Etain Receives Regulatory Approval for Flagship Facility in Buffalo, New York

 The Buffalo cultivation and manufacturing facility is expected to be completed by CQ3 2024

Upon completion, Etain's total New York canopy footprint will nearly double 

TORONTO, Aug. 1, 2023 /CNW/ - RIV Capital Inc. ("RIV Capital" or the "Company") (CSE: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF), an acquisition and investment firm with a focus on building a leading multistate platform with one of the strongest portfolios of brands in key strategic U.S. markets, acting through its wholly owned indirect subsidiary RIV Capital US Real Estate LLC ("RIV Real Estate", together with the Company, collectively, "RIV Capital"), and Etain, LLC ("Etain") today announced that the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (the "OCM") has reviewed and approved Etain's request for an additional cultivation and manufacturing facility and a second facility for office space, located in Buffalo, New York (the "Buffalo Facility").

Upon completion, Etain will operate the Buffalo Facility, which will significantly expand its manufacturing and cultivation capabilities. The new facility is expected to focus on the production of premium flower, as Etain shares the Company's expectation that high-quality products and diversified form factors will be key differentiators in building brand and customer loyalty in the burgeoning New York market.

"This is a landmark moment for the team and an important step in positioning Etain as a leading operator with an emphasis on producing premium flower," said Mike Totzke, COO and interim CEO of RIV Capital. "As the cannabis ecosystem evolves, this facility has been strategically designed to address the anticipated surge in demand for premium products with the progressive expansion of the adult-use market throughout the state. We are thrilled to establish ourselves more strongly for the future with this new facility, which will nearly double Etain's New York canopy footprint when commercial operations commence."

As previously announced, RIV Capital's development partner has committed approximately $25.5 million to the development of the facility, and the Company has committed $4.5 million. Any additional capital required to complete the development of the project would be funded by RIV Capital with cash on hand. The Company has entered a 15-year lease with the developer for operation of the Buffalo facility once development is substantially complete and will pay base rent to the developer based on what the Company believes is a favorable cap rate applied to the developer's portion of the project costs.

Completion of the construction and commissioning of the Buffalo Facility is expected to occur by CQ3 2024. The Company will require additional OCM approval prior to the commencement of operations at the Buffalo Facility.

RIV Capital is an acquisition and investment firm with a focus on building a leading multistate platform with one of the strongest portfolios of brands in key strategic U.S. markets. Backed by in-house expertise and cannabis domain knowledge, RIV Capital aims to grow its own brands and partner with established U.S. cannabis operators and brands to bring them to new markets and build market share. RIV Capital established the foundational building blocks of its active U.S.
strategy with its previously announced acquisition of Etain. Through its strategic relationship with The Hawthorne Collective, Inc. ("The Hawthorne Collective"), a subsidiary of ScottsMiracle-Gro, RIV Capital is The Hawthorne Collective's preferred vehicle for cannabis-related investments not under the purview of other ScottsMiracle-Gro subsidiaries.

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of RIV Capital, its portfolio companies, and Etain with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding the timing, availability, and expectations of the regulatory approvals related to the Buffalo Facility; the timing and ability the Company and Etain to commission the Buffalo Facility for operation; RIV Capital's and Etain's expectations regarding the anticipated benefits of the Buffalo Facility, including on Etain's product offerings and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical fact but instead reflects management's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although RIV Capital believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of RIV Capital, its portfolio companies, and/or Etain. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: regulatory and licensing risks; changes in cannabis industry growth and trends; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation, including RIV Capital's interpretation of such regulation; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; divestiture risks; and the risk factors set out in RIV Capital's annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2023 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on RIV Capital's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although RIV Capital has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. RIV Capital does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

SOURCE RIV Capital Inc.