REGIONAL HEALTH PROPERTIES AND SUNLINK HEALTH SYSTEMS TO MERGE IN AN ALL-STOCK TRANSACTION

In This Article:

Regional Health Properties, Inc.
Regional Health Properties, Inc.

Enhances Opportunity to Increase Shareholder Value

Significantly Strengthens Balance Sheet

Expands Regional Board with the Addition of Two Highly Qualified Industry Veterans

Atlanta, GA, Jan. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regional Health Properties, Inc. (“Regional”) (NYSE American: RHE) (NYSE American: RHE-PA) and SunLink Health Systems, Inc. (“SunLink”) (NYSE American: SSY) jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “merger agreement”), pursuant to which SunLink will merge with and into Regional (the “merger”) in exchange for the issuance of an aggregate of 1,410,000 shares of Regional common stock and 1,410,000 shares of Regional’s newly-authorized Series D 8% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock with a liquidation preference of $10 per share. The merger has been approved unanimously by each company’s board of directors and completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of the approvals of the shareholders of both Regional and SunLink, regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Brent S. Morrison, Regional’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “This merger will create a combined company with a stronger balance sheet and greater scale. In addition, by combining SunLink’s complementary assets with Regional’s platform of healthcare facilities, the combined company will be well-positioned for future growth.”

Robert M. Thornton, Jr., SunLink’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “SunLink has been seeking a merger partner that would benefit from our complementary pharmacy business, cash and balance sheet that has no debt. We believe the combination of SunLink with Regional, whose assets consist of established skilled nursing and senior living facilities offers, the opportunity for increased value to both the SunLink and Regional shareholders.”

Highlights

  • Regional has agreed to provide for each five (5) SunLink common shares (i) one share of Regional common stock and (ii) subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, one share of Series D 8% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Shares (“Regional Series D Preferred Stock”); other than SunLink dissenting shares and shares to be cancelled in accordance with the terms and conditions of the merger agreement. As a result of the transaction, SunLink shareholders will own approximately 43.0% of the combined company.

  • As of December 31, 2024, SunLink had approximately $17.6 million in total assets and no long-term debt.

  • Regional expects pre-tax cost synergies of approximately $1.0 million by the end of its fiscal 2026 and believes that additional operating synergies may be achievable upon completion of the merger and integration of the companies.

  • The board of the combined company will add two experienced industry veterans: C. Christian Winkle and Scott Kellman.

  • The transaction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

  • The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both Regional and SunLink.