Verano Refinances $350 Million Credit Facility with Significant Optionality to Bolster Strategic Growth Plans
Verano Holdings Corp. has successfully refinanced its existing $350 million credit facility, extending the maturity to October 30, 2026. The new agreement features a floating interest rate currently set at 12.75%. This refinancing opens doors for up to $270 million in additional financing, including $120 million in real estate-secured debt. The company aims for a blended interest rate of 10.5% by pursuing lower-cost secured debt. Prepayment options allow for $100 million repayment with a minimal fee, offering flexibility in managing overall capital costs.
- Refinancing extends credit facility maturity to October 30, 2026.
- Opens up to $270 million in additional financing.
- Current floating interest rate of 12.75% seen as favorable.
- Aims for a blended interest rate of 10.5% on total indebtedness.
- Floating interest rate exposes the company to rising rate risks.
- Verano refinances existing
$350 million credit facility, extending the maturity with a four-year term - Floating interest rate based on the prime rate and at a current rate of
12.75% , which reflects favorably on Verano given today’s rising-rate environment - Credit Agreement structure provides Verano with the opportunity to obtain up to
$270 million of additional debt financing, comprised of$120 million of real-estate secured indebtedness, a$100 million accordion, and a$50 million revolving credit facility - Optional prepayment features allow for up to a
$100 million prepayment at any time for a favorable$1 million prepayment fee, allowing Verano to actively manage its blended cost of capital - In the medium term, Verano is targeting a blended interest rate on total indebtedness of
10.5% as the Company plans to continue to pursue lower cost real-estate secured indebtedness, similar to its recently executed mortgages with fixed interest rates below the current prime rate
CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) (“Verano” or the “Company”), a leading multi-state cannabis company, today announced it has entered into a credit agreement to refinance its existing
The refinanced facility provides the Company flexibility to secure additional future indebtedness of up to
“We’re pleased to continue our partnership with Chicago Atlantic as our credit facility Agent and as a Lender, extending the maturity and securing terms we believe are favorable during this rising interest rate environment,” said George Archos, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Company. “Importantly, we maintained flexibility around prepayments and the ability to incur additional debt which we believe adds significant value to the deal, especially given the legislative environment that has seen positive momentum build in support of cannabis policy and banking reform. Since Verano’s inception, we have taken a conservative approach to our balance sheet, including avoiding sale leasebacks, which has allowed us to leverage our real estate to bring down our blended cost of debt. This refinancing enables us to continue a selective approach to further strategic opportunities as we position our company for the future.”
John Mazarakis, Partner of Chicago Atlantic, added, "It’s been exciting to see Verano’s continued execution on its strategic vision, and we welcomed the opportunity to continue our partnership as Agent and lead Lender, a Lead Arranger, and Administrative Agent. Our syndicate of participants, including partners such as Silver Spike Capital, represents the most trusted and dependable capital providers in the industry, dedicated to supporting the sector's strongest operators. Verano is one of the few U.S. multi-state operators able to attain this cost of capital in a rapidly rising interest rate environment, driven by its margin profile and strong operating performance. The structuring of the new credit facility allows Verano the flexibility to manage down its overall cost of capital and potentially expand the facility depending on market conditions and growth opportunities.”
ATB Capital Markets Inc. (“ATB”) and Chicago Atlantic Advisors, LLC (“Chicago Atlantic”) acted as Lead Arrangers for the senior secured credit facility. Chicago Atlantic is also the Administrative Agent for the credit facility.
About Verano
Verano is a leading, vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., devoted to the ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products. With a mission to address vital health and wellness needs, Verano produces a comprehensive suite of premium, innovative cannabis products sold under its trusted portfolio of consumer brands, including Verano™, Avexia™, Encore™, Savvy™ and MÜV™. Verano’s portfolio encompasses 14 U.S. states, with active operations in 13, including 14 production facilities comprising over 1,000,000 square feet of cultivation capacity. Verano designs, builds, and operates dispensaries under retail brands including Zen Leaf™ and MÜV™, delivering a superior cannabis shopping experience in both medical and adult-use markets. Learn more at www.verano.com.
About Chicago Atlantic and Green Ivy Capital, LLC
Chicago Atlantic Advisers, LLC is an asset management firm specializing in direct lending and opportunistic private credit investing. Founded in 2018 by Tony Cappell, John Mazarakis, and Andreas Bodmeier, the firm seeks to capitalize on North American investment opportunities that are time-sensitive, complex, or in dislocated markets, where risk is fundamentally mispriced. Through its affiliate Green Ivy Capital, LLC, the firm manages a diversified portfolio of credit investments in the cannabis space and is actively investing across the value chain.
Contacts:
Media
Verano
Steve Mazeika
Director, Communications
Steve.Mazeika@verano.com
Investors
Verano
Julianna Paterra, CFA
Director, Investor Relations
Investors@verano.com
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s control. Generally, such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “future”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to (a) the ability to obtain additional debt financing, (b) the Company’s ability to achieve its target blended cost of capital and (c) the Company’s ability to secure additional real-estate secured indebtedness at favorable interest rates. Forward-looking statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements herein, including, without limitation, the risk factors discussed in the Company’s Form 10 and Form 10-Q filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except as may be required in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice regarding forward-looking information and statements.
FAQ
What is Verano Holdings' current credit facility status?
What interest rate does Verano currently pay on its refinanced credit facility?
How much additional financing can Verano secure under the new credit agreement?
What is Verano's target blended interest rate for future indebtedness?
What prepayment options does Verano have regarding its debt?
