Mr. Gali Bar-Ziv reports
EVERYBODY LOVES LANGUAGES CORP. PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL AND AMENDING DISCLOSURE ON PROPOSED ACQUISITION BY ELL VENTURES LTD. AND RESCHEDULES MEETING
Further to the press release of Feb. 27, 2026, Everybody Loves Languages Corp. is providing additional disclosure to supplement
and amend the disclosure in the information circular for the annual general and special meeting to be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, where shareholders of the company will consider a resolution to approve the amalgamation with ELL Ventures Ltd. pursuant to the business combination agreement dated Dec. 24, 2025, which would result in all of the shareholders, other than EV, receiving cash for their Everybody Loves Languages shares, and annual meeting matters.
In connection with the rescheduled meeting, the company has extended the proxy cut-off time such that proxies must be received no later than 24 hours prior to the time of the meeting (that is, Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time). This extension is intended to provide shareholders with additional time and flexibility to review the supplemental disclosure and, if desired, to submit new proxies or amend previously submitted proxies closer to the meeting date. Shareholders who have already voted and wish to change or revoke their proxy may do so up to the new proxy cut-off time in accordance with the instructions set out in the circular.
Supplemental disclosure
Amended and restated background to the amalgamation
The following disclosure amends and restates the background to the amalgamation section within the circular.
On May 10, 2025, Gali Bar-Ziv, the president, chief executive officer and a director of Everybody Loves Languages, and Khurram Qureshi, chief financial officer and a director of Everybody Loves Languages, first advised the board of directors of Everybody Loves Languages that they might be prepared to propose a going private transaction under which they would, through a company to be incorporated (now EV), acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Everybody Loves Languages that they do not already own at seven cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share. Given the proposed purchase price was a significant premium to the recent historical trading range of the Everybody Loves Languages common shares and given the related nature of the proposed transaction, the independent members of the Everybody Loves Languages board determined it would be prudent to form an independent committee of the Everybody Loves Languages board to consider the proposal and engage advisers. It was determined by the independent members of the Everybody Loves Languages board that no other steps needed to be taken at that time until they had received guidance from advisers. The independent committee was formed on May 26, 2025, comprising independent directors of Everybody Loves Languages Laurent Mareschal, Robert Martellacci and Weibing (Tommy) Gong with the objective of ensuring that the company could respond promptly in the event that EV was prepared to proceed with the proposed transaction. Each of Mr. Mareschal, Mr. Martellacci and Mr. Gong were at the time, and still are, independent of EV, EV's associates and affiliates, and management of the company. The mandate of the independent committee included: (a) reviewing, considering and evaluating the proposed transaction and any alternatives available to the company and any and all actions that may be taken by the company in response to the proposed transaction; (b) negotiating or supervising the negotiation of the terms of the proposed transaction or any proposed action; (c) retain external consultants and professional advisers, including a legal adviser, a financial adviser and a valuator, to assist the members of the independent committee in fulfilling their duties; (d) supervising the preparation of any legal agreements or other documentation; and (e) advising the Everybody Loves Languages board as to whether the proposed transaction or any proposed action or other strategic alternative is in the best interests of the company and/or its shareholders.
On May 27, 2025, the independent committee engaged Fogler Rubinoff LLP as its legal counsel to advise the independent committee on its duties and to assist it in discharging those duties. EV, and Mr. Bar-Ziv and Mr. Qureshi, retained Loopstra Nixon LP as their legal counsel for the proposed transaction.
The mandate of the independent committee authorized it to retain legal and financial advisers, at the expense of the company, as it deemed appropriate to assist it in performing its mandate. In this regard, the independent committee identified potential valuators qualified to prepare a formal valuation of the Everybody Loves Languages common shares and to provide an opinion regarding the value or range of values representing the fair market value of the company and the Everybody Loves Languages common shares. The valuation was sought to assist the independent committee in determining whether to recommend to the Everybody Loves Languages board that the proposed transaction was, and is, in the best interests of the company and was, and is, fair, from a financial point of view to the shareholders, excluding the EV shareholders.
