Acreage Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

NEW YORK, May 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acreage Holdings, Inc. (“Acreage” or the “Company”) (CSE: ACRG.A.U, ACRG.B.U) (OTCQX: ACRHF, ACRDF), a vertically integrated, multi-state operator of cannabis cultivation and retailing facilities in the U.S., today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 (“Q1 2023”).

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

• Consolidated revenue of $56.0 million for Q1 2023.
• Gross margin was 48% for Q1 2023, an increase from 35% in the fourth quarter of 2022 (“Q4 2022”). Excluding the impact of non-cash inventory adjustments, gross margin for Q1 2023 was 51%.
• Adjusted EBITDA* was $10.6 million and Adjusted EBITDA* as a percentage of consolidated revenue was 19% for Q1 2023.

First Quarter and Recent Operational Highlights

• Received the required approval of the holders of Class D subordinate voting shares of Acreage (the “Floating Shareholders”), at a special meeting of Floating Shareholders held on March 15, 2023, in connection with the Company’s previously announced arrangement agreement dated October 24, 2022, as amended on March 17, 2023 (the “Floating Share Arrangement Agreement”) with Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy”) and Canopy USA, LLC (“Canopy USA”). Additionally, the Company obtained a final order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia on March 20, 2023, approving the Floating Share Arrangement Agreement under section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). Upon the satisfaction or waiver of all other conditions set out in the Floating Share Arrangement Agreement, which the parties continue to work towards, the parties will complete the ‎Floating Share Arrangement.
• Launched adult-use retail operations in Connecticut, among an inaugural group of operators permitted to begin adult-use sales in the state. Sales initially commenced at The Botanist store in Montville followed later by The Botanist Danbury location.
• Secured approval to relocate the Acreage’s existing Atlantic City medical dispensary to Pennsauken, New Jersey, along with the approval of the Company’s annual renewal of its license in the state. The Company anticipates commencing adult-use sales at the new Pennsauken location before the end of 2023.
• Introduced new line of dose-able fast-acting gummies in Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, and Ohio under the flagship The Botanist brand.

Management Commentary

“Our focus on our core footprint while upholding strict cost controls has enabled us to maintain strong margins and continue to deliver positive Adjusted EBITDA despite continued volatility within the market,” said Peter Caldini, CEO of Acreage. “Over the first quarter, we were thrilled to have expanded our addressable market in Connecticut with the launch of adult-use sales at our thriving The Botanist Montville location, and just most recently in the second quarter, began serving adult-use consumers at our Danbury store. Additionally, continuing our commitment to diversifying our product portfolio, we debuted our innovative fast-acting gummies to consumers in Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, and Ohio under our flagship brand The Botanist.”

Mr. Caldini continued, “Notably, during the quarter, we received shareholder approval for our strategic arrangement with Canopy and Canopy USA, bringing us one step closer to satisfying what is required to close the transaction. We have experienced numerous transformative achievements to bring Acreage to where it is today, and we could not be more excited for its expected bright future under Canopy USA. As we work to complete our arrangement with Canopy and Canopy USA, we will continue to focus on driving our business forward with a priority on managing cash flows in a volatile trading environment.”

Q1 2023 Financial Summary
(in thousands)

Total revenue for Q1 2023 was $56.0 million compared to $56.9 million in the first quarter of 2022 (“Q1 2022”) and $57.5 million in Q4 2022. The year-over-year and sequential decreases were primarily due to continued industry headwinds and decreased pricing as a result of competitive pressures across various markets. Additionally, the year-over-year decrease was also due to the divestiture of the Company’s operations in Oregon and was somewhat offset by the acquisition of a Maine dispensary in 2022. After adjusting for acquisitions and divestitures, revenue for Q1 2023 was relatively consistent with Q1 2022.

