Canopy Growth Corp establishes and commits initial funding for the cannabis industry’s first streaming and strategic support platform, Canopy Rivers Corporation
SMITHS FALLS, ON, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ – Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (“Canopy Growth” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that following the successful launch of its first-in-class Craft Grow program which opens up access to genetics, knowledge and retail infrastructure to strategic partners, it has today committed $20 million in seed capital funding for a complementary but distinct company that will provide financial support to ACMPR applicants and existing Licensed Producers.
Specifically, the newly formed company, Canopy Rivers Corporation (“Canopy Rivers”), will operate as a joint venture with Canopy Growth. It will provide growth capital and strategic support to selected partners in exchange for a contracted stream of future cannabis production. Through its joint venture with Canopy Growth, it is also ideally positioned to provide strategic and operational support services on an as needed basis to help de-risk and expedite the development of its streaming counterparties and assist with the licensing process to help bring more producers to market faster.
As the global market leader in the cannabis industry, Canopy Growth receives inbound inquiries from applicants and operators across the country and abroad seeking strategic partnerships, operational support, wholesale off-take, and financial support. Since the launch of Tweed’s Craft Grow platform earlier this month, the level of interest in these types of agreements has increased considerably and established a need for a related, but distinct vehicle to pursue these opportunities.
The establishment of Canopy Rivers as a separate entity creates a unique platform through which these opportunities can be pursued in a manner that allows counterparties to maintain control of their operations, formulate their own unique brands and strategies, and fortify their own positions as members of Canada’s globally leading eco-system of emerging cannabis companies. It facilitates a lower cost, less dilutive source of growth capital that also comes with an opportunity to establish distribution via Canopy Growth’s Tweed Main Street and Craft Grow programs and platform.
As new companies pursue opportunities in the sector, accessing capital and successfully navigating the stringent regulatory environment continues to be critical gating items for many. Canopy Rivers helps to fill that void with a less costly and less dilutive way to foster the cannabis ecosystem of both boutique and commercial scale operators. Consumers benefit from a more diverse collection of producers and products; and companies get access to an alternative source of capital that comes with a lifeline to tap for support if they need it.
Bruce Linton, Chief Executive Officer of Canopy Growth
Canopy Rivers gets to build and maintain a steady supply of cannabis at a predictable cost, and Canopy Growth gets access to an increased outlet for wholesale supply and differentiated products. This platform creates a mutually beneficial way to support industry growth.
While initially a wholly owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth, Canopy Rivers will be operated and supported by a lean executive suite comprised of members from Canopy Growth’s industry leading executive and professional support network. Details regarding the executive leadership team, strategic support partners, and Canopy River’s initial capital and streaming structure will be released under separate cover by Canopy Rivers on Monday, May 1, 2017.
Here’s to Future Growth for Everyone.
About Canopy Rivers Corporation
Canopy Rivers is a newly-formed and wholly-owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth focused on free cash flow generation and the aggregation of wholesale supply. Canopy Rivers will enter streaming agreements to purchase a portion of cannabis harvested from licensed producers in exchange for an upfront capital and additional ongoing payments upon delivery of the product. In return, Canopy Rivers will be supplied with high-quality cannabis at predictable costs. Partners of Canopy Rivers will benefit from Canopy Growth’s world-leading expertise within the cannabis market while still allowing the partners to maintain day-to-day control over operational and strategic initiatives.
About Canopy Growth Corporation
Canopy Growth is a world-leading diversified cannabis company, offering diverse brands and curated cannabis strain varieties in dried and oil extract forms. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Canopy Growth operates numerous state-of-the-art production facilities with over half a million square feet of indoor and greenhouse production capacity. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names in Canada and abroad. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com.
Original press release: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canopy-growth-corp-establishes-and-commits-initial-funding-for-the-cannabis-industrys-first-streaming-and-stragegic-support-platform-canopy-rivers-corporation-620595533.html
