Aurora Cannabis Launches Takeover Bid for CanniMed, Invites CanniMed Shareholders to Tender to the Bid
- Offer currently valued at $24.00 per CanniMed share
- 56.9% premium to CanniMed closing price prior to Aurora’s takeover proposal announcement
- Lockup agreements already in place with shareholders holding 38% of CanniMed shares, including CanniMed’s 3 largest shareholders
VANCOUVER, Nov. 24, 2017 /CNW/ – Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the “Company” or “Aurora”) (TSX: ACB) announced today that, further to its press release of November 17, 2017, it has formally commenced its offer (the “Offer”) to purchase all of the issued and outstanding common shares (the “CanniMed Shares”) of CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. (“CanniMed”) (TSX: CMED) for consideration consisting of common shares of Aurora (the “Aurora Shares”).
Notice and advertisement of the Offer was placed in the November 24, 2017 edition of the Globe & Mail, and a takeover bid circular will be mailed to CanniMed shareholders. In addition, Aurora will file the offer and takeover bid circular and related documents (the “Offer Documents”) on SEDAR. The Offer Documents will also be available on Aurora’s website at www.auroramj.com and shareholders are invited to visit cannimed.auroramj.com for further information.
The price being offered by Aurora for each CanniMed Share, which would currently be equivalent to the Cap Price (as such term is defined below) of $24.00 payable in Aurora Shares given Aurora’s closing share price of $6.42 on November 22, 2017, represents a compelling premium of 56.9% over the closing price of CanniMed Shares on November 14, 2017 (the last day prior to the public disclosure of Aurora’s intention to pursue a combination with CanniMed), and a 74.7% premium over the volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) for CanniMed Shares for the last 20 trading days ended November 14, 2017.
Terms of the Offer
The Offer will provide holders of CanniMed Shares with 4.52586207 Aurora Shares for each CanniMed Share, subject to a maximum of $24.00 (the “Cap Price”) in Aurora Shares. If, on the earlier of the expiry time of the Offer and the date on which all conditions to the Offer have been satisfied, the 20-day volume weighted average price (the “Calculation DateVWAP”) of Aurora Shares traded on the TSX is greater than $5.30 per Aurora Share, the number of Aurora Shares that a holder of CanniMed Shares will receive will be calculated by dividing the Cap Price of $24.00 by the Calculation Date VWAP.
The Offer will be remain open for acceptance until 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) on March 9, 2018. Subject to applicable securities laws, the deposit period may be extended, or in certain circumstances reduced, by Aurora. In light of CanniMed’s proposed alternative transaction with Newstrike Resources Ltd. (the “Newstrike Resources Alternative Transaction”), Aurora has applied to the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan and the Ontario Securities Commission to obtain an order reducing the minimum deposit period for the Offer in order to allow CanniMed’s shareholders to consider the Offer concurrently with the Newstrike Resources Alternative Transaction. CanniMed shareholders are advised, however, that there is no assurance such relief will be obtained.
Compelling Strategic Rationale for the Aurora-CanniMed Combination
Aurora continues to believe that the combination of the two companies is extremely compelling, in the best interest of both CanniMed’s and Aurora’s shareholders, and will accelerate growth and shareholder value creation for the combined entity, further extending Aurora’s leadership position within the global cannabis sector.
We are excited to be able to present this offer to CanniMed’s shareholders. We are confident that they will find the significant premium we are offering on CanniMed’s shares is highly attractive, and is amplified by the opportunity to participate in the growth of the combined company through Aurora’s common shares.
Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora
Our ability to unlock value is one of the driving forces behind our offer, as we believe that we will be able to accelerate CanniMed’s growth more effectively than current management, and so we invite and encourage CanniMed’s shareholders to tender their shares to the bid.
