It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for February 11, 2019.
On The Site
Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) reported that its gross revenue jumped 430% to $62 million over last year’s $11.7 million for the same time period. The net revenue rose 363% to $54.2 million over last year’s $11.7 million.
Losses jumped a whopping 3,179% to $237 million versus last year’s gain of $7.7 million for the same time period. The company said in a statement that “Non-cash expenses including the December 31, 2018 mark-to-market adjustments of approximately $190 million primarily on the company’s derivative investments contributed significantly to a net loss of $240 million.”
Green Growth Brands Inc. or GGB (OTCQB: GGBXF) entered into an agreement to gain access to 108 prime shop locations in U.S. malls owned and operated by the Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG). GGB will expand its chain of CBD-infused personal care product shops under the Seventh Sense Botanical Therapy.
Simon is the biggest mall operator in the country with high-profile properties including Roosevelt Field in metro New York; The Galleria in Houston, TX; and Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, NY. While there are certainly numerous CBD shops, this is the first company to look at establishing a huge chain right off the bat.
Barney’s New York Inc. is opening a luxury cannabis store on the fifth floor of its Beverly Hills store next month. Bloomberg reported that the luxury store known for its cutting edge fashion will open a department called “The High End.”
Since Barney’s isn’t a licensed dispensary, it will be limited to selling cannabis accessories like pipes, rolling papers, and stash boxes. The company’s partner will be the premium cannabis brands called Beboe and as part of the arrangement, Beboe will educate consumers on its products that they can order online for delivery in the California area.
On Wednesday this week, Congress will hold a hearing on banking services for the cannabis industry. This is the first hearing to be held by the new Congress that will begin tackling the issue of banking for cannabis companies.
Attorney Brady Cobb met with House lawmakers last week and is actively engaged with the legislative process. “With the opposition out of the way, we can finally make some progress,” said Cobb. He was referring to the ouster of Pete Sessions, who continually refused to bring cannabis legislation to the floor for a vote. Cobb said that the committee’s existing members were supportive and expect new members to be positive as well. The hearing will be available on CSPAN.
The National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) was announced on Friday by the group’s new leader former speaker of the House John Boehner. The group will be lobbying to remove federal restrictions that stand in the way of medical research on cannabis and encourage the development solutions to help patients.
Other agenda items for the group include working to correct the tax code and improve the banking situation for cannabis companies. NCR will also be working to help states enact their own cannabis legislation.
In Other News
Lineage Grow Company Ltd. (CSE:BUDD) and FLRish, Inc. d/b/a Harborside, a private company incorporated under the laws of California have entered into a definitive merger agreement, which will result in the reverse takeover of Lineage by Harborside. The resulting issuer will seek a listing of the Subordinate Voting Shares on the CSE. Lineage intends to effect a change of its name to “Harborside Inc.” and has reserved the new stock symbol “HBOR”.
Geyser Brands Inc. (TSX-V: GYSR) entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Solace Management Group Inc, a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, setting out certain terms and conditions as to the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Solace by way of a share purchase, share exchange or similar transaction, following a review of all relevant legal, regulatory and tax matters.
Southern Tier Hemp, a vertically-integrated agriculture technology company that will offer a suite of branded wellness products, just announced its new headquarters will be the largest hemp processing facility in New York State. The company recently disclosed that it reached an agreement to purchase the former Gannett printing plant in Johnson City, New York. The 100,000 square foot facility will become headquarters for Southern Tier Hemp as the company develops, manufactures and sells hemp cannabidiol (CBD) wellness products worldwide.