Aphria secures 18-month lock-up agreement on divestiture of Liberty stock
Strategic Investment in Fire & Flower
LEAMINGTON, ON , July 23, 2018 /CNW/ – Aphria Inc. (“Aphria” or the “Company”) (TSX: APH and US OTC: APHQF) today provided an update related to its previously announced plan to divest of its equity investments in Liberty Health Sciences, Inc. (“Liberty”). Aphria is amending its put and call agreement, effective July 26, 2018 , pertaining to its sale of shares in Liberty and intends to repurchase the shares, if and when, U.S. federal laws change, subject to certain conditions including the consent of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Aphria Inc. (CNW Group/Aphria Inc.)View photos
Aphria Inc. (CNW Group/Aphria Inc.)
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“The U.S. cannabis industry continues to gain momentum at the state and federal level, and in public opinion, and we are pleased to retain the optionality to extend our strategic partnership with Liberty in a way that satisfies our obligations as a member of the Toronto Stock Exchange,” said Vic Neufeld , Chief Executive Office of Aphria. “We will continue to provide our shareholders with access to the most promising cannabis opportunities around the world, including where permitted in the U.S.”
Transaction Details
Aphria entered into a new agreement (the “New Agreement”) with the group of buyers (the “Group”) who previously entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Aphria (the “Original Agreement”) to acquire all of the Company’s shares in Liberty (the “Shares”). Under the New Agreement, Aphria will accept a 30-day promissory note from the Group to settle the next tranche of Liberty shares owned by Aphria that will be freely trading on July 26, 2018 and is scheduled to be purchased by the Group under the Original Agreement. Aphria also agreed to pay the Group $480,000 in cash in exchange for a standstill agreement (the “Lock-Up”) whereby the Group will not sell the newly acquired Shares for 18 months from the date of purchase. The Group further granted to Aphria an option to buy back the Shares at $1.00 a share, subject to certain downside risk protection which results in the Group sharing a portion of the difference between the share price on the day the option is exercised and the exercise price, provided the share price exceeds $1.25 .
Aphria will be prohibited from exercising the option unless all of Liberty’s business operations in the United States are allowed under applicable federal and state laws and Aphria has received the consent of the Toronto Stock Exchange and any other stock exchange on which Aphria may be listed, as required.
Investment in Fire & Flower Inc.
Aphria is also investing $10 million in Fire & Flower Inc. (“F&F”) The Company is acquiring unsecured convertible debentures bearing interest at 8% per annum compounded, accrued and paid semi-annually in arrears (the “Debentures”). The Debentures mature on the earlier of a public liquidity event or July 31, 2019 at which time they automatically convert into common shares of F&F at the rate of $1.15 per share, subject to certain downside protection on a future dilutive transaction. The Debentures may also be converted into a loan on July 31, 2019 bearing interest at 12%, at the holder’s option. The closing of the investment remains subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the next several business days.
Fire intends to use the proceeds to finance the expansion and build-out of its retail outlets in Alberta and Saskatchewan .
“Fire & Flower welcomes the investment by Aphria, a recognized global leader in the legal cannabis market,” shared Trevor Fencott , Chief Executive Officer of Fire & Flower. “Aphria’s investment reinforces our position as the leading independent retailer of cannabis in Canada and they share in our vision for the socially responsible introduction of legal cannabis through consumer education. We are proud to work with Aphria to provide top quality, safe cannabis products to Canadians upon federal legalization.”
Notice of amalgamation of Aphria Inc. and Pure Natures Wellness Inc. (o/a Aphria)
Further, the Company announced that today they amalgamated Pure Natures Wellness Inc. (o/a Aphria) and Aphria Inc. into a newly amalgamated company naming it Aphria Inc.
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