Cresco Labs Archives - Green Market Report

Debra BorchardtSeptember 16, 2019

Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) has announced a plan to acquire Tryke Companies including six prime Reef Dispensary locations in Nevada and Arizona, expanded licensed cultivation and process capacity in Las Vegas and Phoenix and entry into the Utah market.

The purchase price is $282.5 million which includes $30 million in real estate assets. The payment is a mix of Cresco Labs shares (approximately US$227.5 million), which will be subject to a nine to 21-month lock-up agreement following closing, and cash (approximately US$55 million). The deal is expected to close during the first half of 2020

According to the company statement, in 2018 Tryke generated 70.4 million in revenue and $24.6 million in EBITDA making it one of the highest-grossing and most profitable private cannabis companies in the U.S. market. Tryke has established six of the best-positioned retail locations in Nevada and Arizona, including the Reef Dispensary located adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip – which has produced over $65 million in revenue since 2015 – and five additional operating locations in North Las Vegas, Sparks, and Phoenix, AZ. The Tryke Company said that its North Las Vegas location boasts the highest known daily ticket count in the state of Nevada at 2,300.

“With significant in-state populations and tourist traffic, Nevada and Arizona were key near-term targets for expansion. Creating the most strategic geographic footprint in the U.S. cannabis industry is not just about the number of states you operate in,” said Cresco Labs CEO and Co-founder Charlie Bachtell. “Rather, our thesis for success in establishing a normalized and professionalized cannabis industry as well as providing the greatest ROIC for our shareholders calls for us to leverage our existing operations in states of significance to rapidly attain material and meaningful market-leading positions.”

Cresco is using the acquisition as a means to quickly expand in Nevada and Arizona. Nevada is one of the largest and fastest-growing cannabis markets in the U.S. with 2019 sales estimates of up to $940 million as per Marijuana Business Daily. Cresco Labs currently sells Mindy’s Edibles n Nevada, which has been one of the top three selling edibles in Nevada in 2019. Arizona is one of the largest and fastest-growing medical-only markets with an estimated 2019 sales of up to $760 million.

“The announcement today is the result of several months of deep interactions between our two groups and I know I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say we are very excited to be joining Cresco and to start realizing significant synergies for both of our organizations,” said Adam Ryan, CEO of Tryke Companies. “We have been consistently impressed by Cresco’s strategic approach to building long-term value in this growth market and its history of delivering what it promises – something that is often lacking in this industry. As the cannabis space has gained national and international attention over the past four years, we have been approached by several operators both private and public, regarding a transaction, but the vision and execution that Charlie, Joe and the team have demonstrated made them the only choice for Tryke.”

The deal will also add 17,000 pounds per year in a strategically-located cultivation capacity along with 1,320 lb. per year of processing capacity. It includes one of eight cultivation licenses recently awarded in Utah.

Reef Dispensary Details

The deal adds four (4) Reef Dispensary locations in Nevada in the cities of Las Vegas (2), Sparks and Sun Valley.
The deal adds two (2) Reef Dispensaries in Arizona in Phoenix and Phoenix Southeast Valley.
Tryke’s flagship Reef Dispensary in Las Vegas is the closest dispensary to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. To management’s knowledge, on its current 4,800 square foot footprint, it is already one of the highest-grossing dispensaries in the world, with the current highest known grossing dispensary in the world, right across the street. There is no intersection in the world generating more regulated cannabis revenue annually than the intersection of Western Ave. and Desert Inn Rd. in Las Vegas.
The Reef Dispensary in North Las Vegas generated $14.5 million in revenue in the year-to-date period to August 31, 2019.

Unit Offering

In addition to the Tryke acquisition, Cresco Labs also announced that it has entered into an agreement with a group of investment dealers, led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. to purchase, on a underwritten basis an aggregate of 7,350,000 units of the company at a price of C$10.00 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of C$73,500,000.

Debra BorchardtAugust 21, 2019

Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) reported that its second-quarter revenue rose 253% to $29.9 million over last year in its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2019. The revenue rose 42% sequentially. The company attributed the increase in revenue to new market expansion and continued growth in existing markets with a higher revenue generated in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California.

