Acquisition Recommended
Leading Proxy Firms Recommend Blackline Safety Shareholders Vote FOR Francisco Partners Acquisition
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Two of the world's top independent proxy advisory firms — Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis — have told shareholders to vote "FOR" the $850 million take-private deal that would hand Calgary-based Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX: BLN) to U.S. private equity firm Francisco Partners, according to Business Wire. The special meeting is set for June 15, 2026 in Calgary, with a proxy voting deadline of June 11 at 9:00 a.m. MT.
Shareholders who vote yes will receive $9.00 per share in cash. They also get one contingent value right (CVR) — a bonus payment of up to $0.50 per share — if Blackline hits a recurring revenue target in fiscal 2027. That puts the total potential payout at $9.50 per share.
ISS and Glass Lewis Back the Deal's Certainty of Value
ISS and Glass Lewis are the two most influential independent shareholder advisory firms in the world. Their "FOR" recommendations carry enormous weight with institutional investors. Both firms backed the deal citing the "certainty of value" the $9.00 cash price provides, according to Business Wire. Jason Cohenour, Chair of the Special Committee, said the advisors' support validates the "benefits and merits" of the transaction.
The $9.00 price represents a 28% premium to Blackline's 20-day volume-weighted average share price before the deal was announced on April 7, 2026, according to Canaccord Genuity. If shareholders also receive the full CVR payout, the premium climbs to 35%. Shareholders representing 34% of outstanding shares have already signed voting support agreements, locking in a significant bloc of "yes" votes.
Francisco Partners Paying $850 Million for a SaaS Safety Play
Francisco Partners is a U.S. technology-focused private equity firm. It will buy Blackline through a shell company called Apollo Purchaser, Inc. The deal values Blackline at roughly $804 million in cash, or up to $850 million if the CVR pays out in full, according to BetaKit. Blackline shares surged about 26% on the TSX to $8.93 the day the deal was announced in April.
Francisco Partners' Christine Wang and Mac Fountain said in a joint statement that Blackline has built a "leading platform" and they plan to drive product innovation as demand for "connected worker safety technology grows," according to Business Wire. Blackline's CEO Cody Slater said the partnership gives the company "the financial strength, sector expertise, and shared vision" to keep growing. Blackline's software now accounts for roughly 64% of total revenue, making it an attractive SaaS acquisition target.
The CVR Bonus Requires a Steep Revenue Climb by 2027
The CVR is a conditional bonus — shareholders only get it if Blackline's annualized recurring revenue (ARR) hits specific targets. The CVR payout begins at an ARR of $145 million by October 31, 2027. The full $0.50 per share requires ARR of $148.9 million, according to Investing.com. Blackline's Q1 2026 ARR was $90.5 million. That means the company must grow ARR by roughly 33% per year to hit the full target.
Ventum Capital Markets analyst Amr Ezzat raised his price target to $9.00 and moved his rating to "Tender." He called the deal a "strong and well-timed outcome" but cautioned that the CVR is "contingent upside rather than core value," according to Cantech Letter. In other words, shareholders should not count on the bonus payment.
Key Insiders Roll Over Equity Instead of Taking Cash
Not everyone is cashing out. Shareholders representing about 31% of the company — including Daryl Katz (Edmonton Oilers owner and billionaire), CEO Cody Slater, and the Lowy Family Group — will exchange their shares for equity in the new private company, according to Investing.com. Katz's firm, DAK Capital Inc., is Blackline's largest shareholder. These "rollover shareholders" are betting on long-term growth under Francisco Partners rather than taking the $9.00 now.
Once the deal closes, Blackline will delist from the Toronto Stock Exchange and stop filing public reports. The company's headquarters stays in Calgary, but control moves to San Francisco-based Francisco Partners. The deal is expected to close by the end of Q2 2026, pending court and regulatory approvals, according to Business Wire.
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