As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 17, 2022
Registration No. [ ]
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
| 3420 | 82-5051728 | |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1001 Bannock St, Suite 612, Denver, CO 80204
(Address of principal business offices)
303-416-7208
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
J.P. Galda
c/o J.P. Galda & Co., 40 E. Lancaster Avenue LTW 22, Ardmore, PA 19003
(Name, address of agent for service)
Copies of Communications to:
J.P. Galda & Co. Attn: J.P. Galda, Esq.
40 East Montgomery Avenue LTW 220
Ardmore, PA 19003
Tel: (215) 815-1534
Email: jpgalda@jpgaldaco.com
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As promptly as practicable after this proxy statement-prospectus becomes effective and upon the consummation of the conversion described herein.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box: ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ||
| Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has not elected to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act ☐
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling shareholders named herein may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, Dated June 17, 2022
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
PROSPECTUS
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
30,131,485 Common Shares
30,183,193 Common Shares Issuable Pursuant to Common Share Purchase Warrants
This prospectus (this “Prospectus”) relates to the resale of common shares in the capital of Cryomass Technologies Inc (“we”, “our” or the “Company”) (“Common Shares”) and Common Shares issuable upon exercise of Common Share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) held by selling shareholders which were issued by the Company in previous private placement transactions by the selling security holders named herein under “Selling Shareholders and Certain Beneficial Owners” (the “Selling Shareholders”). We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of these Common Shares, although we may receive proceeds from the exercise of the warrants.
The selling shareholders may offer all or part of the Common Shares for resale from time to time through public or private transactions, at either prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. The Company is paying for all registration, listing and qualification fees, printing fees and legal fees.
Our Common Shares are quoted on the OTC QB (“OTC”) under the ticker symbol “CRYM.” On June 14, 2022, the closing price of our Common Shares was U.S. $0.2365 per Common Share.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements. The purchase of the securities offered through this Prospectus involves a high degree of risk. See section entitled “Risk Factors” starting on page 6.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Dated: June 17, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information and Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and the interim financial statements for the three month periods ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 (the “Financial Statements”) appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless the context indicates or suggests otherwise, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” or the “Registrant” refer to Cryomass Technologies Inc, a Nevada corporation. References to “$” refer to monetary amounts expressed in U.S. dollars.
Our Business
Corporate History
Cryomass Technologies Inc (“Cryomass Technologies” or the “Company”) began as Auto Tool Technologies Inc., which was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on May 10, 2011. The Company’s name was changed to AFC Building Technologies Inc. effective January 10, 2014. Effective April 26, 2018, the Company changed its name to First Colombia Development Corp. Effective October 14, 2019, the Company changed its name to Redwood Green Corp. Effective September 1, 2020, the Company changed its name to Andina Gold Corp. On July 15, 2021, the Company entered into a plan of merger with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cryomass Technologies Inc a Nevada corporation, for the purpose of changing the name of the Company to Cryomass Technologies Inc, effective August 27, 2021. Our ticker symbol changed from AGOL to CRYM.
The Company’s principal office is located at 1001 Bannock St., Suite 612, Denver, CO 80204, and its telephone number is 303-416-7208. The Company’s website is www.cryomass.com. Information appearing on the website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
The Company over its history has explored a number of different business opportunities.
On May 10, 2018, the Company acquired all the issued and outstanding share capital of First Colombia Devco S.A.S. (“Devco”), a Colombian company, and began to establish various business ventures in Colombia in the agriculture and real estate development, tourism, and infrastructure sectors before commencing to phase them out in April 2019.
On July 1, 2019, the Company acquired 100% of the membership interests in General Extract, LLC (“General Extract”), a Colorado limited liability company. General Extract was founded in 2015 as an importer, distributor, broker and postprocessor of hemp and hemp derivatives. The Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests, including business plans and access to contacts.
On July 15, 2019, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Good Acquisition Co., entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement to acquire cannabis-related intellectual property and other assets of Critical Mass Industries LLC DBA Good Meds (“CMI” and/or “Good Meds”), a Colorado limited liability company (“CMI Transaction”). CMI is licensed by the Marijuana Enforcement Division of Colorado Department of Revenue to produce cannabis and cannabis products under its six licenses. These licenses allow for cultivation, manufacturing of infused products and retail distribution. At the time the Company entered into the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, Colorado law prohibited public companies, including the Company, from owning cannabis licenses. Therefore, CMI spun off certain assets acquired by the Company. Under the terms of the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, CMI retained the cannabis license, inventory and accounts receivable (the “Cannabis License Assets”) and continued to operate the cannabis business related to those assets. In consideration for the transfer of the acquired assets, the Company delivered 13,553,233 shares of the Company common stock, in addition to $1,999,770 in cash to CMI.
Good Meds, the operating unit of CMI, is based in Denver, CO, and operates in a 60,000-square-foot cultivation and processing facility. This facility produces cannabis for sale as dry flower and biomass input for processing into Marijuana-Infused Products (“MIP”), such as live resin, wax and budder. Good Meds also owns and operates two medical cannabis dispensaries located in Lakewood, CO and Englewood, CO. The business has been in operation since 2009.
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Beginning in March 2020, an evaluation of various strategic alternatives was followed by the decision to sell the Colorado-based assets and refocus its attention on unique opportunities for gold exploration in Colombia. In August 2020, the Company established a wholly owned Colombian subsidiary, Andina Gold Colombia SAS for this purpose. In December 2020, due to the death of the top geologist exploring opportunities on behalf of the Company, and the effects of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the Company determined that pursuit of gold exploration in Colombia was no longer a practical alternative. In Q1 2022 the respective subsidiary was closed.
On June 22, 2021, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Cryocann USA Corp, a California corporation (“Cryocann”), pursuant to which Company acquired substantially all the assets of Cryocann. The aggregate purchase price was $3,500,000 million in cash and 10,000,000 shares of Company common stock. As part of the Cryocann Acquisition, we retained both Cryocann employees, who have expert knowledge of the industry, related participants, customers and the acquired patented technology. Under their employment agreements, each employee may receive compensation if specific performance targets are met in association with our future operating performance when the Cryocann technology enters the market. The technology and assets acquired from Cryocann are operated from the Company’s subsidiary, Cryomass LLC. The patented cryo-mechanical technology is for the separation of plant materials in the harvesting of hemp and cannabis, and potentially other high value crops such as hops. We believe this technology will reduce processing costs and increases the quality of extracted compounds. We are exploring the application of the underlying technology to a broad range of industries that handle high-value materials and that could benefit from our precision capture methods. We anticipate that cannabis and hemp will be the first in a series of such industries.
To develop and commercialize the technology, we contracted with an independent engineering and manufacturing firm to refine the design of our cryo-mechanical system for the handling of harvested hemp, cannabis and other high-value plants. The system exploits CryoMass’s U.S.-patented process for the controlled application of liquid nitrogen to stabilize and separate the structural elements of gross plant material. The device currently under development is scaled for highway transportability and is being optimized for the low-cost collection of fully intact hemp and cannabis trichomes. It can be used within minutes after plants have been cut and can also efficiently capture trichomes from fresh frozen or even dried plant parts, including trim. The device’s through-put capacity is expected to be approximately 600 kilograms of gross plant material per hour. The advanced design for the equipment has been completed, and testing of a prototype machine is currently underway. The engineering and manufacturing firm has indicated that it has the capacity to build 10 to 15 such devices per month.
In November, 2021, we retained a second engineering and manufacturing firm to independently develop a separate machine design that applies our patented process. We expect their work to help strengthen the power and robustness of our technology. In addition, it opens a channel to a second manufacturing source.
The first functional “beta” CryoMass system is ready for field testing by a third-party cannabis producer as of the date hereof. The first production-run machine is expected to be ready for commercial use towards the end of the second quarter 2022. At that moment, we expect to start helping our first tolling client (fee for service) increase their margins by cutting the cost of handling, processing and refining its hemp or cannabis and increasing the resulting material’s value to formulators of end products.
Canadian Patent no. 3 064 896 “Cryogenic Separation of Plant Material” was filed on May 25, 2018 by two assignors, who assigned it, among other, various other intellectual property rights, to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company as part of the Cryocann June 22, 2021 transaction. The respective Canadian patent was granted on April 19, 2022. Provided that all patent maintenance fees are paid, the Canadian patent no. 2 064 896 will expire on May 25, 2038.
Management believes the CryoMass system will deliver a compelling combination of cost and time savings while enhancing product quality and quantity for largescale cultivators and processors of hemp and cannabis. The use of a CryoMass system – which can be trucked to and operated on the fields of most large hemp and cannabis growers or be permanently installed at a user’s processing facility – should eliminate many of the costs that come with traditional practices, especially the labor, fuel and capital costs of drying and curing hemp or cannabis that is grown for the extraction of end products. With traditional practices, harvested plants are transported to a specially constructed drying house and then treated for a week or longer under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity. It’s a costly method. With our system, harvested plants are simply fed into the front end of a CryoMass machine, and minutes later fully intact trichomes are collected at the back end of the machine. With traditional practices and their seven-to-ten days of handling and drying, a large share of a plant’s valuable trichomes break off and are lost. Then the remaining trichomes are damaged by long exposure to oxygen and by the evaporation of their volatile terpenes. The CryoMass system, on the other hand, stabilizes and collects fully intact trichomes at harvest, leaving no opportunity for such wasteful loss. Field-captured trichomes are the cleanest element of a hemp or cannabis plant because, unlike the rest of the plant, trichomes do not readily take up heavy metals, pesticides or other common soil contaminants. As a product for end-users, field-captured trichomes are closest to being contaminant free. As feedstock for manufacturers of extracts and oils, they are the key to the purest products possible.
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Because the trichomes collected with CryoMass technology represent only 10% or so of a plant’s weight and volume, they are cheaper to ship and store than gross plant material. For the same reason and because trichomes are free of the waxes and other unwanted materials found in the rest of the plant, processing trichomes into oils and extracts can be far quicker, cheaper and easier than processing gross plant material. Even trichomes captured from dried or frozen plant parts deliver this cost-saving advantage to processors of oils and extracts. The three-dimensional advantage achievable with the CryoMass system – first-stage cost savings, product enhancement and downstream cost savings – can as much as double a crop’s wholesale value. And in some jurisdictions, users may enjoy a reduction in excise taxes levied on cannabis and hemp harvests, which typically are tied to the gross weight of hemp or cannabis that is removed from the field.
Market Size
Production and processing of hemp and cannabis is a huge, worldwide industry. In the U.S., for example, the wholesale value of the cannabis crop from just the 11 states permitting adult-use and medical cannabis exceeds $6 billion annually.1 Growth in the U.S. and in the worldwide market is likely fed in part by the growing acceptance of medicinal cannabis products and anticipated legislative changes in various jurisdictions worldwide.
And that may only be chapter one of the Company’s story. Several other high-value plants, including species that are important for health and wellness products, wrap their valuable elements in trichomes. The technology we are developing for hemp and cannabis may have profitable application to those other species as well. We intend to find out.
Recent Developments
Canadian Patent no. 3 064 896 “Cryogenic Separation of Plant Material” was filed on May 25, 2018 by two assignors, who assigned it, among other, various other intellectual property rights, to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company as part of the Cryocann June 22, 2021 transaction. The respective Canadian patent was granted on April 19, 2022. Provided that all patent maintenance fees are paid, the Canadian patent no. 2 064 896 will expire on May 25, 2038.
Smaller Reporting Company Status
Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) defines a “smaller reporting company” as an issuer that is not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent that is not a smaller reporting company and that:
| ● | had a public float of less than $75,000,000 as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of shares of its voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates by the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average of the bid and asked prices of common equity, in the principal market for the common equity; or | |
| ● | in the case of an initial registration statement under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or Exchange Act for shares of its common equity, had a public float of less than $75,000,000 as of a date within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of such shares held by non-affiliates before the registration plus, in the case of a Securities Act registration statement, the number of such shares included in the registration statement by the estimated public offering price of the shares; or | |
| ● | in the case of an issuer whose public float as calculated under paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition was zero, had annual revenues of less than $50,000,000 during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available. |
As a smaller reporting company, we will not be required and may not include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section in our proxy statements; we will provide only two years of financial statements; and we need not provide the table of selected financial data. We also will have other “scaled” disclosure requirements that are less comprehensive than issuers that are not smaller reporting companies which could make our Common Shares less attractive to potential investors, which could make it more difficult for our shareholders to sell their shares.
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SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING
| Common Shares offered by Selling Shareholders and Certain Beneficial Owners | Common Shares, including: | |||
| ● | 30,131,485 Common Shares; | |||
| ● | 30,183,193 Common Shares issuable upon exercise of Common Share purchase warrants held by selling shareholders issued between August 2020 and December 2020 and exercisable at a price of $0.30 per Share and between April 2021 and November 2021 and exercisable at a price per Share of $0.40, until twenty-four months after the respective issue date. | |||
| Common Shares outstanding before the offering | 201,051,665 Common Shares as of the date hereof. | |||
| Offering Price | Determined at the time of sale by the selling shareholders. | |||
| Use of proceeds | We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholders, although we may receive proceeds from the exercise of common share purchase warrants. Any such proceeds will we used for general working capital purposes. | |||
| OTC Trading Symbol | CRYM | |||
| Risk Factors | The Common Shares offered hereby involves a high degree of risk and should not be purchased by investors who cannot afford the loss of their entire investment. See “Risk Factors”. | |||
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SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following selected financial information is derived from the Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. The amounts below are expressed in United States dollars.
As of or For the Year-to-Date Period Ended | ||||||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
| (unaudited) | (audited) | (audited) | ||||||||||
| Operating Statement Data: | ||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 781,455 | ||||||
| Expenses | 2,152,305 | 10,134,642 | 7,641,898 | |||||||||
| Net (loss) income from continuing operations | (2,152,305 | ) | (10,134,642 | ) | (6,870,678 | ) | ||||||
| Net (loss) income | (2,152,305 | ) | (12,859,643 | ) | (11,815,907 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss from continuing operations per common share | (0.01 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.07 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss per common share | (0.01 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.12 | ) | ||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: | ||||||||||||
| Total assets | 13,326,693 | 15,583,822 | 7,798,154 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 1,573,238 | 2,059,502 | 4,192,860 | |||||||||
| Common shares issued and outstanding | 199,143,664 | 196,949,801 | 97,005,817 | |||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity | 11,753,455 | 13,524,320 | 3,605,294 | |||||||||
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RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below together with all other information included in our public filings before making an investment decision with regard to our securities. The statements contained in or incorporated into this Prospectus that are not historic facts are forward- looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward- looking statements. While the risks described below are the ones we believe are most important for you to consider, these risks are not the only ones that we face. If any of the following events described in these risk factors actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our Common Shares could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
General Risk Factors
We have a limited operating history in an evolving industry, which makes it difficult to accurately assess our future growth prospects.
Although we believe our management team has extensive knowledge of the cannabis industry and closely monitors changes in legislation, we also intend to provide equipment and services in an evolving industry that may not develop as expected. Furthermore, our operations continue to evolve under our business plan as we continually assess new strategic opportunities for our business within our industry. Assessing the future prospects of our business is challenging in light of both known and unknown risks and difficulties we may encounter. Growth prospects in our industry can be affected by a wide variety of factors including:
| ● | Competition from other similar companies; |
| ● | Regulatory limitations on the industry we primarily supply to (cannabis agriculture) we can offer and markets we can serve; |
| ● | Other changes in the regulation of cannabis and hemp grow, harvesting and processing; |
| ● | Changes in cannabis industry demand and consumer behavior, which may affect the size of the agricultural businesses we intend to serve; |
| ● | Our ability to access adequate financing on reasonable terms and our ability to raise additional capital in order to fund our operations; |
| ● | Challenges with new machinery, services and markets; and |
| ● | Fluctuations in the commodities markets. |
We may not be able to successfully address these factors, which could negatively impact our growth, harm our business and cause our operating results to be worse than expected.
