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William SumnerApril 29, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for April 29, 2019

On The Site

Aleafia Health

Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: ALEF) (OTC: ALEAF) reported that its 2018 total revenue was $3.3 million versus zero in 2017. The pro-forma combined Aleafia Health and Emblem revenues in 2018 were $11.3 million an increase of 327% over a combined Aleafia Health and Emblem 2017 revenues of $2.7 million. Still, the company delivered a net loss from operations in 2018 of $9.7 million.

Canopy Growth

Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) announced a key milestone in establishing its Hemp Industrial Park in the Southern Tier region of New York State. It has secured a 308,000 sq. ft. facility on a 48-acre property in Kirkwood, NY. The company said that design development would begin immediately with construction expected to start this summer.

Origin House

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.

In Other News

Charlotte’s Web Holdings

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. (CSE: CWEB) (OTCQX: CWBHF) has a new CEO. The company announced today that Adrienne “Deanie” Elsner would sign on as its Chief Executive Officer effective May 15, 2019. Elsner previously served as President of Kellogg’s $3 billion Snack Business Unit. Before joining Kellogg, Elsner worked at the Kraft Foods Company and held various leadership positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Elsner was also named by Forbes as one of the 50 Most Influential Global CMOs. “Deanie’s appointment is timely and aligns perfectly with our corporate evolution from the early stage organization we were just two years ago into a professionally managed public company with top-tier executive talent,” said Hess Moallem, current President and CEO of Charlotte’s Web. Moallem will stay on with the company in an advisory position.

New Leaf Data Services

New Leaf Data Services (NLDS), and the Cannabis Mercantile Exchange (Cannamerx) have signed a data-sharing agreement, upon which Cannamerx will provide NLDS with real-time data generated by its international cannabis and hemp trading platform. NLDS will incorporate the platform into its Cannabis Benchmarks® and Hemp Benchmarks® wholesale price assessments. NLDS will help Cannamerx market its international wholesale cannabis & hemp products auction platform, which includes informing its business partners and subscribers about the benefits of using Cannamerx platform. “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with Cannamerx, which will expand and deepen the wholesale pricing data that is the foundation for our institutional grade Cannabis Benchmarks and Hemp Benchmarks,” commented NLDS CEO Jonathan Rubin.

Cannara Biotech

Cannara Biotech (CSE: LOVE) (FRA: 8CB) has announced its financial results for the three month and six-month periods ended February 28, 2019. Cannara ‘s revenue for the three-month period was $518,438 and for the six-month period was $1,036,881. The net loss for the three month period was $4,011,926 or $0.01 loss per share. The net loss for the six-month period was $6,317,152 or $0.01 loss per share. The company also raised $37,375,268 via private placement in exchange for 207,640,375 common shares. “Financially, Cannara is very solid, with all costs associated with Phase one construction fully funded and most stabilized operating costs offset by lease revenue,” said Lennie Ryer, CFO of Cannara. “Built for the long run, the next few quarters will be eventful as we complete construction and advance towards the goal of ongoing revenues from our state-of-the-art production and processing facility.

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.”

William SumnerApril 22, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for April 22, 2019.

On The Site

CannTrust

Ontario-based CannTrust Holdings Inc. (TSX: TRST) (NYSE: CTST) reported preliminary estimates for the quarter ending March 31, 2019, with net revenue expected to be approximately $17 million, an increase of 116% versus the $7.8 million for the same time period in 2018. CannTrust also announced that it had begun an underwritten public offering of $200 million common shares, in which approximately 85% of the common shares are to be sold in the offering by the company and about 15% of the common shares to be sold in the offering by certain shareholders.

FDA Public Hearing On Hemp – Uncle Sam Wants You To Talk

The FDA is however finally allowing the public to weigh in, with the announcement of a Public Hearing to take place on May 31, 2019. What’s more, is that the Agency is allowing submission of public comment until July 2, 2019 and seems to earnestly want feedback from the hemp industry.

