425 1 tm2110955d25_425.htm 425

 

Filed by Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. pursuant to

Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933

and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Subject Company: Spring Valley Acquisition Corp.

Commission File No. 001-39736

 

 

 

AeroFarms Doubles Leafy Greens Offering at
Whole Foods Northeast Stores

 

AeroFarms also expands at Amazon Fresh, Fresh Direct, and Walmart

 

Newark, NJ – May 13, 2021 – AeroFarms, a Certified B Corporation and leader in indoor vertical farming, today announced that it is expanding its retail presence in the Northeast with current long-time customers – Whole Foods, FreshDirect, and Amazon Fresh, – and in the Mid Atlantic region with Walmart. AeroFarms will also be working with Baldor Specialty Foods for retail and food service.

 

AeroFarms® award-winning retail brand of leafy greens is prized for its elevated flavor and is grown using proprietary aeroponics and indoor vertical farming technologies, which yield annual productivity up to 390 times greater than traditional field farming, while using up to 95% less water and zero pesticides.

 

·Whole Foods – AeroFarms is doubling its product offering.
·Amazon Fresh – AeroFarms recently expanded from 1 to 5 distribution centers, increasing AeroFarms availability throughout the New York Tri-State area.
·FreshDirect – AeroFarms recently expanded from 1 to 3 distribution centers, now offering same-day delivery through FreshDirect’s Express service.
·Walmart – AeroFarms is executing a pilot initiative in the Mid-Atlantic region at select stores in Virginia where AeroFarms recently broke ground on its latest indoor vertical farm in Danville, Virginia, which will be the world’s largest indoor aeroponic indoor vertical farm at 136,000 square feet.

 

All AeroFarms leafy greens are safely grown indoors in New Jersey at one of its state-of-the-art commercial indoor vertical farms that is certified for USDA Good Agricultural Practices, SQF Level 2 Good Manufacturing Practices, Non-GMO Project Verification, and OU Kosher. AeroFarms leafy greens are completely pesticide free, and they are ready-to-eat without any need to wash, providing a major benefit to consumers looking for safety and convenience.

 

“Our Company is committed to our long-term retail partners, and we are excited to expand our distribution and penetration with them,” said David Rosenberg, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AeroFarms. “Our leafy greens are consistently praised for their quality, texture, and flavor, and our customers connect with our brand because of our authentic and transparent approach to sustainable farming. We’re looking forward to giving our customers more choice and flavor options as we continue to scale the business and broaden our reach.”

 

 

 

About AeroFarms

 

Since 2004, AeroFarms has been leading the way for indoor vertical farming and championing transformational innovation for agriculture. On a mission to grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity, AeroFarms is a Certified B Corporation Company with global headquarters in Newark, New Jersey. Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company two years in a row and one of TIME’s Best Inventions in Food, AeroFarms patented, award-winning indoor vertical farming technology provides the perfect conditions for healthy plants to thrive, taking agriculture to a new level of precision, food safety, and productivity while using up to 95% less water and no pesticides ever versus traditional field farming. AeroFarms enables local production to safely grow all year round, using vertical farming for elevated flavor. In addition, through its proprietary growing technology platform, AeroFarms has developed multi-year strategic partnerships ranging from government to major Fortune 500 companies to help uniquely solve agriculture supply chain needs. For additional information, visit: https://aerofarms.com/.

