Aphria Rejects Green Growth Brand's Undervalued Hostile Takeover Bid

LEAMINGTON, ON, Feb. 6, 2019 /CNW/ – Aphria Inc. (“Aphria” or the “Company“) (TSX: APHA and NYSE: APHA) today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board“) has rejected the hostile bid by Green Growth Brands Inc. (CSE:GGB) (“GGB“) to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of the Company (“Common Shares“) including any Common Shares that may become issued and outstanding after January 22, 2019, but prior to the expiry of the hostile bid upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of options, warrants, debentures or other securities of the Company exercisable or convertible into Common Shares, other than Common Shares owned by GGB or its affiliates, in exchange for 1.5714 shares of GGB (the “Hostile Bid“).

Based on the 20-day volume-weighted average price of GGB shares immediately before GGB’s announcement of an intention to acquire the Common Shares of the Company, the Hostile Bid reflects a 23% discount to the Company’s share price over the same period. The Board made its recommendation after careful consideration and receipt of the recommendation of a committee of its independent directors (the “Independent Committee“), who were advised by financial and legal advisors.

The Board unanimously recommends that Aphria shareholders
REJECT the Hostile Bid and DO NOT TENDER their shares.

To REJECT the Hostile Bid, simply TAKE NO ACTION.

In the Board’s view, the Hostile Bid:

Significantly undervalues Aphria relative to its current and future worth, offering Aphria shareholders a substantial discount to its current and future value as opposed to a premium observed in other transactions in the cannabis sector involving Canadian licensed producers.
Would have negative repercussions, including delisting from the TSX and NYSE and a potential reduction in interest from strategic partners, that could destroy value for Aphria shareholders, with minimal offsetting operational, financial or strategic benefits.
Would result in Aphria shareholders effectively giving GGB shareholders a 36% interest in Aphria in exchange for shares in a company with limited operations or other experience in the cannabis industry.
Does not account for Aphria’s bright outlook, either as an independent company or in partnership with a strategic partner, which offers Aphria shareholders substantial value creation.

“The Aphria Board of Directors unanimously believes that GGB’s hostile offer is significantly undervalued and inadequate and not in the interest of Aphria shareholders on multiple grounds,” said Irwin D. Simon, Aphria’s independent Board Chair. “Regardless of their brazen attempts to suggest otherwise, GGB is asking Aphria shareholders to accept a substantial discount on their shares, as well as delisting from both the TSX and NYSE, resulting in a vast dilution of their ownership in Aphria. In return GGB offers shares in an illiquid company with limited operating history, minimal assets and no track record in the cannabis industry. GGB clearly timed their offer to exploit recent lows for Aphria and cannabis stocks overall, with the goal of transferring value to the insiders who control GGB at the expense of Aphria shareholders.”

Simon continued, “Today, Aphria is in a better position than ever to create long-term value for our shareholders, following a positive second quarter and continued progress expanding our production capacity and global footprint. Over the past five years, we have built a strong foundation for a leading global cannabis company in cultivation, manufacturing, research and distribution infrastructure, as well as forging strategic investments and alliances to efficiently scale around the world.

“By virtue of our strong platform and competitive advantages, Aphria has multiple near-term opportunities to profitably grow and create substantial value for its shareholders. These include expanding production and automation to secure long-term cost and scale advantages, expanding in the global medical-use market in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, acquisition of increased market share in the Canadian adult-use markets, and developing new products for the burgeoning cannabis health and wellness sector. A hostile takeover by GGB ignores this bright outlook, which is another reason why the Aphria Board strongly urges shareholders to reject the bid.”

A copy of the Directors’ Circular, which sets forth in greater detail the Board’s recommendation and the reasons therefor, is being mailed to all Aphria shareholders and is available on Aphria’s website, SEDA, and EDGAR. These reasons include, but are not limited to, the following:

