Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Equity Method Investments

v3.20.1
Equity Method Investments
12 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2020
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

Our equity method investments are as follows:
 
February 29, 2020
 
February 28, 2019
 
Carrying Value
 
Ownership Percentage
 
Carrying Value
 
Ownership Percentage
(in millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Canopy Equity Method Investment
$
2,911.7

 
35.3
%
 
$
3,332.1

 
36.0
%
Other equity method investments (1)
182.2

 
20%-50%

 
133.5

 
20%-50%

 
$
3,093.9

 
 
 
$
3,465.6

 
 

(1) 
The other equity method investments balance at February 29, 2020, excludes investments reclassified to assets held for sale.

In November 2017, we acquired 18.9 million common shares, which represented a 9.9% ownership interest in Ontario, Canada-based Canopy Growth Corporation (the “November 2017 Canopy Investment”), a public company and leading provider of medicinal and recreational cannabis products (“Canopy”), plus warrants which give us the option to purchase an additional 18.9 million common shares of Canopy (the
“November 2017 Canopy Warrants”) for C$245.0 million, or $191.3 million. The November 2017 Canopy Warrants were issued with an exercise price of C$12.98 per warrant share and are exercisable as of February 29, 2020. These warrants expire in May 2020.

The November 2017 Canopy Investment was accounted for at fair value from the date of investment through October 31, 2018. From November 1, 2018, the November 2017 Canopy Investment has been accounted for under the equity method (see “Canopy Equity Method Investment” below). The November 2017 Canopy Warrants have been accounted for at fair value from the date of investment.

On November 1, 2018, we increased our ownership interest in Canopy by acquiring an additional 104.5 million common shares (the “November 2018 Canopy Investment”) (see Canopy Equity Method Investment below), plus warrants which give us the option to purchase an additional 139.7 million common shares of Canopy (the “November 2018 Canopy Warrants”, and together with the November 2018 Canopy Investment, the “November 2018 Canopy Transaction”) for C$5,078.7 million, or $3,869.9 million.

On November 1, 2018, our ownership interest in Canopy increased to 36.6% which allows us to exercise significant influence, but not control, over Canopy. Therefore, we account for the November 2017 Canopy Investment and the November 2018 Canopy Investment, each of which represents an investment in common shares of Canopy, collectively, under the equity method (the “Canopy Equity Method Investment”). We recognize equity in earnings (losses) and related activities for this investment on a two-month lag. Accordingly, we recognized equity in earnings (losses) and related activities of $(575.9) million for the period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended February 29, 2020, and $(2.6) million for the period November 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018, in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2019. Equity in earnings (losses) from the Canopy Equity Method Investment and related activities for the years ended February 29, 2020, and February 28, 2019, include, among other items, the amortization of the fair value adjustments associated with the definite-lived intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, the flow through of inventory step-up, and unrealized gains (losses) associated with changes in our Canopy ownership percentage resulting from periodic equity issuances made by Canopy. In addition to the items noted above, the year ended February 29, 2020, includes our share of the additional loss resulting from the June 2019 Warrant Modification (as defined below) of $(409.0) million (the “June 2019 Warrant Modification Loss”).

The November 2018 Canopy Warrants originally consisted of 88.5 million warrants (the “Tranche A Warrants”) and 51.2 million warrants (the “Tranche B Warrants”). The Tranche A Warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise price of C$50.40 per warrant share. The Tranche B Warrants were exercisable upon the exercise, in full, of the Tranche A Warrants and at an exercise price based on the volume-weighted average of the closing market price of Canopy’s common shares on the TSX for the five trading days immediately preceding the exercise date. The November 2018 Canopy Warrants originally expired in November 2021 and have been accounted for at fair value from the date of investment.

