HempWave intends to acquire Celexus Inc. in a deal expected to close in May.

Celexus, which acquires and manages businesses and technologies in the hemp industry, will change its name to HempWave under the acquisition's current terms.

Phoenix-based HempWave said it will continue independent operations and would vend in new businesses into Celexus over a period of time. "Our goal is to make it easy for people to join in the hemp industry, even now when things are fresh and jumping in on their own seems too great a risk," Celexus President Lisa Averbach said.

Celexus served as a consultant on the launch of three hemp businesses in the past year, including HempWave.