Aurora Cannabis Inc (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian company defining the future of cannabinoids worldwide, today announced that Aurora Nederland B.V., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, has entered into an agreement to invest in a significant equity stake in Netherlands-based Growery B.V. one of the few license holders entitled to participate in the Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment (CCSC). The agreement is subject to the regulatory notification procedure.
Aurora’s investment in Growery is structured such that the Company intends to invest an immaterial cash amount of which a portion is due and payable upfront, and the remainder dependent on Growery achieving certain milestones. Under the terms, Aurora will provide a secured loan to Growery to construct a facility, fund early operations and provide technical and operational support through its Netherlands-based state-of-the-art research facility for medical cannabis, established in 2018. Aurora expects to fully consolidate the revenues realized through the investment into Growery under the applicable International Financial Reporting standards.
“Our investment in Growery is a significant advancement for our global recreational cannabis strategy. The Netherlands is expected to be the largest federally regulated recreational market outside of Canada, and is a proof point that our medical market success in Europe is portable to recreational markets,” said Miguel Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Cannabis. “Aurora’s global leadership is underscored by a proven track record of regulatory compliance, testing, and commitment to science. With similar values and commitment to excellence, we are pleased to be working with Growery to enter the Dutch market.”
“The shared expertise of Growery and Aurora will enable the delivery of high-quality cannabis to the new recreational program in the Netherlands,” declared a spokesperson from Growery. “We aspire to be a driving force in this evolving market and a premier provider of cannabis to consumers. In Aurora we have found an experienced partner with the global leadership needed to enable a significant head start in the CCSC.”
The CCSC is scheduled to be in effect for a minimum of four years, during which the Dutch government will evaluate if the rules of the CCSC should be expanded nationally. Anticipated demand during the CCSC is approximately 30,000 kilograms of dried flower annually. Should the CCSC be expanded nationally (from approximately 80 coffee shops in 10 selected municipalities to the nearly 600 coffee shops that exist today), it is estimated that the Netherlands would require approximately 200,000 kilograms of dried flower annually to fulfill demand.
About Aurora:
Aurora is a global leader in the cannabis industry, serving both the medical and consumer markets. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora is a pioneer in global cannabis dedicated to helping people improve their lives. The Company’s brand portfolio includes Aurora, Aurora Drift, San Rafael ’71, Daily Special, MedReleaf, CanniMed, Pedanios, Whistler, Reliva and KG7 CBD. Driven by science and innovation, and with a focus on high-quality cannabis products, Aurora’s brands continue to break through as industry leaders in the medical, performance, wellness and adult recreational markets wherever they are launched. Learn more at www.auroramj.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Aurora’s common shares trade on the TSX and NASDAQ under the symbol “ACB” and is a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
About Growery
Growery cultivates, process and distributes cannabis to coffeeshops in the recreational cannabis market in the Netherlands as part of the Controlled Cannabis Supply Chain Experiment sanctioned by the Dutch government.
For more information visit Growery.nl and follow us on LinkedIn.