On June 2, 2025, EV delivered a letter dated May 29, 2025, to the independent committee indicating EV was prepared to offer 7.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share.
On June 5, 2025, the independent committee met with Fogler Rubinoff, which provided an overview of the legal duties and responsibilities of the independent committee in the context of the proposed transaction. As well, at the June 5, 2025, meeting, the following matters were considered and addressed by the independent committee: (A) general nature and structure of the proposed transaction; and (B) whether the company should engage a financial adviser to source other potential offers for Everybody Loves Languages. However, given the deal size and the expense to Everybody Loves Languages of such an engagement, the independent committee determined that this would be a self-defeating exercise that would be a drain on Everybody Loves Languages' cash position and would ultimately reduce the amount being offered by EV. Further, given that there would likely be a period of at least 2-1/2 months from deal announcement to closing, the independent committee believed that there would be sufficient time and public knowledge for a superior proposal to be presented if one existed (and any break fee to be paid to EV would likely be similar or less than the fee to be paid to a financial adviser). To date, there has been no outreach to Everybody Loves Languages or the independent committee by third parties about any interest in an alternative proposal; and (C) the status quo, although considered as an option, was determined to be a less optimum scenario as compared with the EV proposal. The Everybody Loves Languages common shares have bounced around 10 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share for the last eight years and usually traded well below that price. For the past three years, the Everybody Loves Languages common shares have often traded below five cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share. Most importantly, the trading liquidity has been almost non-existent. Based on all of the foregoing factors, the independent committee determined that the EV proposal would be a good result for all shareholders to achieve immediate liquidity at a significant premium to recent long-term trading levels.
The independent committee determined that: (A) given its expertise and reputation, MNB Valuation Inc. was, and is, a qualified valuator; and (B) MNB was, and is, independent of EV and management for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions). Based on the foregoing, the independent committee engaged MNB on June 27, 2025, to prepare a formal valuation. MNB's responsibilities, among other things, were to prepare a valuation and an opinion as to the value or range of values representing the fair market value of the company. Pursuant to the terms of its engagement, MNB reviewed the company's business and affairs, and conducted interviews with management in connection with preparing a formal valuation.
The independent committee met formally and informally on a number of occasions between the date it was established and December, 2025, to consider the proposed transaction and certain related matters, including to receive progress reports from MNB as to its continuing valuation work and the results of MNB's analysis, and to consider strategies and tactics that might be appropriate to maximize shareholder value. Some of the key dates are as follows:
- On Aug. 11, 2025, Laurent Mareschal, the chair of the independent committee, and MNB had an initial update call, followed by various calls and e-mails over the next few weeks.
- On Sept. 24, 2025, MNB delivered the initial preliminary and draft valuation report of Everybody Loves Languages with a valuation date as at March 31, 2025, to the independent committee, which was followed by a meeting between MNB and the independent committee on Oct. 2, 2025.
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On Oct. 24, 2025, a meeting was held among MNB, the independent committee and Mr. Qureshi, Everybody Loves Languages' CFO and a principal of EV, to clarify the data and projections used in the preliminary valuation.
- On Oct. 28, 2025, a revised preliminary valuation report was delivered by MNB to the independent committee.
During this time, the chair was authorized by the independent committee to engage in informal discussions with the principals of EV where it was communicated that EV would likely need to increase the offer price to be more consistent with the preliminary valuation prepared by MNB. During the course of those discussions, the chair provided EV with a summary of MNB's preliminary valuation with a view to persuading EV to raise its offer to a price within a range that the independent committee could support. After some negotiation, the chair and EV left the meeting with the understanding that if EV made an offer of 8.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share, the independent committee would be likely to support such an offer, subject to the other terms and conditions of the offer being satisfactory to the independent committee. In response, on Oct. 30, 2025, EV presented an expression of interest letter to the company outlining the proposed transaction, including the purchase price of 8.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share.
Based on the trading levels of the Everybody Loves Languages common shares described above as well as the other factors discussed in the circular on pages 14 and 15, including the formal valuation, the purchase price of 8.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share offered by EV under the proposed transaction was determined to be a good result for shareholders by the independent committee.
