Mergers & Acquisitions
Each week, Viridian publishes insights and analysis on completed M&A transactions in the prior week. Our analysis includes:
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- M&A Market Commentary
- Public and Private Companies
- Buyers & Sellers
- YTD M&A Analysis
- M&A by Industry Sector
- Deal Structure and Valuation Analysis
- Pending Deal Risk Arb Analysis
- Valuation Gap Analysis
Transaction Summary
- No deals closed this week ended 7/19/2024.
YTD Analysis
- YTD, 38 M&A transactions have closed with a total disclosed value of $313.44M, down sharply from the 71 deals for $1181.17M in 2023. M&A is off to the lowest start of the last six years.
Pending Risk Deal Arb Analysis
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- Cansortium/RIV Arb Spread
- The chart below shows the risk arb spread for the Cansortium/RIV merger announced on May 30, 2024. RIV shareholders are to get 1.245 Cansortium shares for each RIV share owned. The arb spread closed on 7/19/24 at 105.0%, a level suggesting significant doubt that the deal will be consummated.
- Cansortium/RIV Arb Spread
Valuation Gap Analysis
- The Valuation Gap
- The Valuation Gap measures the difference between the EV/ NTM EBITDA multiple for the largest MSOs and the same multiple for the next smaller group. This measure has been a significant driver of M&A activity since a larger gap creates an opportunity for more accretive transactions.
- The companies used in the large-cap index now include Cresco (CL: CSE), Curaleaf (CURA: CSE), Green Thumb (GTII: CSE), TerrAscend (TSND: TSX), Trulieve (TRUL: CSE), and Verano (VRNO: CSE). The small company index now includes Ascend (AAWH: OTCQX), AYR (AYR.A: CSE), Cannabist (CBST: Cboe), Front (FFNT: CSE), Jushi (JUSHF: OTCQX), and Schwazze (SHWX: OTC).
- The gap decreased by 7bps to 1.55, significantly lower than its 52-week average of 1.94. Following the DEA announcement, it reached a recent peak of 3.55 on April 30. At 1.41, the gap indicates a relatively inhospitable climate for transactions in which Tier 1 MSOs purchase Tier 2 MSOs. We expect the gap to increase, however, as the markets become more comfortable with the timing of 280e relief.
- Cansortium/RIV Arb Spread
- The chart below shows the risk arb spread for the Cansortium/RIV merger announced on May 30, 2024. RIV shareholders are to get 1.245 Cansortium shares for each RIV share owned. The arb spread closed on 7/19/24 at 105.0%, a level suggesting significant doubt that the deal will be consummated.
