Evolving Cannabis Market Creates Massive Growth Through Fundamentals

The Flora Growth Story So Far

Flora Growth is a next-generation cannabis company, building for what will be the future – a global industry, hinging on supply chain and market access. Flora stands out due to a unique three-pillar business model involving wholesale, brands and life sciences.

It’s a business model that makes Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) a strong play for both direct cannabis company investors as well as “pick-and-shovel” investors looking to put money into the tools and services that lead to a finished cannabis product.

But can Flora Growth really be another multi-billion-dollar buyout target like GW Pharma?

Flora Growth has teamed up with molecular biologist Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan with the mission of bringing new life-saving cannabis-based medicines to the market.

This led to scientific clinical trials being initiated globally, focusing on the use of cannabinoids in patients suffering from chronic pain and Fibromyalgia, which affects 4 million US adults¹³ and nearly 1 in 20 people globally¹⁴, with the primary research sites located in the US and the UK.¹⁵

Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) appointed Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan as the Lead Scientific Advisor to further its research and development of unique product formulations and to educate individuals on the benefits of cannabinoid and plant-based medicine.

Dr. Annabelle Has Seen Firsthand Just How
Powerful Cannabis-Related Medicine Can Be

When Dr. Annabelle’s young son, Macario, was born in 2016, he was suffering up to 200 seizures a day and was forced to take seven different prescription medications.

His situation got even worse when doctors had to remove 38% of his brain.

Desperate for an alternative, Dr. Annabelle created a new CBD formulation for her son.

She began giving Macario the CBD Oil formulation daily and stopped the other medicines he was taking.

Five years later, he is a happy, healthy, energetic six year old. 

“(Macario) is six years old today. He will start kindergarten in the fall. He has no developmental deficits. If you saw him, you would never know there was a thing wrong with him. He is not autistic, delayed, nothing. He is a normal 6-year-old boy.”¹⁶

Now Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) is submitting Manalo-Morgan’s CBD compound for further testing and expects to fast-track traditional NHS timelines by running phase trials in parallel (in vitro, in vivo, pilot in human, safety/efficacy, etc.).¹⁷ These clinical trials could be completed as soon as Q4 2022 which we don’t think the market is appreciating! 

Dr. Manalo-Morgan and her CBD compound are just two of the many factors working in Flora Growth’s favor. 

This is a company that has quickly become a …

Leading All-Outdoor Cultivator, Manufacturer, & Distributor of Global Cannabis Products & Brands

Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) is built to upend what it means to be a “cannabis company.”

With multiple lines of revenue and a presence in multiple countries, Flora Growth is developing a diverse collection of brands and services to address the different expressions of cannabis and plant-based derivatives more broadly.

For example, Flora Growth is building out robust wholesale and distribution channels, a suite of consumer goods brands, and research and laboratory divisions to support institutional and individual consumers. 

Here are six powerful reasons why Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) could be the next big breakout in the cannabis industry.

Reason #1 – The Best Location in the World to Grow Cannabis

When it comes to growing cannabis you would be hard-pressed to find a location that offers all the benefits that Colombia does. 

This is a country that has favorable cannabis-growing government regulations, low-cost cultivation, optimal year-round growing conditions (including approximately 12 hours of sunlight a day), and an experienced workforce that is 1/10th the cost of US workers.

Considering all of this, it is little wonder that Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) chose to house its grow and processing operations, Cosechemos, in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Cosechemos is a 254 acre cannabis cultivation operation and a 16,000-square-foot extraction facility with a state-of-the-art laboratory focused on delivering natural, high-quality cannabis flower and derivatives to be sold through wholesale and retail channels.

In April, Colombia finalized its cannabis flower regulatory checklist under Resolution 539 permitting licensed cannabis cultivators with export quotas, including Flora, to pass a mandatory approval process for the export of both CBD and THC flower.¹⁸

Upon this exciting development, Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) reaffirmed its ability to produce 43.6 tonnes of low-cost THC with production costs of just 6 cents per gram of dried flower!¹⁹

When you compare it to industry giants like Tilray, which reported $3.79 per gram or even Aurora, which reported $0.89 in 2020, Flora is saving 1,000-6,000% on every gram of quality flower it produces.

How is such a low production cost possible? This is because Colombia, which is responsible for 15% of the global supply of cut flowers,²⁰ has a highly skilled agricultural workforce that is a fraction of the cost of US workers.

At the same time, the location in Bucaramanga, Colombia provides natural water springs, regular 12-hour light cycles and consistent wind thanks to its ideal location atop a 360-degree view mountain.

Progress at the grow facility is being made quickly. In January of this year, Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) announced the production of the first batch of crude oil through Cosechemos. It also announced it had initiated the process to become EU-GMP certified with the ability to produce oils, distillates and isolates for medical application.²¹

Flora Growth has already established a strong reputation for the quality of its manufacturing practices. It holds 3 GMP certifications for Cosmetics, Phytotherapeutics, and Dietary Supplements.²²

Flora is currently manufacturing and distributing more than 63 over-the-counter (OTC) products registered with INVIMA, which are selling across 2,500+ distribution channels. 

Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ:FLGC) also just signed a joint venture agreement with the largest indigenous tribe in Colombia, Pharma Indigena Misak Manasr Sas, to develop cultivation best practices, manufacturing, export, and marketing of cannabis and cannabis-containing products.²³

With the Cosechemos facility ramping up production and Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) being able to produce high-quality flower for such a low cost it has an immediate marketplace advantage.

In fact, many of its so-called competitors are becoming customers!

Here is how Flora Growth compares to the competition right now:

Looking at the chart above, it’s easy to see how significant the cost savings per gram are for Flora Growth’s cultivation. However, when looking at revenues and P/S Ratio figures, it might not be as easy to see how the company stacks up financially.

Let’s waste no time getting into that…

Reason #2 – Rapidly Growing Revenue and Flurry of M&A

Since its successful IPO listing on NASDAQ in May of 2021, Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) has wasted no time getting down to business, and it’s easy to see how sharp the trajectory is going upward.

• • Total revenue for H1 2022 was $14.9 million, a 604% increase from H2 2021 and 117% up from H2 2021
  • Gross Profits increased to $6.5 million, up more than 5x year-over-year and 4x sequentially
  • Cash on hand as of June 30, 2022 was approximately $10.3 million
  • Guidance of $35-45 million in 2022, which would realize projected revenue growth of 300-400% year over year

YES, you read that right: Their guidance for 2022 is $35-45 Million, which includes revenue contributions from its various operating divisions, including wholesale cannabis revenues from Cosechemos, and profits from recently acquired Vessel Brand and its other lucrative brands.

Perhaps one of the biggest boosts to Flora Growth’s 2022 guidance comes from the recently acquired JustCBD brand which generated audited revenues of US$28 million and EBITDA of US$7 million in fiscal year 2020 across multiple categories, including gummies, tinctures, vape cartridges, creams, and pet wellness, among others.³⁰

At a cost of only US$33 million, it’s clear that acquisitions like JustCBD will quickly pay themselves off—and contribute to the new 2022 guidance.

And many experts think that estimate is on the conservative side.

In fact, institutional investors are starting to take notice of the company’s strong financial situation and powerful three-pillar diversified business model. 

That’s why Flora Growth’s ownership structure now includes a strong institutional presence. Here is the structure:

• 9.29% insiders
• 9.10% institutions 
• 10.03% of float held by institutions
• Number of institutions holding shares – 37 (including Morgan Stanley and Highbridge Capital)

All of this support led to Flora Growth’s favorable cash position, and its ability to drive forward with a series of acquisitions that are truly the milestones of an empire in the making. Versus other companies, raising hundreds of millions to achieve similar revenue profiles, Flora has only raised $80M since inception with no debt and still has cash in the bank.

Reason #3 – Building the Ultimate Global Brands Empire

While the cultivation side of the business is very promising, as outlined in reason #1 above, Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) has been VERY active in M&A, putting together a huge house of brands that includes 600+ products, 70+ medical cosmetic licenses, and 16,500+ points of distribution in Latin America and the US with sales across 13 countries.

Back in February 2022, Flora Growth made a splash, acquiring the nutrition  and wellness brand JustCBD.

And what did they get with that acquisition? 

JustCBD alone brought into the portfolio over 300 products and a seamless omni-channel approach that includes a direct-to-consumer business with over 300,000 customers and a network of over 14,000 distribution points across the United States and internationally. 

In another deal nearly equal in value (US$30M), Flora Growth acquired Vessel Brand, a team of exceptional brand builders with a proven track record of launching brands and capturing market share in the rapidly expanding U.S. cannabis landscape.³¹

At the time of the acquisition, Vessel had achieved trailing 12-months revenue of US$6.6 million and year-over-year growth of 90%.³²

In May, Flora Growth announced the launch of the Vessel brand into the lucrative Canadian market that the company estimates will be worth C$5.9 billion this year. 

Subsequently, they signed a deal with the Ontario Cannabis Store and launched Vesselbrand.ca, a direct-to-consumer online store. 

These two acquisitions are just an example of the growing portfolio of brands in the Flora Growth arsenal, and they’re clearly not done growing and expanding their market reach.

Reason #4 – Expansive Global Reach

Beyond their strong presence in the Latin American and US and Canadian markets, Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) is steadily expanding globally.

