Debra Borchardt
Harvest Health & Recreation, Inc. (CSE: HARV) has formed a joint venture with Aina We Would (AWW), LLC for a real estate investment vehicle that plans to provide funding to purchase cannabis-related real estate assets. In addition to a Harvest subsidiary, AWW is made up of two family offices, Aina Advisors LLC and Stadlen Family Holdings, LLC.
Aina and Stadlen have both committed to fund or arrange up to $100 million to fund projects for the joint venture. The statement said that AWW plans to buy, develop and finance new construction projects, engage in land purchases, capital improvements and sale-leasebacks to Harvest and other operators in the cannabis industry.
As a part of the arrangement, Harvest will have the opportunity to get lease rates below current market providers and then source permanent financing for the properties it acquires. Harvest may also use AWW for its construction and real estate development needs.
In addition, Harvest said that it was has committed to lending AWW a minimum of up to $30 million in short-term financing to permit AWW to seek out acquisition projects. The company said that the goal of the short-term financing was so that they could move quickly on projects. These funds will be replaced by permanent financing provided or sourced by Stadlen and Aina.
“AWW gives Harvest an excellent funding option for the development of cultivations, manufacturing facilities, and dispensaries,” said Harvest President Steve Gutterman. “This new vehicle, combined with the approximate $290 million we raised in conjunction with our recent debt and equity financing transactions, affiliate roll-up and recently completed acquisitions leading up to and following our listing on the CSE, gives us one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry.”
Harvest owns more than 40 cannabis licenses with a domestic footprint that includes real estate, equipment and other assets in 11 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
“Real estate is the lifeblood of the cannabis economy and a huge piece of any company’s bottom line,” said Harvest Executive Chairman, Jason Vedadi. “With this partnership, AWW has been structured to turn a significant cost center into a potential profit driver and to become a potentially attractive source of financing for Harvest’s expected expansion.”
