Supplies Verano's entry into the Virginia market previous to the launch of the grownup use program and deeper footprint in Arizona

CHICAGO, July 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verano Holdings Corp. (Cboe CA: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) (“Verano” or the “Firm”), a multi-state hashish firm, introduced right now that it has entered into agreements to accumulate all possession pursuits in three subsidiaries of The Cannabist Firm Holdings Inc. (Cboe CA: CBST) (OTCQX: CBSTF) (“The Cannabist Firm”), some of the skilled growers, producers and retailers of hashish merchandise in america Two subsidiaries, 203 Organix, LLC and Salubrious Wellness Heart, Inc. (collectively, the “Arizona Operations”) function in Arizona, and the third subsidiary, Columbia Care Japanese Virginia LLC, operates in Virginia (the “Virginia”). Operations”).

Highlights of the deal

  • The Virginia operations embody a cultivation and manufacturing facility and 6 dispensaries.
    • Virginia's hashish program is uniquely structured and enticing in that the Commonwealth is split into 5 Well being Service Areas (HSAs) with just one hashish operator and retailer allowed to serve every HSA.
    • Verano will grow to be the only hashish operator and retailer for HSA 5 in Japanese Virginia.
    • HSA 5 is residence to almost two million residents, serving populated areas similar to Virginia Seaside, Chesapeake and Norfolk.
    • Virginia's authorized hashish program permits for residence supply all through the Commonwealth, in addition to wholesale alternatives to different HSAs, giving Verano the flexibility to serve sufferers all through the state.
    • The full consideration for Operation Virginia, topic to adjustment, is $90 million. At closing, Verano can pay closing consideration of $20 million in money, $40 million in Class A subordinated voting shares, and difficulty a $30 million word.
  • The Arizona operations embody a cultivation facility, a manufacturing facility, and two dispensaries.
    • Verano's complete Arizona cultivation footprint will broaden to 90,000 sq. toes throughout three amenities.
    • Verano will function eight dispensaries in Arizona including one in Tempe and one in Prescott.
    • The full consideration for the Arizona Operations is $15 million, payable in money.
  • As soon as closed, the acquisitions will deliver Verano's geographic footprint to 14 states, 15 cultivation and manufacturing amenities, and 150 dispensaries.

The Cannabist Firm maintains its operations in Virginia within the Richmond area (HSA 4), with roughly 80,000 sq. toes of cultivation and manufacturing capability, 5 retail areas in operation and one in growth. Upon exiting the Arizona market, the Cannabist Firm's working footprint might be in 13 markets, together with beforehand introduced divestments which might be topic to future closures.

Verano administration commentary

“Right now's settlement additional diversifies Verano's portfolio, which because the firm's inception has been centered on increasing our enterprise in restricted licensing markets by scaling each our wholesale and sale,” mentioned George Archos, President and Chief Government Officer of Verano. “This chance vastly enhances Verano's development trajectory as we achieve entry to the coveted Virginia market forward of an grownup person program and deepen our footprint in Arizona. With Virginia, we might be in a first-rate place to take benefit once more of the extraordinary development that’s anticipated to return with a launch of an grownup use program.”

The Hashish Firm Administration Assessment

“We’re happy to have reached an settlement and sit up for welcoming Verano to the sturdy Virginia market. As introduced in earlier bulletins, we proceed to optimize our footprint as we purpose to construct a greater enterprise, which incorporates deleveraging our stability sheet. We’ll preserve our 5 current retail areas within the Richmond, Virginia space, in addition to our cultivation and manufacturing facility. We’re very happy with what our groups of Japanese Virginia and Arizona have carried out and we sit up for seeing the Verano crew help their continued success,” mentioned David Hart, CEO of The Cannabist Firm.

The closing of the acquisitions pursuant to the acquisition agreements for the Arizona Operations and the Virginia Operations are every topic to closing circumstances, together with the approval of relevant regulatory authorities.

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/07/29/2920498/0/en/Verano-Enters-in-Agreements-with-The-Cannabist-Firm-to-Purchase-One- of-So-Virginia-Licensing-and-Operations-Affiliate-eU-So-Opera-Arizona.html

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