Millennium Investment & Acquisition Co. Inc. (Ticker: MILC)
(“MILC” or the “Company”) today announced that it is expanding its
sustainable cannabis cultivation activities by establishing
operations in the second largest cannabis market in the country:
Michigan. A subsidiary of MILC’s wholly owned subsidiary,
Millennium Cannabis LLC, (“Millennium Cannabis”), has executed a
long-term lease (the “Lease”) for a 556,146 square foot
state-of-the-art greenhouse cultivation facility located in Marengo
Township, Michigan (the “Property”). The Lease was entered into
simultaneously with the acquisition of the Property by Power REIT
(Ticker: PW and PW.PRA). David H. Lesser, MILC’s Chairman and CEO
is also Chairman and CEO of Power REIT.
Property Details
The state-of-the-art “Dutch Venlo Style”
greenhouse is 26-foot high which helps control the growing
environment. The diffused glass roof is beneficial to plant growth
and allows greater plant density. The greenhouse features advanced
cultivation controls and a best-in-class irrigation/fertigation
system. There are also two large, multi-functional boilers that
heat and help dehumidify the greenhouse as well as provide the crop
with enhanced CO2 levels to improve plant yields. There is a
1-million-gallon hot water storage tank that allows the boilers to
run during the day to provide enhanced CO2 to the plants for
photosynthesis but then uses the stored heat at night and as
otherwise needed. The greenhouse also includes an exceptional
irrigation system with 500,000 gallons of feed tanks that can water
the entire greenhouse in under 20 minutes. The irrigation system is
configured with 12 different feed zones. This allows for precision
crop feeding targeting each zone based on the plant growth stage
and cultivar. This facility is labor-efficient with an under-bench
radiant heating system that acts as a dual-purpose rail system for
carts and other equipment to enhance labor efficiency.
Capital Improvements
As part of the transaction, Power REIT has
agreed to fund capital improvements for the Property to position it
for cannabis cultivation. Power REIT’s current capital commitment
for the initial phase of improvements is approximately $3 million
which includes costs related to permitting and licensing, fire
suppression, security and site work. Power REIT is working with its
tenant to finalize the budget for additional property improvements
that Power REIT will fund and amend the lease accordingly. These
improvements are expected to include a light deprivation system
which is important to maximize plant yields, dry and cure space, a
state-of-the-art propagation room, as well as an early-stage plant
nursery at the facility as well as upgrades to facilities to
support the needs of employees such as bathrooms and lockers.
The Michigan Cannabis
Market
In 2008, Michigan passed the Michigan Marijuana
Act and became the 10th state to legalize medical cannabis. During
2020, its first full year of recreational sales, the Michigan
market generated $1 billion in total legal medical and adult-use
revenue. Revenue for 2021 is projected to reach $1.8 billion, an
increase of 80% YoY. This would make Michigan the second largest
cannabis market in the country, second only to California. Michigan
cannabis sales are expected to grow to $4 Billion over the next 3 –
5 years.
David Lesser, MILC’s Chairman and CEO,
commented, “In May of this year, MILC announced
sustainable greenhouse cultivation of cannabis as a new area of
focus and commenced operations in Colorado. This was followed by
the entry into the Oklahoma market in June. We are pleased with the
progress we have made at both of these facilities including
implementing property improvements, commencing significant initial
crops and building a strong team. Michigan represents a significant
next step in the growth of Millennium Cannabis. This facility will
be the largest cannabis cultivation facility in Michigan and one of
the largest cannabis greenhouse cultivation facilities in the
United States. Property improvements will begin immediately, and
Millennium Cannabis is working with the state and local
jurisdictions on the final steps for licensing which will allow us
to start growing plants. We hope to begin generating revenue by
mid-2022 and have the greenhouse full of plants by the end of next
year.”
Millennium Cannabis is led by Jared Schrader,
who has built a team of more than 50 seasoned cannabis cultivators
and operators. With the Michigan transaction, Millennium Cannabis
now boasts one of the largest multi-state cannabis cultivation
footprints in the United States. Millennium Cannabis engages
agriculture experts from outside of the cannabis industry to
incorporate proven growing methods from traditional crops into
successful cannabis cultivation operations in low-energy greenhouse
environments. Millennium Cannabis shares Power REIT’s thesis that
greenhouses represent the sustainable solution for cultivating
cannabis at a low cost and with a significantly reduced carbon
footprint when compared to the expensive indoor warehouse
cultivation facilities that are more typical across the cannabis
industry.
Millennium Cannabis strategically deploys this
wide range of expertise to empower strong local operating partners
to apply Millennium Cannabis’s proven growing protocols and
best-in-class production methods to meet the evolving needs of
consumers within their local markets. Its partners in Michigan
include the long-time Facility Director who operated the greenhouse
during its prior use who will immediately transition his years of
experience growing acres of red peppers at the facility to now
supporting cannabis cultivation and production at the property. He
is joined by an industry-leading women and minority-owned
operations advisory group with more than a decade of experience
creating and leading cannabis operations across the US and abroad.
