UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
☐ |
| REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
☒ |
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 |
OR
☐ |
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
☐ |
| SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
RED WHITE & BLOOM BRANDS INC.
(formerly TIDAL ROYALTY CORP.; TULLOCH RESOURCES LTD.;
ELKHORN GOLD MINING CORPORATION; TREMINCO RESOURCES LTD.)
(Exact name of Registrant specified in its charter)
BRITISH COLUMBIA
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
789 West Pender Street, Suite 810
Vancouver BC
Canada V6C 1H2
(Address of principal executive offices)
Contact Person: Brad Rogers
Address: 8810 Jane Street, 2nd Floor
Concord, ON Canada L4K 2M9
Email: brad.rogers@redwhitebloom.com
Telephone: 416.937.1212
(Name, Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
| Name of each exchange on which registered |
None |
| Not applicable |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
COMMON SHARES
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
The number of outstanding shares of the Company’s only class of capital or common stock as at December 31, 2020 was 191,317,226 common shares.
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If this is an annual report or a transition report, indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the Registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP ☐ |
| International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ | Other ☐ |
If “other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
YES ☐ NO ☐
ITEM 1IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS5
ITEM 2OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE5
ITEM 4INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY17
ITEM 5 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS27
ITEM 6DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES34
ITEM 7MAJOR SHAREHOLDER AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS47
ITEM 10ADDITIONAL INFORMATION51
ITEM 11QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK61
ITEM 12DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES62
ITEM 13DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES63
ITEM 14MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS63
ITEM 15CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES63
ITEM 16AAUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERTS64
ITEM 16CPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES65
ITEM 16DEXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES65
ITEM 16EPURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS65
ITEM 16FCHANGES TO REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT65
ITEM 16GCORPORATE GOVERNANCE65
ITEM 16HMINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE65
Consolidated Financial Statements67
This Form 20-F is being filed as a registration statement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
In this Form 20-F, references to:
“RWB”, “We”, “us”, “our” and the “Company” mean collectively and individually, Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.; and
RWB has historically used the Canadian dollar as its reporting currency. All references in this document to “dollars” or “$” are to Canadian dollars and all references to “US$” are to United States dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Except as noted, the information set forth in this Form 20-F is as of September 13, 2021 and all information included in this document should only be considered correct as of such date.
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 20-F contains certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements reflect the current view about future events. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "contemplate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "propose", "might", "may", "will", "shall", "project", "should", "could", "would", "believe", "predict", "forecast", "pursue", "potential", "capable", "budget", "pro forma" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements contained in this Form 20-F relating to our business strategy, our future operating results and liquidity and capital resources outlook. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward–looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees of assurance of future performance. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to execute our investment strategy on acceptable terms, including our ability to identify potential investments and to successfully negotiate the terms of such investments; our ability to raise capital to fund continuing operations; our ability to manage planned growth and integrate new business opportunities into existing operations; a continued decline in general economic conditions nationally and internationally; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; the impact of any infringement actions or other litigation brought against us; competition from other providers; changes in government regulation; and other factors (including the risks contained in the section of this Form 20-F entitled “Risk Factors”) relating to our industry, our operations and results of operations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned.
4
ITEM 1IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
The following table sets forth the name of all of our directors and officers, their business addresses, and their current positions with RWB.
Name | Position | Business Address |
Brad Rogers
| Chief Executive Office, Director Audit Committee member and Compensation Committee member | 8810 Jane Street, 2nd Floor, Concord, Ontario, L4K 2M9
|
Johannes (Theo) van der Linde | Chief Financial Officer, Director and Corporate Secretary | Suite 810 – 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1J5
|
Brendan Purdy | Director, Audit Committee member and Compensation Committee member | 37 King St. E., Suite 409 Toronto, Ontario M5C 1E9
|
Michael Marchese | Director
| 589 Wycliffe Avenue Woodbridge, ON L4L 8S8 |
William (Bill) Dawson | Director, Audit Committee member and Compensation Committee member | 201 Creditview Road Woodbridge, Ontario L4L 9T1
|
The auditors of RWB are MNP, LLP located at suite 300 – 111 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2G4. MNP LLP is independent from RWB within the meaning of the standards established by the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (the “OICPA”) and is registered with the OICPA.
ITEM 2OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
5
Selected Financial Information:
The following tables set forth the Company’s selected financial data. Investors should read the following selected financial data in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and accompanying notes in Item 18 of this Form 20-F and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included in Item 5 of this Form 20-F.
The following selected financial data is based on financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpreted by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).
The Company has derived the summary statements of comprehensive loss and financial position data for each of the Company’s five most recently audited fiscal years (in Canadian dollars, except price of shares).
| Year ended December 31, | Years ended July 31, | ||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
Assets |
|
|
|
|
| |
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Cash | 1,146,569 | 2,961,514 | 33,904,759 | 20,265 | 1,585 |
| Amounts receivable | 8,747,261 | - | 129,415 | 858 | 2,349 |
| Convertible debenture receivable | - | 15,000,000 | - | - | - |
| Inventory | 17,561,002 | - | - | - | - |
| Loans Receivable | 51,676,623 | - | - | - | - |
| Prepaid Expenses and deposits | 1,053,658 | 129,418 | 531,859 | 1,211 | - |
|
| 80,185,113 | 18,090,932 | 34,566,033 | 22,334 | 3,934 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Deposits | - | 328,700 | - | - | - |
| Promissory note receivable | - | 3,412,421 | - | - | - |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 87,104,243 | - | - | - | - |
| Land | - | 592,655 | - | - | - |
| Call/put option | 112,658,740 | - | - | - | - |
| Goodwill | 6,206,068 | - | - | - | - |
| Intangible | 152,979,033 | - | - | - | - |
| Investments in equity securities | - | 1,766,953 | - | - | - |
Total assets | 439,133,197 | 24,191,661 | 34,566,033 | 22,334 | 3,934 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Deficiency |
|
|
|
|
| |
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 24,115,714 | 336,540 | 311,357 | 105,225 | 57,387 |
| License liability | 11,997,400 | - | - | - | - |
| Due to related parties | - | 21,347 | 18,685 | 22,766 | 49,780 |
| Lease liabilities | 205,982 | - | - | - | - |
| Current income taxes payable | 3,125,261 | - | - | - | - |
| Loans payable | 31,349,759 | - | 10,000 | 30,000 | - |
| 70,794,116 | 357,887 | 340,042 | 157,991 | 107,167 | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Credit facility | 64,815,872 | - | - | - | - |
| Loans Payable, net of current portion | 18,704,092 | - | - | - | - |
| Lease liabilities, net of current portion | 186,487 | - | - | - | - |
| License liability, net of current portion | 47,989,600 | - | - | - | - |
| Deferred income tax liability | 27,158,251 | - | - | - | - |
Total liabilities | 229,648,418 | 357,887 | 340,042 | 157,991 | - | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity (Deficiency) |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Convertible Series I preferred shares | 5,637,175 | 2,388,941 | 1,754,721 | - | - |
| Convertible Series II preferred shares | 46,046,088 | - | - | - | - |
| Convertible preferred shares issuable | - | - | 2,000,000 | - | - |
| Share capital | 178,088,767 | 48,525,793 | 45,432,573 | 12,297,109 | 12,297,109 |
| Reserves | 14,863,863 | 11,816,876 | 5,324,016 | 27,464 | 27,464 |
| Cumulative translation adjustment | (1,896,622) | - | - | - | - |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | - | (796) | - | - | - |
| Deficit | (33,254,492) | (38,897,040) | (20,285,319) | (12,460,230) | (12,427,806) |
Total Equity (Deficiency) | 209,484,779 | 23,833,774 | 34,225,991 | (135,657) | (103,233) | |
Total Liabilities and Equity | 439,133,197 | 24,191,661 | 34,566,033 | 22,334 | 3,934 |
6
|
| Year ended December 31, | Years ended July 31, | |||
|
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Sales | 23,338,528 | - | - | - | - |
| Cost of sales, before fair value adjustments | 9,486,087 | - | - | - | - |
|
| 13,852,441 | - | - | - | - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Unrealized change in fair value of biological assets | (543,116) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Realized fair value amounts included in inventory sold | 45,232 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Gross Profit | 13,354,557 | - | - | - | - |
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Consulting | - | 1,333,704 | 1,933,550 | 6,000 | 31,480 |
| General and administration | 10,695,379 | 223,985 | 93,861 | 1,285 | 12,518 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 15,291,977 | - | - | - | - |
| Investor relations and stock promotions | - | 2,521,416 | 1,196,309 | 1,508 | 6,083 |
| Insurance | - | 135,493 | - | - | - |
| Professional fees | - | 1,100,143 | 461,192 | 14,717 | 8,679 |
| Rent | - | 195,050 | 84,670 | - | - |
| Salaries and benefits | 6,777,330 | 915,585 | 244,526 | - | - |
| Earn-out compensation | 9,805,500 | - | - | - | - |
| Share based payments | 3,955,976 | 7,329,800 | 3,250,476 | - | - |
| Sales and marketing | 1,762,223 | - | - | - | - |
| Transfer agent and filing fees | - | 88,215 | 76,869 | 5,919 | - |
| Travel | - | 131,552 | 106,368 | 2,995 | - |
| Total expenses | 48,288,385 | 13,974,943 | 7,447,824 | 32,424 | 58,790 |
Loss from operations before other expenses | (34,933,828) | (13,974,943) | (7,447,824) | (32,424) | (58,790) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other expense (income): |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Dividend income | - | 2,467 | - | - | - |
| Finance expense | 5,272,428 | - | - | - | - |
| Foreign exchange gain (loss) | 1,677,976 | 260,880 | (377,265) | - | - |
| Management fees | (425,610) | - | - | - | - |
| Gain on revaluation of call/put option | (53,619,465) | - | - | - | - |
| Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment | (232,874) | - | - | - | - |
| Write off of deposit | 1,853,059 | - | - | - | - |
| Listing expense | 31,705,481 | - | - | - | - |
| Gain on debt extinguishment | - | 10,000 | - | - | - |
| Interest income | - | 404,921 | - | - | - |
| Realized gain on investment in equity securities and convertible debenture | - | 281,892 | - | - | - |
| Unrealized loss on investment in equity securities | 530,451 | (5,373,032) | - | - | - |
| Write down of sales tax receivable | - | (223,906) | - | - | - |
Total other expense (income) | (13,238,554) | (4,636,778) | (377,265) | - | - | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss before income taxes | (21,695,274) | (18,611,721) | (7,825,089) | (32,424) | (58,760) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Current income tax expense | 3,125,261 | - | - | - | - | |
Deferred income tax recovery | (6,243,668) | - | - | - | - | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Net Loss | (18,576,867) | (18,661,721) | (7,825,089) | (32,424) | (58,760) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Translation adjustment on consolidation of foreign subsidiaries | (1,896,622) | - | - | - | - | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Comprehensive Loss | (20,473,489) | (18,661,721) | (7,825,089) | (32,424) | (58,760) | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loss and comprehensive loss per share, basic and diluted | (0.14) | (0.07) | (0.26) | (0.01) | (0.01) | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 137,571,316 | 271,055,333 | 30,039,081 | 2,843,636 | 8,306,386 |
Exchange Rates:
The following table sets forth information as to the period end, average, the high and the low exchange rate for Canadian dollars (“CDN”) and U.S. Dollars for the periods indicated based on the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in Canadian dollars as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Canadian dollar amounts = US $1):
7
| Average | Period End | High | Low |
Year ended December 31, 2020 | 1.3412 | 1.2808 | 1.4058 | 1.2808 |
Year ended July 31, 2019 | 1.3233 | 1.3148 | 1.3642 | 1.2803 |
Year ended 2018 | 1.2731 | 1.3030 | 1.3131 | 1.2294 |
Year ended 2017 | 1.3239 | 1.2490 | 1.3745 | 1.2436 |
Year ended 2016 | 1.3276 | 1.3040 | 1.4592 | 1.2544 |
Year ended 2015 | 1.1923 | 1.3047 | 1.3059 | 1.0857 |
Year ended 2014 | 1.0732 | 1.0889 | 1.1251 | 1.0237 |
Year ended 2013 | 1.0070 | 1.0259 | 1.0578 | 0.9710 |
The following table sets forth the high and low exchange rates for the past six months. As of December 31, 2020, the exchange rate was CDN $1.2808 for each US $1.00.
Month | High | Low |
April 2021 | 1.2613 | 1.2277 |
March 2021 | 1.2697 | 1.2389 |
February | 1.2828 | 1.2530 |
January 2021 | 1.2810 | 1.2627 |
December 2020 | 1.2952 | 1.2718 |
November 2020 | 1.3257 | 1.2965 |
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
The following table presents our capitalization in accordance with IFRS as of December 31, 2020 (audited –in Canadian Dollars). It is important that you read this table together with, and it is qualified by reference to, our audited financial statements set forth in this Registration Statement on Form 20-F beginning on page F-1 hereof.
| As of December 31, 2020 $ |
|
|
Shareholders’ equity: |
|
Convertible Preferred shares | 5,637,175 |
Convertible Series 2 Preferred shares | 46,046,088 |
Common shares | 178,088,767 |
Reserves | 14,863,863 |
Cumulative translation adjustment | (1,896,622) |
Accumulated deficit | (33,254,492) |
Total shareholders' equity | 209,484,779 |
|
|
Total capitalization | 209,484,779 |
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
8
D. Risk Factors
Risks Relating to an Investment in our Common Shares
We have source of operating revenue but it is likely we will operate at a loss until we are able to realize cash flow from our financings.
We may require additional financing in order to fund our businesses or business expansion. Our ability to arrange such financing in the future will depend in part upon prevailing capital market conditions, as well as our business success. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to arrange additional financing on terms satisfactory to us, or at all. If additional financing is raised by the issuance of common shares from treasury, control of the Company may change and shareholders may suffer additional dilution. If adequate funds are not available, or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to operate our businesses at their maximum potential, to expand, to take advantage of other opportunities, or otherwise remain in business.
We may issue a substantial number of our common shares without investor approval to raise additional financing and we may consolidate the current outstanding common shares.
Any such issuance or consolidation of our securities in the future could reduce an investor’s ownership percentage and voting rights in us and further dilute the value of the investor’s investment.
The market price of our common shares may experience significant volatility.
Factors such as announcements of quarterly variations in operating results, revenues, costs, changes in financial estimates or other material comments by securities analysts relating to us, our competitors or the industry in general, announcements by other companies in the industry relating to their operations, strategic initiatives, financial condition or performance or relating to the industry in general, announcements of acquisitions or consolidations involving our companies, competitors or among the industry in general, as well as market conditions in the cannabis industry, such as regulatory developments, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common shares. Global stock markets and the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) in particular have, from time to time, experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which have often been unrelated to the operations of particular companies. Share prices for many companies in our sector have experienced wide fluctuations that have been often unrelated to the operations of the companies themselves. In addition, there can be no assurance that an active trading or liquid market will be sustained for our common shares.
We do not anticipate that any dividends will be paid on our common shares in the foreseeable future.
We anticipate that we will reinvest any future earnings in the development and growth of our business. Therefore, investors will not receive any funds unless they sell their common shares, and shareholders may not be able to sell their shares on favorable terms or at all.
The Company has a limited operating history with respect to financings in the U.S. cannabis sector, which can make it difficult for investors to evaluate the Company’s operations and prospects and may increase the risks associated with investment in the Company.
The Company has a history of negative cash flow and losses that is not expected to change in the short term. Financings may not begin generating cash flow to the Company for several years following any financing.
The Company will face intense competition from other companies, some of which can be expected to have longer operating histories and more financial resources and experience than the Company.
Currently, the U.S. cannabis industry generally is comprised of individuals and small to medium-sized entities. However, the risk remains that large conglomerates and companies who also recognize the potential for financial success through investment in this industry could strategically purchase or assume control of certain aspects of the industry. In doing so, these larger competitors could establish price setting and cost controls which would effectively “price out” many of the individuals and small to medium-sized entities who currently make up the bulk of the participants in the varied businesses operating within and in support of the medical and adult-use marijuana industry. While the trend in connection with most state laws and regulations may deter this type of takeover, this industry remains quite nascent, and therefore faces many unknown future developments, which in itself is a risk.
9
Because of the early stage of the industry in which the Company will operate, the Company expects to face additional competition from new entrants. The Company may not have sufficient resources to remain competitive, which could materially and adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Company indebtedness could have a number of adverse impacts on the Company, including reducing the availability of cash flows to fund working capital and capital expenses.
Any indebtedness of the Company could have significant consequences on the Company, including: increase the Company’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; require the Company to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow from operations to making interest and principal payments on its indebtedness, reducing the availability of the Company’s cash flow to fund capital expenditures, working capital and other general corporate purposes; limit the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the business and the industry in which it operates; place the Company at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors that have greater financial resources; and limit the Company’s ability to complete fundamental corporate changes or transactions or to declare or pay dividends.
The Company’s revenues and expenses may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in currency.
The Company’s revenues and expenses are expected to be primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, and therefore may be exposed to significant currency exchange fluctuations. Recent events in the global financial markets have been coupled with increased volatility in the currency markets. Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results. The Company may, in the future, establish a program to hedge a portion of its foreign currency exposure with the objective of minimizing the impact of adverse foreign currency exchange movements. However, even if the Company develops a hedging program, there can be no assurance that it will effectively mitigate currency risks.
Risks Related to the Cannabis Industry
While certain U.S. states have enacted medical and/or adult-use cannabis legislation, cannabis continues to be illegal under U.S. federal law, which may subject us to regulatory or legal enforcement, litigation, increased costs and reputational harm.
More than half of the U.S. states have enacted legislation to regulate the sale and use of cannabis on either a medical or adult-use level. However, notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of cannabis at the state level, cannabis continues to be categorized as a controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (“CSA”), and as such, activities within the cannabis industry are illegal under U.S. federal law. It is also illegal to aid or abet such activities or to conspire to attempt to engage in such activities. Financing businesses in the cannabis industry may be deemed aiding and abetting an illegal activity under federal law. If such an action were brought, we may be forced to cease operations and our investors could lose their entire investment. Such an action would have a material negative effect on our business and operations.
The funding of businesses in the cannabis industry may expose us to potential criminal liability.
As we distribute and sell cannabis vape products, the funding of businesses in the medical and adult-use cannabis industry is deemed to be participating in marijuana cultivation, which remains illegal under federal law pursuant to the CSA and exposes us to potential criminal liability, with the additional risk that our properties, or those of our companies, could be subject to civil forfeiture proceedings.
Management may not be able to predict all new emerging risks or how such risks may impact actual results of the Company in the highly regulated, highly competitive and rapidly evolving U.S. cannabis industry.
As a result of the conflicting views between state legislatures and the federal government regarding cannabis, financings with cannabis related businesses in the U.S. are subject to a higher degree of uncertainty and risk. Such risks are difficult to predict. For instance, it is presently unclear whether the U.S. federal government intends to enforce federal laws relating to cannabis where the conduct at issue is legal under applicable state law. Further, there can be no assurance that state laws legalizing and regulating the sale and use of cannabis will not be repealed or overturned, or that local governmental authorities will not limit the applicability of state laws within their respective jurisdictions.
Unless and until the U.S. federal government amends the CSA with respect to cannabis (and as to the timing or scope of any such potential amendment there can be no assurance), there can be no assurance that it will not seek to prosecute cases involving cannabis businesses that are otherwise compliant with state law. Such potential proceedings could result in significant fines, penalties, administrative sanctions, convictions or settlements arising from civil proceedings conducted by
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either the federal government or private citizens; or criminal charges, including, but not limited to, disgorgement of profits, cessation of business activities or divestiture. Such proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, revenues, operating results and financial condition as well as the Company’s reputation, even if such proceedings were concluded successfully in favor of the Company. The regulatory uncertainties make identifying the new risks applicable to the Company and its business and the assessment of the impact of those risks on the Company and its business extremely difficult.
The U.S. cannabis industry is subject to extensive controls and regulations, which impose significant costs on the Company and its portfolio company and may affect the financial condition of market participants, including the Company.
Participants in the U.S. cannabis industry will incur ongoing costs and obligations related to regulatory compliance. Failure to comply with regulations may result in additional costs for corrective measures, penalties or restrictions of operations. In addition, changes in regulations, more vigorous enforcement thereof or other unanticipated events could require extensive changes to operations, increased compliance costs or give rise to material liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the participant and, thereby, on the Company’s prospective returns.
It is also important to note that local and city ordinances may strictly limit and/or restrict the distribution of cannabis in a manner that will make it extremely difficult or impossible to transact business in the cannabis industry. If the U.S. federal government begins to enforce federal laws relating to cannabis in states where the sale and use of cannabis is currently legal, or if existing state laws are repealed or curtailed, then the Company’s financings in such businesses would be materially and adversely affected notwithstanding that the Company may not be directly engaged in the sale or distribution of cannabis.
Changes to or the imposition of new government regulations, including those relating to taxes and other government levies, may affect the marketability of cannabis products. Such changes in government levies (including taxes), which are beyond the control of the participant and which cannot be predicted, could reduce the Company’s earnings and could make future financing uneconomic.
The Company and our portfolio companies it funds may become subject to litigation which could have a significant impact on the Company’s profitability.
The cannabis industry is subject to numerous legal challenges and could become subject to new, unexpected legal challenges. The Company, or one or more of the Company’s portfolio companies, may become subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, such as U.S. federal actions against any individual or entity engaged in the marijuana industry. There can be no assurances the federal government of the United States or other jurisdictions will not seek to enforce the applicable laws against the Company. The consequences of such enforcement would be materially averse to the Company and the Company’s business and could result in the forfeiture or seizure of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. Litigation and other claims are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view of these matters may change in the future. Adverse outcomes in some or all of these claims may result in significant monetary damages or injunctive relief that could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. A material adverse impact on our financial statements also could occur for the period in which the effect of an unfavorable final outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable.
The U.S. cannabis industry is subject to extensive controls and regulations, which impose significant costs on the Company and its portfolio companies and may affect the financial condition of market participants, including the Company.
Participants in the U.S. cannabis industry will incur ongoing costs and obligations related to regulatory compliance. Failure to comply with regulations may result in additional costs for corrective measures, penalties or restrictions of operations. In addition, changes in regulations, more vigorous enforcement thereof or other unanticipated events could require extensive changes to operations, increased compliance costs or give rise to material liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the participant and, thereby, on the Company’s prospective returns.
It is also important to note that local and city ordinances may strictly limit and/or restrict the distribution of cannabis in a manner that will make it extremely difficult or impossible to transact business in the cannabis industry. If the U.S. federal government begins to enforce federal laws relating to cannabis in states where the sale and use of cannabis is currently legal, or if existing state laws are repealed or curtailed, then the Company’s financings in such businesses would be materially and adversely affected notwithstanding that the Company may not be directly engaged in the sale or distribution of cannabis.
