MedMen Announces Termination of Merger Agreement With PharmaCann and Management Changes
- MedMen and PharmaCann terminate business combination agreement
- In conjunction with the termination, MedMen will be compensated with retail and cultivation assets in Illinois and Virginia
- Termination opens up MedMen’s balance sheet to deepen presence in core retail markets of California, Illinois, Nevada, Florida, New York and Massachusetts and invest further in its omni-channel platform
- Appoints Zeeshan Hyder as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately
LOS ANGELES, October 8, 2019 — (Business Wire) —MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMEN) (OTCQX: MMNFF) (“MedMen” or the “Company”), a leading cannabis retailer with operations across the U.S., today announced the mutual agreement to terminate the Business Combination Agreement dated December 23, 2018, pursuant to which MedMen was to acquire PharmaCann, LLC (“PharmaCann”) in an all-stock transaction (“Transaction”). In light of market developments over the past 12 months and the continued evolution of its business strategy, MedMen and its Board have determined that focusing on leveraging the Company’s retail brand, its leadership position in California, and its digital platform to grow the business will create greater shareholder value than the completion of the Transaction. In connection with the termination, PharmaCann has agreed to transfer certain cannabis licenses and related assets in Illinois and Virginia to MedMen for no additional consideration from MedMen, other than the forgiveness of certain debt, as further described below.
The cannabis sector has evolved tremendously since we first announced the PharmaCann transaction and based on the current macro-environment and future opportunities that exist for our business, we believe it is now in the best interest of our shareholders to deepen, rather than widen, our Company’s reach.
Adam Bierman, MedMen Co-Founder and CEO
Looking at the PharmaCann portfolio today, Illinois has emerged as the most attractive opportunity for our longer-term, strategic growth plan. The addition of those assets, without dilution, is a win for MedMen and our shareholders.
On December 24, 2018, MedMen announced that it had entered into the definitive agreement to acquire PharmaCann, in which PharmaCann unitholders were expected to receive approximately 168.4 million shares in the combined company, based on MedMen’s fully diluted shares outstanding as of June 29, 2019. Since the announcement, several industry developments have significantly impacted the accretive nature of the Transaction, including the following:
- The capital markets, both for the U.S. and Canadian cannabis industries, have shifted since March 2019, with the HMMJ index down 47%¹ during that time period. The underperformance has made it increasingly more critical to allocate capital efficiently given the current industry headwinds. While PharmaCann holds several licenses across the U.S., a large portion of its assets, particularly related to cultivation and manufacturing in medical markets, require significant capital expenditures.
- Over the past six months, MedMen has decided to increasingly focus on California, where there remains significant upside for cannabis operators. Approximately 76%² of California cities continue to ban recreational cannabis. Several jurisdictions within the state recently announced the commencement of recreational sales, and the Company has been actively applying for, acquiring and building out retail locations across the state, where it is licensed for 17 stores. MedMen plans to have 30 stores in the state by the end of calendar year 2020. Given the value MedMen has created in California, the Company does not believe entry into non-core markets is worth the degree of shareholder dilution required by the Transaction.
- The closing timeline for the Transaction was significantly impacted given regulatory hurdles at the federal and state level, which delayed the integration and realization of synergies that were initially factored into the value of the Transaction to the Company.
- In addition to expanding its retail footprint, MedMen believes allocating capital and resources towards enhancing its omni-channel offering in its core markets, through its delivery and loyalty platforms, will create more long-term shareholder value than entering new medical markets, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland, where the Company does not currently have operating leverage.
As part of the agreement to terminate, PharmaCann has agreed to pay a termination fee to MedMen through a transfer of the membership interests (“Transfer of Interests”) in three entities holding the following four assets:
- Operational cultivation and production facility in Hillcrest, Illinois
- Retail location in Evanston, Illinois
- Retail license for Greater Chicago, Illinois
- License for vertically integrated facility in Virginia
On a pro forma basis, MedMen will have licenses for four retail locations in Greater Chicago, including its existing location in Oak Park, Illinois. The Company will also hold one of only 21³ cultivation and production licenses in the state, which will allow MedMen to vertically integrate and have full control of its supply chain once recreational sales commence in January 2020. As part of the agreement to terminate and contingent on the successful Transfer of Interests, MedMen will forgive all amounts outstanding under its existing line of credit to PharmaCann (the “Line of Credit”), which totaled approximately US$21 million, including accrued interest, as of September 30, 2019. In the event any Transfer of Interest is unable to occur due to a final adjudication or denial by the applicable regulatory body governing such license (a “Rejected Transfer”), PharmaCann will pay MedMen an amount equal to (i) one-third (1/3) of the aggregate principal amount and any corresponding accrued interest thereon owed under the Line of Credit (such interest to be calculated as if no loan forgiveness of any portion of the Line of Credit occurred), and (ii) US$10 million (such amounts are collectively referred to as the “Rejected Transfer Fee”) for each denial. Any such Rejected Transfer Fee shall be paid within five days of the related Rejected Transfer, or, PharmaCann may elect to finance the Rejected Transfer Fee, provided that the financed Rejected Transfer Fee shall accrue interest at a rate of seven and one-half percent (7.5%) per annum and be due and payable on the first anniversary of the date of the Rejected Transfer.
Additionally, effective today, Zeeshan Hyder has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at MedMen. Mr. Hyder, currently MedMen’s Chief Corporate Development Officer, has been an integral part of the leadership team at MedMen since 2017, overseeing corporate development, investor relations and other financial growth initiatives. His understanding of the company’s strategic plan and deep knowledge of the cannabis industry provide an excellent foundation for continued fiscal success. To date, Mr. Hyder has led over $300M in M&A deals executed, partnered with the CEO to take the company public and raised $500M in capital for direct investment into the business.
Mr. Hyder, alongside MedMen’s CEO and Board, has seen the business through an important chapter and will be instrumental in spearheading the company’s path towards profitability. MedMen is targeting break even EBITDA by the end of calendar 2020 and will provide further details on the October 28th earnings call.
Hyder succeeds Michael Kramer, whose employment has been terminated as of October 7, 2019. Mr. Kramer will focus on a seamless transition and as such has signed a consulting agreement for the remainder of the calendar year.
¹Source: Bloomberg; represents time period between March 19, 2019 and September 30, 2019
²Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08-14/californias-biggest-legal-marijuana-market
³Source: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Plants/MCPP/Pages/default.aspx
About MedMen:
Founded in 2010, MedMen is North America’s premium cannabis retailer. Founders Adam Bierman and Andrew Modlin have defined the next generation discovery platform for cannabis and all its benefits. A robust selection of high-quality products, including MedMen-owned brands [statemade], LuxLyte and MedMen Red, coupled with a team of cannabis-educated associates cement the Company’s commitment to providing an unparalleled experience. MedMen’s industry-leading technology enables a fully compliant, owned-and-operated delivery service and MedMen Buds, a nationwide loyalty program.
MedMen believes that a world where cannabis is legal and regulated is safer, healthier and happier. Learn more at www.MedMen.com.