For instance, their JustCBD brand is set to open four brick-and-mortar locations in Germany and the Czech Republic in Q1 2022, with up to 50 additional stores planned in 2023. These stores will be in partnership with Greenyard and will allow for additional distribution through Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia.³³

In March of 2022, Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) also announced a distribution agreement with Israel-based DNO Group to distribute the company’s Mind Naturals brand in the Hong Kong region. ³⁴

These were just the most recent of a series of announcements and transactions designed to expand Flora Growth’s reach around the world. Additional announcements have included:

• Vessel brand signed a distribution agreement with JustCBD partners, Florida-based Speedy Distribution, which services over 1,000 stores in the US, and increased Flora Growth’s existing customer base to over 500,000 customers.³⁵
  
• Signing an agreement with Artos Ltd. (“Artos”) to sell approximately 3,600 kg of dried high-THC cannabis flower to Israel. Artos has a network of over 4,000 distribution points generating over $50 million in revenue.³⁶
  
• Launched sales of Mind Naturals skincare brand has through Walmart.com and Coppel, a nationwide department store chain in Mexico with 1,253 stores.³⁷
  

Reason #5 – World-Class IMPORTANT Research

Since last October Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) has been ramping up its research through the Flora Life Sciences Division.

Flora Life Sciences’ main focus is on identifying scientific gaps in the cannabis industry and ultimately working to fill those gaps with pharmaceutical cannabis products backed by scientific data.³⁸

Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) started by bringing on the aforementioned Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan as Lead Scientific Advisor to oversee the division and signing an agreement to begin clinical trials globally.³⁹

The Human Pilot Study, which was initiated in the UK with an internationally recognized clinical research group based at the University of Manchester, is focused on the use of cannabinoids in patients suffering from Fibromyalgia or chronic pain, with the primary research sites located in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Flora Life Sciences expects to fast-track traditional FDA and NHS timelines by running phase trials in parallel (in vitro, in vivo, a pilot in humans, safety/efficacy, etc.) focusing on pain and inflammation illnesses – casting a wide net for cannabis applications. 

Then in May, Flora Growth signed a deal with Dr. Annabelle to acquire her Masaya brand and patent-pending CBD formulations.⁴⁰ 

Masaya’s 100% THC-free pure, potent CBD oil formulation, which was developed initially to treat Dr. Annabelle’s son, has now been used by thousands of consumers and has a long track record of positive testimonials.

Masaya will become a part of Flora Growth’s (NASDAQ:FLGC) growing portfolio of brands and will be the first offering from Flora Life Sciences. The products will be initially sold in the US, but the company also intends to distribute the brand and its formulations worldwide.

What’s more, the original patent-pending formulation, Masaya Pure,⁴¹ is intended to be used in Flora’s current clinical trials with the University of Manchester.

Reason #6 – Exceptional Leadership Team

Leading the way for Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC) is an incredibly deep talent pool of Executives and Directors with a wide range of applicable expertise that is fully equipped to bring the company success, including:

Luis MerchanPresident and CEO

Mr. Merchan is a proven executive with over 10 years of experience in enterprise sales management, corporate strategy, merchandising and expense management and customer experience. He previously served as Vice President of Workforce Strategy and Operations for Macy’s Inc. where he managed the enterprise’s P&L expense line for its 540-store portfolio.

Tim LeslieChairman of the Advisory Board

A Yale Law graduate, Mr. Leslie has a strong pedigree of success, working with scaling companies including two decades at Amazon, where he served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel responsible for building and managing Amazon’s international legal team before changing roles to oversee the international launch of Amazon Prime Video. Following his successful tenure at Amazon, Mr. Leslie made the leap to the burgeoning cannabis industry where he served as CEO of one of the world’s most authoritative digital cannabis data sources, Leafly.

Elshad GarayevChief Financial Officer

Elshad Garayev brings over 25 years of experience in finance supporting successful organizations through the development and implementation of accounting and reporting policies as well as building high-performance finance teams. Prior to joining the Flora team, Garayev served in a variety of financial leadership roles at companies such as Amazon, Boeing BP and RPK Capital, managing a diverse array of initiatives at various companies including reporting, accounting, investments, private equity, international operations, mergers and acquisitions, energy services, and manufacturing.

Dr. Annabelle Manalo-MorganDirector

Dr. Manalo-Morgan is a scientist, educator, author, mother of five, and a respected key opinion leader. She is a cell and developmental biologist from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a background in neuroscience from Georgetown University. She earned her Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology with a focus in Cardio-Oncology.

James ChoeChief Strategy Officer

Mr. Choe was the Founder/CEO of Vessel, the leading brand in cannabis consumption technology, which was acquired in November 2021 by Flora Growth. Choe got his first taste of startups in 1999 with broadband pioneer Softnet Systems in Mountain View, CA. After building the business to prominence and growing to more than 400 employees.

Jessie CasnerChief Marketing Officer

Ms. Casner was previously the Vice President of Marketing for Vessel Brand, the recently acquired ancillary accessory brand based in Carlsbad, California. An experienced omni-channel marketer and storyteller, Casner previously operated her own agency, Junction Marketing, where she developed and executed bespoke go-to-market strategies. She was an early team member of The Active Network during its rapid growth phase (pre-IPO and acquisition), MOGL (now FIGG, during series A/B funding), 2XU, and Total Gym.

If you aren’t yet convinced of the massive potential this company offers, here are 4 reasons to consider investing in Flora Growth (NASDAQ:FLGC).