Aurora Takes Ownership of UK Patient Supply Chain with Birmingham Acquisitions

EDMONTON – Aurora Cannabis Inc. has acquired two licensed UK pharmaceutical entities, consolidating vertical control of its distribution network in one of Europe’s most active medical Cannabis markets.

Through a wholly owned subsidiary, Aurora announced that it indirectly purchased all of the shares of Internode Pharma Limited, a licensed Cannabis importer and wholesaler, and HAP Pharma Limited, a licensed pharmacy specializing in the dispensing and direct delivery of medical Cannabis to patients. Both companies operate out of Birmingham, England, holding a licensed import and distribution facility alongside a virtual pharmacy. The purchase price was GBP 2.1 million in cash (approximately CAD $3.5 million), contingent on certain post-closing conditions.

Before this deal, Aurora relied on third-party operators to manage downstream distribution inside the UK. The acquisition changes that structure entirely. Internode Pharma’s wholesale license covers importation and bulk distribution. HAP Pharma’s pharmacy license enables direct-to-patient dispensing. Together they give Aurora an uninterrupted chain from its EU-GMP certified cultivation and processing facilities through to patient delivery, eliminating the intermediary layer that has historically buffered Canadian licensed producers from UK end consumers.

“The acquisition of Internode Pharma Limited and HAP Pharma Limited marks a further strategic milestone for Aurora as we continue to purposefully invest in expanding our leadership in the rapidly growing international medical cannabis market. We believe that this transaction will allow us to fully leverage our operational, commercial and regulatory expertise to expand our market share, while also supporting a consistent and reliable supply of high-quality medical cannabis products to UK patients,” said Miguel Martin, Executive Chairman and CEO of Aurora.

The numbers behind this deal tell a clear directional story. Canadian exports to the UK grew 562% between 2024 and 2025, reaching 17 tons, with Canada accounting for 96% of the UK’s total annual import growth in 2025. Medical Cannabis access in the UK runs primarily through more than 40 private-pay teleclinics, with the top eight telemedicine platforms generating approximately 80% of all prescriptions – a concentration that rewards producers who can guarantee consistent supply and short lead times.

Aurora, which already holds existing supply relationships in the country, said the Birmingham entities provide the operational agility to meet growing patient demand without relying on external logistics partners.

The announcement came one day after Curaleaf formally launched an unsolicited takeover bid for Aurora’s common shares. Under Curaleaf’s offer, Aurora shareholders would receive $4 per share, comprised of Curaleaf subordinate voting shares and $0.75 in cash, which Curaleaf described as a 45% premium to Aurora’s unaffected share price. Aurora has urged shareholders to take no action while its Board of Directors prepares a formal recommendation, calling Curaleaf’s proposal an attempt to acquire Aurora’s EU-GMP facilities at the lowest possible price.

Whether or not the takeover process advances, Aurora’s decision to press forward with an overseas acquisition at this particular moment signals management’s intent to keep building international infrastructure on its own terms.

The Internode and HAP Pharma transaction reflects a consolidation dynamic gaining traction across European medical Cannabis markets. Canadian producers with upstream production infrastructure are extending ownership downstream to protect margins and supply continuity. At GBP 2.1 million for two complementary licensed entities in a tightly regulated pharmaceutical environment, Aurora’s entry cost is lean. That pricing sets a reference point for how Canadian licensed producers are currently valuing European distribution assets, and it raises the strategic stakes of Curaleaf’s simultaneous push to absorb Aurora’s entire international platform.