Update on the restructuring process: Solocal supports Ycor’s offer and will consult its financial creditors

           Press release                                                                       Boulogne-Billancourt, 13 March 2024

Update on the restructuring process: Solocal supports  Ycor’s offer and will consult its financial creditors

Cédric Dugardin, Solocal’s Chief Executive Officer, declares: “Since I joined Solocal, my priorities have been the company’s general interest, the sustainability of the Group and the protection of its 2,500 employees. 

After several months of continuous discussions with all our stakeholders, we have received two offers that we have studied with the greatest attention: one from our bondholders (and for some of them shareholders) and one from Ycor, an industrial player. 

In addition to offering a substantial reduction in the Group’s debt, which had become overwhelming, and securing the Group’s liquidity, Ycor offer should enable Solocal to benefit from the solutions and expertise developed by Ycor over several years and to generate synergies in the short term. 

Thus, Solocal will continue to develop its leadership in local digital services and further improve its service to its 260,000 customers.

For all these reasons, both Board of Directors unanimously and Group Management support Ycor offer. I call on all those involved in this restructuring to act responsibly to safeguard Solocal’s future.”

Context

On 7 June 2023, Solocal Group (the “Company”) announced its intention to intitiate discussions with its financial creditors. In order to facilitate these discussions, the Company requested the opening of mandat ad hoc proceedings for its benefit and invited its financial creditors to organize themselves to participate in these discussions with the Company. 

On 14 June 2023, the President of the Nanterre Commercial Court appointed SELARL FHB, represented by Me Hélène Bourbouloux, as mandataire ad hoc.

Expressions of interest

Alongside its discussions with its financial creditors, the Company has initiated a search for an industrial partner and/or a potential buyer.

As part of this competitive process, several industrial players expressed their interest. Among these, Ycor submitted a binding offer on 16 January 2024, revised and improved several times, and most recently on 8 February 2024 (the "Ycor Offer").

On 12 February 2024, the Company also received an improved version of the stand-alone financial restructuring proposal from its bondholders (the “Stand Alone Offer”), further to several discussions with its bondholders for the past several months.

Ycor Offer received the unanimous support of the Company's Board of Directors, management team and senior creditors (RCF creditors)^[1] as Solocal considers this offer to be the only one, at this stage, allowing a sustainable future for the Company, from both operational and strategic points of view.

Philippe Mellier, Chairman of the Board of Directors, comments: "The Board of Directors, perfectly aligned with Management, has voted unanimously in favor of Ycor's industrial offer. The Board of Directors and I are convinced that this proposal is the only one that offers Solocal a real strategic perspective. Ycor will bring its expertise and in-depth knowledge of our market, at this stage.”

In order to assist the Company in its further discussions relating to the above-mentioned offers and to facilitate the emergence of a sustainable solution, the Company announces that it obtained the opening of conciliation proceedings in its favor on 1 March 2024. SELARL FHB, represented by Me Hélène Bourbouloux, has been appointed as conciliator.

Description of the Ycor Offer

The Ycor Offer includes :

-          substantial contributions in equity only, including a maximum contribution of 40 million euros in new money from Ycor via share capital increases with or without maintaining shareholders' preferential subscription rights; 

-          the potential contribution in kind of Regicom to the Company^[2]

-          a partial repayment of existing senior debt with part of the proceeds from the abovementioned equity contributions; 

-          a massive reduction in the nominal amount of the Group's existing gross debt by approx. 80%, with different amortization profiles depending on the nature of the reinstated debt. 

After the full implementation of this offer, the Company would be controlled by Ycor. Solocal Group's current shareholders would be massively diluted (their existing shares would represent less than 1% of the capital). A more detailed presentation of the Ycor Offer is presented in Appendice.

Description of the Stand Alone Offer

The Stand Alone Offer includes:

-          a new money financing of up to €20 million in the form of debt, that could potentially be increased); 

-          a partial repayment in cash of part of the senior debt for an amount lower than the one included in the Industrial Offer, followed by an additional repayment coming from the potential proceeds of a share capital increase with preferential subscription rights; 

-          a massive reduction in the nominal amount of the Group's existing gross debt, including the entirety of the Bonds, with different amortization profiles depending on the nature of the reinstated debt.

After the full implementation of the Stand Alone Offer, the Company would be controlled by the bondholders. Solocal Group's current shareholders would be massively diluted (their existing shares would represent less than 1% of the capital). A more detailed presentation of the Stand Alone Offer is presented in Appendice.

Next steps in the restructuring process

The Company intends to continue its discussions with its financial creditors (RCF creditors and bondholders) and Ycor, under the supervision of the conciliator, with a view to reach a sustainable solution. Such solution should enable the Company to secure its liquidity and to substantially reduce the  debt burden, while ensuring its sustainability via a project which would create value for all stakeholders. The Board will thoroughly examine any revision of these offers. 

To do so,  while discussing with the Bondholders, Solocal Group will consult the General Meeting of Bondholders on the implementation of the Ycor offer by amending the Safeguard Plan. Invitations to this General Meeting of Bondholders is intended to be sent out in the next few days.

Ycor Offer assumes that it will be implemented within a consensual framework with the various stakeholders. In case of disagreement from the bondholders to amend the Safeguard Plan, according to the terms proposed by the Company, the Company will consider the implementation of Ycor Offer within an appropriate legal framework, whose terms and conditions will be modified to take into account additional deadlines and constraints.