By combining with Aurora, CanniMed will be able to leverage certain of Aurora’s strengths to expand its business. The combined company will have an expanded geographic footprint, increased production capacity, an expanded product portfolio and other synergistic benefits, such as:
- Increased Oil Production. High throughput oil production through Aurora’s strategic extraction partner, Radient Technologies Inc., to satisfy growing international demand;
- CanvasRx. Aurora’s wholly owned subsidiary, CanvasRx Inc., is the industry leading physician education and patient counselling services company, having helped over 35,000 patients register with licensed producers;
- Accelerated Growth Through Innovation. CanniMed will be able to leverage Aurora’s sector leadership in execution, technology integration and innovation for the purpose of accelerating development and growth potential;
- eCommerce. CanniMed will have access to Aurora’s e-commerce platform, including the only mobile app in Canada that enables customer purchases;
- Same Day Delivery. CanniMed will have access to Aurora’s same-day delivery capabilities; and
- Strong Cash Position and Balance Sheet to Support Additional Growth. Aurora`s sector-leading cash position and balance sheet will enable faster roll-out of initiatives for CanniMed to accelerate growth.
In addition to Aurora’s standalone strengths, which can be leveraged to build CanniMed’s brand and revenues, a combined Aurora-CanniMed would have:
- Over 130,000 kg of Funded Capacity. Funded capacity of over 130,000 kilograms of annual production (including both current facilities and facilities under construction), with significant additional capacity planned and funded;
- Expanded International Presence – A strengthened international presence with operations and agreements across North America, the European Union, Australia, South Africa, and the Cayman Islands;
- 6 State-of-the-Art Facilities. Significant cultivation capacity with six state-of-the-art facilities;
- Increased Export Capacity. Multiple EU GMP-compliant production facilities and significantly increased export capacity;
- Genetics. Expansion of both companies’ portfolio of genetics;
- Broader Product Portfolio. The combination of each company’s product lines will broaden the number of product offerings, delivery mechanisms, and devices;
- Strategic Product Synergies. Complementary product offerings which will provide better opportunities for market penetration in new sectors; and
- Improved Yields. Expected enhanced production yields and product quality through cross-application of proprietary technologies and intellectual property from each of Aurora and CanniMed.
Reasons to Tender to the Aurora-CanniMed Combination
Among other reasons, CanniMed’s shareholders are encouraged to tender their shares to the Offer because:
- Receive a Premium vs. Pay a Premium. The Offer provides CanniMed Shareholders the opportunity to receive a 56.9% premium over the closing price of CanniMed Shares on November 14, 2017, the last day prior to the public disclosure of Aurora’s intention to pursue a combination with CanniMed, and a 74.7% premium over the VWAP over the last twenty trading days ended on November 14, 2017. In contrast, the Newstrike Resources Alternative Transaction has CanniMed Shareholders paying a 26% premium to the Newstrike closing price as at November 6, 2017, the last day prior to market speculation in Newstrike shares.
- High Likelihood of Completion. Aurora believes that there is a high likelihood that more than 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares will be tendered to the Offer, and therefore the Offer will be successful, given that the Offer is already supported by 38% of CanniMed Shareholders (the “Locked-Up Shareholders”).
- Support of Major Shareholders. The Locked-up Shareholders include CanniMed’s three largest shareholders, which represent 38% of CanniMed Shares. The Locked-up Shareholders have already agreed to tender their shares in favour of the Offer and are precluded from tendering any of their common shares in favour of any other competing acquisition proposal relating to CanniMed.
- Potential for Downward Share Price Impact if Offer is Not Accepted. The Offer represents a significant premium to the market price of CanniMed Shares prior to the public announcement of Aurora’s interest to acquire CanniMed. Given the Lock-Up Agreements, Aurora believes it will be extremely difficult for CanniMed to proceed with an alternative competing transaction to the Offer. If the Offer is not successful and no competing transaction is made, Aurora believes the trading price of CanniMed shares may decline to pre-Offer levels.
- Continued Participation with an Industry Leader. Aurora has rapidly become a globally significant cannabis company with a proven track record of exceptional shareholder value creation. Since receiving its first license to cultivate from Health Canada in February 2015, Aurora has completed a number of acquisitions and investments, completed capital programs to expand facilities, and developed marketing and delivery capabilities, demonstrating an ability to be agile, innovative and execute its business plans. The Offer provides CanniMed shareholders the opportunity to continue to participate in the compelling industry growth alongside the established and successful track record of Aurora.