In Other News

PAX Labs

PAX Labs Inc., a consumer technology company that specializes in cannabis vaporizers, announced that the company had raised $420 million in equity financing from institutional investors, including Tiger Global Management and Tao Capital Partners. Pax Labs is best known as the vaporizer company from which the popular e-cigarette brand Juul originally spun off of. Speaking with Tech Crunch, a Pax Labs spokesperson said that the post-money valuation of the company is now $1.7 billion.

Cannabis One

Cannabis One Holdings Inc. (CSE: CBIS) announced that is executed three definitive agreements to acquire certain assets of the Nevada-based cannabis brand house Evergreen Organix. The agreements include the acquisition of cultivation and manufacturing licenses in the state of Nevada, intellectual property rights, product formulations, logistic operations, etc…The president of Evergreen Organix, Jerry Velarde, will also join Cannabis One as Chief Marketing Officer following closing. “Having already established a reputation centered around brand quality and consistency in the minds of cannabis consumers – we are now excited to jointly announce the contribution of our Evergreen Organix suite of brands, which includes the substantial cultivation and manufacturing infrastructure we have been building since 2015 in the Nevada marketplace, to Cannabis One’s growing ‘House of Brands’,” Velarde said in a statement.

Supreme Cannabis

The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1) announced today that it is launching a cannabis genetics company and has pledged to invest approximately $14 million to develop a research facility for the new company. Named Cambium Plant Sciences, the company will focus on researching and developing new cannabis strains for the adult-use and medical markets, as well as health and wellness applications. Dr. Alan Darlington, who previously served as Director of Special Projects for Supreme’s subsidiary 7ACRES, will lead Cambium as General Manager.

William SumnerApril 18, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for April 18, 2019.

On The Site

Acreage Holdings

Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACRG.U) (OTC: ACRGF) (FSE: 0ZV) announced that on April 17, its subsidiary, High Street Capital Partners agreed to acquire Nevada-based Deep Roots Medical in a deal valued at $120 million. The cash and stock transaction will mark Acreage’s entry into the Nevada market. This deal plants another flag in Acreage’s growing empire bringing the footprint up to 20 (including pending acquisitions) making it the largest company in the US cannabis industry.

Canopy Growth

Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) is acquiring Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACGR.U) (OTC: ACRGF) in a deal valued at $3.4 billion. However, the deal will not be consummated until cannabis is federally legal in the U.S. and assuming the shareholders approve as well as the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Greenlane Holdings

The NASDAQ Markets Group (NDAQ) has been notoriously reluctant to list any cannabis related companies, even if they are only ancillary and not plant-touching. It seems vape distributor Greenlane Holdings Inc. has broken through the company’s barriers. Greenlane will begin trading on NASDAQ today with the ticker GNLN after upsizing its initial public offering of six million shares with the offering price of $17. The company had expected to price the shares between $14-$16.

In Other News

Aphria

Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) announced the pricing of US$300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% convertible senior notes due in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers. Initial purchasers of the note will have the option to purchase an additional $50 million of notes. The sale of the notes to initial purchasers is expected to close on April 23, 2019. The company intends to use the proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, expansion initiatives, and future acquisitions.

Aurora Cannabis

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) announced that the company’s contract with the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices has been approved. Now that the contract has been approved, Aurora will start construction on an indoor cannabis production facility in Leuna, Germany in May of this year. The facility is expected to be completed within a year of breaking ground, and Aurora believes that the facility’s first harvest will be completed by October 2020. At minimum, the facility should produce approximately 4,000 kilograms of cannabis over a four-year period.

William SumnerApril 4, 2019

It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for April 4, 2019.

On the Site

Merida Capital

Cannabis private equity fund Merida Capital Partners has launched its third fund for $200 million, which will focus on concentrated, high conviction investments in leading companies in the cannabis ecosystem. The company said that since launching its first fund in late 2016, it has deployed nearly $80 million across its first two funds and now has more than $125MM under management.

