Because of Writser for pointing me to this concept
Rubicon Expertise (RBCN) ($36MM market cap) is primarily an NOL money shell with a small $4MM income, roughly break-even, industrial sapphire enterprise. RBCN was beforehand buying and selling under web present asset worth till 7/5 when Janel Company (JANL) provided to tender for 45% of the shares at $20/share. Following the tender, Rubicon will distribute a $11/share particular dividend (roughly their extra money) to all shareholders together with Janel and likewise delist from the NASDAQ together with suspending their SEC reporting necessities (“go darkish”). If everybody absolutely participates within the tender supply (which they need to, however is unlikely, in all probability a number of forgotten shares on the market), RBCN shareholders will obtain a complete of $15.05 in money per share (45% x $20 + 55% x $11) within the subsequent couple months, plus a darkish NOL stub. The shares roughly commerce for the $15.05 money consideration quantity as we speak.
To totally entry the NOLs, Janel will then be incentivized to make one other tender supply on that residual stub in three years (IRS required ready interval to protect the NOL) to get their possession degree above 80% to allow them to consolidate the monetary statements. Janel spells out that potential second step of their schedule 13D:
The aim of the supply is for Janel to amass a big possession curiosity in Rubicon, along with illustration on Rubicon’s Board, in an try to (i) rejuvenate, reposition and restructure Rubicon’s enterprise and model by specializing in its worthwhile enterprise line and implementing a decrease price construction to realize profitability and (ii) enable Janel to be able to probably extra simply purchase such variety of extra Shares of Rubicon three or extra years thereafter that will, after which, ought to such transaction happen, allow Janel to consolidate the monetary statements of Rubicon’s with its personal, thereby permitting Janel to learn from Rubicon’s important web working loss (“NOL”) carry-forward belongings. Below federal tax legal guidelines, Janel would then be capable to carry ahead and use these NOLs to scale back its future U.S. taxable earnings and tax liabilities till such NOLs expire in accordance with the Inside Income Code of 1986, as amended.
Because the firm is not money movement constructive, they at present have a full valuation allowance towards the ~$65MM in tax belongings:
Whereas the whole tax asset is $65MM, about $39.5MM is federal which is probably going extra priceless and simply transferrable than the $13.3MM in state taxes (IL and IN), I am guessing Janel may additionally take full benefit of the $6.75MM of capital loss carryforwards too. Let’s take away the state tax belongings and name it $46.25 in worth or $19/share (plus no matter you worth the remaining enterprise for) that Janel is paying $9/share ($20 minus the $11 particular dividend). You have received a while worth of cash in there since they’re going to want to attend 3 years for the subsequent tender, and through that point a few of the NOL will expire (it began expiring in 2021, however I do not know the amortization schedule of the NOL). Appears like probably an awesome deal for either side given RBCN traded for $9.00-$9.25 previous to the announcement.
I do not know a lot about Janel Corp, it’s a $37MM market cap firm traded OTC that’s 42% owned by Oaxaca Group. It seems to be a holding firm of smallish operations in logistics, manufacturing and a few well being care. We’re taking some counterparty threat right here in each the deal being accomplished efficiently and Janel finally having the ability and prepared to buyout the remaining stub in 3+ years. They’ve dedicated financing already from the growth of their established credit score line with Santander (need not go to the syndicated or personal debt markets like FRG/KSS for instance). Santander can be offering them with a bridge mortgage whereas they look forward to the particular dividend to receives a commission out. The opposite minimal situation is 35% of holders tendering, 4 main shareholders together with names individuals studying this weblog would acknowledge personal 27% of the shares have already agreed to tender, in order that needs to be no drawback both.
I commute in my head on what worth to ascribe to the stub place. Submit tender it can nonetheless have the identical $19/share (or roughly that, once more unsure how a lot will expire) in tax belongings, Janel shall be located as the one bidder but additionally they’re going to have a sunk price of buying 45% of it, we could be below a unique company tax regime, will probably be instantly useable so no low cost for the time worth or threat from their perspective that they will not get entry to the NOL. I do not see why the bottom case should not be $9 once more, however I could possibly be too optimistic in that view, the nice factor right here is it would not matter a lot as it is a free roll as soon as the deal closes.
Different ideas:
- Why is it low-cost? Submit tender and particular dividend, it can go darkish and be a small stub with a catalyst 3+ years out, that does not enchantment to many traders, notably within the present atmosphere when time horizons are shrinking as individuals are afraid of the financial system. It’s a CVR like asset, you have received some counterparty threat with JANL, it must have the flexibility and want to amass the remaining stub in 3 years. Many traders are down for the yr (me included!), probably behind their benchmarks and do not need to spend money on one thing the place you are simply going to get your a reimbursement in 2022, and have this illiquid onerous to worth darkish safety after that we cannot know the true worth for 3 years.
- I like this higher than different NOL shells, it’s a higher construction for present shareholders, because it would not depend on new administration to make acquisitions at a time when there’s nonetheless loads of SPACs and busted biotechs reverse merger type offers.
- RBCN bought some uncooked land in Batavia, IL. The sale hasn’t closed but, however the firm expects to web $600k in money, or roughly $0.25/share. The corporate additionally owns their present industrial facility in Bensenville, IL which they purchased for $2.3MM (or simply below $1/share) in September 2018. Even after the particular dividend, there needs to be some residual liquidation worth left within the working enterprise and presumably extra if they’ll flip it round.
- Unsure but of the tax implications of this concept, could be greatest to play it in a tax deferred accounts or given it’s 2022 and plenty of us have tax losses, may not be so unhealthy in a taxable account both.
- There’s at present not an odd-lot precedence provision, I am assuming that’s on goal by the 4 massive fund shareholders, they don’t want individuals piling in to the odd-lot provision and find yourself transferring worth to small shareholders enjoying that arb recreation. There’s additionally no cancel provision primarily based on a drop within the over market both like we have seen in different tender affords.
- In case you have entry to the professional market, could be price watching this one after the particular dividend, particularly if I am proper that the second step will not be performed at an enormous low cost.
Disclosure: I personal shares of RBCN