Our success depends on the introduction of new products, which requires substantial expenditures.
Our long-term results depend upon our ability to introduce and market new products successfully. The success of our new products will depend on a number of factors, including:
| ● | innovation; |
| ● | customer acceptance; |
| ● | the efficiency of our suppliers in providing component parts and of our contract manufacturing facilities in producing final products; and |
| ● | the performance and quality of our products relative to those of our competitors. |
We cannot predict the level of market acceptance or the amount of market share our new products will achieve. We may experience delays in the introduction of new products. Any delays or other problems with our new product launches will adversely affect our performance. In addition, introducing new products can result in decreases in revenues from our existing products. We expect to make substantial investments in product development and refinement. We may need more funding for product development and refinement than is readily available, which could adversely affect our business.
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We face significant competition, and, if we are unable to compete successfully against other agricultural equipment manufacturers, we will lose customers and our net sales and profitability will decline.
The agricultural equipment business is highly competitive, particularly in the United States. Established and substantially larger agricultural equipment manufacturers, with substantially greater financial and other resources, have the capability to compete with us successfully. Our competitors may substantially increase the resources devoted to the development and marketing of products that compete with our products. In addition, competitive pressures in the agricultural equipment business may affect the market prices of new and used equipment, which, in turn, may adversely affect our performance.
We will require significant additional capital to fund our business plan.
The Company will be required to expend significant funds to implement its business plan. The Company anticipates that it will be required to make substantial capital expenditures for the manufacture of its equipment.
The Company’s ability to obtain necessary funding for these purposes, in turn, depends upon a number of factors, including the status of the national and worldwide economy and the financial markets and the availability of capital. Capital markets worldwide were adversely affected by substantial losses by financial institutions, caused by investments in asset-backed securities and remnants from those losses continue to impact the ability for the Company to raise capital. The Company may not be successful in obtaining the required financing or, if it can obtain such financing, such financing may not be on terms that are favorable to us.
The Company’s inability to access sufficient capital for its operations could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations, or prospects. Sales of substantial amounts of securities may have a highly dilutive effect on the Company’s ownership or share structure. Sales of a large number of shares of the Company’s Common Shares in the public markets, or the potential for such sales, could decrease the trading price of the Common Shares and could impair the Company’s ability to raise capital through future sales of Common Shares.
International, national and regional trade laws, regulations and policies and government farm programs and policies could significantly impair our profitability and growth prospects.
International, national and regional laws, regulations and policies directly or indirectly related to or restricting the import and export of the Company’s products, services and technology, including protectionist policies in particular jurisdictions or for the benefit of favored industries or sectors, could harm the Company’s ability to grow in international markets and subject the Company to civil and criminal sanctions. Restricted access to global markets impairs the Company’s ability to export goods and services from its various manufacturing locations around the world, and limits the ability to access raw materials and high-quality parts and components at competitive prices on a timely basis. Trade restrictions could limit the Company’s ability to capitalize on future growth opportunities in international markets and impair the Company’s ability to expand the business by offering new technologies, products and services. These restrictions may affect the Company’s competitive position. Additionally, changes in government farm programs and policies, including restrictions on cannabis and hemp cultivation and processing, can significantly influence demand for agricultural equipment.
Changing demand for certain agricultural products could have an effect on the price of farming output and consequently the demand for certain of our equipment and could also result in higher research and development costs related to changing machine requirements.
Negative economic conditions and outlook can materially weaken demand for our equipment and services, limit access to funding and result in higher funding costs.
The demand for the Company’s products and services can be significantly reduced in an economic environment characterized by high unemployment, cautious consumer spending, lower corporate earnings, U.S. budget issues and lower business investment. Negative or uncertain economic conditions causing the Company’s customers to lack confidence in the general economic outlook can significantly reduce their likelihood of purchasing the Company’s equipment. If negative economic conditions affect the overall farm economy, there could be a similar effect on the Company’s agricultural equipment sales. In addition, uncertain or negative outlook with respect to ongoing U.S. budget issues as well as general economic conditions and outlook can cause significant changes in market liquidity conditions. Such changes could impact access to funding and associated funding costs, which could reduce the Company’s earnings and cash flows. Such changes could affect the ability of the Company’s customers, contract manufacturers, suppliers and lenders to finance their respective businesses, to access liquidity at acceptable financing costs, if at all, the availability of supplies, materials and manufacturing facilities and on the demand for the Company’s products.
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We may encounter difficulties in fully exploiting the assets we acquired from Cryocann USA Corp and may not fully achieve, or achieve within a reasonable time frame, expected strategic objectives and other expected benefits of the acquisitions.
Our recent acquisition of Cryocann USA Corp assets is expected to realize strategic and other benefits, including, among other things, the opportunity to enter the agricultural equipment industry, identify customers and provide our customers with an appealing range of products and services. However, it is impossible to predict with certainty whether, or to what extent, these benefits will be realized or whether we will be able to exploit the acquired assets in a timely and effective manner. For example:
| ● | the costs of using the assets in developing and manufacturing agricultural equipment may be higher than we expect and may require significant attention from our management; |
| ● | the asset acquisition and subsequent exploitation of the assets may result in as of yet unidentified liabilities, such as infringement of third parties’ intellectual property, environmental liabilities or liabilities for violations of laws, such as the FCPA, that we did not expect; |
| ● | our ability to successfully carry out our growth strategies with the help of the acquired assets will be affected by, among other things, our ability to maintain and enhance our relationships with potential customers, our ability to manufacture and distribution products, changes in the spending patterns and preferences of customers and potential customers, fluctuating economic and competitive conditions and our ability to retain their key personnel; |
| ● | litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired assets, including claims from Cryocann USA Corp customers, current or former shareholders or other third parties; and |
| ● | our due diligence of Cryocann USA Corp may have failed to identify all liabilities associated with the acquisition. Further, the acquired assets consisted primarily of intellectual property, which does not have a market value, and we may not have correctly assessed the relative benefits and detriments of making the acquisition and may have pay acquisition consideration exceeding the value of the acquired assets. |
Further acquisitions may be necessary to realize our overall corporate strategy. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify appropriate acquisition targets, successfully acquire identified targets or successfully integrate the business of acquired companies or the assets acquired to realize the full, anticipated benefits of such acquisitions. Our ability to address these issues will determine the extent to which we are able to successfully integrate, exploit and develop the acquired assets and to realize the expected benefits of the Cryocann USA Corp. transactions. Our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our performance following the transaction
Our business results depend largely on its ability to understand its customers’ specific preferences and requirements, and to develop, manufacture and market products that meet customer demand.
The Company’s ability to match new product offerings to customers’ anticipated preferences for different types and sizes of equipment and various equipment features and functionality, at affordable prices, is critical to its success. This requires a thorough understanding of the Company’s potential customers and their needs, as well as an understanding of the cannabis and hemp cultivation dynamics and of other agricultural commodities cultivation dynamics. Failure to deliver quality products that meet customer needs at competitive prices ahead of competitors could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s business.
Our business may be directly and indirectly affected by unfavorable weather conditions or natural disasters that reduce agricultural production and demand for agriculture equipment.
Poor or unusual weather conditions can significantly affect the purchasing decisions of the Company’s potential customers. Natural calamities such as regional floods, hurricanes or other storms, and droughts can have significant negative effects on agricultural production. The resulting negative impact on farm income can strongly affect demand for agricultural equipment.
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Changes in the availability and price of certain raw materials, components and whole goods could result in production disruptions or increased costs and lower profits on sales of our products.
The Company requires access to various materials and components at competitive prices to manufacture and distribute its products. Changes in the availability and price of these materials and components, which have fluctuated in the past and are more likely to fluctuate during times of economic volatility, can significantly increase the costs of production which could have a material negative effect on the profitability of the business, particularly if the Company, due to pricing considerations or other factors, is unable to recover the increased costs from its customers. The Company relies on suppliers and contract manufacturers to acquire materials and components to manufacture its products. Supply chain and contract manufacturing disruptions due to supplier or contract manufacturer financial distress, capacity constraints, business continuity, quality, delivery or disruptions due to weather-related or natural disaster events could affect the Company’s operations and profitability.
In determining the required quantities of our products and the manufacturing schedule, we must make significant judgments and estimates that are not based on any historical data. Because of the inherent nature of estimates, there could be significant differences between our estimates and the actual amounts of products we require, which could harm our business and results of operations.
The agricultural equipment industry is highly seasonal, and seasonal fluctuations may significantly impact our performance.
The agricultural equipment business is highly seasonal, which may cause our quarterly results and our cash flow to fluctuate during the year. Farmers generally purchase agricultural equipment seasonally in conjunction with the harvesting seasons. Seasonal fluctuations can significantly impact our performance in a specific quarter, or overall.
If we are unable to hire and retain key personnel, we may not be able to implement our business plan and our business may fail.
Our future success depends to a large extent on our ability to attract, hire, train and retain qualified managerial, operational and other personnel. We face significant competition for qualified and experienced employees in our industry and from other industries and, as a result, we may be unable to attract and retain the personnel needed to successfully conduct and grow our operations. Additionally, key personnel, including members of management, may leave and compete against us. At present, we do not have all the necessary personnel to carry out our business plans. If we are unable to hire and retain key personnel, our business will be materially adversely affected.
Our growth is highly dependent on the U.S. cannabis and hemp markets. New regulations causing licensing shortages and future regulations may create other limitations that decrease the demand for our products. General regulations at state and federal in the future may adversely impact our business.
The base of cannabis growers in the U.S. has grown over the past 20 years since the legalization of cannabis for medical uses in states such as California, Colorado and Washington. The U.S. cannabis market is still in its infancy and early adopter states such as California, Colorado and Washington represent a large portion of historical industry revenues. The U.S. cannabis cultivation market is expected to be one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. over the next five years. If the U.S. cannabis cultivation market does not grow as expected, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely impacted. The California cannabis cultivation market is expected to be one of the fastest growing industries in California over the next five years. If the California cannabis cultivation market does not grow as expected, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely impacted.
Cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law, with cannabis listed as a Schedule I substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (the “CSA”). Notwithstanding laws in various states permitting certain cannabis activities, all cannabis activities, including possession, distribution, processing and manufacturing of cannabis and investment in, and financial services or transactions involving proceeds of, or promoting such activities remain illegal under various U.S. federal criminal and civil laws and regulations, including the CSA, as well as laws and regulations of several states that have not legalized some or any cannabis activities to date. Compliance with applicable state laws regarding cannabis activities does not protect us from federal prosecution or other enforcement action, such as seizure or forfeiture remedies, nor does it provide any defense to such prosecution or action. Cannabis activities conducted in or related to conduct in multiple states may potentially face a higher level of scrutiny from federal authorities. Penalties for violating federal drug, conspiracy, aiding, abetting, bank fraud and/or money laundering laws may include prison, fines, and seizure/forfeiture of property used in connection with cannabis activities, including proceeds derived from such activities.
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We are not currently subject directly to any state laws or regulations controlling participants in the legal cannabis industry. However, regulation of the cannabis industry does impact our potential customers in the cultivation industry and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that changes in regulation of the industry and more rigorous enforcement by federal authorities will not have a material adverse effect on us.
Legislation and regulations pertaining to the use and cultivation of cannabis are enacted on both the state and federal government level within the United States. As a result, the laws governing the cultivation and use of cannabis may be subject to change. Any new laws and regulations limiting the use or cultivation of cannabis and any enforcement actions by state and federal governments could indirectly reduce demand for our products and may impact our current and planned future operations.
Evolving federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the use or cultivation of cannabis, as well active enforcement by federal or state authorities of the laws and regulations governing the use and cultivation of cannabis may indirectly and adversely affect our business, our revenues and our profits. Local, state and federal cannabis laws and regulations are broad in scope and subject to evolving interpretations, which could require the end users of certain of our products or us to incur substantial costs associated with compliance or to alter our respective business plans. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.
Certain of our products may be purchased for use for agricultural products other than cannabis and/or be subject to varying, inconsistent, and rapidly changing laws, regulations, administrative practices, enforcement approaches, judicial interpretations, future scientific research and public perception.
The public’s perception of cannabis may significantly impact the cannabis industry’s success. Both the medical and adult-use of cannabis are controversial topics, and there is no guarantee that future scientific research, publicity, regulations, medical opinion, and public opinion relating to cannabis will be favorable. The cannabis industry is an early-stage business that is constantly evolving with no guarantee of viability. Among other things, such a shift in public opinion could cause state jurisdictions to abandon initiatives or proposals to legalize cultivation and sale of cannabis or adopt new laws or regulations restricting or prohibiting the cultivation of cannabis where it is now legal, thereby limiting the potential customers who are engaged in the cannabis industry.
Demand for our products may be negatively impacted depending on how laws, regulations, administrative practices, enforcement approaches, judicial interpretations, and consumer perceptions develop. We cannot predict the nature of such developments or the effect, if any, that such developments could have on our business.
Our indirect involvement in the cannabis industry could affect the public’s perception of us and be detrimental to our reputation.
Damage to our reputation can be the result of the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, and could include any negative publicity, whether true or not. Cannabis has often been associated with various other narcotics, violence and criminal activities, the risk of which is that our retailers and resellers that transact with cannabis businesses might attract negative publicity. There is also risk that the action(s) of other participants, companies and service providers in the cannabis industry may negatively affect the reputation of the industry as a whole and thereby negatively impact our reputation. The increased use of social media and other web-based tools used to generate, publish and discuss user-generated content and to connect with other users has made it increasingly easier for individuals and groups to communicate and share opinions and views with regard to cannabis companies and their activities, whether true or not and the cannabis industry in general, whether true or not. We do not ultimately have direct control over how the cannabis industry and its suppliers is perceived by others. Reputation loss may result in decreased investor confidence, increased challenges in developing and maintaining community relations and an impediment to our overall ability to advance its business strategy and realize on its growth prospects, thereby having a material adverse impact on our business.
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Businesses involved in the cannabis industry, and investments in such businesses, are subject to a variety of laws and regulations related to money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds of crimes.
We sell our products through third party retailers and resellers. Investments in the U.S. cannabis industry are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds of crime, including the BSA, as amended by the Patriot Act, other anti-money laundering laws, and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the United States. In February 2014, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Treasury Department issued a memorandum (the “FinCEN Memo”) providing guidance to banks seeking to provide services to cannabis businesses. The FinCEN Memo outlines circumstances under which banks may provide services to cannabis businesses without risking prosecution for violation of U.S. federal money laundering laws. It refers to supplementary guidance that Deputy Attorney General Cole issued to U.S. federal prosecutors relating to the prosecution of U.S. money laundering offenses predicated on cannabis violations of the CSA and outlines extensive due diligence and reporting requirements, which most banks have viewed as onerous. The FinCEN Memo currently remains in place, but it is unclear at this time whether the current administration will continue to follow the guidelines of the FinCEN Memo. Such requirements could negatively affect the ability of certain of the end users of our products to establish and maintain banking connections.
We are subject to extensive anti-corruption laws and regulations.
The Company’s foreign operations, if and when established, must comply with all applicable laws, which may include the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the UK Bribery Act or other anti-corruption laws. These anti-corruption laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments or providing anything of value to improperly influence government officials or private individuals for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a business advantage regardless of whether those practices are legal or culturally expected in a particular jurisdiction. Recently, there has been a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws. Although the Company has a compliance program in place designed to reduce the likelihood of potential violations of such laws, violations of these laws could result in criminal or civil sanctions and have an adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, business and results of operations and financial condition.
Our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by pandemic infectious diseases, particularly the recent novel coronavirus strain known as COVID-19.
Pandemic infectious diseases, such as the current COVID-19 strains, may adversely impact our business, consolidated results of operations and financial condition. The global spread of COVID-19 has created significant volatility and uncertainty and economic disruption. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our business, operations and financial results will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict, including: the duration and scope of the pandemic; governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic; the impact of the pandemic on economic activity and actions taken in response; the effect on our customers and customer demand our services, products and solutions; our ability to sell and provide its services and solutions, including as a result of travel restrictions and people working from home; the ability of our customers to pay for our services and solutions; and any closures of our offices and the offices and facilities of our customers. COVID-19, as well as measures taken by governmental authorities to limit the spread of this virus, may interfere with the ability of our employees, suppliers, and other business providers to carry out their assigned tasks or supply materials or services at ordinary levels of performance relative to the requirements of our business, which may cause us to materially curtail certain of our business operations. We require additional funding and such funding may not be available to us as a result of contracting capital markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Any of these events could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or stock price.
Natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks or other health crises could disrupt business and result in lower sales and otherwise adversely affect our financial performance.
The occurrence of one or more natural disasters, climate change, pandemic outbreaks or other health crises (including but not limited to the COVID-19 outbreak), could adversely affect our business and financial performance. If any of these events result in the closure of one or more of our dispensaries, extended sick leave involving our personnel, or impact key suppliers, our operations and financial performance could be materially adversely affected through an inability to provide other support functions to our stores and through lost sales. These events also could affect consumer shopping patterns or prevent customers from reaching our dispensaries, which could lead to lost sales and higher markdowns, the temporary lack of an adequate work force in a market, the temporary or long-term disruption of product availability in our dispensaries and the temporary or long-term inability to obtain technology needed to effectively run our business.
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Our business may be impacted by geopolitical events, war, terrorism, and other related business interruptions.
War, terrorism, geopolitical uncertainties, and other related business interruptions have caused and could cause damage or disruption to international commerce and the global economy, and thus could have a material adverse effect on the Company, its suppliers, logistics providers, manufacturing vendors and customers. The Company’s business operations are subject to interruption by, among others, disasters, whether as a result of war, refugee crises, fire, power shortages, nuclear power plant accidents and other industrial accidents, terrorist attacks and other hostile acts, labor disputes, and other events beyond its control. Such events could decrease demand for the Company’s products, make it difficult or impossible for the Company to develop, prototype, make and deliver products to its customers or to receive components from its suppliers, and create delays and inefficiencies in the Company’s supply chain. While the Company’s suppliers are expected to maintain safe working environments and operations, an industrial accident could occur and could result in disruption to the Company’s business and harm to the Company’s reputation. In any event of business interruption, the Company could incur significant losses, require substantial recovery time and experience significant expenditures in order to resume operations.
Security breaches and other disruptions to our information technology infrastructure could interfere with our operations and could compromise the Company’s and its customers’ and suppliers’ information, exposing us to liability that would cause the Company’s business and reputation to suffer.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company relies upon information technology networks and systems, some of which are managed by third parties, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes and activities, including supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, invoicing and collection of payments from intermediaries or other purchasers or lessees of our equipment. We use information technology systems to record, process and summarize financial information and results of operations for internal reporting purposes and to comply with regulatory financial reporting, legal and tax requirements. Additionally, we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, proprietary business information and the proprietary business information of the Company’s customers and suppliers, as well as personally identifiable information of our customers and employees, in third party data centers, “cloud” providers and on information technology networks. The secure operation of these information technology networks, and the processing and maintenance of this information is critical to the Company’s business operations and strategy. Such third parties, as well as the Company’s information technology networks, cloud and infrastructure may be vulnerable to damage, disruptions or shutdowns due to attacks by hackers or breaches due to employee error or malfeasance or other disruptions during the process of upgrading or replacing computer software or hardware, power outages, computer viruses, telecommunication or utility failures or natural disasters or other catastrophic events. The occurrence of any of these events could compromise the respective storage networks, data centers or cloud, and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information, disrupt operations, and damage our reputation, which could adversely affect the Company’s business.
Our suppliers, contract manufacturers and customers are subject to and affected by increasingly rigorous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations of federal, state and local authorities in the U.S. and various regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Company’s operations. In addition, private civil litigation on these subjects has increased, primarily in the U.S.
Enforcement actions arising from violations of environmental, health and safety laws or regulations can lead to investigation and defense costs, and result in significant fines or penalties. In addition, new or more stringent requirements of governmental authorities could prevent or restrict the Company’s operations, or those of our suppliers and customers, require significant expenditures to achieve compliance and/or give rise to civil or criminal liability. There can be no assurance that violations of such legislation and/or regulations, or private civil claims for damages to property or personal injury arising from the environmental, health or safety impacts of our operations, or those of our suppliers and customers, would not have consequences that result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Increasingly stringent engine emission standards could impact our ability to manufacture and distribute certain equipment, which could negatively affect business results.
The Company’s equipment operations must meet increasingly stringent engine emission reduction standards, including USEPA, Interim Tier 4/Stage IIIb and Final Tier 4/Stage IV non-road diesel emission requirements in the U.S. and European Union.
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We may incur increased costs due to new or more stringent greenhouse gas emission standards designed to address climate change and could be further impacted by physical effects attributed to climate change on its facilities, suppliers and customers.
There is a growing political and scientific consensus that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) continue to alter the composition of Earth’s atmosphere in ways that are affecting and are expected to continue to affect the global climate. These considerations may lead to international, national, regional or local legislative or regulatory responses in the future. Various stakeholders, including legislators and regulators, shareholders and non-governmental organizations, as well as companies in many business sectors, including the Company, are considering ways to reduce GHG emissions. The regulation of GHG emissions from certain stationary or mobile sources could result in additional costs to the Company or its suppliers in the form of taxes or emission allowances, facilities improvements and energy costs, which would increase our operating costs through higher contract manufacturing, utility, transportation and materials costs. Increased input costs and compliance-related costs could also impact customer operations and demand for our equipment. Because the impact of any future GHG legislative, regulatory or product standard requirements on our businesses and products is dependent on the timing and design of mandates or standards, the Company is unable to predict its potential impact at this time.
Furthermore, the potential physical impacts of climate change on our suppliers and customers and therefore on our operations are highly uncertain and will be particular to the circumstances developing in various geographical regions. These may include long-term changes in temperature levels and water availability. These potential physical effects may adversely impact the demand for the Company’s products and the cost, production, sales and financial performance of the Company’s operations.
Our business increasingly is subject to regulations relating to privacy and data protection, and if we violate any of those regulations, we could be subject to significant claims, penalties and damages.
Increasingly, the United States, the European Union and other governmental entities are imposing regulations designed to protect the collection, maintenance and transfer of personal information. For example, the European Union adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) that imposes stringent data protection requirements and greater penalties for non-compliance beginning in May 2018. The GDPR also protects a broader set of personal information than traditionally has been protected in the United States and provides for a right of “erasure.” Other regulations govern the collection and transfer of financial data and data security generally. These regulations generally impose penalties in the event of violations. While we attempt to comply with all applicable cybersecurity regulations, their implementation is complex, and, if we are not successful, we may be subject to penalties and claims for damages from regulators and the impacted individuals.
Risks Relating to Our Intellectual Property
Recent laws make it difficult to predict how patents will be issued or enforced in our industry.
Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may have a significant impact on our ability to protect our technology and enforce our intellectual property rights. There have been numerous recent changes to the patent laws and to the rules of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”), which may have a significant impact on our ability to protect our technology and enforce our intellectual property rights. For example, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, which was signed into law in 2011, includes a transition from a “first-to-invent” system to a “first-to-file” system, and changes the way issued patents can be challenged. Certain changes, such as the institution of inter partes review and post-grant and derivation proceedings, came into effect in 2012. Substantive changes to patent law associated with the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act may affect our ability to obtain patents, and, if obtained, to enforce or defend them in litigation or inter partes review, or post-grant or derivation proceedings, all of which could harm our business.
We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to our business.
Our ability to compete effectively depends in part on our rights to trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights we own. We have not sought to register every one of our intellectual properties either in the United States or in every country in which such intellectual property may be used. Furthermore, because of the differences in foreign trademark, patent and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws, we may not receive the same protection in other countries as we would in the United States with respect to the registered brand names and issued patents we hold. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, proprietary information and/or brand names, we could suffer a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary information, or to defend against claims by third parties that our products or services infringe their intellectual property rights. Any litigation or claims brought by or against us could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources. A successful claim of trademark, patent or other intellectual property infringement against us, or any other successful challenge to the use of our intellectual property, could subject us to damages or prevent us from providing certain products or services, or using certain of our recognized brand names, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submissions, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for noncompliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance or annuity fees on any issued patents are due to be paid to the USPTO, and/or foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of the patent. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payments and other similar provisions during the patent application process. While an inadvertent or unintentional lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, nonpayment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. If we or our licensors fail to maintain the patents and patent applications covering our products, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
From time to time, we may need to rely on licenses to proprietary technologies, which may be difficult or expensive to obtain or we may lose certain licenses which may be difficult to replace, harming our competitive position.
We may need to obtain licenses to patents and other proprietary rights held by third parties to develop, manufacture and market our products, if, for example, we sought to develop our products, in conjunction with any patented technology. If we are unable to timely obtain these licenses on commercially reasonable terms and maintain these licenses, our ability to commercially market our products, may be inhibited or prevented, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
In spite of our best efforts, our licensors might conclude that we have materially breached our license agreements and might therefore terminate the license agreements, thereby removing our ability to develop and commercialize products and technology covered by these license agreements. If these in-licenses are terminated, or if the underlying patents fail to provide the intended exclusivity, competitors may have the freedom to market products identical to ours.
Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.
Our success depends upon our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell our products, and to use our proprietary technologies without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. We may become party to, or threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our products and technology, including interference or derivation proceedings and various other post-grant proceedings before the USPTO and/or non-United States opposition proceedings. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. As a result of any such infringement claims, or to avoid potential claims, we may choose or be compelled to seek intellectual property licenses from third parties. These licenses may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Even if we are able to obtain a license, the license would likely obligate us to pay license fees, royalties, minimum royalties and/or milestone payments and the rights granted to us could be nonexclusive, which would mean that our competitors may be able to obtain licenses to the same intellectual property. Ultimately, we could be prevented from commercializing a product and/or technology or be forced to cease some aspect of our business operations if, as a result of actual or threatened infringement claims, we are unable to enter into licenses of the relevant intellectual property on acceptable terms. Further, if we attempt to modify a product and/or technology or to develop alternative methods or products in response to infringement claims or to avoid potential claims, we could incur substantial costs, encounter delays in product introductions or interruptions in sales.
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Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats to our competitive advantage.
The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations, and may not adequately protect our business, or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. The following examples are illustrative:
| ● | Others may be able to construct products that are similar to our products but that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we own or have exclusively licensed; |
| ● | We or our licensors or strategic collaborators, if any, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we own or have exclusively licensed; |
| ● | We or our licensors or strategic collaborators, if any, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our inventions; |
| ● | Others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our intellectual property rights; |
| ● | It is possible that our pending patent applications will not lead to issued patents; |
| ● | Issued patents that we own or have exclusively licensed may not provide us with any competitive advantages, or may be held invalid or unenforceable, as a result of legal challenges by our competitors; |
| ● | Our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets; |
| ● | We may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable; and |
| ● | The patents of others may have an adverse effect on our business. |
Should any of these events occur, they could significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
We may be subject to claims that our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their former employers.
Although we try to ensure that our employees do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these employees have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such employee’s former employer. We are not aware of any threatened or pending claims related to these matters or concerning agreements with our employees, but in the future litigation may be necessary to defend against such claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
Intellectual property disputes could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.
Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the value of our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.
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Risks Related to the Common Shares
The Company’s Common Share price may be volatile and as a result investor could lose all or part of their investment.
In addition to volatility associated with equity securities in general, the value of an investor’s investment could decline due to the impact of any of the following factors upon the market price of the Common Shares:
| ● | disappointing results from the Company’s operations or financing activities; |
| ● | decline in demand for its Common Shares; |
| ● | downward revisions in securities analysts’ estimates or changes in general market conditions; |
| ● | technological innovations by competitors or in competing technologies; |
| ● | investor perception of the Company’s industry or its prospects; and |
| ● | general economic trends. |
Our Common Share price on the OTCQB has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. Stock markets in general have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, and the market prices of securities have been highly volatile. These fluctuations are often unrelated to operating performance and may adversely affect the market price of the Common Shares. As a result, an investor may be unable to sell any Common Shares such investor acquires at a desired price.
Potential future sales under Rule 144 may depress the market price for our Common Shares.
In general, under Rule 144, a person who has satisfied a minimum holding period of between 6 months and one-year and any other applicable requirements of Rule 144, may thereafter sell such shares publicly. A significant number of the Company’s currently issued and outstanding Common Shares held by existing shareholders, including officers and directors and other principal shareholders, are currently eligible for resale pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144. The possible future sale of the Company’s Common Shares by its existing shareholders, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144, may have a depressive effect on the price of its Common Shares in the over-the-counter market.
The Company’s Common Shares currently deemed a “penny stock”, which may make it more difficult for investors to sell their Common Shares.
The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price less than $5.00 per Common Share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per Common Share, subject to certain exceptions. The Company’s s securities are covered by the penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors”. The term “accredited investor” refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000, exclusive of their principal residence, or annual income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly with their spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the SEC which provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade its securities. The Company believes that the penny stock rules may discourage investor interest in and limit the marketability of its Common Shares.
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The Company has never paid dividends on its Common Shares.
The Company has not paid dividends on its Common Shares to date, and it does not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. The Company intends to retain its initial earnings, if any, to finance its operations. Any future dividends on Common Shares will depend upon the Company’s earnings, its then-existing financial requirements, and other factors, and will be at the discretion of the Board.
FINRA has adopted sales practice requirements, which may also limit an investor’s ability to buy and sell the Company’s Common Shares.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy the Company’s Common Shares, which may limit an investor’s ability to buy and sell its stock and have an adverse effect on the market for the Common Shares.
Investors’ interests in the Company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share of Common Shares if we issue additional employee/director/consultant options or if we sell additional Common Shares and/or warrants to finance its operations.
In order to further expand the Company’s operations and meet its objectives, any additional growth and/or expanded business activity will likely need to be financed through sale of and issuance of additional Common Shares. The Company will also in the future grant to some or all of its directors, officers, and key employees and/or consultants options to purchase Common Shares as non-cash incentives. The issuance of any equity securities could, and the issuance of any additional Common Shares will, cause the Company’s existing shareholders to experience dilution of their ownership interests.
If the Company issues additional Common Shares or decides to enter into joint ventures with other parties in order to raise financing through the sale of equity securities, investors’ interests in the Company will be diluted and investors may suffer dilution in their net book value per share of Common Shares depending on the price at which such securities are sold.
The issuance of additional shares of Common Shares may negatively impact the trading price of the Company’s securities.
We have issued Common Shares in the past and will continue to issue Common Shares to finance our activities in the future. In addition, newly issued or outstanding options and warrants to purchase Common Shares may be exercised, resulting in the issuance of additional Common Shares. Any such issuance of additional Common Shares would result in dilution to the Company’s shareholders, and even the perception that such an issuance may occur could have a negative impact on the trading price of the Common Shares.