McConnell & Wyden Pen Letters To US Federal Banking Finance Regulators Over Financial Services For Hemp Producers

The letters were sent to the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The letters read as follows.

Marijuana Stocks Look Frothy, But Aurora Stock Is Well-Prepared

Over the long run, I remain net bullish on legal marijuana. However, my optimism for the sector doesn’t cloud reality. I can see as plain as daylight that the honeymoon phase is over. Now, companies like Aurora Cannabis (NYSE: ACB) must provide the goods. If not, ACB stock could face serious trouble.

In Other News

Harvest Health & Recreation

Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc. (CSE: HARV) announced that it has entered into a brokered private sale of up to 500,000 convertible debentures of the company, at a price of $1,000 per debenture. The sale is expected to raise $500 million and will be closed in five tranches over a period of no more than 18 months. The first tranche is expected to close on May 1, 2019. Proceeds from the sale will go towards general corporate purposes and working capital.

Halo Labs

The cannabis extraction company Halo Labs Inc. (OTC: AGEEF) announced that it has raised $18,143,000 in a convertible note offering. The proceeds of the offering will go towards leasehold improvements, the purchase of extraction equipment, working capital and general corporate purposes.

Aurora Cannabis

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) announced that it has appointed Carey Squires as its Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy. Squires recently served as Managing Director and Co-Head of Equity-Linked Capital Markets for BMO Capital Markets. In his new role, Squires will focus on developing strategic partnerships, growth initiatives, and investor development.

William SumnerDecember 7, 2018

Today, Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) announced that it had received a CAD $2.4 billion investment from Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), the owner of Marlboro cigarette marker Phillip Morris USA.

The investment comes a little more than a year after Corona beer distributor Constellation Brands announced that it would invest billions of dollars in Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC). For some, the investments from both Constellation and Altria represent the maturation of the cannabis industry and a sign that cannabis has truly gone mainstream.

For others, however, the investments mark the beginning of the end for the independent cannabis industry as Big Tobacco and Alcohol, which have fought against cannabis legalization for decades, start to take over the market.

The private placement investment will give Altria a 45% stake in Cronos Group. Altria will receive 146.2 million Shares of Cronos at closing at a price of CAD $16.25 per Share, representing a 41.5% premium to the 10-day VWAP of the Shares on the TSX on November 30, 2018. In addition, Altria will receive purchase share warrants, valued at CAD $1.4 billion, which if exercised would give the company an additional 10% in Cronos.

“Investing in Cronos Group as our exclusive partner in the emerging global cannabis category represents an exciting new growth opportunity for Altria,” said Howard Willard, Chairman and CEO of Altria. “We believe that Cronos Group’s excellent management team has built capabilities necessary to compete globally, and we look forward to helping Cronos Group realize its significant growth potential.”

Under the agreement, Altria will have the right to name four directors to Cronos Group’s board of directors, which includes one independent director, and the board will be expanded from five directors to seven. Altria will make Cronos its exclusive partner for all world-wide cannabis-related investments, with some limited exceptions.

News of the deal has caused to Cronos’ stock price to jump by nearly 25% in pre-market trading. Altria’s stock price rose by nearly 2% in pre-market trading. As of publication, Cronos is trading at or around USD $13.00 per share, and Altria is trading at or around USD $55.43.

Pending regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close within the first half of 2019. Earlier this morning, Cronos held a conference call discussing today’s announcement, and a recording of the call has been made available at https://thecronosgroup.com/investor-relations.

Debra BorchardtOctober 30, 2018

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The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ICE) is delisting self-described cannabis company India Globalization Corp. (NYSE: IGC). In a short statement, the NYSE said that trading of the common stock would be suspended immediately.

The statement said that IGC has “Engaged in operations which, in the opinion of the Exchange, are contrary to the public interest. Section 1009(a) (ii) of the Company Guide states that it is necessary and appropriate for the protection of investors to immediately suspend trading in the Company’s common stock.”

