Carmanah divests LED edge-lit signs business
Date Announced: 18 Aug 2009
-- Company to focus on solar lighting and power technology
Carmanah Technologies (TSX: CMH) is pleased to announce that the Company and Dr. David Green have today closed on an agreementlimited Dr. Green, through his holding company, has purchased Carmanahs LED edge-lit signs business, Carmanah Signs Inc. ( CSI). This transaction is aligned with Carmanahs business strategy to focus on strategic solar lighting and technology markets. As part of the transaction, Dr. Green has resigned as a member of the Carmanah Board of Directors in order to pursue this opportunity.
Under the agreement, Dr. Green, through an incorporated company controlled by him, will pay a combined total of approximately $2M for the shares of CSI and for repayment of CSIs inter-company debt to Carmanah Technologies Corporation. The deal includes a combination of Cash payments and a common share buy-back by Carmanah of approximately 1 million of the Companys shares owned by Dr. Green. These common shares will be returned to Treasury.
Carmanah has been pursuing the sale of CSI for several months independently as well as seeking the services of an independent broker with no other acceptable offers being presented. The offer presented by Dr. Green met Carmanahs objective of receiving, at a minimum, net book value For the business as well as provided attractive payment terms that included re-payment of the inter-company debt, short settlement dates and rapid closure of the deal.
Following the transaction, Dr. Green will maintain an equity position in Carmanah, representing approximately 3% of the total common shares outstanding.
Dr. Green founded Carmanah in 1995, becoming Chairman when the Company went public in 2000. He resigned as Chairman in May, 2009, but stayed on the Board to assist the new Chairman with the transition into his new role.
According to Dr. Green, he looks forward to retiring from the Board to pursue this private business venture, confident that Carmanahs strategic growth plan is in capable hands. Both the management team and the Board of Carmanah are now highly organized and focused on achieving a Ted Lattimore, the new CEO, has completed a restructuring that has refocused Carmanah on its core strengths, developed a network of partners, and articulated a strategic plan that has the consensus of all of the management Team. Dave concludes, I am retiring from the Carmanah Board with a sense of pride that my succession plan is complete, and I look forward to returning to what I do best: developing an earlier stage company.
Carmanah CEO Ted Lattimore noted that the sale of CSI is positive for all stakeholders. The recent record purchase order for lottery signs by CSI demonstrates the continued opportunity for the signage business. Yet the business requires focus and capital investment that Carmanah Technologies Corp is not prepared To make as a result of our concentration on the strategic solar lighting and power areas of our business. New life can be injected into CSI under Dr. Greens guidance, and the reward can be even greater growth.
For more information, visit carmanah.com, or telephone 1.877.722.8877 (toll free in US and Canada).
About Carmanah Technologies Corporation
As one of the most trusted names in solar technology, Carmanah has earned a reputation for conveying strong and effective products for industrial applications worldwide. Industry proven to perform in some of the worlds harshest environments, Carmanah solar LED lights and solar power systems provide a Carmanah is a publicly traded company, with common shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CMH. For more information, visit
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