On Nov. 6, 2025, the independent committee met with its legal counsel and MNB to: (i) review MNB's preliminary valuation; and (ii) to consider EV's proposed offer letter, which outlined certain terms of the proposed transaction including the purchase price of 8.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share. During the presentation of the preliminary valuation, MNB described the scope of the review and analysis carried out to date and explained the approaches used to value the Everybody Loves Languages common shares, including valuation methodologies, data and projections, the qualifications, and assumptions.
The independent committee engaged in extensive discussion regarding the preliminary valuation. MNB concluded that, as of the valuation date of the preliminary valuation, the fair market value of the company was in the range of $2.72-million and $3.7-million, which was estimated under two scenarios -- the renewal and the non-renewal of the PEP contract in 2028. During MNB's presentation of its valuation, the independent committee did probe MNB about the reasonableness of the projections provided based on historical performance. Even though management believes that renewal of the PEP contract beyond February, 2028, is unlikely, MNB prepared valuations for both scenarios, and the current purchase price of 8.5 cents is in the middle of that range. Although the preliminary valuation did not reflect a price per Everybody Loves Languages common share, based on 35,642,524 issued and outstanding Everybody Loves Languages common shares, the range of $2.72-million and $3.7-million reflects approximately 7.6 cents to 10.4 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share.
The preliminary valuation also indicates that the estimated range of fair market value does not reflect a separate valuation for Everybody Loves Languages' tax attributes, which include non-capital losses of approximately $21,858,000 and net capital losses of approximately $2,361,101. As stated by MNB, "While certain synergistic or strategic purchasers might, in principle, ascribe value to the potential tax savings associated with these losses, no identifiable market participants or objective market evidence were available -- or provided -- to support the quantification of such synergies." The independent committee discussed how tax losses are inherently difficult to value because they can only be used by an acquirer that is in the same business, and, even in that scenario, there is risk to the future use of those tax losses not being accepted by the Canada Revenue Agency. Without a strategic buyer at the table who is specifically looking to use those losses, they are almost impossible to value in any material manner. For these reasons, the independent committee did not view the tax losses as a material matter to consider when evaluating the proposed transaction or in determining the value of the company.
The independent committee engaged in extensive discussion regarding the preliminary valuation. After these extensive discussions and after further discussions with its legal counsel regarding the terms of the proposed transaction, the independent committee approved in principle proceeding with the proposed offer letter, with the next steps being the negotiation of the business combination agreement.
At the Nov. 6, 2025, meeting, the independent committee requested that MNB update the preliminary valuation to reflect the company's more recent cash position, given the time that had elapsed since the March 31, 2025, valuation date, and to deliver such updated valuation in final form. There was further discussion between the independent committee, legal counsel and MNB on this point. Although the initial discussion at the meeting focused on an updated cash position, given its overall materiality to the value of Everybody Loves Languages, MNB ultimately updated the entire valuation based on Everybody Loves Languages' Sept. 30, 2025, financial statements, since MNB could not in isolation only focus on the cash position, which is reflected in the formal valuation.
On Nov. 10, 2025, the independent committee received a draft BCA in connection with the proposed transaction. Over the next several weeks, legal counsel for the independent committee and EV negotiated various aspects of the BCA applicable to the amalgamation, including negotiation of the structure of the amalgamation, conditions to closing and deal protection measures.
On Dec. 22, 2025, the independent committee, together with its legal counsel, reviewed the terms of the BCA and the related agreements in light of the preliminary valuation. In the course of its review, the independent committee reaffirmed its view that EV's offer of 8.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share represented a significant opportunity for shareholders to achieve immediate liquidity at a significant premium to recent long-term trading levels. Although the preliminary valuation needed to be finalized by MNB based on the Sept. 30, 2025, financials of Everybody Loves Languages, the independent committee already had the benefit of reviewing those financials since they had been filed on SEDAR+ on Nov. 28, 2025. The expectation of the independent committee was that the final valuation range would be at a minimum no higher than that reflected in the preliminary valuation given that the Sept. 30, 2025, financials continued to show that Everybody Loves Languages' business was not growing and the cash position had gone down
(that is: (i) for both the three months ended June 30, 2025, and three months ended Sept. 30, 2025, revenue was slightly down as compared with the same three-month periods in 2024; and, (ii) the cash position went from $2,243,277 on March 31, 2025, to $1,986,040 on Sept. 30, 2025).