Total gross profit for Q1 2023 was $26.6 million, compared to $29.5 million in Q1 2022. Total gross margin was 48% in Q1 2023 compared to 52% in Q1 2022. Margin was impacted by cost increases due to inflation as well as price compression during the quarter. Additionally, cost of goods sold for Q1 2023 included $2.3 million of non-cash inventory adjustments as a result of excess inventory in select markets and carrying values of inventory exceeding net realizable value. Excluding these non-cash inventory adjustments, gross margin for Q1 2023 was 51%.

Total operating expenses for Q1 2023 were $25.4 million, compared to $32.2 million in Q1 2022. Operating expenses in the current quarter included a one-time bad debt charge of $1.3 million and a reversal of prior period bonus accruals of $2.5 million. Operating expenses in Q1 2022 included impairment charges and write-downs of assets held for sale that were not incurred in Q1 2023. Additionally, total operating expense for Q1 2023 benefitted from reduced equity-based compensation expenses and depreciation and amortization when compared to Q1 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA* for Q1 2023 was $10.6 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA* of $8.6 million in Q1 2022 and Adjusted EBITDA* of $7.0 million in Q4 2022.

Net loss attributable to Acreage for Q1 2023 was $(14.6) million, compared to $(12.7) million in Q1 2022.

Amendment to Credit Facility

Subsequent to quarter end, on April 28, 2023, Acreage further amended its existing credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) such that $15.0 million was available for immediate draw, but such funds would be maintained in a segregated account until dispersed and be restricted for use to only eligible capital expenditures. Additionally, the Company has agreed to limit the total amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility to $140.0 million and to, at all times subsequent to April 28, 2023, maintain collateral (as defined in the Credit Facility) equal to or greater than the outstanding amount under the Credit Facility.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Acreage ended Q1 2023 with $14.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2023, $125.0 million was drawn under the Amended Credit Facility, with a further $15.0 million of long-term debt available from its committed debt facilities, but such funds are restricted for use to only eligible capital expenditures. Additionally, in April 2023, the Company sold, with recourse, the rights to receive certain Employee Retention Tax Credits with an aggregate receivable value of $14.3 million for total proceeds of $12.1 million.

About Acreage Holdings, Inc.

Acreage is a multi-state operator of cannabis ‎cultivation and retailing facilities in the U.S., including the Company’s national retail store ‎brand, The Botanist. With its principal address in New York City, Acreage’s wide range of national and regionally available cannabis products include the award-winning brands The Botanist and Superflux, the Tweed brand, the Prime medical brand in Pennsylvania, the Innocent brand in Illinois and others. Since its founding in 2011, Acreage has focused on building and scaling operations to create a seamless, consumer-focused, branded experience. Learn more at www.acreageholdings.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release and each of the documents referred to herein contains “forward-looking information” and ‎‎“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, ‎respectively. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking ‎information. ‎Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as ‎‎“plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, ‎or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, ‎‎‎“would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. ‎

