POS AM 1 posam.htm

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2020

 

Registration No. 333-239226

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to

FORM S-1

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Nevada   333-239226   61-1794883

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2201 NW Corporate Blvd., Suite 205

Boca Raton, FL

  33431
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 948-5410

 

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Approximate date of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please 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 eees amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) 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. [  ]

 

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

(Check one):

 

  Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated Filer [  ]
  Non-accelerated filer [  ] Smaller reporting company [X]

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each
class of securities to be registered
  Amount to be
registered
  

Proposed
maximum

offering price
per share(1)

   Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price
   Amount of
registration fee
 
                 
Shares of Common Stock (Offered by Company)   20,000,000   $0.50   $10,000,000   $1091.00 
Shares of Common Stock (Selling Shareholder Shares)   12,681,008   $0.50   $6,340,504   $823.00 
Total Registration Statement Fee   32,681,008        $16,340,504   $1,914.00 

 

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(e) under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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 the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

Neither the Securities Exchange Commission nor any state securities commissions have approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy of the Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 
 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Stem Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), filed a Registration Statement on June 17, 2020, on Form S-1 (the “Original Registration Statement”) (SEC File Number 333-239226), which was declared effective July 2, 2020, for the purpose of registering 22,681,008 shares of common stock par value $0.001, which included an initial offering of 10,000,000 shares and 12,681,008 shares offered for sale by selling shareholders (the “Offering”) under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Original Registration Statement on Form S-1 contains an updated prospectus relating to the offering and sale of shares of common stock declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2020. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-1 is being filed to (1) extend our offering date until March 31, 2021, (2) increase the number of shares offered by the Company from 10,000,000 shares to 20,000,000 shares and (3) include the unaudited financial statements for the interim periods ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019. The Company has paid an additional filing fee to incorporate the additional 10,000,000 shares offered by the Company.

 

 
 

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

 

Registration No. 333-239226

 

Dated October __, 2020

 

STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

32,681,008 Shares of Common Stock

Par Value $0.001 Per Share

 

This is an offering of Common shares of Stem Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: STMH; CSE: STEM). We are offering for sale up to 20,000,000 Common Shares at a fixed price of $_______ per share and Selling Shareholders are offering an additional 12,681,008 shares at market prices quoted on the OTCQX. There is no minimum number of shares that must be sold by the Company for the offering to proceed, and we will retain the proceeds from the sale of any of the shares offered by the Company. The Company will not receive any proceeds of the sale of shares by Selling Shareholders. This Prospectus will permit the Company to sell the shares offered by the Company (a) directly to the public, with no commission or other remuneration payable to it for any shares it may sell or b) through a registered broker-dealer to be determined. Shares offered through a registered broker-dealer may be subject to payment of a selling commission not to exceed 10%. In offering the securities on our behalf, we will rely on the safe harbor from broker-dealer registration set out in Rule 3a4-1 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. The shares offered by the Company will be offered at a fixed price of $______ per share for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days from the effective date of this prospectus. The offering by the Company shall terminate on the earlier of (i) unless extended by the Company, when the offering period ends (180 days from the effective date of this prospectus), (ii) the date when the sale of all 20,000,000 shares is completed or (iii) when the Board of Directors decides that it is in the best interest of the Company to terminate the offering prior the completion of the sale of all 20,000,000 shares registered under the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is part.

 

Our Common Shares are traded on the OTCQX market in the United States and on the CSE market in Canada. To maintain eligibility for quotation on such markets, issuers must remain current in their quarterly and annual filings with the SEC. We are not a blank check company as defined in Rule 419 of Regulation C under the Securities Act and have no plans or intentions to engage in a business combination after the offering.

 

THE PURCHASE OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH THIS PROSPECTUS INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ AND CONSIDER THE SECTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS ENTITLED “RISK FACTORS” BEFORE BUYING ANY COMMON SHARES OF STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

 

NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus is included in the registration statement that was filed by STEM HOLDINGS, INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

The selling stockholders have advised us that they will sell the shares of common stock from time to time in broker’s transactions, in the open market, on the OTCQX, in privately negotiated transactions or a combination of these methods, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We will pay the expenses incurred to register the shares for resale, but the selling stockholders will pay any underwriting discounts, commissions or agent’s commissions related to the sale of their shares of common stock.

 

Our common stock is traded on the OTCQX under the symbol “STMH” and the CSE under the symbol “STEM”. On October 1, 2020, the closing sale price of our common stock was $0.4036 per share on the OTCQX.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or amendment. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.

 

Investing in these securities involves significant risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is October __, 2020.

 

The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus is included in the registration statement that was filed by STEM HOLDINGS, INC. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company and the selling shareholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  PAGE
SUMMARY INFORMATION AND RISK FACTORS 4
USE OF PROCEEDS 24
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE 25
DILUTION 25
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS 26
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 30
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED 32
INTEREST OF NAMED COUNSEL AND EXPERT 35
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE REGISTRANT 36
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 43
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY 44
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 46
CHANGES AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 53
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS 53
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 61
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 63
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN CONTROL PERSONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 64
EXPERTS 65
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 65
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN MATERIAL BY REFERENCE 65
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES 65

 

 3 

 

 

SUMMARY INFORMATION AND RISK FACTORS

 

The items in the following summary are described in more detail later in this prospectus. This summary provides an overview of selected information and does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in the securities. Before making an investment decision, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section, the financial statements, and the notes to the financial statements.

 

For purposes of this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references herein to “Stem”, “the Company”, “we,” “us,” and “our,” refer to STEM HOLDINGS, INC., a Nevada corporation.

 

SUMMARY OF THE COMPANY

 

Corporate Structure

 

Stem Holdings, Inc. was organized on June 7, 2016 as a Nevada corporation under Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. The Company’s principal office is located at 2201 NW Corporate Blvd, Suite 205, Boca Raton, FL 33431. The Company has six wholly-owned subsidiaries, Stem Group Oklahoma, Inc., Opco LLC, Stem Holdings, Florida, Inc., Stem Holdings Oregon, Inc. and Stem Holdings, IP Inc. and Stem Agri, LLC.

 

Overview of the Business

 

Stem Holdings, Inc. (“Stem” or the “Company”) is a Nevada corporation incorporated on June 7, 2016. The Company is a multi-state, vertically integrated, cannabis company that purchases, improves, leases, operates and invests in properties for use in the production, distribution and sales of cannabis and cannabis-infused products licensed under the laws of the states of Oregon, Nevada, California and Oklahoma. As of June 30, 2020, Stem had ownership interests in 26 state issued cannabis licenses including six (6) licenses for cannabis cultivation, three (3) licenses for cannabis production, five (5) licenses for cannabis processing, one (1) license for cannabis wholesale distribution, one (1) license for hemp production and ten (10) cannabis dispensary licenses.

 

The Company is also currently working towards acquiring additional entities and assisting certain joint ventures with obtaining licenses and permits for cannabis production, distribution and sale in additional US states and foreign countries. Should it be successful in these endeavors, the Company will transform into a multi-state and worldwide, vertically integrated, cannabis company that purchases, improves, leases, operates and invests in properties for use in the production, distribution and sales of cannabis and cannabis-infused products licensed under the laws of the states of Oregon, Nevada, California and Oklahoma.

 

Stem’s partner consumer brands are award-winning, nationally known and include: cultivators, TJ’s Gardens, Travis X James, and Yerba Buena; retail brands, Stem and TJ’s; infused product manufacturers, Cannavore and Supernatural Honey; and a CBD company, Dose-ology. As of June 30, 2020, the Company has acquired six commercial properties and leased a seventh property, located in Oregon and Nevada, and has entered into leases to related entities for these properties. As of June 30, 2020, the buildout of these properties to support cannabis related operations was either complete or near completion.

 

The Company has nine wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Stem Holdings Oregon, Inc., Stem Holdings IP, Inc., Opco, LLC, Stem Agri, LLC., Stem Group Oklahoma, Inc. and Stem Holdings Florida, Inc. Stem, through its subsidiaries, is currently in the process of finalizing the investment in and acquisition of entities that engage directly in the production and sale of cannabis, thereby transitioning from a real estate company, with a focus on cannabis industry tenants, to a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operating company.

 

The Company’s stock is publicly traded and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “STEM” and the OTCQX exchange under the symbol “STMH”.

 

Recent Developments

 

Cannabis is currently a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and is, therefore, illegal under federal law. Even in those states in which the use of cannabis has been legalized pursuant to state law, its use, possession or cultivation remains a violation of federal law. A Schedule I controlled substance is defined as one that has no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. The U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) defines Schedule I controlled substances as “the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” If the federal government decides to enforce the CSA, persons that are charged with distributing, possessing with intent to distribute or growing cannabis could be subject to fines and/or terms of imprisonment, the maximum being life imprisonment and a $50 million fine, even though these persons are in compliance with state law.

 

 4 

 

 

In light of such conflict between federal laws and state laws regarding cannabis, the previous administration had effectively stated that it was not an efficient use of resources to direct federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state-designated laws allowing the use and distribution of medical cannabis. Although they have not done so, the current administration could decide to strongly enforce the federal laws applicable to cannabis. See Justice Department Memo on Marijuana Enforcement discussed below. Any such change in the federal government’s enforcement of current federal laws could cause significant financial damage to us. Legislation is currently pending in the U.S. Congress which would reclassify cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3. If enacted into law, such change could provide a material benefit to businesses engaged in the cultivation and sale of cannabis, including eligibility for federal tax deductions, access to the banking system and generally de-criminalizing the use or sale of cannabis where it is legal under applicable state laws.

 

The Company and our licensed products are also subject to a number of other federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Our licensees and vendors are required to manufacture our products in accordance with the Good Manufacturing Practices guidelines and are subject to regulations relating to employee safety, working conditions, protection of the environment, and other items. The current administration has indicated that it will closely scrutinize the cannabis industry, in particular, recreational marijuana. Changes in laws, rules and regulations or the recall of any product by a regulatory authority, could have a material adverse or positive effect on our business and financial condition.

 

Justice Department Memo on Marijuana Enforcement

 

Because of the inconsistencies in federal and state law, on January 4, 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy announcing what it deemed to be a return to the rule of law and the rescission of previous guidance documents which would include the so called Cole Memorandum. Since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, Congress has generally prohibited the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana. In the memorandum, the Attorney General directed all U.S. Attorneys to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and to follow well-established principles when pursuing prosecutions related to marijuana activities. The DOJ asserts this return to the rule of law is also a return of trust and local control to federal prosecutors who know where and how to deploy Justice Department resources most effectively to reduce violent crime, stem the tide of the drug crisis, and dismantle criminal gangs.

 

We intend to conduct rigorous due diligence to verify the legality of all activities that we engage in and ensure that our activities do not subject us to any of the enforcement priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice.

 

COVID-19

 

In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to a number of other countries, including the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. In addition, as of the time of the filing of this Post-Effective Amendment #1 to Form S-1, several states in the United States have declared states of emergency, and several countries around the world, including the United States, have taken steps to restrict travel. The existence of a worldwide pandemic, the fear associated with COVID-19, or any, pandemic, and the reactions of governments in response to COVID-19, or any, pandemic, to regulate the flow of labor and products and impede the travel of personnel, may impact our ability to conduct normal business operations, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity. Disruptions to our supply chain and business operations disruptions to our retail operations and our ability to collect rent from the properties which we own, personnel absences, or restrictions on the shipment of our or our suppliers’ or customers’ products, any of which could have adverse ripple effects throughout our business. If we need to close any of our facilities or a critical number of our employees become too ill to work, our production ability could be materially adversely affected in a rapid manner. Similarly, if our customers experience adverse consequences due to COVID-19, or any other, pandemic, demand for our products could also be materially adversely affected in a rapid manner. Global health concerns, such as COVID-19, could also result in social, economic, and labor instability in the markets in which we operate. Any of these uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

 5 

 

 

Industrial Hemp

 

Industrial hemp is now legal in the U.S., which advocates hope could eventually loosen laws around the popular marijuana extract CBD.

 

The 2018 farm bill which legalized hemp including a variety of cannabis that does not produce the psychoactive component of marijuana, paved the way to legitimacy for an agricultural sector that has been operating on the fringe of the law. Industrial hemp has made investors and executives swoon because of the potential multibillion-dollar market for cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive compound that has started to turn up in beverages, health products and pet snacks, among other products.

 

Currently, it appears that CBD will remain largely off-limits for ingestible products. The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement saying that despite the new status of hemp, CBD is still considered a drug ingredient and remains illegal to add to food or health products without the agency’s approval, disappointing many hemp advocates, who said they will continue to work to convince the FDA to loosen its CBD rules. The FDA said some hemp ingredients, such as hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil, are safe in food and won’t require additional approvals.

 

The farm bill places industrial hemp, which is defined as a cannabis plant with under 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, under the supervision of the Agriculture Department and removes CBD from the purview of the Controlled Substances Act, which covers marijuana. The law also “explicitly” preserved the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to regulate products containing cannabis, or cannabis-derived compounds.

 

History of the Business

 

The Company was formed to purchase, lease and improve certain real estate properties (the “Properties”), initially in the State of Oregon, which are or will be utilized as either state-licensed cannabis selling retail establishments or state-licensed cannabis growing and processing facilities. The Company previously operated primarily as a real estate holding company, and now engages in direct operations with respect to its properties and activities other than the leasing of properties, funding of capital improvements and administration of its leases and provision of financing to certain lessees.

 

The initial business of the Company was detailed in a multiparty agreement dated as of August 4, 2016, as revised on October 24, 2016 (“Multiparty Agreement”), by and among the Company and the following entities, which are affiliates of the founders of the Company: Oregon Acquisitions, JV LLC, Gated Oregon Holdings LLC, Kind Care Holdings, LLC, and Never Again Real Estate, LLC.

 

The Multiparty Agreement contemplated that the initial Properties owned by the Company and identified in the Multiparty Agreement (and as further described below) would be leased by the Company to subsidiaries of OpCo Holdings, Inc. (“OpCo”). Opco is a company formed in 2016 by the Company’s founders and their affiliates for the purpose of operating multiple cannabis-related businesses initially in the State of Oregon, and the Company’s founders and their affiliated entities directly and indirectly collectively own approximately 24.06% of the outstanding stock of Opco.

 

The following is an overview of acquisitions completed by the Company:

 

In September 2016, the Company entered into a 10-year lease with respect to certain property located in Springfield, OR (the “42nd Street Property”) with the landlord that commenced in November 2016. In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the 42nd Street Property.

 

On November 1, 2016, the Company acquired certain property located in Eugene, OR (the “Willamette Property”). In July 2017, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement with a marijuana dispensary to move into the Willamette Property.

 

 6 

 

 

On February 6, 2017, the Company acquired certain real property located at 7827 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97206 (the “Powell Property”). In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the Powell Property.

 

In January 2018 the Company consummated a “Contract for Sale” whereby it purchased a Farm Property in Mulino OR (the “Mulino Property”) which will be used for the cultivation of cannabis. In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party for the Mulino Property.

 

Investments in Subsidiaries. In April 2018, the Company acquired a 50% interest in NVD RE Corp. (“NVD”). NVD used its available funding to acquire an under- construction cannabis indoor grow building in Nevada and to continue the buildout of the property. NVD leases the property to YMY Ventures LLC (“YMY”).

 

In September 2018, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 50% of the membership interest of YMY. YMY is a startup operation located near Las Vegas, Nevada and owns a license to cultivate and produce cannabis products. The purchase was conditioned upon the receipt of approval of the transfer of ownership by the State of Nevada Department of Taxation. On February 21, 2019, YMY received the approval of the transfer of ownership by the State of Nevada Department of Taxation. Thereafter, on March 1, 2019, the Company closed its acquisition of 50% of YMY. YMY has licenses that allow it to cultivate and produce cannabis and related products, but the Company failed in its attempt to acquire a retail sales license. As of March 31, 2020, YMY had commenced operations and begun generating revenues in the wholesale market.

 

On October 8, 2018, the Company and Yerba Buena Oregon, LLC”) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement which provided for the Company to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities of Yerba. Yerba is a wholesale producer of recreational marijuana flower, by-product and pre-roll product in the state of Oregon.

 

On June 24, 2019, Stem received regulatory approval from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and closed the previously-announced acquisition of Yerba. Yerba operates an award-winning state-of-the-art cultivation facility equipped with an in-house genetics program and a cannabis library consisting of a few hundred strains.

 

On March 22, 2019, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with South African Ventures, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“SAV”) and its shareholders pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of SAV, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. At the closing, SAV had no operations and held approximately $5.75 million cash. In addition, the Company held an additional $2.5 million in escrow for the benefit of SAV, which it delivered to SAV at the closing. These funds were raised by SAV from various investors, who became Company shareholders at the Closing. In 2019, we fully impaired our investment of $5.75 million in Stempro International which was acquired in connection with our acquisition of SAV.

 

On March 29, 2019, the Company executed a definitive agreement to acquire Western Coast Ventures, Inc. (“WCV”). WCV had a working capital surplus of approximately $2,000,000 and had negotiated a joint venture (the “JV”) with ILCA Holdings, Inc. (“ILCA”). ILCA has been issued a limited Conditional Use Permit for a Marijuana Production Facility (a “MPF”) by the City of San Diego, California, which will only be initially granting a total of 40 MPFs. Upon issuance of the final MPF permit and the completed construction, the JV will: (1) operate an advanced cannabis facility to grow and cultivate cannabis; (2) manufacture cannabis-derived products; and (3) distribute cannabis and cannabis-derived products state-wide throughout California. The Conditional Use Permit expires on August 30, 2023 and is subject to various terms and conditions detailed in the Permit.

 

The MPF encompasses 10,700 square feet and will feature state-of-the-art technology for cultivation, production and distribution. A complex, sophisticated, portable racking system will create a 10,000 square foot canopy that has the potential to produce over 6,000 pounds of product per year with the help of high efficiency LED lights. The production sector of the MPF will deliver a large variety of cannabis-derived offerings such as flowers, pre-rolls, infused edibles, and topicals.

 

 7 

 

 

SOK Management, LLC

 

During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company advanced approximately $830,000 to a group of companies attempting to start up cannabis operations in Oklahoma. In May 2019, the Company and the group of entities entered into a formal agreement in which $500,000 of the advanced funds would become a 7% ownership interest in SOK Management, LLC. The remaining $330,000 of advanced funds were returned to the Company, and the Company is no longer required to advance further amounts. The Company accounted for its $500,000 investment in SOK Management LLC using the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a loss on investment of $500,000, bringing its total investment to zero.