In addition to the independent committee concluding that the proposed transaction represented a significant opportunity for shareholders to achieve immediate liquidity at a significant premium to recent long-term trading levels, the independent committee's conclusion also took comfort in the fact that the proposed transaction could not proceed without the approval of the minority shareholders (being all shareholders excluding those shareholders affiliated with EV) of Everybody Loves Languages. As such, for the amalgamation to proceed in compliance with applicable laws, the special resolution of the shareholders must be approved not only by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at the meeting by shareholders present in person or represented by proxy but also by a majority of the votes cast by minority shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting.
The independent committee also determined that additional information and further due diligence were required with respect to the credit facility to assess the adequacy of the proposed financing arrangements for the proposed transaction. The independent committee directed its members to review the credit facility. Following the completion of this review, the independent committee confirmed that it had conducted the necessary due diligence and was satisfied with EV's financing arrangements. Having completed its review to its satisfaction, the independent committee approved the BCA and unanimously resolved to recommend to the Everybody Loves Languages board that the proposed transaction be approved.
Following the meeting of the independent committee on Dec. 22, 2025, the Everybody Loves Languages board received the recommendation of the independent committee. The proposed transaction, BCA and related agreements were approved by the Everybody Loves Languages board after receiving such recommendation.
On Dec. 24, 2025, the company announced by press release that Everybody Loves Languages and EV executed the BCA, which contemplates Everybody Loves Languages and EV entering into a business combination that would result in all of the shareholders, other than EV, receiving cash for their Everybody Loves Languages common shares.
On Jan. 21, 2026, the independent committee received from MNB the final version of the formal valuation of the company, with an effective valuation date of Nov. 6, 2025. The formal valuation was updated pursuant to the company's financial statements as at Sept. 30, 2025, which included an updated cash position, and superseded the preliminary valuation previously provided by MNB, which had a valuation date of March 31, 2025. The formal valuation concluded that, as at the effective valuation date of Nov. 6, 2025, the fair market value of the company was in the range of $2.44-million to $3.38-million, representing approximately 6.8 cents to 9.5 cents per Everybody Loves Languages common share.
Business combination agreement
To minimize negotiation on the BCA, the parties agreed that the independent committee's legal counsel would prepare the initial draft of the BCA. It was also agreed among the parties that, given the straightforward capital structure of Everybody Loves Languages and an all-cash purchase price, the proposed transaction could be completed using an amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario). The only main point of negotiation was the break fee, which was ultimately settled at $250,000. Although on a percentage basis, the break fee is a little high relative to other merger-and-acquisition transactions in Canada, the aggregate dollar amount is low. A higher break fee on a percentage basis is common in smaller M&A transactions. Ultimately, the independent committee determined that the break fee would not inhibit alternative transactions from coming forward, especially in light of the amount of cash on Everybody Loves Languages' balance sheet relative to the overall transaction value.
Recommendations of the independent committee
On Dec. 22, 2025, the independent committee unanimously determined that the amalgamation was, and is, in the best interests of the company and was, and is fair, from a financial point of view, to the minority shareholders, and unanimously recommended to the Everybody Loves Languages board that the Everybody Loves Languages board approve the amalgamation and recommend that shareholders vote all of their Everybody Loves Languages common shares in favour of the special resolution pursuant to the reasons described herein and outlined in the circular.
Subsequent to providing the recommendation, on Jan. 21, 2026, the independent committee received the formal valuation from MNB, representing the final valuation of the company. The formal valuation superseded the preliminary valuation, which was in draft form and had been previously reviewed by the independent committee. After reviewing the formal valuation, the independent committee confirmed that nothing in the final valuation altered or changed its recommendation. The independent committee continues to believe that the amalgamation is in the best interests of the company and remains fair, from a financial point of view, to the minority shareholders.
