Sundial Growers Inc

NASDAQ:SNDL

Earnings Call Analysis

Earnings Call Transcript 2023-Q3

[Operator]

Good morning, and welcome to SNDL's Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results Conference Call. This morning, SNDL issued a press release announcing their financial results for the third quarter ended on September 30, 2023. This press release is available on the company's website at sndl.com and filed on EDGAR and SEDAR as well. The webcast replay of the conference call will also be available on the sndlgroup.com website. SNDL has also posted a supplemental investor presentation on its website.

Presenting on this morning's call, we have Zach George, Chief Executive Officer; Alberto Paredero, Chief Financial Officer; Tank Vander, President, Liquor Retail; and Tyler Robson, President Cannabis.

Before we start, I would like to remind investors that certain matters discussed in today's conference call or answers that may be given to questions could constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. Risk factors that could affect results are detailed in the company's financial reports and other public filings that are made available on SEDAR and EDGAR.

Additionally, all financial figures mentioned are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. We will now make prepared remarks, and then we'll move on to analyst questions.

I will now turn the call over to Zach George.

[Zachary George, executive]

Good morning all, and thank you for joining us on our Third Quarter 2023 [ Financial ] and Operational Results Conference Call.

I want to begin by acknowledging an important milestone for the SNDL team as this is the first quarter since inception that we have generated both positive [ net ] cash from operating activities and free cash flow. This milestone is a testament to the dedication of our team in driving positive change and the resilience and adaptability of our business segments. We are building the foundation of an important regulated products company with international potential that does not have a close peer in Canada. We are finding attractive opportunities for operational improvement in an industry where capital is scarce and many competitors are [ starfruity ] amidst price compression driven by persistent oversupply and over licensing. Our goals are a far [ clearer ] than we are today. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are making tremendous progress against the challenging macro backdrop.

Although much of our regulated product business has shown recession resistance, we take nothing for granted given the likely duration of the current rate environment and are aggressively seeking efficiencies to improve profitability. SNDL has equipped itself with the flexibility to navigate market uncertainties and preserve our growth trajectory. Our platform structure creates strategic optionality and our debt-free balance sheet helps us focus on delighting consumers without the burden of material cash interest obligations. Tank will provide further color on the liquor retail segment, but I wanted to highlight some key initiatives that we have recently undertaken.

We recently finalized the structure of our liquor retail data program, and we expect to see results in the first quarter of 2024. Its launch is expected to strengthen our supplier partnerships, its revenue and contribute to margin expansion within our liquor retail segment. In the third quarter of 2023, SNDL's cannabis retail segment demonstrated substantial growth and operational progress. Net revenues saw 14% increase compared to Q3 2022, marking a record for the segment since the company's diversification into cannabis retail in 2021. Enhancements to our proprietary data licensing program significantly contributed to the success. With revenues clientele $4 million in the third quarter, a significant increase over the previous year's $1.4 million and up 50% from the preceding quarter. We are committed to refining our cannabis retail operations, enhancing partnerships and delivering superior products to consumers. This strategy includes expansion into markets where our presence is currently limited to reinforce SNDL's position as a leading cannabis retailer in Canada.

We've taken significant strides in our cannabis operations segment to streamline operations and reduce costs. [ Facilitation ] of our facility footprint and procurement processes sets the stage for significant financial improvements and further demonstrates our commitment to operational excellence. Our President, Tyler, will provide further details on our cannabis operations shortly.

As of the end of Q3 2023, SNDL's financial position in Canadian dollars included CAD 785 million in unrestricted cash, marketable securities and long-term investments. Our robust liquidity profile stands in contrast to our market capitalization of approximately $500 million, a figure that we believe does not fully reflect the intrinsic value of our enterprise. Said another way, the market is currently ascribing a materially negative value to expanding operating segments. These segments are positioned with the potential to yield more than $1 billion in annual revenue, underscoring our perspective that SNDL remains undervalued in the marketplace. In a climate where managing cost is more crucial than ever our ability to streamline our investment portfolio by divesting of equity securities and certain credit exposures is integral to our strategy. As of the close of Q3 2023, SNBL had deployed capital into credit investments with a carrying value of $583.2 million. The lion's share of this value, approximately $550.5 million has been committed to the SunStream Bancorp joint venture. SunStream is a joint venture sponsored by SNDL and has directed the formation of SunStream USA with the aim of restructuring certain SunStream controlled loans. This development is poised to create a dedicated U.S. platform designed to attract independent third-party investors offering independent management and governance. Most importantly, the structure of SunStream USA is set to undergo a review by NASDAQ, aligning with all U.S. compliance and governance standards.

