NextPlat Corp (“NextPlat” or the “Company”), a global e-Commerce provider, announced that it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with its majority owned subsidiary, Progressive Care Inc. (“Progressive Care”).
The definitive business combination agreement was negotiated by the special committees of independent directors of NextPlat and Progressive Care’s respective Boards of Directors. Under the terms of the business combination agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of NextPlat (the “Merger Sub”) will merge with and into Progressive Care, with the Merger Sub surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of NextPlat and be renamed Progressive Care LLC. Upon closing the merger, Progressive Care shareholders will receive newly issued, registered shares of NextPlat’s Common Stock. The exchange ratio of NextPlat shares to be issued in the business combination, not subject to adjustment, was calculated based upon a 20-day, volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of NextPlat’s Common Stock preceding execution of the business combination agreement and a value per share of Common Stock of Progressive Care at $2.20. The exchange ratio was determined at a price per Common Share of Progressive Care above its 20-day VWAP on the date of execution and follows a comprehensive, independent, third-party valuation analysis conducted at the request of Progressive Care’s special committee of independent directors. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both NextPlat and Progressive Care. It is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals, and other customary closing conditions. Additional information may be found in the Current Reports on Form 8-K that will be subsequently filed by NextPlat and Progressive Care with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Over the past two years, our team has worked to better position Progressive Care for continued growth and success, the results of which can clearly been seen in its strong fiscal 2023 results. In consultation with the Board, we believe that the long-term value of Progressive Care can best be realized through a combination with NextPlat, thereby making it a wholly owned subsidiary. As a result of this business combination, we expect to quickly realize an array of valuable synergies from additional top-line growth to improved bottom-line profitability. These benefits include the ability to expand Progressive Care’s consumer offerings with new OTC products such as our soon-to-be-launched Florida Sunshine brand of premium-grade vitamins and dietary supplements, and significant combined annual cost reductions resulting from the elimination of complexities and redundant public company legal and accounting expenses,” said Charles M. Fernandez, Executive Chairman and CEO of NextPlat Corp. “Progressive Care’s continued success provides us with great confidence it is ability to contribute positively to the value of NextPlat as we seek to further expand our access into the large personalized healthcare services marketplace.”
Through a series of strategic investments in Progressive Care totalling more than $10 million conducted since August 2022, NextPlat, its Chairman and CEO, Charles M. Fernandez, board member, Rodney Barreto, and other investors, have led a successful recapitalization of Progressive Care designed to support its continued rapid growth. Effective as of July 1, 2023, NextPlat, Messrs. Fernandez and Barreto collectively owned approximately 53% of Progressive Care’s voting common stock, representing a controlling interest in Progressive Care, making it a consolidated subsidiary of the Company for accounting purposes.
ArentFox Schiff LLP served as the legal advisor to NextPlat and Lucosky Brookman LLP served as legal advisor to Progressive Care in connection with the business combination.
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