EDMONTON, Alberta and
NEW YORK, March 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --
NYSE| TSX: ACB
Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora" or the "Company") (TSX: ACB)
(NYSE: ACB) (Frankfurt: 21P) (WKN:
A1C4WM) today announced that it has appointed Nelson Peltz as a Strategic Advisor. Mr. Peltz
and Aurora will work collaboratively and strategically to explore
potential partnerships that would be the optimal strategic fit for
successful entry into each of Aurora's contemplated market
segments. Mr. Peltz will also advise on the Company’s global
expansion strategy.
Management Commentary
"Nelson is a globally recognized business visionary with a
strong track record of constructive engagement to generate
accelerated, profitable growth and shareholder value across many
industry verticals that are of great interest to us," said
Terry Booth, CEO. "Like us, Nelson
also takes a long-term view of value creation to benefit all
stakeholders. We look forward to working with Nelson to further
extend our global cannabis industry leadership by aligning Aurora
with each of the major market segments cannabis is set to
impact."
Mr. Peltz, added, "I believe Aurora has a solid execution track
record, is strongly differentiated from its peers, has achieved
integration throughout the value chain and is poised to go to the
next level across a range of industry verticals. I also believe
that Canadian licensed producers, and Aurora in particular, are
well positioned to lead in the development of the international
cannabis industry as regulations evolve, with a strong, globally
replicable operating model. I look forward to working with Terry
and the extended Aurora team to evaluate its many operational and
strategic opportunities, including potential engagement with mature
players in consumer and other market segments."
Nelson Peltz
Nelson Peltz is the Chief
Executive Officer and a Founding Partner of Trian Fund Management,
L.P., a multi-billion dollar investment management firm. Mr. Peltz
also currently serves as the non-executive Chairman of The Wendy's
Company and as a director of The Procter & Gamble Company,
Sysco Corporation, and The Madison Square Garden Company. He was
previously a director of H. J. Heinz Company, Legg Mason, Inc., Ingersoll-Rand plc, and Mondelēz
International, Inc., among other companies. Mr. Peltz formerly
served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Triarc Companies,
Inc. which during his tenure owned Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc.
and the Snapple Beverage Group, as well as other consumer and
industrial businesses. Mr. Peltz was also Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Triangle Industries, Inc., the largest
packaging company in the world and a Fortune 100
industrial company, when that company was acquired by Pechiney,
S.A., a leading international metals and packaging company. Mr.
Peltz began his business career by joining his family's food
distribution business. Mr. Peltz's advisory services to Aurora will
be provided through 280 Park ACI Holdings, LLC.
Option Grant
In consideration for the Services to be provided by the Senior
Advisor, the Company has granted options (the "Options") to the
Senior Advisor to purchase 19,961,754 common shares in the Company
at a price CAD$10.34 per share. The
Options will vest ratably over a four year period on a quarterly
basis, subject to accelerated vesting based on the occurrence of
certain specified events, which include the consummation of certain
defined transactions, and the closing price of Aurora's common
shares being at least CAD$31.02 and
additionally CAD$41.36 for a
specified number of trading days. The Senior Advisor may exercise
any portion of the Option that has vested on or prior to the
seventh anniversary of the date of grant.
The Company has granted the Senior Advisor registration rights
relating to the common shares to be acquired through the exercise
of the Options.
About Aurora
Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada with funded capacity in excess of 500,000 kg per
annum and sales and operations in 24 countries across five
continents, Aurora is one of the world's largest and leading
cannabis companies. Aurora is vertically integrated and
horizontally diversified across every key segment of the value
chain, from facility engineering and design to cannabis breeding
and genetics research, cannabis and hemp production, derivatives,
high value-add product development, home cultivation, wholesale and
retail distribution.
Highly differentiated from its peers, Aurora has established a
uniquely advanced, consistent and efficient production strategy,
based on purpose-built facilities that integrate leading-edge
technologies across all processes, defined by extensive automation
and customization, resulting in the massive scale production of
high quality product at low cost. Intended to be replicable and
scalable globally, our production facilities are designed to
produce cannabis of significant scale, with high quality,
industry-leading yields, and low per gram production costs. Each of
Aurora's facilities is built to meet EU GMP standards, and its
first production facility, the recently acquired MedReleaf Markham
facility, and its wholly owned European medical cannabis
distributor Aurora Deutschland have achieved this level of
certification.
In addition to the Company's rapid organic growth and strong
execution on strategic M&A, which to date includes 16 wholly
owned subsidiary companies - MedReleaf, CanvasRX, Peloton
Pharmaceutical, Aurora Deutschland, H2 Biopharma, Urban Cultivator,
BC Northern Lights, Larssen Greenhouses, CanniMed Therapeutics,
Anandia Labs, HotHouse Consulting, MED Colombia, Agropro, Borela,
ICC Labs and Whistler - Aurora is distinguished by its reputation
as a partner and employer of choice in the global cannabis sector,
having invested in and established strategic partnerships with a
range of leading innovators, including: Radient Technologies Inc.
(TSXV: RTI), Hempco Food and Fiber Inc. (TSXV: HEMP), Cann Group
Ltd. (ASX: CAN), Micron Waste Technologies Inc. (CSE: MWM), Choom
Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO), Capcium Inc. (private), Evio Beauty
Group (private), Wagner Dimas (private), CTT Pharmaceuticals (OTCC:
CTTH), Alcanna Inc. (TSX: CLIQ) and High Tide Inc. (CSE: HITI).
Aurora's Common Shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the
symbol "ACB", and are a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite
Index.
For more information about Aurora, please visit our investor
website, investor.auroramj.com
Neither the TSX, NYSE nor
their Regulation Services Provider
(as that term is defined
in the policies of the
TSX and NYSE) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this
release.
Terry Booth, CEO
Aurora Cannabis Inc.
Forward looking statements
This news release includes statements containing certain
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking
statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan",
"continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate",
"estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other
similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions
"may" or "will" occur and include, the execution of definitive
agreements, the closing of the transactions described herein and
the achievement of any performance thresholds or targets. These
statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in
drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the
forward-looking statements throughout this news release.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates
of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject
to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual events or results to differ materially from
those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is
under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or
obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as expressly required by applicable law.
For Media:
Laura Gallant
+1-437-992-8429
laura.gallant@auroramj.com
For Investors:
Marc Lakmaaker
+1-647-269-5523
marc.lakmaaker@auroramj.com
Rob Kelly
+1-647-331-7228
rob.kelly@auroramj.com
U.S. Investors:
Phil Carlson / Elizabeth Barker
KCSA Strategic Communications
Phone: (212)896-1233 / (212)896-1203
Email: pcarlson@kcsa.com / ebarker@kcsa.com