Cresco Labs also delivered a net loss of $3.9 million versus last year’s net income of $1.6 million for the same period. The net loss was blamed on an income tax expense of $5.6 million, primarily driven by discrete tax items related to the legal close of the acquisitions of MedMar Inc. and PDI Medical.

“We delivered an outstanding quarter that reflects the leading positions we have established in some of the most attractive markets in the cannabis industry,” said Charles Bachtell, Co-founder and CEO of Cresco Labs. “We are seeing accelerating revenue growth driven primarily by market share gains and strong trends in registered patients in our established markets of Illinois and Pennsylvania, as well as our expanded presence and distribution in California. As we scale our operations in our established markets, we are seeing the positive impact on gross profit margin that we projected. The higher revenue and margins helped to drive a substantial increase in Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior quarter.

The second quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $14.5 million versus $4.8 million in the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of biological assets, adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $2.3 million.

It was a very expensive quarter as total expenses came to $20.6 million versus $3.2 million last year for the same quarter. The company said total expenses included $3.0 million in expenses related to share-based incentive compensation, $3.2 million in acquisition and other non-recurring costs and $0.9 million of depreciation and amortization. The balance of the increase represented investments made in talent and operational infrastructure to support the Company’s continued revenue growth

“While our increasing profitability demonstrates our ability to effectively execute and leverage the attractive model we have developed, we continue to operate with a long-term perspective and make investments to position Cresco Labs to lead the cannabis industry in the years to come. We are transforming the retail cannabis experience with the national rollout of our Sunnyside* dispensaries, expanding into the CBD market with the launch of our WellBeings product line, and expanding our cultivation and retail operations in Illinois to capitalize on adult-use legalization beginning in 2020. As we continue to capitalize on the strong organic growth trends in our current markets and complete our pending acquisitions of Origin House and VidaCann, we expect to deliver continued improvement in revenue and profitability, resulting in further value being created for our shareholders,” said Mr. Bachtell.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2019, Cresco Labs had total assets of $355.0 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $61.1 million and a working capital position of $128.7 million with zero debt on the balance sheet.

William SumnerAugust 8, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for August 7, 2019.

On the Site

Cronos Group

Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) reported financial results in Canadian dollars for the second quarter and first-half ending June 30, 2019, with net revenue climbing 202% to $10.2 million over last year’s $3.4 million. The revenue increased 58% sequentially from $6.5 million in the first quarter of 2019. The company attributed the increase to sales in CBD oil, which carries no excise tax reduction and increased sales of dry flower.

GrowGeneration

Today, GrowGeneration Corp. (OTCQX: GRWG) announced the release of the financial results for the fiscal quarter ending on June 30, 2019. Net revenue for the quarter was $19.48 million, up from $7.15 million in the same period of the previous year. The company attributes the increase in revenue to the addition of 14 new retail stores

SOL Global

SOL Global Investments (CSE: SOL)(OTCPK: SOLCF) is changing from an international cannabis investment company to a U.S. multi-state cannabis operator (MSO) under the Life Sciences category of the Canadian Securities Exchange. In addition to the business designation change, the company is also changing its name to Bluma Wellness.

In Other News

Diego Pellicer

Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. (OTCQB: DPWW) announced that its Denver licensee reported record sales for the month of July and that its sales average has risen by 8.56%. “Diego Pellicer – Colorado has clearly proven that premium products plus outstanding customer service and a world-class shopping experience is a winning formula for success,” said Diego Pellicer CEO Ron Throgmartin.

Planet 13

Planet 13 Holdings Inc. (CSE: PLTH) (OTCQX: PLNHF) announced that in July it served on average 1,937 customers per day with an average sale of $90.41 from the Planet 13 Las Vegas Cannabis Entertainment Complex. In May, the company accounted for roughly 10% of all cannabis sales in the state of Nevada, with a customer conversion rate of 60%. “We continue to drive impressive results from the SuperStore’s original 16,000 sq. ft. dispensary footprint in advance of the Phase II,” said Larry Scheffler, Co-CEO of Planet 13. “In May we reached an impressive milestone, the SuperStore accounted for 10% of all dispensary sales in Nevada. I’m optimistic we will see this trend continue once the department of taxation releases June and July numbers.”