 

Tilstar Medical, LLC

 

In April 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 48% of the membership interest of Tilstar Medical, LLC (“TIL”). TIL is a startup operation located in Laurel, Maryland and owns a project management company which assists in procuring licenses for the production and sale of cannabis. The purchase price for the 48% interest was $550,000 to capitalize TIL which under the operating agreement occurs upon the execution of the agreement. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had funded the $550,000 and accounted for its investment using the equity method of accounting. During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a loss on investment of approximately $279,000. The Company was not made aware at time of its investment in the type and magnitude of expenses that would be funded with its investment capital and is currently in the process of renegotiating the terms of the operating agreement. During the year ended September 30, 2019, Tilstar Medical along with its partner, Stem Holdings, Inc, received a letter from the Maryland Medical Cannabis commission with notification that we received stage one pre-approval for a processor license. The Companies application ranked amongst the top nine highest scoring applications for a medical cannabis processor license. Final awards will be issued during calendar year 2020. As of September 30, 2019, the difference between the investment and the percentage of net assets attributable to the Company’s investment was approximately $0.28 million

 

On January 7, 2020, the Company entered into a joint venture with Community Growth Partners, Inc. (“CGP”), a vertically-integrated cannabis company with provisional licensed operations in Massachusetts.

 

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission recently awarded CGP three provisional cannabis licenses for cultivation, manufacturing and retail – making CGP one of the Commonwealth’s first women- and minority-founded and owned businesses to become approved as a vertically-integrated cannabis operation. A new state-of-the-art indoor cultivation and manufacturing facility will be constructed in Northampton, MA for completion by Fall 2020, which will provide extraction and distribution capability. The Company intends to commence Dispensary operations during 2020 to begin serving the market with partner cannabis brands.

 

Stem will acquire 49% of CGP’s common stock and provide CGP with a revolving line of credit for future expansion into Massachusetts. Stem will also provide CGP with administrative, cultivation, and manufacturing support services. Stem will also license and market CGP’s Rebelle™-brand products in its other licensed markets, including California, Oregon, Oklahoma and Nevada. The agreements are subject to approval of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and other local state authorities.

 

On March 5, 2020, the Company closed the acquisition of Seven Leaf Ventures Corp. (“7LV”), a private Alberta, Canada corporation, and its subsidiaries, pursuant to the terms of a share purchase agreement dated March 5, 2020. 7LV owns Foothills Health and Wellness, a medical dispensary, in the greater Sacramento, California area (the “Sacramento Dispensary”). Company management believes that the Sacramento Dispensary is expected to drive synergies with Stem’s premium branded dispensaries in Oklahoma City, OK, and in Eugene and Portland, OR. Stem also expects that the Sacramento Dispensary will receive its recreational license in the near term. 7LV also has an option to acquire a dispensary in Los Angeles, California.

 

 8 

 

 

Company purchase of Opco businesses

 

As long as the Company has fully satisfied all of its obligations and milestones pursuant to the Multiparty Agreement, the Company had the obligation to acquire the business operations of Opco Holdings and its subsidiaries, and Oregon Acquisitions, Gated Oregon and Kind Care (the “Operating Companies”) has the obligation to sell such operations to the Company, within a reasonable time after the Company receives a legal opinion that the operation of the Opco marijuana businesses in the State of Oregon by Stem will not violate any federal or state laws. On August 12, 2019, the parties agreed to waive this condition with the Company proceeding with the purchase of the operating companies.

 

Pursuant to the terms of a merger agreement between the parties, Stem will acquire Opco Holdings and its subsidiaries, and Oregon Acquisitions, Gated Oregon and Kind Care for a deemed aggregate purchase price of 12.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The purchase price will be satisfied by releasing these shares which are currently being held in escrow, to the beneficial owners of above-mentioned entities. As previously disclosed, certain beneficial owners of these entities are also directors, officers and/or shareholders of Stem. The transaction remains subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals from government entities of the State of Oregon and therefore is outside the control of the Company. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur this calendar year. Definitive agreements have been executed and filed with the regulatory agency. On September 4, 2020, the Company received all of the necessary regulatory approvals from government entities of the State of Oregon and, pursuant to the Merger Agreements, the transaction was consummated on that date.

 

Principal Products and Markets

 

The Company’s principal operations have historically related to the leasing of properties, funding of capital, tenant improvements and administration of its leases and provision of financing to certain lessees, engaged in the production and sale of cannabis. While the Company originally operated primarily as a real estate holding company, it is now engaged in direct operations, primarily the production and sale of cannabis in states where it is legal to do so, with respect to its properties and activities other than the leasing of properties, funding of capital improvements and administration of its leases and provision of financing to certain lessees. Historically, the Company’s principal market has been in the State of Oregon, but it is now engaged in expansion into other markets where sale of marijuana is legal, including California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maryland and, Oklahoma.

 

Production and Sales

 

The Company’s business requires that it possess or be in a position to access specialized knowledge and expertise regarding the state-licensed cannabis industry and those persons and entities who are involved in the industry. The Company believes that its management has such specialized expertise and experience, and the Company retains legal counsel that has recognized expertise in the industry. The Company does not believe that any aspect of its business is either: (i) cyclical or seasonal; or (ii) dependent on any particular franchise or license or other agreement to use a patent, formula, trade secret, process or trade name. The Company has not identified any specific environmental protection issues which will affect its business. The Company does not own significant identifiable intangible properties outside of its cannabis licenses.

 

The Company does not believe that its operations are dependent on any factors within the general economy. However, any material changes in either U.S. federal law enforcement priorities or the law of the State of California, Oregon, Nevada Massachusetts, Maryland and Oklahoma or other states where the Company operates affecting the cultivation and sale of cannabis could have a material impact on the Company’s business, particularly since the growth, marketing, sale, and use of marijuana is illegal under federal law.

 

Company Funding

 

Private Placement Transactions

 

The Company has sold shares of its common stock in private placement transactions under the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and certain exemptions of the laws of the jurisdictions where any offering is made. In the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately $35,000 and $6,571,000, respectively.

 

The securities issued in the above-mentioned transactions were issued in connection with private placements exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the terms of Section 4(2) of that Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D. Investors who acquired shares of our common stock in the foregoing private placement transactions were all accredited investors and were required to complete, execute and deliver a subscription agreement and related documentation, which included customary representations and warranties, certain covenants and restrictions and indemnification provisions.

 

 9 

 

 

Convertible Promissory Notes and Mortgages

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company entered into mortgages on two existing properties. The mortgages have a principal amount of $864,000 with maturity dates ranging between March and April 2020. The net proceeds received by these mortgages by the Company was approximately $739,000.

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes with accredited investors and received gross proceeds (before fees and costs) of $2,475,000. The Convertible notes matured between March and June 2019, but were fully converted in October 2018.

 

Short Term Financing

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company entered into two separate promissory notes each for $100,000 with maturity dates in March 2018. One of the notes was repaid in full at maturity, the other note had its maturity date extended to March 2019, its interest rate reduced and had added a conversion feature.

 

In September 2018, in the course of one of the convertible note offerings detailed above, the Company received an advance of $168,000 in contemplation of an investment into the offering. This was fully repaid in the year ended September 30, 2019.

 

CD Special Warrant Offering

 

On December 27, 2018, the Company entered into an Agency Agreement (the “Agreement”) with respect to a private offering of up to 10,000 special warrants of the Company (the “CD Special Warrants”) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$10,000,000 (the “Offering”). On March 14, 2019, the Company closed the second and final tranche of the Offering, consisting of 962 CD Special Warrants at a price of C$1,000 per CD Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds of C$962,000, bringing the total aggregate proceeds for the Offering to C$4,083,000. The Offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Inc., together with a syndicate of agents (the “Agents”).

 

Each CD Special Warrant will be exchanged (with no further action on the part of the holder thereof and for no further consideration) for one convertible debenture unit of the Company (a “Convertible Debenture Unit”), on the earlier of: (i) the third business day after the date on which both (A) a receipt (the “Receipt”) for a (final) prospectus (the “Qualification Prospectus”) qualifying the distribution of the Convertible Debentures (as defined below) and Warrants (as defined below) issuable upon exercise of the CD Special Warrants has been issued by the applicable securities regulatory authorities in the Canadian jurisdictions in which purchasers of the CD Special Warrants are resident (the “Canadian Jurisdictions”), and (B) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) registering the resale of the common shares underlying the Convertible Debentures and Warrants has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration”); and (ii) the date that is six months following the closing of the Offering. The Company has also provided certain registration rights to purchasers of the CD Special Warrants.

 

Each Convertible Debenture Unit is comprised of C$1,000 principal amount 8.0% senior unsecured convertible debenture (each, a “Convertible Debenture”) of the Company and 167 common share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a “Warrant Share”) at an adjusted exercise price of C$1.50 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

 

The Company paid the Agents a cash commission equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds raised in the second tranche of the brokered portion of the Offering(C$157,290), and additional C$50,000 and C$30,000 of fees and expenses. As additional consideration, the Company issued the Agents such number of non-transferable broker convertible debenture special warrants (the “Broker CD Special Warrants”) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of CD Special Warrants sold under the first tranche of the brokered portion of the Offering. Each Broker CD Special Warrant shall be exchanged, on the same terms as the CD Special Warrants, into broker warrants of the Company (the “Broker Warrants”). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Convertible Debenture Unit at an exercise price of C$1,000, until the date that is 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. The distribution of the Broker Warrants issuable upon the exchange of the Broker CD Special Warrants shall also be qualified under the Qualification Prospectus and the resale of the common shares underlying the Broker Warrants will be registered under the Registration Statement. The Company failed to comply on a timely basis with the registration provisions and incurred a 5% penalty as a result.

 

 10 

 

 

The net proceeds of the Offering were used to for expansion initiatives and general corporate purposes.

 

The issuance of the securities was made in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering, Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, Regulation S, in Canada to “accredited investors” within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106 and other exempt purchasers in each province of Canada, except Quebec, and/or outside Canada and the United States on a basis which does not require the qualification or registration.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. This prospectus includes statements regarding our plans, goals, strategies, intent, beliefs or current expectations. These statements are expressed in good faith and based upon a reasonable basis when made, but there can be no assurance that these expectations will be achieved or accomplished. These forward looking statements can be identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect,” and the like, and/or future-tense or conditional constructions “may,” “could,” “should,” etc. Items contemplating or making assumptions about, actual or potential future sales, market size, collaborations, and business opportunities also constitute such forward-looking statements.

 

Although forward-looking statements in this report reflect the good faith judgment of our management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, business, economic and other risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this report, other than as may be required by applicable law or regulation. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected.

 

CORPORATE ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER

 

The Company maintains its designated office at 2201 NW Corporate Blvd, Suite 205, Boca Raton, FL 33431. The Company’s telephone number is (561) 237-2931.

 

THE OFFERING

 

This prospectus will be utilized in connection with the Company’s offering of 20,000,000 shares and the re-sale of 12,681,008 shares which were issued in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Seven Leaf Ventures Corp. (“7LV”) in March 2020. The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sales of the 7LV shares.

 

Common stock currently outstanding 66,616,526 shares(1)

Common stock offered by the Company

Common stock offered by the selling stockholders

20,000,000 shares

12,681,008 shares

Use of proceeds (stock offered by the Company)

 

Use of Proceeds (selling shareholder shares)

Acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by selling shareholders offered by this prospectus.

 

(1) Shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020.

 

 11 

 

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected consolidated statement of operations data contains consolidated statement of operations data and consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal years period ended September 30, 2019, September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017. The consolidated statement of operations data and balance sheet data were derived from the audited consolidated financial statements. Such financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes to the consolidated financial statements starting on page F-1 and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

   9/30/19   9/30/3018   9/30/2017 
Revenues  $2,451,000   $1,296,000   $326,041 
Net loss  $(28,985,000)  $(8,698,000)  $(2,746,652)
Net income loss per share (basic)  $(1.01)  $(1.05)  $(0.49)
Weighted average no. shares (basic)   28,245,297    8,305,383    5,596,989 
Stockholders’ Equity  $23,594,000   $8,287,000   $4,185,000 
Total assets  $31,097,000   $14,377,000   $4,350,000 
Total liabilities  $7,503,000   $6,090,000   $166,000 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware that there are various risks. You should consider carefully these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this annual report before you decide to purchase our securities. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus, prospective investors should carefully consider the following risks before investing in our securities. If any of the following risks actually occur, as well as other risks not currently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus. In assessing the risks below, you should also refer to the other information contained in this prospectus, including the financial statements and the related notes, before deciding to purchase any of our securities.

 

Risks Related to the Marijuana Industry

 

Cannabis continues to be a Controlled Substance under the United States Federal Controlled Substances Act and our business may result in federal civil or criminal prosecution.

 

We are directly engaged in the medical and recreational cannabis industry in the U.S. where local state law permits such activities however all such activities remain illegal under federal law in the U.S. Investors are cautioned that in the U.S., cannabis is highly regulated at the state level. To our knowledge, there are to date a total of 33 states, and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam that have legalized medical cannabis in some form, including California, although not all states have fully implemented their legalization programs. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational use. Fourteen additional states have legalized high-cannabidiol (“CBD”), low Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) oils for a limited class of patients. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of cannabis at the state level, cannabis continues to be categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substance Act of 1970 (codified in 21 U.S.C.A. Section 812) (the “Controlled Substances Act”). Under United States federal law, a Schedule I drug is considered to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for the use of the substance under medical supervision. Federal law prohibits commercial production and sale of all Schedule I controlled substances, and as such, cannabis-related activities, including without limitation, the importation, cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis remain illegal under U.S. federal law. It is also illegal to aid or abet such activities or to conspire or attempt to engage in such activities. Strict compliance with state and local laws with respect to cannabis may neither absolve us of liability under U.S. federal law, nor provide a defense to any federal proceeding brought against us. An investor’s contribution to and involvement in such activities may result in federal civil and/or criminal prosecution, including, but not limited to, forfeiture of his, her or its entire investment, fines and/or imprisonment.

 

 12 

 

 

Violations of any federal laws and regulations could result in significant fines, penalties, administrative sanctions, convictions or settlements arising from civil proceedings conducted by either the federal government or private citizens, or criminal charges and penalties, including, but not limited to, disgorgement of profits, cessation of business activities, divestiture, or prison time. This could have a material adverse effect on us, including our reputation and ability to conduct business, the potential listing of our securities on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”), our financial position, operating results, profitability or liquidity or the market price of our publicly traded shares. In addition, it is difficult for us to estimate the time or resources that would be needed for the investigation or defense of any such matters or our final resolution because, in part, the time and resources that may be needed are dependent on the nature and extent of any information requested by the applicable authorities involved, and such time or resources could be substantial.

 

The approach to the enforcement of cannabis laws may be subject to change, which creates uncertainty for our business.

 

As a result of the conflicting views between state legislatures and the federal government regarding cannabis, investments in, and the operations of, cannabis businesses in the U.S. are subject to inconsistent laws and regulations. The so-called “Cole Memorandum” issued by former Deputy Attorney General James Cole on August 29, 2013 and other Obama-era cannabis policy guidance, discussed below, provided the framework for managing the tension between federal and state cannabis laws. Subsequently, as discussed below, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo and related policy guidance. Although no longer in effect, these policies, and the enforcement priorities established within, appear to continue to be followed during the Trump administration and remain critical factors that inform the past and future trend of state-based legalization.

 

The Cole Memo directed U.S. Attorneys not to prioritize the enforcement of federal cannabis laws against individuals and businesses that comply with state medical or adult-use cannabis regulatory programs, provided certain enumerated enforcement priorities (such as diversion or sale of cannabis to minors) were not implicated. In addition to general prosecutorial guidance issued by the DOJ, FinCEN issued a the FinCEN Memorandum on February 14, 2014 outlining Bank Secrecy Act-compliant pathways for financial institutions to service state-sanctioned cannabis businesses, which echoed the enforcement priorities outlined in the Cole Memorandum. On the same day the FinCEN Memorandum was published, the DOJ issued complimentary policy guidance directing prosecutors to apply the enforcement priorities of the Cole Memo when determining whether to prosecute individuals or institutions with crimes related to financial transactions involving the proceeds of cannabis-related activities.

 

On January 4, 2018, the then Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, the Cole Banking Memorandum, and all other related Obama-era DOJ cannabis enforcement guidance. While the rescission did not change federal law, as the Cole Memo and other DOJ guidance documents were not themselves laws, the rescission removed the DOJ’s formal policy that state-regulated cannabis businesses in compliance with the Cole Memo guidelines should not be a prosecutorial priority. Notably, former Attorney General Sessions’ rescission of the Cole Memo and the Cole Banking Memorandum has not affected the status of the FinCEN Memorandum issued by the Department of Treasury, which remains in effect. In addition to his rescission of the Cole Memo, former Attorney General Sessions issued a one-page memorandum known as the “Sessions Memorandum.” The Sessions Memorandum explains the DOJ’s rationale for rescinding all past DOJ cannabis enforcement guidance, claiming that Obama-era enforcement policies are “unnecessary” due to existing general enforcement guidance adopted in the 1980s, in chapter 9.27.230 of the U.S. Attorney’s Manual (the “USAM”). The USAM enforcement priorities, like those of the Cole Memo, are based on the use of the federal government’s limited resources and include “law enforcement priorities set by the Attorney General,” the “seriousness” of the alleged crimes, the “deterrent effect of criminal prosecution,” and “the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community.” Although the Sessions Memorandum emphasizes that cannabis is a federally illegal Schedule I controlled substance, it does not otherwise instruct U.S. Attorneys to consider the prosecution of cannabis-related offenses a DOJ priority, and in practice, most U.S. Attorneys have not changed their prosecutorial approach to date. However, due to the lack of specific direction in the Sessions Memorandum as to the priority federal prosecutors should ascribe to such cannabis activities and the lack of additional guidance since the resignation of former Attorney General Sessions, there can be no assurance that the federal government will not seek to prosecute cases involving cannabis businesses that are otherwise compliant with state law.

 

 13 

 

 

Such potential proceedings could involve significant restrictions being imposed upon us or third parties, while diverting the attention of key executives. Such proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business, revenues, operating results and financial condition as well as our reputation and prospects, even if such proceedings were concluded successfully in our favor. In the extreme case, such proceedings could ultimately involve the criminal prosecution of our key executives, the seizure of corporate assets, and consequently, the inability of us to continue its business operations. Strict compliance with state and local laws with respect to cannabis does not absolve us of potential liability under U.S. federal law, nor provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against us. Any such proceedings brought against us may adversely affect our operations and financial performance.

