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1CM Inc. — Interim / Quarterly Report 2020
Jan 29, 2020
46939_rns_2020-01-29_44000a38-6c6e-4bd7-87ca-9256c3138c9d.pdf
Interim / Quarterly Report
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LEVIATHAN CANNABIS GROUP INC. MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2019
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The following Management Discussion and Analysis provides a review of the financial condition and disclosures of the operations for Leviathan Cannabis Group Inc. (“ Leviathan ” or the “ Company ”) for the three months ended November 30, 2019 (the “ MD&A ”). This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and relevant notes for the three months ended November 30, 2019. The financial information presented in this MD&A is derived from the Financial Statements.
This MD&A contains certain information regarding the Company that may constitute “ forwardlooking information ” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information and statements include all information and statements regarding the Company’s intentions, plans, expectations, beliefs, objectives, future performance, and strategy, as well as any other information or statements that relate to future events or circumstances and which do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts. Forward-looking information and statements often but not always use words such as “ believe ”, “ estimate ”, “ expect ”, “ intend ”, “ anticipate ”, “ foresee ”, “ plan ”, “ predict ”, “ project ”, “ aim ”, “ seek ”, “ strive ”, “ potential ”, “ continue ”, “ target ”, “ may ”, “ might ”, “ could ”, “ should ”, and similar expressions and variations thereof. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. These statements are based on our perception of historic trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other assumptions, both general and specific, that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Such information and statements are, however, by their very nature, subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, of which many are beyond the control of the Company, and which give rise to the possibility that actual results could differ materially from our expectations expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions that actual performance will be affected by several factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what the Company currently foresees. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forwardlooking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document; in addition, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or alter its previously issued forward-looking information, unless required to do so under applicable securities law.
In this document and in the Company’s audited condensed consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise noted, all financial data is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“ IFRS ”). All amounts, unless specifically identified as otherwise, both in the audited consolidated financial statements and in the MD&A, are expressed in Canadian dollars.
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The discussion and analysis in this MD&A are based on information available to management as of January 27, 2020.
CORPORATE SUMMARY
Leviathan is a publicly traded company, incorporated in the Province of Ontario and domiciled in Canada. The Company’s registered office is located at Suite 116, 250 The Esplanade, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4J6. Leviathan’s common shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “ EPIC ”.
The Company is primarily focused on the future production and distribution of cannabinoid (“ CBD ”) isolate, distillate, and other extracted products through its 90% owned subsidiary, Leviathan US, Inc. (“ Leviathan US ”) in Smith County, Tennessee, US, and its 65% owned subsidiary, LCG Holdings Inc. (“ LCG Holdings ”) in Rio Negro, Antioquia Colombia. The Company has a wholly owned subsidiary, Woodstock Biomed Inc. (“ Woodstock ”), which is a construction ready production facility in Pelham, Ontario, Canada. However, development of Woodstock has been suspended. Resumption of the buildout of the Woodstock facility is contingent upon the expiration of the current interim control by-law in the Town of Pelham, approval of a building permit by the Town of Pelham, and the granting of a cannabis growing license from Health Canada.
The Company has a wholly owned branding / marketing agency, Jekyll + Hyde Brand Builders Inc. (“ Jekyll + Hyde” ) that specializes in cannabis-focused marketing but also provides marketing / brand development services to non-cannabis companies.
The Company has a wholly owned subsidiary, Bathurst Resources Corp. (“ Bathurst”) , which is a dormant, non-operating entity.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Leviathan’s initial business strategy is to extract and process bulk CBD products from hemp biomass at the Company’s Tennessee facility and cultivate and process hemp at the Company’s Colombian facility. Subject to Pelham Town Council approvals and receipt of licences from Health Canada, the Company intends to cultivate cannabis from its Woodstock facility.
Concurrent with the development of the CBD production facilities, the Company is researching and seeking to work with partners to develop products that utilize CBD extracts such as topical creams. While there is an active market for bulk CBD isolate and other derivates, management believes that partnering and developing relationships with end users will improve the stability of the Company’s revenues from the sale of extracted products and provide supplemental revenues for the marketing / brand development corporate subsidiary, Jekyll + Hyde.
The Company intends to execute additional strategic acquisitions extending across various vertical markets in Canada and international markets to support the Company’s cultivation, processing and proprietary branding strategies as opportunities presented.
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The Company is focused on becoming a leading domestic and international enterprise and is directing its efforts to creating a proprietary portfolio of cannabis and hemp brands leveraging the Company’s expertise. By building a presence in markets in Canada and around the world where opportunities arise, the Company expects to generate a sustained and suitable rate of return on equity for current and prospective investors.
CORPORATE STRUCTURAL HISTORY
The Company was originally incorporated as Gideon Capital Corp. pursuant to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on June 15, 2011 and classified as a capital pool company as defined in Policy 2.4 of TSX Venture Exchange Inc. (“ TSX-V ”).
On December 31, 2013, the Company, 2396933 Ontario Inc. (“ 2396933 Ontario ”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and Bathurst Resources Corp. (“ Bathurst ”) completed a three-cornered amalgamation whereby Bathurst amalgamated with 2396933 Ontario. The Company issued one common share for each common share of Bathurst outstanding (“ Amalgamation ”). The Amalgamation constituted the Company’s Qualifying Transaction for the purposes of Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange Corporate Finance Manual. Upon completion of the Amalgamation, the Company changed its name from Gideon Capital Corp. to Morgan Resources Corp.
From 2013 to 2016, the Company, as Morgan Resources Corp., was a mining exploration company with an option on certain volcanic-hosted sulphide properties in the Province of New Brunswick known as the Gloucester Project.
On October 12, 2017, the Company executed an agreement for a business combination with Jekyll & Hyde Brand Builders Inc., a private Ontario corporation. Jekyll + Hyde was incorporated in Ontario on August 30, 2017.
On December 22, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of Jekyll & Hyde after the Company delisted from the NEX Board of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company then initiated a three-cornered amalgamation of Jekyll + Hyde Brand Builders, Morgan Resources and Bathurst Resources Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Resources. Under the terms of the acquisition, the Company issued 12,166,667 common shares to the shareholders of Jekyll + Hyde.
On January 23, 2018, the Company commenced trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol CSE: JH.