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Changes to or the imposition of new government regulations, including those relating to taxes and other government levies, may affect the marketability of cannabis products. Such changes in government levies (including taxes), which are beyond the control of the participant and which cannot be predicted, could reduce the Company’s earnings and could make future financing uneconomic.
The Company and the companies it funds may become subject to litigation which could have a significant impact on the Company’s profitability.
The cannabis industry is subject to numerous legal challenges and could become subject to new, unexpected legal challenges. The Company, or one or more of the Company’s portfolio companies, may become subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, such as U.S. federal actions against any individual or entity engaged in the marijuana industry. There can be no assurances the federal government of the United States or other jurisdictions will not seek to enforce the applicable laws against the Company. The consequences of such enforcement would be materially averse to the Company and the Company’s business and could result in the forfeiture or seizure of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. Litigation and other claims are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view of these matters may change in the future. Adverse outcomes in some or all of these claims may result in significant monetary damages or injunctive relief that could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business. A material adverse impact on our financial statements also could occur for the period in which the effect of an unfavorable final outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable.
As the possession and use of cannabis is illegal under the CSA, we may be deemed to be aiding and abetting illegal activities through the funding of our portfolio companies, and as such may be subject to enforcement actions which could materially and adversely affect our business.
The possession, use, cultivation, or transfer of cannabis remains illegal under the CSA. As a result, law enforcement authorities regulating the illegal use of cannabis may seek to bring an action or actions against us, including, but not limited to, a claim of aiding and abetting another’s criminal activities. The federal aiding and abetting statute provides that anyone who “commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.” 18 U.S.C. §2(a). Such an action would have a material adverse impact on our business and operations.
Losing access to traditional banking and the application of anti-money laundering rules and regulations to our business could have a significant effect on our ability to conclude financings and achieve returns.
The Company is subject to a variety of laws and regulations in Canada and the U.S. that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds of crime, including the U.S. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970 (commonly known as the Bank Secrecy Act), as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada), as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the U.S. and Canada. Further, under U.S. federal law, banks or other financial institutions that provide a cannabis business with a checking account, debit or credit card, small business loan, or any other service could be found guilty of money laundering, aiding and abetting, or conspiracy.
Overall, since the production and possession of cannabis is illegal under U.S. federal law, there is a strong argument that banks cannot accept for deposit funds from businesses involved with the cannabis industry. Consequently, businesses involved in the cannabis industry often have difficulty finding a bank willing to accept their business. As the Company will have a material ancillary involvement in the U.S. legal cannabis industry, the Company may find that it is unable to open bank accounts with certain Canadian financial institutions, which in turn may make it difficult to operate the Company’s business. Furthermore, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries may be unable to open bank accounts with U.S. financial institutions, which may also make it difficult to operate the Company’s business.
Proceeds from the Company’s financings could be considered proceeds of crime which may restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends or effect other distributions to its shareholders.
The Company’s future financings, and any proceeds thereof, may be considered proceeds of crime due to the fact that cannabis remains illegal federally in the U.S. This may restrict the ability of the Company to declare or pay dividends, effect other distributions or subsequently repatriate such funds back to Canada. Furthermore, while the Company has no current intention to declare or pay dividends on its Shares in the foreseeable future, the Company may decide or be required to suspend declaring or paying dividends without advance notice and for an indefinite period of time.
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The Company has historically relied entirely on access to both public and private capital in order to support its continuing operations, and the Company expects to continue to rely almost exclusively on the capital markets to finance its business in the U.S. legal cannabis industry.
Although such business carries a higher degree of risk, and despite the legal standing of cannabis businesses pursuant to U.S. federal laws, Canadian based issuers involved in the U.S. legal cannabis industry have been successful in raising substantial amounts of private and public financing. However, there is no assurance the Company will be successful, in whole or in part, in raising funds in the future, particularly if the U.S. federal authorities change their position toward enforcing the CSA. Further, access to funding from U.S. residents may be limited due to their unwillingness to be associated with activities which violate U.S. federal laws.
The Company’s involvement in the U.S. cannabis industry may become the subject of heightened scrutiny by regulators, stock exchanges, clearing agencies and other authorities in Canada, which could lead to the imposition of certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to invest in the U.S.
It has been reported in Canada that the Canadian Depository for Securities Limited is considering a policy shift that would see its subsidiary, CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. (“CDS”), refuse to settle trades for cannabis issuers that have investments in the U.S. CDS is Canada’s central securities depository, clearing and settling trades in the Canadian equity, fixed income and money markets. The TMX Group, the owner and operator of CDS, subsequently issued a statement on August 17, 2017 reaffirming that there is no CDS ban on the clearing of securities of issuers with cannabis-related activities in the U.S., despite media reports to the contrary, and that the TMX Group was working with regulators to arrive at a solution that will clarify this matter, which would be communicated at a later time. If such a ban were to be implemented, it would have a material adverse effect on the ability of holders of the Company’s Shares to make and settle trades. In particular, the Shares would become highly illiquid as until an alternative was implemented, investors would have no ability to effect a trade of the Shares through the facilities of the Exchange.
On February 8, 2018, following discussions with the Canadian Securities Administrators and recognized Canadian securities exchanges, the TMX Group announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc., the CSE, the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the TSX Venture Exchange. The MOU outlines the parties’ understanding of Canada’s regulatory framework applicable to the rules, procedures, and regulatory oversight of the exchanges and CDS as it relates to issuers with cannabis-related activities in the U.S. The MOU confirms, with respect to the clearing of listed securities, that CDS relies on the exchanges to review the conduct of listed issuers. As a result, there is no CDS ban on the clearing of securities of issuers with cannabis-related activities in the U.S. However, there can be no guarantee that this approach to regulation will continue in the future.
For the reasons set forth above, the Company’s future financings in the U.S. may become the subject of heightened scrutiny by regulators, stock exchanges and other authorities in Canada. As a result, the Company may be subject to significant direct and indirect interaction with public officials. There can be no assurance that this heightened scrutiny will not in turn lead to the imposition of certain restrictions on the Company’s ability to invest in the U.S. or any other jurisdiction, in addition to those described herein.
The Company’s proposed business operations will indirectly be affected by a variety of laws, regulations and guidelines which could increase compliance costs substantially or require the alteration of business plans.
The Company’s business operations will indirectly be affected by laws and regulations relating to the manufacture, management, transportation, storage and disposal of cannabis, as well as laws and regulations relating to consumable products health and safety, the conduct of operations and the protection of the environment. These laws are broad in scope and subject to evolving interpretations, which could require participants to incur substantial costs associated with compliance or alter certain aspects of its business plans. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt certain aspects of the Company’s business plans and result in a material adverse effect on certain aspects of its planned operations.
As consumer perceptions regarding legality, morality, consumption, safety, efficacy and quality of cannabis evolve, the Company may face unfavorable publicity or consumer perception.
The legal cannabis industry in the U.S. is at an early stage of its development. Cannabis has been, and will continue to be, a controlled substance for the foreseeable future. Consumer perceptions regarding legality, morality, consumption, safety, efficacy and quality of cannabis are mixed and evolving. Consumer perception can be significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory investigations, litigation, media attention and other publicity regarding the consumption of 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 cannabis market or any particular product, or
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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 cannabis and on the business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows of the Company. Further, adverse publicity reports or other media attention regarding cannabis in general or associating the consumption of cannabis with illness or other negative effects or events, could have such a material adverse effect. Public opinion and support for medical and adult-use cannabis use has traditionally been inconsistent and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. While public opinion and support appears to be rising for legalizing medical and adult-use cannabis, it remains a controversial issue subject to differing opinions surrounding the level of legalization (for example, medical marijuana as opposed to legalization in general). The Company’s ability to gain and increase market acceptance of its proposed royalty business may require substantial expenditures on investor relations, strategic relationships and marketing initiatives. There can be no assurance that such initiatives will be successful and their failure may have an adverse effect on the Company.
Cannabis use may increase the risk of serious adverse side effects which could subject the Company or its portfolio companies to product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation.
As a company that finances businesses in the cannabis industry, we face the risk of exposure to, or having our portfolio companies exposed to, product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation if the products or services of our portfolio companies are alleged to have caused loss or injury. The Company and portfolio companies may become subject to product liability claims due to allegations that their products caused or contributed to injury or illness, failed to include adequate instructions for use or failed to include adequate warnings concerning possible side effects or interactions with other substances. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that cannabis use may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses, may exacerbate the symptoms for individuals with bipolar disorder, may increase the risk for the development of depressive disorders, may impair learning, memory and attention capabilities, and result in other side effects. In addition, previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption of cannabis products alone or in combination with other medications or substances could also occur. There can be no assurance that the Company and portfolio companies will be able to 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 result in our portfolio companies becoming subject to significant liabilities that are uninsured and also could adversely affect their commercial arrangements with third parties. Such a product liability claims or regulatory action against an operator could result in increased costs, could adversely affect the Company’s financing and reputation, and could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of the Company.
If the Company and portfolio companies do not comply with applicable packaging, labeling and advertising restrictions on the sale of cannabis in the adult-use market, we could face increased costs, our reputation could be negatively affected and there could be a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Products distributed by the Company and portfolio companies into the adult-use market may be required to comply with legislative requirements relating to product formats, product packaging, and marketing activities around such products, among others. As such, the portfolio of brands and products of the Company and portfolio companies will need to be specifically adapted, and their marketing activities carefully structured, to enable them to develop their brands in an effective and compliant manner. If the Company and portfolio companies are unable to effectively market their cannabis products and compete for market share, or if the costs relating to compliance with government legislation increase beyond what can be absorbed in the price of products, our earnings could be adversely affected which could make future financing uneconomic.
The products of the Company and our portfolio companies may become subject to product recalls, which could negatively impact our results of operations.
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 any of the products of our portfolio companies are recalled due to an alleged product defect or for any other reason, such recall may disrupt certain aspects of the Company’s business plans and result in a material adverse effect on certain aspects of its planned operations. In addition, a product recall involving one or multiple of our portfolio companies may require significant attention by our senior management. If the products of one of our portfolio companies were subject to recall, the image of that brand and the Company as an investor could be harmed. A recall for any of the foregoing reasons could lead to decreased demand for the products of our portfolio companies and could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of the Company. Additionally, product recalls may lead to increased scrutiny of our operations by the U.S. FDA,
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Health Canada or other regulatory agencies, requiring further senior management attention and potential legal fees and other expenses.
General Business Risks
There can be no assurance that future financings made by the Company will be profitable.
As part of the Company’s overall business strategy, the Company intends to pursue its financing policy and objectives. There are always risks associated with any business transaction, particularly one that involves a largely cash based operation, operating in a new and growing field, with conflicting federal and state laws. There is no assurance any financings will be profitable.
As the cannabis industry is nascent, expectations regarding the development of the market may not be accurate and may change.
Due to the early stage of the legal cannabis industry, forecasts regarding the size of the industry and the sales of products are inherently subject to significant unreliability. A failure in the demand for products to materialize as a result of competition, technological change or other factors could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company.
The success of the Company is dependent upon the ability, expertise, judgment, discretion and good faith of its senior management.
While employment agreements or management agreements are customarily used as a primary method of retaining the services of key employees, these agreements cannot assure the continued services of such people. Any loss of the services of such individuals could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results or financial condition.
The Company’s participation in the cannabis industry may lead to litigation, formal or informal complaints, enforcement actions, and inquiries by various federal, state, or local governmental authorities.
Litigation, complaints, and enforcement actions the Company could consume considerable amounts of financial and other corporate resources, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s future cash flows, earnings, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company is a British Columbia corporation governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and, as such, our corporate structure, the rights and obligations of shareholders and our corporate bodies may be different from those of the home countries of international investors.
Non-Canadian residents may find it more difficult and costlier to exercise shareholder rights. International investors may also find it costly and difficult to effect service of process and enforce their civil liabilities against us or some of our directors, controlling persons and officers.
The cultivation, extraction and processing of cannabis and derivative products is dependent on a number of key inputs and their related costs including raw materials, electricity, water and other local utilities.
Any significant interruption or negative change in the availability or economics of the supply chain for key inputs could materially impact the business, financial condition and operating results of an operator. Some of these inputs may only be available from a single supplier or a limited group of suppliers. Any inability to secure required supplies and services or to do so on appropriate terms could have a materially adverse impact on the business, financial condition and operating results of an operator, and consequently, the Company.
The success of the Company may depend, in part, on the ability of an operator to maintain and enhance trade secret protection over its various existing and potential proprietary techniques and processes, or trademark and branding developed by it.
Each operator may also be vulnerable to competitors who develop competing technology, whether independently or as a result of acquiring access to the proprietary products and trade secrets of the operator. In addition, effective future patent, copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries and may be unenforceable under the laws of certain jurisdictions.
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Insurance coverage obtained by an operator may be insufficient to cover all claims to which the operator may become subject.
The Company will require an operator to have insurance coverage for applicable risks. However, there can be no assurance that such coverage will be available or sufficient to cover claims to which the operator may become subject. Each operator may be affected by a number of operational risks and may not be adequately insured for certain risks, including: civil litigation; labor disputes; catastrophic accidents; fires; blockades or other acts of social activism; changes in the regulatory environment; impact of non- compliance with laws and regulations; natural phenomena, such as inclement weather conditions, floods, earthquakes and ground movements. There is no assurance that the foregoing risks and hazards will not result in damage to, or destruction of, an operator’s properties, grow facilities and extraction facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage, adverse impacts on the operator’s operations, costs, monetary losses, potential legal liability and adverse governmental action, any of which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s future cash flows, earnings and financial condition. Also, an operator may be subject to or affected by liability or sustain loss for certain risks and hazards against which it may elect not to insure because of the cost. If insurance coverage is unavailable or insufficient to cover any such claims, an operator’s financial resources, results of operations and prospects, as well as the Company’s financing, could be adversely affected.
Maintaining a public listing is costly and will add to the Company’s legal and financial compliance costs.
As a public company, there are costs associated with legal, accounting and other expenses related to regulatory compliance. Securities legislation and the rules and policies of the CSE require listed companies to, among other things, adopt corporate governance and related practices, and to continuously prepare and disclose material information, all of which add to a company’s legal and financial compliance costs. The Company may also elect to devote greater resources than it otherwise would have on communication and other activities typically considered important by publicly traded companies.
The Company may become party to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of business which could adversely affect its business.
Should any litigation in which the Company becomes involved be determined against the Company, such a decision could adversely affect the Company’s ability to continue operating and the market price for Shares. Even if the Company is involved in litigation and wins, litigation can redirect significant resources.
The Company may experience difficulty implementing its business strategy.
The growth and expansion of the Company is heavily dependent upon the successful implementation of its business strategy. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in the implementation of its business strategy.
Conflicts of interest involving the Company’s directors and officers may arise and may be resolved in a manner that is unfavorable to the Company.
Certain of the Company’s directors and officers are, and may continue to be, involved in other business ventures through their direct and indirect participation in corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, etc. that may become potential competitors of the technologies, products and services the Company intends to provide. Situations may arise in connection with potential acquisitions or opportunities where the other interests of these directors and officers conflict with or diverge from the Company’s interests. In accordance with applicable corporate law, directors who have a material interest in or who is a party to a material contract or a proposed material contract with the Company are required, subject to certain exceptions, to disclose that interest and generally abstain from voting on any resolution to approve the contract. In addition, the directors and officers are required to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the Company’s best interests. However, in conflict of interest situations, the Company’s directors and officers may owe the same duty to another company and will need to balance their competing interests with their duties to the Company. Circumstances (including with respect to future corporate opportunities) may arise that may be resolved in a manner that is unfavourable to the Company.
The available talent pool may not be large enough for the Company to identify and hire personnel required to develop the business, which may mean that the growth of the Company’s business will suffer.
As the Company grows, it will need to hire additional human resources to continue to develop the business. However, experienced talent in the areas of financings and cannabis may be difficult to source, and there can be no assurance that the appropriate individuals will be available or affordable to the Company. Without adequate personnel and expertise, the growth of the Company’s business may suffer.
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If the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) were imposed on the Company, such requirements would adversely affect our operations.
The Company intends to conduct its operations so that it is not required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. Section 3(a)(1)(C) of the 1940 Act defines an investment company as any issuer that is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of the issuer’s total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, which we refer to as the 40% test. Excluded from the term “investment securities,” among other things, are securities issued by majority-owned subsidiaries that are not themselves investment companies and are not relying on the exception from the definition of investment company set forth in Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c) (7) of the 1940 Act.
The Company is organized as a holding company that conducts business primarily through wholly-owned or majority-owned subsidiaries. The Company intends to conduct operations so that it complies with the 40% test. The Company will monitor our holdings to comply with this test. Failure to comply with the 40% test could require the Company to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
There could be adverse tax consequence for our shareholders in the United States if we are deemed a passive foreign investment company.
Under United States federal income tax laws, if a company is (or for any past period was) a passive foreign investment company (which we refer to as “PFIC”), it could have adverse United States federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders even if the company is no longer a PFIC. The determination of whether we are a PFIC is a factual determination made annually based on all the facts and circumstances and thus is subject to change. Furthermore, the principles and methodology used in determining whether a company is a PFIC are subject to interpretation. The Company believes based on current business plans and financial expectations that it may be a PFIC for the current tax year and future tax years. United States purchasers of our common shares are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning United States federal income tax consequences of holding our common shares if we are considered to be a PFIC.
If we are a PFIC, U.S. holders would be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences such as the ineligibility for any preferred tax rates on capital gains, the ineligibility for actual or deemed dividends, interest charges on certain taxes treated as deferred, and additional reporting requirements under U.S. federal income tax laws or regulations. Whether or not U.S. holders make a timely qualified electing fund (or QEF) election or mark-to-market election may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders with respect to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of our common shares and any distributions such U.S. holders may receive. Investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding all aspects of the application of the PFIC rules to our common shares.
ITEM 4INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
We are a British Columbia corporation existing under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”) which conducts business as an operating company with a focus on the legal cannabis industry in the United States.
A. History and Development of the Company
Name
Our legal and commercial name is Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
Principal Office
Our principal office and place of business is located at 8810 Jane Street, 2nd Floor, Concord, ON L4K 2M9
Incorporation and Continuation
We are a British Columbia corporation existing with perpetual existence under the BCBCA.
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The Company was incorporated on March 12, 1980 as Treminco Resources Ltd. under the laws of British Columbia as a mineral exploration company. Treminco Resources Ltd. was listed initially on the Vancouver Stock Exchange (as it was then known) and subsequently on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSE”).
The name of the Company was changed to Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation on February 8, 1999. On September 4, 2001, the common shares of Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation were delisted from the TSE for failure to meet the continued listing requirements of the TSE. Cease Trade Orders (“CTOs”) were imposed on Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation by the Ontario Securities Commission and the British Columbia Securities Commissions (the “Commissions”) on January 11, 2002 and January 3, 2002, respectively.
Between April 2001 and July 2010, Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation was inactive and did not carry on any business.
On October 12, 2011, Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation changed its name to Tulloch Resources Ltd.
On January 16, 2012, pursuant to Section 171 of the British Columbia Securities Act and Section 144 of the Ontario Securities Act, the Commissions issued revocation orders with respect to the prior CTOs issued against Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation. As part of the revocation, Tulloch Resources Ltd. undertook not to complete a transaction that would result in a reverse takeover while it was not listed on a “recognized stock exchange” unless, prior to closing of such transaction, the Company provided the British Columbia Securities Commission with 10 business days’ notice of the transaction.
Between 2012 and 2016, Tulloch Resources Ltd. undertook three equity financings, raising an aggregate of $125,000, through private placements of its pre-Consolidated (as defined below) common shares to cover expenses involved in the restoration of the Company, ongoing costs, and expenses involved in searching for an appropriate project. From 2014 to 2017, Tulloch Resources Ltd. identified and reviewed a number of opportunities but did not proceed with any project.
On July 18, 2017, the Company changed its name to Tidal Royalty Corp. and changed its business to become a financing company with a focus on the U.S. legal cannabis industry. On July 26, 2017, we consolidated our share capital on a one-for-three basis (the “Consolidation”).
Our common shares began trading in CAD on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) on June 25, 2018 under the symbol “RLTY”. We received approval from the CSE to begin trading our common shares in USD and commenced trading our common shares in USD on June 29, 2018 under the symbol “RLTY.U”.
On July 12, 2018, our common shares began trading on the OTC Markets under the symbol “TDRYF”. On August 13, 2018 we secured Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. (“DTC”) eligibility for our common shares on the OTC Markets.
After the close of trading on September 10, 2018, OTC Markets ceased listing our common shares on the OTC Markets under the symbol “TDRYF” as a result of an October 12, 2010 order issued by the SEC. The order, issued pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), revoked the registration of the securities of Elkhorn Gold Mining Corp., registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, as Elkhorn Gold Mining Corp. was delinquent in its periodic filings with the SEC having not filed any periodic reports since it filed an amended Form 20-F registration statement on November 4, 1999. Prior to being notified of the actions of the OTC Markets, management of Tidal Royalty was not aware of the filing of the amended Form 20-F by Elkhorn Mining Corp. nor the order of the SEC revoking the registration of the registered securities of Elkhorn Gold Mining Corp.
On May 13, 2019, the Company entered into a business combination agreement (the “Definitive Agreement”) with MichiCann Medical Inc. (d/b/a Red White & Bloom) (“MichiCann”), with respect to the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of MichiCann (“Proposed Transaction”). Pursuant to the definitive agreement, all of the issued and outstanding common shares of MichiCann will be exchanged on the basis of 2 common shares of tidal for 1 MichiCann common share. The Proposed Transaction is considered as a reverse take-over. The Proposed Transaction will be completed by way of a three-cornered amalgamation (“Amalgamation”), whereby 2690229 Ontario Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company will amalgamate with MichiCann. The Amalgamation was approved by the shareholders of MichiCann
MichiCann is a private cannabis investment Company that holds an 8% senior secured convertible debenture to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of its Michigan based investee (“OpCo”), a private company incorporated under the laws of the state of Michigan. OpCo has been granted a step 1 prequalification by the Medical Marijuana Licensing Board and has been awarded multiple municipal approvals for grower permits (cultivation), manufacturing (extraction and derivative manufacturing) and provisioning centers (dispensaries).
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The Definitive contemplates the following terms:
*The Company will complete a share consolidation on an 8:1 basis;
*Change its name to “Red White & Bloom Inc.” or such other name as may be approved by the board of directors;
*Reconstitute the board to include a total of 6 directors, of which 4 are nominees of MichiCann and 2 existing board members of the Company.
On April 24, 2020, the Company closed the Definitive Agreement, and 2690229 Ontario Inc. amalgamated with MichiCann by way of a three-corned amalgamation whereby MichiCann was amalgamated with a newly incorporated subsidiary to form the Company.
Immediately prior to the amalgamation, the Company completed a consolidation of its common shares on the basis of one post- consolidated share for every sixteen pre-consolidation common shares and changed its name from “Tidal Royalty Corp.” to “Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.”. The shares of the Company were exchanged for shares of MichiCann on a 2:1 basis. Due to the terms of the exchange ratio, the previous shareholders of MichiCann acquired a controlling interest in the Company and as such, the amalgamation has been accounted for as a reverse takeover transaction with MichiCann.
