William Sumner
Yesterday, the San Francisco-based cannabis dispensary chain, The Apothecarium, announced that they had been acquired by TerrAscend Corp. (CSE: TER) for $118.4 million in cash and stock. Including in the purchase agreement are three retail dispensaries in San Francisco; one vertically integrated cannabis operation which includes cultivation, edibles manufacturing, and a retail dispensary location; and the edibles brand Valhalla Confections.
With more than 200 employees and $45 million in combined revenue, Apothecarium made for an attractive buy to TerrAscend, which recently has been making moves to enter the U.S. market.
Last month, TerrAscend completed the acquisition of another U.S. company Grander Distribution, LLC. Grander is a producer and distributor of hemp-based wellness products that are available in more than 10,000 worldwide retail locations.
“Teaming up with a larger company means that we will be able to bring the Apothecarium dispensary experience to more people, in more cities around the country,” said Apothecarium CEO Ryan Hudson in a statement. “Our customers won’t see major changes inside our dispensaries.”
Under the agreement, TerrAscend has agreed to pay $73.7 million in cash and to grant 7.325 million proportionate voting shares in the company. All full-time employees, including budtenders, will receive shares of TerrAscend.
Additionally, Apothecarium’s CEO and leadership team are expected to remain in their current roles. The completion of this acquisition is still pending regulatory approval from both the states of California and Nevada.
“Today’s news is another major step in executing TerrAscend’s US strategy,” said TerrAscend President Matthew Johnson. “We believe The Apothecarium is the model for operational excellence and will set the tone for our US cultivation and retail expansion, and we admire their philanthropic dedication and local community engagement. We look forward to working together with the members of the current team to bring the Apothecarium’s unique experience to more communities and improve patient access to quality cannabis products and services.”