On March 28, 2018, the Company amended its articles to change its name to Leviathan Cannabis Group Inc. and shares began trading under the new name and symbol CSE: EPIC on April 15, 2018.
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WOODSTOCK TRANSACTION
On June 18, 2018, the Company agreed to acquire Woodstock Biomed Inc. Woodstock was in the process of securing a license to grow medical marijuana and, as such, was a late stage Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations applicant (“ ACMPR ”). At the time of the acquisition, Woodstock had received its Confirmation of Readiness from Health Canada's Office of Medical Cannabis and was preparing to submit plans for the development of a medical marijuana facility in accordance with the ACMPR regulations in force at that point in time. (Subsequent to this date, Health Canada repealed the ACMPR program and introduced the Cannabis Act on October 17, 2018 which proscribes the approval and development of cannabis growing operations process.)
At the time of the proposed transaction, Woodstock owned a prime greenhouse production facility in Pelham, Ontario. This 29.5-acre property (the " Property ") was intended to serve as the Company's cornerstone for medicinal and adult recreational cannabis cultivation operations in Canada. Once the retrofit was completed, the cultivation facility was expected to produce high-yield, pharma-grade, and competitively priced medicinal and adult recreational cannabis. Management’s internal valuations estimated the cost of the acquisition at $15,750,000. This amount was based on cash consideration of $750,000 in cash and the issuance of 30,000,000 common shares valued at $0.50 per common share. The specific terms of the proposed purchase were:
Woodstock Transaction Terms
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A. $750,000 in cash, payable upon receipt of the cultivation license;
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B. 20,000,000 common shares of the Company subject to an escrow agreement to be released as follows:
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a. 3,000,000 (15%) 6 months from closing b. 3,000,000 (15%) 12 months from closing c. 3,000,000 (15%) 18 months from closing d. 3,000,000 (15%) 24 months from closing e. 3,000,000 (15%) 30 months from closing f. 5,000,000 (25%) 36 months from closing.
C. 10,000,000 common shares of the Company subject to an escrow agreement to be released if Woodstock receives its cultivation license prior to August 14, 2019. If the license is not received before August 14, 2019, these shares will be returned to the Company for cancellation.
Management’s estimate of the transaction was significantly different than the value recorded in the Company’s financial statements for the year ending August 31, 2018. The primary reason is due to the fact that when the transaction closed on June 18, 2018, the Company’s stock was trading at $1.97 / share. Under IFRS rules, since the transaction did not meet the guidance as a business combination under IFRS 3, the transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition . Consequently, the common share component was based on $1.97 per share and not $0.50 as envisioned by Management. Fair value of the transaction was first assigned to the physical assets
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at Woodstock (i.e. land, buildings) based on an independent appraisal by Colliers International, the fair value of other identified assets and liabilities, and finally to License-in-Progress. The excess over the fair value of other assets and liabilities was recorded as $36,597,192 in the financial statements for the Company for the year ending August 31, 2018.
On October 15, 2018 the Company announced that Pelham Town Council passed an interim control by-law (the “ By-law ”) which placed a one-year moratorium on new cannabis facility developments and the expansion of cannabis related facilities in the Town of Pelham. The Bylaw stemmed from first generation cannabis facilities in the region which produced light and odour pollution angering the residents. Despite the passing of the By-law, the Company submitted its interim By-law exemption application to the Town of Pelham on December 11, 2018 and presented its case to the Planning Department and Town Council at a public meeting on February 25, 2019. On March 20, 2019, Leviathan completed the process of responding to comments and concerns received from residents of Pelham and Niagara Region, and additional questions from the Pelham Planning Department. The Town Council of Pelham addressed the Company’s application for an exemption to its interim cannabis By-law on April 15, 2019 by deferring the decision to the Town of Pelham’s legal counsel. On May 23, 2019, the Company announced its intention to initiate legal action against the Town of Pelham, Ontario following Town Council’s vote to deny the Company an exemption to its interim control by-law on May 21, 2019.
On September 9, 2019 the Company initiated legal proceedings against The Corporation of the Town of Pelham. This litigation, filed through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, followed Town Council’s decision to deny the Company an exemption to is Interim Control By-law (4046), which placed a one-year moratorium on the building of new cannabis facilities and the expansion of existing operations. The decision by Leviathan’s management team to initiate legal action was done to protect the interests of shareholders.
On September 24, 2019 the Town of Pelham Council voted to extend the Interim Control By-law to July 15, 2020.
Notwithstanding the issues with the Town of Pelham, Management has made expenditures on Woodstock for the three months ended November 30, 2019. The Pelham property has been prepared for new construction. Unsalvageable old greenhouse infrastructure has been demolished. Salvageable greenhouse infrastructure has been maintained. A full building permit application with stamped engineering drawings has been submitted to the Pelham building department. When the By-law expires on July 15, 2020, Management expects the building permit application to be assessed and approved. Upon receipt of Pelham Council approvals, Management expects to commence construction. Submitted plans call for the construction of 144,000 square feet of sealed cultivation greenhouse, of which approximately 90,000 square feet is earmarked for cultivation and the balance for headhouse. Construction will take between four and six months once started. Actual cannabis production would be deferred until Health Canada inspects and approves the facility and issues final licenses. Presently, Management is not able to reasonably estimate the length of time it will take to secure final licensing from Health Canada as there has been a significant slowdown in the Department’s ability to manage existing and new cannabis cultivation licenses. Management, in the interim, intends to prepare and submit any required documents, such as facility plans, security plans and proposed standard operating procedures, pursuant to Health Canada’s Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System (“ CTLS ”).
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For the three months ended November 30, 2019 the company has only incurred minimal costs related to this property for utilities and taxes as management is waiting for a response to the legal action that it has begin against the Town of Pelham.
Management’s initial budgeted costs for the buildout of Woodstock was approximately $15 million; The budget will be reviewed, again, when the company has resolved its legal issues or the town by law is changed. Management, subject to market and business conditions, expects to finance the balance of the budget through a debt facility.
