California-based Indus Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: INDXF) is buying Lowell Herb Co. and Lowell Smokes in a deal valued at $39 million. The acquisition includes trademark brands, product portfolio, and production assets of Lowell from The Hacienda Group effective immediately. The company will change its name to Lowell Farms Inc.
“The combination of Indus and Lowell will create a leading producer of California cannabis and the next step for the first great American cannabis brand,” said Gregory Heyman, founder of Beehouse, Lowellâs largest investor. “The Indus teamâs commitment to growing excellent cannabis and the communities they serve also realizes Lowellâs mission to normalize cannabis in America.”
The deal consists of a cash payment of $4.1 million and the issuance of 22,643,678 Subordinate Voting Shares of the Company (of which 5,000,000 will be held in escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations undertaken by the sellers in the transaction). The share consideration was issued in a private placement transaction and the company has agreed to register such shares for resale in the United States. Hacienda said it has agreed to continue to produce Lowell products for an interim period pending the completion of the transfer of certain regulatory assets.
It is expected that Lowell Farms Subordinate Voting Shares and Warrants will begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on March 5, 2021, under the ticker symbols LOWL and LOWL.WT, and that the Subordinate Voting Shares will begin trading on the OTCQX effective on March 5, 2021, under the ticker symbol LOWLF.
âThe cannabis industry is awash in brands competing for our attention, but Lowell has risen to the top of the fray as a brand that simultaneously empowers a movement, welcomes the curious, and greets the reacquainted all with a grace and elegance that other brands can only aspire to,” said George Allen, Chairman of the Board for Indus Holdings, Inc. âEvery resource under our control will be employed in unlocking Lowellâs full potential.â