Country for PR: Hong Kong
Contributor: PR Newswire Asia (Hong Kong)
Wednesday, October 16 2019 - 15:32
AsiaNet
Cronos Australia, a medicinal cannabis company, launches AUD$20m IPO
MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Highlights

-Cronos Australia is offering 40 million shares at AUD$0.50 per share with 
expectations to list on the ASX in November 2019 
-Indicative market capitalisation of AUD$64.4m upon completion of Offer 
-Cronos Australia aims to generate early revenue by importing and distributing 
the in-market PEACE NATURALS(TM) medicinal cannabis brand whilst also 
developing its own branded products 
-Cronos Australia was established as a 50:50 joint venture with NASDAQ-listed 
global cannabinoid company Cronos Group Inc. ("Cronos Group") and NewSouthern 
Capital 
-Subject to the terms of an IP license agreement between Cronos Group and 
Cronos Australia, Cronos Australia has access to certain elements of Cronos 
Group's intellectual property 

Medicinal cannabis company Cronos Australia Limited ("Cronos Australia" or "the 
Company") has launched a AUD$20 million initial public offer (IPO) of shares 
ahead of a planned listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in November 
2019. Cronos Australia intends to become a leading supplier of cannabis 
products in Australia's emerging medicinal cannabis industry and, as 
regulations change and markets open, a supplier and exporter to the 
Asia-Pacific region.

Cronos Australia intends to offer approximately 40 million new shares at 
AUD$0.50 per share (the "Offer"). The Offer comprises the Broker Firm Offer, 
which is open to Australian resident investors who have received an allocation 
from their broker; the Chairman's List Offer, which is open to investors in 
Australia nominated by Cronos Australia; and the Institutional Offer, which is 
open to institutional investors. No general public offer of the shares will be 
made under the Offer. Upon completion of the Offer, Cronos Australia expects to 
have a market capitalisation of AUD$64.4 million.

Cronos Australia has secured all of the licences necessary to import, export, 
cultivate, manufacture and research cannabis.

"This offering provides an opportunity to become a shareholder in a medicinal 
cannabis company that has all the licences needed to operate, has strong links 
with a leading global cannabinoid company, Cronos Group, and has a focus on the 
increasingly growing Asia-Pacific market," Cronos Australia Chairman Shane 
Tanner said.

Cronos Australia Chief Executive Officer Rodney Cocks said, "This offering is 
an exciting step for Cronos Australia as we work to develop Australian cannabis 
products and brands to respond to both the domestic and international demand as 
the local and regional markets continue to evolve."

Cronos Australia was established as a 50:50 joint venture between Cronos Group 
Inc. of Canada and Melbourne-based NewSouthern Capital Pty Ltd. Cronos Group is 
dual-listed on the NASDAQ and Toronto Stock Exchange. At completion of the 
Offer, Cronos Group is expected to own approximately 31 percent of the issued 
capital of Cronos Australia.

Two Directors of Cronos Group sit on the Board of Cronos Australia, including 
Jason Adler and Cronos Group Chairman, President and CEO Mike Gorenstein. The 
Cronos Australia Board also includes former Federal Parliamentary Speaker Anna 
Burke AO and former Superloop (ASX: SLC) CEO Daniel Abrahams.

"Cronos Australia's Board and management team are experienced and commercially 
focused to deliver on Cronos Australia's phased growth strategy," Mr. Tanner 
said.

Under the terms of an IP license agreement between Cronos Group and Cronos 
Australia, Cronos Australia has access to certain elements of Cronos Group's 
intellectual property via sole territorial licences granted by Cronos Group.

Cronos Australia intends to import and sell Cronos Group's PEACE NATURALS(TM) 
medicinal cannabis products, which are sold in Canada and Germany.

The Company is pursuing an asset-light business model under which the 
cultivation of medicinal cannabis and the manufacturing of medicinal cannabis 
products are intended to be outsourced to other companies both domestically and 
overseas.

"Our asset-light model gives us the flexibility and agility to respond to a 
rapidly evolving market and allows the Company to focus on the development of a 
range of medicinal brands and products," Mr. Cocks said.

The Australian market for medicinal cannabis is still in its early stages, 
reflecting complex legislation and regulation. However, patient access is 
growing as legislation evolves and markets open.

The Offer is scheduled to open on 16 October 2019 and close on 25 October 2019.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an 
offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been 
and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended 
(the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be 
offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. 
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such 
registration is available.

Details of the IPO

The Company will offer 40,000,000 shares at an issue price of AUD$0.50 cents 
per share, to raise AUD$20 million before expenses.

To participate in the IPO

The Offer is being made under a prospectus lodged with ASIC on 15 October 2019 
("Prospectus") and is available at www.cronosaustralia.com. No general public 
offer of the shares will be made under the Offer. Offers will be made in, or 
accompanied by, a copy of the Prospectus. A person should consider the 
Prospectus in deciding whether to acquire shares. Anyone who wants to acquire 
shares will need to complete the application form that will be in or will 
accompany the Prospectus.

Underwriting

The Offer has been fully underwritten by Bell Potter Securities Limited, the 
Lead Manager and Underwriter to the Offer.

Proposed Key Dates*

-Opening Date of Offer	(16 October 2019)
-Closing Date of Offer	(25 October 2019)
-Allotment of New Shares – under the Institutional Offer, Chairman's List Offer 
and Broker Firm Offer	(7 November 2019)
-Expected commencement of trading on ASX on a deferred settlement basis	(7 
November 2019)
-Expected dispatch of Shareholder holding statements 	(8 November 2019)
-Shares expected to commence trading on ASX on a normal settlement basis 	(11 
November 2019)

*subject to change

About Cronos Australia

Cronos Australia Limited was established as a 50:50 joint venture between 
global cannabinoid company Cronos Group Inc (dual-listed – NASDAQ: CRON, TSX: 
CRON) and NewSouthern Capital. The Company was formed to take advantage of 
opportunities relating to the emerging cannabis industry both domestically and 
internationally. The vision of Cronos Australia is to become a leading health 
and wellness company in the Asia Pacific region through the distribution of 
premium THC and CBD cannabis products.

SOURCE: Cronos Australia