HEXO Corp. (TSX: HEXO; NASDAQ: HEXO) (“
HEXO” or
the “
Company”), a leading producer of high-quality
cannabis products, today announced that the Company has
entered into an amending agreement (the “
Amending
Agreement”) to the previously announced transaction
agreement (the “
Transaction Agreement”) with
Tilray Brands, Inc. (“
Tilray Brands”) (Nasdaq |
TSX: TLRY) and HT Investments MA LLC (“
HTI”).
Separately, the Company announced that it has also entered into an
amending agreement to the previously announced equity purchase
agreement (the “
Standby Agreement”) with 2692106
Ontario Inc. (the “
Investor”) and KAOS Capital
Ltd. (“
KAOS”).
Transaction Agreement
Amendments
On June 14, 2022, in view of current stock
market conditions and in order to reduce closing risk related to
the pre-amendment minimum liquidity closing condition, the Company
entered into the Amending Agreement to the Transaction Agreement
pursuant to which HEXO, Tilray Brands and HTI agreed to:
- reduce the
minimum liquidity interim covenant and closing condition from
USD$100,000,000 to CAD$70,000,000 with such amount to be determined
after giving effect to a release of all conditions in any blocked
accounts and restricted cash of the Company and its subsidiaries
and including net cash proceeds expected to be received from the
Company’s captive D&O insurance policy;
- extend the
Outside Date (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) from July 1,
2022 to August 1, 2022 and to extend the date past which the
Outside Date cannot be extended to November 30, 2022;
- extend the date
by which the Company must use best efforts to obtain shareholder
approval from June 15, 2022 to July 15, 2022;
- reduce the
Amendment Share Price (as defined in the Transaction Agreement)
from USD$0.54 to CAD$0.40;
- amend the
condition regarding Tilray’s right to appoint nominees and an
observer to the Company’s board of directors such that Tilray will
be entitled to appoint two directors and one observer to the
Company’s board of directors;
- amend and
restate the Purchased Note (as defined in the Transaction
Agreement) to reflect a reduction in Tilray Brands’ Conversion
Price (as defined in the Purchased Note) from CAD$0.85 to CAD$0.40;
and
- amend and
restate the Assignment and Assumption Agreement (as defined in the
Transaction Agreement) to reflect certain changes to the purchase
price and consideration (as between Tilray Brands and HTI).
Additionally, Tilray has irrevocably waived any
non-compliance by HEXO with the minimum liquidity interim covenant
contained in the Transaction Agreement for all periods prior to the
date of the Amending Agreement for all purposes, including with
respect to Tilray’s ability to terminate the Transaction Agreement
for any such non-compliance.
“The strategic partnership with Tilray Brands
significantly improves HEXO’s capital structure and provides the
opportunity to accelerate our growth in global markets,” said
Charlie Bowman, President & CEO of HEXO. “Challenging stock
market conditions have necessitated amendments to the agreement,
but this is a critical step in unlocking the shareholder value held
within the Company.”
The terms of the Transaction Agreement are
otherwise unamended. The closing of the transactions contemplated
by the Transaction Agreement (as amended by the Amending Agreement)
and the amended and restated Assignment and Assumption Agreement
(the “Transaction”) remain subject to the
satisfaction of a number of conditions, including: (i) receipt of
approvals from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the
“TSX”) and the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; (ii)
receipt of shareholder approval from HEXO’s shareholders; (iii) no
material adverse effect having occurred in respect of HEXO; and
(iv) receipt of all consents and approvals required by any
regulatory authorities, including from the Competition Bureau.
HEXO expects to file a supplement (the
“Circular Supplement”) to its
previously filed management information circular (the
“Circular”) in due course, a copy of which will be
available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on
EDGAR at www.sec.gov or at https://docs.tsxtrust.com/2092, the
website for the meeting materials maintained by the Company’s
transfer agent and registrar. The Circular Supplement will include
further information regarding the Amending Agreement in order to
permit shareholders to make a fully informed decision when
considering the Transaction.