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The issuance of a large number of shares of our Common Stock could significantly dilute existing stockholders and negatively impact the market price of our Common Stock.
On January 6, 2021, the Company entered into an Equity Purchase Agreement, with Peak One providing that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Peak One is committed to purchase, on an unconditional basis, shares of Common Stock (“Put Shares”) at an aggregate price of up to $10 million over the course of the commitment period. Pursuant to the terms of the equity purchase agreement, the purchase price for each of the Put Shares equals 89% of the Market Price on such date on which the Purchase Price is calculated. The Market Price is defined in the EPA as the lesser of the (i) closing bid price of the Common Stock on the Principal Market on the Trading Day immediately preceding the respective Put Date, or (ii) the lowest closing bid price of the Common Shares on the Principal Market for any Trading Day during the Valuation Period. The Valuation Period is defined as the period of seven (7) Trading Days immediately following the Clearing Date associated with the applicable Put Notice. The Valuation Period begins on the first Trading Day following the Clearing Date. As a result, if we sell shares of Common Stock under the equity purchase agreement, we will be issuing Common Stock at below market prices, which could cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline, and if such issuances are significant in number, the amount of the decline in our market price could also be significant. In general, we are unlikely to sell shares of Common Stock under the equity purchase agreement at a time when the additional dilution to stockholders would be substantial unless we are unable to obtain capital to meet our financial obligations from other sources on better terms at such time. However, if we do, the dilution that could result from such issuances could have a material adverse impact on existing stockholders and could cause the price of our common stock to fall rapidly based on the amount of such dilution.
The Selling Securityholders may sell a large number of shares, resulting in substantial diminution to the value of shares held by existing stockholders.
Pursuant to the Equity Purchase Agreement, we are prohibited from delivering a Put Notice to Peak One to the extent that the issuance of shares would cause the Selling Securityholders to beneficially own more than 4.99% of our then-outstanding shares of common stock; provided, however, the Selling Securityholders in their sole discretion can waive this ownership limitation up to 9.99% of our then-outstanding shares of Common Stock. These restrictions however, do not prevent the Selling Stockholder from selling shares of Common Stock received in connection with the Equity Line and then receiving additional shares of Common Stock in connection with a subsequent issuance. In this way, the Selling Securityholders could sell more than 4.99% (or 9.99% if 4.99% ownership limitation is waived) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a relatively short time frame while never holding more than 4.99% (or 9.99% if 4.99% ownership limitation is waived) at any one time. As a result, existing stockholders and new investors could experience substantial diminution in the value of their shares of Common Stock. Additionally, we do not have the right to control the timing and amount of any sales by the Selling Securityholders of the shares issued under the Equity Line.
The Company faces risks related to compliance with corporate governance laws and financial reporting standards.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as related new rules and regulations implemented by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, require changes in the corporate governance practices and financial reporting standards for public companies. These laws, rules and regulations, including compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 relating to internal control over financial reporting, referred to as Section 404, materially increase the Company’s legal and financial compliance costs and make certain activities more time-consuming and burdensome.
Cautionary Note
We have sought to identify what we believe to be the most significant risks to our business, but we cannot predict whether, or to what extent, any of such risks may be realized nor can we guarantee that we have identified all possible risks that might arise. Investors should carefully consider all of such risk factors before making an investment decision with respect to our common stock.
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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for statements of historical facts, this Prospectus contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions or variations thereof are intended to forward looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Registrant with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors (including the risks contained in the section of this registration statement on Form S-1 entitled “Risk Factors”) relating to the Registrant’s industry, the Registrant’s operations and results of operations and any businesses that may be acquired by the Registrant. 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.
Although the Registrant believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Registrant cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the Registrant does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Registrant’s financial statements and the related notes included in this registration statement on Form S-1.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
This Prospectus relates to the sale or other disposition of Common Shares by the selling shareholders listed in the “Selling shareholders and Certain Beneficial Owners” section below, and their transferees. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of the Common Shares by the selling shareholders. We will receive the exercise price of the warrants, unless exercise is done using a non-cash exercise option. Any proceeds received from exercise of warrants will be used for payment of general corporate and operating expenses.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Special Note of Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this report, including statements in the following discussion, are what are known as “forward looking statements”, which are basically statements about the future. For that reason, these statements involve risk and uncertainty since no one can accurately predict the future. Words such as “plans,” “intends,” “will,” “hopes,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “expects “and the like often identify such forward looking statements, but are not the only indication that a statement is a forward-looking statement. Such forward looking statements include statements concerning our plans and objectives with respect to the present and future operations of the Company, and statements which express or imply that such present and future operations will or may produce revenues, income or profits. Numerous factors and future events could cause the Company to change such plans and objectives or fail to successfully implement such plans or achieve such objectives, or cause such present and future operations to fail to produce revenues, income or profits. Therefore, the reader is advised that the following discussion should be considered in light of the discussion of risks and other factors contained in this Prospectus and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No statements contained in the following discussion should be construed as a guarantee or assurance of future performance or future results.
Background and Overview
Results of Operations
Comparison of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020
Revenue
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company generated no revenues as compared to $781,455 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020; a decrease of $781,455 or approximately 100%.
Expenses
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported total operating expenses of $7,991,827 as compared to $6,572,017 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020; an increase of $1,419,810 or approximately 22%.
Net Loss
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Company reported a net loss of $12,859,643 as compared to $11,815,907 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020; an increase of $1,043,736 or approximately 9%.
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021
Revenue
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company generated no revenues.
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Expenses
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company reported total operating expenses of $2,127,790 as compared to $995,704 during the three months ended March 31, 2021; an increase of $1,132,086 or approximately 114%.
Net Loss
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company reported a net loss of $2,152,305 as compared to $1,046,927 during the three months ended March 31, 2021; an increase of $1,105,378 or approximately 106%.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
After completion of a $10.3 million private placement in November 2021 and the conversion of $4.9 million of convertible debt to common shares, the Company has sufficient resources to meets its existing obligations for a period of at least twelve months, and likewise sufficient resources to implement its new business plan arising from the acquisition of the assets of Cryocann USA Corp.
Current Assets and Total Assets
As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s balance sheet reflects that the Company had: i) total current assets of $3,667,453, compared to total current assets of $8,211,061 at March 31, 2021 - a decrease of $4,543,608 or approximately 55%; and ii) total assets of $13,326,693, compared to total assets of $8,211,061 at March 31, 2021 – an increase of $5,115,632 or approximately 62%. The increase in total assets was predominantly due to the assets acquired in the Cryocann acquisition and a note receivable from the sale of the Company’s discontinued operations.
Current Liabilities and Total Liabilities
As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s balance sheet reflects that the Company had: i) total current liabilities of $1,364,905, compared to total current liabilities of $4,693,618 at March 31, 2021 - an decrease of $3,328,713 or approximately 71%; and ii) total liabilities of $1,573,238, compared to total liabilities of $4,791,877 at March 31, 2021 – a decrease of $3,218,639 or approximately 67%. The decrease in current and total liabilities was predominantly due to the disposal of the Company’s discontinued operations.
Cash Flow
For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had net cash used in operating activities of $1,631,300 and $466,223, respectively.
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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a smaller reporting company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to provide the information required by this item.
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DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors and executive officers and their respective ages, positions, and biographical information are set forth below.
| Name | Position | Age | ||
| Christian Noël | Chief Executive Officer & Director | 45 | ||
| Philip Mullin | Chief Financial Officer | 68 | ||
| Patricia Kovacevic | General Counsel, Corporate Secretary | 51 | ||
| Dr. Delon Human | Chairman of the Board | 59 | ||
| Mario Gobbo | Director | 68 | ||
| Mark Radke | Director | 67 | ||
| Simon Langelier | Director | 64 |
Christian Noël, Chief Executive Officer & Director
Christian Noel is a trusted investor and business strategist, who has held senior positions in financial and investment organizations in Montreal, Canada, for the last 21 years. During his career, he has acquired extensive experience in risk management, tax planning, investment banking, and financial strategy design and execution.
In 2005 he joined Richardson GMP as Vice-President and Partner. Richardson GMP is a non-bank organization that specializes in portfolio management for high-net-worth individuals and families.
In 2014 Christian was admitted as a portfolio manager of GVC Ltd, a boutique wealth management firm based in Montreal, and was subsequently named Partner. At GVC, he developed a deep understanding of the nascent cannabis industry, building a team to analyze investment opportunities in all facets of the cannabis value chain, thereby providing clients with a superior range of services.
Christian expertise spans many different industries and has performed numerous due diligence activities over the last 20 years. He specializes in small and mid-cap companies as well as sophisticated alternative investment strategies. Christian is fluent in English and French and possesses a vast network of relationships in North American, European, and other regional capital markets.
Philip Mullin, Chief Financial Officer
Philip Mullin has 30 years’ experience as CFO, COO, and in consulting and turnarounds for businesses with revenues of less than $100 million and has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since June, 20219. Mr. Mullin was previously managing director of Somerset Associates LLC, a CFO, accounting, tax and financial consulting company, and served until recently on the board of CanaQuest Medical Corp. Since 2009, he has operated primarily in consulting and interim CFO roles in multiple sectors including fintech, blockchain, drones, recycling, medical marijuana, and electrical power generation. From 2003-09, Mr. Mullin was a partner of Tatum Partners, a human capital firm engaged in providing CFO services. Within Tatum, Mr. Mullin served in numerous leadership roles: from 2006-09, as CFO of Zi Corporation, a leading software development company specializing in mobile phones, which was sold in April 2009 to Nuance Communications; from 2003-06, as interim CFO of Homax Products, Vice President Finance of Yakima Products, and as a consultant in several engagements in industrial construction, manufacturing and air transportation. From 2001-03, he served as turnaround consultant to companies in the telecom sector during the critical post-9/11 timeframe; from 1995-2001, he was engaged in various C-level capacities in a public entity that was restructured and eventually became International DisplayWorks, a manufacturer of LCD displays based in Rocklin, California with operations in Shenzhen, China, which was later sold to Flextronics.
Mr. Mullin began his career in banking in 1982 after completing his MBA from University of Western Ontario Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario, Canada and BA in Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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Patricia Kovacevic, General Counsel & Head of External Affairs
An experienced legal and compliance department leader, Patricia I. Kovacevic’s career comprises leading senior legal and regulatory positions with FDA-regulated multinationals, including Philip Morris International and Lorillard, as well as partner roles with large law firms.
Her expertise includes corporate law, compliance, M&A, US and global food, drug, nicotine and consumer goods regulation, cannabis/CBD regulation, external affairs and the legal framework applicable to marketing, media communications, investigations, FCPA, trade sanctions, privacy, intellectual property, product development and launch. She also led cross-disciplinary teams engaged in scientific research efforts. She has served on various trade association bodies and conference advisory boards. Ms. Kovacevic authored several articles on nicotine regulation, co-authored an academic treatise, “The Regulation of E-Cigarettes” and is often invited as a keynote speaker or panelist before global conferences and government agencies public hearings.
Patricia Kovacevic is an attorney admitted to practice in New York, before the U.S. Tax Court, before the U.S. Court of International Trade and before the Supreme Court of the United States. She holds a Juris Doctor (Doctor of Law) degree from Columbia Law School in New York and completed the Harvard Business School “Corporate Leader” executive education program. Ms. Kovacevic speaks several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Croatian.
Dr. Delon Human, Chairman of the Board
Dr. Delon Human, M.B.Ch.B., M.Prax.Med, MFGP, DCH, MBA serves as President of the Board of Directors of Cryomass Technologies Inc
He is an experienced global business leader, published author and health & technology consultant. He serves as President of Health Diplomats, a specialized health, technology and nutrition consulting group, operating worldwide. Health Diplomats clients include Fortune 500 companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Nestlé, McDonald’s, Nicoventures, BAT, ABInBev, foundations such as the IKEA Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, PepsiCo Foundation; governments such as Ireland, South Africa, Kuwait and Taiwan and NGOs such as the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA).
From 2016 to 2020, he served as Director (Vice-Chairman) of the Board of Pharmacielo, a biopharmaceutical health & wellness company, from its early phase, to its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Since August 2019, he has also served on the board of Redwood Green Corporation (now called Cryomass Technologies Inc), from December 2019 as Chairman of the Board. This company is listed on the USA OTCQB stock exchange. In addition, he serves on the board of the Fio Corporation, a big data and medical diagnostics company.
He has acted as adviser to three WHO Directors-General and to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. Up to 2014 he served as Secretary-General and Special Envoy to WHO / UN of the International Food and Beverage Alliance, a group of leading food and non-alcoholic beverage companies with a global presence (including Unilever, Nestlé, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Ferrero, Mars, General Mills, Mondeléz and the Bel Group). He serves on the Board of Directors / Advisory Boards of selected health, wellness and medical diagnostics companies.
Up to 2005, Dr. Human served as secretary general of the World Medical Association (WMA), the global representative body for physicians. He was instrumental in the establishment of the World Health Professions Alliance, an alliance of the global representative bodies of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and physical therapists. During 2006 he was elected to serve as the secretary-general of the Africa Medical Association (AfMA). He is a fellow of the Russian and Romanian Academies of Medical Sciences. He is a published author, international lecturer and health care consultant specializing in global health strategy, corporate and product transformation, harm reduction, access to healthcare and health communication. He authored the book “Wise Nicotine” in 2009, in which the preferred future for tobacco harm reduction and the emergence of next generation nicotine products was described. Editor of the book “Caring Physicians of the World”, a project in collaboration with Pfizer Inc.
He was a clinician for two decades, part of the pediatric endocrinology research and diabetes unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital and was involved in the establishment of several medical centers, a hospital and emergency clinic in South Africa.
Dr. Human qualified as a physician in South Africa and completed his postgraduate studies in family medicine and child health in South Africa and Oxford, England. His business studies (MBA) were completed at the Edinburgh Business School.
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Mario Gobbo, Director
Mario Gobbo has 35 years of banking and corporate finance experience in healthcare and energy. His expertise encompasses venture capital and private equity as well as investment banking and strategic advisory services. Mr. Gobbo currently serves as acting CFO of Xcovery, a cancer-based biotech company and on the Supervisory Board and is Chair of Cinkarna Celje, a fine chemicals for paints (titanium dioxide) company in Celje, Slovenia. Until recently, he was on the board of Zavarovalnica Triglav, the largest Slovene insurance company spearheading healthcare insurance in Central Europe and was Chairman of the Board and is Chair of the Audit Committee of Helix BioPharma, a Toronto-listed biotech company developing interesting novel complex biomolecules to combat various cancers. As an executive director, he was also on the board of Lazard Brothers, London.
While Managing Director for Health Care Capital Markets and Advisory with Natixis Bleichroeder in New York, from 2006 to 2009, he secured transactions for the bank’s M&A and equity capital markets pharmaceuticals and life sciences group. He obtained mandates for several IPOs and follow-on transactions on NASDAQ, as well as advisory assignments for health care and medical devices companies. When with the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank Group institution dealing with private sector investments, the team he led completed several highly successful equity and loan investments in biotech and generic pharmaceutical companies and funds in India, Latin America, China and Central Europe. From 1993 to 2001, he was with Lazard in London, where he created and managed their Central and Eastern European operations, including Turkey. Mr. Gobbo advised on M&A, fundraising and privatization efforts for several key firms in the region.
Mario Gobbo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organic Chemistry from Harvard College, a Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado and an MBA, a Master of Business Economics and a PhD (Management) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mark Radke, Director
Mark Radke is a lawyer with a distinguished career in the area of financial services, specializing in federal securities regulation. As the Chief of Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Chairman Harvey Pitt, he was responsible for that agency’s rulemaking in response to the Sarbanes Oxley Act. In private practice, as partner at several multinational law firms, he has represented corporations, brokerage and accounting firms, hedge funds and individuals on corporate governance, compliance, and regulatory issues involving not only the SEC but other federal and state regulators.