 

On March 26, 2021, AeroFarms announced a definitive business combination agreement with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: SV). Upon the closing of the business combination, AeroFarms will become publicly traded on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbol "ARFM". Additional information about the transaction can be viewed here: https://aerofarms.com/investors/

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with a proposed potential business combination among Spring Valley and AeroFarms or any related transactions, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, such offer, solicitation or sale may be unlawful. Any offering of securities or solicitation of votes regarding the proposed transaction will be made only by means of a proxy statement/prospectus that complies with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this presentation, regarding Spring Valley’s proposed acquisition of AeroFarms, Spring Valley’s ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and the combined company’s future financial performance, as well as the combined company’s strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the respective management of AeroFarms and Spring Valley and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AeroFarms and Spring Valley. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed transaction, including the risk that any regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction or that the approval of the stockholders of Spring Valley or AeroFarms is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to AeroFarms; risks related to the expansion of AeroFarms’ business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on AeroFarms’ business; the ability of Spring Valley or AeroFarms to issue equity or equity-linked securities or obtain debt financing in connection with the proposed transaction or in the future, and those factors discussed in Spring Valley’s final prospectus dated November 25, 2020 under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents Spring Valley has filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Spring Valley nor AeroFarms presently know, or that Spring Valley nor AeroFarms currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Spring Valley’s and AeroFarms’ expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Spring Valley and AeroFarms anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Spring Valley’s and AeroFarms’ assessments to change. However, while Spring Valley and AeroFarms may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Spring Valley and AeroFarms specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Spring Valley’s and AeroFarms’ assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

 

AeroFarms Contacts

 

Investor Relations:
Jeff Sonnek ICR
Jeff.Sonnek@icrinc.com

1-646-277-1263

 

Media Relations:
Marc Oshima

AeroFarms

MarcOshima@AeroFarms.com

1-917-673-4602

 

***

 

 

 

Important Information and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the proposed business combination (the “Proposed Transactions”), Spring Valley has filed a registration statement on Form S-4, which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Spring Valley and AeroFarms (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which will be distributed to holders of Spring Valley’s ordinary shares in connection with Spring Valley’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by the Spring Valley shareholders with respect to the Proposed Transactions and other matters as described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. After the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus has been filed and cleared by the SEC, Spring Valley will mail a definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its shareholders. Spring Valley shareholders and other interested parties are urged to read the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus, any amendments thereto, the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Spring Valley, the Company and the Proposed Transactions. Spring Valley shareholders and other interested parties may obtain free copies of the preliminary Proxy Statement/Prospectus and definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Spring Valley through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Spring Valley Acquisition Corp., 2100 McKinney Ave, Suite 1675, Dallas, TX 75201 or (214) 308-5230.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

Spring Valley and its directors and executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the Proposed Transactions. Information about the directors and executive officers of Spring Valley is set forth in its Proxy Statement/Prospectus (Registration Number 333-255978), initially filed with the SEC on May 10, 2021. Additional information regarding the participants in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC regarding the Proposed Transactions when they become available. Spring Valley shareholders and other interested persons should read the Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully before making any voting decisions. When available, these documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This communication includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and expectations, Spring Valley’s ability to enter into definitive agreements or consummate a transaction with the Company; Spring Valley’s ability to obtain the financing necessary consummate the Proposed Transactions; and the expected timing of completion of the Proposed Transactions. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of Spring Valley’s and the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Spring Valley and the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; the inability of the parties to enter into definitive agreements or successfully or timely consummate the Proposed Transactions or to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of the Proposed Transactions, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company; the risk that the approval of the Spring Valley Stockholders for the Proposed Transactions is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transactions, including as a result of a delay in consummating the Proposed Transaction or difficulty in, or costs associated with, integrating the businesses of Spring Valley and the Company; the amount of redemption requests made by the Spring Valley Stockholders; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of Spring Valley and the Company to terminate the Merger Agreement; risks related to the rollout of the Company’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; the effects of competition on the Company’s business; and those factors discussed in Spring Valley’s registration statement on Form S-4 (Registration Number 333-255978), initially filed with the SEC on May 10, 2021, under the heading “Risk Factors,” and other documents of Spring Valley filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If the risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Spring Valley nor the Company presently know or that Spring Valley and the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Spring Valley’s and the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Spring Valley and the Company anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. However, while Spring Valley and the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Spring Valley and the Company specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Spring Valley’s or the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.