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Canopy Growth to Cease Funding BioSteel Business Unit Furthering Business Transformation and Focus on North American Cannabis Leadership BioSteel filing immediately eliminates significant cash burn for Canopy Growth and

Key Takeaway: Canopy Growth Corporation announced it is ceasing funding for BioSteel Sports Nutrition Inc., which has filed for creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. This strategic move aims to eliminate cash burn from BioSteel's operations, which has been a significant drain on Canopy's profitability, representing 60% of its Q1 FY2024 Adjusted EBITDA loss. Canopy anticipates a recovery of proceeds from the sale of BioSteel's assets and expects to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA across its remaining business units by the end of FY2024, focusing on strengthening its presence in the North American cannabis market.

Market Sentiment Analysis

POSITIVE FACTORS

  • Canopy Growth expects to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA in all remaining business units exiting FY2024.
  • The cessation of funding for BioSteel is expected to eliminate significant cash burn.
  • The potential sale of BioSteel's assets could provide cash recovery.
  • Canopy Growth is focusing on its core cannabis operations to strengthen its market position.

Full Press Release Details

Canopy Growth to Cease Funding BioSteel Business
Unit Furthering Business Transformation and Focus on North American Cannabis Leadership
BioSteel filing immediately eliminates significant
cash burn for Canopy Growth and provides for an
orderly realization of value of BioSteel's assets through a sale process
As the senior secured lender to BioSteel, Canopy
Growth expects to recover proceeds from the anticipated sale process
reaffirms its expectation to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA in all remaining business units exiting FY2024, as the Company focuses
on driving growth in its Canadian and U.S. cannabis businesses to position itself as an industry leader in North America
FALLS, ON - September 14, 2023 - Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy Growth" or the "Company")
(TSX: WEED) (NASDAQ: CGC) today announced that it has ceased funding BioSteel Sports Nutrition
Inc. ("BioSteel") and that BioSteel has commenced proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the
"CCAA") in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) ("CCAA Court") and will seek recognition of
that proceeding under Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code to give full force and effect to the orders made in the CCAA proceeding
in the United States, including a stay of proceedings.
part of its efforts to simplify its business and reduce cash burn, Canopy Growth previously announced that it was reviewing strategic
options for the Company's BioSteel business unit, including a potential sale of the business unit. BioSteel's business was
a significant drag on Canopy Growth's profitability and cash flow, representing approximately 60% of the Company's Q1 FY2024
Adjusted EBITDA loss. The decision by BioSteel to seek creditor protection means that Canopy Growth will limit the further funding obligations
in respect of the BioSteel business unit, which is consistent with Canopy Growth's transformation to a simplified, asset-light
operating model and focus on its core cannabis operations.
Growth's financial position is expected to be further strengthened through the immediate removal of the cash expenditures associated
with funding the BioSteel business unit and the potential cash proceeds from the orderly sale of BioSteel's assets. Further, the
Company anticipates the removal of the previously identified material weakness related to the BioSteel business segment upon disposition.
In addition, with BioSteel's operating loss and cash burn eliminated, Canopy Growth
reiterates its expectation to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA across its remaining business units exiting FY2024.
Growth has marked yet another major milestone in our transformation plan, as while BioSteel's business has shown significant year-over-year
revenue growth, and we believe the brand remains an attractive asset, it does not align with Canopy Growth's cannabis focused asset-light
strategy. We have repeatedly demonstrated that we will take decisive action to enhance our profitability and ensure we are focused and
positioned to be a leader in the North American cannabis sector," said David Klein, Chief Executive Officer.
Transformation Plan Highlights
has obtained an initial order from the CCAA Court which provides for, among other things: (i) a stay of proceedings in favor of
BioSteel and its two U.S. affiliates, BioSteel Sports Nutrition USA LLC and BioSteel Manufacturing LLC;
and (ii) the appointment of KSV Restructuring Inc. as monitor of BioSteel.
process will allow the BioSteel business to maximize the value of its assets through a court supervised sales process. Canopy Growth
remains BioSteel Canada's largest creditor and shareholder and anticipates receiving its proportionate share of any recoveries
in the CCAA process.
This number assumes that the convertible debentures issued on July 14, 2023 with an aggregate principal amount of approximately $40.4MM
are settled by the Company in common shares, which settlement is only possible in the event that shareholders of the Company approve
such issuance at a meeting of shareholders on September 25, 2023.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure used by
management that is not defined by U.S. GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA
is calculated as the reported net income (loss), adjusted to exclude income tax recovery (expense); other income (expense), net; loss
on equity method investments; share-based compensation expense; depreciation and amortization expense; asset impairment and restructuring