The Company will keep the market informed of the progress of these discussions. 

Since 29 February 2024, the Company no longer benefits from a waiver with respect to the postponement of  payment of interests on Bonds and Mini-Bonds. Interests due to date amounts to €15.6m. The company has not paid these interests.

Estimated financial data

In order to provide information on its 2023 financial performance, the Company discloses below some estimated financial data. These key performance indicators have been prepared on the basis of consolidated financial statements prepared on a going concern basis. It should be noted that these financial statements could not be approved by the Board of Directors due to the progress of the negotiations with the creditors described above and that they are currently being audited:

In € million                                                         FY 2022                FY 2023                Change                       Allocation

27%

57%

16%

100%

Recuring EBITDA margin as a percentage of revenue amounts to approx. 18%, signicantly down compared to 2022. 

Group cash position amounts to €55.7 milion compared to €70.8 million as at 31 December 2022. 

2024 Outlook 

The level of “acquisition” order intakes in 2024 should be comparable with 2023. This stabilization should be made possible by the new strategic orientation aimed at streamlining the field sales force into a unique sales force in charge of both acquiring new customers and developing the current customer portfolio.

However, as a result of difficult sales activity in 2023, a high churn rate despite substantial investment in the customer experience, and difficulties in building loyalty among VSE/SME customers facing an uncertain economic environment, the Group expects revenue to be down c.10% compared to 2023.

In 2024, the company will pursue its efforts to control costs in order to maintain an EBITDA margin of around 15%. The company will focus on sales force productivity, investments with a direct short-term impact on its products and PagesJaunes media, and customer experience improvement to limit the increase in churn.

“Bonds” means the €176,689,747.06 aggregate principal amount (as of 31 December 2023) of the bonds bearing interests at Euribor rate (three-month Euribor rate floored at 1%) + 7% spread and with maturity date at 15 March 2025 (ISIN: FR0013237484) issued by Solocal Group.

“Mini Bonds” means the €18,743,702.88 aggregate principal amount (as of 31 December 2023) of the bonds bearing interests at Euribor rate (three-month Euribor rate floored at 1%) + 7% spread and with maturity date at 15 March 2025 (ISIN: FR0013527744) issued by Solocal Group.

"RCF" refers to the revolving credit facility in a principal amount of €34,000,000 bearing interest at Euribor (with Euribor rate floored at 0%) + 5% margin.

Appendice 

Disclaimer

This press release has been prepared by Solocal Group exclusively for information purposes. It does not constitute or include any advice or recommendation by Solocal Group (or any other person) regarding the securities of Solocal Group or as to the merits of any transaction or the making of any investment decision. It does not constitute or include any confirmation or commitment by Solocal Group (or any other person) regarding the present or future value of the business of Solocal Group, its securities, its affiliates or any of Solocal Group’s or their assets.

This press release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange or acquire securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The securities referenced in this press release may not be offered, sold, exchanged or delivered in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The securities mentioned in this press release are not, and will not be, registered in the United States. This press release is not directed at, or intended for distribution, publication, availability to or use by, any person or entity that is a citizen or resident or located in any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction, where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation, or which would require any

⁴   Regicom, Ycor et la Société will enter into discussions to define the details of a potential contribution in kind of Regicom to the Company

⁵   If the backstop of the share capital increase with preferential subscription rights is exercised

registration or licensing within such jurisdiction. Nothing in this press release constitutes or contemplates an invitation to participate in the solicitations by a holder in any circumstances in which such participation is unlawful. 

This press release includes forward-looking statements based on current beliefs and expectations about future events. Such forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and/or expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations and services and product development, as well as statements, regarding performance or events. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “may”, “would”, “should” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Solocal Group and its subsidiaries and investments, trends in their business, future capital expenditures and acquisitions, developments in respect of contingent liabilities, changes in economic conditions globally or in Solocal Group’s principal markets, competitive conditions in the market and regulatory factors. Those events are uncertain; their outcome may differ from current expectations which may in turn materially affect expected results. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward- looking statements. Any forward-looking statement contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release. Other than as required by applicable law, Solocal Group does not undertake to revise or update any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. The results and the Group's performance may also be affected by various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, risks identified in the "Risk factors" of the Universal Registration Document registered by the Autorité des marchés financiers on April 28, 2023 and also available on the Group's website

EN - Solocal - Solocal is the digital partner for all local companies in France, from VSEs, to SMBs or Large Companies with networks. Our job; vitalize local life. We strive every day to unveil the full potential of all companies by connecting them to their customers thanks to our innovative digital services. We advise over 260 000 companies all over France and support them to boost their activity thanks to our digital services (Relational Presence, Websites and Digital advertising). We also bring users the best possible digital experience with PagesJaunes, and our GAFAM* partners. We provide professionals and the public with our high audience services (15M views for PagesJaunes), geolocalised data, scalable technology platforms, unparalleled commercial coverage across France, our privileged partnerships with digital companies and our talents in terms of data, development and digital marketing. Solocal moreover benefits from the "Digital Ad Trust" label. To know more about Solocal (Euronext Paris “LOCAL”): let's keep in touch @solocal *GAFAM : Google, Microsoft/Bing,, Facebook, Apple, Amazon. Committed to a CRS strategy since 2013, Solocal fully endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The company is certified bronze by Ecovadis and sylver by Gaia Ethifinance