Hexo Corp (TSX: HEXO) this morning announced minutes before the opening bell that it is effectively under new management. The firm, in reaching an agreement with activist investor Adam Arviv, has seen its board rejigged, reducing the member count while also announcing a number of replacements.
The new board will be exclusively independent from members of the executive team, with John Bell resigning from his role of Chair of the Board, as well as his role as a director. Also resigning is that of Emilio Imbiglio, Adam Miron, and Scott Cooper, all of which are effective as of today.
Replacing the resigned members are that of Mark Attanasio, whom runs a private investment fund, Rob Godfrey, whom runs a consulting and property management firm, and Helene F Fortin, whom the company provided no background on whatsoever. Attanasio going forward will take the role of Chair of the Board. Arviv also retains the right to nominate an eighth member to the board of directors.
Of the resignations, perhaps the most notable is Adam Miron, whom along with Sebastian St-Louis, co-founder the company in August 2013. In announcing his departure, Miron made a brief Twitter thread wherein he thanked his supporters and stated that he was “incredibly proud” of what the company had built.
1/11 I wanted to share I have resigned from the @HEXO Board of Directors. This is part of the Board refresh announced earlier today, which has my full support. https://t.co/kPBWGY2gcX
— Adam Miron (@adammiron) February 22, 2022
I am incredibly proud of what we have done together at HEXO.
This of course, as Twitter user @BettingBruiser points out, discounts the disaster the public equity has been for long term shareholders of the company, with the company seeing a claimed 98% drawdown from its heights.
“Incredibly Proud”
— Betting Bruiser (@BettingBruiser) February 22, 2022
Your crowning achievement: a 98% drawdown in the stock price
what's not to be proud about? 🙃 😣
You created so many $HEXO bag holders that you should have partnered up with @ziploc instead of @MolsonCoors $HEXO $ZENA $NRTH $HIP #PotStocks https://t.co/qZrFKeOnZX pic.twitter.com/OMeC1ofK3C
Adam,
— Betting Bruiser (@BettingBruiser) February 22, 2022
I’d be ashamed of your performance at $HEXO.
You literally torched $4B+
Rolled up companies that instantly written down $NRTH $ZENA
Lost a @MolsonCoors partnership
Tapped the wage subsidy only to have mass layoffs
You should be apologizing to shareholders #PotStocks https://t.co/qZrFKeOnZX
“We’ll work closely with the management team as they continue to fast-track the Company’s path to becoming a cash flow positive business,” commented Arviv on the development.
While appointed to the board today, the new members will also be approved by shareholders of the company at its next annual and special meeting of shareholders, which is currently scheduled for March 8. Notably, that meeting will also see investors vote on a proposed share consolidation.
Hexo Corp last traded at $0.71 on the TSX.
Information for this briefing was found via Sedar, Twitter and the companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.