The amalgamation resulted in all the issued and outstanding shares of MichiCann being exchange for one common share and one convertible series II preferred share of the Company. Holders of MichiCann common share purchase warrants and MichiCann stock options received one replacement warrant or stock option, as applicable, with each exercisable for units consisting of one common share and one convertible series II preferred share.
Change of Business
On September 5, 2017, we received approval from our shareholders to change our business from mineral exploration to that of a financing company with a focus on the U.S. legal cannabis industry. Among others, we took the following steps to develop and execute our new business:
1.Retained new management with a track record in the U.S. legal cannabis industry and of acquiring and divesting in arm’s-length enterprises;
2.Changed our name from Tulloch Resources Ltd. to Tidal Royalty Corp.;
3.Consolidated our common shares on a three (3) old for one (1) new basis;
4.Considered and created a clearly defined financing policy; and
5.Undertook various financing transactions, described in greater detail below.
Financing Following the Change of Business
On February 8, 2018, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of 59,370,000 special warrants of the Company at a price of $0.05 per special warrant for gross proceeds of $2,968,500. Each special warrant entitled the holder to receive, without payment of any additional consideration or need for further action, one unit of the Company, each unit comprising of one common share and one share purchase warrant; each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional share at $0.05 for a period of 24 months. An additional 3,757,000 special warrants were issued as finders’ fees with the same terms as the special warrants received pursuant to the private placement. The fair value of $187,850 was charged to warrant issue costs. On June 8, 2018, the Company converted the special warrants and special finders’ warrants into an equivalent number of units in the capital of the Company. As of November 28, 2019, the Company has issued 6,020,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $301,000 pursuant to the exercise of 6,020,000 share purchase warrants issued as a result of this June 8, 2018 conversion.
On March 1, 2018, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of 57,120,000 special warrants of the Company at a price of $0.05 per special warrant for gross proceeds of $2,856,000. Each special warrant entitled the holder to receive, without payment of any additional consideration or need for further action, one unit of the Company, each unit comprising of one common share and one share purchase warrant; each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional share at $0.05 for a period of 24 months. An additional 5,292,000 special warrants were issued as finders’ fees with the same terms as the special warrants received pursuant to the private placement. The fair value of $264,600 was charged to warrant issue costs. On July 1, 2018, the Company converted the special warrants and special finders’ warrants into an equivalent number of units in the capital of the Company. As of November 28, 2019, the Company has issued 21,900,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $1095,000 pursuant to the exercise of 21,900,000 share purchase warrants issued as a result of this July 1, 2018 conversion.
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On April 30, 2018, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of 12,690,000 special warrants of the Company at a price of $0.05 per special warrant for gross proceeds of $634,500. Each special warrant entitles the holder to receive, without payment of any additional consideration or need for further action, one unit of the Company, each unit comprising of one common share and one share purchase warrant; each warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional share at $0.05 for a period of 24 months. An additional 1,220,000 special warrants were issued as finders’ fees with the same terms as the special warrants received pursuant to the private placement. The fair value of $61,000 was charged to warrant issue costs. On August 31, 2018, the Company converted the special warrants and special finders’ warrants into an equivalent number of units in the capital of the Company. As of November 28, 2019, the Company issued 3,105,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $155,250 pursuant to the exercise of 3,105,000 share purchase warrants issued as a result of this August 31, 2018 conversion.
On May 25, 2018, the Company issued 40,000,000 units in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.05 per unit for gross proceeds of $2,000,000. Each unit consists of one Series 1 Convertible Preferred share (a “Preferred Share”) and one preferred share purchase warrant; each warrant (a “Warrant”) is exercisable by the holder to acquire one additional Preferred Share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months following the issuance date.
A total of 4,000,000 special finders’ warrants were issued as finder’s fees in respect of the May 25, 2018 issuance, which special finders’ warrants were granted with a fair value of $141,440. The fair value of the special finders’ warrants was determined using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model with the following assumptions: stock price - $0.05; exercise price - $0.05; expected life — 2 years; volatility — 147%; dividend yield — $0; and risk-free rate — 1.96%. Each special finders’ warrant entitled the holder to receive, without payment of any additional consideration or need for further action, one unit of the Company, each unit comprising of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each share purchase warrant is exercisable by the holder to acquire one additional common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months following the issuance date of the convertible preferred share units. The special finder’s warrants were converted into an equivalent number of units in the capital of the Company on September 26, 2018. As of November 28, 2019, the Company has issued 1,000,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $50,000 pursuant to the exercise of 1,000,000 share purchase warrants issued as a result of this September 26, 2018 conversion.
On June 12, 2018, the Company issued 94,355,026 common shares at a price of $0.33 per common share for gross proceeds of $31,137,159. In consideration for their services, the finder’s received a cash commission of $2,067,500 and the Company paid other legal and finders’ fees of $64,000. A total of 5,182,365 finder’s warrants were granted with a fair value of $1,209,136; each finder warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at $0.33 for a period of 24 months. The fair value of the finders’ warrants was determined using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model with the following assumptions: stock price - $0.33; exercise price - $0.33; expected life — 2 years; volatility — 147%; dividend yield — $0; and risk-free rate — 1.90%.
On July 28, 2018, the holders of the 40,000,000 preferred share purchase warrants exercised these warrants and paid the $0.05 exercise price for total proceeds of $2,000,000. On October 31, 2018, the Company issued the 40,000,000 Series 1 Convertible Preferred shares pursuant to the exercise of the 40,000,000 preferred share purchase warrants. During the period ended April 30, 2019, the Company converted 29,100,000 preferred shares into common shares on a one to one basis.
On September 24, 2020, the Company closed the bought deal offering for a total issuance of 33,350,000 units of the Company at a price of $0.75 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $25,012,500, which includes the full exercise of the over-allotment option.
Each of these capital raises was primarily conducted in Canada with Canadian investors.
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Reporting Issuer Status under Canadian Securities Laws
The Company became a Canadian reporting issuer on November 27, 1985 whereby the Company and its insiders became subject to the continuous disclosure obligations under the securities laws of the province of British Columbia, Canada. The Company is also a reporting issuer in the province of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, Canada. British Columbia is the principal regulator of the Company.
Capital Expenditures and Divestitures
The Company purchased material Capital expenditures and divestitures in the last five years have not been material.
Mid-American Growers
On January 10, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Mid-American Growers, Inc. (“MAG”). MAG is a company that cultivates and sells hemp-based products throughout North America. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid $31,249,391 in cash and issued rights to receive 17,133,600 common shares of MichiCann with a fair value of $44,984,267.
1251881 B.C. Ltd.
On June 10, 2020, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of 1251881 B.C. Ltd. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company issued 13,500,000 common shares and 4,500,000 special warrants as a consideration. The special warrants are automatically convertible into 4,500,000 common shares of the Company should the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common shares be less than $1.50 for the first 180 days following the acquisition date. In connection with the acquisition, the Company issued 1,800,000 common shares to a finder. On December 15, 2020, all special warrants were converted into common shares for the finder's fee.
The fair value of special warrants amounting to $4,995,000 was based on the market price of $1.11 per common share of the Company as of the acquisition date. The fair value of finder's fee amounting to $1,998,000 was based on the market price of $1.11 per share as of the acquisition date.
Platinum Vape LLC
On September 14, 2020, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding equity interest of Platinum Vape LLC (“Platinum Vape” or “PV”) in a cash and convertible note payable amounting to USD $35,000,000, comprised of USD $7,000,000 in cash paid at closing, a further USD $13,000,000 in cash payable 120 days after closing and USD $15,000,000 convertible promissory note payable on the third anniversary of closing, which may be converted into Company stock only after 12 months. Concurrently, the Company entered an earn-out agreement with the sellers of PV whereby the Company will pay cash or common shares of the Company with equivalent value of USD $25,000,000 payable based on achievement of the following milestones during the 12-month period immediately following the closing:
·USD $7,500,000 paid on PV achieving revenue of USD $80,000,000 and maintain 15% earnings before interest and taxes;
·USD $7,500,000 paid on PV achieving revenue of USD $90,000,000 and maintain 15% earnings before interest and taxes; and
·USD $10,000,000 paid on PV achieving revenue of USD $100,000,000 and maintain 15% earnings before interest and taxes.
Florida operations from Acreage Holdings
On April 28, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of 77.17% of the issued and outstanding shares of Acreage Florida, Inc. (“RWB Florida”). The Company has recorded a 22.83% non-controlling interest at its fair value and consolidated the results of RWB Florida from the date of acquisition onwards. RWB Florida is licensed to operate medical marijuana dispensaries, a processing facility, and a cultivation facility in the state of Florida.
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The previous shareholders of RWB Florida received aggregate consideration as follows:
·A cash payment of $12,438,531;
·5,950,971 Common Shares of the Company on closing, subject to a 12 month lock-up agreement pursuant to which 1/6 if the shares will be released each month commencing the 6th month after close; and
·$34,644,437 in vendor take back promissory notes maturing within 13 months from close of the transaction and bearing interest at 8% per annum.
Takeover Offers
We are not aware of any indication of any public takeover offers by third parties in respect of our Common Shares during our last and current financial years.
B. Business Overview
The Company is a publicly traded company with a focus on financing in businesses that pertain in any way to cannabis which are carried out in compliance with applicable U.S. state laws (“legal cannabis industry”). For a historical overview of the development of the Company, please see “A. History and Development of the Company — Incorporation and Continuation”.
The Company’s business objective is to provide capital solutions to companies in the U.S. legal cannabis industry with large-scale potential and a highly-skilled and experienced management team across multiple industry verticals, including cultivation, processing and distribution. Such financing arrangements may involve royalties, debt, equity and other forms of financings in both private and public companies. Our team has cannabis-related legal, financial and strategic experience.
The Company is actively pursuing opportunities to provide expansion capital to licensed, qualified operators. An investment in Tidal Royalty allows shareholders to participate in the broader US cannabis market’s growth while diversifying against specific operational risks.
Royalties
A royalty is a largely contractually-based financing arrangement whereby, in exchange for expansion capital, the Company receives the legal right to collect future streams of royalty payments that are based on a percentage of revenues from specified operations. Royalty transactions are intended to provide durable, predictable returns for Tidal Royalty while not restricting or inhibiting the growth potential of the portfolio company. Our benchmark standard royalty terms include a royalty of 15% of net revenue, for a period of 99 years and secured by first priority interests on assets of the operator. Specific financing arrangements may vary from the benchmark standard terms depending on the agreement reached by the parties. In addition to royalties, we may explore transactions that are structurally similar to royalties, for example a stream of payments tied to the revenue of a particular asset or business over a defined period of time, in so long as the transaction meets our deal selection criteria and complements our portfolio composition.
Deal Assessment
We pursue transactions after assessing expected internal rate of return weighted against the expected risks of the particular transaction. We generally seek to mitigate transaction risks by obtaining some form of security against the portfolio company’s assets.
In order to assess financing opportunities, we undertake a comprehensive due diligence process and use a scorecard method to evaluate the accretive potential of an opportunity. While we evaluate many financing opportunities, only selected opportunities that align with our scorecard metrics are pursued.
In addition to the assessment of the qualities of a particular transaction, we also assess the macro factors that may impact an investment, for example regulatory developments, market changes and consumer behavior. We regularly assess these macro factors and continually refine our conclusions with respect to the expected impact of such factors on current and future investments. As such, we strive to select and structure investments such that Tidal Royalty benefits from the outcomes relating to a particular selected portfolio company as well as from market growth in general.
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Portfolio
We seek to balance our portfolio of investments such that there is no concentration of investments in any particular states, with any particular operators or in any particular industry vertical. As such, the composition of our portfolio may vary over time.
On August 31, 2018, we executed a definitive agreement with Diem Cannabis to finance its expansion into Massachusetts. Diem is an experienced licensed operator in the highly-competitive Oregon market. Pursuant to the agreement, we will provide Diem Cannabis with up to US$12.5 million over the next three years to develop and operate a large-scale cultivation and processing facility and up to four dispensaries in Massachusetts.
On November 15, 2018, we purchased 3,029 Units (“Units”) for $3,029,000 of FLRish Inc., the parent company of Harborside (“Harborside”) and entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Harborside to provide royalty financing to prospective “Harborside” brand dispensary operators. We agreed to provide up to US$10 million in royalty financing to prospective dispensary operators licensing the “Harborside” brand. Each potential dispensary financing transaction will be assessed by us on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence and the consummation of definitive documentation with the prospective dispensary operator.
On January 9, 2019, we closed a strategic private placement for US $5,000,000 of Lighthouse Strategies LLC (“Lighthouse”) Series A membership units concurrently with a financing arrangement for certain Lighthouse beverage lines. Pursuant to the Financing Fee Agreement, the Company we are entitled to a 1% of net sales of certain of Lighthouse’s beverage lines, including Cannabiniers, Two Roots Brewing Co and Creative Waters Beverage Company. Financing fees will accrue until December 1, 2019, at which point the Company may choose receive such fees in cash or Series A membership units of Lighthouse. Thereafter, financing fees are payable quarterly in cash. The terms of the Financing Fee Agreement are between four and six years, depending on certain milestones and includes acceleration provisions in certain events (including a substantial asset divestiture, change of control, or initial public offering).
On February 25, 2019, the Company completed an advance of $15,000,000 to MichiCann Medical Inc. (operating as Red White & Bloom) pursuant to a senior secured convertible debenture (the “MichiCann Debenture”). The MichiCann Debenture is non-interest bearing, other than in the event of a default by MichiCann thereunder, and will mature on November 30, 2019 (the “Maturity Date”), with the Maturity Date being extendable in certain circumstances.
The obligations under the MichiCann Debenture are secured by way of a first ranking security against the personal property of MichiCann. In the event that the proposed acquisition by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding shares of MichiCann (the “Proposed Transaction”) is not completed by the Maturity Date as result of, among other things, MichiCann’s failure to comply with the definitive documentation for the Proposed Transaction, and MichiCann is at such time pursing an alternative go public transaction or a change of control transaction (an “Alternate Liquidity Transaction”), the Company may elect to convert, in whole or in part, the outstanding amount under the MichiCann Debenture into common shares of MichiCann (“MichiCann Shares”) at a price per MichiCann Share that is the lesser of (i) $2.50 per MichiCann Share, and (ii) a 20% discount to the issue or effective price per MichiCann Share under the Alternate Liquidity Transaction.
It is anticipated that MichiCann will use the funds advanced by the Company, solely to fund the acquisition of additional cannabis Provisioning Centers (dispensaries) in Michigan by its Michigan based investee Opco, and for general working capital purposes.
On April 24, 2020, Tidal Royalty Corp. (“Tidal”) and a private Ontario company named MichiCann Medical Inc. (“MichiCann”) completed an amalgamation structured as a three-corned amalgamation whereby MichiCann was amalgamated with a newly incorporated subsidiary of Tidal, forming the Company.
Immediately prior to the amalgamation, Tidal completed a consolidation of the Tidal common shares on the basis of one post- consolidated Tidal share for every sixteen pre-consolidation Tidal common shares and changed its name from “Tidal Royalty Corp.” to “Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.”. Each MichiCann share was exchanged to one common share and one convertible series II preferred share of the Company. Due to the terms of the exchange ratio, the previous shareholders of MichiCann acquired a controlling interest in Tidal and as such, the amalgamation has been accounted for as a reverse takeover transaction with MichiCann being the resulting issuer for financial reporting purposes.
We seek to create lasting partnerships with our portfolio companies such that we participate in their growth and success over time. Further, we expect that the synergies among our portfolio companies will also contribute to the success of our portfolio companies.
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Competition
As the cannabis industry is at an early stage, we expect to face intense competition from other financing companies, including from new entrants, in the future. Currently, we are experiencing intensifying competition among financiers in the legal cannabis industry. As investors worldwide are becoming more accustomed to cannabis investments, family offices, private equity funds and high-net-worth individuals are beginning to offer financing alternatives to cannabis companies. However, we believe that our experienced management team, deal selection process and financing product distinguishes us from alternative sources of financing.
Effects of Government Regulations
In the U.S., cannabis is largely regulated at the state level. To the Company’s knowledge and as of the date of this Form 20-F, 30 states and Washington, DC have legalized medical cannabis, while nine states and Washington, DC have legalized recreational cannabis use. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of medical or recreational cannabis at the state level in certain states, cannabis continues to be categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance under the CSA and as such violates federal law in the U.S. As a result of the conflicting views between state legislatures and the federal government regarding cannabis, financings with cannabis businesses in the U.S. are subject to inconsistent legislation and regulation.
The federal government of the U.S. has specifically reserved the right to enforce federal law in regard to the sale and disbursement of medical or adult-use use marijuana even if state law sanctioned such sale and disbursement. It is presently unclear whether the U.S. federal government intends to enforce federal laws relating to cannabis where the conduct at issue is legal under applicable state law. This risk was further heightened by the revocation of a memorandum (the “Cole Memorandum”), acknowledging that although cannabis is a controlled substance at the federal level, several U.S. states have enacted laws relating to cannabis for medical purposes, in January 2018.
The inconsistent regulation of cannabis at the federal and state levels was addressed in 2013 when then Deputy Attorney General, James Cole, authored the Cole Memorandum acknowledging that although cannabis is a controlled substance at the federal level, several U.S. states have enacted laws relating to cannabis for medical purposes. The Cole Memorandum noted that in jurisdictions that have enacted laws legalizing cannabis in some form and that have also implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis, conduct in compliance with those laws and regulations is less likely to be a priority at the federal level. However, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has never provided specific guidelines for what regulatory and enforcement systems it deems sufficient under the Cole Memorandum standard.
However, on January 4, 2018, the Cole Memorandum was revoked by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. While this did not create a change in federal law, as the Cole Memorandum was not itself law, the revocation added to the uncertainty of U.S. federal enforcement of the CSA in states where cannabis use is regulated. Sessions also issued a one-page memorandum known as the “Sessions Memorandum.” This confirmed the rescission of the Cole Memorandum and explained that the Cole Memorandum was “unnecessary” due to existing general enforcement guidance as set forth in the U.S. Attorney’s Manual (the “USAM”) The USAM enforcement priorities, like those of the Cole Memorandum, are also based on the federal government’s limited resources, and include “law enforcement priorities set by the Attorney General,” the “seriousness” of the alleged crimes, the “deterrent effect of criminal prosecution,” and “the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community.”
While the Sessions Memorandum does emphasize that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance and states the statutory view that it is a “dangerous drug and that marijuana activity is a serious crime,” it does not otherwise guide U.S. Attorneys that the prosecution of marijuana-related offenses is now a DOJ priority. Furthermore, the Sessions Memorandum explicitly describes itself as a guide to prosecutorial discretion. Such discretion is firmly in the hands of U.S. Attorneys in deciding whether or not to prosecute marijuana-related offenses. U.S. Attorneys could individually continue to exercise their discretion in a manner similar to that displayed under the Cole Memorandum’s guidance. Dozens of U.S. Attorneys across the country have affirmed their commitment to proceeding in this manner, or otherwise affirming that their view of federal enforcement priorities has not changed, although a few have displayed greater ambivalence. In California, at least one U.S. Attorney has made comments indicating a desire to enforce the CSA. Adam Braverman, Interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, has stated that the rescission of the Cole Memorandum “returns trust and local control to federal prosecutors” to enforce the CSA. Additionally, Greg Scott, the Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, has a history of prosecuting medical cannabis activity; and his office published a statement that cannabis remains illegal under federal law, and that his office would “evaluate violations of those laws in accordance with our district’s federal law enforcement priorities and resources.”
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The Rohrabacher Blumenauer Appropriations Amendment (originally the Rohrabacher Farr Amendment) has been included in federal annual spending bills since 2014. This amendment restricts the Department of Justice from using federal funds to prevent states with medical cannabis regulations from implementing laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical cannabis. In 2017, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) introduced a parity amendment to H.R.1625—a vehicle for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, preventing federal prosecutors from using federal funds to impede the implementation of medical cannabis laws enacted at the state level, subject to Congress restoring such funding (“Leahy Amendment”). The Leahy Amendment was set to expire with the 2018 fiscal year on September 30, 2018, however, Congress approved a nine-week continuing resolution from the 2018 fiscal year (the “Continuing Resolution”). The Continuing Resolution has the result of providing ongoing and consistent protection for the medical cannabis industry until December 7, 2018. Congress has been negotiating the 2019 fiscal year appropriations since February 2018. The much relied on appropriations protecting the medical cannabis industry was renewed in both the House and Senate versions of the 2019 fiscal year appropriations bills, with the expectation that the language will be enacted in the final 2019 fiscal year appropriations bill. However, it should be noted that there is no assurance that the final 2019 fiscal year appropriations bill will include appropriations protecting the medical cannabis industry.
American courts have construed these appropriations bills to prevent the federal government from prosecuting individuals when those individuals comply with state medical cannabis laws. However, because this conduct continues to violate federal law, American courts have observed that should Congress at any time choose to appropriate funds to fully prosecute the CSA, any individual or business, even those that have fully complied with state law, could be prosecuted for violations of federal law. If Congress restores funding, for example by declining to include the Rohrabacher Blumenauer Appropriations Amendment in the 2019 fiscal year appropriations bill, or by failing to pass necessary budget legislation and causing another government shutdown, the government will have the authority to prosecute individuals for violations of the law before it lacked funding under the five-year statute of limitations applicable to non-capital CSA violations. Additionally, it is important to note that the appropriations protections only apply to medical cannabis operations and provide no protection against businesses operating in compliance with a state’s recreational cannabis laws.
Further, there can be no assurance that state laws legalizing and regulating the sale and use of cannabis will not be repealed or overturned, or that local governmental authorities will not limit the applicability of state laws within their respective jurisdictions. It is also important to note that local and city ordinances may strictly limit and/or restrict the distribution of cannabis in a manner that will make it extremely difficult or impossible to transact business in the cannabis industry. If the U.S. federal government begins to enforce federal laws relating to cannabis in states where the sale and use of cannabis is currently legal, or if existing state laws are repealed or curtailed, then the Company’s financing of such businesses would be materially and adversely affected notwithstanding that the Company may not be directly engaged in the sale or distribution of cannabis.
Violations of any federal laws and regulations could result in significant fines, penalties, administrative sanctions, convictions or settlements arising from civil proceedings conducted by either the federal government or private citizens, or criminal charges, including, but not limited to, disgorgement of profits, cessation of business activities or divestiture. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company, including its reputation and ability to conduct business, the listing of its securities on any stock exchange, 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 would be needed 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 approach to the enforcement of cannabis laws may be subject to change or may not proceed as previously outlined.
The Company will continue to monitor, evaluate and re-assess the regulatory framework in each state in which it may hold a financing, and the federal laws applicable thereto, on an ongoing basis; and will update its continuous disclosure regarding government policy changes or new or amended guidance, laws or regulations regarding cannabis in the U.S.