 

We may be in violation of anti-money laundering laws and regulations which could impact our ability to obtain banking services, result in the forfeiture or seizure of our assets and could require us to suspend or cease operations.

 

We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations domestically and in the U.S. that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds of crime, including the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada), as amended and the rules and regulations thereunder, the Criminal Code (Canada) and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the U.S. and Canada. Since the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of cannabis remains illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, banks and other financial institutions providing services to cannabis-related businesses risk violation of federal anti-money laundering statutes (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957), the unlicensed money-remitter statute (18 U.S.C. § 1960) and the Bank Secrecy Act, among other applicable federal statutes. Banks or other financial institutions that provide cannabis businesses with financial services such as a checking account or credit card in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act could be criminally prosecuted for willful violations of money laundering statutes, in addition to being subject to other criminal, civil, and regulatory enforcement actions. Banks often refuse to provide banking services to businesses involved in the cannabis industry due to the present state of the laws and regulations governing financial institutions in the U.S. The lack of banking and financial services presents unique and significant challenges to businesses in the cannabis industry. The potential lack of a secure place in which to deposit and store cash, the inability to pay creditors through the issuance of checks and the inability to secure traditional forms of operational financing, such as lines of credit, are some of the many challenges presented by the unavailability of traditional banking and financial services. These statutes can impose criminal liability for engaging in certain financial and monetary transactions with the proceeds of a “specified unlawful activity” such as distributing controlled substances which are illegal under federal law, including cannabis, and for failing to identify or report financial transactions that involve the proceeds of cannabis-related violations of the Controlled Substances Act. We may also be exposed to the foregoing risks.

 

As previously introduced, in February 2014, FinCEN issued the FinCEN Memo providing instructions to banks seeking to provide services to cannabis-related businesses. The FinCEN Memo states that in some circumstances, it is permissible for banks to provide services to cannabis-related businesses without risking prosecution for violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. It refers to supplementary guidance that former Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued to federal prosecutors relating to the prosecution of money laundering offenses predicated on cannabis-related violations of the Controlled Substances Act. Although the FinCEN Memo remains in effect today, it is unclear at this time whether the current administration will follow the guidelines of the FinCEN Memo. Overall, the DOJ continues to have the right and power to prosecute crimes committed by banks and financial institutions, such as money laundering and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, that occur in any state, including in states that have legalized the applicable conduct and the DOJ’s current enforcement priorities could change for any number of reasons. A change in the DOJ’s enforcement priorities could result in the DOJ prosecuting banks and financial institutions for crimes that previously were not prosecuted. If we do not have access to a U.S. banking system, its business and operations could be adversely affected.

 

 14 

 

 

Other potential violations of federal law resulting from cannabis-related activities include the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”). RICO is a federal statute providing criminal penalties in addition to a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. Under RICO, it is unlawful for any person who has received income derived from a pattern of racketeering activity (which includes most felonious violations of the Canadian Securities Administrators), to use or invest any of that income in the acquisition of any interest, or the establishment or operation of, any enterprise which is engaged in interstate commerce. RICO also authorizes private parties whose properties or businesses are harmed by such patterns of racketeering activity to initiate a civil action against the individuals involved. Although RICO suits against the cannabis industry are rare, a few cannabis businesses have been subject to a civil RICO action. Defending such a case has proven extremely costly, and potentially fatal to a business’ operations.

 

In the event that any of our operations, or any proceeds thereof, any dividends or distributions therefrom, or any profits or revenues accruing from such operations in the United States were found to be in violation of money laundering legislation or otherwise, such transactions may be viewed as proceeds of crime under one or more of the statutes noted above or any other applicable legislation. This could restrict or otherwise jeopardize our ability to declare or pay dividends, effect other distributions, and subject us to civil and/or criminal penalties. Furthermore, while there are no current intentions to declare or pay dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future, in the event that a determination was made that our proceeds from operations (or any future operations or investments in the United States) could reasonably be shown to constitute proceeds of crime, we may decide or be required to suspend declaring or paying dividends without advance notice and for an indefinite period of time. We could likewise be required to suspend or cease operations entirely.

 

We may become subject to federal and state forfeiture laws which could negatively impact our business operations.

 

Violations of any federal laws and regulations could result in significant fines, penalties, administrative sanctions, convictions or settlements arising from civil proceedings conducted by either the federal government or private citizens, or criminal charges, including, but not limited to, seizure of assets, disgorgement of profits, cessation of business activities or divestiture. As an entity that conducts business in the cannabis industry, we are potentially subject to federal and state forfeiture laws (criminal and civil) that permit the government to seize the proceeds of criminal activity. Civil forfeiture laws could provide an alternative for the federal government or any state (or local police force) that wants to discourage residents from conducting transactions with cannabis related businesses but believes criminal liability is too difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Also, an individual can be required to forfeit property considered to be the proceeds of a crime even if the individual is not convicted of the crime, and the standard of proof in a civil forfeiture matter is lower than the standard in a criminal matter. Depending on the applicable law, whether federal or state, rather than having to establish liability beyond a reasonable doubt, the federal government or the state, as applicable, may be required to prove that the money or property at issue is proceeds of a crime only by either clear and convincing evidence or a mere preponderance of the evidence.

 

Investors located in states where cannabis remains illegal may be at risk of prosecution under federal and/or state conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and money laundering statutes, and be at further risk of losing their investments or proceeds under forfeiture statutes. Many states remain fully able to take action to prevent the proceeds of cannabis businesses from entering their state. Because state legalization is relatively new, it remains to be seen whether these states would take such action and whether a court would approve it. Our investors and prospective investors should be aware of these potentially relevant federal and state laws in considering whether to invest in us.

 

We are subject to certain tax risks and treatments that could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, prohibits businesses from deducting certain expenses associated with trafficking controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act). The IRS has invoked Section 280E in tax audits against various cannabis businesses in the U.S. that are permitted under applicable state laws. Although the IRS issued a clarification allowing the deduction of certain expenses, the scope of such items is interpreted very narrowly and the bulk of operating costs and general administrative costs are not permitted to be deducted. While there are currently several pending cases before various administrative and federal courts challenging these restrictions, there is no guarantee that these courts will issue an interpretation of Section 280E favorable to cannabis businesses.

 

 15 

 

 

The heightened regulatory scrutiny could have a negative impact on our ability to raise capital.

 

Our business activities rely on newly established and/or developing laws and regulations in multiple jurisdictions, including in Nevada. These laws and regulations are rapidly evolving and subject to change with minimal notice. Regulatory changes may adversely affect our profitability or cause it to cease operations entirely. The cannabis industry may come under the scrutiny or further scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, SEC, the DOJ, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or other federal, Nevada or other applicable state or non-governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations that supervise or regulate the production, distribution, sale or use of cannabis for medical or non-medical purposes in the U.S. It is impossible to determine the extent of the impact of any new laws, regulations or initiatives that may be proposed, or whether any proposals will become law. The regulatory uncertainty surrounding our industry may adversely affect our business and operations, including without limitation, the costs to remain compliant with applicable laws and the impairment of its ability to raise additional capital, create a public trading market in the U.S. for our securities or to find a suitable acquirer, which could reduce, delay or eliminate any return on investment in the company.

 

The potential re-classification of cannabis in the United States could create additional regulatory burdens on our operations and negatively affect our results of operations.

 

If cannabis and/or CBD is re-categorized as a Schedule II or lower controlled substance, the ability to conduct research on the medical benefits of cannabis would most likely be improved; however, rescheduling cannabis may materially alter enforcement policies across many federal agencies, primarily the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”). FDA is responsible for ensuring public health and safety through regulation of food, drugs, supplements, and cosmetics, among other products, through its enforcement authority pursuant to the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (the “FFDCA”). FDA’s responsibilities include regulating the ingredients as well as the marketing and labeling of drugs sold in interstate commerce. Because cannabis is federally illegal to produce and sell, and because it has no federally recognized medical uses, the FDA has historically deferred enforcement related to cannabis to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (the “DEA”); however, the FDA has enforced the FFDCA with regard to hemp-derived products, especially CBD, sold outside of state-regulated cannabis businesses. If cannabis were to be rescheduled to a federally controlled, yet legal, substance, FDA would likely play a more active regulatory role. Further, in the event that the pharmaceutical industry directly competes with state-regulated cannabis businesses for market share, as could potentially occur with rescheduling, the pharmaceutical industry may urge the DEA, FDA, and others to enforce the FFDCA against businesses that comply with state but not federal law. The potential for multi-agency enforcement post-rescheduling could threaten or have a materially adverse effect on the operations of existing state-legal cannabis businesses, including the company.

 

There is uncertainty regarding the availability of U.S. federal patent and trademark protection.

 

As long as cannabis remains illegal under U.S. federal law, the benefit of certain federal laws and protections which may be available to most businesses, such as federal trademark and patent protection regarding the intellectual property of a business, may not be available to us. As a result, our intellectual property may never be adequately or sufficiently protected against the use or misappropriation by third-parties. In addition, since the regulatory framework of the cannabis industry is in a constant state of flux, we can provide no assurance that it will ever obtain any protection of its intellectual property, whether on a federal, state or local level.

 

We could experience difficulty enforcing our contracts.

 

Due to the nature of our business and the fact that our contracts involve cannabis and other activities that are not legal under U.S. federal law and in some jurisdictions, we may face difficulties in enforcing our contracts in federal and certain state courts. The inability to enforce any of our contracts could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition or prospects.

 

 16 

 

 

Risks Related to the Business

 

We will require additional financing to support our on-going operations.

 

We will require equity and/or debt financing to support on-going operations, to undertake capital expenditures or to undertake acquisitions or other business combination transactions. A number of factors could cause us to incur higher borrowing costs and experience greater difficulty accessing public and private markets for debt. These factors include disruptions or declines in the global capital markets and/or a decline in our financial performance, outlook, or credit ratings. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to us when needed or on terms which are acceptable. Our inability to raise financing to fund on-going operations, capital expenditures or acquisitions may adversely affect our ability to fund our operations, meet contractual commitments, make future investments or desirable acquisitions, or respond to competitive challenges and may have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

 

If additional funds are raised through further issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, existing shareholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities issued could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of Common Stock. Any debt financing secured in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities, including potential acquisitions.

 

We may not be able to continue to operate as a going concern.

 

Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Company incurred a net loss of approximately $28,985,000 and used cash in operating activities of approximately $6,549,000. For the nine months ended June 30, 2020, the Company incurred a net loss of $9,033,000 and used cash in operating activities of $4,053,000. In addition, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, in their report on the Company’s September 30, 2019 audited financial statements, raised substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date that the financial statements are issued. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon improving its profitability and raising additional debt or equity capital. No assurance can be given that any future financing, if needed, will be available or, if available, that it will be on terms that are satisfactory to the Company. Even if the Company is able to obtain additional financing, if needed, it may contain undue restrictions on its operations, in the case of debt financing, or cause substantial dilution for its shareholders, in the case of equity financing.

 

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that, if not properly remediated, could result in material misstatements in our financial statements in future periods.

 

Management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019. See “Item 9A – Controls and Procedures” of our Post-Effective Amendment #1 to Form S-1 for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2020 (and amended on March 19, 2020.

 

Although we are undertaking steps to address these material weaknesses, the existence of a material weakness is an indication that there is more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected in the current or any future period. Remediation efforts are still in process and have not yet been completed. We cannot assure you that the steps taken will remediate such weakness, nor can we be certain of whether additional actions will be required or the costs of any such actions.

 

 17 

 

 

In addition, we may in the future identify further material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that we have not discovered to date. Although we are engaged in remediation efforts with respect to the material weaknesses, the existence of one or more material weaknesses could result in errors in our financial statements, and substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify these or other internal control deficiencies. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly, we may be unable to obtain additional financing to operate and expand our business, and our business and financial condition could be harmed. We cannot assure you that we will be able to remediate these material weaknesses in a timely manner.

 

 

We may experience difficulties in generating profits.

 

We may experience difficulties in our development process, such as capacity constraints, quality control problems or other disruptions, which would make it more difficult to generate profits. Our failure to achieve a low-cost structure through economies of scale or improvements in manufacturing processes and design could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We will likely incur significant costs and obligations in relation to our on-going and anticipated business operations.

 

We expect to incur significant on-going costs and obligations related to our investment in infrastructure and growth and for regulatory compliance, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, future changes in regulations, more vigorous enforcement thereof or other unanticipated events could require extensive changes to our operations, increased compliance costs or give rise to material liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the company.

 

Acquisitions may be cash flow negative.

 

We may acquire companies which operate at a negative cash flow, which could place a strain on our cash resources and otherwise have a negative impact on our overall cash flow and need to access additional capital.

 

We are reliant on key employees in the management of our business and loss of their services could materially adversely affect our business.

 

Our success is dependent upon the ability, expertise, judgment, discretion and good faith of our senior management. While employment agreements or management agreements are customarily used as a primary method of retaining the services of key employees, these agreements cannot assure the continued services of such employees. Any loss of the services of such individuals could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition or prospects. We do not carry any key man life insurance.

 

Public company compliance may make it more difficult to attract and retain officers and directors.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules implemented by the SEC required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. As a public company, these rules and regulations increase our compliance costs and make certain activities more time consuming and costly. As a public company, these rules and regulations also may make it more difficult and expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may at times be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. Thus, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers, and to maintain insurance at reasonable rates, or at all.

 

Our business is heavily regulated which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

The business and activities of the company are heavily regulated in all jurisdictions (particularly with respect to state and local governments) where it carries on business. Our operations are subject to various laws, regulations and guidelines by governmental authorities, relating to the manufacture, marketing, management, transportation, storage, sale, pricing and disposal of marijuana and cannabis oil, and also including laws and regulations relating to health and safety, insurance coverage, the conduct of operations and the protection of the environment. Laws and regulations, applied generally, grant government agencies and self-regulatory bodies broad administrative discretion over the activities of the company, including the power to limit or restrict business activities as well as impose additional disclosure requirements on our products and services. Achievement of our business objectives is contingent, in part, upon compliance with regulatory requirements enacted by governmental authorities and obtaining all regulatory approvals, where necessary, for the sale of our products. Similarly, we cannot predict the time required to secure all appropriate regulatory approvals for its products, or the extent of testing and documentation that may be required by governmental authorities. Any delays in obtaining, or failure to obtain regulatory approvals would significantly delay the development of markets and products and could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the company.

 

 18 

 

 

We will incur ongoing costs and obligations related to regulatory compliance. Failure to comply with regulations may lead to possible sanctions including the revocation or imposition of additional conditions on licenses to operate our business, the suspension or expulsion from a particular market or jurisdiction or of our key personnel, and the imposition of fines and censures. In addition, changes in regulations, more vigorous enforcement thereof or other unanticipated events could require extensive changes to our operations, increased compliance costs or give rise to material liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the company.

 

Our industry is subject to intense competition.

 

There is potential that we will face intense competition from other companies, some of which can be expected to have longer operating histories and more financial resources and experience than the company. Increased competition by larger and better-financed competitors could materially and adversely affect the business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the company. If we are unable to compete effectively, it could decrease our customer traffic, sales and profit margins, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Because of the early stage of the industry in which we operate, we expect to face additional competition from new entrants. To become and remain competitive, we will require research and development, marketing, sales and support. We may not have sufficient resources to maintain research and development, marketing, sales and support efforts on a competitive basis which could materially and adversely affect the business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the company.

 

We have a limited operating history.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries have varying and limited operating histories, which can make it difficult for investors to evaluate our operations and prospects and may increase the risks associated with investment into the company.

 

The results of future clinical research may negatively impact our business.

 

Research in Canada, the U.S. and internationally regarding the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis or isolated cannabinoids (such as CBD and THC) remains in early stages. There have been relatively few clinical trials on the benefits of cannabis or isolated cannabinoids (such as CBD and THC). Although we believe that the articles, reports and studies support its beliefs regarding the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis, future research and clinical trials may prove such statements to be incorrect, or could raise concerns regarding, and perceptions relating to, cannabis. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, prospective purchasers of our Common Stock should not place undue reliance on such articles and reports. Future research studies and clinical trials may draw opposing conclusions to those stated in this Prospectus or reach negative conclusions regarding the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing, social acceptance or other facts and perceptions related to cannabis, which could have a material adverse effect on the demand for our products with the potential to lead to a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

 

 19 

 

 

We are reliant on key inputs and changes in their costs could negatively impact our profitability.

 

The manufacturing business is dependent on a number of key inputs and their related costs including raw materials and supplies related to product development and manufacturing operations. Any significant interruption or negative change in the availability or economics of the supply chain for key inputs could materially impact the business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the company. Some of these inputs may only be available from a single supplier or a limited group of suppliers. If a sole source supplier was to go out of business, the company might be unable to find a replacement for such source in a timely manner or at all. If a sole source supplier were to be acquired by a competitor, that competitor may elect not to sell to the company in the future. Any inability to secure required supplies and services or to do so on appropriate terms could have a materially adverse impact on the business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the company.

 

We are subject to environmental regulations.

 

Our operations are subject to environmental regulation in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. These regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of air and water quality standards and land reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner which will require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. There is no assurance that future changes in environmental regulation, if any, will not adversely affect our operations.

 

Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations to cease or be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment, or remedial actions. We may be required to compensate those suffering loss or damage due to our operations and may have civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations.

 

The market for our products is difficult to forecast and our forecasts may not be accurate which could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

We must rely largely on our own market research to forecast sales as detailed forecasts are not generally obtainable from other sources at this early stage of the industry. A failure in the demand for our products to materialize as a result of competition, technological change or other factors could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects of the company.

 

We are subject to certain risks regarding the management of our growth.

 

We may be subject to growth-related risks including capacity constraints and pressure on our internal systems and controls. The ability of the company to manage growth effectively will require it to continue to implement and improve its operational and financial systems and to expand, train and manage its employee base. The inability of the company to deal with this growth may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

 

We may experience difficulties in maintaining adequate internal controls.