As part of Management’s obligations under IFRS for the year ending August 31, 2019, Management conducted an impairment test of the intangible assets of $36,597,192 recorded in the financial statements of the Company for the year ended August 31, 2018. Given the complexity and uncertainties associated with the on-going litigation with Pelham Council, the uncertainty surrounding an expected start of construction, the securing of a cannabis cultivation license, Management engaged an independent consultant, BDO Canada LLP (“ BDO ”), to undertake a 2019 IFRS Impairment Test. Management received BDO’s report on November 28, 2019 and circulated the report to the Board of Directors and the Company’s auditors. BDO’s recommendation was to write down the license-inprogress to a nominal value. Management concurred with this assessment and wrote down the intangible assets. As noted in the financial statements for the year ending August 31, 2019, an impairment charge of $23,901,970 was recorded. This amount is comprised of the write down of the intangible assets of approximately $36.6 million and partially offset by the recovery, approximately $12.6 million, of the expense previously recorded and associated with the 10,000,000 of escrowed shares to be issued if Woodstock received a cannabis cultivation license by August 14, 2019. (See Clause C in the Woodstock Proposed Transaction Terms above.) The Company did not secure a cannabis cultivation license; consequently, the contingent expense was recovered, and 10,000,000 shares of the Company were cancelled during the year ended August 31, 2019 (See Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders Equity (Deficit) for the Years Ended August 31, 2019 and 2018.)
LEVIATHAN US – TENNESSEE
On July 25, 2019, the Company’s subsidiary Leviathan US, Inc. purchased a 9.75-acre property with a 37,000 square foot vacant industrial building in Carthage, Tennessee, USA for US$312,148 in cash. Management has continued to work to complete the renovation of this facility. Presently, subject to any unforeseen circumstances, the renovation will be completed in early March and at that point the processing equipment rooms will be delivered and prepared for operation. The renovation has primarily involved replacing the roof, repairing floors, walls, upgrading electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems, and building out new offices. An extensive clean-up of the 9.75-acre property was also undertaken. Given the progress of current renovations, Management has ordered the bulk of the hemp processing equipment and portable clean rooms. Upon receipt of processing equipment, local operational teams will be setting up, testing, calibrating, and readying the equipment for commercial production.
With respect to municipal and statement regulations, Leviathan US obtained a building permit for the office construction and an initial hemp processing permit from the State of Tennessee. Presently,
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Management is not aware of any special regulatory requirements, other than ordinary course operational permits, necessary to commence commercial operations to produce bulk CBD products from hemp. Management has continued to work on securing hemp biomass from local suppliers to start commercial production in late April, early May 2020 subject to setup, testing, and calibration of processing equipment experiences.
The budget for the project is approximately US$2.9 million with approximately US$1,292,000 of expenditures incurred as of January 27, 2020 broken down as follows: Operating Expenses US$203,000; Property / Building US$312,000; Prepaid Deposits US$777,000; Miscellaneous US$68,000.
Management secured a $5 million debt facility on October 15, 2019 from a current stakeholder which will be drawn down, as required, to facilitate the final buildout of the Leviathan US facility in Tennessee. The debt facility does not have any covenants and pays an interest charge of 10% on amounts drawn down. Interest payments are due three times per year, April 30, August 31, and December 31. The debt facility matures on October 15, 2021. The Company may, at its discretion, repay the balance of principal and / or interest owing at any time without penalty. This financing is meant to be non-dilutive.
Management has initiated discussions with local banks in Tennessee to put in place an equipment and building refinancing arrangement. Management expects that this arrangement will be in place by March 31, 2020. The funds generated from this equipment and building financing facility will be used to provide working capital for the operation of the Tennessee facility and to reduce amounts drawn down on the debt facility which will then be used to finance the cost of the Colombian operation set up.
At the time of Management’s acquisition of the Tennessee facility, the Company had negotiated a 75% interest in Leviathan US, Inc. The remaining interest was held by an American, Greg Pilant, with construction facility building experience and knowledge of the cannabis industry. However, Management was able to successfully renegotiate the Company’s interest from 75% to 90% in December 2019 because of Management’s increased role in managing the project buildout and Management’s ability in securing financing to carry the project forward in an environment where cannabis financing has become extremely difficult.
LCG HOLDINGS - COLOMBIA
Colombian Regulatory Regime
In 2016, Colombia implemented a legal framework for the regulated cultivation and manufacture of medical cannabis for domestic use and exportation. In addition, the government of Colombia identified the cultivation of medical cannabis as an important source of legitimate income for farmers and a potential boost to the national economy
In 2017, President Juan Manual Santos signed the decree 613 of 2017, permitting individuals and businesses to engage with the cannabis industry. To support this, 4 types of licenses were established for producing cannabis:
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Cultivation of psychoactive cannabis plants
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Cultivation of non-psychoactive cannabis plants
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Use of cannabis seeds to sow
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Manufacture of cannabis derivatives.
The Government of Colombia also published five resolutions, for the process of defining the rules for the production and processing of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes.
The resolutions defined who will be considered small and medium growers. They also established the technical requirements and the tariffs for the cultivation of the plant and its processing into medicinal, phototherapeutic and homeopathic products.
As established in Resolution 579, 2017, issued by the Ministries of Health, Justice and Agriculture, growers that cultivate on a half a hectare area (5,000 square meters) or less are considered small and medium growers and, therefore, may access technical advice, priority allocation of quotas and purchase of their production by the processor. The regulation, in effect, establishes that 10 percent of the total production of the processor must come from a small and medium producer.
The resolutions issued by the Ministry of Health establish the fees to be paid by firms that carry out plant transformation processes (Resolution 2891, 2017), as well as the technical standards to be followed (Resolution 2892, 2017).
Among other aspects, the latter defines the safety protocol to be implemented in the facilities where cannabis is researched and processed, the requirements to act as technical director of these facilities, the conditions for transportation, and the maximum authorized amounts of processing (quotas).
Resolutions issued by the Ministry of Justice (577 and 578) technically regulate the evaluation and follow-up of the licensing modalities that are to be delivered to this entity (psychoactive cannabis, nonpsychoactive cannabis and seed use) and establish the fees that must be paid to obtain these licenses.
4 TYPES OF LICENSES
| Manufacture of cannabis derivatives |
For national use For scientific research For export |
Ministry of Health and Social Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Cultivation of psychoactive cannabis |
For seed production for planting For grain production For the manufacture of derivatives For scientific purposes For storage For final disposal |
Ministry of Justice and Law |
| Non-psychoactive cannabis cultivation |
For seed production for planting For grain production For the manufacture of derivatives For scientific purposes For storage |
Ministry of Justice and Law |
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| For final disposal | ||
|---|---|---|
| Use of cannabis seeds to sow | Marketing or delivery Scientific purposes |
Ministry of Justice and Law |
Colombian Operations
Management viewed the changes in the Colombian legal landscape as an opportunity to continue its business objectives of developing CBD oil / distillate production facilities in key locations. Consequently, Management formed LCG Holdings Inc. (“ LCG ”), 65% owned by the Company, and with local partners to operate the Company’s Colombian corporate platform.
