Ayr Wellness Cannabis Secures Acquisition Of New Jersey's Garden State Dispensary In $101M Deal

Ayr Wellness Inc. AYR AYRWF, a vertically integrated cannabis MSO, announced on Thursday the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act with respect to its proposed acquisition of GSD NJ LLC in New Jersey. As the waiting period expired without a second request for information, the transaction is expected to close in July, 2021 subject to certain closing conditions, including final approval from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Adult-use sales are anticipated to begin Q1 2022

Ayr announced in December 2020, that it planned to acquire Garden State Dispensary (GSD), which is one of the 12 existing vertical permit holders in New Jersey and one of the state’s original six alternative treatment centers. Adult-use cannabis was legalized in New Jersey in Nov. 2020.

Total up-front consideration of US$101 million includes US$41 million in cash, US$30 million in exchangeable shares and US$30 million in the form of a promissory note. Earn-outs based on exceeding revenue target thresholds in 2022 will be capped at a maximum of US$97 million and payable in a combination of cash, promissory notes and exchangeable shares. Including the maximum earn-out consideration, the Company estimates this represents a forward multiple of approximately 4x 2022 Adjusted EBITDA.

GSD has three open dispensaries, the maximum allowed, at heavily trafficked highway locations throughout the Garden State, as well as approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of operational cultivation and production facilities. An additional 75,000 sq. ft. of cultivation is under construction.

We have exciting plans in the Garden State! As we get closer to closing the acquisition of Garden State Dispensary, take a look at some of our Key Growth Drivers for New Jersey. #AyrWellness pic.twitter.com/4M6T2V6zEh

— Ayr Wellness IR (@AyrWellnessIR) June 10, 2021

At the time of this writing, Ayr Wellness is trading at $29.01.