The Company is subject to a variety of laws and regulations in Canada and the U.S. that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds of crime, including the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada), as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the U.S. and Canada. Further, under U.S. federal law, banks or other financial institutions that provide a cannabis business with a chequing account, debit or credit card, small business loan, or any other service could be found guilty of money laundering, aiding and abetting, or conspiracy.
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Despite these laws, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued guidance on February 14, 2014 outlining the pathways for financial institutions to bank marijuana businesses in compliance with federal enforcement priorities (the “FinCEN Memorandum”). The FinCEN Memorandum states that in some circumstances, it is permissible for banks to provide services to cannabis-related businesses without risking prosecution for violation of federal money laundering laws. It refers to supplementary guidance in the 2014 Cole Memo issued to federal prosecutors relating to the prosecution of money laundering offenses predicated on cannabis-related violations of the CSA on the same day. The 2014 Cole Memo was rescinded as of January 4, 2018, along with the Cole Memorandum, removing guidance that enforcement of applicable financial crimes was not a DOJ priority.
Attorney General Sessions’ revocation of the Cole Memorandum and the 2014 Cole Memo has not affected the status of the FinCEN Memorandum, nor has the Department of the Treasury given any indication that it intends to rescind the FinCEN Memorandum itself. Though it was originally intended for the 2014 Cole Memo and the FinCEN Memorandum to work in tandem, the FinCEN Memorandum appears to remain in effect as a standalone document which explicitly lists the eight enforcement priorities originally cited in the rescinded Cole Memorandum. Although the FinCEN Memorandum remains intact, indicating that the Department of the Treasury and FinCEN intend to continue abiding by its guidance, it is unclear whether the current administration will continue to follow the guidelines of the FinCEN Memorandum.
Overall, since the production and possession of cannabis is illegal under U.S. federal law, there is a strong argument that banks cannot accept for deposit funds from businesses involved with the cannabis industry. Consequently, businesses involved in the cannabis industry often have difficulty finding a bank willing to accept their business. As the Company will have a material ancillary involvement in the U.S. legal cannabis industry, the Company may find that it is unable to open bank accounts with certain Canadian financial institutions, which in turn may make it difficult to operate the Company’s business.
Proceeds of the Company’s financings may be considered proceeds of crime due to the fact that cannabis remains illegal federally in the U.S. This may restrict the ability of the Company to declare or pay dividends, effect other distributions or subsequently repatriate such funds back to Canada. Furthermore, while the Company has no current intention to declare or pay dividends on its Shares in the foreseeable future, the Company may decide or be required to suspend declaring or paying dividends without advance notice and for an indefinite period of time.
The following table sets out the current organizational structure of the Company and its subsidiaries:
Name of Subsidiary | Jurisdiction of Incorporation | Ownership |
MichiCann Medical Inc. | Ontario, Canada | 100% |
1251881 B.C. Ltd. | British Columbia, Canada | 100% |
Mid-American Growers, Inc. | Delaware, USA | 100% |
Mid-American Cultivation LLC | Delaware, USA | 100% |
RWB Platinum Vape Inc. | California, USA | 100% |
Vista Prime Management, LLC | California, USA | 100% |
GC Ventures 2, LLC | Michigan, USA | 100% |
RWB Licensing Inc. | British Columbia, Canada | 100% |
RWB Freedom Flower, LLC | Illinois, USA | 100% |
RWB Illinois, Inc. | Delaware, USA | 100% |
Vista Prime 3, Inc. | California, USA | 100% |
PV CBD LLC | California, USA | 100% |
Vista Prime 2, Inc. | California, USA | 100% |
Royalty USA Corp. | Delaware, USA | 100% |
RLTY Beverage 1 LLC | Delaware, USA | 100% |
RLTY Development MA 1 LLC | Delaware, USA | 100% |
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D. Property, Plants and Equipment
Corporate Office
Our executive offices are located at 8810 Jane Street, 2nd Floor, Concord, ON, L4K 2M9
ITEM 5 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following is a discussion and analysis of our activities, results of operations and financial condition as of December 31, 2020, July 31, 2019 and July 31, 2018. It should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2020, July 31, 2019 and July 31, 2018. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.
A.OPERATING RESULTS
Fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 compared to fiscal year ended July 31, 2019
|
|
|
|
|
For the year ended |
| December 31, 2020 |
| July 31, 2019 |
Sales Cost of sales, before fair value adjustments | $ | 23,338,528 9,486,087 |
| - - |
|
| 13,852,441 |
| - |
Unrealized change in fair value of biological assets Realized fair value amounts included in inventory sold |
|
(543,116) 45,232 |
|
- - |
Gross Profit
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Consulting |
| - |
| 1,333,704 |
General and administration |
| 10,695,379 |
| 233,985 |
Depreciation and amortization |
| 15,291,977 |
| - |
Investor relations and stock promotion |
| - |
| 2,521,416 |
Insurance |
| - |
| 135,493 |
Professional fees |
| - |
| 1,100,143 |
Rent |
| - |
| 195,050 |
Salaries and benefits |
| 6,777,330 |
| 915,585 |
Earn-out compensation |
| 9,805,500 |
| - |
Share based payments |
| 3,955,976 |
| 7,329,800 |
Sales and marketing |
| 1,762,223 |
| - |
Transfer agent and filing fees |
| - |
| 88,215 |
Travel |
| - |
| 131,552 |
Total expenses |
| 48,288,828 |
| 13,974,943 |
27
Loss from operations before other expenses
Other income (expense) |
|
(34,933,828) |
|
(13,974,943) |
Dividend income |
| - |
| 2,467 |
Finance expense |
| 5,272,428 |
| - |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) |
| 1,677,976 |
| 260,880 |
Management fees |
| (425,610) |
| - |
Gain revaluation of call/put option |
| (53,619,465) |
| - |
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment |
| (232,874) |
| - |
Write off of deposit |
| 1,853,059 |
| - |
Listing expense |
| 31,705,481 |
| - |
Gain on debt extinguishment |
| - |
| 10,000 |
Interest income |
| - |
| 404,921 |
Realized gain on investment in equity securities and convertible debenture |
| - |
| 281,892 |
Unrealized loss on investment in equity securities |
| 530,451 |
| (5,373,032) |
Write down of sales tax receivable |
| - |
| (223,906) |
Total other expenses (income) |
| (13,238,554) |
| (4,636,778) |
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
| (21,695,274) |
| (18,611,721) |
|
|
|
|
|
Current income tax expense |
| 3,125,261 |
| - |
Deferred income tax recovery |
| (6,243,668) |
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss |
| (18,576,867) |
| (18,661,721) |
|
|
|
|
|
Translation adjustment on consolidation of foreign subsidiaries |
| (1,896,622) |
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss |
| (20,473,489) |
| (18,661,721) |
Most categories of expenses showed increases in 2020 compared with 2019. The Company acquired MAG and PV on January 10, 2020 and September 13, 2020, respectively. As a result of acquisition of MAG and PV, the Company began generating revenue on January 10, 2020 and revenue increased significantly in the fourth quarter of the year. However, the Company still relies on external financings to generate capital. As a result, the Company has continued to incur losses since the its inception including for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Explanations of the nature of costs incurred, along with explanations for those significant changes in costs are discussed below:
·General and administration relates to general office expenditures and its increase is a result of the Company’s activity level during the period along with other costs associated with operations in the Company’s office in Toronto. The increase is to support increased operating activities. Significant changes include increase in professional fees to support increase in legal and other professional work related to the amalgamation agreement, negotiations and the reverse takeover transactions, and increase in insurance expense.
·Depreciation and amortization expenses consist of depreciation of property, plants and equipment and amortization of intangible assets. Increase of $15,290,079 in depreciation from $1,898 in 2019 to $15,291,977 in 2020. The increase is driven by an increase in depreciable property as a result of the MAG and Platinum Vape acquisitions.
·Investor relations and stock promotion consist of marketing costs to promote the Company. The increase is a result of the Company’s officers increasing their presence at several key industries related conferences throughout the period. Furthermore, the Company created brand awareness in the Company’s key target markets in North America that may lead to potential partnerships. The Company’s advertising effort has led to several key letter of intents and definitive agreements. This is an important step to establishing the Company’s foothold in the legal marijuana sector in the United States.
·Salaries and wages related to compensation expenses for employees of the Company. The increase was to support management in its effort to build infrastructure necessary for the Company’s growth. Another cause of the increase is the increased number of employees as a result of the MAG and Platinum Vapes acquisitions.
·Earn-out compensation relates to earn-out compensation agreement of PV acquisition.
28
·During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company granted stock options to various employees and consultants. The Company used the Black Scholes Pricing Model and recorded share-based compensation of $3,955,976 (2019 - $7,329,800).
·The increase in sales and marketing to supported increased sales and marketing activities.
·Consulting, investor relations and stock promotions, insurance, professional fees, rent and travel expenses were reclassified as general and administration for the year ended December 31, 2020.
·Finance expense relates to interest expenses and various finance charges.
·Foreign exchange gain relates to fluctuations in foreign exchange rate between the USD and Canadian dollar.
·Management fees relates to management fee charged to the investee of the Company.
·The Company recognized an unrealized gain of $53,619,465 on revaluation of call/put option
·The Company recognized a gain of $232,874 on disposal of property, plant and equipment
·The Company wrote off a deposit of $1,853,059.
Fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 compared to fiscal year ended July 31, 2018
|
|
|
|
|
For the year ended |
| July 31, 2019 |
| July 31, 2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Consulting fees | $ | 1,333,704 | $ | 1,933,550 |
Advertising and promotions |
| - |
| 1,164,458 |
General and administration |
| 223,985 |
| 93,861 |
Investor relations and stock promotion |
| 2,521,416 |
| 31,851 |
Insurance |
| 135,493 |
|
|
Professional fees |
| 1,100,143 |
| 461,195 |
Rent |
| 195,050 |
| 84,670 |
Share-based compensation |
| 7,329,800 |
| 3,250,476 |
Salaries and benefits |
| 915,585 |
| 244,526 |
Transfer agent and filing fees |
| 88,215 |
| 76,869 |
Travel |
| 131,552 |
| 106,368 |
|
| (13,974,943) |
| (7,447,824) |
Other income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
Dividends income |
| 2,467 |
| - |
Foreign exchange gain (loss) |
| 260,880 |
| 377,265 |
Gain on debt extinguishment |
| 10,000 |
| - |
Interest income |
| 404,921 |
| - |
Realized gain on investments in equity securities and convertible debentures |
| 281,892 |
| - |
Unrealized loss on investments in equity securities |
| (5,373,032) |
| - |
Write down of sales tax receivable |
| (223,906) |
| - |
Net loss | $ | (18,611,721) | $ | (7,825,089) |
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
Foreign subsidiary currency translation loss |
| (796) |
| - |
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the year | $ | (18,612,517) | $ | (7,825,089) |
Most categories of expenses showed increases in 2019 compared with 2018. In the first half of the year the increase in expenses related to activities on due diligence work performed for financing deals and related activities. In the second half of the year, expenses reflected the Company’s reorganization of management and redirection of its business.
Explanations of the nature of costs incurred, along with explanations for those significant changes in costs are discussed below:
·Investor relations and stock promotion consist of marketing costs to promote the Company. The increase is a result of the Company’s officers increasing their presence at several key industries related conferences throughout the period. Furthermore, the Company created brand awareness in the Company’s key target markets in North America that may lead to potential partnerships. The Company’s advertising effort has led to several key letter of intents and
29
definitive agreements. This is an important step to establishing the Company’s foothold in the legal marijuana sector in the United States. The Company limited investor relations activity as the Company’s stock has been halted for the latter half of the year until the MichiCann LOI is completed.
·In the second half of the year, consulting fees decreased significantly as the Company entered into the LOI with MichiCann, resulting in an overall decrease in consulting fees relative to the comparative period. The Company relies heavily on Consultants to help them achieve their goals in all facets of business and these consultants bring a wide range of expertise and connections to the Company. Consultants include Management, Advisors, Technical Support and other support roles.
·General and administration relates to general office expenditures and its increase is a result of the Company’s activity level during the period along with other costs associated with operations in the Company’s office in Toronto. Insurance increased to $135,493 from $Nil as the Company adopted insurance policies during the year.
·Foreign exchange gain relates to fluctuations in foreign exchange rate between the USD and Canadian dollar.
·Professional fees increased due to accounting and legal fees associated with preparing and reviewing the Company’s 20-F filing. The Company incurred legal fees in connection with the closing of the Financing agreement with Diem Cannabis, review of various Letters of Intents such as Lighthouse and Harborside, and other potential partnerships.
·Rent increased as the Company made payments on the Company’s head office lease.
·During the year ended July 31, 2019, the Company granted stock options to various consultants. The Company used the Black Scholes Pricing Model and recorded share-based compensation of $7,329,800 (2018 - $3,250,476).
·Salaries and benefits increased as a result of the Company hiring additional employees to support the growth of business and its corporate finance department. Furthermore, the Company paid its CEO and President salaries for their services.
·Travel increased as a result of flights to various industry conferences and meetings in furtherance of financing opportunities.
·The Company recorded interest income of $404,921 (2018 - $Nil), pursuant to the promissory notes the Company entered into with Diem and the convertible note in Harborside.
·The Company sold its investment in Harborside and realized a gain on sale on equity securities of $281,892.
·The Company recognized an unrealized loss on investments in equity securities for Lighthouse Strategies LLC and Harborside of $5,373,032.
During the three-month period ended July 31, 2019, the Company recorded a loss of $7,471,800 (2018 – $6,807,138). The vast majority of expenditures during the three-month period ended relates to stock options granted to consultants, directors and management. The discussion for the variances for the remaining income statement accounts are similar to the discussion for the year ended July 31, 2019. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company recorded share-based compensation of $853,976.
Inflation
Historically, inflation has not affected the Company’s business in the current locations where it is doing business and the Company does not expect it to affect the Company’s operations in the future.
Foreign exchange risk
The Company’s interest rate risk management policy is to purchase highly liquid investments with terms to maturity of three months or less on the date of purchase or redeemable at the option of the Company. The Company does not engage in any hedging activity. The Company does not have significant interest rate risk.
Foreign currency risk is limited to the portion of the Company’s business transactions denominated in currencies other than the Canadian dollar. The Company has not entered into any foreign currency contracts to mitigate this risk, but manages the risk by minimizing the value of financial instruments denominated in foreign currency.
30
The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent that the following monetary assets and liabilities are denominated in US dollars:
| December 31, 2020 | July 31, 2019 |
|
|
|
Balance in US dollars: |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents | $214,042 | $- |
Accounts receivable | 13,585,921 | - |
Prepaid expenses and deposits | 817,915 | - |
Promissory note receivable | 6,255,678 | 2,595,395 |
Accounts payable | (14,968,980) | - |
Net exposure | 5,904,577 | 2,845,392 |
Balance in Canadian dollars: | $7,342,319 | $3,741,121 |
A 10% change in the US dollar to the Canadian dollar exchange rate would impact the Company’s net loss by approximately $590,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020 (July 31,2019 - $374,000).
B.LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCE
Liquidity
At December 31, 2020, the Company had cash of $1,146,569, compared to July 31, 2019 of $2,961,514. In order to continue operations, and in particular, to fund ongoing expenditure commitments to pursue its business strategy & goals and service its obligations listed in the financial statements, the Company may need to raise additional capital. The Company’s working capital is $9,390,997 (2019 – $17,733,045). The Company expects to finance operating costs by debt private placement of common shares, preferred shares, exercise of warrants, exercise of options and debt financing.
During the year ended, the Company the Company closed the bought deal offering for a total issuance of 33,350,000 units of the Company at a price of $0.75 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $25,012,500, which includes the full exercise of the over-allotment option.
Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of $49,962,257 debenture.
11,771,973 common shares from the exercise of common share purchase warrants for gross proceeds of $13,174,950. 3,104,145 common shares from the exercise of stock option for gross proceeds of $705,000.
Capital Resources
The Company manages its capital to maintain its ability to continue as a going concern and to provide returns to shareholders and benefits to other stakeholders. The capital structure of the Company consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity comprised of issued share capital and deficit.
The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of economic conditions and financial needs. The Company, upon approval from its Board of Directors, will balance its overall capital structure through new share issues or by undertaking other activities as deemed appropriate under the specific circumstances.
The Company entered into an office lease that expires on September 2, 2020. The Company is committed to the following estimated annual payments:
| $ |
2020 | 294,205 |
2021 | 49,034 |
Total | 343,239 |
C.Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
Not applicable.
31
D.Trend Information
State Legislative Trends
While currently a controlled substance under the CSA, cannabis is legalized and regulated by various states. As of the date of this Form 20-F, 30 states and Washington, DC have legalized medical cannabis. Nine states and Washington, DC have legalized adult recreational cannabis use. The trend across the United States has been to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes in most cases, and recreational use in some cases.
During the November 8, 2016 election California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada voted to legalize adult-use cannabis and Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota voted to legalize medical cannabis. In June 2018 Oklahoma legalized medical cannabis. In November 2018, Utah and Missouri will vote on the legalization of medical cannabis, while Michigan and North Dakota will vote on legalizing cannabis for recreational use.
State Regulatory Infrastructure
Development of state programs for the regulation of medical or adult-use cannabis is state-specific. Following the approval of medical or adult-use cannabis, some states have developed the regulatory infrastructure quickly, while other states have taken several years to develop such systems. State-specific advisory boards and committees have been created with the mandate to manage the implementation of the new industries.
According to Marijuana Business Daily, the average amount of time that elapsed between the legalization of medical cannabis sales and the opening of the first dispensaries in six states that recently commenced sales was 28 months. Also, according to Marijuana Business Daily, there are signs that the industry is maturing, and states are increasingly able to efficiently and quickly establish regulatory frameworks following legalization, especially where adult-use cannabis is legalized in states where regulated medical-use cannabis systems are already in place. For example, according to Marijuana Business Daily, the average amount of time that elapsed between voters approving adult-use cannabis production and sales to the opening of the first retail stores in Colorado, Washington and Oregon was 15 months.
Pennsylvania and Ohio offer two contrasting instances of the implementation of state regulatory infrastructure having both committed to a two-year implementation timeframe at the time of legalization. The launch of Pennsylvania’s medical program has largely been on-time. Successfully opened medical dispensaries within the two-year target, the state is now working to bolster the supply chain by issuing more licenses. Ohio on the other hand missed their deadline of September 8, 2018 to have implemented a fully operational supply chain. Despite the longer than expected rollout, Ohio continues to move ahead evaluating and issuing licenses.
Even where regulatory frameworks for cannabis production and sales are in place, states tend to revise these rules over time. These revisions often impact sales, making it difficult to predict the potential of new markets. States may, for example, restrict the number of cannabis businesses permitted which can limit growth of the cannabis industry in those states. Alternatively, states may relax their initial regulations relating to cannabis production and sales, which would likely accelerate growth of the cannabis industry in such states. A common adjustment to medical programs is the addition of qualifying medical conditions. Several states including Michigan, New York, Connecticut, and Arizona have added new qualifying conditions following initial legislature. Common among those new qualifying conditions are opioid replacement and chronic and severe or intractable pain. These conditions affect a wide group of people and are catalysts for medical cannabis adoption.
Federal Legislative and Legal Trends
The recent political and administrative shift with the election of President Donald Trump has created uncertainty about the future of the cannabis industry. In January 2018 U.S. Attorney General. Jefferson Sessions rescinded a trio of memos including the Cole Memorandum. The Cole Memorandum was a memo created during the Obama Administration, which provided states with legal cannabis protection from Federal prosecution. Jeff Sessions said that the policy shift would be a “return to the rule of law” but did not provide details regarding pending prosecutions or the magnitude of a crackdown on legal cannabis companies.
32
In April 2018 Senator Cory Gardner revealed that President Trump vocalized he would support states enforcing their own cannabis laws without Federal interference. This was the first time that there were differing viewpoints between President Trump and the Attorney General Jeff Sessions with regards to cannabis regulation. In June 2018 a new bipartisan bill called the STATES Act (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States) was introduced by Massachusetts’s Senator Elizabeth Warren and Colorado’s Senator Cory Gardner. If passed it would exempt Federal prosecution in legal cannabis states, as well as provide banking to legal cannabis companies. Although 10 senators and 28 members of the House of Representatives support the bill, The STATES Act has seen less progression in the last several months due to opposition from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and current chair of the House Rule Committee Pete Sessions. If the Democrats can regain the Senate on November 6, 2018, the STATES Act will have a much higher probability of being passed.
Public Opinion
The increase in state legalization of cannabis use is largely a result of changing public opinion in the United States. According to an October 2017 poll conducted by Gallup, 64% of Americans think that the use of cannabis should be made legal, the highest level in the 48 years that Gallup has conducted the poll. Further, in the 2016 Gallup poll, support among adults aged 18 to 34 increased from 35% to 77% between 2005 and 2016 and support among adults aged 35 to 54 increased from 35% to 61% over the same period. In addition, according to a recent Quinnipiac University Poll, 94% of U.S. voters support the medical use of cannabis if recommended by a physician.
Industry Outlook
Due to increases in state legalization and shifting public opinion, legal cannabis industry sales have grown substantially in recent years. According to ArcView Market Research (ArcView), 2018 legal cannabis sales are expected between $8.5 billion to $11 billion. Furthermore, sales are projected to reach $23.4 billion by 2022, which is over a 22% compound annual growth rate for the four years from 2018 to 2022.
ArcView expects the distribution of industry sales between medical and adult-use to shift substantially between 2017 and 2022 as more states legalize adult-use cannabis. Adult-use sales were approximately $2.6 billion, equating to over 30% of total industry sales. By 2022, adult-use sales are expected to increase to $15.7 billion or 67% of total industry sales.
E.Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no material off balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition.
F.Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
As at December 31, 2020, the Company’s following contractual obligations are:
Payments due by period | |||||
| Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years |
Lease obligations | 415,643 | 223,979 | 191,664 | - | - |
G.Safe Harbor
This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, principally in ITEM #4, “Information on the Company” and ITEM #5, “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”. These statements may be identified by the use of words like “plan,” “expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion, expectation, or projection of future operating or financial performance, events or trends. In particular, these include statements about the Company’s strategy for growth, future performance or results of current sales and production, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and the outcome of contingencies, such as acquisitions and/or legal proceedings and intellectual property issues.
33
Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those projected in any such forward-looking statements depending on a variety of factors, including, among other things, the factors discussed in this Annual Report under ITEM #3, “Key Information, Risk Factors” and factors described in documents that the Company may furnish from time to time to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information.
ITEM 6DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
The size of our board of directors (the “Board”) is currently set at five. Our directors are elected annually by the shareholders and hold office until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless their office is earlier vacated in accordance with the BCBCA and our articles of incorporation. Our current directors and senior management are as follows:
Name(1) | Position |
Brad Rogers(2)(4) William Dawson(2)(5)(6) Michael Marchese(6) Theo van der Linde | Director, CEO Director Director Director, Corporate Secretary and Chief Financial Officer |
Brendan Purdy(2)(3)(4)(6) | Director |
(1)Neither age nor date of birth of directors or senior management is required to be reported in our home country of Canada nor otherwise publicly disclosed.