C21 Investments

C21 Investments Inc. (CSE: CXXI) (OTC: CXXIF) released its unaudited financial results for the quarter ending on July 31, 2019. Unaudited revenue grew from $7.7 million to $9.8 million, representing a quarter-over-quarter increase of 27%. The unaudited gross margin rose from 43% to 49%. The company will release its certified financial results on or around September 12, 2019.

Cresco Labs

Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) announced that it has received approval to acquire 100% 100% of the membership interests of Gloucester Street Capital, LLC, the parent company of Valley Agriceuticals (Valley AG). Valley AG is one of ten vertically integrated medical cannabis license holders in the state of New York. The license will give Cresco the right to operate one cultivation facility and four dispensaries in the state. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the August.

Debra BorchardtMay 17, 2019

Origin House, formerly known as CannaRoyalty (CSE: OH) (OTCQX: ORHOF) announced preliminary unaudited revenue of approximately C$11 million for the first quarter ending March 31, 2019. No profit or loss numbers were revealed.

The company also noted that April was off to a good start with approximately C$6.5 million in unaudited revenue. The wholly-owned distribution division, Continuum contributed approximately $4.8 million of that amount in April.

“As we outlined on our Q4 call less than a month ago, momentum is building in the California market for all legal players and for Origin House specifically. Q1 and the month of April were record revenue periods for the Company, and also record periods for the number of top California cannabis brands that our team successfully onboarded,” said Marc Lustig, Chairman and CEO of Origin House. “If 2018 was a year of building for Origin House, 2019 is rapidly progressing toward an inflection point where the platform we have built begins to demonstrate its true financial power, with brands signed early in the year, rolling-out through our network and a robust pipeline of brand opportunities ahead of us.”

The approximate gross margin for the first quarter was 15% and the company said it expects gross margin to continue to trend upwards from the first quarter to the second.

The company announced on May 3, that it had obtained an interim order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in which Cresco Labs Inc. will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Origin House. Receipt of the interim order authorizes Origin House to hold its special meeting of shareholders on June 11, 2019.

Lustig added, “I very much look forward to working alongside the team at Cresco Labs Inc. to leverage our complementary footprints and management skillsets to build a dominant North American cannabis consumer brands company.”

Both Cresco Labs and Origin House will release their earnings on May 29.

Debra BorchardtApril 29, 2019

Canada-based Origin House (once known as CannaRoyalty Corp.) (CSE: OH) (OTCQX: ORHOF) reported its fourth quarter and year-end results ending in December 2018 in Canadian dollars. The fourth quarter saw revenues of $7.9 million an increase of 638% over last year’s $1.1 million for the same time period. The net loss for the quarter was $6.1 million.

The adjusted EBITDA loss was $1.9 million versus the adjusted EBIDTA profit of $7.9 million for last year’s fourth quarter. Gross margin, excluding fair value items, was $0.2 million as compared $0.1 million, an increase of 87%; Operating expenses were $15.4 million as compared to $4.6 million, an increase of 233%.

Full Year Results

For 2018, the company delivered revenues of $18.7 million an increase of 507% over 2017’s $3.1 million. The net loss for the year was $9 million. The pro-forma revenues were $37.4 million and were $48.7 million with the acquisition of 180 Smoke on February 19, 2019. The adjusted EBITDA profit of $3.4 million versus the 2017 adjusted EBIDTA profit of $4.1 million. Gross margin, excluding fair value items, was $1.5 million as compared $0.9 million, an increase of 67%.