He was active in advising clients on legislative initiatives that lead to the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, and in subsequent efforts to extend, implement or amend various components of that and other federal securities legislation.
As an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, he has taught classes in aspects of securities regulation since 1999. He holds a B.A., University of Washington, J.D., University of Baltimore, LI.M., Securities Regulation, Georgetown University Law Center.
Simon Langelier, Director
Simon Langelier is currently a director of Imperial Brands PLC, a British multinational company with a comprehensive portfolio of traditional and non-combustible tobacco and nicotine products.
Previously, in his 30-year career with Philip Morris International, Simon Langelier served in several senior positions, including President Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, President Eastern Asia and President of Next Generation Products & Adjacent Businesses. He was also Managing Director in numerous countries in Europe and Colombia.
Mr. Langelier is currently an Honorary Professorial Fellow at Lancaster University in the U.K, a member of the Dean’s Council of that university’s Management School and a BSc Management Sciences graduate from the same institution.
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Information Concerning the Board of Directors and Certain Committees
The Board of Directors currently consists of five directors, four of whom the Board of Directors has determined are independent within the meaning of the rules of the OTCQB, which the Company has adopted as its definition of independence in the Audit Committee Charter. The Board of Directors held four regularly scheduled meetings during the 2021 fiscal year, and two special meetings during the 2021 fiscal year. Each of the directors attended all meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which they served during the 2021 fiscal year. The Board of Directors does not have a formal policy governing director attendance at its annual meeting of stockholders.
The standing committees of the Board of Directors are the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each of which was formed in 2019.
Audit Committee. The purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee (i) the integrity of our financial statements and disclosures, (ii) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (iii) the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditing firm (the “External Auditor”), (iv) the performance of our External Auditors, (v) our internal control systems, and (vi) our procedures for monitoring compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
The Audit Committee held four formal meetings during fiscal year 2021. The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Gobbo (Chair) and Radke.
The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee meets the independence standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the independence standards set forth in the rules of the OTCQB. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Gobbo qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Exchange Act.
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter that is reviewed annually. Under the charter, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm.
Our Audit Committee meets on a regular basis, at least quarterly and more frequently as necessary. Our Audit Committee’s primary function is to assist our Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing the financial information to be provided to stockholders and others, reviewing our system of internal controls, which management has established, overseeing the audit and financial reporting process, including the preapproval of services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, and overseeing certain areas of risk management.
Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews the compensation strategy of the Company and consults with the Chief Executive Officer, as needed, regarding the role of our compensation strategy in achieving our objectives and performance goals and the long-term interests of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee has direct responsibility for approving the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and makes recommendations to the Board with respect to our other executive officers. The term “executive officer” has the same meaning specified for the term “officer” in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act.
Our Chief Executive Officer sets the compensation of anyone whose compensation is not set by the Board and reports to the Board regarding the basis for any such compensation if requested by it.
The Compensation Committee may retain compensation consultants, outside counsel and other advisors as the Board deems appropriate to assist it in discharging its duties.
The Compensation Committee held one formal meeting during fiscal year 2021. The members of the Compensation Committee are Dr. Human (Chair), and Mr. Langelier.
The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter that is reviewed annually.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies and recommends to the Board individuals qualified to be nominated for election to the Board and recommends to the Board the members and Chairperson for each Board committee.
In addition to stockholders’ general nominating rights provided in our Bylaws, stockholders may recommend director candidates for consideration by the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders if the recommendations are sent to the Board in accordance with the procedures in the bylaws. All director nominations submitted by stockholders to the Board for its consideration must include all of the required information set forth in our Bylaws.
Director Qualifications. In selecting nominees for director, without regard to the source of the recommendation, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that each director nominee should be evaluated based on his or her individual merits, taking into account the needs of the Company and the composition of the Board. Members of the Board should have the highest professional and personal ethics, consistent with our values and standards and Code of Ethics. At a minimum, a nominee must possess integrity, skill, leadership ability, financial sophistication, and capacity to help guide us. Nominees should be committed to enhancing stockholder value and should have sufficient time to carry out their duties and to provide insight and practical wisdom based on their experiences. Their service on other boards of public companies should be limited to a number that permits them, given their individual circumstances, to responsibly perform all director duties. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and the requirements of any exchange upon which our common stock is listed or to which it may apply in the foreseeable future.
Evaluation of Director Nominees. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will typically employ a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly assesses the appropriate size of the Board and whether any vacancies on the Board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider various potential candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee through current directors, stockholders, or other companies or persons. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not evaluate director candidates recommended by stockholders differently than director candidates recommended by other sources. Director candidates may be evaluated at regular or special meetings of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and may be considered at any point during the year.
We do not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, but the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee strives to nominate directors with a variety of complementary skills so that, as a group, the Board will possess the appropriate talent, skills, and expertise to oversee our businesses. In evaluating director nominations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee seeks to achieve a balance of knowledge, experience, and capability on the Board. In connection with this evaluation, the Audit and Executive Oversight Committee will make a determination of whether to interview a prospective nominee based upon the Board’s level of interest. If warranted, one or more members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and others as appropriate, will interview prospective nominees in person or by telephone. After completing this evaluation and any appropriate interviews, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend the director nominees after consideration of all its directors’ input. The director nominees are then selected by a majority of the independent directors on the Board, meeting in executive session and considering the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendations.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee did not hold any meetings during the fiscal year 2021. The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Radke (Chair) and Mr. Langelier.
The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets the independence standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the independence standards set forth in the New York Stock Exchange.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter that is reviewed annually.
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Stockholder and Interested Party Communications with Directors
We provide the opportunity for our stockholders and other interested parties to communicate with any member, or all members, of our Board of Directors by mail. To communicate with our Board of Directors, correspondence should be addressed to our Board of Directors or any one or more individual directors or group or committee of directors by either name or title. All such correspondence should be sent to the following address:
The Board of Directors of Cryomass Technologies Inc
c/o Dr. Delon Human, Chairman of the Board
1001 Bannock Street, Suite 612, Denver, CO 80204
All communications received as described above will be opened by our Secretary for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents constitute a communication to our directors. Any contents that are not in the nature of advertising, promotions of a product or service, or patently offensive material will be forwarded promptly to the director or directors to whom it is addressed. In the case of communications to our Board of Directors or to any group of directors, our Secretary will make sufficient copies of the contents to send to each addressee.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors, executive officers and persons who beneficially own 10% or more of a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership with the SEC. Directors, executive officers and greater than 10% stockholders are required by the rules and regulations of the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all reports filed by them in compliance with Section 16(a).
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Company and its officers, directors and 10% shareholders (“Reporting Persons”) were not subject to the insider trading reports under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). On March 23, 2020 the Company became a reporting company under the Exchange Act and from that date Reporting Persons will be responsible for such filings. At time of filing, all such reports that should have been filed have been filed.
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all employees including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. Our Code of Ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing and promote: (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in our other public communications; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and (v) accountability for adherence to the code. Our Code of Ethics is available on our website at cryomass.com.
Legal Proceedings
We know of no material, existing or pending legal proceedings against us, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial shareholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our company.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
None of our directors, executive officers, promoters or control persons has been involved in any events requiring disclosure under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K, except as follows:
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, all compensation paid, distributed or earned for services, including salary and bonus amounts, rendered in all capacities by the Company’s named executive officers during the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The information contained below represents compensation earned by the Company’s officers for their work related to the Company:
| Name and Position | Year | Salary ($) | Share-based awards ($) | Option-based
awards ($) | Total compensation ($) | ||||||||||||||
| Christian Noel, Chief Executive Officer | 2021 2020 | 240,000 - | 981,000 - | - - | 1,221,000 - | ||||||||||||||
| Christopher Hansen, Chief Executive Officer | 2021 2020 | 75,000 155,500 | 70,000 201,040 | - - | 145,000 356,540 | ||||||||||||||
| Michael Saxon, Chief Executive Officer | 2021 2020 | - 456,800 | - - | - - | - 456,800 | ||||||||||||||
| Philip Mullin, Chief Financial Officer | 2021 2020 | 264,000 240,000 | 54,000 82,559 | - 317,447 | 318,000 640,006 | ||||||||||||||
| Patricia Kovacevic, General Counsel & Head of External Affairs | 2021 2020 | 230,083 159,600 | 13,500 17,800 | 258,003 - | 501,586 177,400 | ||||||||||||||
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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END
The following table provides information regarding the incentive plan awards for each named executive officer outstanding as of December 31, 2021:
Outstanding Share Awards and Option Awards as of December 31, 2021
| Option-based Awards(1) | Share-based Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
| Name and Position | Number
of securities underlying unexercised options (#) | Option exercise price ($) | Value
of | Number
of shares or units of shares that have not vested | Market
or payout value of share awards that have not vested | |||||||||||||||
| Christian Noel, Chief Executive Officer | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| Christopher Hansen, Chief Executive Officer | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| Philip Mullin, Chief Financial Officer | 2,000,000 | 0.16 | 220,000 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Patricia Kovacevic, General Counsel & Head of External Affairs | 1,000,000 | 0.29 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
The following table provides information regarding the value vested or earned on incentive plan awards during the year ended December 31, 2021:
Incentive Plan Awards – Value Vested or Earned During the Year
| Name and Position | Option-based awards - Value vested during the year(1) ($) | Share-based awards - Value vested during the year ($) | ||||||
| Christian Noel, Chief Executive Officer | N/A | 900,000 | ||||||
| Christopher Hansen, Chief Executive Officer | N/A | 70,000 | ||||||
| Philip Mullin, Chief Financial Officer | N/A | N/A | ||||||
| Patricia Kovacevic, General Counsel & Head of External Affairs | 258,003 | N/A | ||||||
Re-pricing of Options
We did not re-price any options previously granted to our executive officers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Director Compensation
The general policy of the Board is that compensation for independent directors should be a fair mix between cash and equity-based compensation. Additionally, the Company reimburses directors for reasonable expenses incurred during the course of their performance. There are no long-term incentive or medical reimbursement plans. the Company does not pay directors, who are part of management, for Board service in addition to their regular employee compensation. The Board determines the amount of director compensation. The board may appoint a compensation committee to take on this role.
Director Compensation Table
The following table provides information regarding compensation paid to the Company’s directors (other than a director who was a named executive officer) during the year ended December 31, 2021:
| Name | Fees
earned ($) |
Share-based awards ($) |
Option-based awards ($) |
Total ($) |
||||||||||||
| Dr. Delon Human | $ | 84,546 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 84,546 | ||||||||
| Mario Gobbo | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
| Mark Radke | 40,000 | - | - | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
| Carlos Hernández | 6,556 | - | - | 6,556 | ||||||||||||
| Gary Artmont | 7,667 | 32,254 | - | 39,921 | ||||||||||||
2019 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan
The Company adopted its 2019 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”), which provides for the issuance of stock options, stock grants and RSUs to employees, directors and consultants. The primary purpose of the 2019 Plan is to enhance the ability to attract, motivate, and retain the services of qualified employees, officers and directors. Any RSUs or stock options granted under the 2019 Plan will be at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the total stock compensation expense was $2,653,271 and consisted of $1,685,066 related to RSUs and $968,205 related to stock options. Expenses for stock-based compensation is included on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations in general and administrative expense. No cash was used to settle equity instruments granted under share-based payment arrangements.
2022 Stock Incentive plan
General
The board of directors of the Company have adopted the 2022 Stock Incentive Plan (Incentive Plan), subject to the approval of the Incentive Plan by the Company’s stockholders. The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by enabling the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain qualified individuals to perform services, to provide incentive compensation for such individuals in a form that is linked to the growth and profitability of the Company and increases in stockholder value, and to provide opportunities for equity participation that align the interests of recipients with those of its stockholders.
The Incentive Plan will permit the board of directors of the Company, or a committee or subcommittee thereof, to grant to eligible employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries non-statutory and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock awards, restricted stock units (RSUs), deferred stock units, performance awards, non-employee director awards, and other stock-based awards. Subject to adjustment, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock to be authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan is 15.2% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
The Incentive Plan was approved by a majority vote of shareholders on January 10, 2022.
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Summary of the Incentive Plan
The following is a summary of the principal features of the Incentive Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Incentive Plan, which is set forth in Exhibit 10.6.
Purpose
The purpose of the Incentive Plan is to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by enabling the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain qualified individuals to perform services, to provide incentive compensation for such individuals in a form that is linked to the growth and profitability of the Company and increases in stockholder value, and to provide opportunities for equity participation that align the interests of recipients with those of its stockholders.
Administration
The board of directors of the Company will administer the Incentive Plan. The board has the authority under the Incentive Plan to delegate plan administration to a committee of the board or a subcommittee thereof. The board of directors of the Company or the committee of the board to which administration of the Incentive Plan has been delegated is referred to as the Committee. Subject to certain limitations, the Committee will have broad authority under the terms of the Incentive Plan to take certain actions under the plan.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company such administrative duties or powers, as it may deem advisable. The Committee may authorize one or more directors or officers of the Company to designate employees, other than officers, non-employee directors, or 10% stockholders of the Company, to receive awards under the Incentive Plan and determine the size of any such awards, subject to certain limitations.
No Re-pricing
The Committee may not, without prior approval of the the Company stockholders, effect any re-pricing of any previously granted “underwater” option or SAR by: (i) amending or modifying the terms of the option or SAR to lower the exercise price or grant price; (ii) canceling the underwater option or SAR in exchange for (A) cash; (B) replacement options or SARs having a lower exercise price or grant price; or (C) other awards; or (iii) repurchasing the underwater options or SARs and granting new awards under the Incentive Plan. An option or SAR will be deemed to be “underwater” at any time when the fair market value of Common Stock is less than the exercise price of the option or the grant price of the SAR.
Stock Subject to the Incentive Plan
Subject to adjustment (as described below), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan is 30,000,000 shares.
Shares that are issued under the Incentive Plan or that are subject to outstanding awards will be applied to reduce the maximum number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Incentive Plan only to the extent they are used; provided, however, that the full number of shares subject to a stock-settled SAR or other stock-based award will be counted against the shares authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan, regardless of the number of shares actually issued upon settlement of such SAR or other stock-based award. Any shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on awards issued under the Incentive Plan, any shares withheld to pay the exercise price or grant price of awards under the Incentive Plan and any shares not issued or delivered as a result of the “net exercise” of an outstanding option or settlement of a SAR in shares will not be counted against the shares authorized for issuance under the Incentive Plan and will be available again for grant under the Incentive Plan. Shares subject to awards settled in cash will again be available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Incentive Plan. Any shares related to awards granted under the Incentive Plan that terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of the shares will be available again for grant under the Incentive Plan. Any shares repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an award will not increase the number of shares available for future grant of awards. To the extent permitted by applicable law, shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or a subsidiary or otherwise will not be counted against shares available for issuance pursuant to the Incentive Plan. The shares available for issuance under the Incentive Plan may be authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
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Adjustments
In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin off) or other similar change in the corporate structure or shares of Common Stock, the Committee will make the appropriate adjustment or substitution. These adjustments or substitutions may be to the number and kind of securities and property that may be available for issuance under the Incentive Plan. In order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants, the Committee may also adjust the number, kind, and exercise price or grant price of securities or other property subject to outstanding awards.
Eligible Participants
Awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. A “consultant” for purposes of the Incentive Plan is one who renders services to the Company or its subsidiaries that are not in connection with the offer and sale of its securities in a capital raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for its securities.