(2)Member of the Audit Committee.
(3)Chair of the Audit Committee.
(4)Member of the Compensation Committee.
(5)Chair of the Compensation Committee
(6)“Independent” for purposes of National Instrument 52-110 – Audit Committees (“NI 52-110”).
The following is biographical information on our directors and officers who are acting in the capacity of director or officer as of the date hereof:
Brad Rogers – Director and Chief Executive officer
Mr. Rogers acted as Michicann’s Chief Executive Officer prior to the closing of the Transaction and previously served as President of Canntrust, one of Canada’s leading licensed cannabis producers. Under Brad’s direction, Canntrust created the Canadian cannabis market’s Gold Standard by producing quality, pharmaceutically standardized product across flower and extract. A recognized expert in cannabis production and a creative brand-building marketer, Mr. Rogers was instrumental in leading CannTrust into early profitability. He was the driving force behind its capital raises and IPO that peaked at a $1.5 billion market cap.
Utilizing industry-leading scientific expertise and a disciplined “data driven” approach, Mr. Rogers managed CannTrust’s growth from 20 employees to more than 500 before his departure. Directed the creation of four adult consumer cannabis brands – Liiv; SYNR.G, Xscape and Peak Leaf across National Distribution. To meet the needs of both the medical and recreational markets, he also supervised the opening of the first two phases of CannTrusts’s Perpetual Harvest Facility in Niagara which is expected to reach an annual output exceeding 100,000 kilograms. Mr. Rogers also worked on developing such innovative product extensions as beverages, vape pens, and edibles.
In addition, Mr. Rogers was part of the team that built one of the first ever commercially scaled cannabis production facilities in the world (for medicinal cannabis use) in 2014. That company (Metrum) was successfully sold in 2016 to Canopy Growth (NYSE:WEED) for over $450 million.
He holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, proudly supports Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Trillium Gift of Life Network, and Inner City EQAO Mentoring. Mr. Rogers will devote approximately 80% of his time to the business of the Issuer.
34
Theo van der Linde – Director, Corporate Secretary and Chief Financial Officer
Mr. van der Linde is a Chartered Accountant with 20 years of extensive experience in finance, reporting, regulatory requirements, public company administration, equity markets and financing of publicly traded companies as well as in the financial services, manufacturing, oil & gas, mining and retail industries. He has served as a CFO & Director for a number of TSX Venture Exchange and Canadian Securities Exchange listed companies over the past several years. Most recently, he has been involved with future use trends of natural resources as well as other disruptive technologies.
Mr. van der Linde’s other principal business activities performed outside the Company are as follows: President of MegumaGold Corp. (since April 9, 2014); Director and Chief Financial Officer of Elcora Advanced Materials Corp (since April 1, 2016); Director of Organic Flower Investments Group (since July 18, 2018); Chief Financial Officer of Koios Beverage Corp (since December 4, 2018); Director of Slam Exploration Ltd. (since November 7, 2017); and Chief Financial Officer of Pasha Brands Ltd. (since May 29, 2019)
Mr. van der Linde received a B.Comm. (Hons) in Finance from Pretoria University, is a Chartered Accountant and is a member of good standing of the Institute of the Chartered Public Accountants of British Columbia.
Mr. van der Linde, in his capacity as the CFO of the Company, is an independent contractor, providing his services on a part-time basis. Mr. van der Linde has acted in his capacity as the CFO of the Company since July 20, 2017.
Brendan Purdy – Director
Mr. Purdy is a practicing securities lawyer, with experience in public companies and the capital markets. Mr. Purdy received his J.D. from the University of Ottawa in 2011 and received a Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2008.
Mr. Purdy has significant cannabis industry experience in both his private practice and in his capacity as management and director of public cannabis issuers. Most recently, Mr. Purdy acted as Director, CEO, and Chairman of High Hampton Holdings Corp. (CSE: HC), a CSE-listed cannabis financing company focused on acquisitions of cannabis distribution companies, branding opportunities, and state licensed producers in California, USA. Mr. Purdy was involved in identifying and facilitating the acquisition of CoachellaGro Corp., a California-based corporation holding 10.8 acres of land within the designated cannabis cultivation zone in Coachella, California. Further, in his securities law practice, Mr. Purdy has facilitated the acquisition and financing of other licensed producers and cannabis ancillary companies within Canada.
In addition to his private legal practice, Mr. Purdy’s principal business activities are as follows:
General Counsel to 3 Sixty Secure Corp., a Canadian company providing static security and secure logistics for the transport and distribution of cannabis for several prominent licensed producers (since May 8, 2018); director of Supreme Metals Corp. (since December 8, 2016); director of ZTest Electronics Inc. (since December 19, 2017); director of ICC International Cannabis (since June 28, 2018); director of Conscience Capital Inc. (since August 19, 2019); director of Rotonda Ventures Corp. (since February 21, 2019); and director of Organic Flower Investments Ltd. (since March 14, 2019).
Formerly, he was CEO and President of Element 79 Capital Inc. (from February 28, 2017 to November 26, 2018); CEO and director of Enforcer Gold Corp. (from April 20, 2016 to June 25, 2018); CEO and director of High Hampton Holdings Ltd. (from November 22, 2016 to December 11, 2017); former CEO and Director of Seaway Energy Services (from April 2016 to October 2016); director of Greenock Resources Inc. (from October 2015 to February, 2016); director of Boomerang Oil, Inc. (from March 27, 2014 to April 4, 2016), director of Global Gaming Technologies Corp. (from March 23, 2017 to July 4, 2019), director of Metaverse Capital Corp. (from November 11, 2017 to November 21, 2019)
Mr. Purdy, in his capacity as a director of the Company, is an independent contractor, providing his services on a part-time basis and is not subject to the terms of a formal engagement agreement with the Company.
35
Mr. Michael Marchese, Director
Mr. Marchese is a director of the Company. Prior to the business combination agreement between Tidal and Michicann to form the Company, Mr. Marchese was the president, director and co-founder of MichiCann, and played a major role in starting, developing and organizing the company. He also co-founded Aleafia Health Inc. and directed its branding. (TSX: ALEF: OTC: ALEAF, FRA: ARAH). He continues to advise the company. For the past several decades, Mr. Marchese has successfully operated his own branding company, Marchese Design, and has developed identities and communications programs for such leading brands as Aleafia, Tutto Gourmet Foods, V Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos and Royal Group Technologies and its successor company, the Vision Group.
Mr. Marchese, in his capacity as a director of the Company, is an independent contractor, providing his services on a part-time basis and is not subject to the terms of a formal engagement agreement with the Company.
Mr. William Dawson, Director
Mr. Dawson is a director of the Company and a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant with more than 40 years of experience in the field. Mr. Dawson has served as the Chief Financial Officer of SBG – Skill Based Games Inc. since 2014 and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Play Games for Fun Limited Since 2013. Mr. Dawson previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Oakshire Holdings Limited from 2011 to 2018, Pong Game Studios Corporation from 2011 to 2018, Caliburger Canada Incorporated from 2015 to 2017 and Blow Canada Inc. from 2014 to 2017. Mr. Dawson holds a BA in economics and finance as well as an MBA from York University.
Mr. Dawson, in his capacity as a director of the Company, is an independent contractor, providing his services on a part-time basis and is not subject to the terms of a formal engagement agreement with the Company.
Cease trade orders, bankruptcies, penalties or sanctions
For the purposes of this section, “order” means a cease trade order; an order similar to a cease trade order; or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
To the best of our knowledge, other than as disclosed below, no director or executive officer of Tidal Royalty is, as at the date hereof, or has been, within the 10 years before the date hereof, a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any corporation (including Tidal Royalty) that:
(a)was subject to an order that was issued while the director or executive officer was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or
(b)was subject to an order that was issued after the director or executive officer ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer.
Brendan Purdy was an independent director of Boomerang Oil, Inc. (“Boomerang”) when cease trade orders were issued by the BCSC and ASC in 2015 due to Boomerang failing to file its annual audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014, and its management’s discussion and analysis relating thereto, as required under Part 5 of National Instrument 51-102 — Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Boomerang continues to be subject to renewed cease trade orders.
To the best of our knowledge, no director or executive officer of RWB or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of securities of RWB to affect materially the control of RWB:
(a)is, as at the date hereof, or has been within the 10 years before the date hereof, a director or executive officer of any corporation (including RWB) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or
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(b)as, within the 10 years before the date hereof, become bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or become subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of the director, executive officer or shareholder.
To the best of our knowledge, no director or executive officer of the Company, or a shareholder holding a sufficient number of RWB’s securities to affect materially the control of RWB, has been subject to:
(a)any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or
(b)any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable investor in making an investment decision.
To the best of our knowledge and other than as disclosed herein, there are no known existing or potential material conflicts of interest between RWB and a director, officer or promoter of RWB except that certain of the directors, officers and promoters of RWB serve as directors, officers and promoters of other companies and therefore it is possible that a conflict may arise between their duties as a director, officer or promoter of RWB and their duties as a director, officer and promoter of such other companies.
The directors, officers and promoters of RWB are aware of the existence of laws governing accountability of directors and officers with respect to conflicts of interest and corporate opportunity and requiring disclosure by directors of conflicts of interest, and RWB will rely upon such laws in respect of any directors’ and officers’ conflict of interest or in respect of any breaches of duty by any of its directors or officers. We expect that any such conflicts will be disclosed by such directors or officers in accordance with applicable law and that they will govern themselves in respect thereof to the best of their ability in accordance with the obligation imposed upon them by law.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we paid aggregate remuneration to our directors and officers as a group who served in the capacity of director or executive officer during such year of $2,075,209
Key management personnel include the directors and officers of the Company. Key management compensation consists of the following:
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| 2020 |
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Consulting fees paid or accrued to a company controlled by a director of the Company | $ | 241,801 |
Salary paid to management of the Company |
| 676,164 |
Share-based compensation |
| 515,318 |
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| $ | 1,433,283 |
Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The overall objective of our compensation strategy is to offer medium-term and long- term compensation components to ensure that we have in place programs to attract, retain and develop management of high caliber and a process to provide for the orderly succession of management, including receipt on an annual basis of any recommendations of the chief executive officer, if any, in this regard. We currently have medium-term and long-term compensation components in place and intend to further develop these compensation components. The objectives of our compensation policies and procedures are to align the interests of our employees with the interests of our shareholders. Therefore, a significant portion of the total compensation is based upon overall corporate performance.
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For the financial year ended July 31, 2019, the Company did not have a formal compensation program with specific performance goals nor did it employ a compensation committee. All tasks related to developing and monitoring our approach to the compensation of our officers and to developing and monitoring our approach to the nomination of directors to the Board was performed by the members of the Board. The compensation of our executive officers and employees was reviewed, recommended and approved by our independent directors.
We choose to grant stock options to executive officers to satisfy the long-term compensation component. The Board may consider, on an annual basis, an award of bonuses to key executives and senior management. The amount and award of such bonuses is discretionary, depending on, among other factors, our financial performance and the position of a participant. The Board considers that the payment of such discretionary annual cash bonuses satisfies the medium-term compensation component.
In the future, the Board may also consider the grant of options to purchase common shares of RWB with longer future vesting dates to satisfy the long-term compensation component.
We have not retained a compensation consultant or advisor to assist the Board in determining compensation for any of our directors or officers. Given our current stage of development, we have not considered the implications of the risks associated with our compensation practices. We have also not adopted any policies with respect to whether executive officers and directors are permitted to purchase financial instruments, including, for greater certainty, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity, swaps, collars, or units of exchange funds, that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held, directly or indirectly, by the executive officer or director.
Since the end of the April, 2020 the Board has established a Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee operated under supervision of the Board and has the overall responsibility for reviewing and recommending the compensation of the Company’s CEO, other executive officers and key employees, overseeing the Company’s compensation and benefits policies, plans and programs and general oversight of the Company’s compensation structure. The Compensation Committee is appointed annually by the Board and will consist of a minimum of three directors, a majority of whom will be independent.
Meetings of the Compensation Committee occur as often as considered necessary or appropriate and shall generally occur without the presence of management. The CEO may not be present for any portion of any meeting at which the compensation of the CEO is being deliberated or voted upon.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides a summary of compensation that we paid to our senior management and directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020:
Names and Principal Position | Salary | Share-Based Awards | Option-Based Awards | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation | Pension Value | All Other Compensation | Total Compensation | |
Annual incentive plans | Long-term incentive plans | |||||||
Brad Rogers | 350,693 | N/A | 195,138 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 545,831 |
Theo Van Der Linde, CFO | Nil | N/A | 67,643 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 140,858 | 208,500 |
David Quinn, former CFO of MichiCann Medical Inc. | Nil | N/A | 50,279 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 184,613 | 234,893 |
Bill Dawson, Director | Nil | N/A | 67,370 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 77,460 | 144,830 |
Brendan Purdy, Director | Nil | N/A | 67,519 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2,341 | 69,860 |
Michael Marchese, Director | N/A | N/A | 67,370 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 162,000 | 229,370 |
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Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements
The Company entered into a management employment agreement with Brad Rogers effective January 1, 2019 with regard to his services as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Rogers a base salary of $150,000 CAD and $150,000 USD per annum and shall continue indefinitely until terminated by either party in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
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The Company entered into a management consulting agreement with Theo van der Linde effective July 20, 2017 with regard to his services as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. van der Linde a base salary of $72,000 per annum and shall continue indefinitely until terminated by either party in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. In 2020, no management consulting payment was made.
The Company entered into a management consulting agreement with David Quinn effective January 1, 2019 with regard to his services as Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to the agreement, MichiCann Medical has agreed to pay Mr. Quinn a base salary of $175,000 USD per annum. Mr. Quinn departed on May 19, 2020.
The Company entered into a management consulting agreement with Michael Marchese effective January 1, 2019 with regard to his services as Marketing officer. Pursuant to the agreement, MichiCann Medical has agreed to pay Mr. Marchese a consulting of $150,000 CAD per annum.
Option Based Awards
Executive officers, directors, employees and consultants, are eligible to participate in our stock option plan (the “Plan”) to receive grants of stock options. Individual stock options are granted by the Board as a whole, with directors abstaining from voting on any proposed grant of options to themselves, and the number of options granted is dependent on, among other things, each optionee’s level of responsibility, authority and importance to the Company and the degree to which such optionee’s long term contribution to the Company will be crucial to its long-term success.
Stock options are normally granted by the Board when an executive officer or director first joins Tidal Royalty based on his or her level of responsibility within the Company. Additional grants may be made periodically to ensure that the number of options granted to any particular officer or director is commensurate with their level of ongoing responsibility within the Company. The Board also evaluates the number of options an officer or director has been granted, the exercise price of the options and the term remaining on those options when considering further grants. Options are usually priced at the closing trading price of our common shares on the business day immediately preceding the date of grant and the current policy of the Board is that options expire two to five years from the date of grant.
On October 1, 2020, the Company granted stock options to certain senior management and directors with an exercise price of $0.65 with a term of 5 years and vested over eight quarters commencing January 1, 2021. The number of options provided to the listed senior management and directors is as follows: 500,000 to Mr. Rogers, 500,000 to Mr. Purdy, 500,000 to Mr. Marchese, 500,000 to Mr. Van Der Linde, and 500,000 to Mr. Dawson. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized $515,318 in share-based compensation expense related to these and existing stock options provided to the listed senior management and directors using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.
On April 26, 2019, the Company granted stock options to certain senior management and directors with an exercise price of $0.34 (US$ 0.26) with a term of 5 years and vested immediately. The number of options provided to the listed senior management and directors is as follows: 350,000 to Mr. van der Linde, 725,000 to Mr. Woolridge, 1,500,000 to a Company controlled by Mr. Purdy and 500,000 to Mr. Penny. During year ended July 31, 2019, the Company recognized $972,243 in share-based compensation expense related to these stock options provided to the listed senior management and directors using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.
On December 12, 2018, the Company granted stock options to certain senior management and directors with an exercise price of $0.15 (US$ 0.12) with a term of 5 years. The options vest 12.5% every 3 months. The number of options provided to the listed senior management and directors is as follows: 200,000 to Mr. van der Linde, 2,000,000 to Mr. Rosen and 1,000,000 to Mr. Taouss. During year ended July 31, 2019, the Company recognized $193,208 in share-based compensation expense related to these stock options provided to the listed senior management and directors using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.
On June 22, 2018 the Company granted stock options to certain senior management and directors, which are exercisable into common shares on a 1:1 basis, have an exercise price of $0.33 and a 5-year term expiring on June 22, 2023. The number of options provided to the listed senior management and directors is as follows: 4,620,000 to Mr. Rosen; 200,000 to Mr. van der Linde; 2,050,000 to Mr. Taouss; 1,500,000 to Mr. Livesley-James; 150,000 to Mr. Purdy; 300,000 to Mr. Penny; and 75,000 to Mr. Wooldridge. During year ended July 31, 2019, the Company recognized $237,831 in share-based compensation expense related to these stock options provided to the listed senior management and directors using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.
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Directors’ Compensation
There are no current plans for directors to receive any fees or other compensation for their acting as directors, except that directors will be entitled to (i) incentive stock options pursuant to the Plan in such individual amounts as the Board may determine from time to time, and (ii) reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of or in providing services as a director for the Company.
Other Compensation
Other than the Plan, we have no other plan providing for the grant of stock appreciation rights, deferred share units or restricted stock units or any other incentive plan under which awards are granted. We do not provide any retirement benefits for our directors or officers, nor do we have any long-term incentive plan or share appreciation rights agreement.
Employment Agreements
At the end of the financial year ended December 31, 2020, we employed 2 employees and had formal and informal independent contractor agreements with Theo van der Linde. At the end of the financial year ended July 31, 2019, we employed 2 employees and had formal and informal independent contractor agreements with Theo van der Linde. At the end of the financial year ended July 31, 2018, we employed 5 employees and had formal and informal independent contractor agreements with Theo van der Linde and Courtland Livesley-James.
Our directors are elected annually by the shareholders and hold office until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless their office is earlier vacated in accordance with the BCBCA and our articles of incorporation.
The mandate of the Board, as prescribed by the BCBCA, is to manage or supervise the management of the business and affairs of the Company and to act with a view to the best interests of the Company. In doing so, the Board oversees the management of the Company’s affairs directly and through its various committees. In fulfilling its mandate, the Board, among other matters, is responsible for reviewing and approving the Company’s overall business strategies, reviewing and approving significant acquisitions and capital investments; reviewing major strategic initiatives to ensure that the Company’s proposed actions accord with shareholder objectives; reviewing succession planning; assessing management’s performance against industry standards; reviewing and approving the reports and other disclosure issued to shareholders; ensuring the effective operation of the Board; and safeguarding shareholders’ equity interests through the optimum utilization of the Company’s capital resources.
The Board is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become new members of the Board and recommending to the Board, new director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders. New nominees must have a track record in general business management, special expertise in an area of strategic interest to the Company, the ability to devote the required time, show support for the Company’s mission and strategic objectives, and a willingness to serve.
The Board also takes responsibility for identifying the principal risks of the Company’s business and for ensuring these risks are effectively monitored and mitigated to the extent reasonably practicable. At this stage of the Company’s development, the Board does not believe it is necessary to adopt a written mandate, as sufficient guidance is found in the applicable corporate legislation and regulatory policies. However, as the Company grows, the Board may determine it is appropriate to develop a formal written mandate.
In keeping with its overall responsibility for the stewardship of the Company, the Board is responsible for the integrity of the Company’s internal control and management information systems and for the Company’s policies respecting corporate disclosure and communications.
Each member of the Board understands that he is entitled, at the cost of the Company, to seek the advice of an independent expert if he reasonably considers it warranted under the circumstances. No director found it necessary to do so during the financial year ended December 31, 2020.
The Board does not, and does not consider it necessary to, have any formal structures or procedures in place to ensure that it can function independently of management. The Board anticipates that as the Company matures as a business enterprise, it
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may identify additional qualified candidates that have experience relevant to the Company’s needs, who are independent of management applying the guidelines contained in applicable legislation.
The Board of the Company briefs all new directors with respect to the policies of the Board and other relevant corporate and business information. The Board does not provide any continuing education.
The Board regularly monitors the adequacy of information given to directors, communications between the Board and management and the strategic direction and processes of the Board and its committees.
The Board conducts reviews with regard to the compensation of the directors and the executive officers once a year. There is no separate compensation committee.
Term of Office
All directors have a term of office expiring at our next annual general meeting unless their office is earlier vacated in accordance with the BCBCA and our articles of incorporation.
Audit, Compensation and Disclosure Committees
Audit Committee
Mandate
The primary function of the audit committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the Company’s Board of Directors in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial reports and other financial information provided by the Company to regulatory authorities and shareholders, the Company’s systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting and the Company’s auditing, accounting and financial reporting processes. Consistent with this function, the Committee will encourage continuous improvement of, and should foster adherence to, the Company’s policies, procedures and practices at all levels. The Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to:
serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company’s financial reporting and internal control system and review the Company’s financial statements;
review and appraise the performance of the Company’s external auditors; and
provide an open avenue of communication among the Company’s auditors, financial and senior management and the Board of Directors.
Composition
The Committee is comprised of a minimum three directors as determined by the Board of Directors. If the Company ceases to be a “venture issuer” (as that term is defined in NI 51-102), then all of the members of the Committee must be free from any relationship that, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member of the Committee.
If the Company ceases to be a “venture issuer” (as that term is defined in National Instrument 51-102), then all members of the Committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise. All members of the Committee that are not financially literate will work towards becoming financially literate to obtain a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices. For the purposes of the Company’s Audit Committee Charter, the definition of “financially literate” is the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can presumably be expected to be raised by the Company’s financial statements.
The members of the Committee are elected by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual shareholders’ meeting. Unless a Chair is elected by the full Board of Directors, the members of the Committee designate a Chair by a majority vote of the full Committee membership.
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Meetings
The Committee meets at least twice annually, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. As part of its job to foster open communication, the Committee meets at least annually with the Chief Financial Officer and the external auditors in separate sessions.
Responsibilities and Duties
To fulfill its responsibilities and duties, the Committee:
1. Documents/Reports Review
(a)reviews and updates the Audit Committee Charter annually; and
(b)reviews the Company’s financial statements, MD&A and any annual and interim earnings press releases before the Company publicly discloses this information and any reports or other financial information (including quarterly financial statements), which are submitted to any governmental body, or to the public, including any certification, report, opinion, or review rendered by the external auditors.
