Full Press Release Details
SNDL to Acquire Remaining Minority Interest of
SNDL and Nova Execute Arrangement
Agreement with Key Shareholder Support
CALGARY, AB, Aug. 13, 2024 /CNW/ - SNDL Inc.
(Nasdaq: SNDL) ("SNDL") and Nova Cannabis Inc. (TSX: NOVC) ("Nova") are pleased to announce that they
have entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Agreement") pursuant to which SNDL will acquire all of the issued and
outstanding common shares in the capital of Nova ("Nova Shares") not already owned by SNDL, representing approximately
34.8% of Nova Shares, by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Transaction") for aggregate consideration of approximately
$40 million (the "Consideration"). All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars unless
otherwise indicated.
"Today's announcement by our Alberta-based corporations
underscores our commitment to sustainable performance in Canadian cannabis," said Zach George, SNDL's Chief Executive Officer. "We
are committed to building a consumer-centric model at scale, supported by SNDL's robust shared service model, access to capital, and a
well-developed cannabis retail pipeline. These factors are integral to the achievement of sustained profitable growth."
Transaction Benefits
Retail Expertise: Nova's retail expertise will support
SNDL's entire cannabis retail portfolio to enhance programming, expand data programs, advance staff training initiatives, and optimize
inventory management.
Synergies and Cost Rationalization: The Transaction is
anticipated to generate savings through the streamlining of public company expenses and the optimization of general and administrative
Access to Capital: SNDL's robust balance sheet will ensure
that Nova's retail platform continues to be supported in a competitive and challenging environment.
"The proposed Transaction offers liquidity and
certainty to minority shareholders, while creating a lasting retail legacy in a nascent industry," said Ron Hozjan, one of Nova's
independent directors and Chair of the special committee of Nova. "I commend the Nova team and board of directors for their dedication
Under the terms of the Agreement, Nova's shareholders
will receive $1.75 in cash for each Nova Share (the "Cash Consideration"), representing a premium of 41.2% to the 20-day
VWAP of Nova Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") as of market close on August 12, 2024.
Nova shareholders also have the ability to elect to
receive, in lieu of the Cash Consideration, 0.58 of a common share of SNDL (the "SNDL Shares") for each Nova Share (the
"Share Consideration" and, collectively with the Cash Consideration, the "Consideration"), subject to
proration and a maximum of 50% of the aggregate Consideration being payable in SNDL Shares.
The Transaction has been approved by the boards of
directors of both SNDL and Nova and is expected to close on or before October 18, 2024. Following the closing of the Transaction, the
Nova Shares are expected to be delisted from the TSX and Nova will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer in all provinces and territories
Shareholder Approval
The Transaction will be carried out by way of a court-approved
plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), pursuant to which SNDL will acquire all of the issued and outstanding
Nova Shares not already owned by SNDL. The implementation of the Transaction will be subject to (among other things) the approval of at
least two thirds of the Nova Shares voted by Nova shareholders, as well as the requisite approval of the majority of disinterested Nova
shareholders under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI
61-101"), at a special meeting of Nova shareholders expected to be held by Nova in October, 2024 (the "Meeting").
The Transaction is also subject to the receipt of court approval from the Court of King's Bench of Alberta and other customary closing
Nova Board Approval and Voting Recommendation
Nova's board of directors (the "Nova Board"),
after consultation with its financial and legal advisors and acting on the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of Nova's independent
directors (the "Special Committee"), has determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Nova and is fair
to Nova Shareholders. Nova's board of directors has resolved to recommend that the Nova shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction.
Formal Valuation and Fairness Opinion
The Special Committee retained Eight Capital Inc.
("Eight Capital") as financial advisor and independent valuator and requested that Eight Capital prepare a formal valuation
in accordance with MI 61-101. Eight Capital delivered an oral opinion to the Special Committee that, as of August 9, 2024, based on Eight
Capital's analysis and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications to be set forth in Eight Capital's written valuation,
the fair market value of the Nova Shares is in the range of $1.40 to $1.90 per Nova Share. Eight Capital also delivered an oral opinion
that, as of August 9, 2024, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications to be set forth in Eight Capital's written
fairness opinion, the Consideration to be received by the shareholders of Nova (other than SNDL) pursuant to the Arrangement is fair,
from a financial point of view, to such Nova shareholders.
The Agreement provides for, among other things, customary
support and non-solicitation covenants from Nova, including customary "fiduciary out" provisions that allow Nova to accept a
superior proposal in certain circumstances. The Agreement also provides for the payment of a termination fee of $800,000 payable to SNDL
by Nova in the event the Transaction is terminated in certain specified circumstances.
A full description of the Transaction will be set
forth in a management information circular of Nova to be distributed to Nova shareholders in connection with the Meeting and filed on
the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+) under Nova's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Voting Support Agreement
All directors and executive officers of Nova, and
Cannell Capital, LLC ("Cannell"), in respect of approximately 13% of the issued and outstanding Nova Shares which are controlled
by Cannell, have entered into voting support agreements with SNDL pursuant to which, among other things, the parties have agreed, subject
to the terms thereof, to vote in favour of the Transaction.
Early Warning Disclosure by Cannell Capital,
Further to the requirements of National Instrument
62-104 respecting Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids and National Instrument 62-103 respecting the Early Warning System and Related Take-Over
Bid and Insider Reporting Issues of the Canadian Securities Administrators, Cannell, a Wyoming limited liability company, will file an
amended early warning report in connection with its participation in the transaction. A copy of Cannell's related amended early warning
report will be filed with the applicable Canadian securities commissions and will be made available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Further
information and a copy of the early warning report of Cannell may be obtained by contacting:
Chief Financial Officer
Cannell Capital, LLC
245 Meriwether Circle
McCarthy T trault LLP is acting as legal counsel
Eight Capital is acting as financial advisor and Bennett
Jones LLP is acting as legal counsel to Nova.
SNDL is a public company whose shares are traded on
the Nasdaq under the symbol "SNDL." SNDL is the largest private-sector liquor and cannabis retailer in Canada with retail
banners that include Ace Liquor, Wine and Beyond, Liquor Depot, Value Buds, Spiritleaf, Superette and Firesale. SNDL is a licensed cannabis
producer and one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis companies in Canada specializing in low-cost biomass sourcing, indoor cultivation,
product innovation, low-cost manufacturing facilities, and a cannabis brand portfolio that includes Top Leaf, Contraband, Citizen
Stash, Sundial Cannabis, Palmetto, Spiritleaf Selects Bon Jak, Versus, Value Buds, Namaste, Re-up, Grasslands and Vacay. SNDL's investment
portfolio seeks to deploy strategic capital through direct and indirect investments and partnerships throughout the North American cannabis
For more information on SNDL, please go to www.sndl.com.
ABOUT NOVA CANNABIS INC.
Nova Cannabis Inc. (TSX: NOVC) is one of Canada's
largest and fastest-growing cannabis retailers with a goal of disrupting the cannabis retail market by offering a wide range of high-quality
cannabis products at every-day best value prices. Nova currently owns and/or operates locations across Alberta, Ontario, B.C. and Saskatchewan,
primarily under its "Value Buds" banner. Additional information about Nova Cannabis Inc. is available at www.sedarplus.ca and
Nova's website at www.novacannabis.ca.
The head office of Nova Cannabis is located at 101,
17220 Stony Plain Rd. NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5S 1K6, Canada.
Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement
This news release contains statements and information