- Proxy Materials Mailed to Aphria Shareholders and Tilray Stockholders of Record as of Friday, March 12, 2021
- Required Regulatory Approvals Contemplated Under the Arrangement Agreement Received in Respect of the Proposed Business Combination
- The Boards of Directors of Aphria and Tilray Unanimously Recommend that their Respective Shareholders Vote “FOR” the Transaction
- Shareholders of Aphria and Stockholders of Tilray are Encouraged to Visit www.aphriatilraytogether.com for Up-to-Date Information About the Proposed Aphria-Tilray Business Combination
LEAMINGTON, ON and NANAIMO, BC, March 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Aphria Inc. (“Aphria“) (TSX: APHA andNasdaq: APHA), a leading global cannabis-lifestyle consumer packaged goods company, and Tilray, Inc. (“Tilray“) (Nasdaq: TLRY), a global pioneer in cannabis research, cultivation, production and distribution, are pleased to announce that:
| (i) | Aphria has obtained an interim order (the “Interim Order“) of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the “Court“) in connection with its proposed business combination with Tilray pursuant to an arrangement (the “Arrangement“) to be implemented under a statutory plan of arrangement pursuant to section 182 of the Business Corporations Act(Ontario); |
| (ii) | They have received the required regulatory approvals necessary to complete the proposed business combination between the two companies (the “Transaction”); |
| (iii) | They have filed their joint proxy statement/management information circular (collectively, the “Circular“) and related materials (the “Meeting Materials“) in respect of the special meeting of Aphria shareholders (the “Aphria Shareholders“) to be held on April 14, 2021 (the “Aphria Meeting“) and the special meeting of the holders (the “Tilray Stockholders“) of the Tilray class 2 common stock (the “Tilray Shares“) to be held on April 16, 2021 (the “Tilray Meeting“), to approve the resolutions necessary to implement the Arrangement; and |
| (iv) | The record date for determining the Aphria Shareholders and the Tilray Stockholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Aphria Meeting and the Tilray Meeting, respectively, was fixed by each of Aphria and Tilray to be the close of business on March 12, 2021. |
Irwin D. Simon, Aphria’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who will have these same roles with the Combined Company, commented, “We are excited to advance closer towards the completion of our complementary and highly scalable strategic transaction with Tilray. On behalf of our board of directors, we recommend Aphria Shareholders vote “FOR” the resolution required to approve the business combination with Tilray. We continue to believe our combined business strengths and capabilities will help us to connect more effectively with new and existing consumers and patients across Canada and internationally. Together, we expect the Combined Company to have a strong financial profile, low-cost production, leading brands, distribution network and unique partnerships, positioning us to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders.”
Mr. Simon, concluded, “We continue to maintain our financial flexibility through the strength of our balance sheet and access to capital. As a Combined Company, we expect to continue to pursue M&A in the U.S. across the branded consumer products industry that are accretive and can parlay into complementary cannabis products when we are able to do so.”
At the Aphria Meeting, Aphria Shareholders will be asked to consider and pass a special resolution, approving the Arrangement (the “Aphria Resolution“).The Aphria Resolution must be approved by at least 66⅔% of the votes cast at the Aphria Meeting by the Aphria Shareholders, virtually present or represented by proxy at the Aphria Meeting. Aphria Shareholders must vote their proxies before 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on April 12, 2021.
At the Tilray Meeting, Tilray Stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on proposals to:
| (i) | increase the authorized capital stock of Tilray from 743,333,333 shares to 900,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 890,000,000 shares of Class 2 common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, as reflected in the amendment to the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Tilray (the “Tilray Charter Amendment Proposal“); |
| (ii) | issue Tilray Shares to Aphria Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement (the “Tilray Share Issuance Proposal“); |
| (iii) | approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation that may be paid to Tilray’s named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the transactions contemplated by the Arrangement Agreement, which is further described in the Circular (the “Tilray Advisory Compensation Proposal“); and |
| (iv) | approve the adjournment of the Tilray Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in the event there are not sufficient votes at the time of the Tilray Meeting to approve the Tilray Charter Amendment Proposal or the Tilray Share Issuance Proposal (the “Tilray Adjournment Proposal“, and together with the Tilray Charter Amendment Proposal, the Tilray Share Issuance Proposal and the Tilray Advisory Compensation Proposal, the “Tilray Proposals“). |
Reasons for and Benefits of the Transaction
Following the completion of the Transaction, the resulting company of the Arrangement (the “Combined Company“) will operate under the corporate name “Tilray, Inc.” with its shares of class 2 common stock trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “TLRY”. In addition, Tilray currently expects to list the Tilray Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange upon, or as soon as practicable following, the completion of the Transaction.
The board of directors of Aphria (the “Aphria Board“) and the board of directors of Tilray (the “Tilray Board“) each believe that, at this stage of development and expansion of the global cannabis market, companies with financial strength, a strategic footprint and scale, a diverse product range, brand expertise and strong leadership are most likely to succeed in the long-term. The following are the key benefits of the combination:
- World’s Largest Global Cannabis Company. The combination of Aphria and Tilray will create the world’s largest global cannabis company with pro forma revenue of US$685 million (C$874 million) for the last 12 months as reported by each company prior to the date of the announcement of the Transaction on December 16, 2020, the highest in the global cannabis industry.
