HEXO Corp. (TSX: HEXO; NASDAQ: HEXO) ("
HEXO" or
the “
Company") today announced that it has entered
into a transition agreement (the “
Agreement”) with
Adam Arviv and his fund, Kaos Capital, to refresh the Company’s
board of directors (the “
Board”), effective
immediately. The new Board will stand for election at the Company’s
upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders to be held on
March 8, 2022 (the “
Meeting”).
The new Board is composed of seven directors,
all of whom are independent, being: Mark Attanasio (Chair), Rose
Marie Gage (Vice-Chair and Chair of the ESG Committee), Vincent
Chiara, Hélène F. Fortin (Chair of the Audit Committee), Rob
Godfrey, Peter Montour and William Montour. The Company has also
agreed to appoint an eighth director to the Board and reasonably
acceptable to the Board after the Meeting.
As part of the changes today, John Bell has also
announced that he has decided to step down as Chair of the Board of
Directors, effective immediately. HEXO would like to thank John
Bell for stewarding the company through this transition period.
“HEXO has built a reputation as a leader in the
cannabis sector and will continue to pave the way as the industry
evolves,” said Scott Cooper, CEO of HEXO. “I look forward to
working with the refreshed board as we build the company’s next
chapter and deliver on the Path Forward.”
“We’ll work closely with the management team as
they continue to fast-track the Company’s path to becoming a cash
flow positive business,” noted Arviv. Arviv, through his fund Kaos
Capital, currently owns approximately three per cent stake of
HEXO's outstanding shares. Adam Arviv and his affiliates have
agreed to support the refreshed board slate at the Meeting.
In connection with the terms of the Agreement,
the Company confirms certain changes to the nominees for election
to the Board to be considered at the Meeting, as described in the
Company’s management information circular dated February 3, 2022
(the Circular). In connection with the Agreement,
John Bell, Emilio Imbriglio, Adam Miron and Scott Cooper (the
Resigning Directors) have resigned from the Board
effective today and Mark Attanasio, Rob Godfrey (the New
Directors) and Hélène F. Fortin have been appointed to the
Board.
The Circular contemplates the nomination for
election to the Board at the Meeting of Messrs. Bell and Cooper.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company is pleased to confirm that
the New Directors will now be nominated to stand for election to
the Board at the Meeting in place of Messrs. Bell and Cooper.
The details of the New Directors who will stand
for nomination to the Board at the Meeting in place of the
Resigning Directors are set out below. Ms. Fortin’s details are set
out in the Circular:
Mark AttanasioAge: 45Residency: Ontario,
CanadaPrincipal occupation for the past five years: Director of
Nocera Investment Corp. (2015 – Present)
Mark Attanasio is currently a director of Nocera
Investment Corp, a private investment fund focused on high growth
venture companies. Mr. Attanasio also serves a director of
GhostRetail. Mr. Attanasio began his career as a Chartered
Accountant and spent four years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in
Audit and Advisory Services. He spent 11 years at National Bank
Financial, starting in the M&A group, then served four years as
Director of Global Equity Derivatives, where he managed a
proprietary trading portfolio of bank capital. In 2014, he was
hired by Dundee Corporation as Executive Vice President, Merchant
Banking, overseeing a portfolio of investments in multiple sectors.
From there, he was appointed President of Dundee Capital Markets,
where he managed all aspects of the capital markets business. Mark
then led a management buyout of Dundee Capital Markets and became
co-founder and CEO of Eight Capital, formerly known as Dundee
Capital Markets. Mark Attanasio graduated from the University of
British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science. He holds the CA and
CPA accountancy designations. Mark Attanasio does not beneficially
own, or control or direct, directly or indirectly, any shares of
the Company.
Rob GodfreyAge: 49Residency: Ontario,
CanadaPrincipal occupation for the past five years: President of
Brown Lab Industries Inc. (2002 – Present); President & Chief
Executive Officer of Vector Health Laboratories Ltd. (2021 –
Present)
Rob Godfrey is the President of Brown Lab
Industries Inc., a consulting and property management company, and
is the President and CEO of Vector Health Labs, a laboratory
services company. Mr. Godfrey also serves as a director of Bragg
Gaming Group Inc., a publicly-traded company on the TSX and is
Chairman of Kings Entertainment Group Inc., a publicly-traded
company on the CSE. Mr. Godfrey oversees two portfolio companies:
Qwatro USA and UrbanDog Holdings. In addition, Mr. Godfrey is
active in Brown Lab’s real estate activities including the
management of commercial and industrial properties in Ajax,
Etobicoke and Toronto. Mr. Godfrey's previous work experience
includes Senior Vice President of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball
Club, President of the Toronto Phantoms Arena Football Team and
Associate at TD Securities. Mr. Godfrey holds a BA from the
University of Western Ontario, and a JD/MBA from Pepperdine
University in California. Mr. Godfrey does not beneficially own, or
control or direct, directly or indirectly, any shares of the
Company.