Since acquiring Valens in January of 2023, the company has realized approximately $22 million in annualized savings, exceeding our initial target of $10 million. 2023 alone, we achieved cost savings of approximately $18 million. These savings have largely been driven by a reduction in SG&A expenses, supply chain consolidation and enhanced operational efficiencies.

Looking ahead to 2024, we anticipate that run rate synergies will surpass $40 million annually, with expected proceeds from asset sales potentially contributing more than $9 million in additional cash proceeds. Investors may not realize that as we start 2024, none of the assets that SNDL D held just over 3 years ago, following its deep financial restructuring and flotation with CCAA will be in operation. SNDL's leadership has driven a 100% complete transformation of a business that continues to evolve and change. This is not the team to underestimate. SNDL's performance metrics from the third quarter provide a clear affirmation of our strategy. Our confidence is in increasing, and we are building a culture focused on accountability and performance. Our commitment to the consistent delivery of well-priced, high-quality products and superior retail experiences has never been stronger. We are excited to continue to update investors on our performance as we work to deliver strong fundamental unadjusted results. Once again, I thank you for your continued support of SNDL.

I will pass the call to Alberto to provide further details on our financial results.

[Alberto Paredero-Quiros, executive]

Thank you, Zack. I have to remind you all that amounts discussed today are denominated in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. Please note that certain amounts referred to on this call our non-GAAP and non-IFRS measures. Definitions of these measures, please refer to SNDL's management discussion and analysis documents.

As we dive into our financials, it is great to report that for the time in our history, we have reached positive free cash flow in the quarter. To be precise, in Q3 2023, we achieved $16.5 million of positive free cash flow compared to negative $67.1 million in Q3 2022. Our cash flow from operations grew $27.5 million in Q3 2023, up from $8.6 million in Q3 2022. Achieving this cash flow milestones is a clear indicator of our operational improvements and reinforces focus on our strategic initiatives as a path to deliver a much higher ambition in the future.

Our unrestricted cash balance tells a similar story of growth from $185.5 million at June 30, 2023 to $202 million at September 30, 2023. This increase in spend above our targeted efforts to optimize operational efficiency, particularly in working capital. Revenue growth remains steady, registering at $237.6 million for this quarter, up 3.1% increase from Q3 2022. Our reported gross margin revealed a slight decrease to $48.6 million in Q3 2023, down 3.4% from the same period last year. While we're seeing operational improvements, the reported gross margin has been impacted this last quarter by noncash inventory impairment charges, to a large extent, triggered by our efforts to simplify our portfolio and operations. For perspective, if we were to exclude the impact of inventory impairments and [ operational ] charges in Q3 2023 and Q3 2022, our gross margin would have grown over 20% year-on-year.

In terms of adjusted EBITDA, we achieved $16.1 million for the quarter, slightly down from the Q3 2022 results of $18.3 million. As better gross profit in 2023 has been offset by higher sales and marketing and G&A expenses in 2023 and higher investment segment income in 2022. I will let Tyler provide more details on the Q3 '23 results for the Liquor Cannabis operations segment, but I would like to comment about the results for our cannabis retail segment.

Revenues for the segment have reached $75.5 million, which is 14.1% growth from Q3 2022. This record high revenue for the Cannabis Retail segment was supported by a healthy increase in same-store sales of 3.9% year-over-year across all banks as well as opening of new stores. Gross margin reached $20 million in Q3 2023, a 38% growth versus the same period last year. As a percentage of net revenue, gross margin expanded from 21.9% in Q3 2022 to [ 23.5% ] in Q3 2023, an improvement of 4.6 percentage points driven by continuous efficiency improvements and expansion of our property tariff data license in Poland. This data program delivered revenue for the third quarter of 2023 or [ $4 million ] compared to $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2022. This represents an increase of 54% versus the second quarter of 2023, showcasing the success of the program optimization introduced earlier in the year.

Finally, looking at our investments and equity positions in Q3 2023. At the end of the third quarter of 2023, the company had deployed capital into Canada's related credit investments with a current value of $583 million, including $550 million through the SunStream joint venture. The revenue generated by our investment portfolio in the third quarter stands at $10 million. This is mainly attributed to interest and fee venues of $3.3 million in addition to a $6.6 million increase in the estimated fair value of our U.S. credit investments. The company's financial health is strong. supported by [ $700 million ] in our restricted cash, marketable securities and investments, leading to a net book value of $1.3 billion. It is also important to highlight that not raised any cash to share offerings since June 2021. And to date, the company has no debt.

