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Purchase Price Represents Approximately $6.50 Per Share, a 44% Premium
ContextLogic to Remain as Publicly Listed Entity, Preserving ~$2.7 Billion of Net Operating Losses (NOLs)
Board Exploring Opportunity for Financial Sponsor to Help ContextLogic Inc. Monetize Value of NOLs
Board Concludes Comprehensive Review of Strategic Alternatives; Unanimously Approves Transaction
Board Also Adopts Tax Benefits Preservation Plan to Protect Ability to Use NOLs
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ContextLogic Inc. (d/b/a Wish) (NASDAQ:WISH) ("ContextLogic" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has unanimously approved an agreement to sell substantially all of its operating assets and liabilities, principally comprising its Wish ecommerce platform, to Qoo10, an ecommerce platform operating localized online marketplaces in Asia, for approximately $173 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments. The purchase price represents approximately $6.50 per share and an approximately 44% premium to ContextLogic's closing stock price on February 9, 2024, the last trading day prior to announcing the transaction.
Following closing of the transaction, ContextLogic will have limited operating expenses and a balance sheet that will be debt-free, with net cash proceeds from the asset sale, approximately $2.7 billion of Net Operating Loss ("NOL") carryforwards and certain retained assets. The Board intends to use the proceeds from the transaction to help monetize its NOLs. The Board also intends to explore the opportunity for a financial sponsor to help ContextLogic realize the value of its tax assets. If the ContextLogic Board does not identify opportunities that will allow it to effectively monetize the value of its NOLs to the benefit of shareholders, it intends to promptly return all capital to shareholders.
Tanzeen Syed, Chairman of the Board, said, "The Board conducted a thorough review of strategic alternatives with the assistance of outside financial and legal advisors. We evaluated a variety of potential outcomes and determined that the proposed sale of our operating assets and liabilities, while preserving significant NOLs, represents the best path forward to maximize value for shareholders. We also believe there is a significant upside potential to obtaining a long-term aligned capital partner that would support future value creation."
Syed continued, "The Board believes the transaction will effectively reduce the cash burn in ContextLogic to near zero, monetize its operating assets at the highest value possible and preserve significant value for shareholders. At the same time, we believe this is a compelling opportunity for shareholders to directly benefit from the approximately $2.7 billion value of our NOLs as profitable operations are targeted by the continuing business."
Joe Yan, ContextLogic CEO, said, "Integrating the Wish platform into Qoo10 will create a true global cross-border ecommerce platform to support the massive market demand. Upon close, we expect the new Wish platform will have an improved customer experience through increased product assortment and merchant selection. And for our merchants, we will be able to offer fully integrated logistical capabilities to deliver unmatched cost-efficient services with high quality control and transparency. I would like to thank all of our employees for their exceptional work on behalf of Wish."
Following the close of the transaction, the Wish brand and platform will become a part of the Qoo10 family of businesses. Wish merchants are expected to benefit from an integrated platform that will unlock new cross border ecommerce opportunities, while Wish users are expected to benefit from an ever greater selection of goods at competitive prices.
Qoo10 CEO and Founder Young Bae Ku remarked, "Wish has innovative technology that provides highly-entertaining, personalized shopping experiences for its users while serving as one of the largest global e-commerce platforms. By combining our operating expertise and Wish's technology and data science capabilities, we expect to drive greater success for merchants while providing an even greater marketplace for consumers globally. With the acquisition of Wish, Qoo10 and Wish will offer a comprehensive platform for merchants, sellers, buyers, and customers globally to realize the potential of a truly global marketplace. With the strong commitment from Wish's employees and staff combined with the Qoo10 family group of companies, we are well positioned to realize our long-stated goal of being a leading cross-border, e-commerce marketplace."
The Company expects to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2024, subject to the approval of ContextLogic's shareholders and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is not subject to any financing contingency. As part of the agreement, ContextLogic will begin trading under a new ticker symbol within 30 days of the closing of the transaction.
Tax Benefits Preservation Plan
In order to protect the Company's ability to use its substantial NOLs in the future, the Board has also unanimously adopted a tax benefits preservation plan (the "Plan"). Pursuant to the Plan, the Company will issue, by means of a dividend, one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of the Company's Class A common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 22, 2024. Stockholders are not required to take any action to receive the rights. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with, and be represented by, the shares of Class A common stock.
The Company intends to submit the Plan to a vote of its stockholders at its 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2024.
Under the Plan, the rights generally become exercisable only if a person or group (an "acquiring person") acquires beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock in a transaction not approved by the Board. In that situation, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, additional shares of Class A common stock at a 50% discount. The Board, at its option, may exchange each right (other than rights owned by the acquiring person that have become void) in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A common stock per outstanding right, subject to adjustment. Except as provided in the Plan, the Board is entitled to redeem the rights at $0.001 per right. If a person or group beneficially owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock prior to today's announcement of the Plan, then that person's or group's existing ownership percentage will be grandfathered. However, grandfathered shareholders will generally not be permitted to acquire any additional shares.
Additional information regarding the Plan will be contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Posted In: WISH
