NASDAQ | TSX: ACB
EDMONTON, AB, Sept. 19,
2023 /PRNewswire/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc.
("Aurora" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ACB)
(TSX: ACB), the Canadian company opening the
world to cannabis, today announced that it has received approval to
transfer the listing of its common shares (the "Shares") from
the Nasdaq Global Select Market to the Nasdaq
Capital Market (the "Transfer"). The Transfer became
effective at the opening of business on September 19, 2023, and is expected to allow the
Company to seek an additional 180 days to regain compliance with
the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the "Minimum Bid
Price Requirement"). Additionally, Aurora announced today, that it
has agreed to repurchase an aggregate of approximately $13.0 million (US$9.6
million) principal amount of its convertible senior notes
("Notes") at a total cost, including accrued interest, of
$13.0 million (US$9.6 million) satisfied by the issuance of an
aggregate of approximately 13.5 million Shares. Following
completion of these repurchases, Aurora will have approximately
$39.6 million (US$29.2 million) of Notes outstanding.
As previously disclosed, Nasdaq advised Aurora on March 24, 2023, that the bid price of the Shares
had closed at less than US$1.00 per share over the
previous 30 consecutive business days, resulting in a deficiency
with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and the Company was given a
period of 180 calendar days, or until September 20, 2023, to regain compliance with the
Minimum Bid Price Requirement. In connection with the Transfer,
Aurora has applied for, and expects to receive, an additional 180
calendar day period in which to regain compliance with the Minimum
Bid Price Requirement. Approval for the additional 180 calendar day
period is conditioned upon Aurora continuing to meet certain Nasdaq
minimum listing standards and Aurora notifying Nasdaq of its
intention to cure the deficiency.
The Shares continue to trade in the
United States under the symbol "ACB" and the trading of the
Shares will not be affected by the Transfer. In addition, the
Shares continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(the "TSX"), and the deficiency does not affect the Company's
status with its TSX listing. Aurora will continue actively
monitoring the bid price for its Shares and is considering a range
of options in order to cure the deficiency.
The purpose of the Notes repurchase transaction is to further
reduce the Company's debt and annual cash interest costs,
reinforcing Aurora's commitment to achieving the target of positive
free cashflow in calendar year 2024. Aurora has repurchased an
aggregate of approximately $428
million (US$316 million)
principal amount of Notes since December
2021, resulting in total cash interest savings of
approximately $32 million
(US$24.1 million).
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not
constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in
which such offering would be unlawful.
About Aurora
Aurora is opening the world to cannabis, serving both the
medical and consumer markets. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora is a pioneer in
global cannabis, dedicated to helping people improve their lives.
The Company's adult-use brand portfolio includes Aurora Drift, San
Rafael '71, Daily Special, Whistler, Being and Greybeard.
Medical cannabis brands include MedReleaf, CanniMed, Aurora
and Whistler Medical Marijuana Co. Aurora also has a controlling
interest in Bevo Farms Ltd., North
America's leading supplier of propagated agricultural
plants. Driven by science and innovation, and with a focus on
high-quality cannabis products, Aurora's brands continue to break
through as industry leaders in the medical, performance, wellness,
and adult recreational markets wherever they are launched. Learn
more at www.auroramj.com and follow us on Twitter and
LinkedIn.
Aurora's common shares trade on the NASDAQ and TSX under the
symbol "ACB".
Forward Looking
Statements
This news release includes statements containing certain
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking
statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan",
"continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate",
"estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other
similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions
"may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements made in this news
release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
transfer of the Company's U.S. listing to the Nasdaq Capital
Market, the Company's plans to regain compliance with the Minimum
Bid Price Requirement, including the receipt of an additional 180
calendar day period to regain compliance, the repurchase of Notes
and associated annual interest savings, and the Company's
commitment to achieving the target of positive free cashflow in
calendar year 2024.
These forward-looking statements are only predictions. Forward
looking information or statements contained in this news release
have been developed based on assumptions management considers to be
reasonable. Material factors or assumptions involved in developing
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, publicly
available information from governmental sources as well as from
market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on
data and knowledge of this industry which the Company believes to
be reasonable. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety
of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that management believes
to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances could cause
actual events, results, level of activity, performance, prospects,
opportunities or achievements to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. These risks include,
but are not limited to, the ability to retain key personnel, the
ability to continue investing in infrastructure to support growth,
the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms, the continued
quality of our products, customer experience and retention, the
development of third party government and non-government consumer
sales channels, management's estimates of consumer demand in
Canada and in jurisdictions where
the Company exports, expectations of future results and expenses,
the risk of successful integration of acquired business and
operations, management's estimation that SG&A will grow only in
proportion of revenue growth, the ability to expand and maintain
distribution capabilities, the impact of competition, the general
impact of financial market conditions, the yield from cannabis
growing operations, product demand, changes in prices of required
commodities, competition, and the possibility for changes in laws,
rules, and regulations in the industry, epidemics, pandemics or
other public health crises, including the current outbreak of
COVID-19, and other risks, uncertainties and factors set out under
the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form
dated June 14, 2023 (the "AIF") and
filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the
Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com and
filed with and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The
Company cautions that the list of risks, uncertainties and other
factors described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other
factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged
to consider the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions carefully in
evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such information. The Company is under no
obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
expressly required by applicable securities law.
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SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc.