IM Cannabis Corp. [IMCC] Filings

^* Discontinued operations. Please see note number 24 in the 2022 Annual Financial Statements

Without limitation, this Annual Report contains forward-looking statements pertaining to:

PART I

 

ITEM 1.          IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2.          OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3.          KEY INFORMATION

 

A.          Reserved.

 

B.          Capitalization and Indebtedness

 

Not applicable.

 

C.          Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable.

 

D.          Risk Factors

 

The Company’s operations and financial performance are subject to the normal risks of its industry and are subject to various factors which are beyond the control of the Company. Certain of these risk factors are described below. The risks described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks not currently known to the Company, or that it currently considers immaterial, may also adversely impact the Company’s business, operations, financial results or prospects, should any such other events occur.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

There are certain risks associated with owning securities of the Company that holders should carefully consider. The risks and uncertainties below are not the only risks and uncertainties facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company currently considers immaterial may also impair the business, operations and future prospects of the Company, cause the price of its securities to decline and cause future results to differ materially from those described herein. If any of the following risks actually occur, the business of the Company may be harmed and its financial condition and results of operations may suffer significantly. In that event, the trading price of the Company’s securities could decline, and holders may lose all or part of their investment.

 

The cannabis-related business and activities of the Group are heavily regulated in all jurisdictions where it carries on business. The Group’s operations are subject to various laws, regulations and guidelines by governmental authorities, particularly the Israeli Ministry of Health (“MOH”), and the Federal Opium Agency of Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Germany (“BfArM”), relating to the grow, propagate, manufacture, marketing, management, transportation, storage, distribution, sale, pricing and disposal of dried and fresh cannabis, cannabis plants and seeds, edible cannabis, cannabis extracts, clones and plants and cannabis extracts. The Group’s operations are also subject to laws and regulations relating to health and safety, insurance coverage, the conduct of operations and the protection of the environment.

 

 

The Company complies with IFRS 10, which applies a single consolidation model using a definition of “control” that requires an investor (as defined in IFRS 10) to consolidate an investee (as defined in IFRS 10) where: (i) the investor has power over the investee; (ii) the investor has exposure or rights to variable returns from involvement with the investee; and (iii) the investor can use its power over the investee to affect the amount of the investor’s returns.

 

Subsequent to the IMC Restructuring (as defined below), the Company analyzed the terms of the contractual agreements with Focus (including the Commercial Agreements and the Focus Agreement) in accordance with IFRS 10 to conclude whether it should continue to consolidate the accounts of Focus in its financial statements.

 

Under IFRS 10, consolidation occurs when an investor can exercise control over an investee. Control is achieved through voting rights or other evidence of power. Where there are no direct holdings, under IFRS 10, an investor (as defined in IFRS 10) should consider other evidence of power and ability to unilaterally direct an investee’s (as defined in IFRS 10) relevant activities. In view of the contractual agreements and the guidance in IFRS 10, notwithstanding that the Company has no direct or indirect ownership of Focus, it has sufficient rights to unilaterally direct the relevant activities (a concept known as “de facto control”), mainly due to the following:

 

 

 

 

 

Accordingly, under IFRS 10, the Company has “de facto control” over Focus, and therefore consolidates the financial results of Focus in the Company’s financial statements.

 

Any failure of the Company or Messrs. Oren Shuster and Rafael Gabay to maintain “de facto control” over Focus as defined under IFRS 10 could alter the Company’s consolidation model, potentially resulting in a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company.

 

For the period ended December 31, 2022, the Company analyzed the terms of the definitive agreements with each of its Consolidated Entities in accordance with accounting criteria IFRS 10. Viewed as effectively exercising control over these Consolidated Entities, the Company consolidate the financial results of the Consolidated Entities as of the date of signing each such definitive agreement. Each of the definitive agreements for the Panaxia Transaction (as defined below), the Pharm Yarok Transaction (as defined below), the Vironna Transaction (as defined below) and the Oranim Transaction (as defined below) provide the Company with the power to unilaterally make all decisions regarding the financial and operating policies of each of the Consolidated Entities and the right to obtain all related economic benefits. The Panaxia Transaction, the Pharm Yarok Transaction, the Vironna Transaction and the Oranim Transaction (all as defined below) were completed in the first quarter of 2022. For further information on the closing the transactions, please see “Developments during the financial year ended December 31, 2022”.

 

 

There is a risk that regulatory authorities in Israel may view the Company as the deemed owner of more than 5% of Focus and/or determine that the Company is in contravention of Israeli cannabis regulations. Namely, prior approval of the Israeli Medical Cannabis Agency (“IMCA”) is required for any shareholder owning 5% or more of an Israeli company licensed to engage in cannabis-related activities. Any contravention of Israeli cannabis regulations could jeopardize the good standing of the Focus License. Such a determination may adversely affect the Company’s ability to conduct sales and marketing activities and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results or financial condition.

 

 

Israel – MOH Regulation

 

Laws and regulations, applied generally, grant government agencies and self-regulatory bodies broad administrative discretion over the activities of Focus,  Oranim Plus, Vironna, Rosen High Way, R.A Pahrm Yarok and IMC Pharma (collectively, the “Israeli Licensed Companies”), which can include the power to limit or restrict business activities, the import and export of cannabis products and the imposition of additional quality criteria and disclosure requirements on the products and services provided by Israeli Licensed Companies and Focus. Achievement of the Israeli Licensed Companies and Focus business objectives are contingent, in part, upon compliance with regulatory requirements enacted by these governmental authorities and obtaining all regulatory approvals, where necessary, for the production and sale of its products.

 

The Company cannot predict the time required for the Israeli Licensed Companies or Focus to secure all appropriate regulatory approvals for the products and activity, or the extent of testing and documentation that may be required by governmental authorities. Any delays in obtaining, or failure to obtain regulatory approvals would significantly delay the development of markets and products and could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company.

 

Failure to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to its operations may lead to possible sanctions including the revocation or imposition of additional conditions on licenses to operate the Israeli Licensed Companies and/or the Focus business, the suspension or expulsion from a particular market or jurisdiction or of its key personnel, and the imposition of fines and censures. To the extent that there are changes to the existing laws and regulations or the enactment of future laws and regulations that affect the sale or offering of the Israeli Licensed Companies and/or Focus products or services in any way, this could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company.

 

Germany – BfArM Regulation

 

Legalization in Germany applies only to cannabis stemming from cultivation for medicinal purposes under state control and in preparations as finished medicinal products, in accordance with the Narcotic Convention. Currently, the production, distribution, exportation and importation of medical cannabis products in Germany is legal, subject to regulations and licensing requirements. Medical cannabis in Germany must comply with the corresponding monographs of the German and European pharmacopoeia.

 

The import, export and distribution of medical cannabis currently requires a wholesale permit pursuant to the German Medicines Act (the “AMG”) and a distribution permit for narcotics pursuant to the BtMG (as defined below). Manufacturing operations require authorizations pursuant to AMG. All BtMG permit applications must specify the strains and estimated quantities of medical cannabis involved and any subsequent changes must be reported to the BfArM. The import of medical cannabis from other EU and non-EU countries requires quantity-based import licenses pursuant to the BtMG. In addition, for imports from a non-EU country, an import certificate pursuant to the AMG is required and in certain circumstances, depending on the import source, a general import permit may also be required under the AMG.

 

The Cannabis Agency (as defined below), a cannabis division of the BfArM is overseeing the cultivation, harvesting, processing, quality control, storage, packaging and distribution to wholesalers, pharmacists and manufacturers. The Cannabis Agency also regulates pricing of German-produced medical cannabis products and serves as an intermediary of medical cannabis product sales between manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies on a non-profit basis. The Cannabis Agency has no influence on the actual retail price of medical cannabis products. The responsibilities of the Cannabis Agency are based on the requirements of the Narcotic Convention. The Cannabis Agency is not responsible for the import of medical cannabis products and will therefore neither purchase nor distribute imported medical cannabis products. As a wholesaler, the Cannabis Agency sells German-based medical cannabis products in its own name. The Cannabis Agency contracted with a distributor that was selected in a Europe-wide tender procedure and commissioned it to carry out the distribution of medical cannabis products in accordance with all pharmaceutical and narcotic legal requirements.

 

The current regime permits the importation of cannabis plants and plant parts for medicinal purposes under state control subject to the requirements under the Narcotic Convention. Pursuant to Narcotic Convention, Germany must estimate the expected demand of medical cannabis products for medical and research purposes for the following year and report such estimates to the International Narcotics Control Board. The estimates are also required to be reported by the BfArM by June 30^th of each year.

 

As a prerequisite to obtaining a German import license, the supplier must grow and harvest in compliance with EU-GACP-Guidelines and manufacture in compliance with EU-GMP-Guidelines and certifications. All medical cannabis products imported to Germany must derive from plant material cultivated in a country whose regulations comply with the Narcotic Convention and must comply with the relevant monographs described in the German and European pharmacopeias. While these requirements also apply to the exportation of medical cannabis products, the current German regime does not allow domestically cultivated medical cannabis products to be directly sold to commercial entities other than the Cannabis Agency. Medical cannabis products imported pursuant to an import license under the BtMG and AMG permits are sold exclusively to pharmacies for final dispensing to patients on a prescription basis as ‘magistral preparations’, a term used in Europe to refer to medical products prepared in a pharmacy in accordance to a medical prescription for an individual patient. In addition to magistral preparations, medical cannabis products are also marketable as pre-packaged, licensed drugs.

 

Failure to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to the Company's operations may lead to possible sanctions, including revocation or suspension of licences (and thus the Company's inability to operate), recalls and withdrawals (both regulatory and as a result of competition law proceedings), the loss of eligibility as a corporate body of a corporation or as a medicinal product or narcotics law functionary (and thus the Company's inability to operate), flanked by administrative fines for regulatory offences, fines and imprisonment for criminal offences as well as administrative orders (requirements, prohibitions, etc.) as well as competition law warnings and proceedings (such as injunctions).

 

 

Israel – Reliance on the Israeli Licenses

 

The Company’s ability to produce, store, import, distribute and sell cannabis in Israel is dependent on the Israeli Licensed Companies and Focus maintaining the Israeli Licenses with the IMCA. Failure to comply with the requirements or any failure to maintain the Israeli Licenses would have a material adverse impact on the business, financial condition and operating results of the Company. There can be no guarantees that the IMCA will extend or renew any of Israeli Licenses as necessary or, if it extended or renewed, that any of the Israeli Licenses will be extended or renewed on the same or similar terms. Should the IMCA not extend or renew any of Israeli Licenses or should it renew any of the Israeli Licenses on different terms, the business, financial condition and results of the operations of the Company would be materially adversely affected.

 

 Germany – Reliance on the Adjupharm Licenses

 

The Company’s ability to produce and distribute cannabis through Adjupharm’s certification as an EU-GMP and EU-GDP producer and distributor in Germany with wholesale, narcotics handling, manufacturing, procurement, storage and distribution authority is granted by German regulatory authorities.  Failure to comply with the requirements of the BfArM issued licenses or any failure to maintain their respective licenses would have a material adverse impact on the business, financial condition and operating results of the Company.

 

 

Israel – Reliance on the Company’s Facilities

 

 The Israeli Facilities

 

The Israeli Licenses are specific to each respective facility holding such license and therefore both the license and the facility must remain in good standing for each of the Company’s pharmacies (Virona, Oranim Plus and R.A Pharm Yarok, together the “Israeli Pharmacies”) and the Company’s trading houses to be able to conduct the Israeli cannabis activities authorized thereunder (The facilities of the Israeli Pharmacies and trading house, together” “Israeli Facilities”). Adverse changes or developments affecting the Israeli Facilities, including but not limited to the failure to maintain all requisite regulatory and ancillary permits and licenses, the failure to comply with state or municipal regulations, or a breach of security, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Any breach of any lease agreement relevant to the operations of the Israeli Facilities or any failure to renew such lease agreements, on materially similar or more favorable terms, may also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Germany – Reliance on Logistics Center

 

The Company’s EU-GMP logistics centre in Germany (the “Logistics Center”) allows Adjupharm to manage all aspects of its supply chain including the production, the repackaging and distribution of bulk medical cannabis. Any breach of regulatory requirements, including any failure to comply with recommendations or requirements arising from inspections by government regulators, could also have an impact on Adjupharm’s ability to maintain the licenses and/or keep the Logistics Center in good standing, and to continue operating it under the licenses, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

 

Israel – Supply, manufacture and Distribution Agreements

 

Focus and the Israeli Licensed Companies rely on and are substantially dependent on various supply agreements with third-party cannabis cultivators in Israel and Canada, imported cannabis products, manufacture and packaging agreements and distribution agreements to fulfill the supply requirements of its distribution and sales agreements with pharmacies in the Israeli medical cannabis market. The Israeli Licensed Companies and Focus acquire cannabis from third parties in amounts sufficient to operate its business. However, there can be no assurance that there will continue to be a supply of cannabis available for the Company to purchase in order to operate or expand. Additionally, the price of cannabis and other inputs may rise which would increase the cost of goods. If any suppliers fail to supply any contracted materials to Focus or the Israeli Licensed Companies, the Israeli Licensed Companies and Focus may fail to meet purchase commitments from their distribution partners. If the Company were unable to acquire the cannabis or other inputs required to operate or expand or to do so on favourable terms, or fail to maintain the manufacture agreements with IMC-GMP manufacture companies, it could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of the Company’s suppliers fails to provide inputs meeting the Company’s quality standards, it may need to source cannabis or other inputs from other suppliers, which may result in additional costs and delay in the delivery of its products and services to distributors, pharmacies and patients. There is no assurance that suppliers will be able to supply and deliver the required materials to the Company in a timely manner or that the materials they supply to the Company will not be defective or substandard. Any delay in the delivery of materials, or any defect in the materials, supplied to the Company may materially and adversely affect or delay its production schedule and affect its product quality. Consequently, the Company relies on the suppliers of such supply agreements to provide necessary cannabis products to Focus and the Israeli Licensed Ccompanies. If the Company cannot secure cannabis of similar quality and at reasonable prices from alternative suppliers in a timely manner, or at all, Focus or the Israeli Licensed may not be able to deliver its products to distributors, pharmacies or patients on time with the required quality. The various suppliers and distributors may elect, at any time, to breach or otherwise cease to participate in supply, service or distribution agreements, or other relationships, upon which the Company’s operations rely. Loss of its suppliers, service providers or distributors or their timely service would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and operational results.

 

Germany – Reliance on Supply and Distribution Agreements in Germany

 

Adjupharm relies on its sales and distribution agreements to supply IMC-branded products to distribution partners in Germany, which are then distributed to German pharmacies for sales to medical cannabis patients and also on direct sales by Adjupharm of IMC-branded products to German pharmacies.

 

Adjupharm relies on supply agreements with cannabis cultivators and producers in order to meet the demands of their respective sales agreements with distribution partners and pharmacies. Consequently, the Company relies on the suppliers of such supply agreements to provide necessary cannabis products to Adjupharm. If any suppliers fail to supply any contracted materials to Adjupharm, Adjupharm may fail to meet purchase commitments from their distribution partners and this could result a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial and operational results.

 

 

The Company is subject to the provisions of the ITA12 and to review by CRA13. The Company files its annual tax compliance based on its interpretation of the ITA and CRA’s guidance. There is no certainty that the returns and tax position of the Company will be accepted by CRA as filed. Any difference between the Company’s tax filings and CRA’s final assessment could impact the Company’s results and financial position.

