HEXO Corp. ("
HEXO") (TSX: HEXO; NASDAQ: HEXO) and
48North Cannabis Corp. ("
48North") (TSX-V: NRTH)
are pleased to announce that they have completed the previously
announced arrangement (the "
Arrangement"),
pursuant to which HEXO has acquired all of the issued and
outstanding common shares of 48North ("
48North
Shares") by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement
under the Canada Business Corporations Act.
Under the terms of the Arrangement, each former
shareholder of 48North (a "48North Shareholder")
is now entitled to receive 0.02366 of a common share in the capital
of HEXO (each whole share, a "HEXO Share") for
each 48North Share held immediately prior to the completion of the
Arrangement (the "Consideration"). It is
anticipated that the 48North Shares will be de-listed from the TSX
Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") as of the close of
trading on or about September 2, 2021.
In order to receive the Consideration,
registered holders of 48North Shares will be required to deposit
their share certificate(s) representing 48North Shares, together
with a duly completed letter of transmittal, with TSX Trust
Company, the depositary under the Arrangement. Shareholders whose
48North Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer,
bank, trust company or other nominee should contact their nominee
regarding the receipt of the Consideration.
Further information about the Arrangement is set
forth in the materials prepared by 48North in respect of the
special meeting of 48North Shareholders held on August 17, 2021
(the "Meeting"), which were mailed to 48North
Shareholders and filed under 48North's profile on the System for
Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at
www.sedar.com.
Warrants
Warrants to purchase 48North Shares, other than
those exercised prior to 12:01 a.m. (Toronto time) on September 1,
2021 (the "Effective Time"), will continue to
remain outstanding as warrants of 48North, which, upon exercise,
will entitle the holder thereof to receive, in lieu of the number
of 48North Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled
upon exercise of such 48North warrants, the Consideration in the
form of HEXO Shares that such holder would have been entitled to be
issued and receive if, immediately prior to the Effective Time,
such holder had been the registered holder of the number of 48North
Shares to which such holder was theretofore entitled upon exercise
of such 48North warrants. All other terms governing the warrants,
including, but not limited to, the expiry term, exercise price and
the conditions to and the manner of exercise, will be the same as
the terms that were in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, and shall be governed by the terms of the applicable warrant
indenture or the applicable warrant certificate.
As required by the warrant indentures in respect
of the applicable warrants, HEXO has entered into supplemental
warrant indentures in respect of such warrant indentures governing
applicable warrants. A copy of each such supplemental warrant
indenture will be available on 48North's and HEXO's respective
SEDAR profiles at www.sedar.com.
Listed 48North Warrants
Prior to the completion of the Arrangement,
48North had outstanding one class of warrants to purchase 48North
Shares listed on the TSX-V under the trading symbol 'NRTH.WT' (the
"Listed 48North Warrants"). It is anticipated that
the Listed 48North Warrants will be listed and commence trading on
the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) under the
symbol 'HEXO.WT.A' as of the opening of trading on September 3,
2021. The Listed 48North Warrants will then remain listed on the
TSX until the earliest to occur of their exercise, expiry or
de-listing. HEXO has entered into a supplemental warrant indenture
in respect of the Listed 48North Warrants, a copy of which will be
available on 48North's and HEXO's respective SEDAR profiles at
www.sedar.com.
Options
Holders of 48North options have received
replacement options under the Arrangement, exercisable for HEXO
Shares at the same conversion ratio applicable to the 48North
Shares. All other terms and conditions of the replacement options,
including the term of expiry, vesting, conditions to and manner of
exercising, are the same as the 48North options for which they were
exchanged, and any certificate or option agreement previously
evidencing 48North options now evidences (and shall be deemed to
evidence) such replacement options.
Other Matters
48North has been granted exemptive relief from
certain continuous disclosure and insider reporting requirements by
the applicable securities regulators. Holders of Listed 48North
Warrants will be directed to reference, and rely on, the public
disclosure filings of HEXO in lieu of those of 48North.
In connection with the completion of the
Arrangement, each of the officers and directors of the boards of
directors of 48North and its subsidiaries resigned.
HEXO's and 48North's operations are subject to a
variety of laws, regulations and guidelines relating to the
marketing, acquisition, manufacture, management, transportation,
storage, sale and disposal of cannabis but also including laws and
regulations relating to health and safety, the conduct of
operations and the protection of the environment. To the knowledge
of HEXO's management, HEXO and 48North have been and, following the
completion of the Arrangement, continue to be in compliance with
all such laws. More specifically, to the knowledge of HEXO’s
management, HEXO is in compliance with applicable laws in the
jurisdictions in which it operates. Changes to such laws,
regulations and guidelines due to matters beyond the control of
HEXO and 48North may cause adverse effects to HEXO's and 48North'
combined operations.