The NYSE also said that “The issuer has substantially discontinued the business that it conducted at the time it was listed or admitted to trading and has become engaged in ventures or promotions which have not developed to a commercial stage or the success of which is problematical.

The Green Market Report recently highlighted the ways India Globalization Corp. claimed to be a cannabis company, but in reality, was earning money from legacy trading operations. Other outlets like MarketWatch have also dived into the company’s filings to uncover bad behavior. Mostly that IGC pretends to pivot its company to whatever new trend is moving the market, while not actually doing so.

Aphria Inc.

On a positive note, Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) said that its common shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange and will begin trading at the open of markets on November 2, 2018. The new symbol will be APHA and the company said that it was changing its Toronto symbol from “APH” to “APHA.”

The shares that are currently trading on the OTCQB will move over to the NYSE. Shareholders will not need to do anything other than making sure their brokerages reflect the change in exchanges.

“Listing on the NYSE provides Aphria with access to the largest equity market in the world, with increased exposure to a vast array of US institutional and retail investors. This strategic move aligns directly with our growth ambitions as we enter an elite peer group of respected, high-profile corporate brands listed on the NYSE,” said Vic Neufeld , Aphria CEO.

Mr. Neufeld added: “We are excited to usher in a new era with the recent legalization of adult-use cannabis in Canada and as we aim to further expand our footing in exciting markets such as Latin America , the Caribbean and Europe . Aphria is well-positioned to capitalize on this fast-growing industry.”

Debra BorchardtOctober 22, 2018

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Aurora Cannabis will begin trading at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ICE)on Tuesday, October 23. The Canadian cannabis company is following in the footsteps of Canopy Growth (NYSE: CGC), which also moved up from the OTC Markets Group to the venerable halls of the NYSE. While the iconic Exchange is happy to list the cannabis shares, don’t expect the red carpet to be rolled out.

Canopy Growth was not allowed to ring the opening bell at the Exchange. “They wouldn’t even let us ring the smaller bell on the floor,” CEO Bruce Linton recently said. So Aurora will probably not get any better treatment from the NYSE. (That’s okay guys, they won’t let Green Market Report deliver news from the floor either.)

Shareholders will not need to do anything with regards to their shares, but the company suggests that investors check their brokerage accounts to make sure the change is reflected. New investors will probably begin to include players with deeper pockets like institutional money. It opens up investments from more ETF’s and mutual funds that won’t touch stocks on the OTC Market. That will bring more volume. If Canopy Growth is a good example, Aurora’s stock is likely to jump higher.

Stock Performance

The stock’s 52-week low was $2.20 and the year high was $12.52. The stock was lately trading at $9.97. Aurora recently chose to take some profits of its own with regards to its holdings in The Green Organic Dutchman (TGOD). Aurora owned over 39 million shares of TGOD. Between October 10 to October 16, 2018, Aurora sold roughly 5,783,200 shares for approximately $32,867,131 at a price of $5.68 per share, representing 2.2% of the issued and outstanding Shares of TGOD.

The sale was was for investment purposes and in accordance with applicable securities laws. At one point, Aurora owned 18.8% of TGOD, but now that has dropped to 15.3% including warrants.

Debra BorchardtOctober 18, 2018

Canadian-based Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) said that its shares have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ICE), and will begin trading at the open of markets, October 23, 2018.

Aurora’s shares will trade on the NYSE using the ticker symbol “ACB”, which is the same symbol the company uses when it trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. In a statement, the company said that the existing shares of Aurora, which previously traded on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol “ACBFF”, will now trade on the NYSE.

“Our NYSE listing represents another important milestone that reflects our commitment to all stakeholders as we continue advancing domestic and international growth initiatives, which includes expanding our base of global institutional and retail investors,” said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora. “Aurora has rapidly developed into a globally mature organization with industry leading and technologically advanced production facilities available to produce at an unprecedented scale to meet the growing demand for high-quality cannabis both in Canada and abroad. We are also uniquely committed to leveraging our deep knowledge base to further scientific research into medical applications of cannabis, and developing novel, higher-margin product offerings that strongly differentiate Aurora from our competition.”