Cresco Labs Acquisition

On April 1, 2019, Origin House agreed to be acquired by Cresco Labs for $1.1 billion, creating a North American cannabis powerhouse. Last year, Origin House acquired Kaya Manufacturing, Alta Supply, RVR Distribution, FloraCal Farms, and 180 Smoke in 2018 to create a footprint today comprised of 6 licenses, 8 facilities, and over 350 employees in California and Canada, with pro-forma revenue of $37.4 million. Pro-forma revenue reached $48.7 million with the acquisition of 180 Smoke in Q1 2019.

“During 2018, Origin House delivered demonstrable value creation for shareholders through organic execution, judicious acquisitions and the crystallization of value embedded in non-core assets,” said Marc Lustig, CEO of Origin House. “Throughout the year, we continued to aggressively build our platform of brands and distribution capability focused in California, and this culminated in reaching a definitive agreement to be acquired by Cresco Labs for $1.1 billion on April 1, 2019. This partnership is just the beginning of our journey together. The combined entity will be a U.S. distribution powerhouse, with a growing portfolio of over 50 brands on the shelves of over 725 dispensaries across 11 states.”

The company listed the following summary of key balance sheet totals as of December 31, 2018:

Cash was $69.2 million as compared to $4.5 million an increase of 1430%;
Total assets of $230.7 million as compared to $46.1 million, an increase of 400%;
Current assets of $86.0 million as compared to $7.9 million, an increase of 982%;
Current liabilities of $26.2 million as compared to $2.1 million, an increase of 1126%; and
Long-term debt financing of $16.0 million as compared to $2.3 million, an increase of 610%.

“We spent the past 12 months successfully implementing our strategy to build a platform of premium brands by creating the top distribution and brand support platform in California,” said Afzal Hasan, President and General Counsel of Origin House. “Our team executed and successfully integrated five acquisitions during the year while adding several key experiential brands to our Brand Accelerator and distribution platform. In March 2019, with the integration of our two distribution companies under the Continuum banner, Origin House now controls one of the top state-wide distribution networks in California. With 2018’s regulatory growing pains behind us and a recent commitment on the part of the government to redouble its efforts to quash the still-thriving illegal cannabis market in the state, Origin House is off to a running start in early 2019.”

William SumnerApril 24, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for April 24, 2019.

On The Site

Cresco Labs

Chicago-based Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) released its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2018. The fourth quarter revenue was $17.0 million, an increase of 411% over last year for the same time period and up 33% sequentially. The company trimmed its net losses to $2.6 million versus the net loss of $3.0 million for 2017 fourth quarter. The quarter’s pro forma revenue was $22.5 million.

Federal Legalization – Then What?

It is fascinating to step back and observe how the mindset of many in the cannabis industry seems to work. Let’s think through a couple of scenarios and have a peek at the landscape in a post-legalization world. Let’s begin with the following…

After the Drama, Where Is Aphria Headed Now?

Even in a space with as much excitement as marijuana stocks, Aphria (NYSE:APHA) stood out for having as much drama as a cable TV show. After all the excitement, what’s next for APHA stock? And have the company’s recent moves made it investable again, or is Aphria only appropriate for the most steel-nerved traders?

In Other News

Grown Rogue

Grown Rogue International Inc. (CSE:GRIN) (OTC: NVSIF), a vertically integrated multi-state cannabis operator, announced that it has entered into a binding letter of agreement to acquire Decibel Farms, Inc., an organic cannabis producer and processor. Under the terms of the transaction, the acquisition will be structured as a tax-free merger and shareholders of Decibel will receive $2 million. Decibel owners Shawn Bishop and Buddy Wilson will join Grown Rouge as Vice President of Manufacturing and President of Sales, respectively.

Aphria

Aphria Inc. (TSX:APHA)(NYSE:APHA) announced that it has closed a $300 million private placement offering to institutional investors. The initial investors exercised their option to purchase an additional $50 million in notes, making the deal worth $350 million. The notes are senior unsecured obligations of Aphria with an interest rate 5.25% per year, payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2019. The notes will mature on June 1, 2024.

