Tice to Acquire Two Businesses
2 October 2000
Tice to Acquire Two Businesses
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--Oct. 2, 2000--Tice Technology, Inc. (OTC BB: TICE) has executed letters of intent to acquire the assets of two privately held Knoxville Tennessee based businesses, LandOak Company, LLC and MidSouth Sign Company, LLC. LandOak is an automobile and equipment leasing business. Customers include Tennessee Eastman. MidSouth has eight years experience in metal and vinyl sign fabrication. They also provide digital property and sign surveys and maintenance agreements to customers nationwide including American Express, Clayton Homes and Compass Bank.If these acquisitions are completed each business would operate as an autonomous subsidiary of Tice Technology, Inc. Under this situation the consolidated assets, revenues and earnings of Tice should increase significantly.
Management foresees operating synergies between businesses such as equipment leasing and financing for Tice's sewing equipment and metal fabrication expertise sharing between MidSouth and Tice.
The proposed transaction involves the issuance of up to 13,000,000 Tice common shares in exchange for the assets. Two of the owners of the private businesses own common stock in Tice and are members of the Tice board of directors. These are not independent transactions but are contingent on the completion of the acquisition of both of the private companies. Several conditions relating to the release of security interests and the transfer of liabilities must be satisfied to allow the closing of these transactions - contemplated to be no later than December 31, 2000. Final due diligence is underway.
In conjunction with the acquisitions, Tice is offering 750,000 shares of common stock in a private placement limited to accredited investors. This capital, if successfully raised, will be used to offset the acquisition costs of this proposed transaction, as well as fund additional development, marketing and working capital needs at Tice Engineering and Sales. The private placement is not contingent on the acquisition of the businesses.
"We envision a stronger company with these acquisitions," stated Charles R. West, President and CEO of Tice. "Coupled with significant growth opportunities that exist with Tice Engineering and Sales and its patented Electronic Gearing Technology, these acquisitions would strengthen our current financial position and cash flow, allowing us more flexibility to invest in new product development activities and possibly allow other strategic acquisitions. The operating synergies of the new businesses combined with Tice allow for several opportunities for reduced costs, expanded markets and new management expertise for each of businesses."
"These transactions represent a change in business strategy for Tice. With these newly acquired assets management plans to pursue an exchange listing - which will mean greater access to the financial community. We will continue to pursue a complete market rollout of our new commercial sewing equipment, but expect to have a company of greater substance to present to the financial community. With these diverse acquisitions management plans to possibly pursue industry roll ups or other combinations that will add value to our shareholders."
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