Franchise Group, Inc. Announces Redemption of 7.50% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock

DELAWARE, Ohio, July 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Franchise Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRG) (“Franchise Group” or the “Company”) today announced that it has issued a notice of redemption (the “Redemption”) for all outstanding shares of its 7.50% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (CUSIP: 35180X204) (the “Preferred Stock”). The Company is redeeming the Preferred Stock in connection with the Company’s previously announced merger (the “Merger”) and pursuant to Parent’s (as defined below) request in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 10, 2023, entered into by and among the Company, Freedom VCM, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Freedom VCM Subco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The Redemption is contingent upon the Company’s successful completion the Merger and, in the event the Merger does not occur and the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the notice of redemption will be deemed rescinded and the Redemption will not occur.

The Preferred Stock will be redeemed in cash at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends from the last dividend payment date, if any, up to but not including the Redemption Date (the “Redemption Price”). The Redemption Price is expected to be paid on August 18, 2023 or such later date as the parties to the Merger may agree but in no event later than one business day following the effective time of the Merger (the “Redemption Date”). From and after the Redemption Date, dividends shall cease to accrue on the Preferred Stock and the Preferred Stock will no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock, other than the right to receive the Redemption Price upon Redemption, will cease and terminate. Upon Redemption, the shares the Preferred Stock will be delisted from trading on the NASDAQ Global Market.

The Preferred Stock is held through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and will be redeemed in accordance with the procedures of DTC. Payment to DTC for the Preferred Stock will be made by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the Company’s redemption agent for the Preferred Stock. Questions about the conditional notice of redemption and related materials should be directed to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC by mail at EQ Shareowner Services, Corporate Actions Dept., P.O. Box 64858, St. Paul, MN 55164-0858, or by telephone at 1-800-468-9716.

This press release does not constitution a notice of redemption under the certificate of designation governing the Preferred Stock and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the notice of redemption issued by Franchise Group.

About Franchise Group

Franchise Group is an owner and operator of franchised and franchisable businesses that continually looks to grow its portfolio of brands while utilizing its operating and capital allocation philosophy to generate strong cash flow for its stockholders. Franchise Group’s business lines include Pet Supplies Plus, Wag N’ Wash, American Freight, The Vitamin Shoppe, Badcock Home Furniture & More, Buddy’s Home Furnishings and Sylvan Learning. On a combined basis, Franchise Group currently operates over 3,000 locations predominantly located in the U.S. that are either Company-run or operated pursuant to franchising and dealer agreements.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results and are not statements of historical fact. Such statements may include statements regarding the completion of the Merger and the expected timing of the completion of the Merger. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions as of the time they are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of the Company or its management about future events. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company or matters pertaining to the proposed merger will not differ materially from any projected future results, performance, achievements or other matters expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual future results, performance, achievements or other matters may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company refers you to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and comparable sections of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on the Company or its business or operations. Readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update, revise or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In connection with the Merger, the Company filed relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including a proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”), and the Company, affiliates of Vintage Capital Management, LLC and other relevant parties jointly filed a transaction statement on Schedule 13E-3 (the “Schedule 13E-3”). This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that the Company may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the Merger. STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING. All such documents may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). These documents and the Company’s other filings with the SEC also will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at www.franchisegrp.com.

Investor Relations & Media Contact:

Andrew F. Kaminsky
EVP & Chief Administrative Officer
Franchise Group, Inc.
akaminsky@franchisegrp.com
(914) 939-5161

Source: Franchise Group, Inc.