TerrAscend

TerrAscend Corp. (CSE:TER)(OTCQX: TRSSF) today released its financial results for the fourth quarter ending on December 31, 2019. Revenue for the quarter was $5 million, up from $1.8 million in the previous quarter. Net loss was $11.7 million or $0.13 per share. The company has $21.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. “We are pleased with our performance in the fourth quarter and have laid the groundwork for success in 2019,” said Michael Nashat, CEO of TerrAscend, in a statement. “We are experiencing strong sales momentum in Canada and are making substantial progress towards becoming a leading US multi-state operator.”

Debra BorchardtApril 24, 2019

The company trimmed its net losses to $2.6 million versus the net loss of $3.0 million for 2017 fourth quarter. The quarter’s pro forma revenue was $22.5 million.

Full Year Results

Cresco Labs delivered full-year revenue of $43.3 million, which increased 294% from 2017 and the full year pro forma revenue was $75.6 million. The company was profitable for the full year as it delivered a net income of $3.9 million, compared to a net loss of $4.0 million in the prior year. Cresco Labs is now operational in seven U.S. states, with binding transactions pending in New York, Massachusetts, and Florida. On March 25, 2019, it received approval to enter into the State of Michigan

“We completed 2018 with another quarter of positive pre-tax income that reflected continued strong execution across all areas of our operations,” said Charles Bachtell, Co-founder, and CEO of Cresco Labs. “Building on our momentum from 2018, we have already made incredible progress this year in building Cresco Labs’ leadership position in the cannabis industry. The definitive agreement signed with Origin House earlier this month is a transformational deal for Cresco that creates a cannabis industry powerhouse with the premier distribution platform in the United States serving the greatest number of dispensaries in the country. Combined with our recent entrance into the Florida market, Cresco has built the largest and most strategic footprint of any cannabis company in the United States.”

Success In The Capital Markets

Cresco Labs is a relatively young company that has accomplished a great deal very quickly. It only began trading its common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange on December 3, 2018 under the symbol “CL” following the successful completion of the Company’s reverse takeover of Randsburg International Gold Corp. On March 6, 2019, the company was approved to list on the OTCQX market and its common shares are currently trading under the symbol “CRLBF.” Cresco successfully raised $205 million in growth capital through three capital raises in 2018.

As of December 31, 2018, Cresco had total assets of $318.4 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $131.3 million. In addition to that, it had a working capital position of $172.7 million with zero debt on the balance sheet.

Company Updates

The company gave the following operational updates in its statement:

Illinois
- Construction is underway to expand the Company’s cultivation facility in Lincoln, IL to 170,000 square feet with expected completion during the second quarter of 2019.
- Launched an Illinois Opioid Alternative Pilot Program in the Company’s FloraMedex dispensary, which opens up access to medical cannabis across the state and removes certain registration barriers previously imposed on medical marijuana patients.
Pennsylvania
- The Company opened its third dispensary (New Kensington) under its first license in the state.
- The Company became the first dispensary in the Pittsburgh market to offer online ordering.
- The Company is currently in the process of expanding its Brookville cultivation facility by approximately 85,000 square feet.
Ohio
- On January 16, 2019, the Company made the first legal sale of medical marijuana in Ohio, the second consecutive state in which Cresco Labs was first to market (following similar success in Pennsylvania).
Massachusetts
- Hope Heal Health, one of the companies with which Cresco entered into a definitive merger agreement, opened a medical cannabis dispensary in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts. This acquisition is pending regulatory approval.
Arizona
- The Company will be launching a wholesale distribution of more than 50 products under the Cresco brand during the second quarter of 2019.
California
- The Company’s new processing facility in Mendota, CA is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2019. This will enable the Company to distribute its full suite of brands across the state.
Nevada
- Mindy’s Edibles are now carried in 62 out of 67 dispensaries in Nevada and have three of the top 10 selling edibles in the state, including the top-selling edible, according to Headset Inc., a cannabis data intelligence company.

William SumnerApril 11, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for April 11, 2019

On The Site

Cresco Labs

Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) received approval from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) for Cresco’s previously announced acquisitions of licensed medical cannabis dispensaries MedMar Rockford and MedMar Lakeview, located in the popular Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago.

