CHC's controlling shareholder files amended Schedule 13D with the SEC
14 Marzo 2006 - 6:33AM
PR Newswire (US)
VANCOUVER, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- CHC Helicopter Corporation
("CHC") (TSX: FLY.SV.A and FLY.MV.B; NYSE: FLI) announced today
that it has been advised that its controlling shareholder and
Executive Chairman, Mr. Craig L. Dobbin has today filed an amended
Schedule 13D (the "13D") with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") describing preliminary discussions
between Mr. Dobbin and two unaffiliated private equity firms
regarding a potential acquisition of CHC. As disclosed in the 13D,
CHC has received a presentation concerning the potential
transaction. Mr. Dobbin is evaluating the feasibility of such a
transaction on the following non-binding terms: (i) a price per
Class A Subordinate Voting Share and Class B Multiple Voting Share
in the range of Cdn. $30.00 to $32.50, (ii) an equity interest of
Mr. Dobbin in the newly formed acquisition vehicle of approximately
14% through a combination of common equity and options, (iii)
minority board representation rights and minority protective
provisions for Mr. Dobbin; (iv) pre-emptive rights for Mr. Dobbin
(including tag-along rights and piggyback/demand registration
rights); and (v) entry by Mr. Dobbin into a voting agreement in
favor of the proposed transaction in the event that definitive
agreements are executed. CHC has been advised that Mr. Dobbin has
granted the private equity firms an exclusivity period that expires
on April 30, 2006 to evaluate the proposed transaction and has
agreed in his capacity as a shareholder that he and his affiliates
(other than CHC and its subsidiaries) will not, until July 31,
2006, enter into or support any alternative transaction. The 13D
also discloses that if any alternative transaction is proposed
during such period, Mr. Dobbin and his affiliates (other than CHC
and its subsidiaries) will vote their shares against any such
transaction. Readers should have reference to the 13D on file with
the SEC. CHC takes no responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the statements contained in the 13D. The Board of
Directors of CHC has established a special committee of independent
directors (the "Special Committee") to consider any potential
transaction that may result from the matters disclosed in the 13D.
The Special Committee has retained independent legal and financial
advisors. At this time, neither CHC nor, to its knowledge, any
other party, is legally obligated to engage in any transaction on
the terms noted above or on any other terms, and no assurance can
be given that any transaction will be undertaken. Any proposed
transaction will be reviewed by the Special Committee. CHC
Helicopter Corporation is the world's largest provider of
helicopter services to the global offshore oil and gas industry,
with aircraft operating in more than 30 countries around the world.
For enquiries, please contact: Jo Mark Zurel, Senior Vice-President
Chris Flanagan, And Chief Financial Officer Director of
Communications 604-279-2451 604-279-2493 If you wish to be added
to, or removed from, the Company's distribution list, please
contact .
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This press release may contain projections and other
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbour"
provision of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. While these projections and other statements represent
our best current judgement, they are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary. These
statements may involve risks and uncertainties including, but not
limited to, factors detailed in CHC's Annual Report on Form 20-F
and in other filings with the United States SEC and the Canadian
securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these
risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially
from those indicated.
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DATASOURCE: CHC Helicopter Corporation CONTACT: For enquiries,
please contact: Jo Mark Zurel, Senior Vice-President, And Chief
Financial Officer, (604) 279-2451; Chris Flanagan, Director of
Communications, (604) 279-2493; Archived images on this
organization are searchable through CNW Photo Archive website at
http://photos.newswire.ca/. Images are free to accredited members
of the media. To request a free copy of this organization's annual
report, please go to http://www.newswire.ca/ and click on Tools for
Investors.
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