 

Certain of our officers and directors lack experience in and with the reporting and disclosure obligations of publicly-traded companies. Such lack of experience may impair our ability to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, which may result in material misstatements to our financial statements and an inability to provide accurate financial information to our stockholders. Effective internal controls are necessary for the company to provide reliable financial reports and to help prevent fraud. Failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our results of operations or cause it to fail to meet its reporting obligations. If the company or its auditors discover a material weakness, the disclosure of that fact, even if quickly remedied, could reduce the market’s confidence in our Consolidated Financial Statements and materially adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock. In addition, our operations, future earnings and ultimate financial success could suffer irreparable harm due to our officers’ and directors’ lack of experience with publicly-traded companies and their reporting requirements in general.

 

 20 

 

 

We are subject to product liability regarding our products, which could result in costly litigation and settlements.

 

As a distributor of products designed to be ingested by humans, the company faces an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation if its products are alleged to have caused significant loss or injury. In addition, the sale of our products involves the risk of injury to consumers due to tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination. Previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption of our products alone or in combination with other medications or substances could occur. We may be subject to various product liability claims, including, among others, that our products caused injury or illness, include inadequate instructions for use or include inadequate warnings concerning possible side effects or interactions with other substances.

 

A product liability claim or regulatory action against the company could result in increased costs, could adversely affect our reputation with our clients and consumers generally, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition of the company. Although we have secured product liability insurance, and strictly enforce a quality standard within the operations, there can be no assurances that we will be able to maintain our product liability insurance on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities. This scenario could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of our potential products. To date, there have been no product related issues.

 

We may have uninsured or uninsurable risks.

 

We may be subject to liability for risks against which we cannot insure or against which we may elect not to insure due to the high cost of insurance premiums or other factors. The payment of any such liabilities would reduce the funds available for our normal business activities. Payment of liabilities for which the company does not carry insurance may have a material adverse effect on our financial position and operations.

 

Certain remedies shareholders may seek against our officers and directors may be limited and such officers and directors may be entitled to indemnification by the company.

 

Our governing documents provide that the liability of our board of directors and officers is eliminated to the fullest extent allowed under the laws of the State of Nevada. Thus, the company and the shareholders of the company may be prevented from recovering damages for alleged errors or omissions made by the members of our board of directors and officers. Our governing documents also provide that the company will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify members of our board of directors and officers for certain liabilities incurred by them by virtue of their acts on behalf of the company.

 

Breaches in our security, cyber-attacks or other cyber-risks could expose us to significant liability and cause our business and reputation to suffer.

 

Our operations involve transmission and processing of our customers’ confidential, proprietary and sensitive information. We have legal and contractual obligations to protect the confidentiality and appropriate use of customer data. Despite our security measures, our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks as a result of third-party action, employee error or misconduct. Security risks, including, but not limited to, unauthorized use or disclosure of customer data, theft of proprietary information, loss or corruption of customer data and computer hacking attacks or other cyber-attacks, could expose us to substantial litigation expenses and damages, indemnity and other contractual obligations, government fines and penalties, mitigation expenses and other liabilities. We are continuously working to improve our information technology systems, together with creating security boundaries around our critical and sensitive assets. We provide advance security awareness training to our employees and contractors that focuses on various aspects of the cyber security world. Because techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or to sabotage systems change frequently and generally are not recognized until successfully launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. If an actual or perceived breach of our security occurs, the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures and our products could be harmed, we could lose potential sales and existing customers, our ability to operate our business could be impaired, and we may incur significant liabilities.

 

 21 

 

 

Our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the U.S. and global economies, disrupted global supply chains, resulted in significant travel and transport restrictions, including mandated closures and orders to “shelter-in-place,” and created significant disruption of the financial markets. We are closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of our business, including how it will impact our customers, employees and supply chain. Given the critical nature of the services and products that we provide, our calibration labs, distribution centers and support offices have remained open during the pandemic. While the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material adverse effect on our reported results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, we are unable to predict the ultimate impact that it may have on our business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows. The extent to which our operations may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted. We may experience additional operating costs due to increased challenges with our workforce (including as a result of illness, absenteeism or government orders), access to supplies, capital, and fundamental support services (such as shipping and transportation). Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, we may experience materially adverse impacts to our business due to any resulting economic recession or depression. Furthermore, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.

 

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also exacerbate other risks discussed in this section, any of which could have a material adverse effect on us. This situation is changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise that we are not aware of currently.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic may significantly disrupt our workforce and internal operations.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic may significantly disrupt our workforce if a significant percentage of our employees are unable to work due to illness, quarantines, government actions, facility closures in response to the pandemic, fear of acquiring COVID-19 while performing essential business functions, or as a result of recent changes to unemployment insurance where unemployed workers can receive, in the short-term, benefits in excess of what would be offered for working for us. As part of our response to the pandemic, we instituted hazard pay for certain employees that perform essential work at customer sites. While we remain fully operational as an essential business, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to adequately staff our operations when needed, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, which may strain our existing personnel, increase costs, and negatively impact our operations. As a result, our internal operations may experience disruptions. The pandemic may create additional challenges in attracting and retaining quality employees in the future. In addition, COVID-19 related-illness could impact members of our board of directors resulting in absenteeism from meetings of the directors or committees of directors, making it more difficult to convene the quorums of the full board of directors or its committees needed to conduct meetings for the management of our affairs. We cannot predict the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt our workforce and internal operations.

 

We have taken certain precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic that could negatively impact our business.

 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken measures intended to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, and communities, which could negatively impact our business. These measures include temporarily requiring all non-essential employees (personnel whose roles allow) to work remotely, restricting work-related travel except for direct onsite service to our customers, restricting non-essential visitors from entering our sites, increasing the frequency and extent of cleaning and disinfecting facilities, workstations, and equipment, developing social distancing plans, and instituting specialized training to ensure the safe handling of our customers’ critical equipment. The health of our workforce, customers and communities is of primary concern and we may take further actions as may be required by government authorities or as we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers and others. In addition, our management team has, and will likely continue to, spend significant time, attention and resources monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking to manage its effects on our business and workforce. The extent to which the pandemic and our precautionary measures may impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time.

 

 22 

 

 

Risks related to this Offering and the Ownership of our Common Stock

 

Our directors and officers control a significant percentage of our Common Stock.

 

The officers and directors of the company currently own a significant portion of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. Our shareholders nominate and elect our board of directors, which generally has the ability to control the acquisition or disposition of our assets, and the future issuance of our Common Stock or other securities. Accordingly, for any matters with respect to which a majority vote of our Common Stock may be required by law, our directors and officers may have the ability to control such matters. Because the directors and officers control a substantial portion of such Common Stock, investors may find it difficult or impossible to replace our directors if they disagree with the way our business is being operated.

 

Because our common stock is deemed a low-priced “Penny” stock, an investment in our common stock should be considered high risk and subject to marketability restrictions.

 

Since our common stock is a penny stock, as defined in Rule 3a51-1 under the Exchange Act, it will be more difficult for investors to liquidate their investment. The SEC defines “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. The shares of Common Stock are covered by the penny stock rules pursuant to Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act, 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 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 securities of the company that are captured by the penny stock rules. Consequently, the penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our securities. Management believes that the penny stock rules could discourage investor interest in and limit the marketability of our Common Stock.

 

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our common stock, which could depress the price of our common stock.

 

In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules that require a broker-dealer to have reasonable grounds for believing that an investment is suitable for a customer before recommending an investment to a customer. Prior to recommending speculative, low priced securities to 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. Pursuant to the interpretation 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. Thus, the FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend our Common Stock to customers which may limit an investor’s ability to buy and sell our Common Stock, have an adverse effect on the market for our Common Stock, and thereby negatively impact the price of our Common Stock.

 

 23 

 

 

Our Common Stock is subject to liquidity risks.

 

Our Common Stock trades on the OTCQX in the United States and the CSE in Canada. The OTCQX is an inter-dealer, over-the-counter market that provides significantly less liquidity than other national or regional exchanges. Securities traded on the OTCQX tend to be thinly traded, highly volatile, have fewer market makers and are not followed by analysts. The SEC’s order handling rules, which apply to NASDAQ-listed securities, do not apply to securities quoted on the OTCQX. Quotes for stocks listed on the OTCQX are not listed in newspapers. Therefore, prices for securities traded solely on the OTCQX may be difficult to obtain and holders of our securities may be unable to resell their securities at or near their original acquisition price, or at any price.

 

We cannot predict at what prices our Common Stock will trade in the future and there can be no assurance that an efficient and liquid trading market will develop or be sustained. Commencing in July 2018, our Common Stock began trading on the CSE. Because our Common Stock may be thinly traded on the CSE, we have limited liquidity on this exchange and we cannot guaranty that we will do so in the future. There is a significant liquidity risk associated with an investment in the company.

 

The shares of our Common Stock we may issue in the future and the options we may issue in the future may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock and cause dilution to investors.

 

We may issue shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase Common Stock pursuant to private offerings and we may issue options to purchase Common Stock to our executive officers pursuant to their employment agreements. The sale, or even the possibility of sale, of shares pursuant to a separate offering or to executive officers could have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock or on our ability to obtain future financing.

 

Our stock price may be volatile and you may not be able to sell your shares for more than what you paid.

 

Our stock price may be subject to significant volatility, and you may not be able to sell shares of Common Stock at or above the price you paid for them. The trading price of our Common Stock has been subject to fluctuations in the past and the market price of our Common Stock could continue to fluctuate in the future in response to various factors, including, but not limited to: quarterly variations in operating results; our ability to control costs and improve cash flow; announcements of innovations or new products by us or by our competitors; changes in investor perceptions; and new products or product enhancements by us or our competitors. An investment in our common stock is speculative and there is no assurance that investors will obtain any return on their investment. Investors will be subject to substantial risks involved in an investment in us, including the risk of losing their entire investment.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

This prospectus relates to both the sale of our common stock by the Company and the resale of our common stock that may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling stockholders.

 

   Use of Proceeds   % 
Dispensaries  $1,250,000    12.50%
Extraction  $625,000    6.25%
Cultivation  $1,875,000    18.75%
Kitchen  $187,500    1.88%
Greenhouse Retro-fit  $187,500    1.88%
Corporate Working Capital  $5,156,250    51.56%
Tenant Improvements  $156,250    1.56%
Initial Acquisition Payment  $187,500    1.88%
Tissue Culture Lab  $156,250    1.56%
Full service extraction lab  $218,750    2.19%
   $10,000,000    100.0%

 

 24 

 

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by selling shareholders in this offering.

 

DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

 

All shares of our common stock being offered by the Company will be sold at a fixed price of $_____, which is based on the prevailing market price for the shares at the time the Offering commences. It is our expectation that the selling shareholders will sell their shares at the market prices prevailing from time-to-time.

 

DILUTION

 

Our historical net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 was approximately $6,695,000, or approximately $0.10 per share of Common Stock. Our historical net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our liabilities. Historical net tangible book value per common share is our historical net tangible book value divided by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 30, 2020.

 

After giving effect to the sale of 20,000,000 shares of our Common Stock in this offering at the public offering price of $0.50 per share of common stock and after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as-adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 would have been approximately $16,670,000 or approximately $0.1925 per share of Common Stock based on our estimate of $25,000 of costs associated with this offering. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $0.0925 per share to our existing Common stockholders, and an immediate dilution of approximately $0.31 per Common Share to new investors purchasing securities in this offering at the assumed public offering price.

 

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis as of June 30, 2020:

 

Assuming 20,000,000 shares sold in Offering (100% of shares offered) with gross proceeds of $10,000,000:    
Assumed Public Offering Price per Share  $0.50 
Historical net tangible book value per Common Share as of June 30, 2020  $0.10 
Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors in this offering  $0.0925 
As adjusted net tangible book value per Common Share after this offering  $0.1925 
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering  $(0.31)
      
Assuming 16,000,000 shares sold in Offering (80% of shares offered) with gross proceeds of $8,000,000     
Assumed Public Offering Price per Share  $0.50 
Historical net tangible book value per Common Share as of June 30, 2020  $0.10 
Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors in this offering  $0.0779 
As adjusted net tangible book value per Common Share after this offering  $0.1779 
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering  $(0.32)
      
Assuming 10,000,000 shares sold in Offering (50% of shares offered) with gross proceeds of $5,000,000     
Assumed Public Offering Price per Share  $0.50 
Historical net tangible book value per Common Share as of June 30, 2020  $0.10 
Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors in this offering  $0.0523 
As adjusted net tangible book value per Common Share after this offering  $0.1523 
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering  $(0.35)
      
Assuming 5,000,000 shares sold in Offering (25% of shares offered) with gross proceeds of $2,500,000     
Assumed Public Offering Price per Share  $0.50 
Historical net tangible book value per Common Share as of June 30, 2020  $0.10 
Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors in this offering  $0.0280 
As adjusted net tangible book value per Common Share after this offering  $0.1280 
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering  $(0.37)

 

The foregoing discussion and table are based on 66,616,526 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of June 30, 2020.

 

There will be no dilution to our existing shareholders from sales by selling shareholders.

 

 25 

 

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares of Company common stock owned as of the date of this prospectus, by the selling stockholders prior to the offering contemplated by this prospectus. None of the selling stockholders is known to us to be a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer. Each of the selling stockholders has acquired his, her or its shares solely for investment and not with a view to or for resale or distribution of such securities. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities.

 

Name (1)  Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to the Offering  

Shares of Common

Stock to be
Sold (2)

   Shares of Common Stock Owned After the Offering   Percentage Shares of Common Stock Owned After the Offering 
Haywood Securities Inc FAO Pernoya Investments Inc. A/C YC1-4141-C
700-200 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6
   180,000    180,000          0    0.00%
BMO Nesbitt Burns ITF Windermere Water &
Sewer Company A/C 710-43230
   965,000    965,000    0    0.00%
Royal Bank of Canada ITF MLTS Holdings Inc. A/C 68986305   90,000    90,000    0    0.00%
Royal Bank of Canada ITF Lyle Oberg A/C 68775521   35,000    35,000    0    0.00%
Min Kyung Flow   90,000    90,000    0    0.00%
Amberidian Capital Inc. c/o Haywood Securities A/C YC1-7591-   90,000    90,000    0    0.00%
Trevor Wong-Chor   90,000    90,000    0    0.00%
PI Financial Corp. ITF CannaIncome Fund Corp. A/C 026-1226-5   50,000    50,000    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial Inc. In Trust For Plant Properties Corp 11ZRYUA
1010 rue de la Gauchetière, O. M100, Montréal QC H3B 5J2
   474,555    474,555    0    0.00%
Andrew Mathews c/o Haywood Securities A/C UCA-6099-U   95,000    95,000    0    0.00%
John Lapsley c/o Haywood Securities A/C UC5-4436-U   20,000    20,000    0    0.00%
TD Direct ITF John Robarts A/C 056653A   35,000    35,000    0    0.00%
Andy Gordon RBC Direct account #686-23922-11   24,000    24,000    0    0.00%
Daniel Stante   14,000    14,000    0    0.00%
Sano Stante and Minette Stante   21,000    21,000    0    0.00%
Scotia ITrade Rick Wong ITF A/C 57235778   34,000    34,000    0    0.00%
Molly Mak c/o Haywood Securities A/C CM1- 0156-C   35,000    35,000    0    0.00%
TD Direct ITF Mi Fong Mak A/C 277799E   21,000    21,000    0    0.00%
RBC Direct Investing Account 686-25739-1-9   16,965    16,965    0    0.00%
Richardson GMP ITF Glenn Hamilton A/C 410-EJ10-A   14,000    14,000    0    0.00%
ATB Securities Inc. ITF
Peter Kaminski A/C A01-1635-A
   10,000    10,000    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial Inc. ITF 0869372 B.C. Ltd. A/C #11ZH13-A
M100-1010 de la Gauchetiere St West Montreal, QC H3B 5J2
   48,533    48,533    0    0.00%
2443904 Ontario Inc.   30,333    30,333    0    0.00%
Scotia Capital Inc. ITF 2599584 Ontario Inc.
150 King Street West, 4th Floor Toronto, ON M5H 1J9
   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%
Scotia Capital Inc. ITF 2599584 Ontario Inc.
150 King Street West, 4th Floor Toronto, ON M5H 1J9
   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%
622319 AB Ltd.   48,533    48,533    0    0.00%
PI Financial Corp ITF 710719 AB – account 03005402   121,333    121,333    0    0.00%

 

 26 

 

 

PI Financial Corp ITF 710719 AB – account 03005402   72,800    72,800           0    0.00%
Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC ITF Abid Mukhtar
Account reference: E5DCASWE
200-483 Bay St., South Tower Toronto, ON, M5G 2N7
   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
AG Homes Ltd.   79,279    79,279    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial Inc. ITF
Alexander Parken 37HQ21A
M100-1010 de la Gauchetiere St,. W Montreal QC H3B 5J2
   12,012    12,012    0    0.00%
AE Moore Farms Ltd.   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Amanda Condic RBC Direct Investing Inc., account # 68487971   25,480    25,480    0    0.00%
Investor Company ITF 5J5636 Anson
Investments Master Fund LP’
   151,667    151,667    0    0.00%
Anthony Weisshaar   35,725    35,725    0    0.00%
Arthur Kwan   2,325,280    2,325,280    0    0.00%
Scotia Capital Inc. ITF Barry Olson a/c 433 92343 22   46,780    46,780    0    0.00%
Haywood Securities Inc. ITF Bboys A/C CC1- 4658-C   59,546    59,546    0    0.00%
RF Securities Clearing LP ITF Bluesky Equities Ltd.
145 King St. West, #200 Toronto ON M5H 1J8
   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
BROOKE CUMMING   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
CannaIncome Fund Corp.   238,186    238,186    0    0.00%
Catherine Butler
626 Riverdale Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2S 0Y3
   61,070    61,070    0    0.00%
STEM HLDGS INC COM
ISIN US85858U1079
   60,667    60,667    0    0.00%
Leede Jones Gable ITF 071-5092-A
Christopher Gulka PO Box 782 Calgary, AB T0K 0M0
   242,672    242,672    0    0.00%
Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC ITF Chris Rowan
A/C E5D-BAMH-E
   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Haywood FAO CRM Global TM1-3282-C   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%
Haywood FAO CRM Global TM1-3282-C   43,680    43,680    0    0.00%
Clay Bradley   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
Clayton Thatcher   192,783    192,783    0    0.00%
Cory Jacobson
RBC Direct Investing Acct# 68942301
   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Craig McKercher   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Gundyco ITF D’ANGELA FAMILY INVESTMENTS INC
Account 432-27107-26
   121,333    121,333    0    0.00%
Scotia Capital Inc. ITF William David Duckett a/c 467 34554 26   59,542    59,542    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial Inc. ITF Derril and Karen Hough A/C 2RS048A
M100-1010 de la Gauchetiere St West Montreal, QC H3B 5J2
   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Dwayne Moore   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
FGU Holdings Corp. A/C 38GNV7E   60,672    60,672    0    0.00%
Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC ITF Robert Pollock E47-9932-E   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%
Fidelity Clearing Canada ULC ITF Robert Pollock E47-9932-E   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%
Floyd Lauer   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
Fotis Kalantzis   60,667    60,667    0    0.00%
PI Financial Corp. ITF GAME 7 INVESTMENTS INC a/c 163-4183-6
666 Burrard St, 19th Floor Vancouver, BC, V6C 3N1
   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
A2 CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Inc.   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%

