Item 4 — Purpose of Transaction
As disclosed in Amendment No. 2, on November 5, 2023, the Purchaser executed and delivered a subscription agreement (as amended, the "Subscription Agreement") with the Issuer to acquire Common Shares and Class A preferred shares to be newly created and issued ("Preferred Shares" and, together with the Common Shares, "Shares") on a private placement basis (the "Private Placement"), increasing the Purchaser's strategic investment in the Issuer completed on March 11, 2021. The Private Placement was undertaken in three (3) tranches, each subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. Under the first tranche (the "First Tranche"), which closed on January 23, 2024, 12,893,175 Common Shares were issued to the Purchaser at a price of C$3.2203 per Share (the "Tranche Share Price"). Under the second tranche of the Private Placement (the "Second Tranche"), which closed on August 30, 2024, 12,893,175 Shares, comprised of 4,429,740 Common Shares and 8,463,435 Preferred Shares, were issued to the Purchaser at the Tranche Share Price, for gross proceeds of USD$30,821,684.69 (equal to C$41,519,891, as determined using the average daily exchange rate published by the Bank of Canada on August 28, 2024 for converting Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars). Under the third tranche of the Private Placement (the "Third Tranche"), which closed on February 28, 2025, 12,893,175 Shares, comprised of 7,562,447 Common Shares and 5,330,728 Preferred Shares, were issued to the Purchaser at the Tranche Share Price, for gross proceeds of USD$28,955,918.44 (equal to C$41,519,891, as determined using the average daily exchange rate published by the Bank of Canada on February 26, 2025 for converting Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars). The allocation of Common Shares and Preferred Shares issued as part of the Third Tranche was subject to a threshold on the issuance of Common Shares to the Purchaser of 30% of the aggregate number of Common Shares issued and outstanding, as described below. Approval by the Issuer's shareholders, clearance under the Canadian Competition Act R.S.C. 1985 c. C-34, as amended, applicable stock exchange approval and certain other conditions to closing of each of the First Tranche, the Second Tranche and the Third Tranche were satisfied in connection with the closing of the First Tranche. The aggregate subscription price of the Shares acquired by the Purchaser as part of the First Tranche, the Second Tranche, and the Third Tranche was C$124,559,674.36. The source of funds for such purchase was dividends from other U.S. subsidiaries of BAT. In connection with the closing of the First Tranche, the Issuer filed articles of amendment (the "Articles of Amendment") to create the new class of Preferred Shares to be issued in the Private Placement. Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, Shares issued in the First Tranche, the Second Tranche and the Third Tranche were allocated between Common Shares and Preferred Shares such that if the number of Common Shares owned by the Purchaser or its affiliates, associates, related parties and any joint actors would have exceeded 30% of the aggregate number of Common Shares issued and outstanding (the "30% Threshold") after the closing of the applicable tranche, the Issuer issued to the Purchaser the greatest number of Common Shares issuable pursuant to such closing without exceeding the 30% Threshold, with the remainder of the Shares issuable as Preferred Shares (all as more specifically set forth in the Subscription Agreement). The Preferred Shares are non-voting convertible preferred shares of the Issuer convertible at the option of the Purchaser without payment of any additional consideration (subject to the 30% Threshold). The Preferred Shares are convertible initially on a one-for-one basis into Common Shares, provided however that the conversion rate will increase at a rate of 7.5% per annum commencing from the initial date on which Preferred Shares are issued, until such time as the holders of Preferred Shares would beneficially own, or exercise control or direction over, directly or indirectly, with their respective affiliates, associates, related parties and any joint actors, after giving effect to the conversion of the Preferred Shares, 49.0% of the aggregate number of Common Shares issued and outstanding. The Purchaser entered into the Subscription Agreement in furtherance of its strategic investment in the Issuer. The Purchaser intends to review its investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis and may, subject to the terms of the A&R Investor Rights Agreement (as defined below), and depending upon a number of factors, including market and other conditions, increase or decrease its beneficial ownership, control, direction or economic exposure over securities of the Issuer, through market transactions, private agreements, treasury issuances, exercise of options, convertible securities, derivatives, swaps or otherwise. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, u