Exclusive Interview with Zenabis CEO Andrew Grieve
In January, Zenabis Global (TSX: ZENA) (OTC: ZBISF) was formed as the result of the reverse takeover of Bevo Agro by Sun Pharm Investments. In less than a year, the company has increased its licensed production capacity from five tons to more than 50 tons. CEO Andrew Grieve spoke with New Cannabis Ventures about the company’s values, growth strategy, and approach to funding. The audio of the entire conversation is available at the end of this written summary.
Grieve has a background in finance and technology ventures, as well as the military. Before becoming CEO of Zenabis, Grieve worked with the Benne family, the majority owners of Bevo Agro. When the family first considered entering the cannabis space, they asked for his perspective. Grieve helped orchestrate the RTO that formed Zenabis, and the board of directors asked him to fill the role of CEO.
The Zenabis Team and Values
The company and its team are built around a shared set of values: compliance, responsibility, excellence, and delivery. Grieve is joined on the management team by other leaders like Chief Growing Officer Leo Benne, Chief Revenue Officer David Lluncor, and CFO Mike Smyth. Benne helped build Bevo Agro from 2.5 acres to more than 50 acres. Lluncor has a depth of experience in the CPG and grocery space. Smyth served as CFO of a company that later sold to Canopy, according to Grieve.
Rapid Growth
Zenabis started as a relatively small producer with just five tons of capacity. The company increased that capacity to 50 tons at a rapid pace, and it aims to reach 140 tons of licensed capacity by the end of the year. The company’s business model combines that high level of growth with a low cost of cultivation and production. For example, the company’s cash cost of cultivation at its Atholville, New Brunswick facility in the second quarter was $0.78 per gram.
Cultivation and Distribution
Zenabis has four licensed facilities in Canada: a 25,000-square-foot indoor facility in Delta, British Columbia; a 460,000-square-foot facility in Langley, British Columbia (part of a larger 2.1 million-square-foot greenhouse); a 255,000-square-foot facility in Stellarton, Nova Scotia; and the 380,000-square-foot facility in Atholville. Additionally, the company has a 10.5-acre site in Aldergrove, British Columbia and a five-acre site in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia for floral propagation and the cultivation of hemp.
The company has an extensive distribution network that spans nine provinces and the Yukon Territory. Zenabis also has medical distribution through an online platform and partnerships with Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmasave.
Outside of Canada, Zenabis expects to have its first shipments to the EU through its Malta joint venture in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Brand Portfolio
Capacity is only part of what it takes to become a major player, according to Grieve. The company is also focused on having products that consumers want, both flower and value-add options. The company’s current brand portfolio includes the premium recreational brand Namaste and the medical brand Zenabis.
The company also plans to launch Founders Reserve, a micro cultivation brand, through its Zen Craft Grow program. Zenabis will soon have one of the first micro cultivation licenses through a partner, according to Grieve.
Fundraising and Capital Allocation
Zenabis has done a number of financing deals since it formed at the beginning of 2019. It has focused on finding innovative ways to secure capital while minimizing dilution, according to Grieve. For example, the company has secured prepaid supply agreements with Tilray and Starseed. The company received $40 million in cash for those two deals. Zenabis traded a limited percentage of its 2020 volume for cash that is non-dilutive at pricing, according to Grieve.
At the beginning of the year, Zenabis secured a $51 million credit facility. More recently, the company took on an additional $25 million in senior secured debt financing, with limited dilution. Zenabis opts to pay a higher interest rate in exchange for less dilution, according to Grieve.
That funding has helped the company accomplish the significant ramp-up of production capacity in the short time since its inception, and it has provided sufficient working capital to help the company be cash flow positive. Beyond that, the funds will be used to explore different products. Grieve does not currently see the need to raise more capital.
Tracking the Company’s Growth
Zenabis has yet to provide the market with guidance, but it does offer a monthly cultivation forecast (facility performance in comparison to design capacity). Grieve recommends investors track the company’s licensed capacity and near-term production capacity. As the company completed the second quarter, it outperformed its Atholville facility’s original design capacity by 35 percent. The company updated its design capacity and outperformed the updated metric by more than 10 percent in July.
Grieve also recommends investors watch the cost of cultivation. He believes the highest value players will have meaningful capacity at a low cost of cultivation.
The Future
As far as what it takes for cannabis companies to achieve global success, Grieve thinks the formula has yet to be defined. Growth itself is a challenge, particularly adding the people necessary to keep up with the needs of scale, but the industry’s opportunity to disrupt is enormous. He sees the rest of the world looking to Canada as a model for successfully legalizing and rolling out cannabis.
To learn more, visit the Zenabis website. Listen to the entire interview