In June 2019, the Canopy shareholders approved the modification of the terms of the November 2018 Canopy Warrants and certain other rights (the “June 2019 Warrant Modification”), and the other required approvals necessary for the modifications to be effective were granted. These changes are the result of Canopy’s intention to acquire Acreage Holdings, Inc. (“Acreage”) upon U.S. Federal cannabis legalization, subject to certain conditions (the “Acreage Transaction”). As a result of the modifications, we continue to have the option to purchase an additional 139.7 million common shares of Canopy upon exercise of the warrants originally received in November 2018; however, this option now consists of three tranches of warrants, including 88.5 million warrants (the “New Tranche A Warrants”), 38.4 million warrants (the “New Tranche B Warrants”), and 12.8 million warrants (the “New Tranche C Warrants”, and collectively with the New Tranche A Warrants and the New Tranche B Warrants, the “New November 2018 Canopy Warrants”). The New Tranche A Warrants have an exercise price of C$50.40 per warrant share and are currently exercisable, but now expire November 1, 2023. The New Tranche B Warrants now have an exercise price of C$76.68 per warrant share and the New Tranche C Warrants have a VWAP Exercise
Price. The New Tranche B Warrants and the New Tranche C Warrants now have an expiration date of November 1, 2026.

The other rights obtained in June 2019 in connection with the Acreage Transaction include a share repurchase credit and the ability to purchase Canopy common shares on the open market or in private agreement transactions. If for any reason Canopy has not purchased the lesser of 27,378,866 Canopy common shares or C$1,583.0 million worth of Canopy common shares for cancellation between April 18, 2019 and two-years after the full exercise of the New Tranche A Warrants, we will be credited an amount that will reduce the aggregate exercise price otherwise payable upon each exercise of the New Tranche B Warrants and New Tranche C Warrants. The credit will be an amount equal to the difference between the actual price paid by Canopy in purchasing its common shares for cancellation and C$1,583.0 million. If we choose to purchase Canopy common shares on the open market or in private agreement with existing holders, the number of New Tranche B Warrants or New Tranche C Warrants shall be decreased by one for each Canopy common share acquired, up to an aggregate maximum reduction of 20 million warrants. The likelihood of receiving the share repurchase credit if we were to fully exercise the New Tranche A Warrants is remote, therefore, no fair value has been assigned.

The inputs used to estimate the fair value of the New November 2018 Canopy Warrants as of the June 27, 2019 modification date, are as follows:
 
New
Tranche A Warrants (1)
 
New
Tranche B Warrants (1)
Exercise price
C$
50.40

 
C$
76.68

Valuation date stock price
C$
53.36

 
C$
53.36

Remaining contractual term
4.3 years

 
7.3 years

Expected volatility
66.7
%
 
66.7
%
Risk-free interest rate
1.4
%
 
1.4
%
Expected dividend yield
0.0
%
 
0.0
%
(1) 
Refer to Note 7 for input descriptions.
Accordingly, we recognized a $1,176.0 million unrealized gain from unconsolidated investments in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 from the June 2019 Warrant Modification. Approximately $322.5 million of the unrealized gain was associated with the New Tranche A Warrants and $853.5 million was associated with the New Tranche B Warrants. No value was associated with the New Tranche C Warrants as they have a VWAP Exercise Price. As the expiration dates of the New Tranche A Warrants and New Tranche B Warrants were extended, we now utilize a blend of Canopy’s historical volatility, implied volatility, and limited consideration of historical peer group volatility in our valuations to supplement the limited trading history.