- Strategic Footprint and Operational Scale. The Combined Company is expected to have the strategic footprint and operational scale necessary to compete more effectively in today’s consolidating cannabis market with a strong, flexible balance sheet, strong cash balance and access to capital, which Aphria and Tilray believe will give it the ability to accelerate growth and deliver long-term sustainable value for stockholders.
- Low-Cost State-of-the-Art Production & The Leading Canadian Adult-Use Cannabis Producer. The demand of the Combined Company will be supported by low-cost state-of-the-art cultivation, processing, and manufacturing facilities and it will have a complete portfolio of branded Cannabis 2.0 products to strengthen its leadership position in Canada.
- Positioned to Pursue International Growth. Internationally, the Combined Company will be well-positioned to pursue growth opportunities with its strong medical cannabis brands, distribution network in Germany and end-to-end European Union Good Manufacturing Practices supply chain, which includes its production facilities in Portugal and Germany.
- Enhanced Consumer Packaged Goods Presence and Infrastructure in the U.S. In the United States, the Combined Company will have a strong consumer packaged goods presence and infrastructure with two strategic pillars, including SweetWater, a leading cannabis lifestyle branded craft brewer, and Manitoba Harvest, a pioneer in branded hemp, CBD and wellness products with access to 17,000 stores in North America. In the event of federal permissibility, the Combined Company expects to be well-positioned to compete in the U.S. cannabis market given its existing strong brands and distribution system in addition to its track record of growth in consumer-packaged goods and cannabis products.
- Substantial Synergies. The combination of Aphria and Tilray is expected to deliver approximately US$78 million(C$100 million) of annual pre-tax cost synergies within 24 months of the completion of the Transaction. The Combined Company expects to achieve cost synergies in the key areas of cultivation and production, cannabis and product purchasing, sales and marketing and corporate expenses.
Board Recommendation
The Aphria Board has unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Aphria and recommends that Aphria Shareholders vote FOR the Aphria Resolution.
The Tilray Board has unanimously determined that the Tilray Proposals are in the best interests of Tilray and recommends that the Tilray Stockholders vote FOR the Tilray Proposals.
In making its recommendations, the Aphria Board and the Tilray Board each considered a number of factors, as more fully described in the Circular.
Transaction Updates
Tilray has received a no-objection letter from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy representing the final approval necessary under the agreement (“FDI Clearance“). The applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired in relation to the Transaction (the “HSR Approval“). In addition, Tilray and Aphria have received a no-action letter from the Competition Bureau of Canada in respect of the Transaction (the “Competition Act Approval“), which confirms that the Competition Bureau does not intend to challenge the Transaction under the Competition Act (Canada). The receipt of the HSR Approval, the Competition Act Approval and FDI Clearance are the regulatory approvals that are required to be obtained to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Transaction.
The hearing date for the final order of the Court (the “Final Order“) has been scheduled for April 19, 2021. Subject to obtaining the Final Order, required approvals from Aphria Shareholders at the Aphria Meeting and from Tilray Stockholders at the Tilray Meeting, and satisfaction of certain other conditions to implementing the Arrangement as set forth in the Arrangement Agreement, it is anticipated that the Arrangement will be completed on or about April 20, 2021.
Shareholder Questions
If you are an Aphria Shareholder and have any questions, please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group, Aphria’s proxy solicitation agent, by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 toll-free in North America or at 416-304-0211 for collect calls outside of North America or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.
If you are a Tilray Stockholder and have any questions, please contact MacKenzie Partners, Tilray’s proxy solicitation agent, by telephone at 1-800-322-2885 toll-free in North America or at 1-212-929-5500 for collect calls outside of North America or by email at proxy@mackenziepartners.com.
Shareholders are encouraged to visit www.aphriatilraytogether.com for up-to-date information about the proposed Aphria-Tilray business combination.
Additional Details
For a more detailed description of the Transaction, the Aphria Resolution to be voted upon at the Aphria Meeting and the Tilray Proposals to be voted on at the Tilray Meeting, Aphria Shareholders and Tilray Stockholders are urged to review and carefully consider the Circular and the Meeting Materials as they contain important information concerning the Arrangement and the rights and entitlements of the Aphria Shareholders and Tilray Stockholders in relation thereto and consult with their financial, tax, legal and other professional advisors.
We Have A Good Thing Growing
ABOUT APHRIA
Aphria Inc. is a leading global cannabis-lifestyle consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, United States, Europe and Latin America, that is changing people’s lives for the better – one person at a time – by inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life by providing them with products that meet the needs of their mind, body and soul and invoke a sense of wellbeing. Aphria’s mission is to be the trusted partner for its patients and consumers by providing them with a cultivated experience and health and wellbeing through high-quality, differentiated brands and innovative products. Headquartered in Leamington, Ontario, Aphria cultivates, processes, markets and sells medical and adult-use cannabis, cannabis-derived extracts and derivative cannabis products in Canada under the provisions of the Cannabis Act and globally pursuant to applicable international regulations. Aphria also manufactures, markets and sells alcoholic beverages in the United States.
ABOUT TILRAY
Tilray is a global pioneer in the research, cultivation, production, and distribution of cannabis and cannabinoids currently serving tens of thousands of patients and consumers in 17 countries spanning five continents.