Accordingly, the independent committee reaffirms its unanimous recommendation that the Everybody Loves Languages board approve the amalgamation and that shareholders vote all of their Everybody Loves Languages common shares in favour of the special resolution.
The independent committee has not received any preliminary or draft financial information prepared by Everybody Loves Languages' management relating to the interim financial period subsequent to Sept. 30, 2025, and, thus, no consideration has been given in that regard.
Recommendations of the Everybody Loves Languages board
The Everybody Loves Languages board, other than the EV shareholders who did not vote on matters concerning the amalgamation, unanimously approved the terms of the amalgamation and continues to unanimously recommend that shareholders vote all of their Everybody Loves Languages common shares in favour of the special resolution at the meeting. In reaffirming its recommendation, the Everybody Loves Languages board considered: (a) the unanimous recommendation of the independent committee (including the reasons articulated by the independent committee); and (b) the formal valuation. The Everybody Loves Languages board confirms that nothing in the formal valuation altered the basis for its recommendation.
Corrective disclosure
The company is providing the following corrective disclosure to supplement and clarify certain statements contained in the circular for the meeting.
(i) Clarification regarding the chair's letter and the formal valuation
The chair's letter in the circular stated that the formal valuation concluded, "The consideration to be received by minority shareholders in connection with the amalgamation is fair, from a financial point of view, to the minority shareholders." Although the independent committee reached this conclusion, this specific wording does not appear in the formal valuation, and MNB did not provide a fairness opinion. The formal valuation, dated Jan. 21, 2026, expressed only a fair market valuation range of the Everybody Loves Languages common shares and did not opine on fairness of the consideration to be received by minority shareholders.
(ii) Clarification regarding references to MNB
Although the circular at times refers to MNB as a financial adviser to the independent committee, this is not consistent with the scope of MNB's engagement. MNB was retained solely to prepare the formal valuation in accordance with MI 61-101 and did not act as a financial adviser in respect of the proposed transaction.
(iii) Clarification regarding prior valuations
The preliminary valuation is not a prior valuation within the meaning of MI 61-101. Although the circular may have suggested that the preliminary valuation was a prior valuation, that was not the intended meaning, but rather the circular was highlighting that the preliminary valuation was initially considered by the independent committee as a draft, and then later finalized as the formal valuation.
(iv) Redemption price
The portion of the redemption price to be financed through the credit facility from BMO will be advanced by BMO to Loopstra Nixon, counsel to EV, after the articles of amalgamation have been filed. Page 17 of the circular incorrectly provides that the financing would occur prior to filing of the articles of amalgamation.
(v) Majority of the minority vote
The circular correctly reflects that the principals of EV hold 3,087,562 Everybody Loves Languages common shares, which will be the Everybody Loves Languages common shares excluded from the majority of the minority approval vote (earlier press releases and the business combination agreement included different figures, which were in error).
The company confirms that, other than the supplemental information included herein, there have been no changes that, if disclosed, would reasonably be expected to affect the decision of a shareholder to vote for or against the amalgamation.
Director approval
The contents and sending of this press release and the supplement have been approved by the Everybody Loves Languages board.
About Everybody Loves Languages Corp.
Everybody Loves Languages is an edtech language-learning and content development company empowering language educators to easily transition from traditional teaching methods to digital learning by integrating education, edutainment and technology.
Everybody Loves Languages provides on-line and print-based solutions through two distinct business units: Everybody Loves Languages Inc. and Lingo Learning Inc. Everybody Loves Languages is a state-of-the-art technology platform that delivers personalized learning experiences in classrooms and on-line. Its programs provide innovative software-as-a-service-based eLearning solutions, including on-line and off-line content, a learning management system, assessments, real-time reports, speech recognition technology, and white-label tools. At the same time, Lingo Learning is the content development arm and co-publishes print-based English language learning materials in China.
Everybody Loves Languages has established successful relationships with key government and industry organizations internationally, with a presence in Latin America and China, and continues to expand its product offerings and extend its market reach.
We seek Safe Harbor.
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