Aphria denies allegations insiders benefiting from foreign company acquisitions

Mature cannabis plants are photographed at the CannTrust Niagara Greenhouse Facility during the grand opening event in Fenwick, Ont., on June 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Shares of Aphria Inc. lost more than a quarter of their value in early trading following a report by a short seller.

Aphria shares were down $2.84 or about 27 per cent at $7.67 in heaving trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Monday.

The report by Quintessential Capital Management alleged Aphria has acquired foreign companies at inflated prices in ways that it believes benefit a group of insiders.

Aphria called the allegations false and defamatory.

In a statement to CTV Windsor, the Leamington-based company said it is “preparing a comprehensive response to provide shareholders with the facts and is also pursuing all available legal options against Quintessential Capital.”

Quintessential says it is short on Aphria. By selling shares short, an investor makes money when the price of a company's shares fall.