SNDL's Board of Directors approved extending the company's share repurchase program, November 20, 2024. The company's share repurchase program continue to be available to lower our outstanding share flow. Management will continue to assess opportunities to utilize the program to the extent we believe it is in the best interest of our shareholders. For the 3 months ended September 30, 2023, the company did not purchase common shares for cancellation. We also remain deeply committed to regulatory intelligence and compliance. Our dedication to pay an excise taxes on time reflects our strong focus on responsible business practices. So far this year, we have already paid $35.6 million in [ excess ] taxes. Since the company's inception, we have paid a total of [ $80 million ]. Even though this [ high-protection ] levels create obvious challenges in the Cannabis sector, we believe in admitting our financial applications is a central for responsible business conduct and positive impact in communities we are part of.

In summary, our results this quarter represents another solid step towards the execution of our business strategy, our [ third ] financial rigor and continuous improvement as well as the relentless passion and dedication of our nearly 3,000 employees. While we're pleased with the progress we have made, we're setting our targets on much bigger goals. As we're working on several initiatives to generate additional growth, further solidified our operational efficiency and improve our financial rigor. I'm confident that through these initiatives under and determination of our organization, our future is bright.

I will now pass the call to Tank to provide an update on our liquor results.

[Tank Vander, executive]

Thank you, Alberto. Our liquor retail results this quarter reflects successful margin growth initiatives, which are not only delivering their intended results, but also guiding our strategy for future innovations and expansions. Our retail footprint remain stable with 170 locations primarily in Alberta and 1 store in British Columbia. Same-store sales have remained steady year-over-year across all liquor banners. We are in the process of finalizing a new Wine and Beyond store in [ Calgary ], Alberta, which is located in one of Alberta's fastest-growing municipalities. This new store is projected to generate approximately in $7.6 million annualized sales in the first year, emphasizing the success of the banner's destination shopping approach. It is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2024. Despite economic headwinds, our quarterly revenues stood strong at $152 million with stable basket value and customer count despite a downturn in national retail spending. In response to consumer spending trends and macroeconomic factors, we continue to optimize our operations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers by prioritizing value quality and digital experiences. This approach has not only maintained our stability, but also driven growth in key metrics, which is reflected in our year-over-year and sequential margin growth. Our gross margin reached $37.3 million, representing 24.5% of our sales in Q3 2023. This is a meaningful improvement compared to Q3 2022, where gross margin was $35.6 million or 23.3% of sales. The 4.8% gross margin growth is mainly driven by procurement productivity, product mix management initiatives and the success of our private label program.

Private label sales, a significant driver of gross margin growth increased 33% compared to Q3 2022 and 7% sequentially. The Private label as a percentage of sales increased from 7.3% of sales to 9.7% from the comparative period in the year prior and representing growth of over $3.5 million.

To further capitalize on the success of our private label program, we are currently developing a private label for wine with plans to launch in the first quarter of 2024. Our private label will feature various wine [ varietals ] from different regions, showcasing notable winemakers at accessible prices. This initiative is designed to build on our margin growth strategies and continue to drive differentiation through SNDL's liquor retail banners.

Looking to new initiatives, we are pleased to announce we have built out the framework for our proprietary data licensing program. We have paid reporting initial revenue in Q1 2024 and scaling this program through the upcoming year. This will not only support all our stakeholders but also boost our efforts to increase profits. In September, SNDL launched an e-commerce platform for its liquor real banner Wine and Beyond. The company observed a 121% increase in the average online basket spend compared to in-store purchases during the initial 4 weeks post launch, highlighting the significant basket growth opportunity through e-commerce. The current site supports click and collect. However, we are currently looking into different options to enhance customer conversion and accessibility. We anticipate strong results in the seasonally busy Q4 and look forward to observing how the e-commerce platform further drive sales during this key period. We remain committed to achieving continuous and incremental growth throughout 2023. Our focus remains on expanding our customer reach and exceptional product offerings to ensure we created tailored in-store and digital experiences.

Thank you, and I will now turn the call over to Tyler to cover our cannabis operations segment.

