Ayurcann Holdings Corp is Entering Into a Business Combination With Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp.

Published: July 1, 2024

Ayurcann Holdings Corp is Entering Into a Business Combination With Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp.

Ayurcann Holdings Corp., an award winning Canadian cannabis extraction company specializing in the processing and manufacturing of pharma grade cannabis and hemp for various derivative cannabis products, and Arogo Capital Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company, announced today that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement dated June 26, 2024. The Business Combination is an arm’s length agreement. In connection with the Transaction, ARC Group Limited will receive finder’s fees in the amount of 799,731 common shares of the Company.

“Ayurcann is one of the most innovative companies we have encountered, particularly in cannabis extraction and product development. With their impressive achievements and forward-looking plans, this business combination is set to drive the business onto a new growth trajectory, enhancing its capabilities and expanding the market reach in meaningful ways,” says Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai, CEO and Director of Arogo.

About Ayurcann
Ayurcann is focused on its operational expertise and gaining market share in every product category, and its management team believes that Ayurcann’s strong market share capture is driven by the quality and reputation of its brands. By continuously providing high-quality products, innovations and value that complement our current market offerings, Ayurcann continues to look for opportunities to increase revenue.

Financial Highlights
Ayurcann financial highlights include 100% year over year growth of gross revenue over the last three audited financial reporting years, based on Ayurcann’s audited financial statements available under its profile on SEDAR+. These results have been achieved only 2.5 years after being licensed to sell cannabis products in Canada.

“We are proud of our team for what we have achieved as a company,” said Igal Sudman, Chief Executive Officer of Ayurcann. “The business combination with Arogo, is our next step in growing the company nationally while allowing us to also look for international opportunities.”

Summary of the Transaction
Under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, by way of a plan of arrangement under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), a Canadian merger sub will amalgamate with and into Ayurcann, which will become a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the post-business combination publicly traded entity, and a Delaware merger sub will merge with and into Arogo, as a result of which Arogo will become a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the post-business combination publicly traded entity. At the effective time of the Transaction, shareholders of Ayurcann immediately prior to the effective time will receive shares of common stock of the publicly traded entity based on an implied pro forma enterprise value of approximately $210 million, at a price of $10.00 per share. Ayurcann’s common shares are anticipated to be valued upon closing of the proposed Transaction at approximately $1.00 based on the current number of fully diluted outstanding common shares before consolidation to be completed in connection with the proposed Transaction. At the closing of the proposed Transaction, Arogo expects to have up to US$19.6 million in cash on its balance sheet (assuming no redemptions by Arogo’s stockholders and before payment of Transaction expenses and deferred underwriting fees), including existing cash brought over from Ayurcann’s balance sheet, any capital raised in connection with the Transaction, and expected cash proceeds from Arogo’s trust account, which is expected to be used to support general business activities, including new product development, new distribution networks, and exploring national and international acquisition opportunities.

The Transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to the receipt of all regulators, court, shareholder and other approvals, and the satisfaction or waiver of all customary closing conditions. The Transaction is subject to the approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List). The Transaction will also require the approval at a special meeting of Ayurcann’s shareholders of not less than two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the votes validly cast by Ayurcann’s shareholders, present in person or by proxy at the special meeting. The Transaction will also require the approval of Arogo’s stockholders and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) declaring the registration statement effective.

The directors, senior officers and certain other shareholders of Ayurcann have entered into a support agreement with Arogo to, among other things, support the Transaction and vote their Ayurcann shares in favor of the Transaction. Shareholders of Ayurcann will hold rights of dissent to the Transaction under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).

The Board of Directors of Ayurcann unanimously recommends that Ayurcann shareholders vote in favor of the resolution to approve the Transaction, which will be the subject of the Ayurcann meeting expected to be held in the third quarter of 2024. There are currently 194,703,863 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding. Following the Transaction, the Company anticipates that approximately 260,703,863 common shares of the Company will be issued and outstanding, which will be consolidated on a 10:1 ratio in connection with the Transaction, resulting in approximately 26,070,386 common shares.

The Transaction remains subject to certain other closing conditions, including the receipt of certain approvals and the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including but not limited to a committed PIPE financing or other mutually satisfactory financing.

Further information regarding the Transaction will be included in Ayurcann management information circular to be mailed to Ayurcann shareholders in advance of the Ayurcann special meeting and in Ayurcann’s material change report in respect of the announcement of the Transaction, each of which will be filed with the Canadian securities regulators and will be available under Ayurcann’s profile on SEDAR+.

Advisors
Brown Rudnick LLP is representing Arogo as U.S. legal counsel and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is representing Arogo as Canadian legal counsel. Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP is representing Ayurcann as U.S. legal counsel and Garfinkle Biderman LLP is representing Ayurcann as Canadian legal counsel. ARC Group Limited is acting as sole financial advisor to Ayurcann. EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, is serving as capital markets advisor to Arogo.

About Arogo
Arogo Capital Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company. Arogo aims to acquire one and more businesses and assets, via a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, and reorganization. For more information, visit www.arogocapital.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
For additional information regarding the Business Combination Agreement and the proposed Transaction, see Arogo’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) concurrently with this press release. In connection with the proposed Transaction, Arogo intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement), and after the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, Arogo intends to mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Transaction to its stockholders. The management information circular to be mailed to Ayurcann shareholders in advance of the Ayurcann special meeting and Ayurcann’s material change report in respect of the announcement of the Transaction will contain further details regarding the Transaction and will be available under Ayurcann’s profile on SEDAR+. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed Transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed Transaction. Arogo’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed Transaction with the SEC by Arogo, as these materials will contain important information about Ayurcann, Arogo, and the proposed Transaction. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed Transaction will be mailed to stockholders of Arogo as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed Transaction. Such stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Arogo Capital Acquisition Corporation, 848 Brickell Ave, Penthouse 5, Miami, FL 33131.