Lassonde Industries Inc. - Notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid

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Jan 09, 2015, 11:29 ET

ROUGEMONT, QC, Jan. 9, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Lassonde Industries Inc. (TSX: LAS.A) announces that it intends to acquire for cancellation, if considered advisable, a certain number of Class "A" subordinate voting shares of its share capital by means of open market transactions through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) or alternative trading systems, in accordance with the requirements on normal course issuer bids of the TSX (Bid).

Under the Bid, Lassonde may repurchase for cancellation up to 55,145 Class "A" subordinate voting shares of its share capital (representing 3% of the public float being 1,838,194 shares as at January 1, 2015) during the period beginning on January 14, 2015 and ending on or before January 13, 2016. As at January 1, 2015, there were 3,235,300 issued and outstanding Class "A" subordinate voting shares. In connection with the Bid, Lassonde has established an automatic purchase plan (Plan). The Plan enables the Company to provide predefined instructions regarding how the Class "A" subordinate voting shares are to be repurchased on the open market during self-imposed blackout periods. The Plan should terminate together with the Bid. It constitutes an automatic plan for purposes of applicable Canadian securities legislation, and has been reviewed by the TSX.

The average daily trading volume of Lassonde's Class "A" subordinate voting shares over the last six completed calendar months was 1,436 (ADTV). Accordingly, according to the TSX Rules and policies, Lassonde is entitled on any trading day to purchase up to 1,000 Class "A" subordinate voting shares. Once a week, in excess of the daily 1,000 repurchase limit, Lassonde may also purchase a block of shares not owned by an insider (i) having a purchase price of $200,000 or more, or (ii) of at least 5,000 shares having a purchase price of at least $50,000, or (iii) of at least 20 board lots of shares which total 150% or more of the ADTV, the whole in accordance with the TSX rules. During the period from January 14, 2014 to January 1, 2015 Lassonde has not acquired any Class "A" subordinate voting shares.

Lassonde is making the normal course issuer bid because it is of the view that it may be advantageous to engage in purchases of the Class "A" subordinate voting shares, from time to time, when, in the opinion of management, they are trading at prices which reflect a discount from what management considers to be the appropriate value of the Class "A" subordinate voting shares. In addition, Lassonde is of the opinion that its shareholders will benefit from the reduction of the number of Class "A" subordinate voting shares issued and outstanding as a result of purchases under the normal course issuer bid.

To the Company's knowledge, no director, senior officer or associate of a director or senior officer of the Company, person acting jointly or in concert with the Company, or person holding 10% or more of any class of equity securities of the Company currently intends to sell any Class "A" subordinate voting shares of the Company under the proposed Bid. However, sales by such persons through the facilities of TSX may occur if the personal circumstances of any such person change or if any such person makes a decision unrelated to the Bid. The benefits to any such person whose Class "A" subordinate voting shares are purchased under the Bid would be the same as the benefits available to all other holders whose Class "A" subordinate voting shares are likewise purchased.

Lassonde reserves the right to discontinue purchases at any time prior to January 13, 2016.

About Lassonde

Lassonde Industries Inc. is a North American leader in the development, manufacture and sale of a wide range of ready-to-drink fruit and vegetable juices and drinks marketed under brands such as Everfresh, Fairlee, Flavür, Fruité, Graves, Oasis and Rougemont.

Lassonde is also the second largest producer of store brand fruit juices and drinks in the United States and a major producer of cranberry sauces.

Lassonde recently acquired Apple & Eve, LLC of Port Washington, New York, a leading national brand juice company in the United States. This company offers more than 100 different products sold under its flagship brand, Apple & Eve, and also under the Northland, Seneca and The Switch brands.

Lassonde also develops, manufactures and markets specialty food products under brands such as Antico and Canton. The Company imports and markets selected wines from various countries and manufactures apple ciders and cider-based beverages.

The Company produces superior quality products through the efforts of over 2,100 people working in 14 plants across Canada and the United States. To learn more, visit www.lassonde.com.

SEDAR registration number: 00002099

SOURCE Lassonde Industries Inc.