Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Equity Method Investments

v3.21.1
Equity Method Investments
12 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2021
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
Our equity method investments are as follows:
February 28, 2021 February 29, 2020
Carrying Value Ownership Percentage Carrying Value Ownership Percentage
(in millions)
Canopy Equity Method Investment $ 2,578.8  38.1  % $ 2,911.7  35.3  %
Other equity method investments (1)
209.6 
20%-50%
182.2 
20%-50%
$ 2,788.4  $ 3,093.9 
(1)The other equity method investments balance at February 29, 2020, excludes investments reclassified to assets held for sale.

Canopy Equity Method Investment
In November 2017, we acquired 18.9 million common shares, which represented a 9.9% ownership interest in Canopy, an Ontario, Canada-based public company and leading provider of medicinal and recreational cannabis products, plus warrants which gave us the option to purchase an additional 18.9 million common shares of Canopy. 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. The November 2017 Canopy Warrants were accounted for at fair value from the date of investment through April 30, 2020. See “May 2020 Canopy Investment” and “Canopy Equity Method Investment” below.

In November 2018, we increased our ownership interest in Canopy by acquiring an additional 104.5 million common shares (see “Canopy Equity Method Investment” below), plus warrants which give us the option to purchase an additional 139.7 million common shares of Canopy 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 allowed us to exercise significant influence, but not control, over Canopy.

In May 2020, we exercised the November 2017 Canopy Warrants at an exercise price of C$12.98 per warrant share for C$245.0 million, or $173.9 million. The May 2020 Canopy Investment increased our ownership interest in Canopy to 38.6% upon exercise. We entered into foreign currency forward contracts to fix the U.S. dollar cost of the May 2020 Canopy Investment. For the year ended February 28, 2021, we recognized net losses on the foreign currency forward contracts of $7.5 million, in selling, general, and administrative expenses within our consolidated results of operations. The payment at maturity of the derivative instruments is reported as cash flows from investing activities in investments in equity method investees and securities for the year ended February 28, 2021.

We account for the November 2017 Canopy Investment, the November 2018 Canopy Investment, and the May 2020 Canopy Investment, each of which represents an investment in common shares of Canopy, collectively, under the equity method. Equity in earnings (losses) from the Canopy Equity Method Investment and related activities (see table below) include, among other items, restructuring and other strategic business development
costs, 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, unrealized gains (losses) associated with changes in our Canopy ownership percentage resulting from periodic equity issuances made by Canopy, and our share of Canopy’s additional loss resulting from the June 2019 Warrant Modification of $409.0 million.

Amounts included in our consolidated results of operations for each period are as follows:
For the Years Ended
February 28,
2021
February 29,
2020
February 28,
2019
(in millions)
Equity in earnings (losses) from Canopy and related activities $ (679.0) $ (575.9) $ (2.6)

In June 2019, the Canopy shareholders approved the modification of the terms of the warrants originally obtained in November 2018 and certain other rights, and the other required approvals necessary for the modifications to be effective were granted. The November 2018 Canopy Warrants now consist of three tranches of warrants, including 88.5 million Tranche A Warrants expiring November 1, 2023 which are currently exercisable, 38.4 million Tranche B Warrants expiring November 1, 2026, and 12.8 million Tranche C Warrants expiring November 1, 2026. These changes are the result of Canopy’s intention to acquire Acreage upon U.S. federal cannabis legalization, subject to certain conditions. In connection with the Acreage Transaction, Canopy had a call option to acquire 100% of the shares of Acreage.

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 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 Tranche A Warrants, we will be credited an amount that will reduce the aggregate exercise price otherwise payable upon each exercise of the Tranche B Warrants and Tranche C Warrants. The credit will be an amount equal to the difference between C$1,583.0 million and the actual price paid by Canopy in purchasing its common shares for cancellation. If we choose to purchase Canopy common shares on the open market or in private agreement with existing holders, the number of Tranche B Warrants or 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 Tranche A Warrants is remote, therefore, no fair value has been assigned.