2. External Auditors
(a)reviews annually the performance of the external auditors who are ultimately accountable to the Company’s Board of Directors and the Committee as representatives of the shareholders of the Company;
(b)obtains annually a formal written statement of external auditors setting forth all relationships between the external auditors and the Company, consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard 1;
(c)reviews and discusses with the external auditors any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the external auditors;
(d)takes or recommends that the Company’s full Board of Directors take appropriate action to oversee the independence of the external auditors, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditor regarding financial reporting;
(e)recommends to the Company’s Board of Directors the selection and, where applicable, the replacement of the external auditors nominated annually for shareholder approval;
(f)recommends to the Company’s Board of Directors the compensation to be paid to the external auditors;
(g)at each meeting, consults with the external auditors, without the presence of management, about the quality of the Company’s accounting principles, internal controls and the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial statements;
(h)reviews and approves the Company’s hiring policies regarding partners, employees and former partners and employees of the present and former external auditors of the Company;
(i)reviews with management and the external auditors the audit plan for the year- end financial statements and intended template for such statements; and
(j)reviews and pre-approves all audit and audit-related services and the fees and other compensation related thereto, and any non-audit services, provided by the Company’s external auditors. The pre-approval requirement is waived with respect to the provision of non-audit services if:
i.the aggregate amount of all such non-audit services provided to the Company constitutes not more than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid by the Company to its external auditors during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided,
ii.such services were not recognized by the Company at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services, and
iii.such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee by the Company and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Committee or by one or more members of the Committee who are members of the Board of Directors to whom authority to grant such approvals has been delegated by the Committee.
Provided the pre-approval of the non-audit services is presented to the Committee’s first scheduled meeting following such approval such authority may be delegated by the Committee to one or more independent members of the Committee.
3. Financial Reporting Processes
(a)in consultation with the external auditors, reviews with management the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting process, both internal and external;
(b)considers the external auditors’ judgments about the quality and appropriateness of the Company’s accounting principles as applied in its financial reporting;
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(c)considers and approves, if appropriate, changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the external auditors and management;
(d)reviews significant judgments made by management in the preparation of the financial statements and the view of the external auditors as to appropriateness of such judgments;
(e)following completion of the annual audit, reviews separately with management and the external auditors any significant difficulties encountered during the course of the audit, including any restrictions on the scope of work or access to required information;
(f)reviews any significant disagreement among management and the external auditors in connection with the preparation of the financial statements;
(g)reviews with the external auditors and management the extent to which changes and improvements in financial or accounting practices have been implemented;
(h)reviews any complaints or concerns about any questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters;
(i)reviews certification process;
(j)establishes a procedure for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and
(k)establishes a procedure for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.
4. Other
(a)reviews any related-party transactions;
(b)engages independent counsel and other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties; and
(c)sets and pays compensation for any independent counsel and other advisors employed by the Committee.
Compensation Committee
The Company adopted appointed a Compensation Committee in April 2020. Previous to this the Company did not have a Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee operates under supervision of the Board of Directors and has the overall responsibility for reviewing and recommending the compensation of the Company’s CEO, other executive officers and key employees, overseeing the Company’s compensation and benefits policies, plans and programs and general oversight of the Company’s compensation structure. The Compensation Committee will is reappointed annually by the Board of Directors and will consist of a minimum of three directors, a majority of whom will be independent.
Meetings of the Compensation Committee occur as often as considered necessary or appropriate and generally occur without the presence of management. The CEO may not be present for any portion of any meeting at which the compensation of the CEO is being deliberated or voted upon.
Below are the number of employees we had at the end of each indicated period:
Financial Year Ended | # of Employees in Toronto | # of Employees in Vancouver | Total |
December 31, 2020 | 3 | Nil | 3 |
July 31, 2019 | 2 | Nil(2) | 2 |
July 31, 2018 | 5(1) | Nil(2) | 5 |
July 31, 2017 | Nil(1) | Nil(2) | Nil |
July 31, 2016 | Nil | Nil | Nil |
(1) The Company entered into formal, informal and verbal independent contractor agreements with Paul Rosen, Terry Taouss, Jonathan Beland and Courtland Livesley-James effective July 20, 2017 and August 28, 2017 (see “ — Executive Compensation — Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements” above). The agreement with Courtland Livesley-James was terminated on October 15, 2018.
(2)The Company entered into a formal independent contractor agreement with Theo van der Linde effective July 20, 2017 (see “ — Executive Compensation — Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements” above).
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Shares
The following table sets out information regarding the share ownership of the persons set out in the Summary Compensation Table as of the date of this 20-F:
Holder name | No. of Shares held | Percentage of holding | Percentage of holding on a fully diluted basis(1) | ||
% in capital | % in voting | % in capital | % in voting | ||
Brad Rogers, CEO |
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Michael Marchese, Director |
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William Dawson, Director |
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Paul Rosen, Former CEO | 14,123,000 | 6% | 6% | 4% | 4% |
Theo van der Linde, CFO | Nil | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Courtland Livesley-James, Former EVP | 4,000,000 | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Terry Taouss, Former President | Nil | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Jonathan Beland, Former VP of Corporate Development | Nil | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brendan Purdy, Director | 200,000 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Stuart Wooldridge, Former Director | 315,000 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Kathryn Witter, Former Corporate Secretary | Nil | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brian Penny, Former Director | Nil | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Notes:
(1)“Fully diluted basis” means with the exercise of all warrants and options.
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Options
Options, exercisable into common shares of RWB, held by our officers and directors are set forth below as of the date of this 20-F.
Name | # of Options | # of Shares Underlying the Options | Option Strike Price $ | Option Expiration Date |
Brad Rogers, CEO and Director | 1,000,000(1) 500,000 | 1,000,000 500,000 | $0.50 $0.65 | Oct 1, 2023 Oct 1, 2025 |
Michael Marchese, Director | 500,000 | 500,000 | $0.65 | Oct 1, 2025 |
William Dawson, Director | 500,000 | 500,000 | $0.65 | Oct 1, 2025 |
Paul Rosen, Former CEO | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Theo van der Linde, CFO | 12,500 12,500 21,875 500,000 | 12,500 12,500 21,875 500,000 | $5.28 US$1.84 $5.44 $0.65 | June 22, 2023 Dec 12, 2023 April 26, 2024 Oct 1, 2025 |
David Quinn, Former CFO | 175,000 | 175,000 | $0.50 | May 13, 2024 |
Brad Rogers, CEO | 1,000,000 500,000 | 1,000,000 500,000 | $0.50 $0.65 | Oct 1, 2023 Oct 1, 2025 |
Michael Marchese, Director | 500,000 | 500,000 | $0.65 | Oct 1, 2025 |
Bill Dawson, Director | 500,000 | 500,000 | $0.65 | Oct 1, 2025 |
Courtland Livesley-James, Former EVP | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Terry Taouss, Former President | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Jonathan Beland, Former VP of Corporate Development | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brendan Purdy, Director | 9,375 500,000 | 9,375 500,000 | $5.28 $0.65 | June 22, 2023 Oct 1, 2025 |
Stuart Wooldridge, Former Director | 4,688 45,313 | 4,688 45,313 | $5.28 $5.44 | June 22, 2023 April 26, 2024 |
Kathryn Witter, Former Corporate Secretary | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brian Penny, Former Director | 18,750 31,250 | 18,750 31,250 | $5.28 $5.44 | June 22, 2023 April 26, 2024 |
(1) Each Option is exercisable to acquire one additional Common Share and one Series 2 Preferred Share in the Capital of the Issuer at a price of $0.50 until October 1, 2023.
Warrants
Warrants, exercisable into common shares of RWB, held by our officers and directors are set forth below as of the date of this 20-F.
Name | Allotment date | Expiration date | Exercise price | Total |
Brad Rogers, CEO and Director | Sept 24, 2020 | Sept 24, 2022 | $1.00 | 866,666 |
Michael Marchese, Director | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
William Dawson, Director | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Paul Rosen, Former CEO | N/A | N/A | N/A | Nil |
Theo van der Linde, CFO
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Nil |
Courtland Livesley-James, Former EVP | N/A | N/A | N/A | Nil |
Terry Taouss, Former President | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Jonathan Beland, Former VP of Corporate Development | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Brendan Purdy, Director | N/A | N/A | N/A | Nil |
Stuart Wooldridge, Former Director | N/A | N/A | N/A | Nil |
Kathryn Witter, Former Corporate Secretary | N/A | N/A | N/A | Nil |
Brian Penny, Former Director | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
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Each Warrant entitles the holder to receive upon payment of $1.00 per Warrant, an additional Common Share in the Capital of the Issuer. The Warrants are valid for a period of two years from issuance.
Stock Option Plan
On July 27, 2020 the Board approved a restricted share unit plan (the “2020 RSU Plan”) and a 20% rolling stock option plan (the “2020 Option Plan” and together with the 2020 RSU Plan, the “2020 Plans”) to grant restricted share units (“RSU’s”) and incentive stock options (“Options”) to directors, officers, key employees and consultants of the Company. The 2020 Plans were approved by shareholders of the Company at its annual general and special meeting held on September 9, 2020. Pursuant to the 2020 RSU Plan and the 2020 Option Plan, the Company may reserve up to a maximum of 20% of the issued and outstanding Shares at the time of grant pursuant to awards granted under the 2020 Plans. The 2020 Plans replaced the previously approved 10% rolling Option Plan.
The 2020 Option Plan of the Company is designed to give each Option holder an interest in preserving and maximizing shareholder value in the longer term, to enable the Company to attract and retain individuals with experience and ability and to reward individuals for current performance and expected future performance. The Board considers Option grants when reviewing executive officer compensation packages as a whole.
The 2020 RSU Plan provides for granting of RSU’s for the purposes of advancing the interests of the Company through motivation, attraction and retention of employees, officers, consultants and directors by granting equity-based compensation incentives, in addition to the Company’s 2020 Option Plan.
RSUs granted pursuant to the 2020 RSU Plan will be used to compensate participants for their individual performance-based achievements and are intended to supplement stock option awards in this respect, the goal of such grants is to more closely tie awards to individual performance based on established performance criteria.
The 2020 Plans has been used to provide stock options and RSU’s which are granted in consideration of the level of responsibility of the executive as well as his or her impact or contribution to the longer-term operating performance of the Company. In determining the number of Options or RSU’s to be granted to the executive officers, the Compensation Committee with consultation of the Board takes into account the number of Options or RSU’s, if any, previously granted to each executive officer, and the exercise price of any outstanding Options to ensure that such grants are in accordance with the policies of the CSE and closely align the interests of the executive officers with the interests of shareholders.
The following information is intended to be a brief summary of the 2020 Option Plan and is qualified in its entirety by the text of the 2020 Option Plan attached hereto as Exhibit “4.1”.
* The maximum number of Shares with respect to which options may be granted pursuant to the 2020 Option Plan shall not exceed 20% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis at any time;
* Options may be granted only to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company or any related entity of the Company;
* The total number of the Shares that may be reserved for issuance to any one individual under the 2020 Option Plan shall not exceed 5% of the outstanding the Shares. The maximum number of options that may be granted to any one consultant under the Option Plan, or employees performing investor relations activities for the Company, within any 12-month period shall not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding the Shares at the time of the grant;
* The term of an option shall not exceed ten years from the date of the grant of the option;
* Subject to allowable adjustments, the option price of any option shall not be lower than the market price on the date on which the grant of the option is approved by the Board;
* An option shall be personal to the optionee and shall be non-assignable and non-transferable (whether by operation of law or otherwise);
* In the event that any optionee ceases to be an eligible person under the Option Plan (i.e. ceases to be an officer, director, employee or consultant for any reason other than death or termination with cause), the optionee will be entitled to exercise his or her options which have vested as of such date of cessation only within a period of 30 days following the date of such cessation or such other date as may be determined by the Board, but in no event may any options be exercised following the expiry date thereof. In the event an optionee is terminated with cause, the options held by such optionee will expire on the date of such termination. In the event of the death of an optionee, any options held by such optionee which have vested as of the date of death may be exercised within a period of one year following the optionee’s death;
46
* The Board may at any time amend the 2020 Option Plan or any options granted thereunder, subject to the receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, other than substantive amendments to the 2020 Option Plan, which also require shareholder approval; and
* In the event that an offer to purchase or repurchase the Shares or any part thereof shall be made to all or substantially all holders of the Shares, the options shall be automatically and immediately accelerated such that all remaining options will then be available for exercise.
ITEM 7MAJOR SHAREHOLDER AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
To the best of our knowledge, there are no persons or companies who beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over, securities carrying more than 5% of the voting rights attached to any class of voting securities of the Company, other than Paul Rosen as disclosed above under “E. Share Ownership — Shares”. Prior to joining the Company on July 20, 2017, Mr. Rosen was not a shareholder of the Company. The securities held by Mr. Rosen do not have different voting rights from those of the other securityholders of the same class of securities.
As at September 14, 2021, the registrar and transfer agent for our company reported that there were 205,870,345 common shares of our company issued and outstanding. Of these, 46,991,259 were registered to Canadian residents (167 recorded shareholders), 17,325,336 were registered to residents of the United States (72 recorded shareholders) and 5,314 (4 recorded shareholders) were registered to residents of other foreign countries.
There are no arrangements known to us, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of our company.
Control
To the best of our knowledge, we are not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation, by any foreign government or by any other natural or legal person, severally or jointly.
Insider Reports under the British Columbia Securities Act
Since the Company is a reporting issuer under the Securities Acts of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, certain “insiders” of the Company (including its directors, certain executive officers, and persons who directly or indirectly beneficially own, control or direct more than 10% of its common shares) are generally required to file insider reports of changes in their ownership of Tidal Royalty’s common shares five days following the trade under National Instrument 55-104 - Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions, as adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators. All insider reports must be filed electronically five days following the date of the trade at www.sedi.ca. The public is able to access these reports at www.sedi.ca.
Related parties include the Board of Directors and officers, close family members and enterprises that are controlled by these individuals as well as certain consultants performing similar functions.
47
During the years ended December 31, 2020, July 31, 2019, and 2018 key management compensation consisted of the following:
Years ended, | 2020 $ | 2019 $ | 2018 $ |
Consulting fees |
|
|
|
Companies controlled by Paul Rosen, Former CEO | - | - | 225,000 |
Companies controlled by Theo Van Der Linde, CFO | 140,848 | 101,400 | 67,935 |
David Quinn, Former CFO | 184,613 | - | - |
Company controlled by Bill Dawson, Director | 77,460 | - | - |
Company controlled by Michael Marchese, Director | 162,000 | - | - |
Companies controlled by Kathryn Witter, Former Corporate Secretary | - | 2,000 | 46,500 |
Companies controlled by Jonathan Beland, Former VP of Corporate Development | - | 26,300 | - |
Companies controlled by Stuart Wooldridge, Director | - | 18,200 | 7,500 |
Courtland Livesley-James, Former EVP | - | 31,250 | 116,667 |
Brian Penny, Former Director | - | 16,014 | - |
| 564,931 | 195,164 | 463,602 |
Salaries and benefits for services rendered by management |
|
|
|
Paul Rosen, Former CEO |
| 195,833 | 78,795 |
Brad Rogers CEO | 350,693 | 195,833 | 78,795 |
Terry Taouss, Former president |
| 189,824 | 82,097 |
Jonathan Beland, Former VP of Corporate Development |
| 91,106 | 19,528 |
| 350,693 | 476,763 | 180,420 |
Salaries and benefits for services rendered by management |
|
|
|
Paul Rosen, Former CEO |
| 34,720 | 1,379,110 |
Theo Van Der Linde, CFO |
| 251,790 | 59,702 |
Terry Taouss, Former president |
| 156,633 | 86,664 |
Jonathan Beland, Former VP of Corporate Development |
| 15,902 | 21,133 |
Courtland Livesley-James, Former EVP |
| (7,140) | 63,398 |
Brendan Purdy, Director | 2,341 | 504,197 | 6,340 |
Stuart Wooldridge, Director |
| 229,228 | 22,388 |
Brian Penny, Former Director |
| 217,952 | 12,680 |
| 2,341 | 1,403,282 | 1,651,395 |
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid $114,702 in rent (2019 - $4,000 ,2018 - $9,100,) to related parties comprised of directors, officers and companies with common directors.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Financial Statements
See ‘‘Item 18. Financial Statements’’ for our Annual Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, related notes and other financial information filed with this annual report on Form 20-F.
Legal Proceedings
RWB is not involved in any legal, arbitration or governmental proceedings and, to RWB’s knowledge, no material legal, arbitration or governmental proceedings involving RWB are pending or contemplated against RWB.
48
Dividends
We have not paid any dividends on our common shares since incorporation. Our management anticipates that we will retain all future earnings and other cash resources for the future operation and development of our business. We do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will be at the Board’s discretion, subject to applicable law, after taking into account many factors including our operating results, financial condition and current and anticipated cash needs.
We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of the financial statements included with this Form 20-F except as disclosed in this Form 20-F.
Trading Markets
Our current trading symbol on the CSE is “RWB”. Previously, we also traded on the OTC Markets from July 12, 2018 to September 10, 2018 under the symbol “TDRYF”. We were reinstated for trading on the OTC Markets on June 20, 2019. On June 18, 2020, the Company qualified for trading on the OTCQX and began trading under the symbol “RWBYF” on July 6, 2020. For further information regarding trading suspensions, please refer to Item 4A. “History and Development of the Company — Incorporation and Continuation”.
The following table shows the progression in the high and low closing trading prices of our common shares on a post-Consolidation basis as reported by S&P Capital IQ, (i) on the CSE for the period from the beginning of trading on June 25, 2018 – June 28, 2018 when our common shares traded in CAD under the ticker symbol “RLTY”; (ii) on the CSE beginning on June 29, 2018 when our common shares began trading in USD under the ticker symbol “RLTY.U”; (iii) on the OTC Markets for the period beginning on July 12, 2018, when our common shares began trading on the OTC Markets, to September 10, 2018, and then from June 20, 2019 to December 30, 2020; and (iv) on the CSE beginning on June 5, 2020 following reinstatement of trading upon completion of the fundamental change
CSE under the symbol “RLTY” |
|
|
|
| ||||
|
| High (CA$) |
| Low (CA$) | ||||
Period |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 25 – June 28, 2018 |
|
| 0.75 |
|
|
| 0.70 |
|
49
CSE under the symbol “RLTY.U” |
|
|
|
| ||||
|
| High (US$) |
| Low (US$) | ||||
Monthly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 11, 2019 to November 28, 2019 |
|
| 0.26 |
|
|
| 0.26 |
|
February 1, 2019 to February 8, 2019 |
|
| 0.29 |
|
|
| 0.21 |
|
January 2019 |
|
| 0.19 |
|
|
| 0.095 |
|
December 2018 |
|
| 0.14 |
|
|
| 0.10 |
|
November 2018 |
|
| 0.20 |
|
|
| 0.135 |
|
October 2018 |
|
| 0.22 |
|
|
| 0.13 |
|
September 2018 |
|
| 0.44 |
|
|
| 0.21 |
|
August 2018 |
|
| 0.65 |
|
|
| 0.41 |
|
July 2018 |
|
| 0.70 |
|
|
| 0.39 |
|
June 29, 2018 |
|
| 0.67 |
|
|
| 0.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CSE under the symbol “RWB” |
|
| High (CA$) |
|
|
| Low (CA$) |
|
December 2020 |
|
| 0.78 |
|
|
| 0.62 |
|
November 2020 |
|
| 0.84 |
|
|
| 0.59 |
|
October 2020 |
|
| 0.67 |
|
|
| 0.485 |
|
September 2020 |
|
| 0.74 |
|
|
| 0.55 |
|
August 2020 |
|
| 1.03 |
|
|
| 0.65 |
|
July 2020 |
|
| 1.30 |
|
|
| 0.86 |
|
June 5 to June 30, 2020 |
|
| 1.35 |
|
|
| 0.90 |
|
OTC Markets under the symbol “TDRYF” |
|
|
|
| ||||
|
| High (US$) |
| Low (US$) | ||||
Monthly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 1 – July 5, 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
June 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
May 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
April 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
March 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
February 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
January 2020 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
December 2019 |
|
| -* |
|
|
| -* |
|
November 2019 |
|
| 0.925 |
|
|
| 0.2259 |
|
October 2019 |
|
| 0.1516 |
|
|
| 0.085 |
|
September 2019 |
|
| 0.2199 |
|
|
| 0.1232 |
|
August 2019 |
|
| 0.1999 |
|
|
| 0.11 |
|
July 2019 |
|
| 0.215 |
|
|
| 0.12 |
|
June 20, 2019 to June 28, 2019 |
|
| 0.28 |
|
|
| 0.20 |
|
September 1 – September 10, 2018 |
|
| 0.44 |
|
|
| 0.31 |
|
August 2018 |
|
| 0.66 |
|
|
| 0.38 |
|
July 12 – July 31, 2018 |
|
| 0.62 |
|
|
| 0.10 |
|
-* Unable to obtain historical trading data for this stock symbol during these periods of time.
OTC Markets under the symbol “RWBYF” |
|
|
|
| ||||
|
| High (US$) |
| Low (US$) | ||||
Monthly |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 2020 |
|
| 0.754 |
|
|
| 0.405 |
|
November 2020 |
|
| 0.758 |
|
|
| 0.466 |
|
October 2020 |
|
| 0.60 |
|
|
| 0.33 |
|
September 2020 |
|
| 0.55 |
|
|
| 0.36 |
|
August 2020 |
|
| 0.758 |
|
|
| 0.45 |
|
July 6 to July 31, 2020 |
|
| 0.873 |
|
|
| 0.85 |
|
50
Not applicable.
Our common shares are traded on the CSE under the symbol “RWB”. and on the OTCQX sheets under the symbol “RWBYF”.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation
We are a British Columbia corporation existing under the BCBCA under incorporation number BC0206251.
The Company was incorporated on March 12, 1980 as Treminco Resources Ltd. under the laws of British Columbia as a mineral exploration company. The name of the Company was changed to Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation on February 8, 1999. Between April 2001 and July 2010, Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation was inactive and did not carry on any business. On October 12, 2011, Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation changed its name to Tulloch Resources Ltd. On July 18, 2017 the Company changed its name to Tidal Royalty Corp. and changed its business to become a financing company with a focus on the U.S. legal cannabis industry. On April 28, 2020 the Company closed the business combination with MichiCann Medical Inc. pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Business Combination Agreement dated March 12, 2020. As a result of the transaction, the Company changed its name to Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
Pursuant to our Articles and By-Laws, directors may from time to time on behalf of the Company borrow money in the manner and amount, on the security, from the sources and on the terms and conditions that they consider appropriate. There is no mandatory retirement age or minimum share ownership requirement imposed on our directors.
As a Canadian public company, the convocation of our annual general meetings and special meetings are governed by Canadian corporate and securities laws, including the BCBCA, National Instrument 51-102 — Continuous Disclosure Obligations, National Instrument 52-110 — Audit Committees and National Instrument 54-101 — Communication with Beneficial Owners of Securities of a Reporting Issuer.