 

 27 

 

 

Gordon Moore   18,200    18,200          0    0.00%
Greg Moore   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
PI Financial Corp ITF Grover Investments Inc. A/C 163-4923-5   242,672    242,672    0    0.00%
Haywood Securities Inc. ITF Grant Fagerheim a/c cm1-3034-c
700 – 200 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6
   150,546    150,546    0    0.00%
Craig Holten   17,863    17,863    0    0.00%
Jelena Condic
CIBC Investors Edge A/C 58731482
   10,920    10,920    0    0.00%
John A. Smith   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
John D. Wright   60,667    60,667    0    0.00%
Gundyco ITF for The K2 Principal Fund L.P. a/c 515-00018-23   954,926    954,926    0    0.00%
Keith Harris   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
Kevin Taillefer   21,840    21,840    0    0.00%
Lenark Pty Limited
<Lenark Investment A/C>
GPO Box 231 Darwin NT 0801 Australia
   58,240    58,240    0    0.00%
Majol Pty Ltd
<Majol Investment A/C> GPO Box 587
Darwin NT 0801 Australia
   29,120    29,120    0    0.00%
Mario Boscarino   30,334    30,334    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial Inc. ITF 0869372 B.C. Ltd. A/C #11ZH13-A
M100-1010 de la Gauchetiere St West Montreal, QC H3B 5J2
   60,667    60,667    0    0.00%
Michael Yeung   7,280    7,280    0    0.00%
Scotia iTrade
ITF account 57139192
40 King St. West, 15th Floor Toronto, ON M5H 1H1
   109,200    109,200    0    0.00%
Scotia iTrade
ITF account 57139192
40 King St. West, 15th Floor Toronto, ON M5H 1H1
   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
BMO Nesbitt Burns ITF Mildred Kipusi A/C #410-36792-15   121,333    121,333    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial Inc. ITF Jason Mayer A/C 41SP11A
M100-1010 de la Gauchetiere St West Montreal, QC H3B 5J2
   30,328    30,328    0    0.00%
C Neil Smith   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
BMO Nesbitt Burns ITF Parkwood Master Fund Ltd. Acc # 402-21970- 26
Address: 100 King St West, Toronto M5X 1H3
   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%
Haywood Securities Inc ITF - Patrick Coli Account # CC14989C
700 - 200 Burrard Street Vancouver BC V6C 3L6
   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Peter Cheung
76 Rosery Drive NW Calgary, AB T2K1L7
   539,250    539,250    0    0.00%
Quinsam Capital Corp.   121,333    121,333    0    0.00%
Quinsam Capital Corp.   145,600    145,600    0    0.00%
Richard McHardy 30205 River Ridge Drive
Calgary, Alberta T3Z 3L1
   162,990    162,990    0    0.00%
Gundyco ITF ROMEO D’ANGELA OR BEATRICE D’ANGELA
Account 445-02717-23
   121,336    121,336    0    0.00%
Ronald Welsh   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Ronald Welsh   29,771    29,771    0    0.00%
Rosalie Garcia   12,740    12,740    0    0.00%
National Bank Financial ITF Sandra Esposito A/C 05G32EE
M100 – 1010 de la Gauchetière Ouest Montreal QC H3B 5J2
   72,800    72,800    0    0.00%

 

 28 

 

 

Scott Koyich   60,667    60,667         0    0.00%
Shimcity Inc.   60,672    60,672    0    0.00%
Mario Vetro   30,334    30,334    0    0.00%
Sol P. Wright   107,850    107,850    0    0.00%
Stan Moore   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Steve Stathakis   30,334    30,334    0    0.00%
PETERS & CO. LIMITED ITF THOMAS MACINNIS A/C 018-1943-2   121,576    121,576    0    0.00%
PETERS & CO. LIMITED ITF THOMAS MACINNIS A/C 018-1943-2   215,700    215,700    0    0.00%
Trevor Wallace   36,400    36,400    0    0.00%
Warren Seaman
323 Douglasbank Green SE Calgary, AB T2Z 1V7
   18,200    18,200    0    0.00%
Zachary Lister   6,188    6,188    0    0.00%
Former Holders of the Debentures of Seven Leaf Ventures Corp.   172,000    172,000    0    0.00%
Catherine Butler   5,000    5,000    0    0.00%
Investor Company ITF 5J5636 Anson Investment Master Fund LP   25,000    25,000    0    0.00%
QUINSAM CAPITAL CORP.   40,000    40,000    0    0.00%
Gundyco ITF The K2 Principal Fund L.P. a/c 515-00018-23   300,000    300,000    0    0.00%
PI FINANCIAL CORP. ITF BRYAN HENRY A/C 013-4296-3   5,000    5,000    0    0.00%
PI FINANCIAL CORP. ITF WILL PANENKA A/C 025-5964-9   10,000    10,000    0    0.00%
PI FINANCIAL CORP. ITF DARREN POIRIER A/C 025-7613-0   5,000    5,000    0    0.00%
Benjaimin Curry
1087 Salsbury Dr VANCOUVER, BC V5L 4A6
   4,000    4,000    0    0.00%
BROOKE CUMMING
1438 RICHARDS ST UNIT 1206 VANCOUVER, BC V6Z 3B8
   10,000    10,000    0    0.00%
CANDICE PATRICIA PRESCOTT   6000    6,000    0    0.00%
THOMAS A CUMMING
1338 COMMERCIAL WAY PENTICTON BC V2A 3H6
   20,000    20,000    0    0.00%
TREVOR WALLACE 4829 MOUNTAIN ROAD PO BOX 89 BRULE AB T0E 0C0   40,000    40,000    0    0.00%
710719 Alberta Inc.   20,000    20,000    0    0.00%
PI Financial Corp. ITF CannaIncome Fund Corp. A/C 026-1226-5   20,000    20,000    0    0.00%
Qwest Investment Fund Management Ltd   595,238    595,238    0    0.00%
Total   12,681,008    12,681,008    0    0.00%

 

  (1) All shares were issued or are issuable pursuant to the Company’s acquisition of Seven Leaf Ventures Corp. in March 2020. Beneficial ownership information for the selling stockholders is provided as of May 15, 2020 and based upon information provided by the selling stockholders or otherwise known to us.
   
  (2) Assumes the sale of all shares of common stock registered pursuant to this prospectus. The selling stockholders are under no obligation known to us to sell any shares of common stock at this time.

 

 29 

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may, from to time, offer the securities registered hereby at the initial offering price of $________ per share up to this maximum amount. We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, with or without an underwriting syndicate, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers or a combination of these methods. The Company may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

  any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
     
  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;
     
  transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;
     
  through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;
     
  an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
     
  privately negotiated transactions;
     
  short sales;
     
  broker-dealers may agree with the Company to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
     
  a combination of any such methods of sale; and
     
  any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

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.

 

Each Selling Stockholder (the “Selling Stockholders”) of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the principal Trading Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

  ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
  block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities 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;
  in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;
  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; or
  any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

 30 

 

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, 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 the sale of the securities or interests therein, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities 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 such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Because Selling Stockholders 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. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale securities by the Selling Stockholders.

 

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders 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 securities of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

 31 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, the rights and preferences of which may be established from time to time by our board. As of June 30, 2020, there were 66,616,526 shares of Common Stock and no shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters voted upon by our stockholders, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Subject to the rights of holders of any then outstanding shares of our preferred stock, our common stockholders are entitled to any dividends that may be declared by our board. Holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in our net assets upon our dissolution or liquidation after payment or provision for all liabilities and any preferential liquidation rights of our preferred stock then outstanding. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights to purchase shares of our stock. The shares of our common stock are not subject to any redemption provisions and are not convertible into any other shares of our capital stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued in the offering will be, upon payment therefor, fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock will be subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock we may issue in the future.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our board may, from time to time, authorize the issuance of one or more classes or series of preferred stock without stockholder approval. Subject to the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and limitations prescribed by law, our board is authorized to adopt resolutions to issue shares, establish the number of shares, change the number of shares constituting any series, and provide or change the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions on shares of our preferred stock, including dividend rights, terms of redemption, conversion rights and liquidation preferences, in each case without any action or vote by our stockholders. One of the effects of undesignated preferred stock may be to enable our board to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise. The issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders by, among other things:

 

Restricting dividends on the common stock;
diluting the voting power of the common stock;
impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; or
delaying or preventing a change in control without further action by the stockholders.

 

MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

MARKET INFORMATION

 

The Company’s common stock commenced trading on the OTCQB on May 23, 2018 under the symbol “STMH” and the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on July 13, 2018 under the symbol “STEM”. On October 3, 2019, the Company commenced trading on the OTCQX.

 

The following table shows the high and low prices of our common shares on the OTCQB/OTCQX for each quarter for quarter from May 23, 2018 through June 30, 2020. The following quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions:

 

 32 

 

 

Period  High   Low 
May 23, 2018-June 30, 2018  $7.75   $5.00 
July 1, 2018-September 30, 2019  $5.55   $1.70 
October 1, 2018-December 31, 2018  $2.48   $1.80 
January 1, 2019-March 31, 2019  $3.00   $1.32 
April 1, 2019-June 30, 2019  $1.94   $1.00 
July 1, 2019-September 30, 2019  $1.20   $0.80 
October 1, 2010-December 31, 2019  $1.20   $0.79 
January 1, 2020-March 31, 2020  $1.10   $0.31 
April 1, 2020-June 30, 2020  $0.60   $0.38 

 

The market price of our common stock, like that of other early stage cannabis-related companies, is highly volatile and is subject to fluctuations in response to variations in operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products, or other events or factors. Our stock price may also be affected by broader market trends unrelated to our performance.

 

Holders

 

As of June 30, 2020, there were 66.616,526 shares of common stock outstanding and approximately 250 shareholders of record.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

Our transfer agent is Equiniti Stock Transfer, located at 3200 Cherry Creek Dr. South Suite 430 Denver, CO 80209; telephone (303) 282-4800.

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have never paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings to fund ongoing operations and future capital requirements of our business. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.

 

The Securities Enforcement and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has also adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on the Nasdaq system, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system).

 

A purchaser is purchasing penny stock which limits the ability to sell the stock. The shares offered by this prospectus constitute penny stock under the Securities and Exchange Act. The shares will remain penny stocks for the foreseeable future. The classification of penny stock makes it more difficult for a broker-dealer to sell the stock into a secondary market, which makes it more difficult for a purchaser to liquidate his/her investment. Any broker-dealer engaged by the purchaser for the purpose of selling his or her shares in us will be subject to Rules 15g-1 through 15g-10 of the Securities and Exchange Act. Rather than creating a need to comply with those rules, some broker-dealers will refuse to attempt to sell penny stock.

 

The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the Commission, which:

 

contains a description of the nature and level of risk in the market for penny stocks in both public offerings and secondary trading;

 

 33 

 

 

contains a description of the broker’s or dealer’s duties to the customer and of the rights and remedies available to the customer with respect to a violation to such duties or other requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended;
   
contains a brief, clear, narrative description of a dealer market, including “bid” and “ask” prices for penny stocks and the significance of the spread between the bid and ask price;
   
contains a toll-free telephone number for inquiries on disciplinary actions;
   
defines significant terms in the disclosure document or in the conduct of trading penny stocks; and
   
contains such other information and is in such form (including language, type, size and format) as the Securities and Exchange Commission shall require by rule or regulation;

 

The broker-dealer also must provide, prior to effecting any transaction in a penny stock, to the customer:

 

the bid and offer quotations for the penny stock;
   
the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction;
   
the number of shares to which such bid and ask prices apply, or other comparable information relating to the depth and liquidity of the market for such stock; and
   
monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account.

 

In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those 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 acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement, a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks, and a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements will have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for our stock because it will be subject to these penny stock rules. Therefore, stockholders may have difficulty selling their securities.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan category 

Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,

warrants
and rights(a)

   Weighted-average
exercise price
of outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
   Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a) (1)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   -    -    - 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders   1,850,000    2.40    996,453 
Total   1,850,000    2.40    996,453 

 

(1) As of September 30, 2019

 

 34 

 

 

Warrants Issued to Management

 

Name  Grant Date   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Exercisable
Warrants
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Exercisable
Warrants
   Warrant
Exercise
Price($)
   Warrant
Expiration Date
 
None                                                     
                     
Total                    

 

Stock Option Plan

 

The Company adopted the Stem Holdings, Inc 2016 Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Plan (the “Plan”) as of July 27, 2016. The Plan provides for both incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to be granted to employees, officers, consultants, independent contractors, directors and affiliates of the Company. The board of directors establishes the terms and conditions of all stock option grants, subject to the Plan and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Incentive stock options must be granted at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date. The options granted to participants owning more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock must be granted at an exercise price not less than 110% of the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date. The options expire on the date determined by the board of directors, but may not extend mare than 10 years from the grant date, while incentive stock options granted to participants owning more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock expire five years from the grant date. The vesting period for employees is generally over three years. The vesting Period for non-employees is determined based on the services being provided. The maximum number of shares of stock which may be delivered under the plan shall automatically increase by a number sufficient to cause the number of shares covered by the plan to equal 10% of the total number of shares of stock then outstanding on a fully diluted basis.

 

Under ASC Topic 718, the Company estimates the fair value of option awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model. The grant date fair value is recognized over the option vesting period, the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render the requisite service. Under these standards, compensation cost for employee cost for employee stock-based awards is based on the estimated grant-date fair value and recognized over the vesting period of the applicable award on a straight-line basis. As of June 30, 2020, there were options to purchase 4,747,916 outstanding (4,435,416 of which were vested and exercisable options) at an average exercise price of $2.10 per share.

 

Reports

 

We are subject to certain reporting requirements and will furnish annual financial reports to our stockholders, certified by our independent accountants, and will furnish unaudited quarterly financial reports in our quarterly reports filed electronically with the SEC. All reports and information filed by us can be found at the SEC website, www.sec.gov.

 

INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERT AND COUNSEL

 

Counsel

 

The Law Offices of Robert L. B. Diener, 41 Ulua Place, Haiku, HI 96708 was retained for the purpose of preparing this registration statement on Form S-1, rendering the legal opinion attached as an exhibit relative to the validity of the common stock to be issued pursuant to this Registration Statement and for an opinion letter to the auditor which was required to complete the audit enclosed herein. As payment for said service, the Law Office of Robert L. B. Diener estimates that the total fees payable to his firm will be $5,000. The Law Offices of Robert L. B. Diener is not receiving any contingent interest, fee or shares in the Company. The Law Office of Robert L. B. Diener is presently on a monthly retainer arrangement with the Company.

 

 35 

 

 

Independent Registered Accounting Firm

 

The consolidated financial statements of Stem Holdings, Inc. as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 and for the years then ended have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of L J Soldinger Associates, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the September 30, 2019 consolidated financial statements of Stem Holdings, Inc. refers to a change in the method of accounting for stock based compensation in connection with grants of equity to employees and consultants, as part of employment agreements or service contracts, which are fully vested at the time of grant.

 

INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE REGISTRANT

 

Corporate Structure

 

Stem Holdings, Inc. was organized on June 7, 2016 as a Nevada corporation under Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. The Company’s principal office is located at 2201 NW Corporate Blvd, Suite 205, Boca Raton, FL 33431. The Company has six wholly-owned subsidiaries, Stem Group Oklahoma, Inc., Opco LLC, Stem Holdings, Florida, Inc., Stem Holdings Oregon, Inc. and Stem Holdings, IP Inc. and Stem Agri, LLC.

 

Overview of the Business

 

Stem Holdings, Inc. (“Stem” or the “Company”) is a Nevada corporation incorporated on June 7, 2016. The Company is a multi-state, vertically integrated, cannabis company that purchases, improves, leases, operates and invests in properties for use in the production, distribution and sales of cannabis and cannabis-infused products licensed under the laws of the states of Oregon, Nevada, California and Oklahoma. As of March 31, 2020, Stem had ownership interests in 26 state issued cannabis licenses including six (6) licenses for cannabis cultivation, three (3) licenses for cannabis production, five (5) licenses for cannabis processing, one (1) license for cannabis wholesale distribution, one (1) license for hemp production and ten (10) cannabis dispensary licenses.

 

The Company is also currently working towards acquiring additional entities and assisting certain joint ventures with obtaining licenses and permits for cannabis production, distribution and sale in additional US states and foreign countries. Should it be successful in these endeavors, the Company will transform into a multi-state and worldwide, vertically integrated, cannabis company that purchases, improves, leases, operates and invests in properties for use in the production, distribution and sales of cannabis and cannabis-infused products licensed under the laws of the states of Oregon, Nevada, California and Oklahoma.

 

Stem’s partner consumer brands are award-winning, nationally known and include: cultivators, TJ’s Gardens, Travis X James, and Yerba Buena; retail brands, Stem and TJ’s; infused product manufacturers, Cannavore and Supernatural Honey; and a CBD company, Dose-ology. As of June 30, 2020, the Company has acquired six commercial properties and leased a seventh property, located in Oregon and Nevada, and has entered into leases to related entities for these properties. As of June 30, 2020, the buildout of these properties to support cannabis related operations was either complete or near completion.

 

The Company has six wholly-owned subsidiaries –Stem Holdings Oregon, Inc., Stem Holdings IP, Inc., Opco, LLC, Stem Agri, LLC., Stem Group Oklahoma, Inc. and Stem Holdings Florida, Inc. Stem, through its subsidiaries, is currently in the process of finalizing the investment in and acquisition of entities that engage directly in the production and sale of cannabis, thereby transitioning from a real estate company, with a focus on cannabis industry tenants, to a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operating company.

 

The Company’s stock is publicly traded and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “STEM” and the OTCQX exchange under the symbol “STMH”.

