What happened
Canadian cannabis stock SNDL (SNDL 0.52%) (formerly Sundial Growers) jumped more than 5% Tuesday morning after the company started a new chapter in its growth. The stock held onto a gain of 2.9% as of 3:05 p.m. EST.
So what
SNDL announced the finalization of its acquisition of The Valens Company today, marking the start of its new strategy forward. SNDL first announced it took a 10% stake in the Canadian cannabis products and processing-services company in late 2021. It then said it planned to buy the balance of Valens it didn't already own in August 2022. The acquisition is the culmination of a pivot in SNDL's two-year-old business strategy to create an investment platform alongside its cannabis segment.
Image source: Getty Images.
Now what
During the first half of 2021, the company issued more than 1 billion new common shares to raise capital for use in making cannabis-related equity investments. Valens has become its flagship investment and should move SNDL to become a billion-dollar annual revenue company.
It also helps streamline the company with lower cost in-house manufacturing capacity, expand its potential product offerings, and provide cost savings. The company says the combination is expected to deliver close to $10 million of annual cost synergies.
SNDL shares are down nearly 60% in the last year after it has diluted shareholders to raise money over the past several years. SNDL paid more than $100 million for the balance of Valens it didn't already own in the form of common shares as well as the assumption of debt. Investors are hoping this marks a new beginning for SNDL's business and share price in 2023.
