• Etain commenced adult-use sales at midtown Manhattan dispensary in September

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2024 /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, is pleased to announce that Etain has launched adult-use sales at its dispensary in Manhattan.

To celebrate the launch, Etain Manhattan, located at 242 E 58th Street and in the heart of midtown Manhattan, will host a grand opening event on October 16^th, 2024. With two co-located dispensaries now open for adult-use sales, Etain's premier dispensaries are home to carefully curated selections of New York State's highest quality and best-selling products.

"We believe that our midtown Manhattan dispensary is perfectly positioned to attract a vibrant customer base with the launch of adult-use sales," said Dave Vautrin, Chief Retail Officer of RIV Capital. "Right in the heart of one of the city's most dynamic neighborhoods, the store has been newly upgraded and includes our consumer-friendly electronic menu boards and tablets, for those seeking both convenience and accessibility. Stocked with hundreds of high-quality cannabis products, including the fresh-from-Florida MOODS brand consisting of twelve branded SKUs direct from our upstate New York facility and featuring the innovative and popular MOODS Mini. We can't wait for customers to experience our latest adult-use location and expanded menu."  

RIV Capital anticipates introducing additional brands and products into the New York market to extend and strengthen its reach with New York's adult-use consumers as part of the Company's continuing integration activities with Cansortium Inc., ahead of the expected close of the business combination in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Priority access will remain in place for medical cannabis patients, complete with a dedicated check-out line and exclusive access to Etain's on-site pharmacist to ensure continued access to premium medical cannabis products.

About RIV Capital

RIV Capital is an acquisition and investment firm with a focus on building a leading multistate platform with one of the strongest portfolios of cannabis 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 The ScottsMiracle-Gro Company ("ScottsMiracle-Gro"), RIV Capital is The Hawthorne Collective's preferred vehicle for cannabis-related investments not under the purview of other ScottsMiracle-Gro subsidiaries.

Forward Looking Statements

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 RIV Capital's strategies, objectives, goals, opportunities and plans, including in respect of Etain and its product portfolio; RIV Capital's ability to appropriately scale Etain's existing infrastructure, processes and systems and the development of a robust adult-use retail and wholesale program; the ability of RIV Capital and Etain to open its second co-located medical and adult-use retail dispensary in midtown Manhattan; RIV Capital's expectations regarding the U.S. cannabis market; expectations regarding adult-use cannabis market opportunities in New York and the benefits of the New York adult-use cannabis market; expectations regarding adult-use sales in the state of New York; plans to update Etain's existing retail locations and the potential to build new locations; expectations regarding midtown Manhattan and the midtown Manhattan dispensary, RIV Capital's expectations regarding Etain's position in the New York cannabis market; RIV Capital's expectations and plans regarding Etain's business, including its market share, sales, brand, products and locations; Etain's plans and future prospects in the cannabis retail space; RIV Capital's ability to successfully introduce additional brands and products into the New York market; RIV Capital's expectations regarding its continued integration activities with Cansortium Inc.; RIV Capital's expectations regarding a potential close of its business combination with Cansortium Inc. in the fourth quarter of 2024; RIV Capital's ability to maintain priority access for medical cannabis patients; RIV Capital's expectations regarding growth opportunities; 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: RIV Capital's ability to execute its go-forward strategy; stock market volatility; changes in the business activities, focus and plans of RIV Capital, Etain and RIV Capital's investees and the timing associated therewith; the timing of any changes to federal laws in the U.S. to allow for the general cultivation, distribution, and possession of cannabis; 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 management's discussion and analysis dated November 28, 2023 and annual information form dated March 31, 2023 filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available on RIV Capital's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

The Company has invested in and acquired, and intends to in the future invest in and/or acquire, companies that are involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where such operations occur permit such activities, however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation.

While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

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.