Atlanta, GA, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Regional Health Properties, Inc. (“Regional”) (OTCQB: RHEP) (OTCQB: RHEPA) and SunLink Health Systems, Inc. (“SunLink”) (NYSE American: SSY) jointly announced today that they have entered into an amended and restated 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 approximately 1,595,401 shares of Regional common stock and 1,408,121 shares of Regional’s newly-authorized Series D 8% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Shares (the “Regional Series D Preferred Stock”) with an initial liquidation preference of $12.50 per share. The merger agreement has been approved by each company’s board of directors and completion of the transaction remains subject to the receipt of the approvals of the shareholders of both Regional and SunLink, regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Summary of the Revised Transaction
Consideration
Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, Regional has agreed to provide for each five (5) SunLink common shares (other than dissenting shares and shares to be cancelled in accordance with the terms and conditions of the merger agreement): (i) 1.1330 shares of Regional common stock and (ii) one (1) share of Regional Series D Preferred Stock. As a result of the transaction, it is expected that SunLink shareholders will, at the closing of the merger, own approximately 45.92% of the combined company. The number of shares of Regional Series D Preferred Stock is subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement for the existence of any Cash Surplus (as defined in the merger agreement) or Regional Debt Distress (as defined in the merger agreement) and the number of shares of Regional common stock and Regional Series D Preferred Stock each are subject to adjustment to reflect fully and equitably the effect of any reclassification, stock split, reverse split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization or other like change prior to the closing. No fractional shares will be issued in the transaction.
The Regional Series D Preferred Stock will be a new series of Regional preferred stock which will rank junior to the currently outstanding 12.5% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Regional, have an initial liquidation preference of $12.50 per share and be entitled to cumulative preferential dividends at an initial dividend rate of 8% per annum commencing with July 1, 2027 when, as and if approved and declared by the Regional board of directors out of funds of Regional legally available for the payment of distributions, subject in each case to the terms and conditions of the articles of amendment establishing the Regional Series D Preferred Stock. Each three (3) shares of Regional Series D Preferred Stock will be convertible into 1.1330 shares of Regional common stock at the holder’s option and mandatorily if certain future conditions are met. If the Regional common stock is not listed on a National Market, as defined, on or before the last day of (i) the sixth whole calendar month after closing (the “First Milestone Date”), (ii) the twelfth whole calendar month after the closing, (iii) the eighteenth whole calendar month after the closing and (iv) the twenty-fourth whole calendar month after the closing (each, a “ Milestone Date”), then on the First Milestone Date the conversion ratio shall be reduced, and on each succeeding Milestone Date further reduced, by one-half (1/2) of a share of Regional Series D Preferred Stock in the number of shares of Regional Series D Preferred Stock required for conversion into a share of Regional common stock.
SunLink Special Dividend
SunLink may pay its shareholders one or two special dividend(s) prior to the closing of the merger in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate the sum of (i) $705,000, plus (ii) if certain conditions are met, an additional amount as calculated in the merger agreement calculated within five (5) days of closing; provided that the total of such dividends shall not exceed in the aggregate $1,000,000 plus any additional amounts added thereto pursuant to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement.
Estimated Synergies
As of December 31, 2024, SunLink had approximately $17.8 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.
Leadership, Corporate Governance and Headquarters
As previously announced, the combined company will be led by a proven management team that reflects the strengths and capabilities of both organizations. Upon closing of the transaction, Brent S. Morrison, CFA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Regional, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Robert M. Thornton, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of SunLink, will serve as Executive Vice President – Corporate Strategy of the combined company. Mark Stockslager, Chief Financial Officer of SunLink, will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the combined company.
As previously announced, following closing of the transaction, the board of directors of the combined company will be chaired by Mr. Morrison and consist of at least six directors, including two existing Regional directors and two existing SunLink directors. In addition, C. Christian Winkle and Scott Kellman will join the board of the combined company once the merger is completed.