The inputs used to estimate the fair value of the November 2018 Canopy Warrants as of the June 27, 2019 modification date, were as follows:
Tranche A Warrants (1)
Tranche B Warrants (1)
Exercise price $ 50.40  $ 76.68 
Valuation date stock price $ 53.36  $ 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 within our consolidated results of operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 from the June 2019 Warrant Modification. Approximately $322.5 million of the unrealized gain was associated with the Tranche A Warrants and $853.5 million was associated with the Tranche B Warrants. No value was associated with the Tranche C Warrants as they have a VWAP Exercise Price.
In September 2020, the Acreage shareholders approved the modification of the Acreage Transaction and related Acreage Financial Instrument, and the other required regulatory approvals necessary for the modification to be effective were granted. The New Acreage Agreement reduces (i) the ratio of Canopy shares required to be exchanged for Acreage shares upon U.S. federal cannabis legalization and (ii) the number of Acreage shares subject to the fixed exchange ratio from 100% to 70%, calculated as a percentage of Acreage’s issued and outstanding shares. The remaining 30% of Acreage shares will be subject to a floating exchange ratio and Canopy, at its sole discretion, will have the option to acquire these shares with Canopy shares, cash, or a combination thereof.

In February 2021, Canopy sold its ownership interest in RIV Capital in exchange for (i) exchangeable shares, warrants, and debt in TerrAscend Corp., (ii) shares in Les Serres Vert Cannabis Inc., and (iii) the termination of a royalty agreement with The Tweed Tree Lot Inc. As additional consideration for the assets being transferred and termination of the royalty agreement, Canopy made a cash payment of C$115 million and issued 3,647,902 Canopy shares. The RIV Capital Divestiture has a minor dilutive impact on our ownership interest in Canopy which we will reflect in our first quarter of fiscal 2022 results.

Canopy has various equity and convertible debt securities outstanding, including primarily equity awards granted to its employees, and options and warrants issued to various third parties, including our November 2018 Canopy Warrants, Canopy Debt Securities, and the New Acreage Financial Instrument. As of February 28, 2021, the conversion of Canopy equity securities held by its employees and/or held by other third parties, excluding our November 2018 Canopy Warrants, Canopy Debt Securities, and the New Acreage Financial Instrument, 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 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%. If Canopy exercised the New Acreage Financial Instrument, which would require the issuance of Canopy shares, 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%.

As of February 28, 2021, the exercise of all Canopy warrants held by us would have required a cash outflow of approximately $6.3 billion based on the terms of the November 2018 Canopy Warrants. Additionally, as of February 28, 2021, the fair value of the Canopy Equity Method Investment was $4,679.3 million based on the closing price of the underlying equity security as of that date.

The following tables present summarized financial information for Canopy prepared 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 periods (i) January through December 2020 in our year ended February 28, 2021 results, (ii) January through December 2019 in our year ended February 29, 2020, results, and (iii) 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, for the respective periods, however, the results of operations for the year ended February 29, 2020, exclude the impact of the June 2019 Warrant Modification Loss because it was recorded by Canopy within equity. The year ended February 28, 2021, includes costs designed to improve Canopy’s organizational focus, streamline operations, and align production capability with projected demand.
February 28, 2021 February 29, 2020
(in millions)
Current assets $ 1,706.6  $ 2,232.9 
Noncurrent assets $ 3,251.5  $ 3,751.6 
Current liabilities $ 273.7  $ 322.0 
Noncurrent liabilities $ 1,308.8  $ 867.9 
Noncontrolling interests $ 179.0  $ 210.5 
For the Years Ended
February 28, 2021 February 29, 2020
February 28, 2019 (1)
(in millions)
Net sales $ 378.6  $ 290.2  $ 48.6 
Gross profit (loss) $ (14.1) $ 45.4  $ 11.2 
Net income (loss) $ (1,775.3) $ (327.0) $ (39.6)
Net income (loss) attributable to Canopy $ (1,750.0) $ (312.6) $ (27.8)
(1)For the period November 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

Other equity method investment
Booker Vineyard
In April 2020, we invested in My Favorite Neighbor, LLC, also known as Booker Vineyard, a super-luxury, direct-to-consumer focused wine business which we account for under the equity method. We recognize our share of their equity in earnings (losses) in our consolidated financial statements in the Wine and Spirits segment.