Rounding out the local team is a locally based women-owned
licensing partner who most recently oversaw regulatory and
compliance affairs for two of the largest cannabis greenhouse
operators in the country.
Jared Schrader, Millennium Cannabis’ President, commented,
“Millennium Cannabis is excited to commence operations at this
truly state-of-the-art greenhouse cultivation facility to create a
large-scale, low-energy, and low-cost production operation that is
well positioned to compete favorably in the Michigan cannabis
market for years to come. The nascent Michigan market is
experiencing dramatic growth and has current pricing that far
exceeds the national averages based on a supply/demand imbalance.
We currently see prices of $3,500 - $4,000 per pound in Michigan.
In the near-term this represents an opportunity to generate
significant cash flow. Given our focus on using greenhouse
technology to lower the cost of cultivation, we are confident we
can compete favorably even as the prices inevitably compress in
this market. With over 500,000 square feet of greenhouse
cultivation space, we are initially targeting approximately 90,000
plants. Conservatively assuming 3 harvests per year this could
produce more than 40,500 pounds of cannabis flower annually. Once
we ramp up operations, we believe the existing square footage can
also accommodate a much greater plant density which provides the
potential for built in revenue growth.”
Updated Investor Deck
MILC has posted an updated investor deck which is available on
our website: http://www.millinvestment.com/
Deregistration as a 1940 Act
CompanyOn October 14, 2020, shareholders approved a
proposal to change the nature of the Company’s business from a
registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the “1940 Act”) and to a holding company that focuses
primarily on owning and operating businesses that produce activated
carbon and acquiring other private businesses (collectively, the
“Deregistration Proposal”). The Company is in the process of
implementing the Deregistration Proposal so that it is no longer an
“investment company” under the 1940 Act and has applied to the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for an order under
the 1940 Act declaring that the Company has ceased to be an
investment company (the “Deregistration Order”).
While the Company is committed to fully
implementing the Deregistration Proposal, it is still contingent
upon regulatory approval and the ability to reconfigure the
Company’s portfolio to deregister as an investment company. The
time required to reconfigure the Company’s portfolio could be
impacted by, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic and related
market volatility, determinations to preserve capital, the
Company’s ability to identify and execute on desirable acquisition
opportunities, and applicable regulatory, lender and governance
requirements. The conversion process could take up to 24 months;
and there can be no assurance that the Deregistration Proposal,
even if fully implemented, will improve the Company’s performance.
Further, the SEC may determine not to grant the Company’s request
for the Deregistration Order, which would materially change the
Company’s plans for its business.
As previously announced, MILC has now completed
the liquidation of its sole investment in securities - its
investment in SMC and plans to invest the proceeds in operating
businesses.
ABOUT MILLENNIUM INVESTMENT & ACQUISITION COMPANY
INC.
Millennium Investment and Acquisition Co. Inc.
(ticker: MILC) is an internally managed, non-diversified,
closed-end investment company. During 2020, MILC announced
that it was seeking to de-register as an Investment Company that is
regulated under Investment Company Act of 1940. MILC is currently
seeking an Order from the SEC declaring that it has ceased to be an
Investment Company as it no longer meets the definition of holding
itself out as investing in securities but rather has pivoted to
focus on direct investments in operating businesses.
MILC is currently focusing on opportunities in
sustainable cannabis cultivation and sustainable production of
activated carbon.
Additional information about MILC can be found
on its website: www.millinvestment.com
ABOUT POWER REIT
Power REIT (ticker: PW and PW.PRA), with a focus
on the “Triple Bottom Line” and a commitment to Profit, Planet and
People is a specialized real estate investment trust (REIT) that
owns sustainable real estate related to infrastructure assets
including properties for Controlled Environment Agriculture,
Renewable Energy and Transportation. Power REIT is actively seeking
to expand its real estate portfolio related to Controlled
Environment Agriculture for the cultivation of food and
cannabis.
Additional information about Power REIT can be
found on its website: www.pwreit.com
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This document includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws.
Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe
future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical
matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as
statements containing the words "believe," "expect," "will,"
"anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "project," "plan," "assume",
"seek" or other similar expressions, or negatives of those
expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain
these identifying words. All statements contained in this document
regarding our future strategy, future operations, future prospects,
the future of our industries and results that might be obtained by
pursuing management's current or future plans and objectives are
forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on
any forward-looking statements because the matters they describe
are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our
forward-looking statements are based on the information currently
available to us and speak only as of the date of the filing of this
document. Over time, our actual results, performance, financial
condition or achievements may differ from the anticipated results,
performance, financial condition or achievements that are expressed
or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such differences
may be significant and materially adverse to our security
holders.
CONACT:
David H. Lesser, Chairman & CEO |
dlesser@millinvestment.com |
212-750-0371 |
|
301 Winding RoadOld Bethpage, NY
11804 |
www.millinvestment.com |
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