in Score Digital, a new corporation to be formed under the CBCA, which will own the digital media assets of Score Media, for each Class A Share, and (ii) holders of Special Voting Shares will receive $1.62 in cash and one Special Voting Share of Score Digital for each Special Voting Share of Score Media. The terms and conditions attached to the shares of Score Digital will be substantially the same as the terms and conditions currently attached to the shares of Score Media. On completion of the arrangement, former holders of Score Media shares will hold 90% of the outstanding shares of Score Digital, while Rogers Media or one of its affiliates will hold the remaining 10% of the shares of Score Digital.
The implementation of the plan of arrangement will be subject to approval by not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a special meeting of Score Media shareholders which is expected to take place in October 2024. The transaction is also subject to applicable regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of certain closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature, including the approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Pending approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) for the change of ownership and transfer of control of theScore Television Network Ltd. (“STNL”), the securities of Score Media will be deposited with a trustee while CRTC approval is sought. This plan of arrangement is not subject to any financing condition.
The arrangement agreement also provides for customary board support and non-solicitation covenants subject to fiduciary obligations of Score Media’s board of directors and a “right to match” for Rogers Media as well as a termination payment to Rogers Media equal to $6 million if the proposed transaction is not completed in certain specified circumstances.
Score Media’s board of directors, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, has unanimously determined that the proposed transaction is in the best interests of Score Media and is fair to Score Media’s shareholders and recommends they vote in favour of the transaction. The financial advisor to Score Media and its board of directors, Canaccord Genuity Corp, has provided an opinion that the consideration to be received by Score Media’s shareholders is fair from a financial point of view to such shareholders.
Terms and conditions of the proposed transaction will be summarized in a circular which will be mailed to Score Media shareholders in September 2024. It is anticipated that the transaction, if approved by Score Media’s shareholders, could be completed in October 2024.