 

There can be no assurance that income tax laws or the interpretation thereof in any of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates will not be changed or interpreted or administered in a manner which adversely affects the Company and its shareholders. In addition, there is no assurance that CRA will agree with the manner in which the Company calculates taxes payable or that any of the other tax agencies will not change their administrative practices to the detriment of the Company or its shareholders.

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company had negative cash flows from operating activities. Although the Company expects to generate positive cash flows from its future operating activities, there is no assurance that it will achieve this objective. If operational cash flows continue to be negative, the Company may be required to fund future operations with alternative financing options such as offerings of shares.

 

 

There is no assurance that the Company will be able to secure the funds necessary to implement its strategies. Additional debt incurred by the Company from engagements such as major acquisitions may cause the Company’s debt level to increase and result in difficulties in completing or negotiating future debt financings. Any triggering of credit defaults or failure to raise capital by the Company may cause significant delays in carrying out business objectives or result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operational results and prospects.

 

 

There is potential that the Group will face intense competition from other companies or groups of companies, some of which can be expected to have more financial resources, industry, manufacturing and marketing experience than the Group. Because of the early stage of the industry in which the Group operates, as well as evolving legislation and governmental initiatives in a number of jurisdictions, the Group expects to face additional competition from new entrants in the jurisdictions in which it currently operates or is contemplating operations. If the number of users of medical cannabis products in Israel and Europe increases, the demand for products in such areas will increase and the Company expects that competition will become more intense, as current and future competitors begin to offer an increasing number of diversified products and pricing strategies. Increased competition by larger and better-financed competitors could materially and adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Group.

 

 

The development of the Group’s business and operating results may be hindered by applicable restrictions on promotion marketing and advertising activities imposed by the MOH or BfArM. If the Group is unable to effectively market its products and compete for market share, or if the costs of compliance with government legislation and regulation cannot be absorbed through the selling price for its products, the Group’s sales and operating results could be adversely affected.

 

 

The cannabis industry is undergoing rapid growth and substantial change, which has resulted in an increase in competitors, consolidation and formation of strategic relationships. It is possible that industry maturation could create larger companies that may have increased geographic scope. Such acquisitions or other consolidating transactions could harm the Group in a number of ways, including the loss of strategic partners (if they are acquired by or enter into relationships with a competitor), customers, or revenue and market share, all of which could harm the Group’s operating results. The Group’s operating results could also be harmed if the Group was forced to expend greater resources to meet new or additional competitive threats. Additional competition from larger, better-financed competitors with geographic advantages could outcompete the Group by placing downward pressure on retail prices for products and services. This could ultimately cause a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Group.

 

 

The Group is vulnerable to the political, economic, legal, regulatory, and military conditions affecting Israel and the Middle East. Armed conflicts between Israel and its neighbouring countries and territories occur periodically in the region and may adversely affect the Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Group may be adversely affected by other events or factors affecting Israel such as the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its trading partners, or any restrictions or pressure on the Group’s partners or customers or others to prevent or discourage them from doing business activities with Israel or Israeli businesses, a significant downturn in the economic or financial condition of Israel, a significant downgrading of Israel’s internal credit rating, labour disputes and political instability, including riots, uprisings and government failures. Restrictive laws or policies directed towards Israel or Israeli businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

From April 2019 until March 2021, Israel held four general elections as efforts to compose and approve a new government failed to find lasting success. As a result, the Israeli government was unable to pass a budget for fiscal year 2021 and many legislative matters were delayed. In December of 2022, Israel’s new government took office as a result of a coalition of six political parties; however, the continued uncertainty surrounding future elections and/or the results of such elections in Israel may continue. Actual or perceived political instability in Israel or any negative changes in the political environment, may individually or in the aggregate adversely affect the Israeli economy and, in turn, the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Any armed conflicts, terrorist activities or political instability in the region could adversely affect business conditions, could harm the Group’s results of operations, and could make it more difficult for us to raise capital. Parties with whom the Group does business may decline to travel to Israel during periods of heightened unrest or tension, forcing the Group to make alternative arrangements when necessary in order to meet our business partners face to face. In addition, the political and security situation in Israel may result in parties with whom we have agreements involving performance in Israel claiming that they are not obligated to perform their commitments under those agreements pursuant to force majeure provisions in such agreements. Further, in the past, the State of Israel and Israeli companies have been subjected to economic boycotts. Several countries still restrict business with the State of Israel and with Israeli companies. These restrictive laws and policies may have an adverse impact on our operating results, financial condition or the expansion of our business.

 

Furthermore, under Israeli law, citizens and permanent residents of Israel are obligated to perform military reserve duty for extended periods of time and are subject to being called to active duty at any time under emergency circumstances. In response to increased hostilities, there have been periods of significant call-ups of military reservists. It is possible that there will be additional call-ups in the future, which may include officers and key personnel of the Group’s, which could disrupt business operations for a significant period of time.

 

 

The Group’s current operating budget includes various assumptions concerning the level and timing of cash receipts from sales and cash outlays for operating expenses and capital expenditures, including cost saving plans and restructuring actions taken in 2022. The Company’s board of directors approved a cost saving plan, implemented in whole or in part, to allow the Company to continue its operations and meet its cash obligations. The cost saving plan consists of cost reduction due to efficiencies and synergies, which include mainly the following steps: discontinuing operation of loss-making activities, reduction in payroll and headcount, reduction in compensation paid to key management personnel (including layoffs of key executives), operational efficiencies and reduced capital expenditures.

 

These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Annual Financial Statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of assets or liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

 

The maximum credit exposure as of December 31, 2022, is the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and other current assets. The Company does not have significant credit risk with respect to customers. All cash and cash equivalents are placed with major Israeli financial institutions.

 

Loan receivable credit risk is managed by each loan separately according to the Company’s policy, procedures and control relating to the borrower’s credit risk management. At the end of each period, the individual loan values are assessed based on a credit risk analysis.

 

The expected credit loss analysis is generally based on management’s understanding of the borrower’s experience/integrity, financial health, business plans, capacity, products, customers, contracts, competitive advantages/disadvantages, and other pertinent factors when assessing credit risk. This would also include the assessment of the borrower’s forecasts as well as taking into consideration any security and/or collateral the Company has on the outstanding balance.

 

 

The first part of 2022 has seen significantly higher levels of volatility in global markets due to market participants' reactions to, and uncertainty surrounding, the magnitude and timing of government and central bank action to be taken in response to heightened inflation, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This volatility has resulted in a decline in the level of activity in the financial markets. Continued market volatility or uncertainty related to actions taken or to be taken by central banks, a decline in the global macroeconomic outlook, including as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the threat, or outbreak of more widespread armed conflict in Eastern Europe would cause financial market activity to continue to decrease, which would negatively affect the Group’s revenues and capital markets activity.

 

 

Political risk is an additional risk that the Group may be exposed to when operating in Israel and Europe markets. Examples of political risk include without limitation social unrest, threats or occurrences of war, organized crime, political instability, changes of government and changes in taxation policies in domestic and international markets and jurisdictions in which the Group operates.

 

While the Group actively analyzes risks and developments in markets that it currently or will participate in, there is no assurance that unpredicted impacts will not occur. Depending on the magnitude of such unpredicted impacts, there may be a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, operating results, and prospects.

 

 

Global economies are currently experiencing elevated inflation which could curtail levels of economic activity, including in our primary production markets. This inflation is predominantly driven by costs of goods as input costs continue to increase with the overall increase in costs caused by several external factors including but not limited to general uncertainties caused by global supply chain constrictions, rising energy prices and the global COVID-19 pandemic. As such, delivery and distribution costs, utility costs and other necessary supplies at an economic cost cannot be assured. These are integral requirements for the Group’s business and it is reasonable to expect that inflation, supply shortages or increases in demand could impact the Group’s future economic performance and competitiveness, as it may entail a meaningful increase in costs for various goods and services that the Group may not be able to pass onto patients or customers. In addition, the operations of the Group could be affected by the economic context should interest rates, inflation or unemployment levels reach levels that consumer trends and spending and, consequently, impact the sales and profitability of the Group. The Group may not be able to effectively or successfully address such risks and uncertainties or successfully implement operating strategies to mitigate the impact of such risks and uncertainties. In the event that the Group fails to do so, such failure could materially harm the Group’s business.

 

 

Due to the nature of the Group’s products and the limited legal channels for distribution, the Israeli Facilities and the Logistics Center of the Group is subject to the risk of theft of its product and other security breaches. A security breach in any one of the Group’s facilities and external cultivation, manufacturing and storage facilities possessing of the Company’s products could result in a significant loss of available product and as a result decrease in sales, revocation of cannabis licenses, exposure to additional liability under applicable regulations and to potentially costly litigation or increased expenses relating to insurance premiums and other resolutions and future prevention of security breaches, any of which could have an adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

In Israel, the Group stores products in the Israeli Pharmacies and other pharmacies not owned by the Group, Israeli trade houses, and external service providers such as cultivation, manufacturing, and storage partners. In addition, in Germany, the Group stores products in the Logistics Center before distribution. Pursuant to the applicable Israeli and German licensing requirements, the Israeli Licensed Companies, and Adjupharm are required to maintain certain standards of storage for cannabis products. The risk of inventory theft from these facilities is mitigated by the Israeli Licensed Companies and Adjupharm, through the implementation of the security measures required under applicable laws, such as usage of qualified storage units, designated storage locations, locked storage vaults, access control, security cameras, and alert systems. Notwithstanding such security measures, any breaches of security may result in losses of inventory, potential litigation, and increased costs to bolster security and insurance.

 

 

The Group is dependent on ancillary business licenses, permits and approvals granted by government authorities or other third parties in order to operate effectively including, without limitation, building permits, municipal permits, third-party licenses including distributors and suppliers, and foreign trade licenses. Should the Group fail to maintain any of these licenses, permits and approvals, or should it fail to renew any of such licenses, permits and approvals on materially similar or more favorable terms, the business, financial condition and results of the operations of the Group may be subject to a material adverse effect.

 

 

Given the nature of the Group’s business, it may from time to time be subject to claims or complaints from investors or others in the normal course of business. The legal risks facing the Group, its directors, officers, employees, or agents in this respect include potential liability for violations of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or misuse of investors’ funds. Violations of securities laws and breach of fiduciary duty could result in civil liability, fines, sanctions, or the suspension or revocation of the Group’s right to carry on its existing business. The Group may incur significant costs in connection with such potential liabilities.

 

 

The Group and its investees’ operations are subject to various laws, regulations and guidelines. The Group endeavours to and cause its investees to comply with all relevant laws, regulations and guidelines. However, there is a risk that the Group’s and its investees’ interpretation of laws, regulations and guidelines, including, but not limited to applicable stock exchange rules and regulations, may differ from each other, and the Group and its investees’ operations may not be in compliance with such laws, regulations and guidelines. Any potential noncompliance could cause the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Group to be adversely affected. Further, any amendment to or replacement of cannabis legislations and applicable rules and regulations governing the activities of the investees may cause adverse effects to the Group’s operations. The risks to the business of the Group associated with the decision to amend or replace cannabis legislation and regulation, could reduce the addressable market for the Group’s products and could materially and adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Group.

 

The Group and its investees incur ongoing costs and obligations related to regulatory compliance. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures or remedial actions. Parties may be liable for civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations. Amendments to current laws, regulations and permitting requirements, or more stringent application of existing laws or regulations, may have a material adverse impact on the Group’s and/or its investees, resulting in increased capital expenditures or production costs, reduced levels of cannabis production or abandonment or delays in the development of facilities which could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Group.

 

The introduction of new tax laws, regulations or rules, or changes to, or differing interpretations of, or application of, existing tax laws, regulations or rules in any of the countries in which the Group invests could result in an increase in the Group’s taxes, or other governmental charges, duties or impositions. No assurance can be given that new tax laws, regulations or rules will not be enacted or that existing tax laws, regulations or rules will not be changed, interpreted or applied in a manner which could result in the Group’s profits being subject to additional taxation or which could otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Group.

 

 

The Group’s operations are subject to a variety of laws, regulations, and guidelines relating to the marketing, acquisition, manufacture, management, distribution (including import and export), transportation, storage, sale, and disposal of cannabis products. The Group’s operations are also subject to laws and regulations relating to health and safety, insurance coverage, the conduct of operations and the protection of the environment. Any changes to such laws and regulations that are beyond the control of the Group could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects of the Group.

 

 

The Company may be subject to growth related risks including capacity constraints and pressure on its internal systems and controls. The ability of the Company to manage growth effectively will require it to continue to implement and improve its operational and financial systems and to expand, train and manage its employee base. If the Company is unable to deal with this growth, any negative impact may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects.

 

In addition, the realization of the benefits of acquisitions made by the Company, including the acquisition of certain operations from Panaxia, the Israeli Pharmacies and the trading house of Rosen High Way, depend in part on successfully consolidating functions and integrating and leveraging operations, procedures and personnel in a timely and efficient manner as well as the Company’s ability to share knowledge and realize revenues, synergies and other growth opportunities from combining the acquired businesses and operations with those of the Company. The integration of acquired businesses may depend on a number of factors, including without limitation: (i) the input of substantial management effort, time and resources; (ii) the successful incorporation of key personnel from acquired companies for post-acquisition periods. Any failure in successfully integrating acquired businesses may result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and prospects. The risks we face in connection with an acquisition include:

 

 

The Group’s sales capabilities are subject to estimates in target production capacity. These estimates may prove to be inaccurate due to uncontrollable external factors such as genetic drifts in strain of plants grown and general difficulties in estimating growth of cannabis plants and also unexpected delays in product supply by third party cultivation partners and importation due to reasons related to regulation and the supplier and operational constrains. Any adverse misalignments between the target production capacity and actual production capacity may result in a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition.

 

 

The Group’s operations are subject to environmental and occupational safety laws and regulations in certain jurisdictions, concerning, among other things, emissions and discharges to water, air and land, the handling and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous materials and wastes, and employee health and safety. The Group incurs ongoing costs and obligations related to compliance with environmental and employee health and safety matters. Any failure to comply or maintain compliance with environmental and occupational safety laws and regulations may result in additional costs for corrective measures, penalties or restrictions on manufacturing operations and could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Group.

 

 

The Group’s success depends on its ability to secure suppliers and distribution partners. There are many factors which could impact the Group’s ability to secure suppliers and distribution partners, including but not limited to IMC and other brand awareness, the Group’s ability to continually produce desirable and effective cannabis products, compliance with regulatory requirements in connection with import and export of cannabis products, and the successful implementation of new partnership plans. The failure to secure suppliers or distribution partners could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

 

The Group’s business is dependent on a number of key inputs and their related costs including raw materials and supplies related to its growing and distribution operations as well as electricity, water, and other utilities. Any significant interruption or negative change in the availability or economics of the supply chain for key inputs (e.g. rising energy costs) could cause a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, and operating results of the Group. Any failure to secure required supplies and services or to do so on appropriate terms could also have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, and operating results of the Group.

 

 

In addition to being subject to general business risks applicable to a business involving an agricultural product and a regulated consumer product, the Group will need to make investments in its business strategy. These investments include the procurement of raw material, new cannabis strains supplier and distributor outreach projects, marketing efforts and research and development projects. The Group expects that competitors will undertake similar investments to compete with it. Competitive conditions, third-party partner preferences, patient requirements and spending patterns in this industry and market are relatively unknown and may have unique circumstances that differ from other existing industries and markets and contribute to unsuccessful future business development or expansion efforts by the Group or other undesirable consequences. As a result, the Group may not be successful in its efforts to secure suppliers or distribution partners or to develop new cannabis products and produce and distribute these cannabis products. In addition, these activities may require significantly more resources than the Company currently anticipates in order to be successful.

 

Any new cannabis products that the Group develops or distributes may be subject to time-intensive regulatory approval procedures that might delay any release schedules or lead to adverse market conditions that might affect product profitability. The Group may ultimately fail to effectively bring new product offerings to market for reasons that include, but are not limited to, stringent regulatory approval procedures. Any inability to introduce new product offerings may cause a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

 

The Group relies on international third-party transportation services to deliver and receive product-related shipments. In the process of the deliveries, time delays, labor strikes, COVID-19-related issues, product storage issues or other logistical problems may occur and force late delivery or receipt of items or receipt of damaged items. Such delays, receipt of damaged items or other logistical problems may cause a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, operations or financial condition. Rising costs associated with courier services used by the Group may also adversely impact the business of the Group and its ability to operate profitably.

 

In addition, any breach of security of the products’ package during the possession of the third-party transportation service may result in violations of regulations regarding possession of cannabis products and thus may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition and operating results.

 

 

As part of the Company’s business strategy, it seeks new opportunities in the cannabis industry. In pursuit of such opportunities, the Company may fail to select appropriate investment candidates and negotiate acceptable arrangements. The Company cannot provide assurance that it can complete any investment that it pursues or is pursuing, on favourable terms, or that any investment completed will ultimately benefit the Company. In addition, the Company’s capital solutions may not attract a following in the cannabis industry. In the event that the Company chooses to raise debt capital to finance any acquisition or other arrangement, the Company’s leverage will be increased. In addition, the introduction of new tax laws or regulations, or accounting rules or policies, or rating agency policies, or changes to, or differing interpretations of, or application of, existing tax laws or regulations or accounting rules or policies or rating agency policies, could make the productivity and services offered by the Company less attractive to investees. Such changes could adversely affect the Company’s ability to enter into new investments.

 

 

The Group may enter into further strategic alliances with third parties that it believes will complement or augment its existing business. The Group’s ability to complete strategic alliances is dependent upon, and may be limited by, the availability of suitable candidates and capital. In addition, strategic alliances could present unforeseen integration obstacles or costs, may not enhance the Group’s business, and may involve risks that could adversely affect the Group, including significant amounts of management time that may be diverted from investment activities operations to pursue and complete such transactions or maintain such strategic alliances. Future strategic alliances could result in the incurrence of additional debt, costs and contingent liabilities, and there can be no assurance that future strategic alliances will achieve the expected benefits to the Group’s business or that the Group will be able to consummate future strategic alliances on satisfactory terms, or at all.

 

While the Company conducts due diligence with respect to investees, there are risks inherent in any investment. Specifically, there could be unknown or undisclosed risks or liabilities of investees for which the Company is not or will not be sufficiently indemnified. Any such unknown, undisclosed or unmitigated risks or liabilities could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial performance and results of operations. The Company could encounter additional transaction and enforcement related costs or other factors such as the failure to realize all of the benefits from its investments. Any of the foregoing risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

In certain circumstances, the Company may decide, or be required, to divest any of its direct or indirect interests in certain investees. In particular, if any of the investees violate any applicable laws and regulations, the Company may be required to divest its indirect or direct interest in such investee or risk significant fines, penalties, administrative sanctions, convictions or settlements. There is no assurance that these divestitures will be completed on terms favourable to the Company, or at all. Any opportunities resulting from these divestitures, and the anticipated effects of these divestitures on the Company may never be realized, or may not be realized to the extent the Company anticipates. Any required divestiture or an actual or perceived violation of applicable laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on the Company, including its reputation and ability to conduct business, its holdings (directly or indirectly) in the investees, the listing of its securities on applicable stock exchanges, its financial position, operating results, profitability or liquidity or the market price of its publicly traded shares. In addition, it is difficult for the Company to estimate the time or resources that may be required for the investigation of any such matters or its final resolution because, in part, the time and resources that may be needed are dependent on the nature and extent of any information requested by the applicable authorities involved, and such time or resources could be substantial.

 

 

The Company has relied upon the ability, judgment, discretion and good faith of its executive management team. The Company’s future success depends on its continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified employees, especially its key personnel. If the Company were to lose any members of the executive management or key employees, any inability to find suitable replacements at reasonable costs may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, certain key personnel of the Company are subject to a security clearance by IMCA. There is no assurance that any of the Company’s key personnel who presently or may in the future require a security clearance will be able to obtain or renew such clearances or that new personnel who require a security clearance will be able to obtain one. A failure by any of those individuals to maintain or renew his or her security clearance, could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if any such individual leaves the Company, and the Company is unable to find a suitable replacement that has a security clearance required by applicable law, or at all, there could occur a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The legal, regulatory, tax and accountant requirements in the foreign countries in which the Group may invest or operate in with respect to the cultivation and sale of cannabis, banking systems and controls, as well as local business culture and practices are different from those in Canada. The Group’s officers and directors must rely, to a great extent, on local legal and financial counsels and consultants in order to keep abreast of material legal, regulatory and governmental developments as they pertain to and affect the Group’s business operations, and to assist with governmental relations. The Group must rely, to some extent, on those members of management and the Board who have previous experience working and conducting business in these countries, if any, in order to enhance the Group’s understanding of and appreciation for the local business culture and practices. The Group also relies on the advice of local experts and professionals in connection with current and new regulations that develop in respect of the cultivation and sale of cannabis as well as in respect of banking, financing, labour, litigation and tax matters in these jurisdictions. Any developments or changes in such legal, regulatory or governmental requirements or in local business practices are beyond the Group’s control. The impact of any such changes may cause a material adverse effect to the Group’s business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

 

 

Global capital markets have also recently experienced extreme volatility which may, in conjunction with the factors set out above and despite the actions of government authorities, contribute to a worsening of general economic conditions including, rising interest rates, high levels of inflation and unemployment, the unavailability of credit or the devaluation of currencies. Unexpected changes in these factors and financial market and economic conditions Group’s financial condition, profitability and cash flows, and may also have a negative effect on the valuation of, and the ability of the Group to exit or partially divest from, investment positions. Depending on conditions, the Group may incur substantial realized and unrealized losses in future periods, all of which may materially adversely affect its results of operations and the value of any investment in the Group.

 

The Group continues to monitor developments and policies in the foreign markets in which it operates or invests and assess the impact thereof to its operations; however, such developments cannot be accurately predicted. The realization of any of these risks may significantly impair the Group’s local operations and have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

These risks may also limit or disrupt the Group’s strategic alliances or investments, restrict the movement of funds, increase the Group’s costs, or result in the deprivation of contract rights or the taking of property by nationalization or expropriation without fair compensation, and may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial position and/or results of operations. In addition, the enforcement by the Group of its legal rights in foreign countries, including rights to exploit properties or utilize permits and licenses and contractual rights may not be recognized by the court systems in such foreign countries or enforced in accordance with the rule of law.

 

 

Material acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions involve a number of risks, including but not limited to the potential disruption of the Group’s ongoing business, distraction of management, the Company may become more financially leveraged, the failure to realize anticipated benefits of those transactions fully or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected, and loss or reduction of control over certain Group assets.

 

Despite the Company’s due diligence efforts, the presence of one or more material liabilities of an acquired company that are unknown to the Company at the time of acquisition could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition of the Company. A strategic transaction may result in a significant change in the nature of the Company’s business, operations and strategy. In addition, the Company may encounter unforeseen obstacles or costs in implementing a strategic transaction or integrating any acquired business into the Company’s operations.

 

In addition, the Company’s strategic transaction decisions are based on the economic assessments made by the Company and its external advisors. Such economic assessments involve a series of assumptions regarding factors such as future cannabis prices, production requirements, expected revenue growth, cash flow and financing requirements, future capital expenditures and operating costs. Many of these factors are subject to change and are beyond the control of the Company. In addition, future acquisition or international expansion could require the Group to incur a number of up-front expenses, including those associated with obtaining regulatory approvals, as well as additional ongoing expenses, including those associated with infrastructure, buildout, staff and regulatory compliance. If there is any significant negative change in any of these factors, the Group may experience a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

 

 

The Group’s expansion into foreign jurisdictions is subject to additional business risks, including new or unexpected risks or could significantly increase the Group’s exposure to one or more existing risk factors, including economic instability, changes in laws and regulations, and the effects of competition, as well as operational, regulatory, compliance and reputational and foreign exchange rate risk. The failure of the Group’s operating infrastructure to support such expansions could result in operational failures and regulatory fines or sanctions. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the Group will be able to realize any of the anticipated benefits of any transactions related to the Group expansion strategy.

 

 

The Company and, to its knowledge, its subsidiaries do not currently engage in any U.S. cannabis-related activities as defined in Canadian Securities Administrators Staff Notice 51-352 (Revised) - Issuers with U.S. Marijuana-Related Activities (“CSA Staff Notice 51-352”). To date, the Company has caused its investees to only conduct business and invest in entities in federally-legal jurisdictions by including appropriate representations, warranties and covenants in its agreements with investees. However, an investee may breach such obligations. Any such violation of such obligation would result in a breach of the applicable agreement and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on the business, operations and financial condition of Company.

 

The Company’s business involves the growing of cannabis products by third party suppliers, which are agricultural products. As such, the business is subject to the risks inherent in the agricultural business, such as pests, plant diseases and similar agricultural risks. Although, the third-party cultivators the Company partner with carefully monitor the growing conditions with trained personnel and applicable equipment, there can be no assurance that natural elements will not have a material adverse effect on the production of its products and results of operations. Any decline in production could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, operating results or financial condition.

 

 

As a participant of the cannabis market in international jurisdictions with varying regulations, the Group may be subject to competition from entities that conduct illegal cannabis business operations. Such entities may resort to competitive measures such as producing products with prohibited concentrations of THC and CBD or producing imitations of the Group’s products without the authorization or endorsement of the Group. If demand for these illegal products increases and local governments fail to regulate markets accordingly, the Group may experience a material adverse effect on its business, operating results and prospects.

 

 

The Group believes the medical cannabis industry is highly dependent upon consumer perception regarding the safety, efficiency and quality of the medical cannabis products produced. Consumer perception of the Group’s products can be significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory investigations, litigation, media attention and other publicity regarding the consumption of medical cannabis products.

 

There can be no assurance that future scientific research, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other research findings or publicity will be favorable to the medical cannabis market or any particular product, or consistent with earlier publicity.

 

Future research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity that are perceived as less favorable than, or that question, earlier research reports, findings or publicity could have a material adverse effect on the demand for products bearing the brands marketed and sold by the Group and the business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and the Group’s cash flows.

 

Further, adverse publicity reports or other media attention regarding the safety, efficacy and quality of medical cannabis products in general, or the Group’s products specifically, or associating the consumption of medical cannabis products with illness or other negative effects or events, could have a material adverse effect. Such adverse publicity reports or other media attention could arise even if the adverse effects associated with such products resulted from consumers’ failure to consume such products appropriately or as directed.

 

 

If the products the Group sells are not perceived to have the effects intended by the end user, its business may suffer. There is little long-term data with respect to efficacy, unknown side effects and/or interaction with individual human biochemistry of various cannabis products. As a result, the Group’s products could have certain side effects if not taken as directed or if taken by an end user that has certain known or unknown medical conditions.

 

 

The parties outside of the cannabis industry with which the Group does business may perceive that they are exposed to reputational risk as a result of the Group’s cannabis business activities. Failure to establish or maintain business relationships could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

 

The Group’s operations will depend, in part, on how well it and its supply and distribution partners protect networks, equipment, information technology systems (“IT Systems”) and software against damage from a number of threats, including, but not limited to, cable cuts, damage to physical plants, natural disasters, intentional damage and destruction, fire, power loss, hacking, computer viruses, vandalism and theft. The Group’s operations also will depend on the timely maintenance, upgrade and replacement of networks, equipment, IT Systems and software, as well as pre-emptive expenses to mitigate the risks of failures. Any of these and other events could result in information system failures, delays and/or increase in capital expenses. The failure of IT Systems or a component of IT Ssystems could, depending on the nature of any such failure, adversely impact the Group’s financial condition, operating results and reputation.

 

 

The Group’s information systems and its third-party service providers and vendors are vulnerable to increasing threat of continually evolving cybersecurity risks, resulting in data breaches and data losses. These risks arising from events including without limitation malware, computer viruses, employee error, extortion, malfeasance, system errors, and hacking. In order to minimize the risk of these events from occurring, the Group is performing timely maintenance, upgrade and replacement of networks, equipment, IT systems and software and other protective measures. However, any failure or delay in maintaining, upgrading or replacing such systems and software could materially increase the risk of cybersecurity incident and data breach or data loss, and the Group may experience operational delays, information system failures, and/or increases in capital expenses. Ultimately, the Group’s business, financial condition, operating results and reputation may be impacted adversely by such occurrences.

 

The Group has not experienced any material losses to date relating to cybersecurity-attacks or other information security breaches, but there can be no assurance that the Group will not incur such losses in the future. The Group’s risk and exposure to these matters cannot be fully mitigated because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats. As a result, cyber security and the continued development and enhancement of controls, processes and practices designed to protect systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access is a priority. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Group may be required to expend additional resources to modify or enhance protective measures or to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities.

 

 

The Group collects and stores certain personal information about its patients and customers and is responsible for protecting that information from privacy breaches. A privacy breach may occur through certain threats, including, without limitation, procedural or process failure, information technology malfunction, or deliberate unauthorized intrusions, computer viruses, and cyber-attacks. Theft of data for competitive purposes is an ongoing risk whether perpetrated via employee collusion or negligence or through deliberate cyber-attack. Any such theft or privacy breach would have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

In addition, there are several Israeli, German and European federal and provincial laws, rules and regulations protecting the privacy and confidentiality of certain patient health information, and private information including patient records, and employee information, and restricting the collection, use transfer, storage, disposal and disclosure of that protected information. The interpretation and enforcement of such laws and regulations are uncertain, are subject to change and may require the Group to incur substantial costs to monitor and implement compliance with any additional requirements.

 

In the EU’s GDPR governs the collection and use of personal data in the European Union. The GDPR, which is wide-ranging in scope, will impose several requirements relating to the consent of the individuals to whom the personal data relates, the information provided to the individuals, the security and confidentiality of the personal data, data breach notification and the use of third-party processors in connection with the processing of the personal data. The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data out of the EU to the U.S., enhances enforcement authority and imposes large penalties for noncompliance, including the potential for fines of up to EUR 20 million or four percent of the annual global revenues of the infringer, whichever is greater. In addition, certain breaches of the GDPR may result in regulatory investigations, reputational damage and civil lawsuits including class action lawsuits. In the State of Israel, privacy rights and obligations are mainly regulated under the Protection of Privacy Law, 5741-1981 (the “Israeli Privacy Law”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (mainly the Protection of Privacy (Data Security) Regulations, 5777-2017 and the Protection of Privacy (Transfer of Data Abroad) Regulations, 5761-2001) (the “Israeli Privacy Regulations”). Under the Israeli Privacy Law, ‘information’ and ‘sensitive information’ includes information such as those related to a person’s health, personality, intimate affairs, financial condition, faith and opinions. The Israeli Privacy Law impose obligations related to database registration, notice, disclosure and use restrictions on an ‘owner’ of a database, and the Israeli Privacy Regulations set forth the security measurements to be implemented and the rules related to the transfer of personal information. Violation of the Israeli Privacy Law could lead to a criminal investigation or an administrative enforcement procedure on behalf of the Israeli Privacy Protection Authority, as well as an administrative fine imposed pursuant to the Administrative Offenses Law, 5746-1985. In addition, legal remedies such as statutory compensation of up to NIS 50,000 are available to successful claimants of privacy violations.

 

Additional jurisdictions in which the Group operates or in which it may enter in the future, also have data privacy and security laws and regulations that govern the collection, use, disclosure, transfer, storage, disposal, and protection of sensitive personal information. The interpretation and enforcement of such laws and regulations are uncertain, are subject to change and may require the Group to incur substantial costs to monitor and implement compliance with any additional requirements. Failure to comply with data protection laws and regulations could result in government enforcement actions, litigation and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect the Group’s operating results, business and prospects.

 

 

The cannabis industry is a margin-based business in which gross profits depend on the excess of sales prices over costs. Consequently, profitability is sensitive to fluctuations in wholesale and retail prices caused by changes in supply (which itself depends on other factors such as weather, fuel, equipment and labour costs, shipping costs, economic situation, government regulations and demand), taxes, government programs and policies for the cannabis industry (including price controls and wholesale price restrictions that may be imposed by government agencies responsible for the sale of cannabis), and other market conditions, all of which are factors beyond the control of the Group. The Group’s operating incomes may be significantly and adversely affected by a decline in the price of cannabis products and will be sensitive to changes in the price of cannabis products and the overall condition of the cannabis industry, as the Group’s profitability is directly related to the price of cannabis products. The price of cannabis products is affected by numerous factors beyond the Group’s control. Any price decline may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The Group’s employees, independent contractors and consultants may expose the Group to additional risk if they engage in fraudulent or other illegal activity prohibited by relevant laws. Although the Group has set preventative measures in place to minimize such fraud or illegal activities from occurring, there is no guarantee that the measures will be effective. If the measures fail and fraud or illegal activities take place, the Group may be subject to lawsuits for failure to comply with regulations and be ordered to pay such penalties as prescribed by the court if found to be in violation. Thus, the occurrence of fraud or illegal activities may cause a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The Group’s business is subject to applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws to which the Group is or may become subject, which generally prohibit companies and employees from engaging in bribery or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. In addition, the Group is subject to the anti-bribery laws of any other countries in which it conducts business now or in the future. The Group’s employees or other agents may, without its knowledge and despite its efforts, engage in prohibited conduct under the Group’s policies and procedures and anti-bribery laws for which the Group may be held responsible. The Group’s policies mandate compliance with these anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws. However, there can be no assurance that the Group’s internal control policies and procedures will always protect it from recklessness, fraudulent behaviour, dishonesty or other inappropriate acts committed by its affiliates, employees, contractors or agents. If the Group’s employees or other agents are found to have engaged in such practices, the Group could suffer severe penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on its business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The Group uses intellectual property protections such as trademarks, trade secrets and contractual confidentiality obligations in order to protect its products, brands and technologies. The administrative task of maintaining such protections across multiple jurisdictions can result in high costs to the Group. The Group would also be required to pay for any costs attributed to the enforcement of intellectual property protections. In addition, in any infringement proceeding, some or all of the Group’s intellectual property rights or other proprietary know-how, may be found invalid, unenforceable, anti-competitive or not infringed. An adverse result in any litigation or defense proceedings could create the risk of invalidation or narrow interpretation of the Group’s affected intellectual property rights. Such results could cause a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

Furthermore, the possession of intellectual property protections does not completely eliminate the risk of litigation. Even with such protections properly registered, the Group is still vulnerable to infringement claims and would be liable for the costs of defending such claims. If the claims succeed, the Group would be liable for the costs of the resulting court orders and may need to negotiate licensing of the intellectual property rights from third-party owners.

 

In addition, despite any intellectual property protections in place, unauthorized parties may attempt to replicate or otherwise obtain and use the Group’s trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, products or technology. Identifying unauthorized use of intellectual property rights is difficult as the Group may be unable to effectively monitor and evaluate the products being distributed by its competitors, including parties such as illegal distributers, and the processes used to produce such products. The Group makes no assurance that it will successfully identify unauthorized replication, acquisition or use of the Group’s trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, products, or technology before the effects of such actions cause a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects.

 

 

The Common Shares and Warrants began trading on the CSE on November 5, 2019 and November 19, 2019, respectively. The Common Shares began trading on Nasdaq on March 1, 2021.

 

The Company is subject to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq and the CSE. Further, in order to maintain compliance with all continued listing requirements, the Company pays legal, accounting and compliance fees to advisors and regulatory organizations and will have to continue to pay additional fees if its Common Shares remain listed on Nasdaq. Any changes to rules, regulations policies or guidelines issued by regulatory authorities may impact any such fees paid and increase the risk of non-compliance. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to comply with the applicable Nasdaq or CSE continued listing standards within any projected timeframes, or at all, and maintain listing status on either Nasdaq or CSE.

 

The Company was previously subject to a deficiency notice from Nasdaq that was adequately resolved via a share consolidation conducted by the company. Any failure to comply with applicable continued listing requirements and regulations may result in the delisting of the Company’s Common Shares and/or Warrants from the CSE and/or the Company’s Common Shares from Nasdaq. Such events may have material adverse effects on the Company’s business and financial condition.

 

 

Sales of a substantial number of Common Shares or other equity-related securities in the public markets by the Company or its shareholders could depress the market price of the Company’s securities and impair the Company’s ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. The Company cannot predict the effect that future sales of Common Shares or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of the Common Shares. The price of the Common Shares could be affected by possible sales of the Common Shares by hedging or arbitrage trading activity.

 

 

The Company may issue additional securities in the future, which may dilute a shareholder’s holdings, or a holder of a convertible security’s underlying relative interest, in the Company. The Company’s articles permit the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares, and shareholders will have no pre-emptive rights in connection with any such further issuance. The directors of the Company have discretion to determine the price and the terms of further issuances, subject to applicable stock exchange policies. Moreover, additional Common Shares will be issued by the Company on the full exercise of Options, Broker Compensation Options, RSUs and Warrants, issued or to be issued by the Company in the future, and the exercise of any resulting convertible securities of such as applicable.

 

As of the date of this Annual Report, the issuances of Options are limited by the Option cap set as 10% of the outstanding Common Shares (on a non-diluted basis) on each grant date of an option (the “Option Cap”). Subject to shareholder approval, the Option Cap may be increased to a higher percentage of Common Shares issued and outstanding. As a result, additional dilution may occur if more options are issued under an increased Option Cap.

 

Additionally, on March 31, 2021, the Company filed the Final Shelf Prospectus, which allows the Company to offer for sale up to US$250,000,000 in Qualified Securities of the Company for an effective period of 25 months. Any issuances of Qualified Securities under a supplement to the Final Shelf Prospectus may dilute a shareholder’s holdings or a holder of a convertible security’s underlying relative interest, in the Company.

 

 

IMC is a holding company. Substantially all of the Company’s operating assets are the capital stock of its subsidiaries and arrangements with investees. Substantially all of the Company’s business is conducted through subsidiaries or investees, which are separate legal entities. Consequently, the Company’s cash flows and ability to pursue future business and expansion opportunities are dependent on the earnings of its subsidiaries and investees and the distribution of those earnings to the Company. The ability of these entities to pay dividends and other distributions will depend on their operating results and will be subject to applicable laws and regulations which require that solvency and capital standards be maintained by such companies and contractual restrictions contained in the instruments governing their debt. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of the Company’s subsidiaries, holders of indebtedness and trade creditors will generally be entitled to payment of their claims from the assets of those subsidiaries before any assets are made available for distribution to the Company.

 

 

The Company has not paid any dividends on the outstanding Common Shares, and the Company maintains no current intention to declare dividends on the Common Shares in the foreseeable future. Any decision to pay dividends on the Common Shares in the future will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend on, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, current and anticipated cash requirements and surplus, financial condition, any future contractual restrictions and financing agreement covenants, solvency tests imposed by corporate law and other factors that the Board may deem relevant.

 

 

The market price of the Common Shares and Warrants may fluctuate to a wide degree as a result of a number of factors, including without limitation market conditions, financial analyst predictions, changes in law, press releases and public filings of the Company, operational activity and results and competitor activity. In particular, the dual-listing of the Common Shares on the CSE and the Nasdaq may result in higher volatility as a result of the exposure to both U.S. and Canadian financial market conditions. Overall, such factors, whether related or unrelated to operational performance of the Company, may cause a temporary or non-temporary negative pressure on prices of the Company’s securities or assets. If the negative pressure on prices arising from these factors persist, impairment losses may be recorded and the Company could experience a material adverse effect on its operations, financial condition and operating results.

 

 

Effective internal controls are required for the Company to provide reasonable assurance that its financial results and other financial information are accurate and reliable. Any failure to design, develop or maintain effective controls, or difficulties encountered in implementing, improving or remediation lapses in internal controls may affect the Company’s ability to prevent fraud, detect material misstatements, and fulfill our reporting obligations. As a result, investors may lose confidence in the Company’s ability to report timely, accurate and reliable financial and other information, which may expose the Company to certain legal or regulatory actions, thus negatively impacting its business and financial condition, including the liquidity and/or market value of its securities.

 

 

Despite the listing of the Common Shares and Warrants on public exchanges, there is no guarantee to security holders that the securities will be sufficiently liquid to any degree without a substantial decrease in price, particularly if selling significant quantities within a short time frame. Accordingly, there is a possibility that a lack of liquidity may cause difficulty for security holders to re-sell securities at desired prices.

 

 

The Group may be owed current or long-term debts such as accounts receivables over the course of its operations. As a result, the Group may be exposed to the risk of debtor defaults on payments as they come due. The Company makes no guarantee on the level of credit risk that it will hold at any given time but intends to minimize this risk as determined by the Board.

 

 

The Group is subject to the inherent risk that it will not be able to pay its financial obligations as they become due. In light of its recent negative cash flows, the Company monitor liquidity risk carefully and plan its liquid holdings strategically to avoid any payment defaults.

 

The Group’s liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they become due. As The Group manage its liquidity risk by reviewing its capital requirements on an ongoing basis.

 

 

Market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. Market risk includes exchange rate risk and interest rate risk.

 

Exchange rate risk is the risk of loss arising from changes to foreign exchange rates. As the Group is a party to certain international contracts that require the Group to make or receive payments in foreign currencies, there is a risk that losses will be incurred if there is an adverse shift in exchange rates.

 

Interest rate risk pertains to the risk of loss arising from changes in prevailing interest rates. Any increases in prevailing interest rates may increase interest expenses paid by the Group on any long-term debt.

 

 

An economic downturn of global capital markets has been shown to make the raising of capital by equity or debt financing more difficult. The Company will be dependent upon the capital markets to raise additional financing in the future, while it continues to develop its operations. As such, the Company is subject to liquidity risks in meeting its development and future operating cost requirements in instances where cash positions are unable to be maintained or appropriate financing is unavailable. These factors may impact the Company’s ability to raise equity or obtain loans and other credit facilities in the future and on terms favorable to the Company and its management. If uncertain market conditions persist, the Company’s ability to raise capital could be jeopardized, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s operations and the trading price of the Company’s securities.

 

Future crises may be precipitated by any number of causes, including natural disasters, public health crises, geopolitical instability, war, natural disasters, changes to energy prices or sovereign defaults. These factors may impact the ability of the Company to obtain equity or debt financing in the future and, if obtained, on terms favorable to the Company. Increased levels of volatility and market turmoil can adversely impact the Group’s operations and the value, and the price of the Common Shares and/or Warrants could be adversely affected.

 

In addition, there is a risk that one or more of the Group’s current service providers may themselves be adversely impacted by difficult economic circumstances, which could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

 

The Group maintains various types of insurance which may include product liability insurance (see “Potential Product Liability” below), errors and omission insurance, directors and officers’ insurance, trustees’ insurance, property coverage and general commercial insurance. There is no assurance that claims will not exceed the limits of available coverage, that any insurer will remain solvent or willing to continue providing insurance coverage with sufficient limits or at a reasonable cost; or, that any insurer will not dispute coverage of certain claims due to ambiguities in the policies. A judgment against any member of the Group in excess of available coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Group in terms of damages awarded and negatively impact the reputation of the Group.

 

 

The insurance purchased by the Group cannot cover all risks that the Group is exposed to. Additionally, some insurance policies are outside of budget limitations and are therefore elected to be excluded. There is no guarantee that any insurance coverage maintained by any member(s) of the Group will sufficiently cover any or all liabilities incurred by that Group member. Any uninsured amounts of liabilities incurred by member(s) of the Group may be paid directly by such members. Accordingly, such direct payments may have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

 

Focus, Adjupharm and the Israeli Licensed Companies are producers and/or importer and/or distributors and/or sellers of products designed to be ingested or inhaled by humans. Such products face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation if such products are alleged to have caused significant loss or injury. In addition, the manufacture and sale of such products involve the risk of injury or loss to consumers or patients due to tampering by unauthorized third parties, product contamination, unauthorized use by consumers or patients or other third parties. Previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption of cannabis products alone or in combination with other medications or substances could occur.

 

The Group may be subject to various product liability claims, including, among others, that products manufactured, imported, distributed, stored or sold by the Group or bearing one of the Group’s brands caused injury, illness or loss, include inadequate instructions for use or include inadequate warnings concerning possible side effects or interactions with other substances. A product liability claim or regulatory action against the Group could result in increased costs, could adversely affect the Group’s reputation with its clients, patients and consumers generally, and could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

There can be no assurances that the Group will be able to obtain or maintain product liability insurance on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities. Such insurance is expensive and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. The inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage on reasonable terms or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of the Group’s products.

 

 

Certain members and/or representatives of the Group are parties to certain legal proceedings or investigations, including the Construction Allegations and Proceedings, and certain legal proceedings as described in “Legal Proceedings” below. Should such Group members and/or representatives fail to receive favorable decisions at the conclusion of these legal proceedings or incur significant costs in litigation thereof, the Group’s business, financial condition or operating results may be subject to a material adverse effect.

 

Members and/or representatives of the Group are or may become parties to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business that could adversely affect its business. Should any litigation in which the Group members and/or representatives become involved be determined against such Group members and/or representatives, such a decision could adversely affect the Group’s ability to continue operating and the market price for the Common Shares and/or Warrants. Even if such Group members and/or representatives are involved in litigation and win, the litigation process can consume significant resources of the Group.

 

 

The quality and safety of the Group’s products and products purchased from third party suppliers are critical to the success of the Group’s business and operations. As such, it is imperative that the Group’s (and its service providers’) quality control systems operate effectively and successfully. Quality control systems can be negatively impacted by the design of the quality control systems, the quality training program, and adherence by employees to quality control guidelines. Although the Group strives to ensure that it and all of its service providers have implemented and adhere to high calibre quality control systems, the Group could experience a significant failure or deterioration of such quality control systems. A failure of the Group’s quality control systems could result in significant costs incurred in replacing, destroying or repurposing defective inventory, providing replacement products to its customers or recalling such products. The Group may be unable to meet customer demand and may lose customers who have to purchase alternative brands or products. In addition, consumers may lose confidence in the Group’s brands whether affected or not and such brand reputation may be materially damaged. Any loss of sales volume from a contamination event may affect the Group’s ability to fulfill its contractual obligations. During this time, the Group’s competitors may benefit from an increased market share that could be difficult and costly to regain.