Aurora will voluntarily delist its shares from the OTCQX and shareholders will not be required to take any actions. The company did suggest that shareholders make sure that their brokerages make the change.

Aurora joins other Canadian cannabis companies that have been given the green light to list on the venerable stock trading institution. Canopy Growth (CGC) listed its stock earlier this year but wasn’t allowed to ring the Exchange’s opening bell – an honor normally bestowed on new members of the family.

Other companies like the REIT Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR), 22nd Century Group (NYSE: XXII) and India Globalization (NYSE: IGC), as well as a few others, have been trading on the NYSE. These companies didn’t actually grow cannabis or process it. In fact, 22nd Century is really a tobacco company and India Globalization has only talked about making cannabis products. IIPR is a real estate company that rents to cannabis companies.

Mr. Booth added: “I sincerely appreciate and wish to thank our entire global team for their remarkable execution, dedication, passion and hard work that went into making this significant achievement a reality for Aurora.”

William SumnerOctober 9, 2018

On October 9, 2018, Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) announced that it has filed an application to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NSYE). The company said that it expects to begin trading on the NYSE by the end of October under the symbol “ACB.”

“Through our NYSE listing, Aurora joins an established group of mature global brands with improved access and exposure to an engaged international institutional investor audience,” said Aurora CEO, Terry Booth. “Aurora’s high-paced execution has made it one of the world’s leading cannabis companies. We have grown from being a licensed producer with a single facility, to a horizontality differentiated and vertically integrated global organization with a funded production capacity in excess of 500,000 kg a year, sales and operations on five continents, and a team of more than 1,500 employees.”

If approved by the NYSE, Aurora will join a small but growing number of cannabis companies that are trading on major U.S. stock exchanges. Earlier this year, Cronos Group (CRON) became one of the first cannabis companies to list on the NASDAQ, Canopy Growth Corp. (CGC) followed several months later by listing its shares on the NYSE.

One of the most successful U.S. cannabis stocks in recent months has been Tilray (TLRY), whose stock has been on somewhat of a wild ride over the last several weeks but has since stabilized at or around $136. Hoping to join this list of companies, along with Aurora Cannabis, is High Times Media. In anticipation of going public on the NASDAQ later this month, High Times has been going through a Regulation A+ offering, selling shares to over 9,000 small-time investors and raising approximately $12.5 million.

Aurora will continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange using the “ACB” symbol. The company will also continue to trade on the OTCQX under the ticker symbol “ACBFF” until the NYSE is completed, upon which Aurora will voluntarily delist itself from the exchange.

The NYSE has been conflicted with its listing of cannabis companies. It didn’t allow Canopy Growth to ring the opening bell, an honor bestowed on many new listing companies. It also won’t allow Green Market Report to deliver news from the floor due to its commitment to covering only cannabis financial news. Clearly, the tide is turning as more cannabis companies begin listing on the exchange and the exchange is happy to take their money.

Older Posts

On The Site

Aleafia Health

Canopy Growth

Origin House

In Other News

Charlotte’s Web Holdings

New Leaf Data Services

Cannara Biotech

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

CannTrust

FDA Public Hearing On Hemp – Uncle Sam Wants You To Talk

In Other News

PAX Labs

Cannabis One

Supreme Cannabis

On The Site

Acreage Holdings

Canopy Growth

Greenlane Holdings

In Other News

Aphria

Aurora Cannabis

On the Site

Merida Capital

McConnell & Wyden Pen Letters To US Federal Banking Finance Regulators Over Financial Services For Hemp Producers

Marijuana Stocks Look Frothy, But Aurora Stock Is Well-Prepared

In Other News

Harvest Health & Recreation

Halo Labs

Aurora Cannabis

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