GATINEAU, Quebec, June 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- HEXO Corp., a producer of cannabis products, today announced that the company has entered into an amending agreement (the “Amending Agreement”) to the previously announced transaction agreement (the “Transaction Agreement”) with Tilray Brands, Inc. Separately, the company announced that it has also entered into an amending agreement to the previously announced equity purchase agreement (the “Standby Agreement”) with 2692106 Ontario Inc. (the “Investor”) and KAOS Capital Ltd. (“KAOS”).
Transaction Agreement Amendments
On June 14, 2022, in view of current stock market conditions and in order to reduce closing risk related to the pre-amendment minimum liquidity closing condition, the Company entered into the Amending Agreement to the Transaction Agreement pursuant to which HEXO, Tilray Brands and HTI agreed to:
- reduce the minimum liquidity interim covenant and closing condition from USD$100,000,000 to CAD$70,000,000 with such amount to be determined after giving effect to a release of all conditions in any blocked accounts and restricted cash of the Company and its subsidiaries and including net cash proceeds expected to be received from the Company’s captive D&O insurance policy;
- extend the Outside Date (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) from July 1, 2022 to Aug. 1, 2022 and to extend the date past which the Outside Date cannot be extended to Nov. 30, 2022;
- extend the date by which the Company must use best efforts to obtain shareholder approval from June 15, 2022 to July 15, 2022;
- reduce the Amendment Share Price (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) from USD$0.54 to CAD$0.40;
- amend the condition regarding Tilray’s right to appoint nominees and an observer to the Company’s board of directors such that Tilray will be entitled to appoint two directors and one observer to the Company’s board of directors;
- amend and restate the Purchased Note (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) to reflect a reduction in Tilray Brands’ Conversion Price (as defined in the Purchased Note) from CAD$0.85 to CAD$0.40; and
- amend and restate the Assignment and Assumption Agreement (as defined in the Transaction Agreement) to reflect certain changes to the purchase price and consideration (as between Tilray Brands and HTI).
Additionally, Tilray has irrevocably waived any non-compliance by HEXO with the minimum liquidity interim covenant contained in the Transaction Agreement for all periods prior to the date of the Amending Agreement for all purposes, including with respect to Tilray’s ability to terminate the Transaction Agreement for any such non-compliance.
“The strategic partnership with Tilray Brands significantly improves HEXO’s capital structure and provides the opportunity to accelerate our growth in global markets,” said Charlie Bowman, president and CEO of HEXO. “Challenging stock market conditions have necessitated amendments to the agreement, but this is a critical step in unlocking the shareholder value held within the Company."
The terms of the Transaction Agreement are otherwise unamended. The closing of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement (as amended by the Amending Agreement) and the amended and restated Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the “Transaction”) remain subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including: (i) receipt of approvals from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) and the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; (ii) receipt of shareholder approval from HEXO’s shareholders; (iii) no material adverse effect having occurred in respect of HEXO; and (iv) receipt of all consents and approvals required by any regulatory authorities, including from the Competition Bureau.
HEXO expects to file a supplement (the “Circular Supplement”) to its previously filed management information circular (the “Circular”) in due course, a copy of which will be available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov or at https://docs.tsxtrust.com/2092, the website for the meeting materials maintained by the Company’s transfer agent and registrar. The Circular Supplement will include further information regarding the Amending Agreement in order to permit shareholders to make a fully informed decision when considering the Transaction.
Standby Agreement Amendments
The Company also announces that, in view of the Company’s current share price, the Investor has formally agreed, for a period of three months, to reduce the minimum price condition included in the Standby Agreement from the CAD$0.30 to CAD$0.10 per share. This will ensure the Company may, during such three month period, draw upon the financing commitment (the “Standby Commitment”) contemplated by the Standby Agreement even if its share price were to fall below CAD$0.30 per share. In addition, the Investor has agreed to allow the Company to commence the process of drawing upon the Standby Commitment immediately following receipt of necessary regulatory approvals without having to wait until the first five trading days of the next calendar month as previously contemplated by the Standby Agreement. Subsequent draws will continue to be available only during the first five trading days of any month during the term of the Standby Commitment. Given the current market and macro-economic conditions, the Company believes that this is a positive development that will help ensure that it can have immediate access to capital as contemplated by the Standby Agreement. The Company is not required to pay the Investor any additional consideration in connection with these amendments to the Standby Agreement.
June 14 and July 4 Meetings
The previously scheduled meeting of shareholders will proceed as originally planned on June 14, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. E.T. (the “Meeting”). At the Meeting, shareholders will be called on to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution approving certain aspects relating to the Standby Agreement, as amended (the “Standby Commitment Resolution”), all as required pursuant to the rules of TSX and as more particularly set out in the Circular previously sent to shareholders of record on May 4, 2022 (the “Record Date”).
Following the vote on the Standby Commitment Resolution, and without asking shareholders to vote on the resolution approving certain aspects relating to the Transaction Agreement, the Company intends to adjourn the Meeting until July 4, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. E.T. (the “Reconvened Meeting”) in order to provide shareholders with additional time to review the Circular Supplement and consider the amendments to the Transaction Agreement described above. It is expected that the only matter that will be considered at the Reconvened Meeting is the “Note Amendment Resolution” as described in the Circular and the Circular Supplement. Additional details regarding the timing and location of the Reconvened Meeting will be disclosed to shareholders in the Circular Supplement and otherwise communicated by press release. The Record Date for the Reconvened Meeting will remain unchanged at May 4, 2022.
The Circular and form of proxy previously distributed to registered shareholders in connection with the Meeting confers discretionary authority upon management (or other person(s) designated as proxy therein) to vote on amendments or variations of matters coming before the Meeting. Management intends to rely on the discretionary authority granted in the Circular and form of proxy to vote FOR each of the Standby Commitment Resolution and Note Amendment Resolution.
If a registered shareholder has submitted a management proxy and does not wish the proxy to be voted in this manner, they may revoke their proxy at any time prior to the Meeting in the case of the Standby Commitment Resolution and the Reconvened Meeting in the case of the Note Amendment Resolution. Such a proxy may be revoked: (a) by depositing an instrument in writing, including another completed form of proxy, executed by such registered shareholder or by his, her or its attorney authorized in writing or by electronic signature or, if the registered shareholder is a corporation, by an authorized officer or attorney thereof at, or by transmitting by facsimile or electronic means, a revocation signed, subject to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), by electronic signature, to the head office of the Company, located at 120 Chemin de la rive, Gatineau, Québec, J8M 1V2, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (E.T.) on the last business day preceding the day, as applicable, of the Meeting, the Reconvened Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof; or (b) in any other manner permitted by law. For certainty, the Company will continue to accept revocations of proxies with respect to the Note Amendment Resolution (but not the Standby Commitment Resolution) following the vote on the Standby Commitment Resolution in accordance with the procedures set out above as will be further detailed in the Circular Supplement.
If a non-registered or beneficial shareholder wishes to revoke their previously given voting instructions, they must contact the broker or other intermediary that they provided their voting instruction forms to and comply with any and all applicable requirements of such broker or intermediary. A broker or other intermediary may not be able to revoke voting instructions if it receives insufficient notice of revocation, and any non-registered shareholder wishing to revoke their voting instructions should contact such broker or intermediary in sufficient time to ensure that their revocation of voting instructions is received.
Shareholders are encouraged to attend and vote at both the Meeting and the Reconvened Meeting.
The Circular Supplement will not address the Standby Agreement and the Company believes all material information relating to the Standby Commitment Resolution is contained in the Circular together with the disclosure in this press release.