 

 

Manufacturers and distributors of products are sometimes subject to the recall or return of their products for a variety of reasons, including product defects, such as contamination, unintended harmful side effects or interactions with other substances, packaging safety and inadequate or inaccurate labeling disclosure. If products are recalled due to an alleged product defect or for any other reason, the Group could be required to incur the unexpected expense of the recall and any legal proceedings that might arise in connection with the recall.

 

The Group may lose a significant amount of sales and may not be able to replace those sales at an acceptable margin or at all. In addition, a product recall may require significant management attention.

 

Although the Group has detailed procedures in place for testing finished products, there can be no assurance that any quality, potency or contamination problems will be detected in time to avoid unforeseen product recalls, regulatory action or lawsuits. Additionally, if one of the Group’s significant brands were subject to recall, the image of that brand and the Group could be harmed. A recall for any one of the foregoing reasons could lead to decreased demand for the Group’s products and could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of the Group. Additionally, product recalls may lead to increased scrutiny of the Group’s operations by the applicable regulatory body, including but not limited to MOH or BfArM or other regulatory agencies, requiring further management attention and potential legal fees and other expenses.

 

 

The Group’s sales forecasts are largely dependent on the Group’s own market research. There is no assurance pertaining to the accuracy of the Group’s predictions regarding the cannabis industry. Any assumptions made in producing forecasts may be inaccurate as a result of external factors that are unpredictable to the Group. Such inaccuracies could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The Group’s business may be negatively impacted by a number of events that are beyond its control, including cyber-attacks, energy blackouts, pandemics, terrorist attacks, acts of war, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, fires, floods, ice storms or other catastrophic events. Further, the Group relies on certain suppliers and distribution partners whose businesses may be impacted by the occurrence of any of the foregoing events. Catastrophic events can evolve rapidly and their impacts can be difficult to predict. There can be no assurance that the occurrence of a catastrophic event or the associated consequences will not disrupt the Group’s operations, ability to carry on business or supply and distribution chains. In addition, liquidity and volatility, credit availability, market and financial conditions and cannabis cultivation, supply and distribution conditions, among other critical factors to the Group’s business, could change at any time as a result. These events and any associated consequences may cause a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Group. A catastrophic event, including an outbreak of infectious disease, a pandemic or a similar health threat, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or fear of any of the foregoing, could adversely impact the Group and its ability to maintain normal operations. Although the Group has taken proactive measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health and safety of its employees, to continue delivering high quality cannabis products to patients and to maintain its balance sheet, the current global uncertainty with respect to the spread of the COVID-19, the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic and local and international developments related thereto and its effect on the broader global economy and capital markets may impact the Group’s business in the coming months.

 

 

The Group is subject to a variety of laws and regulations domestically and internationally that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds of crime, including any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities internationally. In the event that any of the Group’s investments, or any proceeds thereof, any dividends or distributions therefrom, or any profits or revenues accruing from such investments were found to be contrary to money laundering legislation, such transactions may be viewed as proceeds of crime under one or more of the statutes noted above or any other applicable legislation. This could restrict have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

There is no guarantee that the Group will be able to effectively enforce any guarantees, indemnities or other security interests it may have. Should a bankruptcy or other similar event occur that precludes an investee from performing its obligations under an agreement with any member of the Group, the Group would have to enforce its security interest. In the event that the investee has insufficient assets to pay its liabilities, it is possible that other liabilities will be satisfied prior to the liabilities owed to the Group. In addition, bankruptcy or other similar proceedings are often a complex, lengthy and expensive process, the outcome of which may be uncertain and could result in a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

If the Group is unable to enforce its security interests due to any reasons including regulatory reasons related to its cannabis activity, there may be a material adverse effect on the Group.

 

 

The Company may be subject to various potential conflicts of interest because of the fact that some of its officers and directors may be engaged in a range of business activities. In some cases, the executive officers and directors may have fiduciary obligations associated with these business interests that interfere with their ability to devote time to the Company and its affairs, and that could adversely affect Company operations. These business interests could require significant time and attention of the Company’s executive officers and directors. In addition, the Company may also become involved in other transactions which conflict with the interests of the Company’s directors and officers who may from time to time deal with persons, firms, institutions or corporations with which the Company may be dealing, or which may be seeking investments similar to those the Company desires. The interests of these persons could conflict with the Company’s interests.

 

In addition, from time to time, these persons may be competing with the Company for available investment opportunities. Conflicts of interest, if any, will be subject to the procedures and remedies provided under applicable laws. In particular, in the event that such a conflict of interest arises at a meeting of directors, a director who has such a conflict will abstain from voting for or against the approval of such participation or such terms. In accordance with applicable laws, directors are required to act honestly, in good faith and in the Company’s best interests.

 

 

The Company is a “foreign private issuer”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”), and Rule 3b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). It is therefore not subject to the same requirements that are imposed upon U.S. domestic issuers by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Under the Exchange Act, the Company is subject to reporting obligations that, in certain respects, are less detailed and less frequent than those of U.S. domestic reporting companies. As a result, the Company does not file the same reports that a U.S. domestic issuer would file with the SEC, although the Company is required to file with or furnish to the SEC the continuous disclosure documents that it is required to file in Canada under Canadian securities laws. In addition, the Company’s officers, directors, and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Therefore, the Company’s shareholders may not know on as timely a basis when the Company’s officers, directors and principal shareholders purchase or sell Common Shares, as the reporting periods under the corresponding Canadian insider reporting requirements are longer.

 

As a foreign private issuer, the Company is exempt from the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act related to the furnishing and content of proxy statements. The Company is also exempt from Regulation FD, which prohibits issuers from making selective disclosures of material non-public information. While the Company complies with the corresponding requirements relating to proxy statements and disclosure of material non-public information under Canadian securities laws, these requirements differ from those under the Exchange Act and Regulation FD and shareholders should not expect to receive the same information at the same time as such information is provided by U.S. domestic companies. In addition, the Company may not be required under the Exchange Act to file annual and quarterly reports with the SEC as promptly as U.S. domestic companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

In addition, as a foreign private issuer, the Company has the option to follow certain Canadian corporate governance practices, except to the extent that such laws would be contrary to U.S. securities laws, and provided that the Company discloses the requirements it is not following and describes the Canadian practices it follows instead. The Company may in the future elect to follow home country practices in Canada with regard to certain corporate governance matters. As a result, the Company’s shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of U.S. domestic companies that are subject to all corporate governance requirements.

 

 

In order to maintain its status as a foreign private issuer, a majority of the Company’s Common Shares must be either directly or indirectly owned by non-residents of the U.S. unless the Company also satisfies one of the additional requirements necessary to preserve this status. The Company may in the future lose its foreign private issuer status if a majority of its Common Shares are held in the U.S. and if the Company fails to meet the additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of its foreign private issuer status. The regulatory and compliance costs under U.S. federal securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly more than the costs incurred as a foreign private issuer. If the Company is not a foreign private issuer, it would not be eligible to use the MJDS or other foreign issuer forms and would be required to file periodic and current reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. In addition, the Company may lose the ability to rely upon exemptions from Nasdaq corporate governance requirements that are available to foreign private issuers.

 

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in section 3(a) of the Exchange Act (as amended by the JOBS Act, enacted on April 5, 2012), and the Company will continue to qualify as an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of: (a) the last day of the fiscal year during which the Company has total annual gross revenues of US$1,235,000,000 (as such amount is indexed for inflation every five years by the SEC) or more; (b) the last day of the fiscal year of the Company following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of common equity securities of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act; (c) the date on which the Company has, during the previous three year period, issued more than US$1,000,000,000 in non-convertible debt; and (d) the date on which the Company is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer”, as defined in Rule 12b–2 under the Exchange Act. The Company will qualify as a large accelerated filer (and would cease to be an emerging growth company) at such time when on the last business day of its second fiscal quarter of such year the aggregate worldwide market value of its common equity held by non-affiliates will be US$700,000,000 or more.

 

For so long as the Company remains an emerging growth company, it is permitted to and intends to rely upon exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company cannot predict whether investors will find the Common Shares less attractive because the Company relies upon certain of these exemptions. If some investors find the Common Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for the Common Shares and the Common Share price may be more volatile. On the other hand, if the Company no longer qualifies as an emerging growth company, the Company would be required to divert additional management time and attention from the Company’s development and other business activities and incur increased legal and financial costs to comply with the additional associated reporting requirements, which could negatively impact the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The Group currently has assets and operations in Israel and Germany and transact business in such jurisdictions and in additional jurisdictions such as Canada in the local currency.  As of December 31, 2022, a portion of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities held in NIS, Euros, Canadian and U.S. dollars consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Group’s objective in managing its foreign currency risk is to minimize its net exposure to foreign currency cash flows by transacting, to the greatest extent possible, with third parties as applicable. The Group's objective in managing its foreign currency risk is to minimize its net exposure to foreign currency cash flows by transacting, to the greatest extent possible, with third parties in NIS. The Group does not currently use foreign exchange contracts to hedge its exposure of its foreign currency cash flows as management has determined that this risk is not significant at this point of time. Currency fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

The Company’s investments in unlisted shares are sensitive to the market price risk arising from uncertainties about the future value of these investments. The Company manages the price risk through diversification and tight management attention. The Board reviews and approves all decisions related to investments in shares.

 

 

The first part of 2022 has seen significantly higher levels of volatility in global markets due to market participants’ reactions to, and uncertainty surrounding, the magnitude and timing of government and central bank action to be taken in response to heightened inflation, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This volatility has resulted in a decline in the level of activity in the financial markets. Continued market volatility or uncertainty related to actions taken or to be taken by central banks, a decline in the global macroeconomic outlook, including as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat, or outbreak of more widespread armed conflict in Eastern Europe would cause financial market activity to continue to decrease, which would negatively affect the Group’s revenues and capital markets activity.

 

 

During February and March 2023, Israel is undergoing political and social instability relating to the judicial and legislative reforms proposed by the newly elected government, creating certain instability and uncertainty. This instability which has a certain effect on the activity of the financial markets may cause material impact on the Groups’ ability to operate in the Israeli market, which derives, among other, from: exposure to currency exchange rate and interest rate, reduced sales due to disruptive days and lower probability for capital investments.

 

On February 22, 2023, the Monitor issued the Monitor’s Third Report in respect of the CCAA Proceedings advising, among other things, that (i) no qualified bids were received pursuant to the SISP, (ii) L5 informed the Trichome Group that it would not be completing the transaction contemplated by the Stalking Horse Purchase Agreement and, as a result, the Trichome Group terminated the Stalking Horse Purchase Agreement, and (iii) the Monitor continues to market for sale the Trichome Group’s business and assets, including the brands and other intellectual property owned by the Trichome Group. As a direct or indirect shareholder of the entities that make up the Trichome Group, the Company is subject to the priorities of other stakeholders in the CCAA proceedings and will likely realize no return in the restructure of the Trichome Group business.

 

ITEM 4.          INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

 

A.          History and Development of the Company

 

 

The Company was incorporated as “Nirvana Oil & Gas Ltd.” pursuant to a Certificate of Incorporation issued under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”) on March 7, 1980.  Since 2019, the Company is acting in the medical cannabis industry.

 

The Company’s Common Shares trade under the ticker symbol “IMCC” on both the Nasdaq and the CSE as of March 1, 2021 and November 5, 2019, respectively.

 

On June 22, 2018, the Company completed a consolidation of its Common Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Common Share for every five pre-consolidation Common Shares.

 

 

DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

 

On January 19, 2022, Focus imported premium indoor-grown Canadian cannabis flowers from TJAC, and an additional supply partner. The Group commenced the sale of imported cannabis flowers under its WAGNERS™ brand in the Israeli medical cannabis market as of February 2022.

In January 2022, Focus entered into a revolving credit facility with an Israeli bank, Bank Mizrahi (the “Mizrahi Facility”). The Mizrahi Facility is guaranteed by Focus assets. Advances from the Mizrahi Facility will be used for working capital needs. The Mizrahi Facility has a total commitment of up to NIS 15 million (approximately $6,000,000) and has a one-year term for on-going needs and 6 months term for imports and purchases needs. The Mizrahi Facility is renewable upon mutual agreement by the parties. The borrowing base available for draw at any time throughout the Mizrahi Facility and is subject to several covenants to be measured on a quarterly basis (the “Mizrahi Facility Covenants”). The Mizrahi Facility bears interest at the Israeli Prime interest rate plus 1.5% (6.25% per annum as of December 31, 2022). As of December 31, 2022, Focus did not meet certain covenants under the Mizrahi Facility. The Company's CEO and director, provided to the bank a personal guarantee in the amount of the outstanding borrowed amount, allowing the Mizrahi Facility to remain effective. As of December 31, 2022 Focus withdrew $5,084,000.

 

On March 14, 2022, pursuant to an agreement entered into on July 28, 2021, IMC Holdings completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Pharm Yarok, a leading medical cannabis pharmacy located in central Israel, and Rosen High Way, a trade and distribution center providing medical cannabis storage, distribution services and logistics solutions for cannabis companies and pharmacies in Israel (collectively, the “Pharm Yarok Transaction”). The Pharm Yarok Transaction closed upon receipt of all requisite approvals, including the IMCA approval, for an aggregate consideration of NIS 11,900,000 (approximately $4,600,000), of which NIS 8,400,000 (approximately $3,300,000) was paid in cash upon signing the definitive agreement, and NIS 3,500,000 (approximately $1,300,000) paid upon closing. As part of the Pharm Yarok Transaction, the Company also acquired 100% of the shares of and HW Shinua, an applicant for a medical cannabis transportation license, for no additional payment, however the completion of such acquisition is pending receipt of the requisite approval from the IMCA. In connection with closing of the Pharm Yarok Transaction, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement with former shareholders of Pharm Yarok and Rosen High Way on March 14, 2022. A total of 523,700 Common Shares were issued at a deemed price of $2.616 for aggregate proceeds of approximately $1,370,000. The calculation of the deemed price was based on the average closing price of Common Shares on the CSE over the 8 trading day period immediately preceding March 14, 2022.

On March 14, 2022, pursuant to an agreement entered into on August 16, 2021, IMC Holdings completed the acquisition of 51% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Vironna (the “Vironna Transaction”), a pharmacy licensed to dispense and sell medical cannabis and is one of the leading pharmacies serving patients in the Arab population in Israel. The Vironna Transaction closed upon receipt of all requisite approvals, including the approval of the IMCA. The Vironna Transaction was completed for total consideration of NIS 8,500,000 (approximately $3,330,000), comprised of NIS 5,000,000 (approximately $1,950,000) in cash and NIS 3,500,000 (approximately $1,350,000) in Common Shares issued on closing. In satisfaction of the cash consideration component, NIS 3,750,000 (approximately $1,470,000) was paid at signing of the definitive agreement and the remaining NIS 1,250,000 (approximately $490,000) was paid post-closing of the Vironna Transaction and during the first quarter of 2023. In satisfaction of the share consideration component, the Company issued 485,362 Common Shares at a deemed issue price of US$2.209 per share (approximately $2.8092), calculated based on the average closing price of the Common Shares of on the NASDAQ for the 14 trading day period immediately preceding closing. The shares issued were subject to a staggered three-month lockup commencing on the date of issuance.

