Fire & Flower Announces First Quarter 2019 Financial and Operational Results

/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES WIRE SERVICES/

EDMONTON, June 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. ("Fire & Flower" or the "Company")⁽¹⁾ (TSXV: FAF), today announced its financial and operational results for the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019.

Financial and Operational Highlights for the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019

• System sales of $10,895,626 and recognized revenue of $9,538,348 at a gross margin of 38.5%, compared to $Nil for the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2018.
• 17 branded cannabis retail stores operating system-wide across the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
• Received $34,544,793 of net proceeds from the private placement which closed on November 1, 2018, upon completion of the Company's Qualifying Transaction and subsequently became listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Subsequent Financial and Operational Highlights post May 4, 2019

• On May 14, 2019, acquired 4 retail cannabis store licenses in Saskatchewan.
• On May 28, 2019, acquired 2 licenced retail cannabis stores in Vancouver, British Columbia and intends to open these stores at its earliest opportunity.
• On May 29, 2019, acquired a proposed cannabis retail store in the town of Banff, Alberta.
• On June 6, 2019 Fire & Flower announced a bought deal private placement for total gross proceeds of $25,000,000 with an agents' option for additional gross proceeds up to $5,000,000.
• On June 9, 2019, achieved system sales of $25,000,000.

"These results provide a solid foundation upon which Fire & Flower will continue to execute on our growth strategy. Our growth plan is well funded and in addition to the strength of our retail network, we have set ourselves apart as a modern retail company through the Hifyre digital cannabis platform that is reflective in our financial performance" shared Trevor Fencott, Fire & Flower's Chief Executive Officer.

Selected Summary of Quarterly Results

Statement of Loss and Comprehensive Loss	Q1 2019	Q1 2018	$	%
(in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)	Ended	Ended	Change	change
	4-May-19	5-May-18
Revenue	$ 9,538	$ -	$ 9,538	NM
Cost of goods sold	5,870	-	5,870	NM
Gross margin	3,668	-	3,668	NM
Expenses	8,962	2,470	6,492	>100%
Other expenses	(11,763)	-	(11,763)	NM
Net loss and comprehensive loss	(17,058)	(2,470)	(14,587)	>100%
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$   (0.17)	$   (0.05)
NM – Not meaningful

During the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019, the Company generated revenue of $9.5 million including cannabis and cannabis-related accessory sales of $9.0 million and digital development revenue of $0.5 million. Revenues are expected to continue to increase as the Company acquires new licences and opens additional retail cannabis stores, subject to the issuance of new licenses and the entry of the Company into markets that permit private cannabis retail stores.

Total gross profit for the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019 was $3.7 million or 38.5% of revenue with retail and wholesale operations delivering $3.2M, or 35.6%, gross profit. Excluding digital development revenue, gross profit for the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019 was $3.2 million or 35.6% of the corresponding revenue.

The Company's major expenses incurred during the thirteen weeks ended May 4, 2019 are related to salaries and benefits of $3.3 million, depreciation and amortization of $1.5 million, share based payment of $1.3 million, consulting and professional fees of $1.3 million and $0.7 million in other operating costs.

Included in other expense primarily is a $9.0 million charge related to the amendment of the Company's convertible debentures in order to maintain compliance with various provincial regulations relating to the ownership of a cannabis retail licensee by a cannabis licensed producer and $1.8 million for costs associated with the Qualifying Transaction.

The Company recorded a net comprehensive loss of $17.1 million, or a net loss per share of $0.17.

Retail Operations Update

The Company intends to establish the leading brand of cannabis retail stores in provinces across Canada where private retail is permitted. There are currently 21 licensed Fire & Flower branded stores operating across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The Company will continue to refine its retail experience using consumer insights collected within the Hifyre digital cannabis platform.

Hifyre Digital Cannabis Retail Platform

The Company continues to develop and commercialize the Hifyre digital cannabis platform that collects and analyzes consumer data to develop insights around purchase preferences. The Hifyre platform provides real time reporting and analysis to the Company's marketing, retail experience and merchandising teams and is supplied to Licensed Producers to assist in demand forecasting, product development and sales reporting.

Fire & Flower's financial statements and management discussion and analysis for the period are available on Fire & Flower's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and on Fire & Flower's website at www.fireandflower.com/investor-relations/.

About Fire & Flower

Fire & Flower is a leading purpose-built, independent adult-use cannabis retailer poised to capture significant Canadian market share. Fire & Flower guides consumers through the complex world of cannabis through education-focused, best-in-class retailing while the HiFyre digital platform connects consumers with cannabis products. Fire & Flower's leadership team combines extensive experience in the cannabis industry with strong capabilities in retail operations.

Fire & Flower Holdings Corp. owns all issued and outstanding shares in Fire & Flower Inc., a licensed cannabis retailer in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and is a consultant and licensor to Fire & Flower-branded retail locations in province of Ontario.

(1)  From the February 2 to February 9, 2019, Fire & Flower was known as Cinaport Acquisition Corp. II. On February 13, 2019 Fire & Flower completed its Qualifying Transaction by way of a three-cornered amalgamation, pursuant to which 11048449 Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fire & Flower amalgamated with Fire & Flower Inc. ("Pre QT F&F") to form the company now known as Fire & Flower Inc. ("Post QT F&F"). All references herein to the "Company" or "Fire & Flower" refer to Fire & Flower, Pre QT F&F, Post QT F&F and all subsidiaries thereof on a consolidated basis.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management of Fire & Flower at the date the statements are made based on information then available to the Fire & Flower.  Various factors and assumptions are applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Fire & Flower, which may cause Fire & Flower's actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements will prove to be correct.

Fire & Flower assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Fire & Flower Holdings Corp.

Investor Relations, Chris Bolivar, Vice President, Brand and Marketing, [email protected], 1-833-680-4948; Media Relations: Nathan Mison, Vice President, Government and Stakeholder Relations, [email protected], 780-953-1106