LCG is in the process of acquiring an existing Hydrangea farm, Las Piedras, encompassing approximately 23 acres and on which are located a number of buildings. The 35% minority ownership interest is held in equal parts by LCG’s co-CEOs Bob Neill and Roy Ostrom, III. Mr. Neill and Mr. Ostrom are American expatriates who have lived and worked in Colombia for many years building and operating significant mining companies. Mr. Neill and Mr. Ostrom are arm’s length to the Company.
Pre-Construction/Construction activities commenced in late December 2019 and Leviathan expects to complete Phase 1 in Q3/2020. The work plan involves constructing plastic greenhouses for cultivation purposes. Leviathan will be growing in pots, rather than in the ground. Leviathan will be adding irrigation systems. (The property is blessed with ample natural sources of water.) Leviathan will be renovating an existing building to serve as a clone room. Leviathan will also be improving the power service that is currently in place for the Hydrangea farm and repairing the service road leading to the property. Leviathan is still in the process of finalizing its extraction unit plan for the property. Leviathan originally decided on a CO2-based system set-up but are rethinking whether a less expensive ethanol-based process could serve its needs more cost effectively. Because of the length of the hemp growth cycles, as well as the greenhouse construction, Leviathan has some time before have to finalize the extraction plan.
The Company has agreed to contribute all necessary working capital to LCG by way of credit facility that will be drawn down as required. Amounts drawn down pursuant to the facility are subject to an 8% annual interest rate. Mr. Neill and Mr. Ostrom are contributing their IP (intellectual property), which allows LCG to access their business network, operational expertise, and local knowledge regarding hemp and cannabis opportunities in Colombia.
Originally, the Company had entered a lease to own property in Rio Negro with a view of creating a hemp cultivation and processing facility with an expected buildout budget of US$5 million. However, that transaction was terminated by the contracting parties in Colombia. Subsequently, Management entered into a new agreement to purchase a 22.43 acres hydrangea facility again located in Rio Negro for US$1,114,000. The Company will be making five installment payments over eighteen months. In addition to the land, the Company will be acquiring the facilities located on the property which includes office space, workers’ quarters, and drying rooms. Management intends to construct a 700,000 square
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foot plastic greenhouse for cultivation purposes.
Payment Schedule – Hydrangea Facility
| Payment Reference | Date | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | November 2019 | US$58,000 | Paid |
| 2nd | January2020 | US$130,000 | Paid |
| 3rd | May2020 | US$130,000 | Outstanding |
| 4th | November 2020 | US$348,000 | Outstanding |
| Final | May2021 | US$348,000 | Outstanding |
Management’s anticipated budget for the buildout of the facility is US$3.9 million. Approximately US$500,000 has been expended to date Despite the failure of the original acquisition to be completed, Management believes it has located a superior, less expensive property as the foundation for its Colombian operations. The Company has negotiated favourable purchase terms for the property, which require the bulk of the purchase payments to be made in equal parts, 6, 12 and 18 months after the initial payments.
With respect to financing the Colombian acquisition, the Company expects that it will secure equipment financing equivalent to 50-70% of the value of the extraction processing equipment used in Colombia. As part of the property purchase, the Company has been assigned the final Hydrangea crop from the vendors, which is expected to generate approximately US$100,000 in revenues. An additional US$1.0 to US$1.5 million in financing is expected to come from pledging the Company’s Tennessee assets as noted above. Finally, given the deferred payment terms, Management believes that it may have revenues from the production of CBD isolate or other extracted products to fund final payment terms.
Concurrent with the acquisition of the above noted growing facility, LCG Holdings has initiated discussions with a view to acquiring a Colombian company that has submitted cannabis license applications as detailed below. Discussions with the Colombian target company continue; however, no definitive agreement has been reached. Management will press release final terms and details once the negotiations have been successfully concluded.
Colombian cannabis licenses applied for from the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection: Manufacture cannabis derivatives for the following modalities:
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For national use: Ranging from the reception of the harvest in the manufacturing area, to the delivery of cannabis derivatives to any third party, or for him/herself, in order to proceed with the production of a finished product from cannabis. this includes activities for the acquisition of any kind of cannabis, the manufacturing of derivatives, the storage of cannabis and its derivatives, the transport of cannabis and its derivatives, and the use, distribution or commercialization of derivatives in the national territory.
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For export: Ranging from the reception of the harvest in the manufacturing area to the direct export of cannabis derivatives. this includes activities for the acquisition of cannabis, the manufacturing of cannabis derivatives, the storage of cannabis or its derivatives, the transport of cannabis or its derivatives, and the export of cannabis derivatives.
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- For scientific purposes: ranging from the receipt of the harvest at the facilities, to the manufacture of cannabis derivatives for scientific purposes for its study. this includes activities for the acquisition of cannabis, the manufacturing of cannabis derivatives, the storage of cannabis and its derivatives, the transport of cannabis and its derivatives, and research on cannabis and / or its derivatives.
Colombian cannabis licenses applied for from the Colombian Ministry of Justice and Law:
Grow psychoactive cannabis plants for the following modalities:
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For seed production for sowing includes the cultivation of psychoactive cannabis seeds to produce seeds for planting, screens and / or vivarium production, storage, marketing, distribution, export and final disposal.
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For the manufacturing of derivatives includes the cultivation of psychoactive cannabis plants, from planting to the delivery or use of the crop for the manufacturing of derivatives for medical and scientific purposes. this includes sowing, storage, marketing, transportation, distribution and final disposal activities.
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For scientific purposes includes the cultivation of psychoactive cannabis plants, from planting to the use of the crop for scientific purposes, either on cannabis plant or its parts, without involving activities of industrial manufacturing of derivatives.
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For production of grain includes the cultivation of psychoactive cannabis plants to produce grain.
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Grow non-psychoactive cannabis plants at the Ministry of Justice and Law for the following modalities:
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For grain and seed production for sowing includes the cultivation of non-psychoactive cannabis plants to produce grain or seeds for sowing.