Types of Awards
The Incentive Plan will permit the Company to grant non-statutory and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, performance awards, non-employee director awards and other stock-based awards. Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other type of award.
Stock Options. Stock options entitle the holder to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified price, which is called the exercise price, subject to the terms and conditions of the stock option grant. The Incentive Plan permits the grant of both non-statutory and incentive stock options. Incentive stock options may be granted solely to eligible employees of the Company or its subsidiary. Each stock option granted under the Incentive Plan must be evidenced by an award agreement that specifies the exercise price, the term, the number of shares underlying the stock option, the vesting and any other conditions. The exercise price of each stock option granted under the Incentive Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as of the date the award is granted to a participant. Fair market value under the plan means, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing sale price of Common Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market, on the grant date. The Committee will fix the terms and conditions of each stock option, subject to certain restrictions, such as a ten-year maximum term.
Stock Appreciation Rights. A stock appreciation right, or SAR, is a right granted to receive payment of cash, stock or a combination of both, equal to the excess of the fair market value of shares of Common Stock on the exercise date over the grant price of such shares. Each SAR granted must be evidenced by an award agreement that specifies the grant price, the term, and such other provisions as the Committee may determine. The grant price of a SAR must be at least 100% of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant. The Committee will fix the term of each SAR, but SARs granted under the Incentive Plan will not be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the SAR is granted.
Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units. Restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, or RSUs, and/or deferred stock units may be granted under the Incentive Plan. A restricted stock award is an award of Common Stock that is subject to restrictions on transfer and risk of forfeiture upon certain events, typically including termination of service. RSUs or deferred stock units are similar to restricted stock awards except that no shares are actually awarded to the participant on the grant date. Deferred stock units permit the holder to receive shares of Common Stock or the equivalent value in cash or other property at a future time as determined by the Committee. The Committee will determine, and set forth in an award agreement, the period of restriction, the number of shares of restricted stock awards or the number of RSUs or deferred stock units granted, the time of payment for deferred stock units and other such conditions or restrictions.
Performance Awards. Performance awards, in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other awards or a combination of both, may be granted under the Incentive Plan in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee may determine. The Committee shall determine, and set forth in an award agreement, the amount of cash and/or number of shares or other awards, the performance goals, the performance periods and other terms and conditions. The extent to which the participant achieves his or her performance goals during the applicable performance period will determine the amount of cash and/or number of shares or other awards earned by the participant.
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Non-Employee Director Awards. The Committee at any time and from time to time may approve resolutions providing for the automatic grant to non-employee directors of non-statutory stock options or SARs. The Committee may also at any time and from time-to-time grant on a discretionary basis to non-employee directors non-statutory stock options or SARs. In either case, any such awards may be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem, and may be granted pursuant to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion consistent with the provisions of the Incentive Plan. The Committee may permit non-employee directors to elect to receive all or any portion of their annual retainers, meeting fees or other fees in restricted stock, RSUs, deferred stock units or other stock-based awards in lieu of cash. Under the Incentive Plan the sum of any cash compensation, or other compensation, and the value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of awards granted to a non-employee director as compensation for services as a non-employee director during any fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $250,000 (increased to $350,000 with respect to any director serving as Chairman of the Board or Lead Independent Director or in the fiscal year of a director’s initial service as a director).
Other Stock-Based Awards. Consistent with the terms of the plan, other stock-based awards may be granted to participants in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee may determine.
Dividend Equivalents. With the exception of stock options, SARs and unvested performance awards, awards under the Incentive Plan may, in the Committee’s discretion, earn dividend equivalents with respect to the cash or stock dividends or other distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Common Stock covered by such award had such shares been issued and outstanding on the dividend payment date. However, no dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid on unvested awards. Such dividend equivalents will be converted to cash or additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as determined by the Committee.
Termination of Employment or Other Service
The Incentive Plan provides for certain default rules in the event of a termination of a participant’s employment or other service. These default rules may be modified in an award agreement or an individual agreement between the Company and a participant. If a participant’s employment or other service with the Company is terminated for cause, then all outstanding awards held by such participant will be terminated and forfeited. In the event a participant’s employment or other service with the Company is terminated by reason of death, disability or retirement, then:
| ● | All outstanding stock options (excluding non-employee director options in the case of retirement) and SARs held by the participant will, to the extent exercisable, remain exercisable for a period of one year after such termination, but not later than the date the stock options or SARs expire; |
| ● | All outstanding stock options and SARs that are not exercisable and all outstanding restricted stock will be terminated and forfeited; and |
| ● | All outstanding unvested RSUs, performance awards and other stock-based awards held by the participant will terminate and be forfeited. However, with respect to any awards that vest based on the achievement of performance goals, if a participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any subsidiary is terminated prior to the end of the performance period of such award, but after the conclusion of a portion of the performance period (but in no event less than one year), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause shares to be delivered or payment made with respect to the participant’s award, but only if otherwise earned for the entire performance period and only with respect to the portion of the applicable performance period completed at the date of such event, with proration based on the number of months or years that the participant was employed or performed services during the performance period. |
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In the event a participant’s employment or other service with the Company is terminated by reason other than for cause, death, disability or retirement, then:
| ● | All outstanding stock options (including non-employee director options) and SARs held by the participant that then are exercisable will remain exercisable for three months after the date of such termination, but will not be exercisable later than the date the stock options or SARs expire; |
| ● | All outstanding restricted stock will be terminated and forfeited; and |
| ● | All outstanding unvested RSUs, performance awards and other stock-based awards will be terminated and forfeited. However, with respect to any awards that vest based on the achievement of performance goals, if a participant’s employment or other service with the Company or any subsidiary is terminated prior to the end of the performance period of such award, but after the conclusion of a portion of the performance period (but in no event less than one year), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cause shares to be delivered or payment made with respect to the participant’s award, but only if otherwise earned for the entire performance period and only with respect to the portion of the applicable performance period completed at the date of such event, with proration based on the number of months or years that the participant was employed or performed services during the performance period. |
Modification of Rights upon Termination
Upon a participant’s termination of employment or other service with the Company or any subsidiary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion (which may be exercised at any time on or after the grant date, including following such termination) cause stock options or SARs (or any part thereof) held by such participant as of the effective date of such termination to terminate, become or continue to become exercisable or remain exercisable following such termination of employment or service, and restricted stock, RSUs, deferred stock units, performance awards, non-employee director awards and other stock-based awards held by such participant as of the effective date of such termination to terminate, vest or become free of restrictions and conditions to payment, as the case may be, following such termination of employment or service, in each case in the manner determined by the Committee; provided, however, that no stock option or SAR may remain exercisable beyond its expiration date any such action by the Committee adversely affecting any outstanding award will not be effective without the consent of the affected participant, except to the extent the Committee is authorized by the Incentive Plan to take such action.
Forfeiture and Recoupment
If a participant is determined by the Committee to have taken any action while providing services to the Company or within one year after termination of such services, that would constitute “cause” or an “adverse action,” as such terms are defined in the Incentive Plan, all rights of the participant under the Incentive Plan and any agreements evidencing an award then held by the participant will terminate and be forfeited. The Committee has the authority to rescind the exercise, vesting, issuance or payment in respect of any awards of the participant that were exercised, vested, issued or paid, and require the participant to pay to the Company, within 10 days of receipt of notice, any amount received or the amount gained as a result of any such rescinded exercise, vesting, issuance or payment. the Company may defer the exercise of any stock option or SAR for up to six months after receipt of notice of exercise in order for the Board to determine whether “cause” or “adverse action” exists. The Company is entitled to withhold and deduct future wages or make other arrangements to collect any amount due.
In addition, if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, then any participant who is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will reimburse the Company for the amount of any award received by such individual under the Incentive Plan during the 12 month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC, as the case may be, of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement. The Company also may seek to recover any award made as required by the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or any other clawback, forfeiture or recoupment provision required by applicable law or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which Common Stock is then listed or traded or any policy adopted by the Company.
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Effect of Change in Control
Generally, a change in control will mean:
| ● | The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock; |
| ● | The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who were the beneficial owners of Common Stock immediately prior to the transaction do not, following the transaction, beneficially own more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock and voting securities of the corporation resulting from the transaction; or |
| ● | A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. |
Subject to the terms of the applicable award agreement or an individual agreement between the Company and a participant, upon a change in control, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine whether some or all outstanding options and SARs shall become exercisable in full or in part, whether the restriction period and performance period applicable to some or all outstanding restricted stock awards and RSUs shall lapse in full or in part and whether the performance measures applicable to some or all outstanding awards shall be deemed to be satisfied. The Committee may further require that shares of stock of the corporation resulting from such a change in control, or a parent corporation thereof, be substituted for some or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to an outstanding award and that any outstanding awards, in whole or in part, be surrendered to the Company by the holder, to be immediately cancelled by the Company, in exchange for a cash payment, shares of capital stock of the corporation resulting from or succeeding the Company or a combination of both cash and such shares of stock.
Term, Termination and Amendment
Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Incentive Plan will terminate at midnight on the day before the ten year anniversary of its effective date. No award will be granted after termination of the Incentive Plan, but awards outstanding upon termination of the Incentive Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of the Incentive Plan.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Board has the authority to suspend or terminate the Incentive Plan or terminate any outstanding award agreement and the Board has the authority to amend the Incentive Plan or amend or modify the terms of any outstanding award at any time and from time to time. No amendments to the Incentive Plan will be effective without approval of the Company’ stockholders if: (a) stockholder approval of the amendment is then required pursuant to Section 422 of the Code, the rules of the primary stock exchange on which Common Stock is then traded, applicable U.S. state and federal laws or regulations and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where awards are, or will be, granted under the Incentive Plan; or (b) such amendment would: (i) materially increase benefits accruing to participants; (ii) modify the re-pricing provisions of the Incentive Plan; (iii) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable under the Incentive Plan; (iv) increase any limitation set forth in the Incentive Plan on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued or the aggregate value of awards which may be made, in respect of any type of award to any single participant during any specified period; (v) modify the eligibility requirements for participants in the Incentive Plan; or (vi) reduce the minimum exercise price or grant price as set forth in the Incentive Plan. No termination, suspension or amendment of the Incentive Plan or an award agreement shall adversely affect any award previously granted under the Incentive Plan without the written consent of the participant holding such award.
Federal Income Tax Information
The following is a general summary, as of the date of this prospectus/proxy statement, of the federal income tax consequences to participants and the Company of transactions under the Incentive Plan. This summary is intended for the information of stockholders considering how to vote at the Annual Meeting and not as tax guidance to participants in the Incentive Plan, as the consequences may vary with the types of grants made, the identity of the participant and the method of payment or settlement. The summary does not address the effects of other federal taxes or taxes imposed under state, local or foreign tax laws. Participants are encouraged to seek the advice of a qualified tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of participation in the Incentive Plan.
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Tax Consequences of Awards
Incentive Stock Options. With respect to incentive stock options, generally, the participant is not taxed, and the Company is not entitled to a deduction, on either the grant or the exercise of an incentive stock option so long as the requirements of Section 422 of the Code continue to be met. If the participant meets the employment requirements and does not dispose of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option until at least one year after date of the exercise of the stock option and at least two years after the date the stock option was granted, gain or loss realized on sale of the shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. If the shares of Common Stock are disposed of before those periods expire, which is called a disqualifying disposition, the participant will be required to recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price, or (ii) if the disposition is a taxable sale or exchange, the amount of gain realized. Upon a disqualifying disposition, the Company will generally be entitled, in the same tax year, to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Non-Statutory Stock Options. The grant of a stock option that does not qualify for treatment as an incentive stock option, which is generally referred to as a non-statutory stock option, is generally not a taxable event for the participant. Upon exercise of the stock option, the participant will generally be required to recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of Common Stock acquired upon exercise (determined as of the date of exercise) over the exercise price of the stock option, and the Company will be entitled to a deduction in an equal amount in the same tax year, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code. At the time of a subsequent sale or disposition of shares obtained upon exercise of a non-statutory stock option, any gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, which will be either a long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the shares have been held.
SARs. The grant of an SAR will not cause the participant to recognize ordinary income or entitle the Company to a deduction for federal income tax purposes. Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participant will recognize ordinary income in the amount of the cash or the value of shares payable to the participant (before reduction for any withholding taxes), and the Company will receive a corresponding deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Restricted Stock, RSUs, Deferred Stock Units and Other Stock-Based Awards. The federal income tax consequences with respect to restricted stock, RSUs, deferred stock units, performance shares and performance stock units, and other stock unit and stock-based awards depend on the facts and circumstances of each award, including, in particular, the nature of any restrictions imposed with respect to the awards. In general, if an award of stock granted to the participant is subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (e.g., the award is conditioned upon the future performance of substantial services by the participant) and is nontransferable, a taxable event occurs when the risk of forfeiture ceases or the awards become transferable, whichever first occurs. At such time, the participant will recognize ordinary income to the extent of the excess of the fair market value of the stock on such date over the participant’s cost for such stock (if any), and the same amount is deductible by the Company, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code. Under certain circumstances, the participant, by making an election under Section 83(b) of the Code, can accelerate federal income tax recognition with respect to an award of stock that is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability restrictions, in which event the ordinary income amount and the Company’ deduction, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code, will be measured and timed as of the grant date of the award. If the stock award granted to the participant is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or transferability restrictions, the participant will recognize ordinary income with respect to the award to the extent of the excess of the fair market value of the stock at the time of grant over the participant’s cost, if any, and the same amount is deductible by us, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code. If a stock unit award or other stock-based award is granted but no stock is actually issued to the participant at the time the award is granted, the participant will recognize ordinary income at the time the participant receives the stock free of any substantial risk of forfeiture (or receives cash in lieu of such stock) and the amount of such income will be equal to the fair market value of the stock at such time over the participant’s cost, if any, and the same amount is then deductible by the Company, assuming that a deduction is allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code.
Withholding Obligations
The Company is entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the participant, to make other arrangements for the collection of, or to require the participant to pay to the Company, an amount necessary for it to satisfy the participant’s federal, state or local tax withholding obligations with respect to awards granted under the Incentive Plan. Withholding for taxes may be calculated based on the maximum applicable tax rate for the participant’s jurisdiction or such other rate that will not trigger a negative accounting impact on the Company. The Committee may permit a participant to satisfy a tax withholding obligation by withholding shares of Common Stock underlying an award, tendering previously acquired shares, delivery of a broker exercise notice or a combination of these methods.
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Code Section 409A
A participant may be subject to a 20% penalty tax, in addition to ordinary income tax, at the time a grant becomes vested, plus an interest penalty tax, if the grant constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code and the requirements of Section 409A of the Code are not satisfied.
Code Section 162(m)
Pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code, the annual compensation paid to an individual who is a “covered employee” is not deductible by the Company to the extent it exceeds $1 million. The Tax Cut and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017, amended Section 162(m), effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, (i) to expand the definition of a “covered employee” to include any person who was the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer at any time during the year and the three most highly compensated officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer) who were employed at any time during the year whether or not the compensation is reported in the Summary Compensation Table included in the proxy statement for the Company’ Annual Meeting; (ii) to treat any individual who is considered a covered employee at any time during a tax year beginning after December 31, 2106 as remaining a covered employee permanently; and (iii) to eliminate the performance-based compensation exception to the $1 million deduction limit.
