Weed stocks: Aphria says committee to review LATAM acquisition, shares sink

Devin Melnyk, a long-time marijuana grower and a consultant with Pure Sunfarms, holds trimmed marijuana as it comes out of a high-volume cannabis trimming machine at a massive tomato greenhouse being renovated to grow pot in Delta, British ColumbiaAP Photo/Ted S. Warren

• Aphria on Thursday said it had named a committee to review its acquisition of the medical-cannabis company LATAM Holdings.
• On Monday, a short-seller put out a report saying the acquisition was largely worthless and accusing Aphria of being a “shell game with a cannabis business on the side.”
• Shares fell 12% early Thursday, taking them down by 40% since the short-seller’s report was released.
• Watch Aphria trade live.

Aphria fell further Thursday morning, down more than 12%, after the company said it had named a committee to review its acquisition of the medical-cannabis company LATAM Holdings, an agreement the short-seller Quintessential Capital Management said was “largely worthless” and benefitted only insiders. After the latest declines, shares had fallen more than 40% since the report was released Monday.

“The Company’s Board reiterated its confidence in the process leading to the Acquisition, as well as in its Latin American operations and strategy,” an Aphria press release said.

“However, in the face of inaccurate and misleading accusations by certain short-sellers, whose sole interest is in profiting from a decline in the Company’s shares, it is undertaking a comprehensive review, led by a Special Committee of independent directors of these, and any other, allegations in the interest of protecting Aphria shareholders.”

In a scathing report out Tuesday from Quintessential’s Hindenburg Research, the firm called Aphria a “shell game with a cannabis business on the side.” It alleged that Aphria’s LATAM acquisition allowed insiders to divert as much as $700 million, or nearly half of Aphria’s total net assets, through the deal.

Aphria initially pushed back against the report, saying the allegations were “a malicious and self-serving attempt” to manipulate Aphria’s stock price.

“We are committed to protecting our shareholders and restoring market confidence by confirming all the facts through an independent process to rebut innuendo and deception,” Aphria CEO Vic Neufeld said in Thursday’s press release.

“Until then, it is business as usual at Aphria, as we continue taking significant steps to solidify our position as a premier global cannabis company.”

Aphria, one of Canada’s largest marijuana producers, listed on the New York Stock Exchange in November, transferring from Canadian markets.

Shares were down 68% this year.

Markets Insider