Canopy has various convertible equity securities outstanding, including primarily equity awards granted to its employees and options and warrants issued to various third parties, including our November 2017 Canopy Warrants, New November 2018 Canopy Warrants, Canopy Debt Securities, and the Acreage Call Option (as defined below). As of February 29, 2020, the conversion of Canopy equity securities held by its employees and/or held by other third parties, excluding our November 2017 Canopy Warrants, New November 2018 Canopy Warrants, Canopy Debt Securities, and the Acreage Call Option, would not have a significant effect on our share of Canopy’s reported earnings or losses. Additionally, under an amended and restated investor rights agreement, we have the option to purchase additional common shares of Canopy at the then-current price of the underlying equity security to allow us to maintain our relative ownership interest. If we exercised all of our outstanding November 2017 Canopy Warrants and New November 2018 Canopy Warrants, it could have a significant effect on our share of Canopy’s reported earnings or losses and our ownership interest in Canopy would be expected to increase to greater than 50 percent. In connection with the Acreage Transaction, Canopy has a call option to acquire 100% of the shares of Acreage (the “Acreage Call Option”), which would require the issuance of
Canopy shares. If Canopy exercised the Acreage Call Option it could have a significant effect on our share of Canopy’s reported earnings or losses and our ownership interest in Canopy would decrease and no longer be expected to be greater than 50 percent.

As of February 29, 2020, the exercise of all Canopy warrants held by us would have required a cash outflow of approximately $6.0 billion based on the terms of the November 2017 Canopy Warrants and the New November 2018 Canopy Warrants. Additionally, as of February 29, 2020, the fair value of the Canopy Equity Method Investment was $2,316.3 million based on the closing price of the underlying equity security as of that date. When compared to the carrying value of the Canopy Equity Method Investment, this fair value indicates that the investment was impaired by $595.4 million. We have evaluated the Canopy Equity Method Investment as of February 29, 2020, and determined that there was not an other-than-temporary-impairment. Our conclusion was based on several contributing factors, including: (i) the period of time for which the fair value has been less than the carrying value, (ii) an expectation that Canopy’s operating results will improve, (iii) an expectation that the Canopy stock price will recover in the near term, and (iv) our ability and intent to hold the investment until that recovery. We will continue to review the Canopy Equity Method Investment for an other-than-temporary-impairment. There may be a future impairment of our Canopy Equity Method Investment if Canopy’s stock price does not recover in the near term or our expectations about Canopy’s prospective operating results and cash flows decline, which could be influenced by a variety of factors including adverse market conditions and the economic impact of COVID-19.

The following tables present summarized financial information for Canopy presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We recognize our equity in earnings (losses) for Canopy on a two-month lag. Accordingly, we recognized our share of Canopy’s earnings (losses) for the period January through December 2019 in our year ended February 29, 2020 results. We recognized our share of Canopy’s earnings (losses) from November and December 2018, in our year ended February 28, 2019 results. The amounts shown represent 100% of Canopy’s financial position and results of operations, however, they exclude the impact of the June 2019 Warrant Modification Loss from the year ended February 29, 2020 results, as it was recorded by Canopy within equity.
 
February 29, 2020
 
February 28, 2019
(in millions)
 
 
 
Current assets
$
2,232.9

 
$
3,800.7

Noncurrent assets
$
3,751.6

 
$
2,466.0

Current liabilities
$
322.0

 
$
216.8

Noncurrent liabilities
$
867.9

 
$
668.2

Noncontrolling interests
$
210.5

 
$
143.3


 
For the Years Ended
 
February 29, 2020
 
February 28, 2019 (1)
(in millions)
 
 
 
Net sales
$
290.2

 
$
48.6

Gross profit (loss)
$
45.4

 
$
11.2

Net income (loss)
$
(327.0
)
 
$
(39.6
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Canopy
$
(312.6
)
 
$
(27.8
)
(1) 
For the period November 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

Subsequent event
In March 2020, Canopy announced its plans to close two Canadian greenhouse facilities as part of its efforts to align supply and demand while improving production efficiencies over time. In April 2020, Canopy announced its plans to close an additional Canadian greenhouse facility, exit its operations in
Africa, and reduce Latin America and United States cultivation activities. Canopy expects to record an estimated pre-tax loss of approximately C$700 million to C$800 million in their fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 results from the facilities closures as well as other changes related to its organizational and strategic review. We will record our proportional share of Canopy’s estimated pre-tax loss of approximately C$245 million to C$280 million, in our first quarter of fiscal 2021 results.