MISSISSAUGA, ON, Canada – The Second Cup Ltd. (“Aegis Brands” or the “Company”) (TSX: SCU) today announced that Aegis Brands has agreed to acquire Ottawa-based Bridgehead Coffee, the Company’s first acquisition since it announced its new operating structure and strategy last month. Aegis Brands also owns Canadian specialty coffee retailer Second Cup Coffee Co.
“We created Aegis with the vision of building a portfolio of amazing brands that can grow and flourish with access to our resources and expertise,” said Steven Pelton, CEO of Aegis Brands. “Bridgehead is the quintessential ‘amazing brand’ – a company with a deep sense of purpose, strong roots in its community and an incredible potential for growth. We’re so excited to work with the team at Bridgehead to help fuel that growth in the months and years to come.”
Bridgehead has nineteen coffeehouses in Ottawa, including its landmark Roastery. All Bridgehead coffeehouses serve food made daily from scratch in the company’s Kitchen and Bakery, using local and seasonal ingredients. All nineteen locations are corporately-owned, and have consistently delivered strong financial results in a competitive coffee market. All coffeehouses will continue to operate under the Bridgehead name following the acquisition.
“We have long had a goal of being the biggest little coffee company,” explained Tracey Clark, who has led Bridgehead as its President and CEO since 2000. “Joining Aegis gives us access to the resources to expand our footprint without needing to change who we are or what we do best: advocating for small scale farmers, offering coffee that is well-sourced, well-roasted and well-served, creating a sense of belonging for our customers and employees, and fostering community connections.”
Subject to customary closing conditions, Aegis will pay $9.5 million at closing, of which $6.0 million is cash and $3.5 million is payable in Second Cup shares. Additional earn out payments will be made based on the profitability of Bridgehead’s existing coffeehouses over the next two years. If profit targets are achieved, the payments would total an additional $1.5 million. The transaction is expected to close later this month
Kate Burnett, Bridgehead’s COO, will assume executive leadership of the company while Tracey Clark will continue to lead the Bridgehead brand in a new role as Chief Culture Officer. Ian Clark, Director of Coffee, and Cliff Hansen, the company’s Roastmaster, will continue in their roles, working closely with small-scale farmers to continue to deliver an exceptional coffee experience to Bridgehead customers. Bridgehead’s head office will remain in Ottawa. Upon closing of the transaction, Bridgehead will enter into new employment agreements with key employees.
“Aegis Brands will offer Bridgehead opportunities in real estate and capital that we would not have been able to access on our own, and give us the autonomy to grow our business according to our values,” concluded Clark. “This partnership also presents incredible opportunities for our team, who are as excited as I am to serve new communities here in Canada, and to expand upon Bridgehead’s positive impacts in coffee growing communities.”
The roots of the Bridgehead brand can be traced back to 1981, when two United Church ministers and two social activists concerned for the prospects of small-scale coffee farmers in Nicaragua formed Bridgehead Trading. Bridgehead became the first company in Canada to offer consumers fairly traded coffee when volunteers sold Bridgehead coffee from church basements. Interest spread rapidly, leading to the acquisition of the brand by Oxfam Canada, who diversified Bridgehead’s offerings to include a broader cross-section of fairly-traded products. When Clark purchased the brand in 2000, she returned Bridgehead to its roots as a coffee and tea company, with a focus on quality and sustainability. Today, Bridgehead works with small scale farmers around the world to bring its customers exceptional coffees, and maintains a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
“There are few brands in Canada that live their values the way that Bridgehead does – in every customer interaction, in every product they source and in every business decision they make,” said Pelton. “We’re honoured to have been entrusted to be their partner, and we can’t wait to see what we can do together.”
Although this release refers to Aegis Brands throughout, it should be noted that the Company’s name change won’t officially take effect until the new year (subject to TSX and shareholder approval). Today, the Company still trades publicly as The Second Cup Ltd. (TSX: SCU).