[Tyler Robson, executive]

Thank you, Tank. In Q3, we have implemented significant strategic initiatives to strengthen our cannabis segment. This included the centralization of all production manufacturing, processing and testing activities to Kelowna. Following the quarter end, we saw the streamlining of all cultivation activities at our facility in [ Ativan ]. We have also completed the bulk of our portfolio rationale that to focus on top-performing SKUs and make way for innovation, including 41 new offerings this past quarter. These pivotal maneuver our position to drive top line growth and set us on the course to achieve profitability within cannabis operating segment.

This quarter, our cannabis segment generated $21 million net revenue marking a healthy 77% increase from the same period in 2022. This substantial growth is primarily attributed to the acquisition of Valens. Gross margin for the quarter was negative [ $8.7 million ] compared to $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2022, largely due to inventory impairment associated with the company's strategic changes at all. This quarter's outcome reflects the impact of our facility footprint reorganization, causing material constraints in our adult recreation segment. This was a transitional phase essential for operational and financial efficiency. These vital steps lay the groundwork to achieve positive cash flow and expand margins in the cannabis segment. I'm happy to report the majority of these [ trains ] are now behind us. SNDL expects by optimizing its facility footprint to result in over $10 million in annual savings from its cannabis operations segment through reduced fixed overhead power cost, labor efficiencies.

Moving our cultivation to [ Aptiv ] has cut our production costs per gram by nearly 80% compared to the old facility, which will materially increase our margin moving forward. The team in [ Aptiv ] has also made immense improvements in both yield and average [ PHC ], which we expect to continue those improvements through 2024. With our facility reorganization in place, we are prepared to scale capacity and drive stability in key categories to increase total revenue in forthcoming quarters. Following this heavy lift, we can better focus on product growth. Looking to product innovation. In Q3, SNDL optimized brand portfolio by [ train ] nearly 50% of its total offerings across all brands. This [ tax ] move enables us to be hyper focused on high-performance fees. Key consumer categories in meeting market innovations, focusing on depth versus breadth. The primary goal of the portfolio rationalization is to enhance revenue and margin growth, elevating the profitability of the cannabis operations segment and capturing increased market share.

Through a rigorous tightening of our demand planning processes and a substantial increase in production capacity in the coming quarters, we are well positioned to fully leverage our vertical integration platform. Finally, to provide an update on our international and B2B opportunities. Our B2B segment is healthy. We are already exceeding our targets for Q4. We are focused on a fewer, bigger, better approach for our B2B partnerships to ensure we deliver exceptional and consistent quality to our partners. This refined focus empowers us to scale with our most reliable partners while not compromising [ total out ]. We are committed to expanding inter assets, looking to emerging markets like the U.K. and Germany, where we see growth opportunities potentially matching or exceeding our domestic B2B opportunities. We are confident that the decisive strategic measures we have implemented will firmly establish our cannabis segment growth and sustain profitability in the quarters ahead. Our streamlined operations with our robust production capabilities, deep consumer insights and cost-effective operating platform, by [ Place Essent ] and all in a strong position to realize our objectives in 2024 and beyond.

I will now pass the call back to Zach for closing remarks.

[Zachary George, executive]

Reflecting on the past quarter, I want to acknowledge the dedication and effort of my colleagues that has been an essential progress. We know that considerable work light ahead as we strive towards realizing sustainable free cash flow and increase shareholder value. Our strong balance sheet and improved operations set us apart in a competitive market, enabling SNDL to focus on long-term strategic growth rather than short-term fixes or aspirational claims. I want to thank our team for their commitment and our shareholders for their trust and support. Thank you.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions]. Our first question comes from Frederico Gomes of ATB Capital Markets.

[Frederico Yokota Gomes, analyst]

Congrats on the free cash flow generation this quarter. My first question is on your liquor retail segment. So obviously, very strong margins in the segment this quarter. And you mentioned sales mix, procurement, the private label program. I'm curious, do you think you have a lot of material, I guess, efficiency to be achieved from those 3 areas going forward that could support even higher margins. And then to that point as well on the data licensing program that you're launching next year, what impact could that have in those margins going forward, just taking as a base of your cannabis retail segment. and that seems very substantial. So just curious on the magnitude of that data licensing program for legal retail.

[Zachary George, executive]

Hi, [ Brian ], thanks for the question. We are really heads down right now in the midst of our 2024 budgeting process. So we're not going to give too much detail on guidance for individual programs. But I would say that when it comes to liquor segment, we are seeking margin improvement north of 100 basis points. And we'll be able to get more granular on that as we finalize our process and have our 2024 budgets approved by our Board.