- Increased Scale, Capital Markets Presence and Access to Capital. The pro forma combined company would have, based on the current trading price of the Aurora Shares, a market capitalization approaching $3.5 billion, in addition to significantly enhanced liquidity relative to CanniMed, providing greater access to capital. Aurora has cash of more than $180 million (increasing to $340 million upon completion of its current capital initiatives), relative to only $54 million for CanniMed based on its most recent quarterly financial statements. Aurora’s capitalization makes it well positioned to continue pursuing its aggressive global expansion and differentiation strategy.
Conditions of the Offer
The Offer is subject to a number of customary conditions, including: (i) there being deposited under the Offer, and not withdrawn, at least 66⅔% of the outstanding CanniMed Shares (calculated on a fully diluted basis), excluding any CanniMed Shares held by Aurora; (ii) the proposed acquisition of Newstrike Resources Inc. announced by CanniMed in its new release of November 17, 2017 shall not have proceeded, and shall have been terminated; (iii) receipt of all governmental, regulatory and third party approvals that Aurora considers necessary or desirable in connection with the Offer; (iv) no material adverse change having occurred in the business, affairs, prospects or assets of CanniMed; and (v) the minimum tender and other conditions set out in National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids. In addition, in accordance with the policies of the TSX, Aurora requires the approval of its shareholders to issue the Aurora Shares to be distributed by it in connection with the Offer. Aurora will call a meeting of its shareholders to consider a resolution to approve the issuance of Aurora Shares in connection with the Offer in early 2018.
Acknowledgement of CanniMed Special Committee
Aurora acknowledges that, as announced in a press release on November 22, 2017, the Board of Directors of CanniMed has formed a Special Committee to review the Offer, and Aurora remains open to a dialogue whereby the parties can work toward a constructive, mutually agreeable transaction in a timely manner.
The initial decision of CanniMed not to explore our proposal was unfortunate. However, we are hopeful that CanniMed’s Special Committee will see, as we do, that the financial and strategic rationales for a combination with Aurora are compelling, and that the transaction is in the best interests of CanniMed’s shareholders.
Ronan Levy, Aurora’s Vice President of Business and Corporate Affairs
We remain available for productive conversations with the Special Committee such that the benefits of the combination can begin to be realized by the shareholders of both of our companies as soon as possible.
Advisors
Aurora has retained Canaccord Genuity Corp. as its financial advisor in connection with the Offer. McMillan LLP is acting as the legal advisor to Aurora for the Offer. Laurel Hill Advisory Group has also been retained by Aurora as its Depositary and Information Agent in connection with the Offer. Shareholders with questions regarding Aurora’s Offer can contact Laurel Hill at 1-877-452-7184 (or +1-416-304-0211 – collect call for shareholders outside North America).
About Aurora
Aurora’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc., is a licensed producer of medical cannabis pursuant to Health Canada’s Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (“ACMPR”). The Company operates a 55,200 square foot, state-of-the-art production facility in Mountain View County, Alberta, known as “Aurora Mountain”, a second 40,000 square foot high-technology production facility known as “Aurora Vie” in Pointe-Claire, Quebec on Montreal’s West Island, and is currently constructing an 800,000 square foot production facility, known as “Aurora Sky”, at the Edmonton International Airport.
In addition, the Company holds approximately 9.6% of the issued shares (12.9% on a fully-diluted basis) in leading extraction technology company Radient Technologies Inc., based in Edmonton, and is in the process of completing an investment in Edmonton-based Hempco Food and Fiber for an ownership stake of up to 50.1%. Furthermore, Aurora is the cornerstone investor with a 19.9% stake in Cann Group Limited, the first Australian company licensed to conduct research on and cultivate medical cannabis. Aurora also owns Pedanios, a leading wholesale importer, exporter, and distributor of medical cannabis in the European Union, based in Germany. The Company offers further differentiation through its acquisition of BC Northern Lights Ltd. and Urban Cultivator Inc., industry leaders, respectively, in the production and sale of proprietary systems for the safe, efficient and high-yield indoor cultivation of cannabis, and in state-of-the-art indoor gardening appliances for the cultivation of organic microgreens, vegetables and herbs in home and professional kitchens. Aurora’s common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol “ACB”.
