Hoshi’s infrastructure aims to serve as a gateway for distribution of Flora’s Colombian Cannabis and product portfolio into the European Union (“EU”)
Hoshi’s experienced leadership team and global distribution network to serve as a catalyst for revenue growth for Flora’s operating divisions
Flora’s proposed initial equity Investment of €2M (two-million Euros) to accelerate expansion projects in Portugal and Malta
Toronto, Ontario and Irvine, CA — June 8, 2021 – Boustead Securities, LLC (“Boustead”) IPO client Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) (“Flora” or the “Company”), an all-outdoor cultivator and manufacturer of cannabis-derived products and brands, recently announced that the Company has signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) for the purpose of making an initial strategic equity investment of €2M (two-million Euros) into the European cannabis company, Hoshi International Inc. (“Hoshi”).
“This initial investment into Hoshi is the first of many steps by Flora to advance its plans to launch Flora-branded products across the world,” said Luis Merchan, CEO of Flora. “We believe in backing strong teams with proven track records and creating synergistic relationships where core competencies have minimal overlap. The Hoshi team has built a fantastic base in Europe and by utilizing our low-cost, high-potency product and established brands, it allows both of our organizations to have a competitive edge as the European cannabis market continues to grow rapidly.”
Hoshi is positioned to become a vertically integrated medical cannabis company in Europe. Hoshi was founded by a group of cannabis entrepreneurs who have built and scaled several cannabis businesses in the highly regulated cannabis market in Canada. Flora’s proposed investment into Hoshi intends to establish Flora as a preferred strategic supplier to Hoshi’s two EU processing facilities, located in Malta and Portugal.
Hoshi, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into a letter of intent with Malta Enterprise, the economic development agency for the Republic of Malta, a member of the European Union, to import, process, produce and distribute finished cannabis and cannabis derivatives products (the “License”). The formal License is expected to be issued by the Maltese Medicines Authority upon inspection and completion of the EU-GMP compliant cannabis processing facility. Additionally, Hoshi has been awarded a conditional license for cultivation and processing in Portugal for both greenhouse and outdoor production.
“We believe this strategic partnership will provide Flora with a manufacturing footprint in the EU that allows us to build and distribute Flora-branded products to its customers in the EU, while also providing a port for the importation of compliant, high-quality, Colombian outdoor cannabis flower, and derivatives,” said James Williams, VP of Corporate Development for Flora.
This strategic investment, anticipated to close by mid June, is expected to further enhance Flora’s ability to capitalize on the rapidly evolving European cannabis markets, providing additional distribution opportunities for Flora’s portfolio of internationally registered and recognized cannabis-based products. Flora anticipates leveraging Hoshi’s experienced team and deep knowledge of global medical and recreational markets as it explores further opportunities to expand production and distribution capabilities.
“A partnership with Flora will likely enable Hoshi to fast track a number of established initiatives to sell high-quality GACP flower to the EU market,” said John B. Aird, CEO of Hoshi. “We look forward to working with the Flora team and accessing not only their high-end genetics and outdoor-grown cannabis, but also assisting Flora to distribute more finished products to customers across the EU.”
Strategic Highlights of the Investment
Strategic partnership with a company that holds European assets, providing Flora with a pathway to European distribution with the introduction of Flora’s products, formulations, and brands.
Alignment between two strong management teams. Hoshi’s management team has extensive entrepreneurial and leadership experience in the global cannabis market.
Leveraging Hoshi’s various distribution agreements throughout the European Union, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland. Additional distribution agreements are being actively pursued and negotiated.
A registration statement relating to these securities was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and was declared effective on May 10, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Flora Growth Corp. Flora Growth is a cannabis company that will leverage 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. About Hoshi International Inc. Hoshi is a European focused, fully integrated medical cannabis company led by a team of renowned cannabis entrepreneurs. Hoshi is focused on developing and operationalizing assets across the global cannabis industry with an emphasis on cultivating, manufacturing, and distributing cannabis derived products. Hoshi is uniquely positioned to be a leading provider of cannabis and derivative products for the emerging European market. About Boustead Securities, LLC Boustead Securities, LLC is an investment banking firm that executes and advises on IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, capital raises and restructuring assignments in a wide array of industries, geographies and transactions, for a broad client base. Boustead’s core value proposition is the ability to create opportunity through innovative solutions and tenacious execution. With experienced professionals in the United States, Boustead’s team moves quickly and provides a broad spectrum of sophisticated financial advice and services. Boustead is a majority-owned subsidiary of Boustead & Company Limited, a diversified non-bank financial institution. For more information visit please visit: www.boustead1828.com For Underwriter Inquiries Please Contact: Boustead Securities, LLC Daniel J. 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