[Frederico Yokota Gomes, analyst]

Perfect. Looking at your, I guess, your U.S. investment and exposure and just thinking about how -- have that news about the potential risk of cannabis. So just curious how does that impact your strategy in that market and your bit to [ allocate ] more capital there?

[Zachary George, executive]

That's a great question. In terms of the impact of rescheduling, it will have a material impact on the free cash flow being generated by those entities. But in terms of our willingness to deploy more capital, we've got a lot on our plate right now, and we're really focused on ensuring that we're bringing efficiencies and optimizing current operations. We're also cognizant of the cash on our balance sheet. So I would never say never. But we have a lot of work to do in terms of what's on our plate today.

[Frederico Yokota Gomes, analyst]

And then finally, just the last one for me. The sensing is U.S.A. structure. Is that already being under review by the NASDAQ? Or how long do you think that process could take? And then meanwhile, while that's not complete, does that have any impact on your day-to-day operations of the parallel and [ outside your ] assets?

[Zachary George, executive]

So all of my comments here are going to be subject to review and support by NASDAQ. We've stated publicly that we expect these transactions while the restructuring terms have been completed, there are still a few minor conditions precedent. And both license transfer and exchange approvals that are required. So we believe that we'll be able to bring this to resolution sometime in Q1. And we don't expect that process to have any material negative impact in terms of the operations. Both businesses are being transformed currently. And a lot of progress has been made to improve their operations.

[Operator]

Our next question comes from [ Juan Kang ] of Canaccord Genuity.

[Unknown Attendee]

This is [ Dylan King ] on behalf of [ Madame ]. I wanted to ask about the $11 million charge under corporate operations under consolidated net revenues. Could you provide more color or granularity behind what was in relation to that charge in terms of which business operations it was related to? And what specific events happened throughout the quarter that led to this.

[Zachary George, executive]

Alberto, do you want to take this one?

[Alberto Paredero-Quiros, executive]

Yes, absolutely. Thank you for the question, Dale. So actually, the charge is related to the revenue that we have in our cannabis operations and cannabis retail, where there is an overlap between the 2 of them. We just noticed as we were stepping into the third quarter that the size of those revenues being produced in cannabis operations that end up being as well sold in our retail business after they go through the provincial boards was [ paying ] in size as we expand in our business. And as we certain level of materiality, we decided to start eliminating that intercompany, we could call it intercompany double count of revenue. So this is the first quarter that we're doing that entry. We will continue doing it going forward. And we have provided as well in our financial statements at table that shows by how much would be the amounts that we have adjusted as well for Q1, Q2 of this year. And as I said, it's purely related to the volumes and the revenue that goes through our cannabis [ ratio ] segment that end up being as well sold through our cannabis retail segment after they go through the Boards.

[Tamy Chen, analyst]

Got it. And just to add on to that, same under cannabis operations segment and specifically related to the asset rising initiatives and other operational efficiency initiatives that you guys have been implementing there. Gross margins seem to be continuing to remain in a negative territory up until Q3. But with now all of these initiatives kind of being completed, could we expect these margins to show improvement going forward in Q4 and into 2024?

[Zachary George, executive]

Yes. So you're still seeing the impact of biomass revaluations. And with the rationalize bar cultivation and processing footprint, we're expecting to be in a position to have those reduced materially, if not eliminated in 2024. And so we'll still likely see some noise impact our Q4 results. But we're trying to leave as much of that noise behind in 2023 and are looking forward to a much -- presenting a much cleaner view on operations in 2024.

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions]. Our next question comes from Pablo Zuanic of Zenec Associates.

[Unknown Attendee]

Just first on the liquor segment, Zack. When you look at some of your Canadian LP peers, one of them has been very acquisitive in the U.S., right, in terms of buying beer brands and liquid assets. As you continue to build the liquor business, I understand right now, it's retail but now you're going to start producing your own wine, it seems or buying, I suppose, for the private label would be -- with buying beer brands outside or line brands outside of Canada or in Canada be part of the strategy as you grow that business?

[Zachary George, executive]

Good morning, Pablo, and thanks for the question. Look, it's a possibility if we were outside of Canada given [ Tide House ] and other regulations that would restrict us from doing so inside of Canada. But we're very focused on owning the consumer and creating strong retail experiences. And so there's nothing on our [ unprecedented plan ] today that would suggest that we're taking a hard look at acquiring liquor brands in the U.S. or abroad.