Excise Tax on Parachute Payments
Unless otherwise provided in a separate agreement between a participant and the Company, if, with respect to a participant, the acceleration of the vesting of an award or the payment of cash in exchange for all or part of an award, together with any other payments that such participant has the right to receive from the Company, would constitute a “parachute payment” then the payments to such participant will be reduced to the largest amount as will result in no portion of such payments being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code. Such reduction, however, will only be made if the aggregate amount of the payments after such reduction exceeds the difference between the amount of such payments absent such reduction minus the aggregate amount of the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code attributable to any such excess parachute payments. If such provisions are applicable and if an employee will be subject to a 20% excise tax on any “excess parachute payment” pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code, the Company will be denied a deduction with respect to such excess parachute payment pursuant to Section 280G of the Code.
New Plan Benefits
It is not presently possible to determine the benefits or amounts that will be received by or allocated to participants under the Incentive Plan or would have been received by or allocated to participants for the last completed fiscal year if the Incentive Plan had then been in effect because awards under the Incentive Plan will be made at the discretion of the Committee.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Incentive Plan Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock cast by the stockholders represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether this proposal has been approved.
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Incentive Plan Awards
The following table provides information regarding the incentive plan awards for each director (other than a director who was a named executive officer) outstanding as of December 31, 2021:
Outstanding Share Awards and Options Awards
| Option-based Awards(1) | Share-based Awards | |||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Number
of securities underlying unexercised options (#) | Option exercise price ($) | Value
of unexercised in-the-money options as at December 31, 2021 | Number
of shares or units of shares that have not vested | Market
or payout value of share awards that have not vested | |||||||||||||||
| Dr. Delon Human | 1,500,000 | 0.16 | 62,400 | 400,000 | 108,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Mario Gobbo | N/A | N/A | N/A | 400,000 | 108,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Mark Radke | N/A | N/A | N/A | 400,000 | 108,000 | |||||||||||||||
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
As of December 31, 2021, the Corporation maintained $1,000,000 of group liability insurance for the protection of the directors and officers of the Corporation. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation paid an annual premium of $272,500 for such policy.
Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers. We have no material bonus or profit-sharing plans pursuant to which cash or non-cash compensation is or may be paid to our directors or executive officers, except that stock options, restricted share units and deferred share units may be granted at the discretion of the Board or a committee thereof.
Indebtedness of Directors, Senior Officers, Executive Officers and Other Management
None of our directors or executive officers or any associate or affiliate of our Company during the last two fiscal years, is or has been indebted to our Company by way of guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar agreement or understanding currently outstanding.
Termination Benefits
We do not have agreements with any named executives that would result in payments to them solely upon a change in control of Cryomass Technologies Inc. However, under the employment and severance agreements with named executives, three named executives would be entitled to severance benefits upon termination of employment under certain circumstances. Further, our Compensation Committee retains discretion to provide additional benefits to senior executives upon termination or resignation if it determines the circumstances so warrant.
As of the date hereof, Ms. Patricia Kovacevic’s employment agreement provides that Ms. Kovacevic shall receive continued payments from the Company in the event of disability, death, termination for any reason or no reason except for cause (including resignation) of the named executive officer with the Company, for the duration of the term of the respective employment agreement, and shall be given credit under any RSU agreement as if she remained employed with the Company for the term of the employment agreement for the purposes of vesting thereunder.
As of the date hereof, Mr. Philip Blair Mullin’s employment agreement provides that Mr.Mullin shall receive certain payments from the Company in the event of disability, death, termination for other than for cause of the named executive officer with the Company, for the duration of the term of the respective employment agreement, and shall be given credit under any RSU agreement as if he remained employed with the Company for the term of the employment agreement for the purposes of vesting thereunder.
As of the date hereof, Mr. Christian Noel’s employment agreements provides that Mr. Noel shall receive certain payments from the Company in the event of disability, death, termination for other than for cause of the named executive officer with the Company, for the duration of the term of the respective employment agreement, and shall be given credit under any RSU agreement as if he remained employed with the Company for the term of the employment agreement for the purposes of vesting thereunder.
40
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Review, Approval or other transactions, transactions with family members – loans, debt conversion, private placement, ratification of transactions with related persons
We have adopted a code of ethics and we rely on our board to review related party transactions on an ongoing basis to prevent conflicts of interest. Our Board reviews a transaction in light of the affiliations of the director, officer or employee and the affiliations of such person’s immediate family. Transactions are presented to our Board for approval before they are entered into or, if this is not possible, for ratification after the transaction has occurred. If our Board finds that a conflict of interest exists, then it will determine the appropriate remedial action, if any. Our Board approves or ratifies a transaction if it determines that the transaction is consistent with the best interests of the Company. During the year-ended December 31, 2021, the Board reviewed and approved a loan to the Company made by Christian Noel, its CEO. There were no other such transactions or requests for review during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
This Prospectus covers the offering of up to 60,314,678 Common Shares by selling shareholders. This includes Common Shares acquirable upon exercise of our outstanding warrants.
Selling shareholders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired shares, or will acquire shares from us from time to time upon exercise of certain warrants. This Prospectus and any prospectus supplement will only permit the selling shareholders to sell the Common Shares identified in the column “Maximum Number of Shares which may be sold pursuant to this offering”.
The selling shareholders may from time to time offer and sell the Common Shares pursuant to this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. The selling shareholders may offer all or some portion of the Common Shares they hold or acquire, but only Common Shares that are currently outstanding or are acquired upon the exercise of certain warrants that are currently outstanding, and in either case included in the “Maximum Number of Shares which may be sold pursuant to this Offering” column, may be sold pursuant to this Prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.
The Common Shares issued to the selling shareholders are “restricted” securities under applicable federal and state securities laws and are being registered to give the selling shareholders the opportunity to sell their Common Shares. The registration of such Common Shares does not necessarily mean, however, that any of these Common Shares will be offered or sold by the selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may from time to time offer and sell all or a portion of their Common Shares in the over-the-counter market (to the extent that there is a market), in negotiated transactions, or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
The registered Common Shares may be sold directly or through brokers or dealers, or in a distribution by one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis. To the extent required, the names of any agent or broker-dealer and applicable commissions or discounts and any other required information with respect to any particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution”.
Each of the selling shareholders reserves the sole right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of the registered Common Shares to be made directly or through agents. To the extent that any of the selling shareholders are affiliates of our Company or are brokers or dealers, they may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of the registered shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. As of the date of this Prospectus and based on the representations we have received from the selling shareholders, one of the selling shareholders is a broker or dealer or are affiliated with a broker or dealer and are identified below. Selling shareholders that are affiliates of or have material relationships with our Company are also identified below.
The following table sets forth the name of persons who are offering the resale of Common Shares by this Prospectus, the number of Common Shares beneficially owned by each person, the number of Common Shares that may be sold in this offering and the number of Common Shares each person will own after the offering, assuming they sell all of the Common Shares offered. The information appearing in the table below is based on information provided by or on behalf of the named selling shareholders. We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the Common Shares by the selling shareholders.
41
| Number of Shares and Shares subject to exercisable Warrants beneficially owned prior to this Offering |
2 | Maximum Number of Shares which may be sold pursuant to this Offering |
Number of Shares and Shares subject to exercisable warrants beneficially owned after this Offering |
2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Shares | Warrants | % | Shares | Shares | Warrants | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alexander Massa | 3 | 23,705,000 | 23,500,000 | 21 | % | 7,081,825 | 17,623,175 | 22,500,000 | 17.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christian Noel | 1,5 | 7,620,000 | 1,010,000 | 4.3 | % | 7,763,179 | 866,821 | - | 0.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Varin | 4 | 6,275,000 | 6,250,000 | 6 | % | 1,662,875 | 4,612,125 | 6,250,000 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeremie St-Pierre | 4,511,000 | 0 | 3.3 | % | 687,500 | 3,823,500 | - | 1.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Delon Human | 1,6 | 1,160,000 | 760,000 | 1 | % | 1,361,400 | 558,600 | - | 0.3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philip Blair Mullin | 1,7 | 622,000 | - | 0.3 | % | 600,000 | 22,000 | - | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mario Gobbo | 400,000 | - | 0.2 | % | 400,000 | - | - | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Radke | 400,000 | - | 0.2 | % | 400,000 | - | - | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patricia Kovacevic | 1,8 | 250,000 | - | 0.1 | % | 250,000 | - | - | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0997006 BC LTD | 2,102,336 | 500,000 | 1.3 | % | 1,633,121 | 469,215 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9043-0083 QUEBEC INC. | 2,910,867 | 2,600,000 | 2.7 | % | 3,290,555 | 2,220,312 | - | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0956267 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company | 2,512,500 | 2,500,000 | 2.5 | % | 3,165,813 | 1,846,687 | - | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bigger Capital Fund, LP | 2,500,000 | 2,500,000 | 2.5 | % | 662,500 | 1,837,500 | 2,500,000 | 2.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| District 2 Capital Fund LP | 2,500,000 | 2,500,000 | 2.5 | % | 662,500 | 1,837,500 | 2,500,000 | 2.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Martin Lemay | 1,903,667 | 1,700,000 | 1.8 | % | 2,151,472 | 1,452,195 | - | 0.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marc- Andre Gragnani | 2,102,500 | 2,000,000 | 2 | % | 2,530,662 | 1,571,838 | - | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MBL Management LLC | 1,850,000 | 1,850,000 | 1.8 | % | 2,340,250 | 1,359,750 | - | 0.7 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investissement S Losier Inc. | 2,024,282 | 1,800,000 | 1.9 | % | 2,278,917 | 1,545,365 | - | 0.8 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jokau Holdings Inc. | 1,502,500 | 1,500,000 | 1.5 | % | 1,898,163 | 1,104,337 | - | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investissement Maxime Losier Inc | 1,506,250 | 1,250,000 | 1.4 | % | 1,582,906 | 1,173,344 | - | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9176-9547 QUEBEC, INC. | 1,250,000 | 1,250,000 | 1.2 | % | 331,250 | 918,750 | 1,250,000 | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jean Noel | 1,100,467 | 1,100,000 | 1.1 | % | 1,391,624 | 808,843 | - | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric Salvail | 1,203,667 | 1,000,000 | 1.1 | % | 1,265,972 | 937,695 | - | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2811863 CANADA INC. | 1,119,210 | 1,000,000 | 1 | % | 1,265,663 | 853,547 | - | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gestion Rejean Losier Inc. | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1 | % | 1,265,000 | 735,000 | - | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GUNDYCO ITF 3317341 NOVA SCOTIA LTD | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1 | % | 265,000 | 735,000 | 1,000,000 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trac Investments Inc. | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1 | % | 265,000 | 1,000,000 | 735,000 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| L5 Capital Inc. | 1,002,000 | 1,000,000 | 1 | % | 1,000,000 | 1002000 | - | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elco Securities Ltd. | 2,200,000 | 2,250,000 | 1.2 | % | 2,250,000 | 2,200,000 | - | 1.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3366669 CANADA INC. | 1,205,000 | 1,200,000 | 1.2 | % | 1,200,000 | 1,205,000 | - | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Dunham | 751,167 | 750,000 | 0.7 | % | 199,059 | 552,108 | 750,000 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GUNDYCO ITF ANTONIO NARDI & NADIA SICILIA | 750,000 | 750,000 | 0.7 | % | 198,750 | 551,250 | 750,000 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sebastien Inkel | 700,000 | 700,000 | 0.7 | % | 185,500 | 514,500 | 700,000 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Ethier | 470,933 | 430,000 | 0.4 | % | 154,197 | 316,736 | 430,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrick Milot-Daignault | 609,118 | 500,000 | 0.6 | % | 634,916 | 474,202 | - | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ron Wilson | 802,500 | 500,000 | 0.6 | % | 133,163 | 669,337 | 500,000 | 0.6 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concept F3 Inc. | 602,500 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | 133,162 | 469,338 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1470475 ONTARIO INC. | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | 132,500 | 367,500 | 500,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupe BB Immobilier Inc. | 500,000 | 500000 | 0.5 | % | 632,500 | 367,500 | - | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Lambert | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | 632,500 | 367,500 | - | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Skousen | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | 132,500 | 500,000 | 367,500 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shane Prince | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0.5 | % | 132,250 | 367,750 | 500,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thierry Hay Sabourin | 552,000 | 400,000 | 0.5 | % | 106,530 | 445,470 | 400,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph P Galda | 430,000 | - | 0.2 | % | 430,000 | - | - | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alain Paradis | 376,875 | 375,000 | 0.4 | % | 474,872 | 277,003 | - | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gundyco ITF Ann Isabelle Deleeuw | 375,625 | 375,000 | 0.4 | % | 99,541 | 276,084 | 375,000 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sebastien Jutras | 187,631 | 125,000 | 0.2 | % | 220,327 | 92,304 | 0 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tamer Zuhair Khalil | 319,011 | 333,333 | 0.3 | % | 88,333 | 319,011 | 245,000 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DunhamPBHolding Co | 300,000 | 300,000 | 0.3 | % | 79,500 | 220,500 | 300,000 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Francoise Bisutti & Vittorio Gragnani JTWROS | 300,000 | 300,000 | 0.3 | % | 79,500 | 220,500 | 300,000 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
42
| Number of Shares and Shares subject to exercisable Warrants beneficially owned prior to this Offering |
2 | Maximum Number of Shares which may be sold pursuant to this Offering |
Number of Shares and Shares subject to exercisable warrants beneficially owned after this Offering |
2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Shares | Warrants | % | Shares | Shares | Warrants | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Raymond James Ltd ITF Douglas Casey | 520,500 | 79,500 | 0.3 | % | 79,500 | 520,500 | - | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Laurent Massa | 280,625 | 255,000 | 0.3 | % | 67,741 | 212,884 | 255,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9164-3163 QUEBEC INC | 251,250 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 316,581 | 184,669 | - | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jenifer Lynn Zofchak | 251,250 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 66,581 | 184,669 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nathalie Prevost | 251,250 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 316,581 | 184,669 | - | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verdier Capital Inc. | 301,250 | 250,000 | 0.3 | % | 66,581 | 234,669 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ergoressource Inc. | 250,000 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 66,250 | 183,750 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Etienne Simard | 538,000 | 250,000 | 0.4 | % | 66,250 | 471,750 | 250,000 | 0.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacques Trottier | 250,000 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 66,250 | 183,750 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leidys Patricia Meza Gonzalez | 250,000 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 66,250 | 183,750 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Tanzer | 270,000 | 250,000 | 0.3 | % | 66,250 | 203,750 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Philippe Bergeron-Belanger | 250,000 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 66,250 | 183,750 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Cimini | 250,000 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | 66,250 | 183,750 | 250,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Josh Ginsberg | 500,000 | 250,000 | 0.4 | % | 66,250 | 500,000 | 183,750 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Mangione | 270,625 | 245,000 | 0.3 | % | 65,091 | 205,534 | 245,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gestion Michel Daoust Inc. | 201,200 | 200,000 | 0.2 | % | 53,318 | 147,882 | 200,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pascal Pelletier | 201,000 | 200,000 | 0.2 | % | 53,265 | 147,735 | 200,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dr. Mathieu Beaudoin, Parodontiste Inc. | 240,933 | 200,000 | 0.2 | % | 53,247 | 187,686 | 200,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Luca Cefis | 190,000 | 190,000 | 0.2 | % | 50,350 | 139,650 | 190,000 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Bendor-Samuel | 170,000 | 170,000 | 0.2 | % | 45,050 | 170,000 | 124,950 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Craig Henningfield | 166,666 | 166,666 | 0.2 | % | 44,166 | 166,666 | 122,500 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Francois Marchand | 166,666 | 166,666 | 0.2 | % | 44,166 | 166,666 | 122,500 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicolas Maltais | 273,559 | 155,000 | 0.2 | % | 41,075 | 273,559 | 113,925 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daniel Lazaric | 150,000 | 150,000 | 0.1 | % | 39,750 | 110,250 | 150,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholas Steffen | 135,000 | 0 | 0.1 | % | 135,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholas David Giambruno | 133,000 | 133,000 | 0.1 | % | 35,245 | 133,000 | 97,755 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jean-Pierre Janson | 125,625 | 125,000 | 0.1 | % | 33,291 | 92,334 | 125,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carolina Rivera | 125,583 | 125,000 | 0.1 | % | 33,279 | 92,304 | 125,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maxime Leduc Seguin | 120,000 | 120,000 | 0.1 | % | 31,800 | 88,200 | 120,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Francois Leclerc | 100,500 | 100,000 | 0.1 | % | 26,633 | 73,867 | 100,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marc-Andre La Barre | 120,500 | 100,000 | 0.1 | % | 26,632 | 93,868 | 100,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christian Cyr | 100,000 | 100,000 | 0.1 | % | 1,26,500 | 73,500 | 0 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yannick Gaboriault | 80,000 | 80,000 | 0.1 | % | 21,200 | 58,800 | 80,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Knapp | 896,768 | 70,000 | 0.5 | % | 18,550 | 896,768 | 51,450 | 0.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeanna K Lee | 70,000 | 70,000 | 0.1 | % | 18,550 | 70,000 | 51,450 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| RSM & CIE | 105,000 | 65,000 | 0.1 | % | 17,725 | 105,000 | 47,275 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeannine St-Pierre | 60,000 | 60,000 | 0.1 | % | 15,900 | 44,100 | 60,000 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacques Malo | 50,000 | 50,000 | 0.0 | % | 23,250 | 36,750 | 40,000 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicolas Drolet | 50,000 | 50,000 | 0.0 | % | 13,250 | 36,750 | 50,000 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greenhill Equity Solutions Ltd | 50,000 | 50,000 | 0.0 | % | 13,250 | 50,000 | 36,750 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Darren Blatt | 33,333 | 33,333 | 0.0 | % | 8,833 | 33,333 | 24,500 | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Address of the beneficial owner is c/o the Company, 1001 Bannock Street, Suite 612, Denver, CO 80204. |
| (2) | Based on 201,051,665 shares outstanding. |
| (3) | Alexander Massa has voting and investment control over 22,500,000 shares and exercisable warrants to purchase 22,500,00 shares held by CRYM Co-Invest, LP, 602,500 shares and 500,000 exercisable warrants to purchase shares held by Ham Senior Inc., and 602,500 shares and exercisable warrants to purchase 500,000 shares held by Hungry Asset Monster Inc. The address for CRYM Co-Invest, LP is One World Trade Center, Suite 83G, New York, NY 10007 and the address for Ham Senior Inc. and Hungry Asset Monster Inc. is 50 North Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. |
| (4) | Patrick Varin has voting and investment control over 6,250,000 shares and exercisable warrants to purchase 6,275,000 shares held by 9318-2582 Quebec Inc. |
| (5) | Mr. Noël is beneficial owner of 760,000 shares and exercisable warrants to purchase 760,000 shares held by Trichome Capital Inc. and exercisable warrants to purchase 250,000 shares. |
| (6) | Dr. Human is the beneficial holder of fully-vested stock options to purchase 1,500,000 shares, exercisable at $0.16 per share, expiring in 2030, and is the beneficial owner of 760,000 shares and exercisable warrants to purchase 760,000 shares held by Health Diplomats Pte Ltd. |
| (7) | Philip Mullin is the beneficial holder of fully-vested stock options to purchase 2,000,000 shares, exercisable at $0.16 per share, expiring in 2030. |
| (8) | Patricia Kovacevic is the beneficial holder of fully-vested stock options to purchase 1,500,000 shares, exercisable at $0.29 per share, expiring in 2031. |
43
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
Our authorized capital stock consists of consists of 500,000,000 Common Shares with a par value of $0.001 per Common Share. As of June 14, 2022, there were 201,051,665 Common Shares outstanding.