All of the issued common shares of the Company are fully paid and non-assessable. The holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company and each Common Share confers the right to one vote in person or by proxy at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company. The holders of the Common Shares are entitled to receive such dividends in any financial year as the board of directors of the Company may by resolution determine. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Common Shares are entitled to receive the remaining property and assets of the Company, subject to the priority rights of the Preferred Shareholders. The Common Shares do not carry any pre-emptive rights, conversion or exchange rights, or redemption, retraction, purchase for cancellation or surrender rights. The Articles of the Company do not have any sinking or purchase fund provisions and do not have provisions permitting or restricting the
51
issuance of additional securities and any other material restrictions. The Articles of the Company also do not have any provisions requiring a securityholder to contribute additional capital.
Preferred Shares may be issued in one or more series and will be subject to such rights and restrictions as the Board may determine. The Series 1 Preferred Shares have the following rights and restrictions: (i) they are non-voting; (ii) they are convertible into Common Shares on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary adjustments; (iii) they are eligible to participate in dividends if and when declared on the Common Shares; (iv) they have priority rights on liquidation; and (v) they are subject to a restriction that no holder of the Preferred Shares may convert into a number of Shares that would result in such holder beneficially owning greater than 9.99% of the Shares. The Series 2 Preferred Shares have the following rights and restrictions: (i) they will carry voting rights (entitling a holder to one vote per Series 2 Preferred Share held, voting together with the holders of Common Shares), (ii) they will be entitled to 5% annual dividends payable in additional Series 2 Preferred Shares (the “Dividends”), (iii) they will be convertible (together with accrued Dividends) into Common Shares on a 1:1 basis at the option of the holder on or after the eighteen (18) month anniversary of their issuance date, and (iv) will automatically be converted on the same basis on the two (2) year anniversary of their issuance date.
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4. Information on the Company” or elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
D. Exchange Controls
There may be certain consequences for a non-Canadian who proposes to acquire common shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Investment Canada Act (Canada) (the “ICA”).
The following discussion is a general summary only of the principal features of the ICA for a non-Canadian who proposes to acquire common shares of the Company and is not a substitute for independent legal advice from an investor’s own adviser; and, except where expressly noted, it does not anticipate statutory or regulatory amendments.
The ICA is a federal statute of broad application regulating the establishment and acquisition of Canadian businesses by non-Canadians (which includes individuals, governments or governmental agencies, corporations, partnerships, trusts and joint ventures). Under the ICA, transactions exceeding certain financial thresholds and which involve the acquisition of control of a Canadian business by a non-Canadian are subject to review and cannot be implemented unless the appropriate Minister is satisfied that the transaction is likely to be of net benefit to Canada.
A non-Canadian would be deemed to acquire control of the Company for the purposes of the ICA if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the outstanding common shares. A non-Canadian may also be deemed to acquire control of the Company under the ICA if the non-Canadian acquired more than one-third of the –– shares; unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, the Company is not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of such common shares.
If a transaction is subject to review (a “Reviewable Transaction”), an application for review must be filed with the Investment Review Division of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and/or the Cultural Sector Investment Review Division of the Department of Canadian Heritage prior to the implementation of the Reviewable Transaction. The responsible Minister is then required to determine whether the Reviewable Transaction is likely to be of net benefit to Canada taking into account, among other things, certain factors specified in the ICA and any written undertakings that may have been given by the applicant.
The ICA contemplates an initial review period of up to 45 days after filing; however, if the responsible Minister has not completed the review by that date, that Minister may unilaterally extend the review period by up to 30 days (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the applicant and the Minister) to permit completion of the review.
Direct acquisitions of control of most Canadian businesses by or from World Trade Organization (“WTO”) investors would be reviewable only if it was an investment to acquire control of the Company and the enterprise value of the assets of the Company was equal to or greater than a specified amount, which is published by the Minister after its determination for any particular year. This amount is currently $1 billion (unless the WTO member is party to one of a list of certain free trade agreements, in which case the amount is currently $1.5 billion). Starting January 1, 2019, and for subsequent years, both thresholds will be adjusted annually by a Gross Domestic Product-based index. There are lower, asset-based review thresholds applicable to investments by state-owned enterprises or non-WTO investors, as well as for acquisitions of control of a Cultural Business, as defined under the ICA.
52
Where a transaction involves the acquisition of control of the Company for the purposes of the ICA, but does not meet the relevant financial thresholds, the non-Canadian must submit a notification to either or both of the Investment Review Division or the Cultural Sector Investment Review Division, as appropriate. The notification may be submitted up to 30 days following the implementation of the investment.
Certain transactions relating to the Company’s common shares would be exempt from review under the ICA, including, among others, the following:
(a)the acquisition of voting shares or other voting interests by any person in the ordinary course of that person’s business as a trader or dealer in securities; and
(b)the acquisition of control of the Company by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control of the Company, through the ownership of voting interests, remains unchanged.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below) arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares.
This summary is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations that may apply to a U.S. Holder arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares. In addition, this summary does not take into account the individual facts and circumstances of any particular U.S. Holder that may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder, including, without limitation, specific tax consequences to a U.S. Holder under an applicable income tax treaty. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income tax advice with respect to any U.S. Holder. This summary does not address the U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares. In addition, except as specifically set forth below, this summary does not discuss applicable tax reporting requirements. Each prospective U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares.
No legal opinion from U.S. legal counsel or ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been requested, or will be obtained, regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares. This summary is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS is not precluded from taking a position that is different from, and contrary to, the positions taken in this summary. In addition, because the authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various interpretations, the IRS and the U.S. courts could disagree with one or more of the conclusions described in this summary.
Scope of this Summary
Authorities
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (which we refer to as the “Code”), Treasury Regulations (whether final, temporary, or proposed), published rulings of the IRS, published administrative positions of the IRS, the Convention Between Canada and the United States of America with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed September 26, 1980, as amended (the “Canada-U.S. Tax Convention”), and U.S. court decisions that are applicable, and, in each case, as in effect and available, as of the date of this document. Any of the authorities on which this summary is based could be changed in a material and adverse manner at any time, and any such change could be applied retroactively. This summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation.
U.S. Holders
For purposes of this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of common shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
* an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
53
* a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
* an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
* a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the U.S. and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
U.S. Holders Subject to Special U.S. Federal Income Tax Rules Not Addressed
This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including, but not limited to, U.S. Holders that: (a) are tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, or other tax-deferred accounts; (b) are financial institutions, underwriters, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, or regulated investment companies; (c) are broker-dealers, dealers, or traders in securities or currencies that elect to apply a mark-to-market accounting method; (d) have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar; (e) own common shares as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, conversion transaction, constructive sale, or other arrangement involving more than one position; (f) acquire common shares in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services; (g) hold common shares other than as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes); (h) are required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to common shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; or (i) own, have owned or will own (directly, indirectly, or by attribution) 10% or more of the total combined voting power or value of the outstanding shares of the Company. This summary also does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. Holders who are: (a) U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.; (b) persons that have been, are, or will be a resident or deemed to be a resident in Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”); (c) persons that use or hold, will use or hold, or that are or will be deemed to use or hold common shares in connection with carrying on a business in Canada; (d) persons whose common shares constitute “taxable Canadian property” under the Tax Act; or (e) persons that have a permanent establishment in Canada for the purposes of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention. U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including, but not limited to, U.S. Holders described immediately above, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares.
If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership (or other “pass-through” entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds common shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such entity or arrangement and the partners (or other owners or participants) of such entity or arrangement generally will depend on the activities of the entity or arrangement and the status of such partners (or owners or participants). This summary does not address the tax consequences to any such partner (or owner or participants). Partners (or other owners or participants) of entities or arrangements that are classified as partnerships or as “pass-through” entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
PFIC Status of the Company
If the Company were to constitute a “passive foreign investment company” under the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (a “PFIC”, as defined below) for any year during a U.S. Holder’s holding period, then certain potentially adverse rules may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder as a result of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares. The Company believes based on current business plans and financial expectations that it may be a PFIC for the current tax year and future tax years. No opinion of legal counsel or ruling from the IRS concerning the status of the Company as a PFIC has been obtained or is currently planned to be requested. The determination of whether any corporation was, or will be, a PFIC for a tax year depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. In addition, whether any corporation will be a PFIC for any tax year depends on the assets and income of such corporation over the course of each such tax year and, as a result, cannot be predicted with certainty as of the date of this document. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any determination made by the Company (or any subsidiary of the Company) concerning its PFIC status. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the PFIC status of the Company and each subsidiary of the Company. In any year in which the Company is classified as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will be required to file an annual report with the IRS containing such information as Treasury Regulations and/or other IRS guidance may require. In addition to penalties, a failure to satisfy such reporting
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requirements may result in an extension of the time period during which the IRS can assess a tax. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing such information returns under these rules, including the requirement to file an IRS Form 8621 annually.
The Company generally will be a PFIC if, for a tax year, (a) 75% or more of the gross income of the Company is passive income (the “PFIC income test”) or (b) 50% or more of the value of the Company’s assets either produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, based on the quarterly average of the fair market value of such assets (the “PFIC asset test”). “Gross income” generally includes all sales revenues less the cost of goods sold, plus income from investments and from incidental or outside operations or sources, and “passive income” generally includes, for example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from commodities transactions.
Active business gains arising from the sale of commodities generally are excluded from passive income if substantially all of a foreign corporation’s commodities are stock in trade or inventory, depreciable property used in a trade or business, or supplies regularly used or consumed in the ordinary course of its trade or business, and certain other requirements are satisfied.
For purposes of the PFIC income test and PFIC asset test described above, if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the total value of the outstanding shares of another corporation, the Company will be treated as if it (a) held a proportionate share of the assets of such other corporation and (b) received directly a proportionate share of the income of such other corporation. In addition, for purposes of the PFIC income test and PFIC asset test described above, and assuming certain other requirements are met, “passive income” does not include certain interest, dividends, rents, or royalties that are received or accrued by the Company from certain “related persons” (as defined in Section 954(d)(3) of the Code) also organized in Canada, to the extent such items are properly allocable to the income of such related person that is not passive income.
Under certain attribution rules, if the Company is a PFIC, U.S. Holders will generally be deemed to own their proportionate share of the Company’s direct or indirect equity interest in any non-U.S. company that is also a PFIC (a ‘‘Subsidiary PFIC’’), and will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their proportionate share of (a) any “excess distributions,” as described below, on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC and (b) a disposition or deemed disposition of the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC by the Company or another Subsidiary PFIC, both as if such U.S. Holders directly held the shares of such Subsidiary PFIC. In addition, U.S. Holders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any indirect gain realized on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC on the sale or disposition of common shares. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should be aware that they could be subject to tax under the PFIC rules even if no distributions are received and no redemptions or other dispositions of common shares are made.
Default PFIC Rules Under Section 1291 of the Code
If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during which a U.S. Holder owns common shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares will depend on whether and when such U.S. Holder makes an election to treat the Company and each Subsidiary PFIC, if any, as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF” under Section 1295 of the Code (a “QEF Election”) or makes a mark-to-market election under Section 1296 of the Code (a “Mark-to-Market Election”). A U.S. Holder that does not make either a QEF Election or a Mark-to-Market Election will be referred to in this summary as a “Non-Electing U.S. Holder.”
A Non-Electing U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code (described below) with respect to (a) any gain recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares and (b) any “excess distribution” received on the common shares. A distribution generally will be an “excess distribution” to the extent that such distribution (together with all other distributions received in the current tax year) exceeds 125% of the average distributions received during the three preceding tax years (or during a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares, if shorter).
Under Section 1291 of the Code, any gain recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares (including an indirect disposition of the stock of any Subsidiary PFIC), and any “excess distribution” received on common shares or with respect to the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC, must be ratably allocated to each day in a Non-Electing U.S. Holder’s holding period for the respective common shares. The amount of any such gain or excess distribution allocated to the tax year of disposition or distribution of the excess distribution and to years before the entity became a PFIC, if any, would be taxed as ordinary income (and not eligible for certain preferred rates). The amounts allocated to any other tax year would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest tax rate applicable to ordinary income in each such year, and an interest charge would
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be imposed on the tax liability for each such year, calculated as if such tax liability had been due in each such year. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat any such interest paid as “personal interest,” which is not deductible.
If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds common shares, the Company will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such Non-Electing U.S. Holder, regardless of whether the Company ceases to be a PFIC in one or more subsequent tax years. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above), but not loss, as if such common shares were sold on the last day of the last tax year for which the Company was a PFIC.
QEF Election
A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective QEF Election for the first tax year in which the holding period of its common shares begins generally will not be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above with respect to its common shares. A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective QEF Election will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such U.S. Holder’s pro rata share of (a) the net capital gain of the Company, which will be taxed as long-term capital gain to such U.S. Holder, and (b) the ordinary earnings of the Company, which will be taxed as ordinary income to such U.S. Holder. Generally, “net capital gain” is the excess of (a) net long-term capital gain over (b) net short-term capital loss, and “ordinary earnings” are the excess of (a) “earnings and profits” over (b) net capital gain. A U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such amounts for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed to such U.S. Holder by the Company. However, for any tax year in which the Company is a PFIC and has no net income or gain, U.S. Holders that have made a QEF Election would not have any income inclusions as a result of the QEF Election. If a U.S. Holder that made a QEF Election has an income inclusion, such a U.S. Holder may, subject to certain limitations, elect to defer payment of current U.S. federal income tax on such amounts, subject to an interest charge. If such U.S. Holder is not a corporation, any such interest paid will be treated as “personal interest,” which is not deductible.
A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective QEF Election with respect to the Company generally (a) may receive a tax-free distribution from the Company to the extent that such distribution represents “earnings and profits” of the Company that were previously included in income by the U.S. Holder because of such QEF Election and (b) will adjust such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares to reflect the amount included in income or allowed as a tax-free distribution because of such QEF Election. In addition, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares.
The procedure for making a QEF Election, and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of making a QEF Election, will depend on whether such QEF Election is timely. A QEF Election will be treated as “timely” if such QEF Election is made for the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares in which the Company was a PFIC. A U.S. Holder may make a timely QEF Election by filing the appropriate QEF Election documents at the time such U.S. Holder files a U.S. federal income tax return for such year. If a U.S. Holder does not make a timely and effective QEF Election for the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares, the U.S. Holder may still be able to make a timely and effective QEF Election in a subsequent year if such U.S. Holder meets certain requirements and makes a “purging” election to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above) as if such common shares were sold for their fair market value on the day the QEF Election is effective. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election but does not make a “purging” election to recognize gain as discussed in the preceding sentence, then such U.S. Holder shall be subject to the QEF Election rules and shall continue to be subject to tax under the rules of Section 1291 discussed above with respect to its common shares. If a U.S. Holder owns PFIC stock indirectly through another PFIC, separate QEF Elections must be made for the PFIC in which the U.S. Holder is a direct shareholder and the Subsidiary PFIC for the QEF rules to apply to both PFICs.
A QEF Election will apply to the tax year for which such QEF Election is timely made and to all subsequent tax years, unless such QEF Election is invalidated or terminated or the IRS consents to revocation of such QEF Election. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election and, in a subsequent tax year, the Company ceases to be a PFIC, the QEF Election will remain in effect (although it will not be applicable) during those tax years in which the Company is not a PFIC. Accordingly, if the Company becomes a PFIC in another subsequent tax year, the QEF Election will be effective and the U.S. Holder will be subject to the QEF rules described above during any subsequent tax year in which the Company qualifies as a PFIC.
U.S. Holders should be aware that there can be no assurances that the Company will satisfy the record keeping requirements that apply to a QEF, or that the Company will supply U.S. Holders with information that such U.S. Holders are required to report under the QEF rules, in the event that the Company is a PFIC. Thus, U.S. Holders may not be able to make a QEF
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Election with respect to their common shares. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, a QEF Election.
A U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621, including a PFIC Annual Information Statement, to a timely filed United States federal income tax return. However, if the Company does not provide the required information with regard to the Company or any of its Subsidiary PFICs, U.S. Holders will not be able to make a QEF Election for such entity and will continue to be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above that apply to Non-Electing U.S. Holders with respect to the taxation of gains and excess distributions.
Mark-to-Market Election
A U.S. Holder may make a Mark-to-Market Election only if the common shares are marketable stock. The common shares generally will be “marketable stock” if the common shares are regularly traded on (a) a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (b) the national market system established pursuant to section 11A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or (c) a foreign securities exchange that is regulated or supervised by a governmental authority of the country in which the market is located, provided that (i) such foreign exchange has trading volume, listing, financial disclosure, and surveillance requirements, and meets other requirements and the laws of the country in which such foreign exchange is located, together with the rules of such foreign exchange, ensure that such requirements are actually enforced and (ii) the rules of such foreign exchange effectively promote active trading of listed stocks. If such stock is traded on such a qualified exchange or other market, such stock generally will be “regularly traded” for any calendar year during which such stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter.
A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to its common shares generally will not be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above with respect to such common shares. However, if a U.S. Holder does not make a Mark-to-Market Election beginning in the first tax year of such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares for which the Company is a PFIC and such U.S. Holder has not made a timely QEF Election, the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above will apply to certain dispositions of, and distributions on, the common shares.
A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will include in ordinary income, for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of the common shares, as of the close of such tax year over (b) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such common shares. A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will be allowed a deduction in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares, over (b) the fair market value of such common shares (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years).
A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election generally also will adjust such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares to reflect the amount included in gross income or allowed as a deduction because of such Mark-to-Market Election. In addition, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of common shares, a U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will recognize ordinary income or ordinary loss (not to exceed the excess, if any, of (a) the amount included in ordinary income because of such Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years over (b) the amount allowed as a deduction because of such Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years). Losses that exceed this limitation are subject to the rules generally applicable to losses provided in the Code and Treasury Regulations.
A U.S. Holder makes a Mark-to-Market Election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 to a timely filed United States federal income tax return. A Mark-to-Market Election applies to the tax year in which such Mark-to-Market Election is made and to each subsequent tax year, unless the common shares cease to be “marketable stock” or the IRS consents to revocation of such election. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, a Mark-to-Market Election.
Although a U.S. Holder may be eligible to make a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to the common shares, no such election may be made with respect to the stock of any Subsidiary PFIC that a U.S. Holder is treated as owning, because such stock is not marketable. Hence, the Mark-to-Market Election will not be effective to avoid the application of the default rules of Section 1291 of the Code described above with respect to deemed dispositions of Subsidiary PFIC stock or excess distributions from a Subsidiary PFIC to its shareholder.
Other PFIC Rules
Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued proposed Treasury Regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would cause a U.S. Holder that had not made a timely QEF Election to recognize gain (but not loss) upon certain transfers of
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common shares that would otherwise be tax-deferred (e.g., gifts and exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations). However, the specific U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder may vary based on the manner in which common shares are transferred.
Certain additional adverse rules may apply with respect to a U.S. Holder if the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether such U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election. For example, under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S. Holder that uses common shares as security for a loan will, except as may be provided in Treasury Regulations, be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such common shares.
Special rules also apply to the amount of foreign tax credit that a U.S. Holder may claim on a distribution from a PFIC. Subject to such special rules, foreign taxes paid with respect to any distribution in respect of stock in a PFIC are generally eligible for the foreign tax credit. The rules relating to distributions by a PFIC and their eligibility for the foreign tax credit are complicated, and a U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit with respect to distributions by a PFIC.
The PFIC rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules and how the PFIC rules may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares.
General Rules Applicable to the Ownership and Disposition of Common Shares
The following discussion describes the general rules applicable to the ownership and disposition of the common shares but is subject in its entirety to the special rules described above under the heading “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Distributions on Common Shares
A U.S. Holder that receives a distribution, including a constructive distribution, with respect to a common share will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend (without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distribution) to the extent of the current and accumulated “earnings and profits” of the Company, as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A dividend generally will be taxed to a U.S. Holder at ordinary income tax rates if the Company is a PFIC for the tax year of such distribution or the preceding tax year. To the extent that a distribution exceeds the current and accumulated “earnings and profits” of the Company, such distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of such common shares. (See “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares” below). However, the Company may not maintain the calculations of its earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, and each U.S. Holder may have to assume that any distribution by the Company with respect to the common shares will constitute ordinary dividend income. Dividends received on common shares by corporate U.S. Holders generally will not be eligible for the “dividends received deduction.” Subject to applicable limitations and provided the Company is eligible for the benefits of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention or the common shares are readily tradable on a United States securities market, dividends paid by the Company to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, generally will be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains for dividends, provided certain holding period and other conditions are satisfied, including that the Company not be classified as a PFIC in the tax year of distribution or in the preceding tax year. The dividend rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the application of such rules.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of cash received plus the fair market value of any property received and such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such common shares sold or otherwise disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in common shares generally will be such holder’s U.S. dollar cost for such common shares. Gain or loss recognized on such sale or other disposition generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale or other disposition, the common shares have been held for more than one year.
Preferential tax rates currently apply to long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is a corporation. Deductions for capital losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code.
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Additional Considerations
Additional Tax on Passive Income
Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts (other than trusts that are exempt from tax) will be subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes dividends on the common shares and net gains from the disposition of the common shares. Further, excess distributions treated as dividends, gains treated as excess distributions under the PFIC rules discussed above, and mark-to-market inclusions and deductions are all included in the calculation of net investment income.
Treasury Regulations provide, subject to the election described in the following paragraph, that solely for purposes of this additional tax, that distributions of previously taxed income will be treated as dividends and included in net investment income subject to the additional 3.8% tax. Additionally, to determine the amount of any capital gain from the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares that will be subject to the additional tax on net investment income, a U.S. Holder who has made a QEF Election will be required to recalculate its basis in the common shares excluding QEF basis adjustments.
Alternatively, a U.S. Holder may make an election which will be effective with respect to all interests in a PFIC for which a QEF Election has been made and which is held in that year or acquired in future years. Under this election, a U.S. Holder pays the additional 3.8% tax on QEF income inclusions and on gains calculated after giving effect to related tax basis adjustments. U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts should consult their own tax advisors regarding the applicability of this tax to any of their income or gains in respect of the common shares.
Receipt of Foreign Currency
The amount of any distribution paid to a U.S. Holder in foreign currency, or on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of common shares, generally will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency based on the exchange rate applicable on the date of receipt (regardless of whether such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars at that time). A U.S. Holder will have a basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any U.S. Holder who converts or otherwise disposes of the foreign currency after the date of receipt may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss, and generally will be U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. Different rules apply to U.S. Holders who use the accrual method of tax accounting. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving, owning, and disposing of foreign currency.
Foreign Tax Credit
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, a U.S. Holder that pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian income tax with respect to dividends paid on the common shares generally will be entitled, at the election of such U.S. Holder, to receive either a deduction or a credit for such Canadian income tax. Generally, a credit will reduce a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas a deduction will reduce a U.S. Holder’s income that is subject to U.S. federal income tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid (whether directly or through withholding) by a U.S. Holder during a year.
Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability that such U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” taxable income bears to such U.S. Holder’s worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, a U.S. Holder’s various items of income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.” Generally, dividends paid by a foreign corporation should be treated as foreign source for this purpose, and gains recognized on the sale of stock of a foreign corporation by a U.S. Holder should be treated as U.S. source for this purpose, except as otherwise provided in an applicable income tax treaty, and if an election is properly made under the Code. However, and subject to certain exceptions, a portion of the dividends paid by a foreign corporation will be treated as U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, in proportion to its U.S. source earnings and profits, if U.S. persons own, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the voting power or value of the foreign corporation’s shares. The amount of a distribution with respect to the common shares that is treated as a “dividend” may be lower for U.S. federal income tax purposes than it is for Canadian federal income tax purposes, resulting in a reduced foreign tax credit allowance to a U.S. Holder. In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific categories of income. The foreign tax credit rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisors regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Under U.S. federal income tax law, certain categories of U.S. Holders must file information returns with respect to their investment in, or involvement in, a foreign corporation. For example, U.S. return disclosure obligations (and related penalties) are imposed on individuals who are U.S. Holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets in excess of certain thresholds. The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, any stock or security issued by a non-U.S. person, any financial instrument or contract held for investment that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person and any interest in a foreign entity. U.S. Holders may be subject to these reporting requirements unless their common shares are held in an account at certain financial institutions. Penalties for failure to file certain of these information returns are substantial. U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing information returns, including the requirement to file an IRS Form 8938.
Payments made within the U.S., or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, of dividends on, and proceeds arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of, common shares will generally be subject to information reporting and backup withholding tax, at the rate of 24%, if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish such U.S. Holder’s correct U.S. taxpayer identification number (generally on Form W-9), (b) furnishes an incorrect U.S. taxpayer identification number, (c) is notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly report items subject to backup withholding tax, or (d) fails to certify, under penalty of perjury, that such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S. taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified such U.S. Holder that it is subject to backup withholding tax. However, certain exempt persons generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S. Holder furnishes required information to the IRS in a timely manner.
The discussion of reporting requirements set forth above is not intended to constitute a complete description of all reporting requirements that may apply to a U.S. Holder. A failure to satisfy certain reporting requirements may result in an extension of the time period during which the IRS can assess a tax and, under certain circumstances, such an extension may apply to assessments of amounts unrelated to any unsatisfied reporting requirement. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the information reporting and backup withholding rules.
THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP, AND DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES. U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM IN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
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F. Dividends and Paying Agents
The Company does not anticipate the declaration of dividends to shareholders at this time and plans to re-invest the profits of its financings to further the growth and development of the Company’s portfolio.
Not applicable.
When this registration statement on Form 20-F becomes effective, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to foreign private issuers and under those requirements will file reports with the SEC. Those other reports or other information and this registration statement may be inspected at our offices located at 789 West Pender Street, Suite 810, Vancouver BC, Canada, V6C 1H2. Copies of our financial statements and other continuous disclosure documents required under securities rules are available for viewing on the internet at www.sedar.com.
I. Subsidiary Information
Discussion regarding our subsidiaries is contained in Item 4.C, Information on the Company - Organizational Structure.
ITEM 11QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
A. Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation and cause the other party to incur a financial loss. The Company’s maximum credit risk is equal to the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, deposits, convertible debenture receivable and promissory note receivable.
The Company deposits the majority of its cash with high credit quality financial institutions in Canada. Therefore, management considers its exposure to credit risk arising from its cash to be minimal.
B. Foreign Exchange Rate and Interest Rate Risk
Foreign currency risk is limited to the portion of the Company’s business transactions denominated in currencies other than the Canadian dollar. The Company has not entered into any foreign currency contracts to mitigate this risk, but manages the risk by minimizing the value of financial instruments denominated in foreign currency. The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk to the extent that the following monetary assets and liabilities are denominated in US dollars:
| December 31, 2020 | July 31, 2019 |
|
|
|
Balance in US dollars: |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents | $214,042 | $- |
Accounts receivable | 13,585,921 | - |
Prepaid expenses and deposits | 817,915 | - |
Promissory note receivable | 6,255,678 | 2,595,395 |
Accounts payable | (14,968,980) | - |
Net exposure | 5,904,577 | 2,845,392 |
Balance in Canadian dollars: | $7,342,319 | $3,741,121 |
A 10% change in the US dollar to the Canadian dollar exchange rate would impact the Company’s net loss by approximately $590,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020 (July 31,2019 - $374,000).
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Interest rate risk consists of two components:
i)To the extent that payments made or received on the Company’s monetary assets and liabilities are affected by changes in the prevailing market interest rates, the Company is exposed to interest rate cash flow risk.
ii)To the extent that changes in prevailing market rates differ from the interest rate in the Company’s monetary assets and liabilities, the Company is exposed to interest rate price risk.
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk with respect to its convertible debenture receivable and its promissory note receivable.
C. Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company currently settles its financial obligations using cash. The ability to do so relies on the Company raising equity financing in a timely manner. The Company manages liquidity risk through the management of its capital structure and financial leverage. It makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may attempt to issue new shares while minimizing dilution for its existing shareholders.
The following are contractual maturities of financial liabilities as at December 31, 2020:
| Carrying amount | Contractual cash flows | Within 1 year |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $18,328,458 | $18,328,458 | $18,328,458 |
Due to related parties | 374,232 | 374,232 | 374,232 |
The following are contractual maturities of financial liabilities as at July 31, 2019:
| Carrying amount | Contractual cash flows | Within 1 year |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $336,540 | $336,540 | $336,540 |
Due to related parties | 21,347 | 21,347 | 21,347 |
ITEM 12DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
None
62
ITEM 13DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
None
ITEM 14MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None
ITEM 15CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that material information related to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to senior management, including Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), by others within those entities on a timely basis so that appropriate decisions can be made regarding public disclosure.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of December 31, 2020. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2020, were effective to give reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for designing, establishing and maintaining a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) to provide reasonable assurance that the financial information prepared by the Company for external purposes is reliable and has been recorded, processed and reported in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with IFRS as issued by IASB. The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities. The Audit Committee fulfills its role of ensuring the integrity of the reported information through its review of the interim and annual financial statements. Management reviewed the results of their assessment with the Company’s Audit Committee.
Because of its inherent limitations, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all possible misstatements or frauds. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, Management has used the Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013), which is a suitable, recognized control framework established by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and concluded that such internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2020.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
The Company's management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls or our Internal Controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that
63
all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Attestation Report of the Registered Accounting Firm.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Form 20-F Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting with regard to deficiencies or material weaknesses other than the corrective actions to ensure proper disclosure is included in the Company’s filings under the Exchange Act, including the Form 20-F Annual Report.
ITEM 16AAUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERTS
Mr. Johannes (Theo) van der Linde is a financially literate member of the Company’s Audit Committee.
The Company has not adopted a formal code of ethics because, as a Canadian Securities Exchange issuer, the Company is only required have an audit committee.
In lieu of a code of ethics, the Company has adopted the following methodology with respect to corporate governance.
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures for information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company’s management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.
The Company’s Board of Directors facilitates its exercise of independent supervision over management by ensuring that the Board of Directors is composed of a majority of independent directors. The Board of Directors, at present, is composed of three directors, one of which is considered to be independent. In determining whether a director is independent, the Board considers, for example, whether the director has a relationship, which could, or could be perceived to, interfere with the director's ability to objectively assess the performance of management.
The Board of Directors monitors the ethical conduct of RWB and its management and ensures that it complies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, such as those of relevant securities commissions and stock exchanges. The Board of Directors has found that the fiduciary duties placed on individual directors by the Company’s governing corporate legislation and the common law, as well as the restrictions placed by applicable corporate legislation on the individual director’s participation in decisions of the Board of Directors in which the director has an interest, have been sufficient to ensure that the Board of Directors operates independently of management and in the best interests of the Company.
The Board of Directors is specifically responsible for approving long-term strategic plans and annual operating plans and budgets recommended by management. Board consideration and approval is also required for all material contracts, business transactions and all debt and equity financing proposals. The independent directors on the Board of Directors are also responsible for approving senior executive compensation and retirement plans.
64
The Board of Directors delegates to management, through the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, responsibility for meeting defined corporate objectives, implementing approved strategic and operating plans, carrying on the Company’s business in the ordinary course, managing the Company’s cash flow, evaluating new business opportunities, recruiting staff and complying with applicable regulatory requirements. The Board of Directors also looks to management to furnish recommendations respecting corporate objectives, long-term strategic plans and annual operating plans.
Given the relatively small composition of the Board of Directors and the Company’s management over the last several years, the Board of Directors has not appointed a corporate governance committee and these functions are currently performed by the Board of Directors as a whole.
ITEM 16CPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
External Auditor Service Fees
The Company’s auditors were Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Accountants, Smythe, LLP Chartered Professional Accountants , MNP LLP and MGO LLP for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 and Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Accountants during the financial years ended July 31, 2019 and 2018. The following table sets out the aggregate fees billed by Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Accountants, Smythe, LLP Chartered Professional Accountants and MNP, LLP for the financial year ended December 31. 2020 and Manning Elliott LLP, Chartered Accountants for the years ended July 31, 2019 and 2018.
Year ended | Audit Fees | Audit Related Fees(1) | Tax Fees(2) | All Other Fees(3) |
December 31, 2020 | $889,409 | $391,898 | $Nil | $Nil |
July 31, 2019 | $35,000 | $17,725 | $4,025 | $Nil |
July 31, 2018 | $10,000 | $13,350 | $1,500 | $Nil |
(1) “Audited related fees” include the aggregate fees billed in each of the last three fiscal years for assurance and related services by the Company’s external auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements and are not reported under “Audit fees” above. The services provided include accounting consultations on proposed transactions and registration statements.
(2) “Tax fees” include the aggregate fees billed in each of the last three fiscal years for professional services rendered by the Company’s external auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
(3) “All other fees” include the aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the Company’s external auditor, other than “Audit fees”, “Audit related fees” and “Tax fees” above.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted an Audit Committee Charter (see “Exhibit”) governing the provision of audit and non-audit services by the external auditor. This charter requires the Audit Committee to recommend to the Board of Directors the external auditor to be nominated by the Board of Directors and the compensation of the external auditor. The Audit Committee has not adopted any specific policies and procedures for the engagement of non-audit services.
ITEM 16DEXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
None
ITEM 16EPURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
None
ITEM 16FCHANGES TO REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
None
Not applicable
ITEM 16HMINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable
65
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
The following financial statements are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F, together with the report of the independent auditors:
(a)Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and July 31, 2020 including:
* Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
* Statements of Consolidated Financial Position as of December 31, 2020 and July 31, 2020
* Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2020 and July 31, 2020
* Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Deficiency) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and July 31, 2020
* Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and July 31, 2020
* Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
The following exhibits are included in this Form 20-F:
Exhibit Number | Description |
1.1 | ****Certificate of Name Change (from Tidal Royalty Corp. to Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.) |
1.2 | **Certificate of Name Change (from Tulloch Resources Ltd. to Tidal Royalty Corp.) |
1.3 | **Certificate of Name Change (from Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation to Tulloch Resources Ltd.) |
1.4 | **Certificate of Name Change (from Treminco Resources Ltd. to Elkhorn Gold Mining Corporation) |
1.5 | |
1.6 | Amended By-Laws/Articles, filed with the Company’s Form 6-K on August 4. 2021 |
4.1 | ***** Company Amended and Restated Stock Option and RSU Plan |
8.1 | ***Subsidiaries |
10.1 | |
12.1 | ***Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
12.2 | ***Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
13.1 | ***Certificate of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
13.2 | ***Certificate of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
15.1 |
| * | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s registration statement (amended) on Form 20-F/A filed with the SEC on November 29, 2018 | |
| ** | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s registration statement on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on October 17, 2018. | |
| **** | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 6-K on May 11, 2020. | |
| ***** | Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 6-K on December 14, 2020. |
| *** | Filed herewith. |
66
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
(Formerly Tidal Royalty Corp.)
Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
67
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
(Formerly Tidal Royalty Corp.)
Table of Contents
For the Years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Management's responsibility for financial report | F-1 |
Report of independent registered public accounting firm | F-2-3 |
Consolidated annual financial statements |
|
Consolidated statements of financial position | F-4 |
Consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss | F-5 |
Consolidated statements of changes in shareholder's equity | F-6 |
Consolidated statement of cashflows | F-7 |
Notes to the consolidated annual financial statements | F-8 - 59 |
F- i
Management's Responsibility
For Financial Reporting
To the Shareholders of Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.:
Management is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, including responsibility for significant accounting judgments and estimates in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. This responsibility includes selecting appropriate accounting principles and methods, and making decisions affecting the measurement of transactions in which objective judgment is required.
In discharging its responsibilities for the integrity and fairness of the consolidated financial statements, management designs and maintains the necessary accounting systems and related internal controls to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are authorized, assets are safeguarded and financial records are properly maintained to provide reliable information for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management in the performance of its financial reporting responsibilities. The Board has the responsibility of meeting with management and external auditors to discuss the internal controls over the financial reporting process, auditing matters and financial reporting issues. The Board is also responsible for recommending the appointment of the Company's external auditors.
July 22, 2021
/s/ Michael Marchese/s/ Brad Rogers
Michael Marchese, DirectorBrad Rogers, Director
F-1
F-2
F-3
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
(formerly Tidal Royalty Corp.)
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
As at December 31, 2020 and 2019
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
| Notes |
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 1,146,569 | $ | 1,378,687 |
Prepaid expenses |
|
| 1,053,658 |
| 124,140 |
Accounts receivable | 7 |
| 8,747,261 |
| 1,463,388 |
Inventory | 9 |
| 17,561,002 |
| - |
Loans receivable | 11 |
| 51,676,623 |
| 36,504,397 |
|
|
| 80,185,113 |
| 39,470,612 |
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net | 10 |
| 87,104,243 |
| 10,847 |
Deposits | 6 |
| - |
| 12,530,659 |
Call/put option | 12 |
| 112,658,740 |
| 55,967,351 |
Goodwill | 6 |
| 6,206,068 |
| - |
Intangible assets, net | 13 |
| 152,979,033 |
| - |
|
|
| 358,948,084 |
| 68,508,857 |
Total assets |
| $ | 439,133,197 | $ | 107,979,469 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
| $ | 24,115,714 | $ | 1,334,370 |
License liability | 6 |
| 11,997,400 |
| - |
Convertible debentures | 14 |
| - |
| 17,597,600 |
Current loans payable | 16 |
| 31,349,759 |
| - |
Lease liabilities | 17 |
| 205,982 |
| - |
Credit facility | 15 |
| - |
| 36,610,075 |
Current income taxes payable | 20 |
| 3,125,261 |
| - |
|
|
| 70,794,116 |
| 55,542,045 |
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
Credit facility | 15 |
| 64,815,872 |
| - |
Loans payable, net of current portion | 16 |
| 18,704,092 |
| - |
Lease liabilities, net of current portion | 17 |
| 186,487 |
| - |
License liability, net of current portion | 6 |
| 47,989,600 |
| - |
Deferred income tax liability | 20 |
| 27,158,251 |
| - |
Total liabilities |
|
| 229,648,418 |
| 55,542,045 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders' equity |
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital | 18 |
| 229,772,030 |
| 61,366,160 |
Contributed surplus |
|
| 14,863,863 |
| 5,748,889 |
Cumulative translation adjustment |
|
| (1,896,622) |
| - |
Accumulated deficit |
|
| (33,254,492) |
| (14,677,625) |
Total shareholders' equity |
|
| 209,484,779 |
| 52,437,424 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
| $ | 439,133,197 |
| 107,979,469 |
Going concern (Note 2)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 27)
Subsequent events (Note 29)
Approved and authorized for issuance on behalf of the Board of Directors on July 22, 2021 by:
/s/ Michael Marchese/s/ Brad Rogers
Michael Marchese, DirectorBrad Rogers, Director
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
F-4
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
(formerly Tidal Royalty Corp.)
Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
|
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Notes |
|
|
|
|
Sales | 25 | $ | 23,338,528 | $ | - |
Cost of sales, before fair value adjustments |
|
| 9,486,087 |
| - |
|
|
| 13,852,441 |
| - |
Unrealized change in fair value of biological assets | 8 |
| (543,116) |
| - |
Realized fair value amounts included in inventory sold |
|
| 45,232 |
| - |
Gross profit |
|
| 13,354,557 | - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
General and administration |
|
| 10,695,379 |
| 2,951,403 |
Salaries and wages |
|
| 6,777,330 |
| 568,167 |
Depreciation and amortization | 10, 13 |
| 15,291,977 |
| 1,898 |
Earn-out compensation | 6 |
| 9,805,500 |
| - |
Share-based compensation | 18 |
| 3,955,976 |
| 3,796,095 |
Sales and marketing |
|
| 1,762,223 |
| 913,412 |
|
|
| 48,288,385 |
| 8,230,975 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations before other expenses (income) |
|
| (34,933,828) |
| (8,230,975) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other expense (income) |
|
|
|
|
|
Finance expense (income), net |
|
| 5,272,428 |
| (399,060) |
Foreign exchange |
|
| 1,677,976 |
| 1,385,803 |
Management fees |
|
| (425,610) |
| (1,111,637) |
(Gain) Loss on revaluation of call/put option | 12 |
| (53,619,465) |
| 4,407,819 |
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 10 |
| (232,874) |
| - |
Write off of deposit | 6 |
| 1,853,059 |
| - |
Listing expense | 5 |
| 31,705,481 |
| - |
Revaluation of financial instruments |
|
| 530,451 |
| - |
Total other expense (income) |
|
| (13,238,554) |
| 4,282,925 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
| (21,695,274) |
| (12,513,900) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current income tax expense | 20 |
| 3,125,261 |
| - |
Deferred income tax recovery | 20 |
| (6,243,668) |
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
| (18,576,867) |
| (12,513,900) |
Translation adjustment on consolidation of foreign subsidiaries |
|
| (1,896,622) |
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss |
| $ | (20,473,489) |
| (12,513,900) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | 19 | $ | (0.14) | $ | (0.16) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
|
| 137,571,316 |
| 80,700,135 |
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
F-5
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
(formerly Tidal Royalty Corp.)
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
| Notes | Convertible Series I Preferred Shares # | Convertible Series I Preferred Shares $ | Convertible Series II Preferred Shares # | Convertible Series II Preferred Shares $ | Common Shares # | Common Shares $ |
| Subscriptions Receivable |
| Contributed Surplus |
| Translation Adjustment |
| Accumulated Deficit |
| Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances, January 1, 2019 |
| - | - | - | - | 74,222,182 | 35,111,680 |
| (125,000) |
| 1,952,794 |
| - |
| (2,163,725) |
| 34,775,749 |
Shares issued, net | 18 | - | - | - | - | 9,989,570 | 26,254,480 |
| 125,000 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 26,379,480 |
Share-based compensation | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| 3,796,095 |
| - |
| - |
| 3,796,095 |
Net loss |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| (12,513,900) |
| (12,513,900) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances, December 31, 2019 |
|
| - | - | - | 84,211,752 | 61,366,160 |
|
|
| 5,748,889 |
|
|
| (14,677,625) |
| 52,437,424 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued for acquisition | 6 | - | - | 17,133,600 | 27,363,787 | 17,133,600 | 17,620,480 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 44,984,267 |
Shares issued on RTO | 5 | - | - | 84,211,749 | - | - | - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
Deemed shares issued | 5 | 3,181,250 | 5,637,175 | - | - | 23,464,462 | 27,031,042 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 32,668,217 |
Replacement warrants issued | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| 303,749 |
| - |
| - |
| 303,749 |
Replacement options issued | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| 486,518 |
| - |
| - |
| 486,518 |
Shares issued for asset acquisition | 6 | - | - | - | - | 19,800,000 | 41,900,000 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 41,900,000 |
Shares issued for finders | 5 | - | - | 7,381,000 | 13,204,609 | 7,381,000 | 8,502,900 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 21,707,509 |
Share-based compensation | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| 3,955,976 |
| - |
| - |
| 3,955,976 |
Shares issued debt settlement | 18 | - | - | 2,339,200 | 3,555,584 | 2,339,200 | 2,292,416 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 5,848,000 |
Warrants exercised | 18 | - | - | 470,340 | 319,871 | 1,087,212 | 739,399 |
| - |
| (95,430) |
| - |
| - |
| 963,840 |
Stock options exercised | 18 | - | - | 2,050,000 | 1,602,237 | 2,050,000 | 1,202,074 |
| - |
| (1,691,811) |
| - |
| - |
| 1,112,500 |
Currency translation adjustment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| - |
| (1,896,622) |
| - |
| (1,896,622) |
Shares issued for bought deal | 18 |
|
|
| - | 33,350,000 | 17,144,296 |
|
|
| 6,155,972 |
| - |
| - |
| 23,300,268 |
Shares issued for debenture repayment | 18 | - | - | - | - | 500,000 | 290,000 |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| 290,000 |
Net loss |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| - |
| - |
| - |
| (18,576,867) |
| (18,576,867) |
Balances, December 31, 2020 |
| 3,181,250 | 5,637,175 | 113,585,889 | 46,046,088 | 191,317,226 | 178,088,767 |
|
|
| 14,863,863 |
| (1,896,622) |
| (33,254,492) |
| 209,484,779 |
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
F-6
Red White & Bloom Brands Inc.
(formerly Tidal Royalty Corp.)
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
|
|
| 2020 |
| 2019 |
| Notes |
|
|
|
|
Operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss for the year |
| $ | (18,576,867) | $ | (12,513,900) |
Items not affecting cash: |
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
| 3,955,976 |
| 3,796,095 |
Foreign exchange |
|
| 1,027,601 |
| (1,442,606) |
Interest not received in cash |
|
| (4,099,526) |
| (3,832,577) |
Revaluation of call/put option | 12 |
| (53,619,465) |
| 4,407,819 |
Listing expense | 5 |
| 31,705,481 |
| - |
Depreciation and amortization | 10, 13 |
| 15,291,977 |
| 1,898 |
Write off of deposit |
|
| 1,853,059 |
| - |
Realized gain in cost of sales |
|
| (45,232) |
| - |
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
|
| 543,116 |
| - |
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 10 |
| (232,874) |
| - |
Revaluation of financial instruments |
|
| (673,585) |
| - |
PV accretion expense (PV sellers) |
|
| 307,239 |
| - |
PV fair value adjustment on convertible loan | 6 |
| 1,093,248 |
| - |
Finance fees |
|
| 1,581,005 |
| - |
Accrued interest payable |
|
| - |
| 229,399 |
Financing expense (income) |
|
| - |
| (2,340,164) |
|
|
| (19,888,847) |
| (11,694,036) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in non-cash operating working capital | 24 |
| (25,198,759) |
| (410,435) |
|
|
| (45,087,606) |
| (12,104,471) |
Investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
Disposition of property, plant and equipment | 10 |
| 288,846 |
| - |
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | 10 |
| (180,420) |
| (12,745) |
Deposits | 6, 11 |
| - |
| (12,246,787) |
Cash received on RTO | 5 |
| 1,822,156 |
| - |
Cash paid on business combination of MAG | 6 |
| (20,482,087) |
| - |