C. Christian Winkle was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Senior Living (“Sunrise”). Prior to Sunrise, Mr. Winkle was Chief Executive Officer of MedQuest and SavaSeniorCare/Mariner Health. Mr. Winkle currently serves as a board member of Beazer Homes, a publicly traded homebuilder, Direct Supply, a private/employee owned supply chain/applied technology company, and RD Merrill, the owner of Merrill Gardens, the operator of 70 senior housing communities.
Scott Kellman formerly served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Eagle Lifecare Corporation, a not-for-profit provider of senior living services. Previously, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Care Investment Trust and a Managing Director and Head of Real Estate with CIT Healthcare. Mr. Kellman served as Senior Vice President at Healthcare Property Investors, Inc. where he was responsible for directing HCP’s business development activities. He also served as Senior Vice President, Treasurer of Tenet Healthcare Corporation (“Tenet”) where he managed Tenet’s real estate and oversaw its corporate finance and cash management functions. Mr. Kellman was Chief Operating Officer of Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. where he acquired and provided debt financing for healthcare real estate properties.
The combined company will be headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Approvals and Closing
The merger is expected to close in the summer of 2025, following receipt of the approvals of the shareholders of both Regional and SunLink, regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The transaction is not expected to trigger any change of control provision under Regional’s outstanding mortgages.
Advisors
Harpeth Capital, LLC is acting as financial advisor and Troutman Pepper Locke LLP is acting as legal advisor to Regional. Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP is acting as legal advisor to SunLink.
About Regional Health Properties
Regional Health Properties, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a self-managed healthcare real estate investment company that invests primarily in real estate purposed for senior living and long-term care. For more information, visit https://www.regionalhealthproperties.com.
About SunLink
SunLink, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the parent company of subsidiaries that own and operate Carmichael’s Cashway Pharmacy. For more information, visit https://www.sunlinkhealth.com.
NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
Communications in this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any proxy vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The proposed merger will be submitted to both the Regional and SunLink shareholders for their consideration. In connection with the proposed merger, Regional will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that will include a joint proxy statement/prospectus for Regional and SunLink and other relevant documents concerning the proposed merger.
INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE CORRESPONDING JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
You will be able to obtain a copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus once filed, as well as other filings containing information about Regional and SunLink, without charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or by accessing Regional’s website (http://www.regionalhealthproperties.com) under the tab “Investor Relations” or by accessing SunLink’s website (http://www.sunlinkhealth.com) under the tab “Investors.” Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Investor Relations, Regional Health Properties, Inc., 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 720, Atlanta, Georgia, 30338, telephone 678-869-5116 or to Investor Relations, SunLink Health Systems, Inc., 900 Circle 75 Parkway, Suite 690, Atlanta, Georgia, 30339, telephone 770-933-7004.
Regional and SunLink and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Regional and SunLink in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of Regional is set forth in the proxy statement for Regional’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Regional Annual Report”), as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, which information may be updated by Regional from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of SunLink is set forth in the proxy statement for SunLink’s Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/, as filed with the SEC on October 25, 2024, which information may be updated by SunLink from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Additional information about the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may also be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words like “believe”, “continue”, “pattern”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “expect” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “might”, “can”, “may”, or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing and benefits of the proposed merger between Regional and SunLink, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, and accretion/dilution to reported earnings that may be realized from the merger, as well as other statements of expectations regarding the merger, and other statements of Regional’s goals, intentions and expectations; statements regarding Regional’s business plan and growth strategies; estimates of Regional’s risks and future costs and benefits, whether with respect to the merger or otherwise; and the payment of a cash dividend by SunLink.
These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements, including, among other things:
Neither Regional nor SunLink undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this press release. In addition, Regional’s and SunLink’s past results of operations do not necessarily indicate either of their anticipated future results, whether the merger is effectuated or not.
Regional Contact
Brent Morrison, CFA
Chief Executive Officer & President
Regional Health Properties, Inc.
Tel (404) 823-2359
Brent.morrison@regionalhealthproperties.com
SunLink Contact
Robert M. Thornton, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
SunLink Health Systems, Inc.
Tel (770) 933-7004