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other ‎factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Acreage or its ‎subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or ‎implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to: the occurrence of changes in U.S. federal Laws regarding the cultivation, distribution or possession of marijuana; ‎the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, court ‎and Floating Shareholder approvals; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Floating Share ‎Arrangement Agreement; the ability of Canopy, Canopy USA and Acreage to satisfy, in a timely manner, the closing conditions to the Floating Share Arrangement; risks relating to the value and liquidity of the Floating Shares and the common shares of Canopy; Canopy maintaining compliance with the Nasdaq Global Stock Market (the “Nasdaq”) and Toronto Stock Exchange listing requirements; the rights of the Floating ‎Shareholders may differ materially from those of shareholders in Canopy; expectations regarding future investment, growth and ‎expansion of Acreage’s operations; the possibility of adverse U.S. or Canadian tax consequences upon completion of the Floating Share Arrangement; if Canopy USA acquires the Fixed Shares pursuant to the Existing Arrangement Agreement without structural amendments to Canopy’s interest in Canopy ‎USA, the listing of the Canopy Shares on the Nasdaq may be jeopardized; the risk of a change of ‎control of either Canopy or Canopy USA; restrictions on Acreage’s ability to pursue certain business ‎opportunities and other restrictions on Acreage’s business; the impact of material non-recurring expenses in ‎connection with the Floating Share Arrangement on Acreage’s future results of operations, cash flows and ‎financial condition; the possibility of securities class action or derivatives lawsuits; in the event that the Floating ‎Share Arrangement is not completed, but the acquisition by Canopy of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition”) is completed pursuant to Existing Arrangement Agreement and Canopy becomes the majority ‎shareholder in Acreage, the likelihood that the Floating Shareholders will have little or no influence on the conduct ‎of Acreage’s business and affairs; risk of situations in which the interests of Canopy USA and the interests of ‎Acreage or shareholders of Canopy may differ;‎ Acreage’s compliance with Acreage’s business plan for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2020 through December 31, 2029 pursuant to the Existing Arrangement Agreement; in the event that the Floating Share Arrangement is ‎completed, the likelihood of Canopy completing the Acquisition in accordance with the Existing Arrangement Agreement; ‎risks relating to certain directors and executive officers of Acreage having interests in the transactions ‎contemplated by the Floating Share Arrangement Agreement and the connected transactions that are different ‎from those of the Floating Shareholders; risks relating to the possibility that holders of more than 5% of the ‎Floating Shares may exercise dissent rights; other expectations and assumptions concerning the transactions ‎contemplated between Canopy, Canopy USA and Acreage; the available funds of Acreage and the anticipated ‎use of such funds; the availability of financing opportunities for Acreage and Canopy USA and the risks ‎associated with the completion thereof; regulatory and licensing risks; the ability of Canopy, Canopy USA and ‎Acreage to leverage each other’s respective capabilities and resources; changes in general economic, business ‎and political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets; risks relating to infectious diseases, ‎including the impacts of the COVID-19; legal and regulatory risks inherent in the cannabis industry, including the ‎global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, political risks and risks relating to regulatory ‎change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation and the ‎interpretation of various laws regulations and policies; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry‎; and such other risks disclosed in the Circular, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, dated May 1, 2023 and the Company’s other public filings, in each case filed with the SEC on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov and with Canadian securities regulators and available under Acreage’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Acreage has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

Although Acreage believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and Acreage does not undertake any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider, nor any securities regulatory authority in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction, has reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.‎

For more information, contact:

Steve Goertz
Chief Financial Officer
investors@acreageholdings.com

Courtney Van Alstyne
MATTIO Communications
acreage@mattio.com

*NON-GAAP MEASURES, RECONCILIATION AND DISCUSSION (UNAUDITED)

This release includes Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP performance measure that we use to supplement our results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate its actual operating performance and for planning and forecasting future periods. The Company believes that the adjusted results presented provide relevant and useful information for investors because they clarify the Company’s actual operating performance, make it easier to compare our results with those of other companies and allow investors to review performance in the same way as our management. Since these measures are not calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net loss or our other reported results of operations as reported under U.S. GAAP as indicators of our performance, and they may not be comparable to similarly named measures from other companies.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes and, depreciation and amortization and excluding the following: (i) income from investments, net (the majority of the Company’s investment income relates to remeasurement to net asset value of previously-held interests in connection with our roll-up of affiliates, and the Company expects income from investments to be a non-recurring item as its legacy investment holdings diminish), (ii) equity-based compensation expense, (iii) non-cash impairment losses, (iv) transaction costs, (v) non-cash inventory adjustments and (vi) other non-recurring expenses (other expenses and income not expected to recur).

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Michael Berger is Managing Partner of StoneBridge Partners, LLC and Founder of Technical420.com. Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Michael was an Equity Research Analyst at Raymond James Financial covering the Energy Sector. Michael has been featured in publications such as The Street, Bloomberg, US Money News, and hosts various cannabis events across North America.

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