Canopy Rivers Portfolio Company Licensed by Health Canada, Triggering Long-Term Cash Flow Stream

TORONTO, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canopy Rivers Inc. (“Canopy Rivers” or the “Company”) (RIV.V) congratulates Canopy Growth Corporation (WEED.TO) (CGC) (“Canopy Growth”) and its portfolio company, Spot Therapeutics Inc. (“Spot”), on receiving a cultivation license from Health Canada for its Fredericton-based production and distribution facility. The newly licensed facility will operate under the flagship Tweed banner and is another important pillar in the Canopy family of companies’ commitment to establishing a local presence, engaging local trades, and creating economic opportunities within the provinces and communities the companies serve. 

In 2017, Canopy Growth solidified its expansion strategy in Atlantic Canada when it acquired Spot and made significant local funding commitments in collaboration with Canopy Rivers, ultimately resulting in Canopy Growth being rewarded with one of the first provincial supply contracts in the cannabis industry, pursuant to a landmark MOU with the government of New Brunswick.

Canopy Rivers purchased the production facility at that time and entered into a long-term lease with Canopy Growth with respect to the facility, and also provided a significant capital commitment for the development of the New Brunswick-based project via a repayable debenture. The receipt of Spot’s cultivation license represents a triggering event under the debenture and initiates a long-term cash flow stream that is anticipated to be approximately $2.85 million per year, with a 25-year term. Commencement of the cash flow stream is expected to begin in September 2019.

“The long-term income stream from Spot, combined with our existing royalty portfolio, will further stabilize Canopy Rivers’ operating cash flow profile and provide us with additional financial resources to deploy as we continue to make investments in industry verticals we believe offer long-term strategic value for our portfolio partners and shareholders,” said Eddie Lucarelli, CFO of Canopy Rivers.

For more information regarding the Company’s investment in Spot, please refer to the joint management information circular of Canopy Rivers Corporation and the Company dated August 8, 2018, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About Canopy Rivers:

Canopy Rivers is a unique investment and operating platform structured to pursue investment opportunities in the emerging global cannabis sector. Canopy Rivers works collaboratively with Canopy Growth (TSX: WEED, NYSE: CGC) to identify strategic counterparties seeking financial and/or operating support. Canopy Rivers has developed an investment ecosystem of complementary cannabis operating companies that represent various segments of the value chain across the emerging cannabis sector. As the portfolio continues to develop, constituents will be provided with opportunities to work with Canopy Growth and collaborate among themselves, which Canopy Rivers believes will maximize value for its shareholders and foster an environment of innovation, synergy and value creation for the entire ecosystem. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements which constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Canopy Rivers with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the operation of the Spot facility under the Tweed banner; the size and expected start date of the cash flow stream; the long-term strategic value of Canopy Rivers’ investments; and other expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects management’s expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Canopy Rivers believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Canopy Rivers. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: regulatory and licensing risks; the ability to cultivate and sell cannabis products; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; and the risk factors set out in Canopy Rivers’ final short form prospectus dated February 21, 2019, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on Canopy Rivers’ profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.