Large scale greenhouse addition complements premium indoor production to provide a full spectrum of products for the adult-use and global medical markets

MARKHAM, ON, Feb. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - MedReleaf Corp. (TSX:LEAF) ("MedReleaf" or the "Company"), Canada's first and only ISO 9001 and ICH-GMP certified cannabis producer, today announced that it has entered into agreements to acquire 1 million square feet of existing greenhouse infrastructure on a 69 acre property in Exeter, Ontario ("Exeter Facility") and 95 acres of adjacent land for $21.5 million in cash and 225,083 common shares of MedReleaf (the "Agreements"). The existing Exeter Facility, after retrofitting, will have production capacity of up to 105,000 kilograms of cannabis product annually with a first harvest anticipated by the end of 2018, subject to receipt of a licence from Health Canada. The Exeter Facility will add large scale, low cost greenhouse production alongside MedReleaf's two Ontario-based premium indoor production facilities in Markham and Bradford, and, when fully operational, will increase the Company's fully funded capacity to approximately 140,000 kilograms of cannabis product per year. In addition, the adjacent 95 acres of undeveloped land could accommodate a greenhouse approximately 1.5 times larger than the Exeter Facility, providing for future expansion of cultivation capacity well-beyond what is offered by the existing greenhouse.

"The addition of greenhouse production in concert with our two best-in-class indoor cultivation facilities will allow us to more rapidly expand capacity and to address the growing need for raw material inputs for extract and other non-flower related products from our premium and exclusive varieties. We also continue to scale our indoor production of high quality, award-winning, premium dried flower in order to serve the recreational and global medical markets," said Neil Closner, CEO of MedReleaf. "MedReleaf brings to this exciting project a proven track record of operational excellence and of continuous process and yield improvements at an industrial scale. With a complete portfolio of cultivation options, we will be better positioned to meet the growing demand for our industry-leading products and to continue to align our capital spend with emerging market opportunities."

Transaction Summary

Under the terms of the Agreements, MedReleaf will acquire 1 million square feet of existing greenhouse infrastructure situated on a 69 acre property in Exeter, Ontario and an additional 95 acres of undeveloped adjacent land. The value of the Agreements is approximately $26 million, consisting of $21.5 million in cash and 225,083 MedReleaf shares. The issuance of the MedReleaf shares remains subject to the approval of the TSX.

Highlights

• Strategically positions MedReleaf with one of Canada's largest and most diverse cannabis cultivation portfolios totaling, when fully operational, approximately 140,000 kilograms per year in fully funded production capacity
• Greenhouse cultivation is ideal for producing raw material inputs for extract production, complementing MedReleaf's award-winning portfolio of premium indoor grown cannabis products
• Greenhouse production at scale will lower overall unit production costs and provide added flexibility to enhance adjusted aggregate production contribution margin across product lines
• The Bradford expansion plan for 35,000 kilograms per year of premium indoor production remains on track for completion by summer of 2018 and the first product is anticipated to come from the retrofitted Exeter Facility by end of 2018
• The Exeter location has adjacent land totalling 95 acres, which could accommodate a greenhouse approximately 1.5 times larger than the Exeter Facility, allowing for future capacity expansion that would leverage investment in shared infrastructure developed as part of the initial retrofit

"This third Canadian facility will help to further diversify our risk across production sources and provide us with greater operational flexibility to scale in a manner that should enhance global profitability across our business. As we always have, we will add capacity incrementally and in a financially prudent manner that is in lockstep with forecasted global demand and through the ultimate lens of maximizing long term and sustainable return on invested capital", added Igor Gimelshtein, CFO of MedReleaf.

MedReleaf is fully funded to complete the retrofit of the Exeter Facility's existing one million square feet of greenhouse, a new processing building, general site infrastructure upgrades, and site security. The greenhouse retrofit will incorporate state-of-the-art environmental monitoring and control systems, supplemental lighting, advanced irrigation systems, and fully automated growing systems.

About MedReleaf Corp.

Voted Top Licensed Producer at the 2017 Lift Canadian Cannabis Awards, MedReleaf is an R&D-driven company dedicated to innovation, operational excellence and the production of top-quality cannabis. Sourced from around the world and carefully cultivated in one of two state of the art ICH-GMP and ISO 90001 certified facilities in Ontario, the Company delivers a variety of premium products for the global medical market and is committed to serving the therapeutic needs of its medical patients and providing a compelling product assortment for the adult-use recreational consumer. 

For more information on MedReleaf, its products, research and how the company is helping patients Live Free™, please visit MedReleaf.com or follow @medreleaf

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "could", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact.  The forward-looking information contained in this press release are based upon MedReleaf's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events which management believes to be reasonable in the circumstances, including expectations and assumptions regarding the regulatory environment in Canada.  Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward‑looking information, including risks and uncertainties relating to the closing of the acquisitions contemplated by the Agreements (which remains subject to satisfaction or waiver of standard conditions); obtaining all necessary regulatory and governmental approvals, including, but not limited to, those of Health Canada and the TSX; the completion of the Bradford expansion plan and the related impact on the Company's production capacity; the expected timing for completion of the retrofit and construction of the additional facilities, and commencement of production, at the Exeter Facility; the ability of the Company to increase its production capacity in a financially prudent manner; the impact of production at the Exeter Facility on the Company's profitability; the ability of the Company to generate returns on its capital investments; global demand for cannabis products and the Company's ability to meet such demand; general economic conditions; changes in the regulatory and legal environments relating to cannabis; competition; counterparty risk; as well as those risks and uncertainties and other cautionary statements contained in MedReleaf's Annual Information Form dated June 27, 2017, which is available electronically at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date on which it is given and, except as required by law, MedReleaf does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward‑looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE MedReleaf Corp.

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