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For the manufacturing of derivatives includes the cultivation of non-psychoactive cannabis plants, from planting to the delivery of the crop for the manufacturing of derivatives for medical and scientific purposes.
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For industrial purposes includes the cultivation of non-psychoactive cannabis plants, from planting to the delivery of the crop for industrial uses.
For scientific purposes includes the cultivation of non-psychoactive cannabis plants, from planting to the harvesting, for scientific purposes, in each of its parts or of the non-psychoactive cannabis, without it involving activities for the manufacturing of derivatives.
Management’s Comments Regarding Operations in Colombia
Management recognizes that operating a business in Colombia, an emerging market, can pose significant challenges. Colombia has had a history of significant political violence since becoming a republic in 1819. In the last 50 years, the inequitable distribution of wealth has fueled “left vs. right” civil wars. This sectarian violence created a weakened government that allowed various drug cartels to impose their will over various sections of the country. However, the government finally reached a peace agreement with the largest rebel group in 2016 and has actively reasserted legitimate civil control over the country. Concurrent with the re-establishment of civil authority, the government introduced market friendly economic policies in 2000 such as fiscal discipline, inflation control, competitive tax rates, and
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targeted economic reforms to address poverty and land restitution issues. Consequently, the country has become increasing stable[1] and amenable to business and international trade over the last 10 years.
Because of the challenges of operating in Colombia, Management has undertaken several actions to ensure that the Company’s resources are properly safeguarded. Firstly, Management utilizes well established / recognized advisors with domestic and international branches in Colombia. Management believes it will have increased influence over advisors with offices in Canada and Colombia. Secondly, Management has engaged independent local representatives who are knowledgeable of the Colombian business environment. As noted previously, the co-CEOs of LCG Holdings are Bob Neill and Roy Ostrom, III, who have had significant experience operating in the Colombian marketplace. Thirdly, Management has made several trips to Colombia to physically inspect, speak with local persons, and verify the facilities as this will reduce the possibility of fraud. Finally, Management continues to monitor political and economic developments in Colombia through their existing network of contacts, local and international, and through various publications.
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS
Personnel
On March 20, 2019, the Company appointed Jayne Beckwith and Luvlina Sanghera as officers of the Company. Ms. Beckwith took on the role of Chief Communications Officer and Ms. Sanghera took on the responsibilities of Chief Marketing Officer. Both are members of the core group that founded Leviathan. Ms. Beckwith has 25 years of experience in a broad range of industries. As a trusted advisor to executive teams both nationally and internationally, she has spearheaded strategic planning, research, brand development, design and communications programs. Before Leviathan, she served as an executive with an international branding firm and was a co-founder / principal of a branding and communications agency. Ms. Sanghera is a former founder / CEO of a branding agency as well as a former professor at The Art Institute of Vancouver. Prior to the creation of her own company, Ms. Sanghera served as an executive with a retailer and manufacturer that distributed and launched consumer products worldwide. Ms. Sanghera has also worked extensively in the North American cannabis market as an experienced and highly valued consultant. On February 22, 2019, the Company appointed Martin Doane as interim Chief Financial Officer. On April 25, Jayne Beckwith replaced Martin Doane as interim Chief Financial Officer and Luvlina Sanghera was appointment Corporate Secretary to the Company.
Private Share Transaction
On April 29, 2019, Renny Bidinot and Joseph Bidinot, as insiders of Leviathan, entered into Share Purchase Agreements with third party, arms-length purchasers to sell 20,000,000 million issued and outstanding fully paid and non-assessable common shares in the capital of Leviathan. Subject to the terms and conditions set out in an agreement between Renny Bidinot, Joseph Bidinot, Leviathan, Woodstock,
1 Colombia has moved up the rankings from 170 in 2000 to 159 in 2017. https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/wb_political_stability/#Colombia
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and Computershare Trust Company of Canada dated June 14, 2018 (the “ Escrow Agreement ”), the Bidinots agreed to assign and transfer their rights pursuant to the Escrow Agreement, including the contingent 10,000,000 escrowed shares (See Woodstock Proposed Transaction Terms above) to third party, arms-length purchasers. This transaction closed on May 3, 2019. No officers or other insiders of Leviathan were involved in the private transactions.
On April 29, 2019 Renny Bidinot resigned as director, Chairman, President, Treasurer and Secretary of Woodstock, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leviathan. Martin J. Doane, Luvlina Sanghera and Paul Gri were elected as directors of Woodstock. Additionally, Martin J. Doane was appointed as President of Woodstock, Luvlina Sanghera was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Woodstock, and Paul Gri was appointed as Vice-President of Woodstock.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview of Operations
The operations for the three months ended November 30, 2019 consists of the activities of Woodstock, Leviathan US, Jekyll + Hyde and LCG Holdings Inc. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2019
Revenues
Revenue for the three months ended November 30, 2019 was $Nil ($57,100 2018)
No revenues were generated by any of the units for the period ending November 30, 2019. Revenues for the period ending August 31, 2020 will depend on the successful buildout out of the facilities in Tennessee and Colombia. Management cannot reasonably predict the status of Woodstock with respect to revenue generation.
Expenses
Expenditures during the three months ended November 30, 2019 were $770,867 (2018 – $1,099,942). These expenditures included:
Professional Fees $128,493 (2018 – $99,026). The increased costs related primarily to legal work associated with potential and actual business acquisitions that Management examined / transacted in Colombia and Tennessee, and other legal work associated with domestic issues, including the lawsuit brought against the Town of Pelham. The increased expenditures were consistent with Management’s expectations. Professional fees are expected to be lower in 2020.
Salaries, Wages & Consulting Fees $306,613 (2018 - $432,841) Management, given the tightness of resources, reduced compensation levels to all employees and executives in the 4[th] quarter ending August 31, 2019. Management intends to continue to engage consultants on an “as needed” basis until the Company generates revenues on a consistent basis; consequently, Management expects similar levels of expenditure for 2020.
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Office & General Expenses $59,380 (2018 - $47,622). Costs have increased over the prior year as a result of the buildout of Tennessee and Colombia. Management expects these expenses to continue to rise as activity, i.e. as employee head count rises in Tennessee when the Company launches a recruiting drive in the 1[st] quarter of 2020, and production commences in Tennessee, Colombia, and, if production finally commences in Pelham.