[Unknown Attendee]

Okay. And then just moving on to cannabis operations, right? You're talking about becoming a major player. Obviously, you have the balance sheet to do so. I don't know if you want to give an update in the need to scale up the [ RB ] M&A. I couldn't tell from the filings where you still own the stake in Village Farms. But outside of [ EFF ], I mean, it's just to me that you need to scale up, especially if you're thinking about trying to become a relevant player in international. Any comments on that?

[Zachary George, executive]

Yes, it's a great question. I think the long-term requirements for SNDL in terms of ownership or contracting to acquire quality, reasonable [ biomass ] is still somewhat up in the air. You see a lot of volatility in the Canadian market. Price compression has made procurement a very attractive opportunity for us. we're certainly committed to eliminating any exposure to high-cost cultivation. And may look at other opportunities. We have disclosed that we've exited all of our material equity investments, but we will continue to look at strong low-cost, high-quality producers for potential opportunities in the future.

[Unknown Attendee]

Got it. And then just one last one in terms of SunStream USA. If I hear right, I think you mentioned that SunStream sponsored by SNDL. But I mean, obviously, SNDL still owns 50% of SunStream, right? So the question would be, I guess, the $550.5 million, how many are in assets that you're taking ownership of, right? It's parallel and [ Skayman ], but not all of the portfolio you are equitizing, I suppose.

And if you can give some color there, that would be helpful in terms of $550.5 million. But more important than that, if in the end, when we look at how can you growth has gone back and forth in terms of their own plans to -- for cannabis USA, if in the end, you hit a wall in terms of trying to be NASDAQ-listed, equitizing those assets and having them in your books, would you consider just selling them to comply with the NASDAQ rules?

[Zachary George, executive]

Thanks, Pablo. Obviously, we're all working through an environment that is not a seller's market, okay? So let's just start with that. regardless of the scenario. But in this case, we are highly confident we have -- we have very reputable counsel that has worked on these issues with NASDAQ and sought and received approval under similar structures. I just want to remind you and the audience that our SunStream joint venture is structured such that SNDL as required, does not engage in any plant touching activities in the United States. And we are a noncontrol participant in SunStream. So think of it as a conventional sort of GP LP, general partner, limited partner arrangement, where both SAP and SNDL or owners of the general partnership, but SNDL is the sole LP in that scenario.

And so we report based on a structure that would be similar to any alternative credit portfolio that you would see in the marketplace. And for that reason, we haven't broken out a ton of detail on individual positions. If you look at the filings that are available in the U.S., you'll see that of that total balance, which, again, has also been adjusted for fair market value where we have written it down. Over half of that balance would be dedicated to positions that are going through equitization processes. And as you actually point out, we will likely see resolution in the other cases where we have large principal balances that should be coming back to us over the next 4 months. Some of these things are amortizing principal back to us today. So that would be a sort of cash for us in the future. And we don't really -- we don't see a scenario where we aren't able to get this done. I would just point to some of the differences between your reference to Canopy. The types of businesses that Canopy is acquiring is very different than the exposure that we have, right? So if you take [ SunStream ] in parallel, for example, these are 2 ones in SSO, one's an MSO, both started their live as vertically integrated operators. So not the same as tackling a product brand or producer in vape or edible categories, which has been a focus for Canopy as well. So the path is one that had been well trodden, and we believe that we will have all the requisite support and consent from regulators and that would include our exchange NASDAQ. So again, look forward to wrapping this up and closing in Q1, but we still have some wood to chop and a few more steps to take to close these transactions and finalize support from the NASDAQ.

[Unknown Attendee]

That's very helpful. Good color there. If I may, I'm going to add one in terms of Nova. I mean the outside it keeps on being extended, but obviously, as [ motor ] regulatory issue and the parties have agreed to do the deal, right? But is this more about you being implanting in Canada and now owning a retail chain. Is that the issue? And how do you want to deal with that? That's the last one.

[Alberto Paredero-Quiros, executive]

Pablo, it's a great question. Look, in terms of both parties, our tolerance for further delays is reaching its limits anyone who studies this industry or operates within it, understands just how [ fitting ] in the state by state and province by province, the regulatory ground game can be. So we're not going to make additional comments at this time, but we are looking forward to updating investors in the near future.

[Operator]

This concludes the question-and-answer session. I would like to turn the conference back over to Zach for any closing remarks.

[Zachary George, executive]

Thanks all for attending our third quarter conference call. Look forward to updating you in the future. Thanks.

[Operator]

This concludes today's conference call. You may disconnect your lines. Thank you for participating, and have a pleasant day.