Trulieve

Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) reported its fourth quarter and 2018 full-year results with revenue rising 172% to $35.9 million from last year’s $28.3 million for the same time period. The company’s net income grew a whopping 3,467% in the fourth quarter to $10.7 million from last year’s $0.3 million for the same time period.

In Other News

KushCo Holdings

KushCo Holdings (OTCQB: KSHB) announced the release of their financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2019, which ended on February 28, 2019. Quarter-over-quarter, the company’s revenue rose by 39% to $35.2 million. The net loss for the quarter was $8.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $5.2 million. As of February 28, the company had $17.9 million in cash. “Our focus remains the build out of a scalable, sustainable business, as we cement our presence as the primary supply chain partner to the cannabis, CBD and related industries,” said KushCo CEO Nick Kovacevich. “As a result of a strong first half of the year, including the signing of a number of long-term supply arrangements-in-principle with several new large, well-known customers, we are raising our revenue guidance from between $110 million and $120 million for fiscal year 2019 to between $140 million and $150 million.”

White Label Liquid

White Label Liquid, Inc. (OTC: WLAB) today released their financial results for the 2018 fiscal year. Revenue for the year was $7,006,110. The company experienced a net loss of $149, 285. “We had a great year, but it’s only just the beginning,” said White Label Liquid CEO Yaron Elkayam in a statement. “These numbers reflect not just the hard work of our partners all along our supply chain; they are also a reflection of the growing strength of the CBD industry.”

Eve & Co Incorporated

Eve & Co Incorporated (TSX-V: EVE) has entered into an engagement letter with Haywood Securities Inc. Haywood Securities has agreed to purchase 20 million special warrants of the company, at a price of $0.50 per warrant, for a total of $10 million. The offering is expected to close on or around May 10, 2019.

Debra BorchardtApril 11, 2019

According to Arcview Research, Illinois’ medical market is projected to have 126,566 legal consumers in 2022 and they are expected to spend approximately $400.5 million in 2022.

The company said that the IDFPR also approved Cresco’s acquisition of PDI Medical, a medical cannabis dispensary located in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, which was purchased by the Company in November 2018. The MedMar dispensaries are Cresco Labs’ fourth and fifth dispensary acquisitions in Illinois bringing the Company’s footprint to five dispensaries in its home state.

“Illinois is at the forefront of our nation’s evolution of the cannabis industry, and with these three dispensary approvals, Cresco has reached the maximum level of dispensaries any single company can own and operate in our home state,” said CEO & Co-Founder Charlie Bachtell. “We have already achieved the highest market share of any operator in Illinois and our prospects for accelerated growth are promising with the recent implementation of the Alternatives to Opioids program that began on February 1st. Illinois has opened access for patients by eliminating the three-month waiting period as well as requirements for fingerprinting and background checks for all patients with any qualifying condition. With a doctor’s approval, a patient can now receive a medical-use cannabis card in just one day.”

In addition to its five dispensaries in Illinois, Cresco operates three cultivation and processing facilities across the state.

Origin House Acquisition

Cresco announced recently that it was going to acquire Origin House in a deal valued at C$1.1 billion or C$12.68 per Origin House Share (based on the Exchange Ratio and the closing price of Cresco Labs Shares on March 29). The deal looks to be the largest public company acquisition in the history of the U.S. cannabis industry.

The combined company will be one of the largest vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis operators in the U. S.; a leading North American cannabis company, by footprint; and one of the largest cannabis brand distributors.

Debra BorchardtApril 1, 2019

Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) is acquiring CannaRoyalty Corp. also known as Origin House (CSE: OH) (OTCQX: ORHOF) in a deal valued at C$1.1 billion or C$12.68 per Origin House Share (based on the Exchange Ratio and the closing price of Cresco Labs Shares on March 29). The deal looks to be the largest public company acquisition in the history of the U.S. cannabis industry.

