Ascent Industries enters into asset purchase agreement for the sale of Canadian business
VANCOUVER, March 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Ascent Industries Corp. (CSE: ASNT) ("Ascent") advises that Ascent, together with its subsidiaries, Agrima Botanicals Corp., Bloom Holdings Ltd., Bloom Meadows Corp., Pinecone Products Ltd., and Agrima Scientific Corp. (collectively, the "Vendors") have entered into an asset purchase agreement dated March 14, 2019 (the "APA") with BZAM Management Ltd. (the "Purchaser"), an affiliate of Gulf Bridge Ltd., pursuant to which the Vendors have agreed to sell to the Purchaser substantially all of the assets comprising the Canadian business of the Vendors for cash and the Purchaser has agreed to assume the Vendors' obligations to purchase a greenhouse located in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia subsequent to closing of the agreement with the Vendors. Ascent through its subsidiaries will continue to own the assets related to Ascent's cannabis cultivation, production, distribution, research and product development business outside of Canada in Oregon, Nevada and Denmark.
The closing of the purchase and sale transaction is subject to a number of customary conditions applicable to an asset purchase and sale transaction and is also subject to Ascent receiving an Approval and Vesting Order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued in connection with the proceedings under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (the "CCAA Proceedings"). Ascent intends to make application to the Court to receive the Approval and Vesting Order at a hearing to take place on or before March 22, 2019.
The execution of the APA follows the completion of a strategic alternatives process conducted by Ascent and approved by the Court in its initial order granted March 1, 2019 in the CCAA Proceedings. Ascent was assisted in the strategic alternatives process by its financial advisor, Clarus Securities Inc. Closing of the transactions contemplated by the APA are expected to occur prior to April 15, 2019.
About Ascent Industries Corp.
The Company's operations currently include facilities in British Columbia, Canada; and in Oregon and Nevada in the United States. In Canada, Ascent (through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Agrima) is a licensed producer (currently suspended) under the Cannabis Act and Regulations, with licences to cultivate cannabis and produce cannabis extracts. In addition, the Company is a licensed dealer (currently suspended) under the Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations, with the ability to produce, package, sell, send, transport and distribute medically focused cannabis products in Canada to other licensed entities and internationally in jurisdictions where medical cannabis is legal. In the United States, the Company holds licences in Oregon (for processing and for distribution of cannabis to any licenced entity in the state) and in Nevada (for cultivation and for production, processing and wholesale distribution of cannabis). In Europe, Agrima ApS, a Danish company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Ascent, has submitted licence applications for a Wholesaler Dealers Licence and Controlled Drug Licence in Denmark, and applications for the approval of eight products to the Danish Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.
THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (THE "CSE") HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. NEITHER THE CSE OR ITS MARKET REGULATOR (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CSE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, the uncertainty involved in the Court proceedings and the implementation of a plan under the CCAA, the timing and receipt of the Vesting and Approval Order and the timing of the completion of the transactions contemplated by the APA. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Ascent assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
SOURCE Ascent Industries
Blair Jordan - Interim CEO, +1 604-928-2988, [email protected]
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