Marketing Expenses $Nil (2018 - $40,767). Management has scaled back marketing expenses, compared to the prior year, until such time as the Company is nearing commercial production. Consequently, Management expects marketing expenses will rise in the 2[nd] half of 2020.
Investor Relations & Fees $26,329 (2018 - $70,677) Management scaled back the Company’s investor relations activities as the poor business climate for cannabis companies became apparent. For the last quarter Management continued to hold back on spending in this area. Management will increase the Company’s investor relations expenditures when the company begins commercial production of CBD isolate and other extracted products as investor focus appears to be concentrated on actual production and revenue metrics and a cannabis company’s ability to create and manage brand power.
Share-Based Compensation $25,491 (2018 – $257,509) The significant drop in sharebased compensation is consistent with Management’s expectations as the expense incurred in 2019 related to the necessity of establishing a management team and attracting experienced personnel to the Company. During the year ending August 31, 2019, Management also reduced the number of employees and consultants engaged by the Company. As a result, any employee / consultant who was terminated lost their entitlement to any incentive share-based compensation that typically vested each quarter. Correspondingly, share-based compensation was significantly lower than the previous fiscal year. Since the Company has a management team in place, the offering of share-based compensation is expected to remain consistently lower for 2020. Management only intends to offer share-based compensation to attract new executives, employees / consultants, and provide continued incentives for existing management.
Rent Expense $17,900 (2018 - $24,537) Rental expenses have marginally decreased from the prior year. Management will be reviewing the leasing needs for the company during the FY 20 Quarter two as the lease for the current space is expiring on September 30, 2020
Interest Expense $136,289 (2018 - $116,612). Interest expense has risen slightly due to the fact that it is paying interest on the $5 million debt facility that the Company has used. Management expects that interest expenses will continue to rise in 2020 based on the timing and extent that Management utilizes the $5 million revolving draw down facility negotiated and announced on October 31, 2019.
Net and comprehensive loss for the period was $675,802 (2018 – $1,042,842) or a loss of $0.01 per share (2018 - $0.01).
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Summary of Quarterly Financial Information
| For the three months ended | $ Q1FY20 |
$ Q4FY19 |
$ Q3FY19 |
$ Q2FY19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | Nil | 39,000 | Nil | 22,403 |
| Expenses | 769,729 | 25,787,481 | 739,041 | 1,054,086 |
| Net &Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
(769,729) | (26,521,922) | 25,075 |
(1,031,682) |
| Basic & Diluted Lossper Share | (0.01) | (0.28) | 0.00 | (0.01) |
| For the three months ended | $ Q1FY19 |
$ Q4FY18 |
$ Q3FY18 |
$ Q2FY18 |
| Revenues | 57,100 | 57,655 | 22,124 | 2,487 |
| Expenses | 1,099,942 | 4,243,710 | 2,036,135 | 131,262 |
| Net and Comprehensive Loss | (1,042,842) | (4,186,055) | (2,014,011) | (128,775) |
| Basic & Diluted Lossper Share | (0.01) | (0.09) | (0.00) | (0.00) |
TRENDS AND OTHER INFORMATION
The Company has limited financial resources. Consequently, Management has secured a shortterm revolving credit facility from a major shareholder for up to $5,000,000 to fund the buildout of facilities in Tennessee and Colombia and to provide working capital to the Company. This facility does not have any debt covenants. This facility will mature on October 15, 2021. Outstanding drawdowns bear an interest charge 10% per annum from the date of each advance. Interest is payable three times a year on April 30, August 31 and December 31. The Company may at its discretion repay the balance of principal and / or interest owing at any time without penalty. There are no assurances that additional funding will be available for working capital purposes if the Company is not successful in its efforts to generate revenues and / or secure additional financing through other debt facilities or equity capital raises.
On October 15, 2019 the Company signed an agreement with an investor to provide financing of up to $5,000,000 at 10% per annum from the date of each advance. The Company may, at its discretion, repay the balance of principal and/or interest owing at any time without penalty. There are no covenants associated with the financing facility. For the three months ended November 30, 2019 the company has taken a total draw of $1.1M (2018 – Nil) and incurred an interest cost for the period of $5,232.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company had a working capital surplus of approximately $1,236,268 as at November 30, 2019 (2018 - $3,567,254) including cash of $430,629 (2018 -$3,494,957).
Currently, the Company has limited working capital resources, in hand, to finance operations and expected program buildouts in Tennessee and Colombia.
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| Location | Budget – US $ | Completion Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee(Leviathan US) | $2,937,071 | Q1 2020 |
| Rio Negro(Leviathan Colombia) | $3,905,200 | Q3 2020 |
In order to realize on the Company’s buildout program of CBD processing facilities, the Company is intending to utilize the following sources of funding:
-
$ 5 million Revolving Credit Facility
-
Interest on amounts drawn down: 10%
-
Facility secured (See Subsequent Events Comments - press release dated October 15, 2019)
-
Equipment / Vendor Financing
-
Management expects between 50% and 70% of CBD processing equipment can be financed through vendor or a third- party financing company for both the Tennessee and Colombian operations.
-
Discussions have commenced
-
Refinancing of Tennessee Facility
-
Management expects to secure financing against the refurbished Tennessee facility
-
Discussions have commenced
-
Operating Revenues
-
Given the expected timing of the commencement of commercial production in Colombia and when purchase payments are due, Management believes that the Company will have operating revenues to partially fund out liability obligations (See chart – Payment Schedule, Hydrangea Facility above)
With respect to the $ 5 million Revolving Credit Facility, the facility would become immediately payable by the Company if the Company triggers an “event of default” unless waived by the Lender. Triggering events, from Management’s perspective, are not considered onerous and are standard in similar types of credit facilities. Specific triggering events would include, (a) failure to pay interest on a due date; (b) the Company becomes insolvent or admits in writing that it is unable to pay its debts; (c) seeks any form of creditor protection; (d) initiates a corporate liquidation, winding up etc.; and (e) appointment of a receiver or its equivalent. The Revolving Credit Facility is not dependent upon any earnings per share, cash flow, or share price metrics.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has not entered any off-balance sheet arrangements.
PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS
None.
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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On November 18, 2019 the Company, through its subsidiary LCG Holdings Inc., acquired a hydrangea facility located on 22.43 flat acres land in Rio Negro, Colombia. The facility will cost US $1,114,000 with a series of five payments from November 2019 through to May 2021.