Advisors and Counsel
Cormark Securities Inc. acted as financial advisor
to 48North. Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP acted as legal counsel
to HEXO, and Bennett Jones LLP acted as legal counsel to
48North.
About HEXO
HEXO is an award-winning licensed producer of
innovative products for the global cannabis market. HEXO serves the
Canadian recreational market with a brand portfolio including HEXO,
UP Cannabis, Original Stash, Bake Sale, Namaste, and REUP brands,
and the medical market in Canada, Israel and Malta. HEXO also
serves the Colorado market through its Powered by HEXO® strategy
and Truss CBD USA, a joint venture with Molson Coors. With the
recent completion of the Redecan acquisition and the closing of the
Arrangement, HEXO expects to be the number one cannabis products
company in Canada by recreational market share.
For more information please visit
www.hexocorp.com.
About 48North
48North is a brand-led, consumer-centric
licensed cannabis producer with an expansive portfolio of high
quality, accessibly priced products available across the country.
The company serves the Canadian medical and adult-use markets with
its brand portfolio that includes: 48North, an innovative and
high-quality cannabis brand focused on thoughtfully crafted
everyday staples for passionate cannabis users; Trail Mix, an
accessibly priced brand formulated with taste and aroma-first
flavour profiles; and Latitude, a next generation lifestyle
platform and premium, natural cannabis collection focused on
wellness, beauty, and beyond. 48North operates two indoor-licensed
cannabis production sites in Ontario and cultivates unique genetics
through its wholly-owned subsidiary, DelShen Therapeutics Corp.,
and processes cannabis and manufactures next generation cannabis
products through Good & Green Corp., both licensed producers
under the Cannabis Act (Canada).
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Certain information in this news release
regarding HEXO and 48North and their respective businesses
constitutes forward looking statements under applicable securities
laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that
are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by
terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "potential",
"believe", "intend", "estimate" or the negative of these terms and
similar expressions and include statements in this press release
concerning the expected timing by which the 48North Shares and the
Listed 48North Warrants will be de-listed from the TSX-V and of the
listing and commencement of trading of the Listed 48North Warrants
on the TSX. Such forward-looking statements are based on the
current expectations of the management of HEXO and 48North. While
HEXO and 48North consider these expectations to be reasonable,
based on information currently available, they may prove to be
incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking events and circumstances
may not occur when anticipated or at all and could differ
materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and
uncertainties affecting HEXO or 48North, including risks regarding
the cannabis industry, economic factors, the equity markets
generally, risks associated with growth and competition and those
risk factors referred to in the management information circular of
48North prepared in connection with the Meeting. Although HEXO and
48North have attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from
those described in this news release, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results to differ from those
anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information
cannot be guaranteed. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list
is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance
that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are
placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable
by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect
and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.
For more information on the risk, uncertainties and assumptions
that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to
differ materially, please refer to the public filings of HEXO and
48North which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including
the "Risk Factors" section in HEXO's Annual Information Form dated
October 29, 2020 and the most recent management's discussion
and analysis filed by each of HEXO and 48North.
Except as required by applicable securities
laws, statements in this news release containing forward-looking
information speak only as of the date on which they are made and
HEXO and 48North undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by
applicable securities laws.
Notice to U.S. Holders. Both
HEXO and 48North have been formed outside of the United States. The
Arrangement is subject to disclosure requirements of Canada that
are different from those of the United States. Financial statements
included in the documents, if any, are prepared in accordance with
Canadian accounting standards and may not be comparable to the
financial statements of United States companies. It may be
difficult for a securityholder in the United States to enforce
his/her/its rights and any claim a securityholder may have arising
under U.S. federal securities laws, since the companies are located
in Canada, and some or all of their officers or directors may be
residents of Canada or another country outside of the United
States. A securityholder may not be able to sue a Canadian company
or its officers or directors in a court in Canada or elsewhere
outside of the United States for violations of U.S. securities
laws. It may be difficult to compel a Canadian company and its
affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment.
Neither the TSX, nor NASDAQ accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Neither the TSX nor the NASDAQ has passed upon the merits of the
transaction described herein and has neither approved nor
disapproved the content of this release.
For further information, please
contact:
Investor
Relations:invest@HEXO.comwww.hexocorp.com
Media Relations:(819)
317-0526media@hexo.com
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