 

 36 

 

 

Recent Developments

 

Cannabis is currently a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and is, therefore, illegal under federal law. Even in those states in which the use of cannabis has been legalized pursuant to state law, its use, possession or cultivation remains a violation of federal law. A Schedule I controlled substance is defined as one that has no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. The U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) defines Schedule I controlled substances as “the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.” If the federal government decides to enforce the CSA, persons that are charged with distributing, possessing with intent to distribute or growing cannabis could be subject to fines and/or terms of imprisonment, the maximum being life imprisonment and a $50 million fine, even though these persons are in compliance with state law.

 

In light of such conflict between federal laws and state laws regarding cannabis, the previous administration had effectively stated that it was not an efficient use of resources to direct federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state-designated laws allowing the use and distribution of medical cannabis. Although they have not done so, the current administration could decide to strongly enforce the federal laws applicable to cannabis. See Justice Department Memo on Marijuana Enforcement discussed below. Any such change in the federal government’s enforcement of current federal laws could cause significant financial damage to us. Legislation is currently pending in the U.S. Congress which would reclassify cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3. If enacted into law, such change could provide a material benefit to businesses engaged in the cultivation and sale of cannabis, including eligibility for federal tax deductions, access to the banking system and generally de-criminalizing the use or sale of cannabis where it is legal under applicable state laws.

 

The Company and our licensed products are also subject to a number of other federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Our licensees and vendors are required to manufacture our products in accordance with the Good Manufacturing Practices guidelines and are subject to regulations relating to employee safety, working conditions, protection of the environment, and other items. The current administration has indicated that it will closely scrutinize the cannabis industry, in particular, recreational marijuana. Changes in laws, rules and regulations or the recall of any product by a regulatory authority, could have a material adverse or positive effect on our business and financial condition.

 

Justice Department Memo on Marijuana Enforcement

 

Because of the inconsistencies in federal and state law, on January 4, 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy announcing what it deemed to be a return to the rule of law and the rescission of previous guidance documents which would include the so called Cole Memorandum. Since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, Congress has generally prohibited the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana. In the memorandum, the Attorney General directed all U.S. Attorneys to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and to follow well-established principles when pursuing prosecutions related to marijuana activities. The DOJ asserts this return to the rule of law is also a return of trust and local control to federal prosecutors who know where and how to deploy Justice Department resources most effectively to reduce violent crime, stem the tide of the drug crisis, and dismantle criminal gangs.

 

We intend to conduct rigorous due diligence to verify the legality of all activities that we engage in and ensure that our activities do not subject us to any of the enforcement priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice.

 

COVID-19

 

In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to a number of other countries, including the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. In addition, as of the time of the filing of this Post-Effective Amendment #1 to Form S-1, several states in the United States have declared states of emergency, and several countries around the world, including the United States, have taken steps to restrict travel. The existence of a worldwide pandemic, the fear associated with COVID-19, or any, pandemic, and the reactions of governments in response to COVID-19, or any, pandemic, to regulate the flow of labor and products and impede the travel of personnel, may impact our ability to conduct normal business operations, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity. Disruptions to our supply chain and business operations disruptions to our retail operations and our ability to collect rent from the properties which we own, personnel absences, or restrictions on the shipment of our or our suppliers’ or customers’ products, any of which could have adverse ripple effects throughout our business. If we need to close any of our facilities or a critical number of our employees become too ill to work, our production ability could be materially adversely affected in a rapid manner. Similarly, if our customers experience adverse consequences due to COVID-19, or any other, pandemic, demand for our products could also be materially adversely affected in a rapid manner. Global health concerns, such as COVID-19, could also result in social, economic, and labor instability in the markets in which we operate. Any of these uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

 37 

 

 

Industrial Hemp

 

Industrial hemp is now legal in the U.S., which advocates hope could eventually loosen laws around the popular marijuana extract CBD.

 

The 2018 farm bill which legalized hemp including a variety of cannabis that does not produce the psychoactive component of marijuana, paved the way to legitimacy for an agricultural sector that has been operating on the fringe of the law. Industrial hemp has made investors and executives swoon because of the potential multibillion-dollar market for cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive compound that has started to turn up in beverages, health products and pet snacks, among other products.

 

Currently, it appears that CBD will remain largely off-limits for ingestible products. The Food and Drug Administration issued a statement saying that despite the new status of hemp, CBD is still considered a drug ingredient and remains illegal to add to food or health products without the agency’s approval, disappointing many hemp advocates, who said they will continue to work to convince the FDA to loosen its CBD rules. The FDA said some hemp ingredients, such as hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein and hemp seed oil, are safe in food and won’t require additional approvals.

 

The farm bill places industrial hemp, which is defined as a cannabis plant with under 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, under the supervision of the Agriculture Department and removes CBD from the purview of the Controlled Substances Act, which covers marijuana. The law also “explicitly” preserved the Food and Drug Administration’s authority to regulate products containing cannabis, or cannabis-derived compounds.

 

History of the Business

 

The Company was formed to purchase, lease and improve certain real estate properties (the “Properties”), initially in the State of Oregon, which are or will be utilized as either state-licensed cannabis selling retail establishments or state-licensed cannabis growing and processing facilities. The Company previously operated primarily as a real estate holding company, and now engages in direct operations with respect to its properties and activities other than the leasing of properties, funding of capital improvements and administration of its leases and provision of financing to certain lessees.

 

The initial business of the Company was detailed in a multiparty agreement dated as of August 4, 2016, as revised on October 24, 2016 (“Multiparty Agreement”), by and among the Company and the following entities, which are affiliates of the founders of the Company: Oregon Acquisitions, JV LLC, Gated Oregon Holdings LLC, Kind Care Holdings, LLC, and Never Again Real Estate, LLC.

 

The Multiparty Agreement contemplated that the initial Properties owned by the Company and identified in the Multiparty Agreement (and as further described below) would be leased by the Company to subsidiaries of OpCo Holdings, Inc. (“OpCo”). Opco is a company formed in 2016 by the Company’s founders and their affiliates for the purpose of operating multiple cannabis-related businesses initially in the State of Oregon, and the Company’s founders and their affiliated entities directly and indirectly collectively own approximately 24.06% of the outstanding stock of Opco.

 

 38 

 

 

The following is an overview of acquisitions completed by the Company:

 

In September 2016, the Company entered into a 10-year lease with respect to certain property located in Springfield, OR (the “42nd Street Property”) with the landlord that commenced in November 2016. In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the 42nd Street Property.

 

On November 1, 2016, the Company acquired certain property located in Eugene, OR (the “Willamette Property”). In July 2017, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement with a marijuana dispensary to move into the Willamette Property.

 

On February 6, 2017, the Company acquired certain real property located at 7827 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97206 (the “Powell Property”). In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the Powell Property.

 

In January 2018 the Company consummated a “Contract for Sale” whereby it purchased a Farm Property in Mulino OR (the “Mulino Property”) which will be used for the cultivation of cannabis. In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a third party for the Mulino Property.

 

Investments in Subsidiaries. In April 2018, the Company acquired a 50% interest in NVD RE Corp. (“NVD”). NVD used its available funding to acquire an under- construction cannabis indoor grow building in Nevada and to continue the buildout of the property. NVD leases the property to YMY Ventures LLC (“YMY”).

 

In September 2018, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 50% of the membership interest of YMY. YMY is a startup operation located near Las Vegas, Nevada and owns a license to cultivate and produce cannabis products. The purchase was conditioned upon the receipt of approval of the transfer of ownership by the State of Nevada Department of Taxation. On February 21, 2019, YMY received the approval of the transfer of ownership by the State of Nevada Department of Taxation. Thereafter, on March 1, 2019, the Company closed its acquisition of 50% of YMY. YMY has licenses that allow it to cultivate and produce cannabis and related products, but the Company failed in its attempt to acquire a retail sales license. As of March 31, 2020, YMY had commenced operations and begun generating revenues in the wholesale market.

 

On October 8, 2018, the Company and Yerba Buena Oregon, LLC”) entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement which provided for the Company to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities of Yerba. Yerba is a wholesale producer of recreational marijuana flower, by-product and pre-roll product in the state of Oregon.

 

On June 24, 2019, Stem received regulatory approval from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and closed the previously-announced acquisition of Yerba. Yerba operates an award-winning state-of-the-art cultivation facility equipped with an in-house genetics program and a cannabis library consisting of a few hundred strains.

 

On March 22, 2019, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with South African Ventures, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“SAV”) and its shareholders pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of SAV, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. At the closing, SAV had no operations and held approximately $5.75 million cash. In addition, the Company held an additional $2.5 million in escrow for the benefit of SAV, which it delivered to SAV at the closing. These funds were raised by SAV from various investors, who became Company shareholders at the Closing. In 2019, we fully impaired our investment of $5.75 million in Stempro International which was acquired in connection with our acquisition of SAV.

 

On March 29, 2019, the Company executed a definitive agreement to acquire Western Coast Ventures, Inc. (“WCV”). WCV had a working capital surplus of approximately $2,000,000 and had negotiated a joint venture (the “JV”) with ILCA Holdings, Inc. (“ILCA”). ILCA has been issued a limited Conditional Use Permit for a Marijuana Production Facility (a “MPF”) by the City of San Diego, California, which will only be initially granting a total of 40 MPFs. Upon issuance of the final MPF permit and the completed construction, the JV will: (1) operate an advanced cannabis facility to grow and cultivate cannabis; (2) manufacture cannabis-derived products; and (3) distribute cannabis and cannabis-derived products state-wide throughout California. The Conditional Use Permit expires on August 30, 2023 and is subject to various terms and conditions detailed in the Permit.

 

The MPF encompasses 10,700 square feet and will feature state-of-the-art technology for cultivation, production and distribution. A complex, sophisticated, portable racking system will create a 10,000 square foot canopy that has the potential to produce over 6,000 pounds of product per year with the help of high efficiency LED lights. The production sector of the MPF will deliver a large variety of cannabis-derived offerings such as flowers, pre-rolls, infused edibles, and topicals.

 

 39 

 

 

SOK Management, LLC

 

During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company advanced approximately $830,000 to a group of companies attempting to start up cannabis operations in Oklahoma. In May 2019, the Company and the group of entities entered into a formal agreement in which $500,000 of the advanced funds would become a 7% ownership interest in SOK Management, LLC. The remaining $330,000 of advanced funds were returned to the Company, and the Company is no longer required to advance further amounts. The Company accounted for its $500,000 investment in SOK Management LLC using the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a loss on investment of $500,000, bringing its total investment to zero.

 

Tilstar Medical, LLC

 

In April 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire 48% of the membership interest of Tilstar Medical, LLC (“TIL”). TIL is a startup operation located in Laurel, Maryland and owns a project management company which assists in procuring licenses for the production and sale of cannabis. The purchase price for the 48% interest was $550,000 to capitalize TIL which under the operating agreement occurs upon the execution of the agreement. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had funded the $550,000 and accounted for its investment using the equity method of accounting. During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company recorded a loss on investment of approximately $279,000. The Company was not made aware at time of its investment in the type and magnitude of expenses that would be funded with its investment capital and is currently in the process of renegotiating the terms of the operating agreement. During the year ended September 30, 2019, Tilstar Medical along with its partner, Stem Holdings, Inc, received a letter from the Maryland Medical Cannabis commission with notification that we received stage one pre-approval for a processor license. The Companies application ranked amongst the top nine highest scoring applications for a medical cannabis processor license. Final awards will be issued during calendar year 2020. As of September 30, 2019, the difference between the investment and the percentage of net assets attributable to the Company’s investment was approximately $0.28 million

 

On January 7, 2020, the Company entered into a joint venture with Community Growth Partners, Inc. (“CGP”), a vertically-integrated cannabis company with provisional licensed operations in Massachusetts.

 

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission recently awarded CGP three provisional cannabis licenses for cultivation, manufacturing and retail – making CGP one of the Commonwealth’s first women- and minority-founded and owned businesses to become approved as a vertically-integrated cannabis operation. A new state-of-the-art indoor cultivation and manufacturing facility will be constructed in Northampton, MA for completion by Fall 2020, which will provide extraction and distribution capability. The Company intends to commence Dispensary operations during 2020 to begin serving the market with partner cannabis brands.

 

Stem will acquire 49% of CGP’s common stock and provide CGP with a revolving line of credit for future expansion into Massachusetts. Stem will also provide CGP with administrative, cultivation, and manufacturing support services. Stem will also license and market CGP’s Rebelle™-brand products in its other licensed markets, including California, Oregon, Oklahoma and Nevada. The agreements are subject to approval of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission and other local state authorities.

 

On March 5, 2020, the Company closed the acquisition of Seven Leaf Ventures Corp. (“7LV”), a private Alberta, Canada corporation, and its subsidiaries, pursuant to the terms of a share purchase agreement dated March 5, 2020. 7LV owns Foothills Health and Wellness, a medical dispensary, in the greater Sacramento, California area (the “Sacramento Dispensary”). Company management believes that the Sacramento Dispensary is expected to drive synergies with Stem’s premium branded dispensaries in Oklahoma City, OK, and in Eugene and Portland, OR. Stem also expects that the Sacramento Dispensary will receive its recreational license in the near term. 7LV also has an option to acquire a dispensary in Los Angeles, California.

 

 40 

 

 

Company purchase of Opco businesses

 

As long as the Company has fully satisfied all of its obligations and milestones pursuant to the Multiparty Agreement, the Company had the obligation to acquire the business operations of Opco Holdings and its subsidiaries, and Oregon Acquisitions, Gated Oregon and Kind Care (the “Operating Companies”) has the obligation to sell such operations to the Company, within a reasonable time after the Company receives a legal opinion that the operation of the Opco marijuana businesses in the State of Oregon by Stem will not violate any federal or state laws. On August 12, 2019, the parties agreed to waive this condition with the Company proceeding with the purchase of the operating companies.

 

Pursuant to the terms of a merger agreement between the parties, Stem will acquire Opco Holdings and its subsidiaries, and Oregon Acquisitions, Gated Oregon and Kind Care for a deemed aggregate purchase price of 12.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock. The purchase price will be satisfied by releasing these shares which are currently being held in escrow, to the beneficial owners of above-mentioned entities. As previously disclosed, certain beneficial owners of these entities are also directors, officers and/or shareholders of Stem. The transaction remains subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals from government entities of the State of Oregon and therefore is outside the control of the Company. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur this calendar year. Definitive agreements have been executed and filed with the regulatory agency. On September 4, 2020, the Company received all of the necessary regulatory approvals from government entities of the State of Oregon and, pursuant to the Merger Agreements, the transaction was consummated on that date.

 

Principal Products and Markets

 

The Company’s principal operations have historically related to the leasing of properties, funding of capital, tenant improvements and administration of its leases and provision of financing to certain lessees, engaged in the production and sale of cannabis. While the Company originally operated primarily as a real estate holding company, it is now engaged in direct operations, primarily the production and sale of cannabis in states where it is legal to do so, with respect to its properties and activities other than the leasing of properties, funding of capital improvements and administration of its leases and provision of financing to certain lessees. Historically, the Company’s principal market has been in the State of Oregon, but it is now engaged in expansion into other markets where sale of marijuana is legal, including California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maryland and, Oklahoma.

 

Production and Sales

 

The Company’s business requires that it possess or be in a position to access specialized knowledge and expertise regarding the state-licensed cannabis industry and those persons and entities who are involved in the industry. The Company believes that its management has such specialized expertise and experience, and the Company retains legal counsel that has recognized expertise in the industry. The Company does not believe that any aspect of its business is either: (i) cyclical or seasonal; or (ii) dependent on any particular franchise or license or other agreement to use a patent, formula, trade secret, process or trade name. The Company has not identified any specific environmental protection issues which will affect its business. The Company does not own significant identifiable intangible properties outside of its cannabis licenses.

 

The Company does not believe that its operations are dependent on any factors within the general economy. However, any material changes in either U.S. federal law enforcement priorities or the law of the State of California, Oregon, Nevada Massachusetts, Maryland and Oklahoma or other states where the Company operates affecting the cultivation and sale of cannabis could have a material impact on the Company’s business, particularly since the growth, marketing, sale, and use of marijuana is illegal under federal law.

 

Company Funding

 

Private Placement Transactions

 

The Company has sold shares of its common stock in private placement transactions under the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and certain exemptions of the laws of the jurisdictions where any offering is made. In the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company raised gross proceeds of approximately $35,000 and $6,571,000, respectively.

 

 41 

 

 

The securities issued in the above-mentioned transactions were issued in connection with private placements exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the terms of Section 4(2) of that Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D. Investors who acquired shares of our common stock in the foregoing private placement transactions were all accredited investors and were required to complete, execute and deliver a subscription agreement and related documentation, which included customary representations and warranties, certain covenants and restrictions and indemnification provisions.

 

Convertible Promissory Notes and Mortgages

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company entered into mortgages on two existing properties. The mortgages have a principal amount of $864,000 with maturity dates ranging between March and April 2020. The net proceeds received by these mortgages by the Company was approximately $739,000.

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes with accredited investors and received gross proceeds (before fees and costs) of $2,475,000. The Convertible notes matured between March and June 2019, but were fully converted in October 2018.

 

Short Term Financing

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, the Company entered into two separate promissory notes each for $100,000 with maturity dates in March 2018. One of the notes was repaid in full at maturity, the other note had its maturity date extended to March 2019, its interest rate reduced and had added a conversion feature.

 

In September 2018, in the course of one of the convertible note offerings detailed above, the Company received an advance of $168,000 in contemplation of an investment into the offering. This was fully repaid in the year ended September 30, 2019.

 

CD Special Warrant Offering

 

On December 27, 2018, the Company entered into an Agency Agreement (the “Agreement”) with respect to a private offering of up to 10,000 special warrants of the Company (the “CD Special Warrants”) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$10,000,000 (the “Offering”). On March 14, 2019, the Company closed the second and final tranche of the Offering, consisting of 962 CD Special Warrants at a price of C$1,000 per CD Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds of C$962,000, bringing the total aggregate proceeds for the Offering to C$4,083,000. The Offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Inc., together with a syndicate of agents (the “Agents”).

 

Each CD Special Warrant will be exchanged (with no further action on the part of the holder thereof and for no further consideration) for one convertible debenture unit of the Company (a “Convertible Debenture Unit”), on the earlier of: (i) the third business day after the date on which both (A) a receipt (the “Receipt”) for a (final) prospectus (the “Qualification Prospectus”) qualifying the distribution of the Convertible Debentures (as defined below) and Warrants (as defined below) issuable upon exercise of the CD Special Warrants has been issued by the applicable securities regulatory authorities in the Canadian jurisdictions in which purchasers of the CD Special Warrants are resident (the “Canadian Jurisdictions”), and (B) a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) registering the resale of the common shares underlying the Convertible Debentures and Warrants has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration”); and (ii) the date that is six months following the closing of the Offering. The Company has also provided certain registration rights to purchasers of the CD Special Warrants.