On March 14, 2022, IMC Holdings acquired a medical cannabis storage and distribution license (trading house) from Panaxia (the “Panaxia GDP License”) as part of the Panaxia Transaction, following receipt of the requisite IMCA approval, and assigned it to IMC Pharma in accordance with the terms of the Panaxia Transaction.

 

The Panaxia Transaction (the “Panaxia Transaction”) is further described in the Company’s annual information form dated March 31, 2022 that is available on the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. For further information on the Panaxia Transaction please see “Events Following the Financial Year Ended December 31, 2022” section below.

 

 

On March 28, 2022, pursuant to an agreement entered into on December 1, 2021, IMC Holdings completed the acquisition of 51.3% of the outstanding ordinary shares of Oranim Plus, who holds 99.5% of the rights in the partnership “Oranim Pharm”, resulting in IMC Holdings owning 51% of the rights in “Oranim Pharm”, which is one of the largest pharmacies selling medical cannabis in Israel and the largest pharmacy selling medical cannabis in the Jerusalem area (the “Oranim Transaction”). The Oranim Transaction closed upon receipt of all requisite approvals, including the approval of the IMCA. The Oranim Transaction was completed for total consideration of NIS 11,940,000 (approximately $4,600,000), comprised of NIS 10,404,000 (approximately $4,000,000) and NIS 1,536,000 (approximately $600,000) in Common Shares issued on closing. In satisfaction of the cash consideration component, NIS 5,202,000 (approximately $2,000,000) paid at signing of the definitive agreement and NIS 5,202,000 will be payable in several installments throughout 2023 and until February 15, 2024. In satisfaction of the share consideration component, the Company issued 251,001 Common Shares at a deemed issue price of US$1.90 per share (approximately $2.37), calculated based on the average closing price of the Common Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market for the 14 trading day period immediately preceding March 28, 2022. The shares issued were subject to a staggered three-month lockup commencing on the date of issuance.

 

 

On April 6, 2022, the Company announced new strategic imperatives designed to enhance organizational efficiency and reduce operating costs while further responding to the increased demand for premium, indoor-grown Canadian cannabis from Israeli consumers. As part of these changes, In Q2 2022, the Company closed its cultivation facility in Sde Avraham, Israel (the “Focus Facility”) to concentrate on leveraging its skilled sourcing team and strategic alliances with Canadian suppliers. In July 2022, Focus Medical received an IMCA license which allows it to continue to import cannabis products and supply medical cannabis to patients through licensed pharmacies despite the closure of the Focus Facility (the “Focus New License”). To supplement growing demand, the Company plans to continue its relationships with third-party cultivation facilities in Israel for the propagation and cultivation of the Company’s existing proprietary genetics and for the development of new products.

 

 

On April 4, 2022, the Company issued a Notice of Event of Default and Acceleration (the “Notice of Default”) to Biome Grow Inc. (the “Guarantor”) and its subsidiary, Cultivator Catalyst Corp. (together with the Guarantor, the “Obligors”), for a total outstanding principal plus accrued and unpaid interest of approximately $2,680 (the “Biome Loan”). The Company issued the Notice of Default after several failed attempts to engage the Obligors regarding an extension and repayment of the Biome Loan.

On April 20, 2022, the Company issued a demand letter to the Obligors seeking immediate payment, along with a Notice to Enforce Security pursuant to section 244 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada). On May 3, 2022, MYM filed an application with the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario (the “Superior Court”) to appoint a receiver to take control of the Obligors’ assets, including the security, to effect repayment of the Biome Loan.

The Biome Loan and related security agreements were entered into in July 2020, approximately one year prior to the Company’s acquisition of MYM. As part of the Biome Loan, the Obligors agreed to repay all outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest no later than January 31, 2022. The amount of the Biome Loan and interest payable is secured by assets held in escrow by the Obligors pursuant to a general security agreement (the “Collateral”).

On May 12, 2022, the Company applied to and received from the Superior Court an interim order to, among other things, freeze the assets of the Obligors including the assets, which comprise MYM’s Collateral for the Biome Loan. MYM has applied to the Superior Court, which granted MYM’s request for the receivership of the assets of the Obligors and has scheduled an in-person hearing for the receivership application on September 12, 2022.

In September 2022, MYM and the Obligors reached an agreement and signed a term sheet for the settlement of the receivership application and amendment to the Biome Loan (the “Biome Term Sheet”). The Biome Term Sheet was signed on September 9, 2022, prior to the September 12, 2022 in-person receivership application hearing with the Superior Court. The Superior Court approved the adjournment of the receivership application, pending the implementation of the settlement outlined in the Biome Term Sheet, pursuant to which, the Biome Loan will continue to bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum on the principal balance of the Biome Loan, compounding every four months on the aggregate balance of the outstanding principal balance plus all accrued and unpaid interest (the “Indebtedness”). The Biome Loan matures December 9, 2023 unless extended through mutual agreement by both parties.

Based on the Biome Term Sheet, the Obligors are required to make a payment to MYM on December 31, 2022. The value of the payment on December 31, 2022 will depend on the volume weighted average price (the “VWAP”) of the Company’s common shares during the final ten trading days of November 2022. The repayment will be 5% or 10% of the total Indebtedness, depending on the VWAP over that period of time.

On October 4, 2022, a loan amendment agreement (“Settlement Agreement”) was executed in line with the terms noted in the Biome Term Sheet.

The Obligors did not make payment to MYM on December 31, 2022 as required under the Biome Settlement Agreement and the parties are discussing modifications to the Settlement Agreement. As a result of the Settlement Agreement, the Biome Loan was considered extinguished under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and a gain of $239 was recognized during 2022. As of November 7, 2022 the Biome Loan is deconsolidated as part of the deconsolidation of Trichome.

 

In order to maintain the listing of the Common Shares on the Nasdaq, the Company must comply with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements which require, amongst other things, that the Common Shares maintain a minimum bid price of at least US$1.00 per share (the “Minimum Share Price Listing Requirement”)

 

On July 13, 2022, the Company received written notification from Nasdaq (the “Notification Letter”) that the closing bid price of the Common Shares had fallen below US$1.00 per share over a period of 30 consecutive business days, with the result that the Company was not in compliance with the Minimum Share Price Listing Requirement. The Notification Letter provided that the Company had until January 9, 2023, being 180 calendar days following receipt of such notice to regain compliance with the Minimum Share Price Listing Requirement.

 

On October 20, 2022, the Company obtained shareholder approval for the consolidation of the Common Shares on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation Common Share for each ten (10) pre-consolidation Common Shares at the Company’s annual and special meeting of shareholders held on October 20, 2022.

 

On November 17, 2022 the 2022 Consolidation was effected and the Company regained compliance with the Minimum Share Price Listing Requirement on December 5, 2022. Following the Consolidation (or reverse split), the Common Shares continued to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “IMCC”.

 

 

On August 5, 2022, the Company commenced a restructuring plan in Canada through which it is taking a disciplined approach to spending and implementing cost efficiencies (the “Canadian Restructuring”). The Company entered into an agreement to sell all of the issued and outstanding shares of Sublime on an “as is, where is” basis to a group of purchasers that included current and former members of the Sublime management team for aggregate proceeds of approximately $100,000 less working capital adjustments, for a final net purchase price of $89,000 (the “Sublime Transaction”). The Sublime Transaction included the sale of Sublime’s lease obligation of the approximately 930 square metre cultivation and storage facility and Sublime’s related operations.

 

The Canadian Restructuring also included halting cultivation at the facility operated by Highland in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, which continues to be used for packaging and storage, and a workforce reduction throughout its Canadian operations.

 

On November 7, 2022, in connection with the Company’s efforts to achieve operational efficiencies, the Company announced that it is pivoting its focus and resources on growth in its highest value markets in Israel and Germany while also commencing its exit from the Canadian cannabis market as part of the Canadian Restructuring. With this move, the Company aims for a leaner organization with a primary focus on achieving profitability in 2023.

 

The Canadian operations are held through the Trichome Group and being orderly wound-down under CCAA pursuant to an initial order of the Court issued on November 7, 2022 (as amended and restated by an order made by the Court on November 17, 2022, the “Initial Order”). The Initial Order includes a broad stay (as extended from time to time, the “Stay”) of all proceedings against the Trichome Group and its assets. Pursuant to the Initial Order, KSV Restructuring Inc. was appointed as monitor (the “Monitor”) in the CCAA Proceedings.

 

In connection with the CCAA Proceedings, TJAC, as borrower (the “Borrower”), the remaining members of the Trichome Group, as guarantors and Cortland Credit Lending Corporation, as agent for and on behalf of itself and certain lenders (the “DIP Lender”), entered into a debtor-in-possession facility agreement dated November 6, 2022 (as amended, the “DIP Agreement”). Pursuant to the DIP Agreement, the DIP Lender has agreed to provide a super-priority interim revolving credit facility (subject to certain mandatory repayment provisions) to the Borrower (the “DIP Facility”). In accordance with the DIP Agreement, the DIP Facility is to be used during the CCAA Proceedings by the Borrower to fund its working capital needs. The DIP Facility is subject to customary covenants, conditions precedent, and representations and warranties made by the Trichome Group to the DIP Lender. The current DIP Lender’s charge approved by the Court is up to the maximum amount of $4,875,000.

 

On January 9, 2023, the Court issued an order in the CCAA Proceedings in respect of a motion brought by the Trichome Group to approve, among other things: a sale and investment solicitation process (the “SISP”) in respect of the business and assets of the Trichome Group; and a stalking horse share purchase agreement (the “Stalking Horse Purchase Agreement”) between the Trichome Group and L5 Capital Inc. (“L5”) dated December 12, 2022. The SISP established a process to solicit interest for investments in, or the sale of any or all of the, Trichome Group’s business and assets.

 

On February 22, 2023, the Monitor issued a report (the “Monitor’s Third Report”) in the CCAA Proceedings advising, among other things, that (i) no qualified bids were received pursuant to the SISP, (ii) L5 informed the Trichome Group that it would not be completing the transaction contemplated by the Stalking Horse Purchase Agreement and, as a result, the Trichome Group terminated the Stalking Horse Purchase Agreement, and (iii) the Monitor continues to market for sale the Trichome Group’s business and assets, including the brands and other intellectual property owned by the Trichome Group.

 

The Monitor’s Third Report also reported on the financial situation of the Trichome Group advising that due to the Trichome Group’s financial performance and the termination of the Stalking Horse Purchase Agreement, the DIP Lender informed the Trichome Group that the DIP Lender would only fund expenses required for a wind-down of the Trichome Group’s business and as such, the Trichome Group will not have the ability to pay unpaid payables that are not required to be paid in connection with the wind-down. The Trichome Group has advised that it will not purchase additional goods or services without the prior consent of the Monitor.

 

Most recently, on March 9, 2023, the Court issued an order extending the Stay until April 21, 2023 in order to allow the Trichome Group to complete the orderly wound-down of its operations.

 

 

On August 19, 2022, the Company announced a non-brokered private placement offering of Common Shares (the “2022 Private Placement”) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to US$5,000 led by the Company’s management and executive team.

 

On August 24, 2022, the Company announced that it closed the first tranche of the 2022 Private Placement, consisting of 488,749 Common Shares at a price of US$5.00 per Common Share for aggregate proceeds of approximately US$2,444,000. Certain insiders of the Company, including its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Director and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), among others, subscribed for an aggregate of 156,349 Common Shares in the first tranche of the 2022 Private Placement for aggregate proceeds of approximately US$782,000.

 

On October 6, 2022, the Company announced that it closed the second tranche of the 2022 Private Placement of 111,250 Common Shares at a price of US$5.00 per Common Share for aggregate proceeds of approximately US$556,000 increasing the total amount raised from the 2022 Private Placement to approximately US$3,000,000. Marc Lustig, Executive Chairman and Director of the Company, subscribed for 111,250 Common Shares in the second tranche for aggregate proceeds of US$556,000.

 

 

On September 13, 2022, the Company announced that Einat Zakariya and Moti Marcus were appointed to the Board. Einat Zakariya and Moti Marcus replaced Vivian Bercovici and Haleli Barath, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.

 

Einat Zakariya is the current CEO and partner of LIV collection, a brand subsidiary of Ewave Holdings Ltd., and CEO and Partner of Ewave Nadlan International Investments Ltd. Ms. Zakariya has proven expertise in the real-estate industry and brings vast experience in CEO roles as well as strategic consulting, marketing, advertising, and sales. She previously sat on the boards of several major organizations.

 

Moti Marcus is the current CEO of Packer Quality Materials, one of the largest companies in Israel for the sale and processing of special and unique metals. Mr. Marcus has a strong track record in CFO roles, management, and mergers and acquisitions. He has served on the boards of several institutions and is a member of the Israel Ministry of Finance “Team of Select Directors.”

 

 

On September 15, 2022, the Company and SNDL Inc. (“SNDL”) announced that SNDL completed its initial international export of approximately 167 kilograms of premium dried flower from Canada to Israel as part of its total commitment with the Company. SNDL and the Company have agreed to the aggregate export of 1,000 kilograms of high-quality dried flower products for processing and distribution in the Israeli medical cannabis market, according to the terms and conditions of the agreement between the parties.

 

On October 11, 2022, IMC Holdings entered into a loan agreement with A.D.I. Car Alarms Stereo Systems Ltd (“ADI” and the “ADI Agreement”), to borrow a principal amount of NIS 10,500,000 (approximately $4,045,000) at an annual interest of 15% (the “ADI Loan”), which is to be repaid within 12 months of the date of the ADI Agreement. The ADI Loan is secured by a second rank land charge on the Logistic Centerof Adjupharm. In addition, the Company’s CEO and Director of the Company, provided a personal guarantee to ADI should the security not be sufficient to cover the repayment of the ADI Loan.

 

 

On October 12, 2022, the Company and Avant Brands Inc. (“Avant”) announced the signing of an international trademark licensing agreement (the “Licensing Agreement”) granting the Company the exclusive right to launch the BLKMKT™ brand in the Israeli medical cannabis market. Under the terms of the Licensing Agreement, a subsidiary of Avant will license the Company’s premium- cannabis flagship BLKMKT™ brand to an Israeli subsidiary of the Company for use on the Company’s medical cannabis product packaging. All such packaging will contain cannabis cultivated exclusively by Avant, and sold to the Company’s affiliates. The integration of unique and exclusive varieties of the high-quality BLKMKT™ brand into the Company’s current premium product portfolio will serve to bolster the cooperative and synergistic partnership forged between the Avant and the Company over the past two years. The Licensing Agreement signals the Company’s commitment to implementing a premium strategy and acts as another step to establish the Company’s leadership of the ultra-premium segment in Israel.

 

 

On October 20, 2022, the Company held an annual and special meeting at which time all matters put to shareholders were approved including, but not limited to, the election of directors to the Board, appointment of Kost Forer Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global as auditor of the Company, the adoption of new modernized articles of the Company, and the approval of the Consolidation, to be effected as and when determined by the Board. On November 17, 2022, the Consolidation was effected.