Standby Agreement
Amendments
The Company also announces that, in view of the
Company’s current share price, the Investor has formally agreed,
for a period of three months, to reduce the minimum price condition
included in the Standby Agreement from the CAD$0.30 to CAD$0.10 per
share. This will ensure the Company may, during such three month
period, draw upon the financing commitment (the “Standby
Commitment”) contemplated by the Standby Agreement even if
its share price were to fall below CAD$0.30 per share. In addition,
the Investor has agreed to allow the Company to commence the
process of drawing upon the Standby Commitment immediately
following receipt of necessary regulatory approvals without having
to wait until the first five trading days of the next calendar
month as previously contemplated by the Standby Agreement.
Subsequent draws will continue to be available only during the
first five trading days of any month during the term of the Standby
Commitment. Given the current market and macro-economic conditions,
the Company believes that this is a positive development that will
help ensure that it can have immediate access to capital as
contemplated by the Standby Agreement. The Company is not required
to pay the Investor any additional consideration in connection with
these amendments to the Standby Agreement.
June 14 and July 4 Meetings
The previously scheduled meeting of shareholders
will proceed as originally planned on June 14, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
E.T. (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, shareholders
will be called on to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass,
with or without variation, an ordinary resolution approving certain
aspects relating to the Standby Agreement, as amended (the
“Standby Commitment Resolution”), all as required
pursuant to the rules of TSX and as more particularly set out in
the Circular previously sent to shareholders of record on May 4,
2022 (the “Record Date”).
Following the vote on the Standby Commitment
Resolution, and without asking shareholders to vote on the
resolution approving certain aspects relating to the Transaction
Agreement, the Company intends to adjourn the Meeting until July 4,
2022 at 4:00 p.m. E.T. (the “Reconvened Meeting”)
in order to provide shareholders with additional time to review the
Circular Supplement and consider the amendments to the Transaction
Agreement described above. It is expected that the only matter that
will be considered at the Reconvened Meeting is the “Note Amendment
Resolution” as described in the Circular and the Circular
Supplement. Additional details regarding the timing and location of
the Reconvened Meeting will be disclosed to shareholders in the
Circular Supplement and otherwise communicated by press release.
The Record Date for the Reconvened Meeting will remain unchanged at
May 4, 2022.
The Circular and form of proxy previously
distributed to registered shareholders in connection with the
Meeting confers discretionary authority upon management (or other
person(s) 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 each of the Standby Commitment Resolution
and Note Amendment Resolution.
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 the
Meeting in the case of the Standby Commitment Resolution and the
Reconvened Meeting in the case of the Note Amendment Resolution.
Such a proxy may be revoked: (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. (E.T.) on the last
business day preceding the day, as applicable, of the Meeting, the
Reconvened Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s)
thereof; or (b) in any other manner permitted by law. For
certainty, the Company will continue to accept revocations of
proxies with respect to the Note Amendment Resolution (but not the
Standby Commitment Resolution) following the vote on the Standby
Commitment Resolution in accordance with the procedures set out
above as will be further detailed in the Circular Supplement.
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-registered 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.
Shareholders are encouraged to attend and vote
at both the Meeting and the Reconvened Meeting.
The Circular Supplement will not address the
Standby Agreement and the Company believes all material information
relating to the Standby Commitment Resolution is contained in the
Circular together with the disclosure in this press release.
If you have any questions about any of the
information in 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, Morrow Sodali, by telephone at 1.888.999.2602
toll-free in North America or at 1.289.695.3075 outside of North
America, or by email at assistance@morrowsodali.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”), including with respect to: the timing and
status of the Reconvened Meeting; the timing to receive required
regulatory approvals in connection with the Standby Commitment; the
expected commercial, financial and strategic benefits as a result
of the alliance with Tilray Brands; the conditions of the
Transaction Agreement described herein; the strengthening of the
balance sheet; the approvals required and the timing thereof; the
funding schedule; the issue price of any common shares issued under
the Standby Commitment; the timing of any draws under the Standby
Commitment; the holding of the Meeting and the Reconvened Meeting,
including the timing and purpose thereof; and the Company’s growth
prospects and strategy. 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 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.com
www.hexocorp.com
For media inquiries please
contact:
media@hexo.com
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