Flora Growth to Acquire Koch & Gsell and Enter Europe with Leading Manufacturer of Natural Swiss Hemp Products

Rhea-AI Summary

Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) has agreed to acquire 100% of Koch & Gsell for CHF 20 million (approximately US$22.2M), to enhance its CPG portfolio with the Heimat brand, known for hemp products and trailing revenues of US$7.6M. The acquisition aims to boost distribution in Europe and Asia while leveraging proprietary manufacturing technology, producing over 40,000 packs of cigarettes daily. Following the deal, Flora plans to invest CHF 2 million (US$2.2M) to expand the Heimat brand. CEO Roger Koch will continue leading Koch & Gsell post-acquisition.

Positive

• Acquisition value of CHF 20 million (~US$22.2M) enhances Flora's market presence.
• Heimat brand provides trailing revenues of US$7.6M, indicating growth potential.
• Strategic investment of CHF 2 million (US$2.2M) to expand brand reach in new markets.
• Proprietary manufacturing technology can produce over 40,000 packs of cigarettes daily.

Negative

• None.

• Heimat, Koch & Gsell’s leading brand that includes pure hemp and blended hemp and tobacco cigarettes, to amplify revenue growth for Flora’s CPG portfolio with trailing twelve-month revenues of US$7.6M
• Flora to acquire 100% of Koch & Gsell for consideration of CHF 20 million (Swiss Francs, ~US$22.2M), to be satisfied by means of Flora common shares at a price of US$5.00 per share
• Acquisition to accelerate distribution of Flora Growth’s portfolio into Europe and Asia
• Heimat’s manufacturing technology to support Flora’s market share growth

TORONTO, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) (“Flora” or the “Company”), a leading all-outdoor cultivator and manufacturer of global cannabis products and brands, is pleased to announce it has signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Switzerland based Koch & Gsell and its wholly-owned hemp brand, Heimat.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2fb7cde-a0ac-41f7-ae46-4863c26fb6fb

Under the Heimat brand, Koch & Gsell manufactures and distributes a range of hemp products that contain less then 1% THC, including pure hemp and blended hemp and tobacco cigarettes, as well as bulk flower and teas in over 2,500 stores across Switzerland. Heimat has become one of the leading brands in the Swiss market for industrially manufactured hemp cigarettes. Koch & Gsell distributes its Heimat pure hemp cigarettes and a variety of Swiss grown hemp flowers in Luxembourg and Belgium, expanding fast throughout Europe and standing at the doorstep to Asian countries.

The Heimat brand, if acquired, will represent a substantive addition to the Flora brand portfolio as a high growth brand, with trailing twelve-month revenues of US$7.6M. Pursuant to the terms of the LOI and subject to the definitive acquisition agreement and approvals, upon the closing of the transaction, Flora will also invest CHF 2 million (Swiss Francs), or approximately US$2.2M, to rapidly grow the Heimat brand into new markets and to strengthen Heimat’s position in the Swiss market. Further, by leveraging Koch & Gsell’s existing distribution network, Flora plans to introduce its brand portfolio, including Mind Naturals, Mambe, and Almost Virgin, to the Swiss and European market.

Following consummation of the transaction, Koch & Gsell will continue to be led by Founder and CEO, Roger Koch, who has been responsible for growing the Heimat brand across Switzerland and into new international markets in Europe and Asia.

As part of the transaction, Flora anticipates acquiring all of Koch & Gsell’s hemp, blended hemp and tobacco cigarette manufacturing technology. The proprietary cigarette manufacturing technology can produce over 40,000 packs of 20 cigarettes per day. The technology is patented in over 80 jurisdictions throughout the world, where Flora anticipates bringing this technology into new markets to produce hemp, cannabis, or blended cigarette products, utilizing Flora’s high-quality, low-cost cannabis input.