 

 

On November 29, 2022, the Company’s subsidiary, IMC Holdings entered into a convertible loan agreement (the “Telecana Loan Agreement”) with Telecana Ltd. (“Telecana”) and the sole shareholder of Telecana, whereby IMC Holdings will loan NIS 1,545,000 (approximately $595,000) to Telecana according to the following advance schedule: NIS 45 on January 15, 2023; NIS 250,000 on January 31, 2023; NIS 500,000 on February 28, 2023; NIS 500,000 on April 5, 2023; and NIS 250,000 on May 5, 2023. Telecana is in the advanced stages of opening a pharmacy, and intends to apply to the IMCA for a license to dispense medical cannabis products. Pursuant to the Telecana Loan Agreement, the loan can be converted into 51% of the share capital of Telecana at any time at the sole discretion of IMC Holdings.

 

EVENTS FOLLOWING THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

 

 

In January and February of 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of issued 2,828,248 units of the Company (each a “Unit”) at a price of US$1.25 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of US$3,535,000 in a series of closings pursuant to a non-brokered private placement offering to purchasers resident in Canada (except the Province of Quebec) and/or other qualifying jurisdictions relying on the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (the “LIFE Offering”). Each Unit consisted of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a “Warrant”), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Common Share at an exercise price of US$1.50 for a period of 36 months from the date of issue.

 

In addition, Marc Lustig, a non-independent director of the Company subscribed for an aggregate of 131,700 Units under the LIFE Offering at an aggregate subscription price of US$165,000. The director's subscription price was satisfied by the settlement of US$165,000 in debt owed by the Company to the director for certain consulting services previously rendered by the director to the Company.

 

 

Concurrent with the LIFE Offering, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,317,171 Units on a non-brokered private placement basis at a price of US$1.25 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of US$2,896,000 (the “Concurrent Offering”). The Concurrent Offering was led by insiders of the Company including the Company’s CEO. The Units offered under the Concurrent Offering were offered for sale to purchasers in all provinces and territories of Canada and jurisdictions outside Canada pursuant to available prospectus exemptions other than for the LIFE Offering exemption.

 

All Units issued under the Concurrent Offering were subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

 

 

On February 13, 2023, the Company announced that it reached an agreement, together with Panaxia, to terminate the option that the Company had, under the Panaxia Transaction, to acquire a pharmacy licensed to dispense and sell medical cannabis to patients, for no additional consideration. Under the agreement, the Company will not be required to make the fifth installment of approximately $262,000 of Common Shares owed by the Company to Panaxia under the Panaxia Transaction and will receive an agreed compensation amount of approximately $95 from Panaxia to be paid by Panaxia in services and cannabis inflorescence in accordance with the terms as agreed by the parties.

The consideration payable by the Company under the Panaxia Transaction was NIS 18,700 (approximately $7,200), comprised of $2,900,000 in cash, payable in two installments, and $4,300,000 in Common Shares, payable in five installments. To date, the Company preformed four installments as was previously announced on August 9, 2021, September 8, 2021, October 20, 2021, and November 18, 2021, respectively.

On March 8, 2023, subsequent to the reporting period, the Company announced its strategy plan in Israel in order to strengthen its focus on core activities and drive efficiencies to realize sustainable profitability. The Company expects to reduce its workforce in Israel by 20%-25% across all functions (including executives). All actions associated with the workforce reduction are expected to be substantially complete by mid-2023, subject to applicable Israeli law.

B.          Business Overview

 

IM Cannabis is an international cannabis company that is currently focused on providing premium cannabis products to medical patients in Israel and Germany, two of the world’s largest federally legal cannabis markets. Until recently, the Company was also actively servicing adult-use recreational consumers in Canada, however these operations are being discontinued. The Company leverages a transnational ecosystem powered by a unique data-driven approach and a globally sourced product supply chain. With an unwavering commitment to responsible growth and compliance with the strictest regulatory environments, the Company strives to amplify its commercial and brand power to become a global high-quality cannabis player.

In Israel, we continue to expand IMC brand recognition and supply the growing Israeli medical cannabis market with our branded products. The Company offers medical cannabis patients a rich variety of high-end medical cannabis products through strategic alliances with Canadian suppliers supported by a highly skilled sourcing team. In addition to the benefits of the Group’s long-term presence in Israel, we believe that with our strong sourcing infrastructure in Israel, and advanced product knowledge, regulatory expertise and strong commercial partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to address the ongoing needs and preferences of medical cannabis patients in Israel.

The Company entered additional segments of the medical cannabis value chain in Israel, namely the distribution and retail segments. The Company, through IMC Holdings, acquired three licensed pharmacies in 2022, the Israeli Pharmacies, each selling medical cannabis products to patients: (i) Oranim Plus, Israel’s largest pharmacy in Jerusalem and one of the largest in Israel, (ii) Vironna, a leading pharmacy in the Arab sector, and (iii) Pharm Yarok, the largest pharmacy in the Sharon plain area and the biggest call centerin the country.

As Part of the Panaxia Transaction, the Company has also acquired home-delivery services and an online retail footprint, operating under the name “Panaxia-to-the-Home”, which includes a customer service center and an Israeli medical cannabis distribution licensed center, from Panaxia Pharmaceutical Industries Israel Ltd. and Panaxia Logistics Ltd., part of the Panaxia Labs Israel, Ltd. group of companies (collectively, “Panaxia”).

The entrance into the new segments in Israel position IM Cannabis as a large distributor of medical cannabis in Israel. We are strategically focused on establishing and reinforcing a direct connection with medical cannabis patients, providing direct access to IM Cannabis products, obtaining and leveraging market data and gaining a deeper understanding of consumer preferences. The acquisition of the Israeli Pharmacies allows the Company to increase purchasing power with third-party product suppliers, offers potential synergies with our established call center and online operations, achieves higher margins on direct sales to patient and creates the opportunity for up-sales across a growing range of products.

In Europe, the Company operates in Germany through Adjupharm, its German subsidiary and EU-GMP certified medical cannabis producer and distributor. We continue to lay our foundation in Germany, which is currently the European market with the largest number of medical cannabis patients.¹ Leveraging our global supply chain, IM Cannabis continues to focus on growing its business in Germany to be well-positioned through brand recognition in preparation for future regulatory reforms.

Similar to Israel, the Company’s focus in Germany is to import premium dried cannabis from its supply partners, which we believe will satisfy the rapid growth in demand for high-THC premium cannabis across a variety of strains and qualities. In addition, Adjupharm sells cannabis extracts to meet the existing demand in the German market.

In the Company’s view, the strong sourcing infrastructure in Israel, powered by advanced product knowledge and regulatory expertise, will establish a competitive advantage in Germany ahead of proposals for the legalization of recreational cannabis. This is based on the premise that the German and Israeli markets share a number of common attributes such as robust commercial infrastructure, highly developed digital capabilities, favourable demographics and customer preferences.

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While the Company does not currently distribute products in other European countries, the Company intends to leverage the foundation established by Adjupharm, its state-of-the-art EU-GMP Logistics Center, its vast knowledge in the cannabis market and costumers’ preferences and its network of distribution partners to expand into other jurisdictions across the continent.

Adjupharm received a revised EU-GMP license in May 2022 that permits it to engage in additional production, cannabis testing and release activities. It allows Adjupharm to repackage bulk cannabis, to perform stability studies and offer such services to third parties.

In Canada, On November 7, 2022, the Company announced that it is pivoting its focus and resources to achieve sustainable and profitable growth in its highest value markets, Israel and Germany, while also commencing its exit from the Canadian cannabis market. The Canadian operations are currently being wound-down under the CCAA under the supervision of the Court. The CCAA Proceedings afford the Trichome group the stability and flexibility required to orderly wind-down its business and operations. The Trichome Group anticipates completing the wind-down by April 21, 2013.

The Company has exited its operations in Canada, and deconsolidated Trichome on November 7, 2022 pursuant to IFRS. The CCAA Proceedings are solely in respect of the Trichome Group. As such, the Company’s other assets or subsidiaries, including those in Israel and Germany, are not parties to the CCAA Proceedings.

For more information, please see - “Developments During the Financial Year Ended December 31, 2022” section above.

 

The Group does not currently have and is not in the process of developing marijuana-related activities in the U.S., even in U.S. states where such activity has been authorized within a state regulatory framework. As such, the Company is not and would not be considered in the future a “U.S. Marijuana Issuer” within the meaning set forth in CSA Staff Notice 51-352.

 

The IMC brand has established its reputation in Israel for quality and consistency over the past 10 years and more recently with new high-end, ultra-premium strains that have made it to the top-sellers list in pharmacies across the country. The Group maintains a portfolio of strains sold under the IMC umbrella from which popular medical cannabis dried flowers and full-spectrum cannabis extracts are produced. The Company launched the IMC brand in Germany in 2020.

 

The IMC brand offers four different product lines, leading with the Craft Collection which offers the highest quality Canadian craft cannabis flower and has established IMC as the leader of the super-premium segment in Israel.

The IMC brand offers four different product lines, leading with the Craft Collection which offers the highest quality Canadian craft cannabis flower and has established IMC as the leader of the super-premium segment in Israel.

The Craft Collection – The IMC brand’s super-premium product line with indoor-grown, hang-dried and hand-trimmed high-THC cannabis flowers. The Craft Collection includes exotic and unique cannabis strains such as Cherry Crasher, Peanut Butter MAC and Watermelon Zkittlez.

The Top-Shelf Collection – The newest addition to IMC’s brand portfolio, launched in September 2022 as IMC’s premium product line, offers indoor-grown, high-THC cannabis flowers with strains such as Lemon Rocket and Diesel Drift. Inspired by the 1970’s cannabis culture in America, the Top-Shelf Collection targets the growing segment of medical patients who are cannabis culture enthusiasts.

The Signature Collection – The IMC brand’s high-quality product line with greenhouse-grown or indoor grown, high-THC cannabis flowers. The Signature Collection currently includes well known cannabis dried flowers such as Roma®, Tel Aviv and London as well as Strawnana, an indoor-grown flower, and Sydney, the Company’s first high-CBD cannabis strain, both launched in Q3 2022.

 

In Germany, the Company sells IMC-branded dried flower products and full spectrum extracts. The medical cannabis products sold in the German market are branded generically as IMC to increase recognition of the Company’s brand in establishing a foothold with German healthcare professionals. The Company’s IMC-branded cannabis products were launched in Germany with one high-THC flower strain in 2020. In Q4 2021, Adjupharm launched another high-THC flower strain and two full spectrum extracts. In Q1 2022 Adjupharm launched a third strain, a high-CBD flower, to offer a more complete portfolio to German physicians and patients. In Q2 2022 the Company’s IMC Hindu Kush strain was the top selling T20 in the market, strengthening Adjupharm’s position as one of the top 10 cannabis companies in Germany. December 2022 was Adjupharm’s strongest sales month to date.

In July 2021, Adjupharm was recognized by the German Brand Institute with the “German Brand Award 2021”, recognizing its excellence in brand strategy and creation, communication, and integrated marketing. The Group’s competitive advantage in Germany lies in its track record, experience and brand reputation in Israel and proprietary data supporting the potential effectiveness of medical cannabis for the treatment of a variety of conditions.

 

 

Between our various geographies, the strategy for new products varies given that each market is at a different stage of development with respect to regulatory regimes, patient and customer preferences and adoption rates.

 

 

In Q4 2022, the Company launched the third product in the “Top Shelf” Collection, Tropicanna Gold, a super premium sativa flowers, which together with Diesel Drift and Lemon Rocket launched in Q3 2022, constitute a full super-premium high THC portfolio with sativa, hybrid and Indica strains.

 

The Company expect to launch in Q1 2023, two additional products under the “Top Shelf” Collection: Lucy Dreamz and Santa Cruz.

In Q4 2022, Golden Ghost was introduced to WAGNERS™  in Israel as it's first new cultivar since the launch of the WAGNERS™  brand in Israel in Q1 2022, and is the first out of three new cultivars for the WAGNERS™  brand to be further introduced in Q1 2023. In addition, in Q4 2022 the WAGNERS™  brand entered two new market segments with Dark Helmet pre-rolls, and Dark Helmet minis, a smaller size cannabis flowers with an even more affordable price offering of it's signature strain

In Q4 2022 the company launched the brand BLKMKT™™ as its second Canadian brand introduced into Israeli market, marking the next step in its extensive partnership with Avant Brands. The Canadian brand is designed to resonate with legacy consumers and experienced connoisseurs who only consume the highest-grade cannabis, has the highest price point in the Israeli market, raising the bar for ultra-premium cannabis in Israel once again.

 

The following table shows the sales figures in thousands of dollars for each category of products that accounted for 15% or more of the total consolidated revenue of the Company for the financial years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, derived from (a) sales to entities in which the Company maintains an investment accounted for by the equity method; (b) sales to customers, other than those referred to in (a); and (c) sales or transfers to controlling shareholders.

 

 

 

Over the last decade, Focus Medical was the primary cultivator of medical cannabis products sold under the IMC brand in the Israeli market. Until July 2022, Focus Medical held an IMCA license to cultivate medical cannabis at the Focus Facility. In Q2 2022, the Company closed the Focus Facility to concentrate on leveraging its skilled sourcing team and strategic alliances with Canadian suppliers as well as the import of medical cannabis from its Canadian Facilities. In July 2022, Focus Medical received the Focus New License which allows it to continue to import cannabis products and supply medical cannabis to patients through licensed pharmacies despite the closure of the Focus Facility. To supplement growing demand, the Company plans to continue its relationships with third-party cultivation facilities in Israel for the propagation and cultivation of the Company’s existing proprietary genetics and for the development of new products.

In addition, in July 2022, IMC Farms obtained a license from the IMCA which allows it, among others, to import cannabis products and supply medical cannabis to patients through licensed pharmacies.

Pursuant to the applicable Israeli cannabis regulations, following the cultivation or import of medical cannabis, medical cannabis products are then packaged by contracted GMP licensed producers of medical cannabis. The packaged medical cannabis products are then sold by the Group under the Company’s brands to local Israeli pharmacies directly or through contracted distributors.

 

Similar to Israel, the Company’s focus in Germany is to import premium dried cannabis from its supply partners, which we believe will satisfy the rapid growth in demand for high-THC premium cannabis across a variety of strains and qualities. In addition, Adjupharm sells cannabis extracts to meet the existing demand in the German market.

In the Company’s view, the strong sourcing infrastructure in Israel, powered by advanced product knowledge and regulatory expertise, will establish a competitive advantage in Germany ahead of proposals for the legalization of recreational cannabis. This is based on the premise that the German and Israeli markets share a number of common attributes such as robust commercial infrastructure, highly developed digital capabilities, favourable demographics and customer preferences.

While the Company does not currently distribute products in other European countries, the Company intends to leverage the foundation established by Adjupharm, its state-of-the-art EU-GMP Logistic Center, its vast knowledge in the cannabis market and costumers’ preferences and its network of distribution partners to expand into other jurisdictions across the continent in which medical cannabis is legal.

Adjupharm received a revised EU-GMP license in May 2022 that permits it to engage in additional production, cannabis testing and release activities. It allows Adjupharm to repackage bulk cannabis, to perform stability studies and offer such services to third parties.

 

The medical cannabis industry in which the Group operates is, and is expected to remain, very competitive. Cannabis companies compete primarily on a regional basis, and competition may vary significantly from region to region at any particular time. The cannabis sector is in a high growth phase, with market participants engaged in significant expansion across global legal jurisdictions. The Company is working to achieve a leadership position in the cannabis industry by taking advantage of IMC brand recognition, earning superior margins and leveraging its proprietary data and patient insights.

