SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIP), the first and only real estate company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IIPR) focused on the regulated U.S. cannabis industry, announced today that it closed on the acquisition of a property in Ohio, which comprises approximately 50,000 square feet of industrial space in the aggregate.
The purchase price for the property was approximately $10.6 million in total (excluding transaction costs). Concurrent with the closing of the purchase, IIP entered into a long-term, triple-net lease agreement for the property with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cresco Labs Inc. (Cresco), which intends to continue to operate the property as a regulated cannabis cultivation and processing facility. Cresco is expected to complete additional tenant improvements for the property, for which IIP has agreed to provide reimbursement of up to approximately $1.9 million. Assuming full reimbursement for the tenant improvements, IIP’s total investment in the property will be approximately $12.5 million.
This sale-leaseback transaction mark IIP’s third acquisition and lease with Cresco, with prior IIP acquisitions and leases for two of Cresco’s licensed cannabis cultivation and processing facilities in Illinois.
As the pioneering real estate investment trust (REIT) for the medical-use cannabis industry, IIP partners with experienced medical-use cannabis operators and serves as a source of capital by acquiring and leasing back their real estate assets, in addition to offering other creative real estate-based capital solutions.
“We are excited to expand our real estate partnership with Cresco and its strong management team,” said Paul Smithers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. “Cresco continues to execute well on its business plan and has created a truly nationwide reach in its operations, benefiting patients and consumers across the United States, while creating jobs and contributing meaningfully to the local communities where they operate. We are thrilled to partner with them again in Ohio, a state that we believe represents a tremendous market opportunity, where Cresco can bring its high quality, trusted products to patients in need.”
Founded in 2013, Cresco is one of the largest vertically-integrated cannabis companies in the United States, with licensed operations in eleven states. With its pending acquisitions, Cresco has 18 licensed cannabis production facilities, 31 retail cannabis licenses and 21 operational cannabis dispensaries. Employing a consumer-packaged goods (“CPG”) approach to cannabis, Cresco’s house of brands is designed to meet the needs of all consumer segments and includes some of the most recognized and trusted national brands including Cresco, Remedi and Mindy’s, a line of edibles created by James Beard Award-winning chef Mindy Segal. Sunnyside*, Cresco’s national dispensary brand, is a wellness-focused retailer designed to build trust, education and convenience for both existing and new cannabis consumers.
“Teaming again with IIP as our long-term real estate partner enables us to further bolster our balance sheet, and redeploy that additional liquidity into higher yielding opportunities,” said Joe Caltabiano, President and Co-Founder of Cresco. “We are thrilled with the footprint we have established, and look forward to deepening even further our presence in those states, with IIP as one of our trusted capital providers.”
Ohio’s licensed medical cannabis program is in its early stages, with first sales occurring at the beginning of this year. In less than one year of sales, however, there were nearly 80,000 patients and over 8,000 caregivers registered under the program as of the end of December.
About Innovative Industrial Properties
Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. is a self-advised Maryland corporation focused on the acquisition, ownership and management of specialized industrial properties leased to experienced, state-licensed operators for their regulated medical-use cannabis facilities. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, commencing with the year ended December 31, 2017. Additional information is available at www.innovativeindustrialproperties.com.
About Cresco Labs
Cresco Labs is one of the largest vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis operators in the United States. Cresco is built to become the most important company in the cannabis industry by combining the most strategic geographic footprint with one of the leading distribution platforms in North America. Employing a consumer-packaged goods (“CPG”) approach to cannabis, Cresco’s house of brands is designed to meet the needs of all consumer segments and includes some of the most recognized and trusted national brands including Cresco, Remedi and Mindy’s, a line of edibles created by James Beard Award-winning chef Mindy Segal. Sunnyside*, Cresco’s national dispensary brand, is a wellness-focused retailer designed to build trust, education and convenience for both existing and new cannabis consumers. Recognizing that the cannabis industry is poised to become one of the leading job creators in the country, Cresco has launched the industry’s first national comprehensive Social Equity and Educational Development (SEED) initiative designed to ensure that all members of society have the skills, knowledge and opportunity to work in and own businesses in the cannabis industry. Learn more about Cresco Labs at www.crescolabs.com.
