Aphria Inc. Announces $80 Million Financing Of Aphria Diamond
Strengthens Balance Sheet in Support of Long-term Growth Objectives Without Dilution to Shareholders
LEAMINGTON, ON, Dec. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ – Aphria Inc. (“Aphria” or the “Company”) (TSX: APHA and NYSE: APHA) announced that its subsidiary Aphria Diamond secured a credit facility, on November 29 2019, with a major Canadian chartered bank (the “Bank”) as sole arranger, sole book runner and administrative agent on behalf of a group of lenders for a committed senior secured credit facility of $80 million (the “Credit Facility”).
Aphria has the largest cash balance in the cannabis industry without the dilution of a strategic partner. We are pleased to have secured a term loan that will repatriate a portion of our investment in Aphria Diamond, to be strategically deployed by Aphria.
Irwin D. Simon
This loan strengthens our balance sheet without being dilutive, and positions Aphria Diamond for success as we expand into new categories and growth opportunities in cannabis to enhance value for shareholders long term.
Since securing its Health Canada license on November 1, 2019, Aphria Diamond is quickly coming on scale. Aphria Diamond will be 70 per cent planted by mid-week, with 350,000 young seedlings planted. With the level of automation and scale of the facility, the Company anticipates Aphria Diamond to have one of the lowest cost structures in the industry. Aphria expects the dried flower production from the first harvest to be sold to provincial control boards sometime in March 2020.
The Credit Facility is secured by Aphria Diamond’s assets and Aphria’s balance sheet. Pricing is based on a set margin over the Bank’s Canadian Prime Rate or Bankers’ Acceptance and a pricing grid linked to certain financial ratios. It is expected to be at the outset in the low-to-high 5 per cent per annum range. The Credit Facility has a three-year term and contains customary financial and restrictive covenants.
About Aphria Inc.
Aphria Inc. is a leading global cannabis company driven by an unrelenting commitment to our people, the planet, product quality and innovation. Headquartered in Leamington, Ontario – the greenhouse capital of Canada – Aphria Inc. has been setting the standard for the low-cost production of high-quality cannabis at scale, grown in the most natural conditions possible. Focusing on untapped opportunities and backed by the latest technologies, Aphria Inc. 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 Inc. drives sustainable long-term shareholder value through a diversified approach to innovation, strategic partnerships and global expansion.
For more information, visit: aphriainc.com
