TORONTO, May 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation (the “Company” or
“BCC”) (CSE:BCC)(OTC:CBICF) today announced that the Company, through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary CGX, is exercising its
option, and is acquiring a 100% interest in GreenMart of Nevada LLC (“GreenMart”), an award winning licensed cultivation,
production and wholesale business located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Management anticipates closing the transaction on or before
May 30, 2017.
Transaction highlights
- Creates strong presence in Las Vegas adult use market with over 42 million visitors annually.
- Existing licensees have 12-18 month headstart to establish market share.
- Fully operational, fully staffed, state-of-the-art licensed production facility, with capacity to produce 1.6 million grams
of dried flower and 85,000 grams of high-margin concentrate.
- Operations include production of concentrates, as well as edible and other high-margin infused products.
- Company has commenced selling wholesale into the Nevada medical cannabis market, as well as is applying for a dispensary
license to enter the higher-margin retail market.
- 2016 Jack Herrer Cup winner for best hybrid concentrate.
- Arcview Market Research projects annual legal cannabis sales in Nevada to grow to an estimated US$630 million by 2020.
- Attractive valuation at $19 million:
- $9.5 million, non-interest bearing promissory note
- $9.5 million in units, each unit, priced at CAD$0.75
Management commentary
“Commencement of sales into the adult use market in Nevada, under the state’s “Early Start Capitalized” program,
is anticipated for July of this year, with a 12-18-month early mover advantage for existing licensees,” stated Scott Boyes,
CEO. “In order to benefit from the strong revenue and cash flow growth anticipated for GreenMart, we decided to accelerate
exercising our option and acquire the company. We anticipate the operations to be materially accretive for revenues and
earnings in the current fiscal year. We are delighted to bring GreenMart and its award winning products under the BCC
umbrella, and we look forward to reporting on our progress as we continue to execute on our aggressive growth strategy.”
Beth Stavola, COO of BCC, added, “GreenMart is fully staffed and operational, and is extremely
well-managed. In developing the Nevada business, we are leveraging the operational and commercial best practices developed at
our highly successful Health for Life and MPX brands in Arizona. We anticipate this will accelerate market share development
in a potentially very sizeable market with strong barriers to entry. Additionally, the shared operational template
facilitates integration.”
Background
In January 2017, BCC completed the acquisition of a number of cannabis operations supporting cultivation,
production, as well as two dispensaries (Health for Life) and a wholesale concentrates brand (MPX) in Arizona, creating a highly
profitable platform for growth. As part of the transaction, BCC had acquired a fixed option on the Nevada assets of the
sellers, namely GreenMart of Nevada, which it is now exercising.
GreenMart has developed a state-of-the-art cultivation facility, based on the experience gained at Health for
Life and MPX in Arizona where the Company is approaching a consistent rate of one harvest per week. Furthermore, the Company
operates best-in-class extraction technologies, which enabled MPX to win the coveted 2016 Jack Herrer Cup for best hybrid
concentrate. Addressing the higher margin market of edibles, GreenMart has installed a professional-grade custom kitchen
operation, enabling the Company to carry a well-diversified portfolio of high-end products.
GreenMart, which commenced cultivation in October 2016, is located in North Las Vegas, and is applying for a
dispensary license. Wholesale activities in the medical market started February 2017.
Nevada market
In November 2016, Nevada voted in favor of ‘Question 2’, setting in motion the process towards legalization of
adult use of cannabis in the state. While Nevada has a relatively limited population of 2.8 million, Las Vegas, where
GreenMart is located, welcomes approximately 42 million visitors annually, making tourism a key driver of anticipated market
growth. The Brightfield Group ranks Nevada the 4th best state in the U.S. to make cannabis related investments
(source: http://bit.ly/2oYshM0), above Washington (5th) and California (6th).
ArcView Market Research projects annual legal cannabis sales in Nevada to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 51%, to an
estimated US$630 million by 2020 (source: Arcview - http://mwne.ws/2o0pFcR).
Nevada recognizes five different licenses related to cannabis, cultivation, production, retail, laboratory
testing and transportation. GreenMart owns cultivation and production licenses.
Beth Stavola, President of U.S. operations for BCC, stated, “Most cannabis enterprises in Nevada have very
limited access to capital, and are therefore substantially constrained in their ability to expand. Combined with our early mover
advantage and the projected size of the market, having a large-scale cultivation and production facility positions GreenMart
exceptionally well to capitalize on the Nevada opportunity.”
Consideration & closing
The total consideration for the acquisition is US$19 million, payable as follows:
- $9.5 million, non-interest bearing promissory note, payable in full on or before June 30, 2018
- $9.5 million in units, each unit, priced at CAD$0.75 consisting of one full common share and one quarter of one warrant to
acquire one common share at $0.75. The number of units to be issued shall be determined baseed on the exchange rate between
the US$ and CAD$ on the date of closing.
Management anticipates completing the acquisition on or before May 30, 2017.
About The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation
BCC, an Ontario corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries in the U.S., provides substantial management,
staffing, procurement, advisory, financial, real estate rental, logistics and administrative services to medicinal cannabis
enterprises in Arizona and Massachusetts.
The Company supports two dispensaries in Arizona under the Health for Life (“H4L”) brand, with a third under
development. Additionally, the Company supports Melting Point Extracts (“MPX”), an award winning concentrates brand carried
by over 40% of Nevada dispensaries. The Company is developing a cultivation facility in Massachusetts, as well as one
dispensary, with two further dispensary zoning permits in process.
The Company also leases a property in Owen Sound, Ontario, for which an application to Health Canada has been
made for a cannabis production and sales license. In addition, the Company will continue its efforts related to its legacy
nutraceuticals business.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities
legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could
cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Transaction and
BCC's objectives and intentions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions
that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual
results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors
include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and
other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory
approvals; those additional risks set out in BCC's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although BCC believes that
the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on
these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur
in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, BCC disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation
Scott Boyes, CEO
For further information please contact: Scott Boyes, President and CEO The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation info@canadianbioceutical.com www.canadianbioceutocal.com Marc Lakmaaker NATIONAL Equicom T: +1 416 848 1397 mlakmaaker@national.ca
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