Cresco, Columbia Care Cannabis Business Operators Scrap $2B Merger Deal

Cresco Labs Inc. and Columbia Care are cannabis and medical marijuana companies that have previously announced their merger through an acquisition deal. In March 2022, they agreed to a transaction that would have created the largest cannabis operator in the United States, but the agreement seems to have gone up in smoke.

Cresco Labs and Columbia made a new announcement on Monday, July 31, stating they have terminated their $2 billion merger deal. This development comes as the industry is waiting for banking reforms, as per CNBC.

Moreover, it was suggested that the contract has been called off as the cannabis industry has been showing indications of a slowdown as it also deals with various economic issues and challenges with regulators. The cannabis companies mutually agreed to scrap their agreement, so there will be no penalties or fees to pay for both parties.

Another reason for the failure of the merger is the fact that Cresco Labs and Columbia Care were not able to unload enough assets required to secure the regulators' seal of approval. They were given the June 30 deadline for this but failed to comply.

"In light of the evolving landscape in the cannabis industry, we believe the decision to terminate the planned transaction is in the long-term interest of Cresco Labs and our shareholders," Cresco Labs' co-founder and chief executive officer, Charles Bachtell, said in a press release.

"We want to express our sincere gratitude to Columbia Care for their valuable collaboration and dedication during this transaction. While this is not the outcome we originally hoped for, we are confident Cresco Labs is in a stronger position moving forward."

Columbia Care's co-founder and CEO, Nicholas Vita, added, "After careful consideration, we are confident in the mutual decision to move forward as separate, standalone companies. This is the best path forward for Columbia Care's employees, customers, and shareholders. We are thankful for the collaboration and partnership with the Cresco team throughout this extensive process."

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