GGB is offering Aphria shareholders a 23% discount on their investment in Aphria, relative to Aphria’s volume-weighted average share price over the twenty days prior to GGB’s initial public proposal and based on the price of GGB shares over the same period. Based on the closing price of $5.87 per GGB share on the CSE on February 4, 2019, the implied consideration under the Hostile Bid would be $9.22 per Aphria share, a 35% discount to Aphria’s closing price on the TSX of $14.21 per share on the same day. This is in sharp contrast to the median 46% premium in recent takeover transactions¹ involving other Canadian licensed cannabis producers.
The timing of GGB’s Hostile Bid is highly opportunistic, timed to exploit uncertainty about the Special Committee process and recent executive changes; to pre-empt Aphria’s ability to generate material free cash flow once operations are fully licenced and operating at capacity; and to deny Aphria shareholders the opportunity to fully realize the value of its recent international expansion.
A combination of GGB and Aphria would have negative repercussions, including delisting from the TSX and NYSE, that could destroy value for Aphria shareholders, with minimal offsetting operational, financial or strategic benefits, given that GGB’s U.S. cannabis activities are illegal under U.S. federal law. This may reduce Aphria’s strategic options and access to capital, since certain investors may be unable or unwilling to hold shares in a CSE-listed company or in a company with U.S.-based cannabis assets. Delisting from the TSX and NYSE will also substantially reduce liquidity for Aphria shareholders, reduce their ability to leverage their shares and potentially reduce interest from strategic partners.
Aphria shareholders would be giving GGB shareholders a 36% interest in Aphria, as well as control of management and the board, in exchange for shares in a company with limited operations. GGB’s ownership of the combined company would be vastly out of proportion to their contribution to it, by any relevant measure of value including revenue, production infrastructure or volumes, assets, relevant expertise and licenses.
There are no material synergies that can be realized by combining GGB and Aphria, given the minimal geographic and operating overlap. GGB’s nascent U.S. retail concept and management team, with limited experience in cannabis or knowledge of regulated industries, would contribute little to Aphria’s established Canadian and international medical and adult-use cannabis operations. In addition, U.S. federal law would preclude Aphria from shipping its product, including raw materials or ingredients, to the U.S.
Aphria shareholders would be exposed to significant downside risk by accepting GGB shares at their current price, versus the historical $2.70 – $3.50 trading range prior to the date of the confidential proposal to Aphria. Aphria shareholders should also consider the significant increase in volume leading up to the formal commencement of the Hostile Bid despite there being no material financial news related to GGB.
There is no guarantee that GGB will be able to complete its proposed $300M financing, in whole or in part.Accordingly, there is no guarantee that GGB will be able to fund the capital requirements of the combined company. In contrast, if completed, GGB’s proposed $300M financing deal would further dilute Aphria shareholders including for the benefit of GGB insiders, if the backstop commitment detailed in the bid is required.
Aphria’s bright outlook, either as an independent company or in partnership with a strategic partner, offers Aphria shareholders substantial potential value creation. Over the past five years, Aphria has built a strong foundation for a leading global cannabis company in cultivation, manufacturing, research and distribution infrastructure, and has invested in key strategic partnerships and alliances to efficiently scale around the world.
Aphria is successfully executing on its strategic plan. Recent milestones include strong quarter-over-quarter growth, as reflected in the most recent quarter’s results, and the completion of Phase IV and Phase V expansions of Aphria One and completed retrofit of Aphria Diamond, both of which have currently pending applications before Health Canada, which will increase Aphria’s production capacity to 255,000 kilograms per year.
Aphria’s has multiple options to create substantial near-term value as an independent company, including by expanding in the medical-use market in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean; gaining market share in the adult-use market in Canada; pursuing options in the U.S. once adult- and/or medical-use cannabis is federally legalized; and developing products for the burgeoning cannabis health and wellness sector.

Shareholders are also encouraged to visit AphriaFuture.ca for additional reasons why the Hostile Bid should be rejected.

The Board has received a written opinion from its financial advisor, Scotiabank, to the effect that, as of February 5, 2019, and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained therein, the consideration offered under the Hostile Bid for the Common Shares is inadequate, from a financial point of view, to Aphria shareholders, other than GGB and its affiliates.

For the principal reasons outlined above, the Board has unanimously determined that the Hostile Bid is inadequate and significantly undervalues the Common Shares and is not in the best interests of Aphria, Aphria shareholders or its other stakeholders.

To REJECT the Hostile Bid, simply TAKE NO ACTION

If you have already tendered your Common Shares to the Hostile Bid, you can withdraw your Common Shares by contacting your broker or Laurel Hill Advisory Group, Aphria’s shareholder communications advisor and information agent at 1-877-452-7184 (toll-free for shareholders in North America) or 1-416-304-0211 (collect call for Aphria Shareholders outside North America) or via email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

Advisors

Legal counsel to Aphria’s Board and Independent Committee is Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Scotiabank has been retained as financial advisor. Gagnier Communications is serving as strategic communications advisor and Laurel Hill is acting as Aphria’s shareholder communications advisor and information agent.

About Aphria

Aphria is a leading global cannabis company driven by an unrelenting commitment to our people, product quality and innovation. Headquartered in Leamington, Ontario – the greenhouse capital of Canada – Aphria has been setting the standard for the low-cost production of safe, clean and pure pharmaceutical-grade cannabis at scale, grown in the most natural conditions possible. Focusing on untapped opportunities and backed by the latest technologies, Aphria is committed to bringing breakthrough innovation to the global cannabis market. The Company’s portfolio of brands is grounded in expertly-researched consumer insights designed to meet the needs of every consumer segment. Rooted in our founders’ multi-generational expertise in commercial agriculture, Aphria drives sustainable long-term shareholder value through a diversified approach to innovation, strategic partnerships and global expansion, with a presence in more than 10 countries across 5 continents.

For more information, visit: aphria.ca

Original press release