 

Each Convertible Debenture Unit is comprised of C$1,000 principal amount 8.0% senior unsecured convertible debenture (each, a “Convertible Debenture”) of the Company and 167 common share purchase warrants of the Company (each, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a “Warrant Share”) at an adjusted exercise price of C$1.50 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

 

 42 

 

 

The Company paid the Agents a cash commission equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds raised in the second tranche of the brokered portion of the Offering(C$157,290), and additional C$50,000 and C$30,000 of fees and expenses. As additional consideration, the Company issued the Agents such number of non-transferable broker convertible debenture special warrants (the “Broker CD Special Warrants”) as is equal to 7.0% of the number of CD Special Warrants sold under the first tranche of the brokered portion of the Offering. Each Broker CD Special Warrant shall be exchanged, on the same terms as the CD Special Warrants, into broker warrants of the Company (the “Broker Warrants”). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Convertible Debenture Unit at an exercise price of C$1,000, until the date that is 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. The distribution of the Broker Warrants issuable upon the exchange of the Broker CD Special Warrants shall also be qualified under the Qualification Prospectus and the resale of the common shares underlying the Broker Warrants will be registered under the Registration Statement. The Company failed to comply on a timely basis with the registration provisions and incurred a 5% penalty as a result.

 

The net proceeds of the Offering were used to for expansion initiatives and general corporate purposes.

 

The issuance of the securities was made in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering, Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, Regulation S, in Canada to “accredited investors” within the meaning of National Instrument 45-106 and other exempt purchasers in each province of Canada, except Quebec, and/or outside Canada and the United States on a basis which does not require the qualification or registration.

 

OTHER

 

Employees

 

We currently have approximately 100 employees.

 

Websites

 

The Company operates websites at www.stemholdings.com.

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

D.H. Flamingo, Inc. v. Department of Taxation, et. al.

 

On February 27, 2020, a subsidiary of the Company (YMY Ventures, LLC) was served with a Summons and Second Amended Complaint in a matter pending in the District Court of Clark County Nevada (Case # A-19-787004-B) which is styled “D.H. Flamingo, Inc. v. Department of Taxation, et. al.” (the DOT Litigation”). In this matter, the Plaintiff is alleging that certain parties (including YMY Ventures, LLC) received Conditional Recreational Marijuana Establishment Licenses, while certain other parties (including Plaintiff) were denied licenses. In the matter, Plaintiff seeks declaratory relief, injunctive relief, relief from violation of procedural and substantive due process, violation of equal protection, unjust enrichment, judicial review of the entire matter, together with a Petition for Writ of Mandamus. The Plaintiff seeks damages in an unspecified amount. Thereafter, on April 20, 2020, YMY Ventures, LLC filed a Notice of Non-Participation and Request for Dismissal. The Company believes it will ultimately be dismissed from the action without any liability exposure. Notwithstanding, there is no guarantee at this time that this will occur, and the ultimate result of the matter could potentially be the loss of YMY Ventures, LLC’s Conditional Recreational Marijuana Establishment License. The Company believes that this result would be highly unlikely and that the matter will be fully resolved as to YMY Ventures, LLC in the near term.

 

Chord Advisors, LLC v. Stem Holdings, Inc., et. al.

 

On June 5, 2020 Chord Advisors, LLC (“Chord”) filed a Complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial District in and for Palm Beach County, Florida (Case # 502020CA006097) alleging that Stem Holdings, Inc. owes Chord approximately $260,000 on account of fees for accounting services accrued pursuant to a Letter of Agreement dated October 2019. On July 6, 2020, the Company filed an Answer and Affirmative Defenses to the Complaint. This matter is in its early stages and, while the Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the matters detailed in the Complaint, it is impossible to predict the outcome of the matter.

 

 43 

 

 

Lili Enterprises, LLC adv. YMY Ventures and OPCO, LLC

 

In July 2020, a dispute arose with the Company’s joint venture partner in connection with the Company’s operations in the State of Nevada. In this regard, the Company’s joint venture partner claims that it is owed certain amounts totaling approximately $307,500 pursuant to the joint venture Operating Agreement. On the other hand, the Company claims that the joint venture partner is in breach of its agreements with the Company and that the Company has heretofore advanced over $1 million in excess of its commitments under the Operating Agreement. The operative agreements require the disputes to be arbitrated. The parties have engaged an arbitrator and the matters are set for an arbitration hearing in February 2021. Ultimately, while the Company believes that a settlement will be reached, it is impossible to predict the outcome of the matter.

 

Additionally, we are subject from time to time to litigation, claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. As of September 30, 2020, we were not a party to any material litigation, claim or suit whose outcome could have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

 

In March 2018, the Company entered into a 3-year lease for the occupancy of the Company’s corporate office located in Boca Raton, Florida. The lease requires the Company to pay a base rental fee of $3,024 per month. All taxes, maintenance and utilities are billed separately. In addition, the Company also remitted $6,048 or a security deposit to the landlord. The landlord provided the Company with 2 free months.

 

In September 2016, the Company entered into a 10-year lease with respect to certain property located in Springfield, OR (the “42nd Street Property”) with the landlord that commenced in November 2016. The lease requires the Company to pay a base rental fee of $7,033 plus an additional estimated $315 per month in real estate taxes in which the base rental fee escalates each year by approximately 2%. All taxes (including reconciling real estate taxes), maintenance and utilities are included at the end of each year as a one-time payment. In addition, the Company also remitted $14,000 for a security deposit to the landlord. In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement to lease the property to a related entity. The lease agreement is for a term of ten years, after completion of the buildout by the Company of the property, and a monthly rent obligation of $64,640, subject to annual increases of 3% per year plus an amount for additional rent based on final buildout costs incurred by the Company. The lease is a double net lease with maintenance and real property taxes to be paid by the tenant and insurance costs paid by the Company. Rent payments have not yet commenced. The Company has treated tenancy for the period prior to rent commencement as a free rental period for accounting purposes. The lease was included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2019.

 

On November 1, 2016, the Company acquired certain property located in Eugene, OR (the “Willamette Property”) for a total cash purchase price plus closing costs of approximately $918,000. In July 2017, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement with a marijuana dispensary, which is a related party to the Company, to move into the Willamette Property. The lease agreement is for a base term of ten years (see note below) and a monthly rent obligation of $13,800, subject to annual increases of 3% per year, plus an amount for additional rent based on final buildout costs incurred by the Company. The lease was included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2019. The lease is a double net lease with maintenance and real property taxes to be paid by the Tenant and insurance costs paid by the Company. The Company provided the tenant with one month of free rent. Upon the expiration of the term of ten years, the Lessee has the option to renew the lease agreement for one five-year term, on the same terms as provided in the lease agreement. On February 28, 2018, the Company executed a $550,000 mortgage payable on the Willamette property to acquire additional funds. The mortgage bears interest at 15% per annum. Monthly interest only payments began March 1, 2018 and continue each month thereafter until paid. The entire unpaid balance is due on March 1, 2020, the maturity date of the mortgage, and is secured by the underlying property. The mortgage terms do not allow participations by the lender in either the appreciation in the fair value of the mortgaged real estate project or the results of operations of the mortgaged real estate project. For the twelve months ended September 30, 2019, interest expense related to this mortgage amounted to $82,500.00. The note has been cross guaranteed by the CEO and Director of the Company. In March 2020, the Company completed a refinance of this mortgage. In the refinance, the Company entered into a mortgage, secured by the property with an additional personal guaranty of the CEO of the Company, for $700,000 with an annual interest rate of 15%, paid points at closing totaling $42,000 and a maturity date of March 31, 2022. The Company has included the mortgage outstanding as of March 31, 2020 in long-term liabilities as a result of the refinance.

 

 44 

 

 

On February 6, 2017, the Company acquired certain real property located at 7827 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97206 (the “Powell Property”) for a total purchase price plus closing costs of approximately $656,498. In July 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for the Powell Property, with a related party as tenant. The lease agreement is for a term of ten years and a monthly rent obligation of $6,523, subject to annual increases of 3% per year. Maintenance and real property taxes shall be paid by the Tenant and insurance paid by the Company. Additional rents will be added to pay landlord back for tenant improvements by the end of the first term of the lease, payments will include annual interest at 12% compounded monthly. The Company has treated tenancy for the period prior to rent commencement as a free rental period for accounting purposes. The lease was included in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2019. On April 4, 2018, the Company executed a $314,000 mortgage payable on the Powell property to acquire additional funds. The mortgage bears interest at 15% per annum. Monthly interest only payments began May 1, 2018 and continue each month thereafter until paid. The entire unpaid balance is due on April 1, 2020, the maturity date of the mortgage, and is secured by the underlying property. The mortgage terms do not allow participations by the lender in either the appreciation in the fair value of the mortgaged real estate project or the results of operations of the mortgaged real estate project. The note has been cross guaranteed by the CEO and Director of the Company. In January 2020, the Company completed a refinance of this mortgage. In the refinance, the Company entered into a mortgage, secured by the property with an additional personal guaranty of the CEO plus an assignment of the right and title in all of CEO’s common shares of the Company as collateral under the mortgage, for $400,000 with an annual interest rate of 15%, paid points at closing totaling $24,000 and a maturity date of January 31, 2022. The Company has included the mortgage outstanding as of March 31, 2020 in long-term liabilities as a result of the successful refinance.

 

In January 2018 the Company consummated a “Contract for Sale” for a Farm Property in Mulino OR (the “Mulino Property”). The purchase price was $1,700,000 which was reduced by a rental credit of approximately $135,000 which is equivalent to nine months’ rent at $15,000 a month and an additional credit of $9,500 for additional work done on the property. In connection with the purchase of the property, the Company made a cash payment as down payment plus payment of closing costs in the amount of $370,637 and issued a promissory note in the amount of $1,200,000 with a maturity of January 2020. The note is currently being extended through mutual negotiations with its management including the same terms and conditions as previously adhered to. The Company will pay monthly installments of principal and interest (at a rate of 2% per annum) in the amount of $13,500, commencing in July 2018 through the maturity date (January 2020), at which time the entire unpaid principal balance and any remaining accrued interest shall be due and payable in full. The note is secured by a deed of trust on the property. At March 31, 2020, the balance due was $958,500. Currently the Company has received a verbal extension through June 30, 2020 to procure additional financing on this property to pay off the indebtedness.

 

On July 10, 2019, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with an Oregon limited liability company which owns title to Real property (buildings and improvements) located at 399 and 451 Wallis Street, Eugene, OR 97402 for a total purchase price tendered in kind for approximately 6,322,058 shares of the Company’s common stock, which included the grant of 457,191 shares as the Company determined certain milestones were met within the Mutli-Party Agreement.

 

On July 10, 2019, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with a Oregon limited liability company which owns title to Real property (land) located at 12590 Highway 238, Jacksonville, OR 97503 for a total purchase price tendered in kind for 1,233,665 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

 45 

 

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF OUR PLAN OF OPERATION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS REPORT. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT RELATE TO FUTURE EVENTS OR OUR FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. THESE STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY THESE FORWARD- LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THOSE LISTED UNDER “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS” AND “RISK FACTORS” AND THOSE INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS REPORT.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following comparative analysis on results of operations was based primarily on the comparative consolidated financial statements, footnotes and related information for the periods identified below and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, which are included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The results discussed below are for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands).

 

   Years Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   $   % 
Revenue  $2,451   $1,296   $(1,155)   (89)%
Cost of goods sold   (1,935)   -   $1,935    N/A 
Consulting fees   (2,914)   (1,054)  $1,860    (176)%
Professional fees   (1,454)   (779)  $675    (87)%
General and administration   (14,920)   (7,860)  $7,060    (90)%
Loss from equity method investees   (6,547)   -   $6,547    N/A 
Loss on extinguishment of rent   (1,159)   -   $1,159    N/A 
Impairment of PP&E and intangibles   (2,132)   -   $2,132    N/A 
Other income (expenses), net   (375)   (301)  $74    (25)%
Net loss  $(28,985)  $(8,698)   20,287    (233)%

 

Revenues

 

As of 2019, the Company engages directly in the cultivation, production and sale of cannabis and related products. Prior to 2019, the Company was engaged in renting properties used in the cultivation, production and sale of cannabis. Therefore, comparison of revenue between the two periods is comparing disparate business models. 100% of the revenue in 2019 is from the cultivation, production and sale of cannabis, and related. 100% of the revenue from 2018 is from rental of real estate. Going forward, the cultivation, production and sale of cannabis related products will constitute most of the Company’s revenues.

 

In 2019, all of the Company’s revenue originates in the state of Oregon. Going forward, the Company has recorded revenue from the states of Nevada and California. The Company has also targeted Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and has invested in obtaining these licenses.

 

Cost of Revenues

 

Cost of revenues for the year ended September 30, 2019 totaled approximately $1.9 million and consisted of contracted labor, growing and trimming expenses, and product testing. No cost of revenues was recognized during the year ended September 30, 2018. The Company expects its cost of revenues to grow in line with its future revenue growth.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Consulting Fees

 

Consulting fees for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 totaled approximately $2.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The increase of $1.9 million is primarily related to stock-based compensation expenses recognized during the year ended September 30, 2019 for restricted stock awards and warrants to acquire the Company’s common stock issued to consultants.

 

 46 

 

 

Professional Fees

 

Professional fees for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 totaled approximately $1.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The increase of $0.7 million is primarily related to legal, accounting and other professional fees incurred during the year ended September 30, 2019. We expect our professional fees to increase as we continue to grow our business.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 totaled approximately $14.9 million and $7.9 million, respectively. The increase of $7.0 million is primarily related to increases in salaries and wages and stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards and options and an increase of general and administrative costs of $1.0 million (insurance, rent, etc.).

 

Impairment of Property and Equipment and Intangibles

 

Impairment expenses related to property and equipment totaled approximately $1.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2019. We recorded an expense of $1.0 million related to our property and equipment acquired with our acquisition of Never Again Real Estate and Never Again 2 Real Estate and $0.7 million in other related properties.

 

Impairment expenses related to intangible assets totaled approximately $0.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 and were incurred in connection with our investment in YMY. This impairment is with respect to the granting of an option to effectuate the balance of one hundred percent of an acquisition that never took place.

 

Loss on Extinguishment of Rent

 

Loss on extinguishment of rent expense for the year ended September 30, 2019, was approximately $1.1 million and was related to deferred rent.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other expenses for the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, totaled approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Interest expense increased by $2.2 million in fiscal 2019 compared to fiscal 2018. That increase was primarily the result of our new borrowings from Canaccord convertible notes and the discounts associated with the notes. This increase in interest expense was offset by $2.2 million in gains from the reduction of liabilities that resulted from the bifurcation of certain embedded features in the Canaccord convertible notes and warrants that the Company treated as liabilities.

 

Loss from Equity Method Investees

 

In 2019, we incurred losses from equity method investees of approx. $6.5 million. This loss was primarily the result of fully impairing the investment of $5.7 million in Stempro International acquired from our acquisition of South African Ventures and fully impairing the investment of $0.5 million in SOK Management and related investees.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company had cash of $1,913 as of June 30, 2020. Our primary uses of cash have been for salaries, fees paid to third parties for professional services, insurance, general and administrative expenses, and the acquisitions and development of rental properties and their improvement. All funds received have been expended in the furtherance of growing the business. We have received funds from financing activities such as from equity offerings and debt financing as well as the proceeds from advances to be contributed to new ventures. The following trends are reasonably likely to result in changes in our liquidity over the near to long term:

 

 47 

 

 

  An increase in working capital requirements to finance our entry into the cultivation, production, and sale of cannabis:
  Acquisition and buildout of rental properties;
  Addition of administrative and sales personnel as the business grows and
  The cost of being a public company.

 

Subsequent to June 30, 2020, we have not raised any additional funds in our private placements. Our efforts to raise additional capital are ongoing and we expect to continue our efforts in the following quarters.

 

With respect to the company’s investments in the projects pertaining to the equity method investee’s and affiliates, we have committed that we need to spend an estimated $4 million in expansion, buildout and improvements potentially in the near term. These capital expenditures are contingent upon several factors including the Company obtaining financing for the development of the properties and the construction of the tenant improvements in such amount and on such terms and provisions as are acceptable to the Company.

 

On January 6, 2020, the Company issued a convertible promissory note to Community Growth Partners Holdings, Inc., (“CGS”) which will act as a line of credit. Subject to the terms and conditions of the note, CGS promises to pay the Company all of the outstanding principal together with interest on the unpaid principal balance upon the date that is twelve months after the effective date and shall be payable as follows: (a)The Company agrees to make several loans to CGS from time to time upon request of CGS in amounts not to exceed the principal sum of $2,000,000, (b) Payment of principal and interest shall be immediately available funds, (c) This note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty. Any partial prepayment shall be applied against the principal amount outstanding, (d) The unpaid principal amount outstanding under this note shall bear interest commencing upon the first advance at the rate of 10% per annum through the maturity date, calculated on the basis of a 365-day, until the entire indebtedness is fully paid, (e) Upon the closing of a $2,000,000 financing by the Company, all of the principal and interest shall automatically convert into equity shares of CGS at the price obtained by the qualified financing. Balance outstanding as of June 30, 2020 is approximately $600,000 leaving $1,400,000 availability to fund.

 

As of December 23, 2019 has entered into a stock purchase agreement with Attollo Capital Holdings A, LLC (the “Purchaser”) pursuant to which Stem will issue 11,764,706 shares of preferred stock of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) at a purchase price of US$0.85 per share of Preferred Stock (the “Original Issue Price”) for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately US$10,000,000 (the “Investment”). As of the date of this filing, the Company has not yet closed on this transaction.

 

We have used our available funds to fund our operating expenses, pay our obligations, acquire and develop rental properties, and grow our company. We need to raise significant additional capital or debt financing to acquire new properties, to develop existing properties, and to assure we have sufficient working capital for our ongoing operations and debt obligations. There is no guarantee that such funding will be available to the Company at a viable cost, if at all.

 

Cash Flow

 

For the nine months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019

 

Net cash flows used in operating activities was $4,053 for the nine months ended June 30,2020 as compared net cash flow used in operating activities to $4,117 for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, a change of $295.