The following description of our Common Shares and provisions of our articles of association and by-laws is only a summary. Investors are directed for a complete description of the terms and provisions of our articles and by-laws, which are exhibits to the registration statement which contains this Prospectus. We encourage you to review complete copies of our articles and by-laws.
Voting Rights
Holders of the Common Shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the shareholder.
Dividend Rights
Holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board out of funds legally available for dividends. The Company has not declared a dividend in its history and there are no plans to declare a dividend in the foreseeable future.
Liquidation Rights
Upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our company, the holders of Common Shares are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets which are legally available for distribution after payment of all debts and other liabilities.
Conversion and Redemption
Holders of Common Shares have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.
Change of Control
Nevada’s “Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute” applies to Nevada corporations that have at least 200 shareholders, with at least 100 shareholders of record being Nevada residents and that do business directly or indirectly in Nevada. Where applicable, the statute prohibits an acquiror from voting shares of a target company’s stock after exceeding certain threshold ownership percentages, until the acquiror provides certain information to the company and a majority of the disinterested shareholders vote to restore the voting rights of the acquiror’s shares at a meeting called at the request and expense of the acquiror. If the voting rights of such shares are restored, shareholders voting against such restoration may demand payment for the “fair value” of their shares. The Nevada statute also restricts a “business combination” with “interested shareholders”, unless certain conditions are met, with respect to corporations which have at least 200 shareholders of record. A “combination” includes:
| (i) | any merger with an “interested shareholder,” or any other corporation which is or after the merger would be, an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder; | |
| (ii) | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of assets, to an “interested shareholder,” having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the corporation’s assets; an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation; or representing 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation; | |
| (iii) | any issuance or transfer of shares of the corporation or its subsidiaries, having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of the corporation to the “interested shareholder” | |
| (iv) | the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the corporation proposed by the “interested shareholder”; | |
| (v) | certain transactions which would result in increasing the proportionate percentage of shares of the corporation owned by the “interested shareholder”; or | |
| (vi) | the receipt of benefits, except proportionately as a shareholder, of any loans, advances or other financial benefits by an “interested shareholder.” |
44
An “interested shareholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, beneficially owns (or within the prior three years, did beneficially own) 10% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. A corporation to which this statute applies may not engage in a “combination” within three years after the interested shareholder acquired its shares, unless the combination or the interested shareholder’s acquisition of shares was approved by the board of directors before the interested shareholder acquired the shares. If this approval was not obtained, then after the three-year period expires, the combination may be consummated if all applicable statutory requirements are met.
Approval of mergers, conversion, amendments to the articles of incorporation, and sales, leases or exchanges of all of the property or assets of a corporation, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, requires the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, except that, unless required by the articles of incorporation, no vote of shareholders of the corporation surviving a merger is necessary if:
| (i) | the merger does not amend the articles of incorporation of the corporation; | |
| (ii) | each outstanding share immediately prior to the merger is to be an identical share after the merger; | |
| (iii) | The number of voting shares outstanding immediately after the merger, plus the number of voting issued as a result of the merger, either by the conversion of shares securities issued pursuant to the merger or the exercise of rights and warrants issued pursuant to the merger, will not exceed by more than 20% the total number of voting shares of the surviving domestic corporation outstanding immediately before the merger; and | |
| (iv) | the number of participating shares (i.e. shares that entitle their holders to participate without limitation in distribution) outstanding immediately after the merger, plus the number of participating shares issuable as a result of the merger, either by the conversion of securities issued pursuant to the merger or the exercise of rights and warrants issued pursuant to the merger, will not exceed by more than 20% the total number of participating shares outstanding immediately before the merger. |
45
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the Common Shares to permit the resale of those Common Shares under the Securities Act from time to time after the date of this Prospectus at the discretion of the holders of such Common Shares. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling shareholders of the Common Shares. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the Common Shares.
Each selling shareholder and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their Common Shares on the OTCQB, or any other stock exchange, market, quotation service or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions, provided that all applicable laws are satisfied. The selling shareholders may also sell their Common Shares directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers, or agents. If the Common Shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The Common Shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. A selling shareholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares:
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; | |
| ● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; | |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; | |
| ● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; | |
| ● | privately negotiated transactions; | |
| ● | settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part; | |
| ● | broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; | |
| ● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; | |
| ● | a combination of any such methods of sale; and | |
| ● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling shareholders may also sell shares pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this Prospectus.
If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling Common Shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers, or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers, or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from the selling shareholders or commissions from purchasers of the Common Shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions, or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers, or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). Broker-dealers engaged by any selling shareholder may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholder (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.
In connection with sales of Common Shares or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Common Shares in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell Common Shares short and deliver Common Shares covered by this Prospectus to close out their short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge Common Shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such Common Shares. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of Common Shares offered by this Prospectus, which Common Shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this Prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
46
The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the Common Shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer or agent and any profit on the resale of any Shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the Common Shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed that will set forth the aggregate amount of Common Shares being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions, and other terms constituting compensation from the selling shareholders and any discounts, commissions, or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Each selling shareholder has informed us that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Shares.
Because the selling shareholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 172 thereunder. Once this registration statement becomes effective, we intend to file the final prospectus with the SEC in accordance with SEC Rules 172 and 424. Provided we are not the subject of any SEC stop orders and we are not subject to any cease and desist proceedings, the obligation to deliver a final prospectus to a purchaser will be deemed to have been met.
There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the selling shareholders.
Under the securities laws of some states, the Common Shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the Common Shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state, or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the Common Shares registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the Common Shares may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Common Shares for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling shareholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of Common Shares by the selling shareholders or any other person. All of the foregoing provisions may affect the marketability of the Common Shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Common Shares.
We will pay all expenses of the registration of the Common Shares, estimated to be approximately $30,000 in total, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees, expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws, and legal and accounting fees; provided, however, that a selling shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with applicable registration rights agreements, if any, or the selling shareholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholder specifically for use in this Prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution.
We agreed to keep this Prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the Common Shares may be resold by the selling shareholders without registration and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) and otherwise without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) all of the Common Shares have been sold pursuant to this Prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.
Once sold under the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, the Common Shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
47
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Legal proceedings covering a dispute arising from a past employment agreements is pending against the Company’s former business partner, CMI. In Gaudio v. Critical Mass Industries, LLC et al, CMI’s motion to set aside a default judgment was granted April 26, 2021. It is possible that there could be adverse developments in the Gaudio case. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending litigation would have a significant impact on our ability to collect receivables from CMI, to complete any of the pending transactions involving our Colorado assets and agreements and could encourage the commencement of additional litigation against CMI or the Company. We and our subsidiaries will record provisions in the consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in the Gaudio case may occur, (i) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that our Company would undergo that could result from an unfavorable outcome or settlement in Gaudio; and (iii) accordingly, management has not provided any amounts in the consolidated financial statements for an unfavorable outcome in this case, if applicable. Any applicable legal advice costs are expensed as incurred.
48
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
No expert or counsel named in this Prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this Prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the Common Shares was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant or any of its parents or subsidiaries. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant or any of its parents or subsidiaries as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
The Financial Statements included in this Prospectus and in the registration statement have been audited by BF Borgers CPA PC and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The validity of the issuance of the Common Shares hereby will be passed upon for us by J.P. Galda & Co., 40 East Montgomery Avenue, LTW 220 Ardmore, PA 19003. Joseph P. Galda, the principal of J.P. Galda & Co., is the beneficial owner of 430,000 common shares of the Company.
49
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table shows the fees paid or accrued by us for the audit and other services provided for the fiscal periods shown.
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Haynie & Company: | ||||||||
| Audit and Non-Audit Fees | ||||||||
| Audit fees | $ | - | $ | 5,000 | ||||
| Audit-related fees | - | - | ||||||
| Tax fees | - | - | ||||||
| All other fees | - | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | - | $ | 5,000 | ||||
| Marcum: | ||||||||
| Audit and Non-Audit Fees | ||||||||
| Audit fees | $ | - | $ | 77,086 | ||||
| Audit-related fees | - | - | ||||||
| Tax fees | - | - | ||||||
| All other fees | - | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | - | $ | 77,086 | ||||
| Borgers: | ||||||||
| Audit and Non-Audit Fees | ||||||||
| Audit fees | $ | 274,000 | $ | 566,200 | ||||
| Audit-related fees | 54,000 | - | ||||||
| Tax fees | - | - | ||||||
| All other fees | - | - | ||||||
| Total | $ | 328,000 | $ | 566,200 | ||||
The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. The Board pre-approved 100% of the audit, audit-related and tax services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The percentage of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the Company’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employee was 0%.
50
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION OF INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Nevada law allows a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and amounts paid in settlement) and, provided that such individual, or indemnitee, acted in good faith and for a purpose which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, had reasonable grounds to believe his or her conduct was lawful. Nevada law authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against all reasonable expenses including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees in connection with a lawsuit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, except that no indemnification may be paid as to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged liable to the corporation unless it is determined by the court making such adjudication of liability that, despite such finding, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled for such expenses deemed proper.
Nevada law also provides for discretionary indemnification made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances. The determination must be made either:
| (i) | by the shareholders; | |
| (ii) | by the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the actions, suit or proceeding; | |
| (iii) | if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the actions, suit or proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or | |
| (iv) | if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the actions, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion. |
The articles of incorporation, the bylaws or an agreement made by the corporation may provide that the expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the actions, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. The provisions do not affect any right to advancement of expenses to which corporate personnel other than directors or officers may be entitled under any contract or otherwise by law. The indemnification and advancement of expenses authorized in or ordered by a court pursuant to Nevada law does not exclude any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in his official capacity or an action in another capacity while holding office, except that indemnification, unless ordered by a court or for the advancement of expenses, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if his acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and was material to the cause of action. In addition, indemnification continues for a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and inures to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-1, together with all amendments and exhibits, with the SEC. This Prospectus, which forms a part of that registration statement, does not contain all information included in the registration statement. Certain information is omitted and you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. With respect to references made in this Prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the references are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contracts or documents. You may read and copy any document that we file at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. Our filings and the registration statement can also be reviewed by accessing the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
52
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and unaudited financial statements for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021.
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
(EXPRESSED IN UNITED STATES DOLLARS)
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Cryomass Technologies Inc.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cryomass Technologies Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Matter
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/S/ BF Borgers CPA PC
BF Borgers CPA PC
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020
Lakewood, CO
March 28, 2022
F-2
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| As of December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
| Assets held for sale, current | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Loan receivable | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | - | |||||||
| Goodwill | ||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
| Loans payable | ||||||||
| Taxes payable | ||||||||
| Liabilities held for sale, current | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Notes payable | ||||||||
| Deferred tax liability | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 15) | ||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, $ | ||||||||
| Common stock, $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Common stock to be issued | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| For
the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
| Net sales | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold, inclusive of provision for inventory loss of $ | ||||||||
| Gross profit | ||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Personnel costs | ||||||||
| Sales and marketing | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Legal and professional fees | ||||||||
| Research and development | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other income (expenses): | ||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Gain / (loss) on foreign exchange | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total other expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss from continuing operations, before taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Income taxes | ||||||||
| Net loss from continuing operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net gain / (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (including loss on disposal of $ | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Comprehensive loss from discontinued operations | ||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Net loss per common share: | ||||||||
| Loss from continuing operations - basic and diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Gain / (loss) from discontinued operations - basic and diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Loss per common share - basic and diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
CRYOMASS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In | Common
Stock to be |
Accumulated | Total Shareholders’ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Issued | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2019 (Revised) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock pursuant to separation agreement | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock pursuant to accelerated vesting of RSU’s | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation - shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation - options | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share cancellations | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Share issuance from sale of common stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||