 

The Group faces competition in Israel from similar established medical cannabis brands and manufacturers in the domestic market. The Company expects that its experience and track record, attained via the combination of its operations over the past decade and IMC brand recognition, will distinguish its offerings from competitors in the Israeli market. In addition, the Company believes that with its integrated supply chain and indoor cultivation in Canada vis third parties suppliers, permitting the export of premium and super-premium cannabis products to Israel, it is uniquely positioned to address the needs of medical cannabis patients and customers.

 

The Company’s European operations will face competition from other entities licensed to cultivate, produce and distribute medical cannabis products in each respective jurisdiction. In Germany, Adjupharm will compete with a number of licensed manufacturers and distributors including currently established entities, expected new market entrants, and domestic producers of cannabis. Competitors vary from well-capitalized businesses with substantial operations and revenues to smaller or newer market entrants.

 

 

The Company relies on the licensing of its brand in Israel to widen its reach and offer branding, marketing and other related services to participants in the Israeli medical cannabis industry. The Group also plans to rely on the IMC brand to facilitate the distribution of cannabis products in international markets. The Group owns trademarks and trade secrets that allow it to serve a range of cannabis industry participants.

 

“IMC” is a registered trade name and trademark valid in Israel through May 2027, in Germany and in Portugal through the World Intellectual Property Organization through November 2027. In Canada, the Company applied for registration of the IMC name for use in connection with various food supplements, vitamins, minerals and proteins and is awaiting a response to its submissions. As of the date of this Annual Report, the pending trademark application has been examined by Canada Patent and Trademark Office. The opposition period ended on 19 March 2022 and the Company is waiting for registration.

 

In February 2022, the Company successfully completed the registration of its well-known medical cannabis brand strain “ROMA” as a trade name in Israel and is valid through July 2031. In addition, the Company commenced trademark applications for its new branding and the name “I AM Cannabis” in Israel.

 

TJAC has also commenced a trademark application for the name “WAGNERS” in Canada.

 

 

To operate its business, the Company must abide by applicable medical cannabis laws in those countries in which it operates, namely Israel  and Germany. Each jurisdiction has unique laws and regulations on the propagation, cultivation, production, distribution, use, import and export of medical cannabis products and the current regulatory frameworks continue to evolve. The Company cooperates with the regulatory authorities in those jurisdictions in which it operates to ensure that it is at all times in full compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

 

Israel

 

In Israel, cannabis is currently defined as a “dangerous drug” according to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance² (“DDO”) and the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (“Narcotics Convention”), to which Israel is a signatory. However, both the DDO and the Narcotics Convention allow for the use of cannabis for medical or research purposes under a supervised and controlled regime. The competent regulatory authority in Israel in all matters concerning the oversight, control and regulation of cannabis for medical production, consumption, and research in Israel is the IMCA, established by Government Res. No. 3069.³ The production, distribution and consumption of adult-use recreational cannabis products is currently illegal in Israel.

 

The use of cannabis is allowed for patients and for medical purposes, in respect of certain medical conditions, under a special approval of the MOH. Procedure 106⁴ of the IMCA sets out a list of medical conditions that are allowed to be treated with medical cannabis products. Such authorized medical conditions are examined and updated from time to time, and include, among others, cancer, pain, nausea, seizures, muscle spasms, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

 

In December 2017, the IMCA issued regulations that standardized the licensing process for any cannabis related activity (the “Road Map”).⁵ Pursuant to the Road Map, each operation in the medical cannabis field, including the propagation, cultivation, products manufacturing, storage and distribution to licensed pharmacies, and distribution from licensed pharmacies to licensed patients, requires compliance with the provisions of applicable laws, including the procurement of an appropriate license under the DDO from the IMCA and the maintenance of such license in good standing. Cannabis licenses may not be transferred, exchanged or assigned without the prior approval of the IMCA. The licenses are valid for a period of up to 3 years and can be renewed with the approval of the IMCA only.

 

The IMCA has issued a set of directives containing procedures and requirements for applicants for cannabis related activity licenses and has authorized certain entities to issue official certificates upon compliance with such directives. These directives include (i) Directive 150 (GSP Standard certification); (ii) Directive 151 (GAP Standard certification); (iii) Directive 152 (GMP Standard certification); and (iv) Directive 153 (GDP Standard certification). Regular and periodic examinations are conducted for licensed entities, in order to ensure compliance with the analytical standards and the level of quality required during each of the phases of production and distribution of medical cannabis.

 __________________________

 

The Narcotics Convention governs the import and export of cannabis between member countries. Since Israel is a member country, any export and import of cannabis is subject to the Narcotic Convention.

 

In October 2020, the IMCA issued an updated procedure, titled “Guidelines for Approval of Applications for Importation of Dangerous Drug of Cannabis Type for Medical Use and for Research” (“Procedure 109”), describing the application requirements for cannabis import licenses for medical and research purposes. Therefore, each import of medical cannabis is to be approved by the IMCA issuing a specific import permit for each imported shipment, rather than a general license for import. An application for import of medical cannabis can be submitted by an entity licensed by the IMCA for the conduct of medical cannabis related activity. The Israeli government approved the export of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis and cannabis-based products on January 27, 2019,⁶ and in December 2020, the IMCA published guidelines for the medical cannabis export permit application process.^7.

 

 

Currently, adult-use recreational cannabis use in Israel and CBD for non-medical use is illegal. In November 2020, an Israeli government committee responsible for advancing the cannabis market reform published a report supporting and recommending the legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis in Israel. The Israeli parliament dissolved since then without applying the committee’s’ recommendations and all legislative initiatives were suspended. However, the new government, formed on June 13, 2021, declared, and settled in the coalition agreement, its commitment to legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis. Since the formation of the new government, several legislative initiatives were filed, including for the decriminalization of the possession of cannabis for individual recreational adult-use and the legalization of CBD for non-medical use. In February 2022, a Ministry of Health committee contemplated the legality of CBD and published its recommendation that CBD should be excluded from the DDO. The main recommendations of the committee were adopted by the Minister of Health, however, to date, the Minister has not enacted an order directing that CBD be removed from the DDO. On April 1, 2022, new regulations came into force which deemed the previously criminal offences of cannabis possession and use for self-consumption into administrative offences, which do not impact a criminal record, and limited the penalty to a monetary fine only.

 

 

Until September 2019, under the previous regime, patients licensed for consumption of medical cannabis products by the IMCA received all of their medical cannabis products authorized under their respective licenses at a fixed monthly price of NIS 370, regardless of each patient’s authorized amount. Since September 2019, under the new regime, licenses to patients were no longer entitling them for such fixed monthly price. However, some medical cannabis patient licenses granted under the previous regime remain valid, entitling their holders to receive medical cannabis products pursuant to the price controls and supplier restrictions of the former regime. All licenses under the previous regime expired in Q1 2022.

 

 

In August 2022, the MOH published a draft outline of the transition reform from licenses to prescriptions for medical treatment of cannabis (the “Proposed Outline”). The Proposed Outline will allow accessibility and significant bureaucratic relief for patients. The main changes proposed in the Proposed Outline are: (i) any specialized doctor can issue permits without the need for specialized training; (ii) the permits for the use of cannabis will be in the form of prescriptions, and not in the form of licenses from the MOH as the current framework requires; (iii) cannabis products can be sold in any pharmacy, and not only in pharmacies that have received a special permit from the IMCA and a license from the MOH. The final outline is subject to the approval of the MOH and the approval of the Knesset. Currently, the required approvals have not yet been received.

 ___________________________

Germany

 

On March 10, 2017, the German federal government enacted bill Bundestag-Drucksache 18/8965 – Law amending narcotics and other regulations that amended existing narcotics legislation to recognize cannabis as a form of medicine and allow for the importation and domestic cultivation of medical cannabis products. Under the updated legislation, cannabis is listed in Annex 3 to the Federal Narcotics Act (“BtMG”) as a “marketable narcotic suitable for prescription”. Legalization in Germany applies only to cannabis for medicinal purposes under state control in accordance with the Narcotic Convention. Currently, the production, distribution, exportation and importation of medical cannabis products in Germany is legal, subject to regulations and licensing requirements, while operations involving adult-use recreational cannabis products remain illegal. Nevertheless, current German government has declared in the coalition agreement its intention to open up the German market also in the adult-use recreational market. In October 2022, a key points paper⁸ on the controlled supply of cannabis to adults for consumption purposes, although a restructuring of the existing regulatory framework on cannabis in general is also discussed, published by the cabinet, which is to be submitted to the European Union Commission for a preliminary legal examination. In this respect, the Federal Government intends to issue a declaration of interpretation with regard to existing international agreements governing the adult-use recreational cannabis usage, and to submit a draft law to the European Union Commission within the framework of a notification. A draft law is therefore only to be drafted and presented when the preliminary examination shows that the planned measures for controlled cannabis dispensing are legally implementable. According to Federal Government announcement, the draft law should be published by the end of the first quarter 2023.

Medical cannabis in Germany must comply with the corresponding monographs of the German and European pharmacopoeia. Currently, there are only (non-harmonised) national pharmacopoeial monographs for cannabis flowers (e.g. in the German Pharmacopoeia (Deutsches Arzneibuch (DAB)) and cannabis extracts (DAB) in the EU. The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) as the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) committee responsible for compiling and assessing scientific data on herbal substances, preparations and combinations, announced that in view of uniform EU quality requirements (including with respect to import and export of cannabis), three new European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Cannabis monographs that are in preparation and may be of importance in the future:

All BtMG permit applications must specify the strains and estimated quantities of medical cannabis involved and any subsequent changes must be reported to the Federal Opium Agency of Germany.

---

 

The Federal Opium Agency of Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (“BfArM”) formed a cannabis division (the “Cannabis Agency”) to oversee cultivation, harvesting, processing, quality control, storage, packaging and distribution to wholesalers, pharmacists and manufacturers. The Cannabis Agency also regulates pricing of German-produced medical cannabis products and serves as an intermediary of medical cannabis product sales between manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies on a non-profit basis. In late 2018, the Cannabis Agency issued a call for tenders to award licenses for local medical cannabis cultivation and distribution of German-cultivated medical cannabis products (the “German Local Tender”). The Cannabis Agency would serve as an intermediary in the supply chain between such cultivation and distribution. In April 2019, three licenses for local cultivation were granted. In consequence three companies in Germany cultivate on behalf of the Cannabis Agency of the BfArM. Each license permitted the holder to grow up to 200kg per year for total production of 2,600kg per year collectively from the 13 cultivation lots and 10,400kg over the four-year license period. In July 2021, the BfArM launched the state sale of cannabis grown in Germany. Since then, pharmacies have been able to purchase medical cannabis in pharmaceutical drug quality for the supply of patients from the BfArM via the portal www.cannabisagentur.de. The sale from the BfArM to pharmacies is at a price of 4.30 euros per gram.

 

The Cannabis Agency has no influence on the actual retail price of medical cannabis products and is not responsible for the import of medical cannabis products and will therefore neither purchase nor distribute imported medical cannabis products. As a wholesaler, the Cannabis Agency sells German-based medical cannabis products in its own name.

 

 

The current regime permits the importation of cannabis plants and plant parts for medicinal purposes under state control subject to the requirements under the Narcotic Convention, according to which, Germany must estimate the expected demand of medical cannabis products for medical and research purposes for the following year and report such estimates to the International Narcotics Control Board.

 

As a prerequisite to obtaining a German import license, the supplier must grow and harvest in compliance with EU-GACP-Guidelines and manufacture in compliance with EU-GMP-Guidelines and certifications, or alternatively, it is a pure EU-GACP product and the EU-GMP manufacturing steps then take place in Germany. All medical cannabis products imported to Germany must derive from plant material cultivated in a country whose regulations comply with the Narcotic Convention and must comply with the relevant monographs described in the German and European pharmacopeias. While these requirements also apply to the exportation of medical cannabis products, the current German regime does not allow domestically cultivated medical cannabis products to be directly sold to commercial entities other than the Cannabis Agency.

 

 

Medical cannabis products imported pursuant to an import license under the BtMG and AMG/BtMG permits are sold exclusively to pharmacies for final dispensing to patients on a prescription basis as ‘magistral preparations’, a term used in Europe to refer to medical products prepared in a pharmacy in accordance to a medical prescription for an individual patient. Magistral preparations require certain manufacturing steps in the pharmacy. Such manufacturing steps of the pharmacist typically include the testing and dosing of pre-packaged cannabis inflorescences (typically referred to as “floss”), medical cannabis products for oral administration (dronabinol), medical cannabis products for inhalation upon evaporation, and medical cannabis-infused teas. In addition to magistral preparations, medical cannabis products are also marketable as pre-packaged, licensed drugs (e.g. Sativex®).

 

 

In Israel, the Company is substantially dependent on several categories of commercial agreements to ensure the continuity of its operations and maintain its revenues, including:

 

 

On January 1, 2021, the Company amended the terms of each of the Commercial Agreements to align the consideration with implementation of the Company’s transfer pricing framework.

 

 

 

 

For additional information on potential risks arising from the Company’s economic dependence on Focus, its commercial and supply agreements with third parties and its pharmacy operations, see “Risk Factors” above.

 

In Germany, Adjupharm is substantially dependent on the supply, sales and distribution agreements with suppliers, German distributors, and pharmacies as listed and described under “General Development of the Business – Developments Following the Reverse Takeover Transaction”. Any failure to maintain the Adjupharm License in good standing could have a material adverse effect on the Group. For additional information on potential risks arising from the Company’s dependence on Adjupharm’s operations, see “Risk Factors” above.

 

C.          Organizational Structure

 

The following chart illustrates our subsidiaries:

Notes:

 

D.          Property, Plants and Equipment

 

Total depreciated cost of Property, plants and equipment as at December 31, 2022 was $5,221, compared to $30,268 as at December 31, 2021, representing a decrease of $25,047 or 83%. This decrease was primarily due to the deconsolidation of Trichome that led to reduction of $14,645, and impairment of $8,655 derived from restructuring in Canada and Israel during 2022.

 

Additional information set forth under “Note 10 – Property, plant and equipment, net” of our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

 

ITEM 4A.          UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.          OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

 

The following Operating and Financial Review and Prospects section is intended to help the reader understand the factors that have affected the Company’s financial condition and results of operations for the historical period covered by the financial statements and management’s assessment of factors and trends which are anticipated to have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition and results in future periods. This section is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our Consolidated Financial Statements and the other financial information contained elsewhere in this document. Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). Our discussion contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives and intentions. Our actual results may differ from those indicated in such forward-looking statements.

 

A.          Operating Results

 

		For the year ended December 31
		2022				2021				2020
Net Revenues		$	54,335			$	34,053			$	15,890
Gross profit before fair value impacts in cost of sales		$	11,291			$	8,595			$	8,809
Gross margin before fair value impacts in cost of sales (%)			21	%			25	%			55	%
Operating Loss		$	(30,791	)		$	(23,035	)		$	(8,245	)
Net loss		$	(24,922	)		$	(664	)		$	(28,734	)
Loss per share attributable to equity holders of the Company – Basic   (in CAD)		$	(3.13	)		$	0.02			$	(0.19	)
Loss per share attributable to equity holders of the Company - Diluted (in CAD)		$	(3.81	)		$	(3.62	)		$	(0.19	)