Nextech3D.ai Moves to Acquire Remaining Arway Shares: What Operations Teams Should Prepare For
Nextech3D.ai (CSE: NTAR, OTCQX/OTC: NEXCF, FSE: 1SS) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all remaining common shares of Arway (OTCQB: ARWYF / CSE: ARWY) that it does not already own. The plan brings Arway back under Nextech's umbrella and embeds its no-code AR navigation directly into Map D's event platform.
For operations leaders, this points to a single vendor handling floor plans, exhibitor tools, ticketing, badges, mobile apps, AR/AI wayfinding, and blockchain ticketing. Fewer integrations, fewer handoffs, and one roadmap to follow.
What's changing
Map D-owned by Arway-already supports hundreds of events each year. By combining Map D, Arway's AR navigation, and Nextech's AI and 3D tools, the companies aim to cut duplicate overhead and move faster on feature development. Nextech currently owns about 40% of Arway; management across both companies holds another ~20%.
Post-closing, Arway will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary with its technology built directly into Map D. No management changes are expected.
Why this matters for operations
- One stack vs. many tools: Expect tighter workflows from floor plan setup to on-site execution-less context switching and fewer third-party connectors.
- Faster feature releases: AI matchmaking, AR/AI navigation, and 3D assets managed in one roadmap should reduce waiting on disparate vendors.
- Cost control: Consolidation typically reduces overlapping subscriptions and support contracts.
- Data consistency: Centralized profiles, sessions, exhibitors, tickets, and wayfinding can improve reporting and post-event analysis.
Key deal terms (at a glance)
- Structure: Three-cornered amalgamation; Arway merges with a wholly-owned Nextech subsidiary.
- Share counts: 38,641,161 Arway shares outstanding; 225,298,980 Nextech shares outstanding.
- Consideration: 19,866,921 Nextech shares issued to Arway shareholders.
- Exchange ratio: 1 Arway share = ~0.514 Nextech shares.
- Deemed pricing: C$0.083 per Arway share; C$0.161 per Nextech share.
- Ownership post-close: Arway shareholders expected to own ~8.1% of Nextech on a non-diluted basis.
- Listing status: Arway shares to be delisted from the CSE after completion.
- Related-party: The deal is a related-party transaction under applicable securities rules.
What you can expect in the near term
- Approvals and timing: The deal is subject to Arway shareholder approval, Canadian Securities Exchange approval, and standard closing conditions.
- Customer experience: No management changes are expected; short-term continuity should be stable while integration begins.
- Product direction: Unified suite spanning event setup, AI matchmaking, AR/AI navigation, ticketing, payments, and blockchain capabilities.
Operations checklist to stay ahead
- Ask your Map D/Arway contacts for the integration timeline, migration plan, and any service-level updates.
- Map dependencies: SSO, CRM/marketing automation, registration, payments, and badge printing. Confirm continued support or planned replacements.
- Audit data schemas for exhibitors, sessions, and attendee profiles; prep for field alignment across the unified platform.
- Budget for overlap during cutover (licenses, support) and earmark time for team retraining.
- Define success metrics now: setup time, staff hours saved, attendee wayfinding accuracy, exhibitor onboarding speed, and support ticket volume.
- Plan a pilot event on the new stack before your peak season to reduce surprises.
Leadership context
The company signaled a push toward a stronger, unified event technology suite by integrating Arway with Map D and Nextech's AI/3D capabilities. The goal is straightforward: consolidate teams and tech to reduce cost and move faster on product innovation.
Risks and considerations
- Execution risk: Integration work can introduce short-term disruption; build contingency into timelines.
- Change management: Train on new workflows early; document the new end-to-end process.
- Compliance: Confirm data handling and privacy obligations in the combined platform meet your internal and regional requirements.
Where to learn more
Compliance note
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this information. This update includes forward-looking statements related to the transaction and its potential benefits. These statements involve risks and uncertainties; actual outcomes may differ. Do not rely on them as guarantees. The companies may update disclosures only as required by applicable securities laws.
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