High Tide Closes Acquisition of Leading Online Retailer DankStop

The acquisition was completed pursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement dated July 20, 2021, pursuant to which High Tide USA Inc., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of High Tide, purchased 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of DankStop from its shareholders for US$3,850,000, comprised of 612,087 common shares of High Tide on the basis of a deemed price per High Tide Share of $7.88, being equal to the volume weighted average price per High Tide Share on the TSX Venture Exchange for the ten consecutive trading days preceding the closing of the acquisition.

Pursuant to the terms of the acquisition agreement, 153,021 High Tide Shares, which represent 25% of the High Tide Shares issued to the DankStop shareholders, has been placed in escrow for a period of up to 12 months from closing.

The company is pleased to announce that DankStop co-founder Feliks Khaykin has joined the High Tide team, as Director of U.S. Operations.

Upon closing, DankStop has approximately US$100,000 of cash and non-cash working capital and inventory of approximately US$220,000. DankStop will continue its corporate existence under the state of Delaware as a 100% owned subsidiary of High Tide USA Inc.

Strategic Highlights

With over ten years of experience in the consumption accessories sector, including through its subsidiaries Grasscity, Smoke Cartel and Daily High Club, High Tide is constantly exploring opportunities to further increase its share in the growing consumption accessories market. The acquisition is immediately revenue-accretive and DankStop’s growing base of over 200,000 email subscribers provides High Tide with another sales channel on which to sell its products, thus leveraging retail margins on its own brands.

The acquisition will result in enhanced efficiencies and vertical integration as DankStop is already a supplier for High Tide’s drop-shipping catalogue. Although currently operating in the hemp-derived CBD and consumption accessories space, High Tide intends to expand its cannabis retail network into the United States in the event of federal legalization, through cannabis subscription boxes, mature e-commerce sites and bricks and mortar locations. The work of launching consumption accessories and hemp-derived CBD subscription boxes across all platforms has begun and High Tide will continue to optimize and integrate these platforms throughout the year.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements.

Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information and forward- looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company bolstering its online presence as a result of the acquisition; the Company enhancing efficiencies in vertical integration as a result of the acquisition; the acquisition being immediately revenue-accretive; the strengthening of the Company’s e-commerce infrastructure; the Company’s ability to continue to make meaningful sales across its various e-commerce channels; the Company’s continued exploration of various opportunities in the consumption accessories market; the Company’s ability to leverage retail margins on its own brands; the ability of the Company to expand its cannabis retail network into the United States; and the continued optimization and integration of the Company’s various e-commerce platforms throughout the coming year.

Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the continued commercial viability and growth in popularity of cannabis and cannabis consumption accessories; continued approval of the Company’s activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued growth of the Company; the continued growth in popularity of the online retail/distribution of cannabis consumption accessories; the continued ability of DankStop to generate revenue; the ability of the Company to integrate DankStop into its current suite of e-commerce channels; and the ability of the Company’s to effectively integrate and capitalize on DankStop’s social media presence. 

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with the cannabis and cannabis consumption accessory industry in general; increased competition in the cannabis retail and cannabis consumption accessory market; the potential future unviability of the cannabis retail and cannabis consumption accessory market; incorrect assessment of the value and potential benefits of the acquisition; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the cannabis retail and cannabis consumption accessory market; risks associated with a potential collapse in the value of cannabis and cannabis consumption accessories; risks associated with the Company’s ability to continue generating a profit; the Company’s potential inability to achieve efficiencies in vertical integration as a result of the acquisition; the acquisition not being revenue-accretive; the potential inability of the Company to strengthen its e-commerce infrastructure; the Company’s inability to continue to make meaningful sales across its various e-commerce channels; the Company’s inability to continue its exploration of various opportunities in the consumption accessories market; the Company’s inability to leverage retail margins on its own brands; the inability of the Company to expand its cannabis retail network into the United States; and the inability of the Company to optimize and integrate the Company’s various e-commerce platforms throughout the coming year.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.