TORONTO, CANADA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/15/12 -- Enablence Technologies Inc. ("Enablence" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: ENA), a leading supplier of optical components and subsystems for telecommunication access, metro and long-haul markets and enterprise and other applications, is pleased to announce the achievement of several strategic milestones that will be crucial in securing the Company's future. In particular, Enablence has established a new joint venture to expand business into the 40G/100G communication module space. Enablence has commitments to secure new equity investments and bank facilities to fund ongoing operations and has restructured its debt obligations. Key points include:
1. The creation of a new joint venture in China by three partners to
develop, manufacture and sell 40G/100G communication modules based on
Enablence's PLC-based Photonic Integrated Circuit ("PIC") technology
("JV2"). This will be Enablence's second joint venture in China and JV2
will allow Enablence to participate as a minority partner in JV2 efforts
to become a leading vendor for 40G/100G communication modules.
The modules will be made by JV2 with PLC-based PIC TOSA/ROSA (transmit
optical sub-assembly/receive optical sub-assembly) supplied by
Enablence.
The TOSA/ROSA products and the advanced PIC chips are part of an array
of Enablence products that have been developed to address the 40G/100G
market in parallel with the global market migration to these standards
over the next several years.
JV2 will benefit Enablence by providing the Company with an assured
market for its TOSA/ROSA products.
The majority partner in JV2 is a private Chinese company with annual
revenues in excess of $100 million. This company is a supplier to China
Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.
2. Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the finalization
of the arrangements related to the Bank Term Sheet, two non-brokered
private placement financings totaling $6 million (on the terms and
conditions set out below) to be subscribed for in tranches, of which
approximately $3.35 million will be done initially by certain existing
shareholders (the "Initial Financing") and then a subsequent financing
for approximately $2.65 million will be completed by the majority JV2
partner and certain existing shareholders (the "Second Financing"). The
Initial Financing and the Second Financing are referred to as the
"Financing". The Financing shall be structured such that all investors
will purchase shares at the same average price and on the same terms and
conditions.
The Initial Financing for gross proceeds of approximately $3,329,000 is
being completed by the same investors at two different prices: (i)
$750,000 at a price of $0.005 for an issuance of 150,000,000 common
shares of Enablence, using the TSX Venture Exchange Policy on Temporary
Relief from Certain Pricing Requirements, and (ii) approximately
$2,579,000 at a price of $0.05 for an issuance of 51,577,960 common
shares of Enablence. The shares are subject to a four month hold period
pursuant to applicable securities laws.
The initial tranche of the Initial Financing is expected to close on or
before October 26, 2012. The Second Financing for gross proceeds of
approximately $2,671,000 is expected to be completed on or before
December 31, 2012.
It is expected that one of the institutional investors (an "insider") in
the Initial Financing is a related party within the meaning of
Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders
in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").(1) This information is being
filed less than 21 days prior to the expected closing of the Related
Party Transaction. The shorter period was necessary in order to permit
the Company to close the Initial Financing including the Related Party
Transaction, in a time frame consistent with the usual market practice
for transactions of this nature.
Approximately $750,000 of the proceeds from the Initial Financing will
be used as follows: (i) payroll commitments of the Company and its
subsidiaries in the amount of approximately $270,000, and (ii)
maintenance of certain loan arrangements with the Company's US bank in
the amount of $480,000. The remaining proceeds from the Initial
Financing will be used for certain debt repayments and general working
capital purposes.
3. As previously announced, Enablence is planning the divestiture of its
wholly-owned photodiode business located in Switzerland. Enablence has
received an unsolicited offer from management in Zurich to purchase the
shares of its subsidiary. Subject to the approval of the TSXV, the
Company will proceed to negotiate a share purchase agreement with
management and complete the transaction as soon as possible but no later
than November 15, 2012.
4. The execution of a term sheet with Cathay Bank, a chartered California
bank, (the "Bank Term Sheet"), subject to certain pre-funding
conditions, which establishes a new line of credit and extra bank
facilities to primarily offset the repayment of the $3 million bridge
loan (the "Bridge Loan") from the same California bank announced in July
2012.
5. Revised terms have been negotiated and verbally agreed with the holders
of the majority of the value of certain secured notes payable totalling
US$11 million (the "Notes"), including partial repayment of the Notes
and an extension of the term for the payment of the balance of the
principal and interest. Enablence is working with the balance of the
holders of the Notes so that all the Notes will be revised on the same
terms and conditions. Currently, one holder is pursuing legal recourse
for repayment of its Note, Enablence is responding to the action.
"These arrangements are the culmination of many months of work to stabilize the Company's operations and position Enablence to grow into markets of higher value added products." said Peter Dey, Chairman of the Board of Enablence. Further, Mr. Dey commented, "The establishment of a second joint venture with a strong Asian partner is testament to Enablence's industry-leading PLC-based Photonic Integrated Circuit technology. The other arrangements help provide Enablence with increased financial stability. We are very optimistic about the prospects for the Company now that it will be financially stable."
Business Update
Enablence believes that market conditions for its products are improving after a lengthy period of softness which has adversely affected not only the Company but the entire industry. As a result of the improvements in the Company's financial stability, the Company believes it will be well positioned to take advantage of the enhanced prospects in the market place.
Also, Enablence's first joint venture in Foshan, China, Enablence Sunblence Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Sunblence") continues to move forward toward commercial production. The current focus remains on improving yields and other optimization measures. Sunblence's low-cost, state of the art manufacturing facility helps ensure improving financial margins are generated. As new products are added, including PIC based TOSA/ROSA devices, it is expected that Sunblence will experience significant growth in the coming quarters.
About Enablence Technologies Inc.
Enablence Technologies Inc. is a publicly traded company (TSX VENTURE: ENA) that designs, manufactures and sells optical components and subsystems to a global customer base. It utilizes its patented technologies including planar lightwave circuit ("PLC") intellectual property in the production of an array of photonics components and broadband subsystems that deliver a key portion of the infrastructure for next-generation telecommunication systems. The Company's product lines address all three segments of optical networks: access (connecting homes and businesses to the network); metro (communication rings within large cities); and long-haul (linking cities and continents). For more information, visit www.enablence.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, in particular with respect to equity financing commitments, the restructuring of current debt obligations, including with the Company's noteholders, the sale of ENA Switzerland, revised banking arrangements and new credit facilities, repayment of the Bridge Loan, the expectations of two joint ventures in China and increased revenues, margins, profitability and future growth of the continuing operations that are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions which involve risks and uncertainties associated with our business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution our readers of this press release not to place undue reliance on our forward looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR ww.sedar.com. Enablence does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
(1) MI 61-101 requires the Company, in the absence of exemptions to obtain a formal valuation for, and minority shareholder approval of, the Related Party Transaction. The independent directors of the Company (excluding Peter Dey who is associated with a potential investor), have determined that an exemption is available from the formal valuation requirements and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101 due to the circumstances of financial hardship of the Company and independent directors have approved the Initial Financing unanimously.
Contacts:
Enablence Technologies Inc.
Sumeet Khullar, CA
Corporate Controller
(647) 729-1662
sumeet.khullar@enablence.com