On December 31, 2019 the Company made a required interest payment due on the Bridge Loan. The interest payment was for $18,027 which represents the interest calculated at 10% from the date of each draw. The balance of the loan as of January 27, 2020 was $2.1M.
SHARE CAPITAL
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares.
| SHARE CAPITAL OUTSTANDING | Aug 31 2019 | **Nov 30 2019 ** | Jan 27 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shares | 84,743,603 | 84,743,603 | 84,743,603 |
| Options(a) | 7,109,360 | 5,750,000 | 5,750,000 |
| Warrants(b) | 15,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
| (a) | |||
| $0.60 options expiring May 17, 2021 | 4,600,000 | 4,600,000 | 4,600,000 |
| $2.00 options expiring June 19, 2021 | 1,359,360 | ‐ | ‐ |
| $0.60 options expiring November 8, 2020 | 600,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 |
| $0.60 options expiring April 1, 2021 | 150,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| $0.60 options expiring May 10, 2021 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| $0.60 options expiring May 22, 2021 | 200,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
| Total | 7,109,360 | 5,750,000 | 5,750,000 |
(b) Each warrant is exercisable at $1.00 per share until July 9, 2020. The Company may require the holders of Warrants, upon 15 days' notice, to exercise their right to purchase Common Shares at any time after 120 days from July 9, 2018, if the Common Shares close at or above $1.50 per Common Share for 20 consecutive trading days.
LOSS PER SHARE
The calculation of basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended November 30, 2019 was based on the loss attributable to common shareholders of $(744,237) (November 2018 – (84,743,903) and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding of 84,743,903 (November 2018 – 94,497,427).
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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the three months ended November 30, 2019 the Company entered into transactions and had outstanding balances with various related parties. The details of the related party transactions are summarized as follows:
Compensation to Management, Directors, and other Key Personnel
The remuneration of directors and other members of key management personnel, or companies under their control, during the period was:
| Twelve months ended Augsust 31 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Salaries, consultingand benefits | $132,500 | $213,975 |
| Stock based compensation | - | 103,834 |
| $132,500 | $317,809 |
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Risks Arising from Financial Instruments and Risk Management:
The Company's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including foreign exchange and interest rate risks), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company identifies, evaluates and, where appropriate, mitigates financial risks. The Company’s Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Company’s risk management framework. The Audit Committee of the Board is responsible to review the Company’s risk management policies.
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates equity prices and wholesale price of biomass (hemp) and selling price of the finished material will affect the Company's income or the value of its holdings or financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimizing the return.
Foreign exchange risk
The Company operates in Canada, the United States and Colombia. A portion of the Company’s expenses are incurred in other countries primarily the United States dollars (“ US dollar ”). Foreign exchange risk arises because the cost of transactions denominated in foreign currencies may vary due to changes in exchange rates. The Company has not entered any foreign exchange derivative contracts. A significant change in the currency exchange rates between the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar could have a significant effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
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Interest Rate Risk
The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its cash and cash equivalents and long-term debt. The Company believes that interest rate risk is low as the Company does not hold any term deposits and interest earned on cash equivalents is variable.
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Company if a counter party to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations and arises principally from the Company’s accounts receivable. The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The Company believes there is insignificant credit risk associated with its accounts receivable based on the nature of the counterparties.
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash. The Company has investment policies to mitigate against the deterioration of principal and to enhance the Company’s ability to meet its liquidity needs.
Liquidity and Funding Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due and to fund future operations. The Company manages its liquidity risk by forecasting its cash needs on a regular basis and seeking additional financing based on those forecasts.
Funding risk is the risk that market conditions will impact the Company’s ability to raise capital through equity markets under acceptable terms and conditions. The Company manages its funding risk by forecasting its cash needs on a regular basis and continuously monitoring the stock price and other market conditions.
Investments in Colombia
Operating a business in Colombia, an emerging market, can pose significant challenges. Colombia has had a history of significant political violence since becoming a republic in 1819. In the last 50 years, the inequitable distribution of wealth has fueled “left vs. right” civil wars. This sectarian violence created a weakened government that allowed various drug cartels to impose their will over various sections of the country. While the government finally reached a peace agreement with the largest rebel group in 2016 and has actively reasserted legitimate civil control over the country there is no guarantee that Colombia will not return to its earlier state of political instability resulting in the breakdown of the rule of law.
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Capital Management
The Company's objectives when managing capital are:
To safeguard the Company's ability to continue as a going concern in order to pursue the development of its products and to maintain a flexible capital structure which optimizes the cost of capital at an acceptable level; and to provide an adequate return to shareholders commensurate with the level of risk associated with an early stage company.
The capital structure of the Company consists of cash, long-term debt and equity comprising, issued capital, contributed surplus, warrants, and stock options.
The Company manages its capital structure and adjusts it in light of economic conditions. The Company, upon approval from its Board of Directors, will balance its overall capital structure through new share issues, granting of stock options, the issuance of debt or by undertaking other activities as deemed appropriate under the specific circumstances. The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements. In order to maximize ongoing research and development of its products, the Company does not pay out dividends.
Other Risks and Uncertainty
The Company operates in a highly competitive environment that involves significant risks and uncertainties, some of which are outside of the Company's control, which could have a material adverse effect upon the Company, its business and prospects. Investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not exhaustive. There may be risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company believes to be immaterial, which could adversely affect the Company and its business in the future.
Risks Related to the Company’s Financial Condition
The Company has mainly relied on equity and debt financing to support operations and will continue to need significant amounts of additional capital. The Company intends to raise additional financing, as required, through research, partnering and licensing arrangements, the exercise of warrants and options, and through equity and / or debt financing. However, there can be no assurance that these financing efforts will be successful or that the Company will continue to be able to meet ongoing cash requirements. It is possible that financing will not be available or, if available, may not be on favourable terms. The Company may fail to obtain additional financing and be unable to fund operations and commercialize its product candidates. The availability of financing will be affected by the results of scientific and clinical research, the Company’s ability to attain regulatory approvals, the market acceptance of the Company's products, the state of the capital markets generally (with particular reference to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical companies), the status of strategic alliance agreements, and other relevant commercial considerations. Any future equity financing could result in significant dilution to existing shareholders.