“The acquisition of Origin House is another example of our focused and disciplined approach to creating a meaningful presence in key cannabis markets through excellence in brand development and distribution,” said Cresco Labs CEO and Co-founder Charlie Bachtell. “It establishes Cresco Labs as the leading multi-state operator with one of the largest distribution platforms in California. Having a similar priority on consumers and consumer brands with the expertise of executives from the largest wine and liquor distribution company in the United States, the team at Origin House has established the premier cannabis distribution company in the largest cannabis market in the world. It’s an incredible platform for Cresco in California and the distribution infrastructure will provide a valuable framework to leverage as we scale our platforms in other states.”

Origin House

Origin House is a growing cannabis brands and distribution company operating across key markets in the U.S. and Canada, with a strategic focus on becoming a preeminent global house of cannabis brands. The company’s foundation is in California where it delivers over 130 branded cannabis products from 50+ brands to the majority of licensed dispensaries. Origin House’s brand development platform is operated out of five licensed facilities located across California and provides distribution, manufacturing, cultivation and marketing services for its brand partners. Origin House is actively developing infrastructure to support the proliferation of its brands internationally, initially through its acquisition of Canadian retailer 180 Smoke.

“From an Origin House perspective, this transaction is directly aligned with our strategy to build a leading portfolio of cannabis brands in California and to rapidly and accretively take those brands to the rest of the U.S. market, as well as the Canadian market,” said Marc Lustig, Chairman, and CEO of Origin House. “By partnering with one of the largest and most innovative U.S. multi-state operators in existence today, Origin House will supercharge its growth and be in a position to offer its brand partners access to 10 additional states, with licenses and supporting infrastructure already in place. This Transaction is not the first opportunity we have reviewed, but it has received the unanimous support of our board and large shareholders because we are confident that together we will be in a position to truly change the face of the global cannabis industry while continuing to create significant value for the shareholders of both companies.”

Terms Of The Deal

Cresco Labs will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Origin House Shares, with each holder of Origin House common shares receiving 0.8428 Cresco Labs Shares for each Origin House Share (and each holder of an Origin House proportionate voting share receiving 84.28 Cresco Labs Shares for each proportionate voting share held), which implies a price per Origin House Share of C$12.68 (on an as-converted basis), representing a total consideration of approximately C$1.1 billion (on a fully-diluted).

Origin House shareholders will hold approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding Cresco Labs shares on a pro forma, fully-diluted and as converted basis, enabling Origin House shareholders the opportunity to participate in the expected value created through the deal. The company said there would be an immediate premium to Origin House shareholders of approximately 26% over the 30-day volume weighted average price.

Upon completion of the acquisition, as well as the receipt of licensure in Michigan and the closing of the company’s pending acquisition in Florida, Cresco Labs will have operations in 11 states, 23 facilities, more than 1.5 million square feet of cultivation, and licenses to operate up to 51 retail dispensaries. Cresco Labs brands will be sold in over 725 dispensaries across the United States.

“We are excited to welcome the Origin House team to the Cresco family,” said Cresco Labs President and Co-founder Joe Caltabiano. “With the addition of Origin House and its vast distribution network in California, we will have access to incredibly valuable real-time market data and insight into consumer buying patterns that will inform our product development strategies and reinforce our brand strength. In addition to their brand building and distribution expertise, Origin House has a very experienced M&A, corporate development and capital markets team that will be extremely valuable as we continue to expand and add scale through additional transactions. With respect to the capital markets impact, with the equity issued through this transaction, we expect to have substantially more shares in our float, which we believe will provide ample liquidity for larger institutional investors looking to deploy capital into the cannabis space. We expect that our larger scale and improved liquidity following this acquisition will positively impact our ability to attract a larger universe of potential investors and reduce our cost of capital in the future.”

Older Posts

On the Site

Cronos Group

GrowGeneration

SOL Global

In Other News

Diego Pellicer

Planet 13

C21 Investments

Cresco Labs

On The Site

Cresco Labs

Federal Legalization – Then What?

After the Drama, Where Is Aphria Headed Now?

In Other News

Grown Rogue

Aphria

TerrAscend

On The Site

Cresco Labs

Trulieve

In Other News

KushCo Holdings

White Label Liquid

Eve & Co Incorporated

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