TerrAscend Corp. (CSE: TER)(OTCQX: TRSSF) has named the company’s Executive Chairman Jason Ackerman as the interim CEO, replacing the current CEO Michael Nashat. Nashat will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and act as a strategic advisor to the company.

Gravitas Acquisition Is Over

Just yesterday, TerrAscend terminated its decision to acquire Gravitas Nevada Ltd. which operates a retail cannabis dispensary in Las Vegas, Nevada under the trade name “The Apothecarium.”  The transaction, for $33.5 million in cash and 625 proportionate voting shares in the equity of TerrAscend equivalent to 625,000 common shares of the Company, was originally announced on February 11, 2019. TerrAscend has paid a $3mm reverse termination fee to the sellers, which had been placed in escrow in June of 2019.

As part of the termination, the Company is no longer liable for the remaining $30.5 million and proportionate voting shares in the equity of TerrAscend equivalent to 625,000 common shares of the Company. TerrAscend has agreed to continue licensing The Apothecarium, State Flower and Valhalla names and related intellectual property to Gravitas and its related operations in Nevada, pursuant to such final terms as will be mutually agreed by the parties.

Comments

“While it was a difficult decision, I believe given TerrAscend’s premier operating assets in the United States, it is now time for me to step into an advisory role and let new U.S.-based management guide TerrAscend as they expand and scale,” said Michael Nashat. “Jason’s experience in omnichannel retail, distribution, and operations are skills that TerrAscend will lean on as it enters this new growth phase. In my time working alongside Jason, it is clear that he is the right person to take on this role, and as a large shareholder, I believe this is what is best for securing TerrAscend’s future. I look forward to continuing to advise the Company in my board position and as a strategic advisor.”

“We are grateful for the hard work and perseverance that Michael Nashat has demonstrated during his tenure as CEO and Co-Founder of TerrAscend,” said Jason Ackerman. “We will continue to value Michael’s technical expertise, commitment to research and pharmaceutical knowledge, as he shifts to a strategic advisory role. We remain committed to driving shareholder value and focusing on the areas of our business that are generating rapid growth and greater margins, particularly in our valuable California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey markets. I look forward to building upon the foundation that Michael has laid, and leading the TerrAscend team forward in this next exciting phase.”