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Risks Related to the Company’s Businesses and Operations Regulatory
Changes to government policies, whether in Canada, the United States or Colombia, and the current regulatory framework is outside of the Company’s control and hence, the Company is subject to any changes in the regulatory framework, which may cause the Company to adjust its operations or impact the Company’s profit margins.
Limited Operating History
The Company’s subsidiary Jekyll + Hyde commenced operations on August 31, 2017. Woodstock, Leviathan US, and LCG Holdings Inc. currently have not commenced operations, and as such, they are early stage businesses, subject to the risks any early stage business faces. The Company has incurred operating losses since commencing operations. The success, among other things, is dependent on profitability of operations, ability to raise funds when necessary in a timely manner, and senior management’s ability to execute on its strategy. The Company may incur losses in the future and may never achieve profitability.
Reliance on Management
The Company is reliant on senior management’s ability to execute on its strategy. This exposes the Company to management’s ability to perform, and as well the risk of management leaving the Company. To mitigate this risk, the Company has implemented incentive plans for all members of the senior management team.
Risks Relating to the Cannabis Industry Change in Law, Regulations and Guidelines
The cannabis industry in Canada, the hemp industry in the United States, and the cannabis industry in Colombia are all highly regulated at all levels of government (i.e. Federal, Provincial, State, Municipal) and are subject to a wide and onerous variety of laws, regulations and guidelines relating to the marketing, acquisition, manufacture, management, transportation, storage, sale and disposal of medicinal, adult recreational cannabis, and CBD oil / distillates. in Canada, the United States and Colombia. Changes in such laws, regulations and guidelines may cause adverse effects on the Company’s operations. On February 24, 2016, the Federal Court of Canada released its decision in the case of Allard et al v. Canada, declaring that the MMPR, as it was drafted, was unconstitutional in violation of the plaintiffs’ rights under section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. On August 24, 2016, the ACMPR came into force, replacing the MMPR as the regulations governing Canada’s medical cannabis regime, which permits patients to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes or to designate a person to produce a limited amount of cannabis. On October 17, 2018, Canada legalized the cultivation and sale of adult recreational cannabis nationally introducing a new national cannabis reporting and tracking system launched concurrently with the coming into force of the national Cannabis Act. Beginning October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System applies to all public and private parties licensed by Health
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Canada to sell medicinal and/or adult recreational cannabis under the various provincial regulations to consumers or other Federally licensed cannabis companies.
On December 12, 2018, Congress passed the U.S. Farm Bill and it became law on December 20, 2018. This legislation exempts hemp from the Controlled Substances Act and allows the import and export of hemp-derived products across U.S. state lines.
In 2016, Colombia proposed a legal framework for the regulated cultivation and manufacture of medical cannabis for domestic use and exportation. In 2017, President Juan Manual Santos signed into law, a regulatory framework that permitted individuals and businesses to engage in the cannabis industry through a licensing framework (4 qualifying licenses) for cannabis production.
Regulatory Risk
Achievement of the Company’s business objectives are contingent, in part, upon compliance with the regulatory requirements, including those imposed by Health Canada, and US and Colombian regulators, as enacted by these government authorities and obtaining all regulatory approvals, where necessary, for the sale of the Company’s products. The Company cannot predict the time required to secure all appropriate regulatory approvals for its products, or the extent of testing and documentation, which may be required by government authorities. Any delays in obtaining, or failure to obtain, regulatory approvals would significantly delay the development of markets and products and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operation and financial condition.
Unfavourable Publicity or Consumer Perception
The success of the medical and non-medical cannabis and hemp industries may be significantly influenced by the public’s perception of cannabis’ and hemp’s medicinal applications. Cannabis is a controversial topic and there is no guarantee that future scientific research, publicity, regulations, medical and public opinion relating to medicinal and/or adult recreational cannabis or medicinal hemp will be favourable. The medical and non-medical cannabis and hemp industries are early-stage businesses, which are constantly evolving with no guarantee of viability. The market for medical and non-medical cannabis and hemp is uncertain, and any adverse or negative publicity, scientific research, limiting regulations, medical and public opinions relating to the consumption of medical and non-medical cannabis and hemp may have a material adverse effect on operational results, consumer base and financial results.
Competition
The market for the medical and non-medical cannabis in Canada and medical hemp in the USA products appear to be sizeable. As a result, the Company expects significant competition from other companies both domestically and abroad. Many companies appear to be applying for production licenses, some of which may have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources, may be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion, sale and support of their products and services, and may have more extensive
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customer bases and broader customer relationships. Should the size of the medical and nonmedical cannabis and hemp markets increase as projected, the demand for products will increase as well, and in order for the Company to be competitive, it will need to invest significantly in research and development, marketing, production, distribution, expansion, new client identification and customer support. If the Company is not successful in achieving sufficient resources to invest in these areas, the Company’s ability to compete in the market may be adversely affected, which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, its financial conditions and operations.
Risks Relating to the Company’s Common Shares
The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common shares and, for the foreseeable future, the Company does not intend to pay any cash dividends on its common shares and therefore, its shareholders may not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they are able to sell their shares. The policy of the Board of Directors of the Company is to reinvest all available funds in operations. The Board of Directors may reassess this policy from time-totime. Any decision to pay dividends on the common shares of the Leviathan Group will be made by the Board of Directors based on the assessment of, among other factors, earnings, capital requirements and the operating and financial condition of the Company.
The market price and trading volume of the Company’s common shares is volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future. Variations in earnings estimates by securities analysts and the market prices of the securities of competitors may also lead to fluctuations in the trading price of the common shares. In addition, the financial markets may experience significant price and volume fluctuations that affect the market price of the Company’s common shares that are not related to the Company’s operating performance. Broad market fluctuation and economic conditions generally, and in the cannabis and hemp sectors specifically, may adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common shares.
The significant costs that the Company will incur as a result of being a public company in Canada could also adversely affect its business.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-
(1) Additional information may be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com;
-
(2) Additional information, including directors’ and officers’ remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of the Company’s securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans will be included in the information circular for the Company’s next annual meeting of security holders;
-
(3) Additional information relating to the Company can be requested by calling Martin J. Doane, CEO, Leviathan Cannabis Group Inc. at 416.903.6691 or Jayne Beckwith, Chief Communications Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, Leviathan Cannabis Group Inc. at 416 842-8408 extension 216.
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