Additional Information Concerning the New
Directors
Based on information provided by each New
Director, none of the New Directors: (a) is, at the date of this
release, or has been within the previous 10 years, a director,
chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company
that, while acting in that capacity (i) was the subject of a cease
trade order or similar order or an order that denied the relevant
company access to any exemption under securities legislation, in
each case, that was in effect for a period of more than 30
consecutive days (an "order"), or (ii) was subject
to an order that was issued after such New Director ceased to be a
director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and
which resulted from an event that occurred while such New Director
was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or
chief financial officer; (b) is, at the date of this release, or
has been within the previous 10 years, a director or executive
officer of any company that, while such New Director was acting in
that capacity, or within a year of the New Director ceasing to act
in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any
legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to
or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with
creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed
to hold its assets; or (c) within the previous 10 years has become
bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to
bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any
proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a
receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets
of such New Director.
Based on information provided by each respective
New Director, none of the New Directors have been subject to: (a)
any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to
securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or
has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities
regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions
imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be
considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding
whether to vote for a New Director.
Based on information provided by each respective
New Director, none of the New Directors or their respective
associates or affiliates have: (a) any material interest, direct or
indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the
Company's most recently completed financial year or in any proposed
transaction which has materially affected or would materially
affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) any material
interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of
securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted on at the
Meeting, other than the election of directors.
Shareholder Meeting Details
The Circular has been mailed to shareholders and
is available for viewing on SEDAR. Except as described above, the
Circular remains unchanged from the version that was mailed to the
shareholders of the Corporation and previously filed on SEDAR.
The Circular and form of proxy previously
distributed to registered shareholders in connection with the
Meeting confers discretionary authority upon management (or other
person designated as proxy therein) to vote on amendments or
variations of matters coming before the Meeting. Management intends
to rely on the discretionary authority granted in the Circular and
form of proxy to vote FOR the election of the New
Directors to the Board, along with the other nominees named in the
Circular (other than the Resigning Directors).
If a registered shareholder has submitted a
management proxy and does not wish the proxy to be voted in this
manner, they may revoke their proxy at any time prior to using it:
(a) by depositing an instrument in writing, including another
completed form of proxy, executed by such registered shareholder or
by his, her or its attorney authorized in writing or by electronic
signature or, if the registered shareholder is a corporation, by an
authorized officer or attorney thereof at, or by transmitting by
facsimile or electronic means, a revocation signed, subject to the
Business Corporations Act (Ontario), by electronic signature, to
the head office of the Company, located at 120 Chemin de la rive,
Gatineau, Québec, J8M 1V2, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (EST) on
the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof; or (b) in any other manner
permitted by law.
If a non-registered or beneficial shareholder
wishes to revoke their previously given voting instructions, they
must contact the broker or other intermediary that they provided
their voting instruction forms to and comply with any and all
applicable requirements of such broker or intermediary. A broker or
other intermediary may not be able to revoke voting instructions if
it receives insufficient notice of revocation, and any non-register
shareholder wishing to revoke their voting instructions should
contact such broker or intermediary in sufficient time to ensure
that their revocation of voting instructions is received.
If as a registered shareholder you use your
control number to access the Meeting and you accept the terms and
conditions, you will be revoking any and all previously submitted
proxies for the Meeting and will be provided with the opportunity
to vote by online ballot on the matters put forth at the
Meeting
If you have any questions about any of the
information in the Circular or this press release or require
assistance in completing your form of proxy or voting instruction
form, please consult your financial, legal, tax and other
professional advisors or the Corporation’s strategic shareholder
advisor and proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale Advisors, by
telephone at 1-866-229-8263 (toll-free in North America) or at
1-416-867-2272 outside of North America, or by email at
contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of
applicable securities laws ("Forward-Looking
Statements"). Forward-Looking Statements are based on
certain expectations and assumptions and are subject to known and
unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause
actual events, results, performance and achievements to differ
materially from those anticipated in these Forward-Looking
Statements. Forward-Looking Statements should not be read as
guarantees of future performance or results. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these Forward-Looking Statements,
which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company
disclaims any intention or obligation, except to the extent
required by law, to update or revise any Forward-Looking Statements
as a result of new information or future events, or for any other
reason.
This press release should be read in conjunction
with the management's discussion and analysis
("MD&A") and unaudited condensed consolidated
interim financial statements and notes thereto as at and for the
three months ended October 31, 2021. Additional information about
HEXO is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov, including the Company's
Annual Information Form for the year ended July 31, 2021 dated
October 29, 2021.
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,
Redecan, UP Cannabis, Namaste Original Stash, 48North, Trail Mix,
Bake Sale, REUP and Latitude brands, and the medical market in
Canada, Israel and Malta. The Company also serves the Colorado
market through its Powered by HEXO® strategy and Truss CBD USA, a
joint venture with Molson-Coors. With the completion of HEXO's
recent acquisitions of Redecan and 48North, HEXO is a leading
cannabis products company in Canada by recreational market share.
For more information, please visit hexocorp.com.
For further information, please
contact:
Investor Relations:
invest@hexo.comwww.hexocorp.com
Media Relations:
(819) 317-0526media@hexo.com
KAOS Capital Media Contact:
Wojtek Dabrowski
wojtek@providentcomms.com647-825-5009
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