costs; restructuring costs recorded in cost of goods sold; and charges related to the flow-through of inventory step-up on business combinations,
and further adjusted to remove acquisition-related costs. Asset impairments related to periodic changes to the Company's supply
chain processes are not excluded from Adjusted EBITDA given their occurrence through the normal course of core operational activities.
Manager, Communications
Director, Investor Relations
Canopy Growth is a leading North American cannabis
and consumer packaged goods ("CPG") company dedicated to unleashing the power of cannabis to improve lives. Through an unwavering
commitment to our consumers, Canopy Growth delivers innovative products with a focus on premium and mainstream cannabis brands including
Doja, 7ACRES, Tweed, and Deep Space. Canopy Growth's CPG portfolio features targeted 24-hour skincare and wellness solutions from
This Works, gourmet wellness products by Martha Stewart CBD, and category defining vaporizer technology made in Germany by Storz &
Canopy Growth has also established a comprehensive
ecosystem to realize the opportunities presented by the U.S. THC market through its rights to Acreage Holdings, Inc., a vertically
integrated multi-state cannabis operator with principal operations in densely populated states across the Northeast, as well as Wana
Brands, a leading cannabis edible brand in North America, and Jetty Extracts, a California-based producer of high-quality cannabis extracts
and pioneer of clean vape technology.
Beyond our world-class products, Canopy Growth
is leading the industry forward through a commitment to social equity, responsible use, and community reinvestment-pioneering a
future where cannabis is understood and welcomed for its potential to help achieve greater wellbeing and life enhancement.
For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com
References to information included on, or accessible
through, our website do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at or available through our website, and
you should not consider such information to be part of this press release.
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but
not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects"
or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does
not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results
"may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking
statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance
or achievements of the Company or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements and uncertainties
include statements with respect to BioSteel's intention to complete proceedings under the CCAA; the outcome of the CCAA proceedings
and any potential recovery for its stakeholders, including Canopy Growth; the impact on Canopy Growth's financial position, including
the potential cash proceeds from the sale of BioSteel's assets; the anticipated removal of the previously identified material weakness
related to the BioSteel business segment; expectations regarding the potential success
of, and the costs and benefits associated with the Company's transformation plan, including the completion of the Company's
sale of its Hershey facility; the assumption that the convertible debentures issued on July 14, 2023 are settled in common shares
of the Company; the occurrence and outcome of the Company's restructuring initiatives and Canopy USA's expected acquisition
of U.S. THC companies; segment and business focuses for FY2024, including delivering positive
Adjusted EBITDA exiting FY2024 and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects
and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including BioSteel's
ability to complete any future potential transactions in connection with the CCAA proceedings and the terms and conditions thereof; risks
relating to the CCAA process, including uncertainty of any residual value for BioSteel's stakeholders under the CCAA process; negative
operating cash flow; uncertainty of additional financing; use of proceeds; volatility in the price of the Company's common shares;
inherent uncertainty associated with projections; expectations regarding future investment, growth and expansion of operations; regulatory
and licensing risks; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets
and the impacts of increased rates of inflation; legal and regulatory risks inherent in the cannabis industry, including the global regulatory
landscape and enforcement related to cannabis; additional dilution; political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating
to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation and the interpretation of various laws regulations and
policies; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; and such other risks contained in the public filings of the Company
filed with Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com
and with the Securities and Exchange Commission through EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar, including under the heading "Risk

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Canopy Growth cease funding BioSteel?

Canopy Growth ceased funding BioSteel to reduce cash burn and refocus on cannabis leadership.

What action did BioSteel take under the CCAA?

BioSteel initiated proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act for creditor protection.

How does this impact Canopy Growth's financial position?

The halt in funding BioSteel will strengthen Canopy Growth's financial position and cash flow.

What is Canopy Growth's future focus?

Canopy Growth aims to concentrate on its cannabis operations in North America.

What is expected after the BioSteel asset sale?

Canopy Growth anticipates recovering funds during the sale process of BioSteel's assets.

Last updated: Sep 14, 2023