Acreage Holdings, Inc. (“Acreage”) (CSE: ACRG.U) (OTCQX: ACRGF) (FSE: 0VZ) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2020.

FIRST QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (UNAUDITED)

  • First quarter reported revenue was $24.2 million, an 88% increase compared to the same period in 2019, and a 15% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

  • Pro forma revenue* was $37.6 million, a 65% increase compared to the same period in 2019, and a 17% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

  • Gross margin was 41.1%, a 10 basis point decrease versus the same period in 2019, and a 400 basis point increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

  • Recorded a one-time, non-cash pre-tax charge of $196.0 million, or $164.7 million after taxes, which was associated with Acreage’s previously announced strategy to refocus its operations in certain states.  This charge was higher than previously guided due primarily to impairments based on current fair market value in certain states and the write down for its services agreement in Maine, which were not initially contemplated.

  • Net loss attributable to Acreage was $172 million, while adjusted net income* attributable to Acreage was $14.7 million.

  • Pro forma adjusted EBITDA* was a loss of $11.1 million.

*Pro forma revenue, adjusted net loss and pro forma adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Please see discussion and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures below.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting millions across the U.S., the cannabis industry was faced with yet another significant challenge. Our dispensary and processing and cultivation associates quickly adapted to these changing dynamics ensuring our patients and customers in need were still served with dignity and respect, while maintaining a safe environment for everyone.  Additionally, I am pleased with the reacceleration of our reported and pro forma revenue as our wholesale business continues to ramp and our dispensaries continue to mature,” said Bill Van Faasen, interim Chief Executive Officer of Acreage.

EARNINGS CALL DETAILS

Acreage will host a conference call with management on Friday, June 26th at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at investors.acreageholdings.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

ABOUT ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

Headquartered in New York City, Acreage is a vertically integrated, multi-state operator of cannabis licenses and assets in the U.S. Acreage is dedicated to building and scaling operations to create a seamless, consumer-focused branded cannabis experience. Acreage debuted its national retail store brand, The Botanist in 2018 and its award-winning consumer brands, The Botanist and Live Resin Project in 2019.

On June 27, 2019 Acreage implemented an arrangement under section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Current Arrangement”) with Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy Growth”) pursuant to an arrangement agreement dated April 18, 2019, as amended on May 15, 2019 (the “Arrangement Agreement”).  On June 23, 2020, Canopy Growth and Acreage entered into an agreement (the “Proposal Agreement”) proposing to amend certain the terms of the Current Arrangement and the Arrangement Agreement (collectively, the “New Arrangement”).  Pursuant to the Current Arrangement, Canopy Growth has an option to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Acreage, with a requirement to do so, upon a change in federal laws in the United States to permit the general cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana (as defined in the relevant legislation) or to remove the regulation of such activities from the federal laws of the United States (the “Triggering Event”), subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement.   Pursuant to the Current Arrangement, upon the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event, Canopy Growth will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions to closing set out in the Arrangement Agreement, acquire (the “Acquisition”) each of Acreage’s class A subordinate voting shares (the “Subordinate Voting Shares”) (following the automatic conversion of the Class B proportionate voting shares (“Proportionate Voting Shares”) and Class C multiple voting shares of Acreage into Subordinate Voting Shares) in exchange for the payment of 0.5818 of a common share of Canopy Growth per Subordinate Voting Share (subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement), until such time as amended in accordance with the New Arrangement.  If the New Arrangement is consummated, among other things, the Subordinate Voting Shares will be exchanged for 0.7 of a Class E subordinate voting share (each whole share being a “Fixed Share”) and 0.3 of a Class D subordinate voting share (each whole share being a “Floating Share”) and the Proportionate Voting Shares will be exchanged for 28 Fixed Shares and 12 Floating Shares.  In addition to various amendments to the covenants and restrictions contained in the Arrangement Agreement, the New Arrangement will provide Canopy Growth with (i) an option to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares in exchange for 0.3048 of a common share of Canopy Growth (each whole share, a “Canopy Growth Share”) per Fixed Share, with a requirement to do so, upon a Triggering Event, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set out in Arrangement Agreement (as amended by the New Arrangement), and (ii) an option, exercisable in Canopy Growth discretion, to acquire the outstanding Floating Shares at the time that it acquires the Fixed Shares, for cash or Canopy Growth Shares, as Canopy Growth may determine, at a price based upon the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange relative to the trading price of the Canopy Growth Shares on the New York Stock Exchange at that time, subject to a minimum of US$6.41 per Floating Share.

For more information about the Current Arrangement and the Acquisition please see the respective information circulars of each of Acreage and Canopy Growth dated May 17, 2019, which are available on Canopy Growth’s and Acreage’s respective profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.