“The proposed acquisition of Koch & Gsell is a testament to our growth strategy. We are looking for partners that complement our distribution, enhance our supply chain and generate meaningful revenues in core markets that complement our existing portfolio of products and our premium cannabis inputs,” said Luis Merchan, CEO of Flora. “Not only are we attracted to Koch & Gsell’s exceptional penetration in brick-and-mortar grocery stores, but also their proprietary technology to create authentic pure hemp and hemp & tobacco/herbal cigarettes at an industrial scale, which we believe will be a major product category for the global cannabis space in the years to come.”

About the Proposed Transaction

Flora has signed an LOI to acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Koch & Gsell for consideration of CHF 20 million (Swiss Francs), or approximately US$22.2M, to be satisfied by the issuance of Flora common shares at a deemed price of US$5.00 per share (the “Flora Share Price”). The closing of the transaction will be subject to customary closing conditions, including due diligence to the satisfaction of both parties and the entering into of definitive agreements.

The Flora common shares to be issued as consideration for the acquisition will be issued in equal quarterly installments commencing on the closing of the transaction. If on each quarterly issuance date, the common shares of Flora are trading below the Flora Share Price, calculated using the 10-day VWAP on NASDAQ (the “Updated Flora Share Price”), the sellers will be entitled to receive the dollar amount difference between the Flora Share Price and the Updated Flora Share Price, in cash or in common shares of Flora, determined using the updated Flora Share Price.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to join the Flora portfolio of brands and will work with the Flora team to continue expanding the presence of Heimat across Switzerland and into the EU as well as entering other new global markets,” said Roger Koch, founder of Koch & Gsell. “This deal may allow Heimat to increase the profitability of our existing hemp lines, speed up the industrial production of new hemp products we already have developed as well as provide us access to Flora’s global network of distribution points and other hemp derived products in demand by our Swiss based retailers.”

About Koch & Gsell

Koch & Gsell (K&G) is a Swiss brand and manufacturing company founded in 2015, that launched a new, innovative tobacco-and-hemp cigarette, which caused a stir across the world. In summer 2019, K&G further launched an industrially manufactured pre-roll cigarette containing pure hemp and has taken steps to protect the method they use to manufacture their hemp products. K&G believes in the gentle yet compelling power of Cannabidiol (CBD) as a relief for many of today’s lifestyle diseases. Much is yet to be discovered, but the tremendous potential of CBD as a powerful alternative to pharmaceuticals is obvious and needs to be made available to customers across the world.

About Flora Growth Corp.

Flora is a cannabis company that leverages natural, cost-effective cultivation practices to supply cannabis derivatives to its diverse business divisions of cosmetics, hemp textiles, and food and beverage. As the operator of one of the largest outdoor cultivation facilities, Flora strives to market a higher-quality premium product at below market prices. By prioritizing natural ingredients and value-chain sustainability across its portfolio, Flora creates premium products that help consumers restore and thrive. Visit www.floragrowth.ca or follow @floragrowthcorp on social for more information.

Investor Relations Contact:
Evan Veryard
+1 416 571 9037
evan.veryard@floragrowth.ca

Public Relations Contact:
Cassandra Dowell
+1 (858) 264-6600
flora@cmwmedia.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing.  We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us.  Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our ability to complete the acquisition of Koch & Gsell; the impact of the acquisition of Koch & Gsell on our business; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities.  You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms.  In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business.  These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.  Forward-looking statements are only predictions.  The forward-looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, or the forward-looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives not occurring, except as may be required by applicable law.

 

FAQ

What is the acquisition value of Koch & Gsell by Flora Growth?

Flora Growth is acquiring Koch & Gsell for CHF 20 million (approximately US$22.2M).

What is the expected impact of the Koch & Gsell acquisition on Flora Growth?

The acquisition is expected to enhance Flora's distribution capabilities in Europe and Asia.

How much revenue does the Heimat brand generate?

The Heimat brand has trailing twelve-month revenues of US$7.6M.

Who will lead Koch & Gsell after the acquisition?

Roger Koch, the founder and CEO, will continue to lead Koch & Gsell post-acquisition.

What manufacturing technology will Flora acquire from Koch & Gsell?

Flora will acquire proprietary manufacturing technology capable of producing over 40,000 packs of cigarettes daily.