It’s time for your Daily Hit of cannabis financial news for September 13, 2021.
On the Site
Akerna
Akerna (Nasdaq: KERN) is buying 365 Cannabis, a cannabis business management software system built on Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Business Central in a $17 million deal at 2.1x LTM revenue. The deal will be paid with $4 million in cash and $13 million in stock with a potential earnout of $8 million. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. “By adding 365 Cannabis into our Akerna ecosystem, we will continue to create new standards and best practices around compliance in every state, province, and country across the globe, standardize how the global supply chain is managed, and forge best practices in technology and hosting,” says Jessica Billingsley, Chief Executive Officer of Akerna. “The synergies between our two companies’ products and offerings will finally create all in one for the entire cannabis industry, on a global scale.”
Jushi
Jushi Holdings Inc. (CSE: JUSH) (OTCQX: JUSHF) has closed its previously announced acquisition of Massachusetts-based Nature’s Remedy in a deal valued at $91.2 million. Jushi also noted that the deal was revised resulting in 4.3 million fewer shares issued to Nature’s Remedy. However, Jushi did pay an additional $2.9 million in cash to acquire excess inventory worth $17.5 to $22.5 million at prevailing wholesale prices.
Mass. Mayor
The former mayor of Massachusett’s town Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia could face 11 years in prison for shaking down cannabis license applicants. The corrupt mayor was found guilty in May for stealing from investors with regards to an app he developed, but also for extorting money from cannabis applicants. He was convicted of 21 of the 24 counts he faced. On Friday, the government suggested Correia should be sentenced to 11 years in prison, then 24 months’ supervised release, $298,190 in restitution to certain SnoOwl investors. In addition, they are requesting that he pay $20,473 in restitution to the IRS, forfeit $566,740, and a final mandatory special assessment of $2,100.
In the government filing, which was posted on Law360, it was noted that Correia remained defiant despite having 33 witnesses testify against him saying that the truth would come out. Correia even suggested he refused a plea deal because he was innocent, but the government said no such deal had been offered.
In Other News
Heritage Cannabis
Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp. (CSE: CANN) (OTCQX: HERTF) has executed a term sheet with Merida Capital Partners IV LP for up to $1.5 million in Senior Unsecured Convertible Promissory Notes to fund the Company’s entry into the state of Missouri. Missouri’s first legal medical sale took place in October 2020, and, per the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there are already 140 approved dispensaries responsible for over USD$65 million of retail sales in the first half of 2021, and USD$21 million of sales in the month of July.
RIV Capital
RIV Capital announced that it has received a cash distribution of approximately $6.5 million and that termination of PharmHouse’s proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) and PharmHouse’s assignment into bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) is expected imminently. Pursuant to orders granted by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in the CCAA Proceedings, RIV Capital was entitled to the cash remaining in PharmHouse. The receipt of this cash distribution concludes the Company’s relationship with PharmHouse in all material respects.