 

● Net cash flow used in operating activities for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 primarily reflected a net loss of $9,033 adjusted for the add-back of non-cash items consisting of depreciation and amortization of $1,632, stock-based compensation expense of $1,913, non-cash interest $953 and a loss of $253 from equity method investee, and a change operating assets and liabilities consisting of an increase in accounts receivable of $267, an increase in prepaid expenses of $539, an decrease in inventory of $163 and a decrease in other assets of 83 coupled with an increase in accounts payable of $488.

 

 48 

 

 

● Net cash flow used in investing activities for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 amounted to $750 and consisted of $60 in related party advances, $349 cash acquired in acquisition, and $229 return of cash of equity method investees, offset by $433 used in the purchase of property and equipment and $955 in advances to related parties.

 

● Net cash provided by financing activities was $3,377 for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to $3,061 for the nine months ended June 30, 2019. During the nine months ended June 30, 2020, we received proceeds from notes payable and advances of $4,596 and other proceeds of $81. Additionally, an offset of $1,300 of payment on notes payable was incurred.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of preparation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The condensed financial statements included herein are unaudited. Such financial statements, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending September 30, 2020 or for any other period. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and because of this, for further information, readers should refer to the financial statements and footnotes included herein. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the interim information presented not misleading.

 

Principals of Consolidation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Stem Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned or controlled operating subsidiaries, Stem Holdings Oregon, Inc., Stem Holdings IP, Inc., Opco, LLC, Stem Agri, LLC., Stem Group Oklahoma, Inc. and Stem Holdings Florida, Inc. All material intercompany accounts, transactions, and profits have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Estimates and judgments used are based on management’s experience and the assumptions used are believed to be reasonable given the circumstances that exist at the time the financial statements are prepared. The significant estimates included in these financial statements are those associated with the assumptions used to value equity instruments, valuation of its properties for impairment testing and the deferral of rents. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

Revenue recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

 

 49 

 

 

Revenue for the Company’s product sales has not been adjusted for the effects of a financing component as the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the Company’s transfers control of the product and when the Company receives payment will be one year or less. Product shipping and handling costs are included in cost of product sales.

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMITMENTS

 

As noted earlier in Note 1, the Company, engages in a business that constitutes an illegal act under the laws of the United States Federal Government. This raises several possible issues which may impact the Company’s overall operations, not the least of which are related to traditional banking and other key operational risks. Since cannabis remains illegal on the federal level, and most traditional banks are federally insured, those financial institutions will not service cannabis businesses. In states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal, dispensary owners, manufacturers, and anybody who “touches the plant,” continue to face a host of operational hurdles. While local, state-chartered banks and credit unions now accept cannabis commerce, there remains a reluctance by traditional banks to do business with them. Aside from a huge inconvenience and the need to find creative ways to manage financial flow, payroll logistics, and payment of taxes, this also poses tremendous risks to controls as a result of operating a lucrative business in cash. This lack of access to traditional banking may inhibit industry growth. In the period ended March 31, 2020, the Company’s accounts with a major money center bank were closed as the bank would not allow the Company to continue to use its banking network.

 

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the Federal government’s position on legalized marijuana, the Company does not believe these risks will have a substantive impact on its planned operations in the near term.

 

As of June 30, 2020, the Company has acquired interests in several entities. As part of those interests, the Company has commitments to fund the acquisition of licenses and permits to allow for the cultivation and sale of cannabis and related products in the United States and Eswatini. As of June 30, 2020, the Company estimates that its investees will need up to approximately $4 million to complete the acquisition of licenses and permits, to fund the buildout or expansion of facilities to fully operate in their respective cannabis markets, which will encompass several years of development.

 

Going Concern

 

At June 30, 2020, the Company had approximate balances of cash and cash equivalents of $1.913 million, negative working capital of $9.618 million, total stockholders’ equity of $26.668 million and an accumulated deficit of $48.952 million.

 

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will be able to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

While the recreational use of cannabis is legal under the laws of certain States, where the Company has and is working towards further finalizing the acquisition of entities or investment in entities that directly produce or sell cannabis, the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under United States Federal law for any purpose, by way of Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, otherwise known as the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (the “ACT”). Cannabis is currently included under Schedule 1 of the Act, making it illegal to cultivate, sell or otherwise possess in the United States.

 

On January 4, 2018, the office of the Attorney General published a memo regarding cannabis enforcement that rescinds directives promulgated under former President Obama that eased federal enforcement. In a January 8, 2018 memo, Jefferson B. Sessions, then Attorney General of the United States, indicated enforcement decisions will be left up to the U.S. Attorney’s in their respective states clearly indicating that the burden is with “federal prosecutors deciding which cases to prosecute by weighing all relevant considerations, including federal law enforcement priorities set by the Attorney General, the seriousness of the crime, the deterrent effect of federal prosecution, and the cumulative impact of particular crimes on the community.” Subsequently, in April 2018, President Trump promised to support congressional efforts to protect states that have legalized the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis, however, a bill has not yet been finalized in order to implement legislation that would, in effect, make clear the federal government cannot interfere with states that have voted to legalize cannabis. Further in December 2018, the US Congress passed legislation, which the President signed on December 20, 2018, removing hemp from being included with Cannabis in Schedule I of the Act.

 

 50 

 

 

In December 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to a number of other countries, including the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. In addition, as of the time of the filing of this Post-Effective Amendment #1 to Form S-1, several states in the United States have declared states of emergency, and several countries around the world, including the United States, have taken steps to restrict travel. The existence of a worldwide pandemic, the fear associated with COVID-19, or any, pandemic, and the reactions of governments in response to COVID-19, or any, pandemic, to regulate the flow of labor and products and impede the travel of personnel, may impact our ability to conduct normal business operations, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity. Disruptions to our supply chain and business operations disruptions to our retail operations and our ability to collect rent from the properties which we own, personnel absences, or restrictions on the shipment of our or our suppliers’ or customers’ products, any of which could have adverse ripple effects throughout our business. If we need to close any of our facilities or a critical number of our employees become too ill to work, our production ability could be materially adversely affected in a rapid manner. Similarly, if our customers experience adverse consequences due to COVID-19, or any other, pandemic, demand for our products could also be materially adversely affected in a rapid manner. Global health concerns, such as COVID-19, could also result in social, economic, and labor instability in the markets in which we operate. Any of these uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

These conditions raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Should the United States Federal Government choose to begin enforcement of the provisions under the Act, the Company through its wholly owned subsidiaries could be prosecuted under the Act and the Company may have to immediately cease operations and/or be liquidated upon their closing of the acquisition or investment in entities that engage directly in the production and or sale of cannabis.

 

Management believes that the Company has access to capital resources through potential public or private issuances of debt or equity securities. However, if the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to curtail operations and take additional measures to reduce costs, including reducing its workforce, eliminating outside consultants and reducing legal fees to conserve its cash in amounts sufficient to sustain operations and meet its obligations. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might become necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

Summary of Results

 

The operations of the Company have changed dramatically over the past year and therefore the results presented herein in this management’s discussion and analysis are not directly comparable. For the three and nine months ended June 31, 2019, our results are only for Stem Holdings, Inc. and they comprise only real estate rental and general and administrative operations. At this time, the results of operations and financial position for the variable interest entities and affiliates we consolidated at our 2019 fiscal year end and ongoing into the 2nd quarter of fiscal 2020, were immaterial and therefore not included in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2019. In the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, none of our results encompass real estate rental operations. The entirety of our operations now results directly from our cultivation, production and sale operations for cannabis and related products. In addition, we have in this period expanded beyond the state of Oregon, and in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2020, our results include operations in the state of Oregon, California, and Nevada.

 

   For the Three Months Ended June 30,   Change 
($ in thousands)  2020   2019   $   % 
Gross Revenue  $6,696   $621   $6,075    978%
Returns   2    -    2    100%
Discounts   1,496    -    1,496    100%
Net revenue   5,198    621    4,577    737%
Net (loss)   (947)   (3,693)  $2,746    (74%)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share   (0.01)   (0.10)          

 

 51 

 

 

Comparison of the results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2019

 

The Company had gross revenues during the three months ended June 30, 2020 of $6,696 compared with $621for the comparable period of 2019, the increase is primarily due to the acquisitions of both Yerba Buena and Seven Leaf and the consolidation of eleven related entities. The company’s net revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2020 of $5,197 compared with $921 for the comparable period of 2019, the increase due to the acquisitions of both Yerba Buena and Seven Leaf and the consolidation of eleven related entities.

 

Cost of goods for the three months ended June 30, 2020 amounted to approximately $3,420 compared to $258 in the comparable period of the prior year. These costs include both the cost of finished product purchased for retail and the cost of cultivation and processing for the grow facilities and sold at the wholesale level.

 

In the three months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred consulting costs of $124 compared to $115 in the comparable period of the prior year. We expended those fees as we have yet to build up a significant employee base and currently outsource certain tasks to consultants. We expect in the upcoming year to increase our consulting fees as we continue to grow, even though we do expect to increase staffing, as we do not expect that growth will be commensurate with our growth from operations in the near term.

 

In the three months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred professional fees of approximately $257 compared to $418 in the comparable period of the prior year. Those fees are primarily for legal, accounting and related services relating to our being a public company in both the United States and Canada. We expect as we grow our operations these costs will continue to grow.

 

In the three months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred general and administrative costs of approximately $2,176 compared to $2,948 which included a decrease in option and stock based consulting and employee compensation expenses, a decrease in travel, legal fees and investor relations slightly offset by an increase in depreciation and amortization. We expect general and administrative costs will increase as we increase our operations.

 

  

For the Nine Months Ended

June 30,

   Change 
($ in thousands)  2020   2019   $   % 
Total Revenue  $10,315   $1,314   $9,001    685%
Returns   2    -    2    100%
Discounts   1,496    -    1,496    100%
Net revenue   8,818    1,314    7,504    571%
Net (loss)   (8,567)   (10,379)  $1,811    (17%)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share   (0.15)   (0.48)          

 

Comparison of the results of operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2019

 

The Company had revenues during the nine months ended June 30, 2020 of $10,315 compared with $1,314 for the comparable period of 2019, the increase is primarily due to the acquisitions of both Yerba Buena and Seven Leaf and the consolidation of four related entities. The company’s net revenue for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 of $8,818 compared with $1,314 for the comparable period of 2019, the increase due to the acquisitions of both Yerba Buena and Seven Leaf and the consolidation of eleven related entities.

 

 52 

 

 

Cost of goods for the nine months ended June 30, 2020 amounted to approximately $6,062 compared to $258 in the comparable period of the prior year. These costs include both the cost of finished product purchased for retail and the cost of cultivation and processing for the grow facilities and sold at the wholesale level.

 

In the nine months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred consulting costs of $2,031 compared to $297 in the comparable period of the prior year. We mitigated our consulting expenses which were stock based the prior year.

 

In the nine months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred professional fees of approximately $1,780 compared to $1,269 in the comparable period of the prior year. Those fees are primarily for legal, accounting and related services relating to our being a public company in both the United States and Canada. We expect as we grow our operations these costs will continue to grow.

 

In nine months ended June 30, 2020, we incurred general and administrative costs of approximately $6,234 compared to $7,513, these costs decreased related to option and stock based consulting and employee compensation expenses, travel, legal fees and investor relations slightly offset by an increase in depreciation and amortization. We expect general and administrative costs will increase as we increase our operations.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

SEASONALITY

 

Our operating results are not affected by seasonality.

 

INFLATION

 

Our business and operating results are not affected in any material way by inflation.

 

CHANGES AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

Since inception until the present time, the principal independent accounting firm for the Company has not resigned, declined to stand for reelection or been dismissed. We have no disagreements with our independent registered public accounting firm on any matter of accounting principles or with any financial statement disclosures.

 

 

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

Set forth below is certain biographical information concerning our current executive officers and directors.

 

Name   Age   Position with the Company
         
Adam Berk   42   Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Steven Hubbard   72   Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director
Ellen B. Deutsch   58   Chief Operating Officer
Garrett M. Bender   59   Director
Lindy Snider   59   Director
Arthur H. Kwan   47   Director
Dennis Suskind   74   Director

 

 53 

 

 

Adam Berk (42)

 

Mr. Berk has been a director, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its inception in June 2016. From January 2013 until January 2015 Adam was the CEO of HYD For Men, an artisanal men’s grooming company that patented the first solution to extend the life of a razor blade by 400%. HYD For Men is currently sold at HSN, Walgreens, Bed Bath & Beyond, Drugstore. com, Birchbox, GiantEagle, Meijers, and Kinney Drugs. Recently, HYD For Men was acquired by Lucas Investment Group. From January 2015 until January 2017 Adam was the Co-President of Consolidated Ventures of Oregon a Cannabis holding company. Mr. Berk’s experience as a founder and principal executive of several start-up companies and skills associated therewith led to the conclusion that he should serve as an executive and director of the Company. From 2002 through 2013, Mr. Berk was employed with Osmio, Inc. (currently GrubHub, an Aramark subsidiary), the first patented web-based corporate expense management system that concentrated on food ordering for law firms, investment banks and consulting firms. He served as chief executive of Osmio from 2002-2007.

 

Steven Hubbard (72)

 

Mr. Hubbard has served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since its inception in June 2016. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Diego Pellecer, Inc., a cannabis-related real estate company From April 2013 through September 2013 and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. (a publicly reporting company) from September 2013 through December 2014. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Kind Care LLC DBA TJ’s Organic Garden from December 2014 through August 2015 and has been Chief Financial Officer of Consolidated Ventures of Oregon, Inc. since August 2015. Commencing several years prior to April 2013, Mr. Hubbard served as an outside management consultant to several early stage companies, primarily providing financial services. Mr. Hubbard’s experience as a founder and principal executive of several start-up companies, his experience as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co prior to 2012 and the skills associated therewith led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director of the Company.

 

Ellen B. Deutsch (58)

 

Ms. Deutsch serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective from October 3, 2019. Prior to joining the Company, she was employed by The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ:HAIN) from 1996 to 2019, serving in successive leadership roles for over 23 years. Hain Celestial is a leading natural and organic food and personal care products company in North America, Europe and India. In 2014, she became Senior Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer, directing the Company’s Hain Pure Protein businesses including Empire® Kosher Poultry, Plainville Farms®, and FreeBird®, in addition to other company responsibilities. Previously, she had served as the company’s Chief Growth Officer, where she led numerous business teams and functional areas, identified and integrated acquisitions, and created the company’s technical and corporate social responsibility platforms. She completed both her B.B.A. and M.B.A. degrees at Hofstra University’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business.

 

Garrett M. Bender (59)

 

Mr. Bender has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since its inception in June 2016. He is the Principal and Co-Founder of Ascot Development LLC, a real estate development firm, which commenced operations in 2003. He has guided Ascot through numerous acquisition and sale transactions and strategically manages Ascot’s land portfolio. Mr. Bender’s experience as a founder and principal executive of several start-up companies and the sales and marketing skills associated therewith led to the conclusion that he should serve as a director of the Company.

 

 54 

 

 

Lindy Snider (59)

 

Ms. Snider has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company since its inception in June 2016. She is the founder and for over five years has been CEO of Lindi Skin, the first full line of skin care products for cancer patients. This botanically based skin care line serves the special needs of individuals undergoing cancer treatment and is found in most major cancer centers in the U.S.

 

Ms. Snider is an active investor in cannabis related businesses. Focused on new business development, brand marketing and investing, Ms. Snider identifies and helps develop innovative companies in the space. She is a passionate entrepreneur and a champion of both start-ups and women-owned businesses. She serves on the following boards and advisories: Sqor.com, Greenhouse Ventures, Intiva, Blazenow, Kind Financial, Elevated Nation, as well as the following philanthropic boards: Fox Chase Cancer Foundation, Cancer Forward, Philadelphia Orchestra, PSPCA, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, National Museum of American Jewish History, The Middle East Forum, Shoah Foundation’s Next Generation Council, The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, and The Snider Foundation. Ms. Snider’s experience as a founder and principal executive of several start-up companies and her service as an independent director of several for-profit and charitable organizations and the skills associated therewith led to the conclusion that she should serve as a director of the Company.

 

Arthur H. Kwan (47)

 

Mr. Kwan has been a director of the Company since March 2020. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of CannaIncome Fund, a private investment firm focused on the cannabis sector.

 

He began his investment career in 1997 with TD Asset Management and brings over 20 years of investment banking, capital markets, and private equity experience. Mr. Kwan has since held increasingly senior investment banking positions with Scotia Capital, PI Financial, and Paradigm Capital, where he was Managing Director, Investment Banking.

 

Mr. Kwan has led the origination, negotiation, and execution of many investment banking transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, initial public offerings, short-form prospectus offerings, private placements of equity, debt, and hybrid securities, restructurings, refinancings, and reorganizations. Over his career, he has successfully originated, advised, negotiated, and executed on transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $1 billion.

 

He has been involved as an investor, financier, and advisor to several early-stage cannabis companies. Mr. Kwan’s current and past appointments include:

 

  High Tide (CSE:HITI) – Board of Directors

 

  Newbridge Global Ventures (OTCQB:NBGV) – Board of Directors § 7LV | Seven Leaf Ventures (private) – Board of Directors

 

In addition, Mr. Kwan has been a speaker at several cannabis and business conferences, including:

 

  International Cannabis Business Conferences – Portland and Vancouver

 

  Kahner Global Cannabis Private Investment Summits – Beverly Hills and Toronto

 

  New Green Frontier Cannabis Investor Conference – Toronto

 

  Pinnacle Wealth National Conference – Calgary

 

  World Outlook Financial Conference / Michael Campbell’s MoneyTalks – Vancouver

 

Mr. Kwan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Business Administration in International Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute, and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is also a graduate of the European Summer School for Advanced Management program from the University of Aarhus in Denmark.

 

 55 

 

 

Dennis Suskind (74)

 

Mr. Suskind has been a director of the Company since May 2020. During his career, he has worked jointly with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to develop hedge exemptions and went on to build the most significant global precious metals arbitrage business. His team traveled worldwide to educate producers and consumers on the reasons for using futures as their pricing medium to bring credibility to these markets. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Commodity Exchange (COMEX), Vice Chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), a member of the Board of Directors Futures Industrial Association, and a member of the Board of International Precious Metals Institute. Mr. Suskind was elected as an inaugural member to the Futures Industry Association’s Hall of Fame in 2005.Suskind was elected to hold a Town Council seat in the Town of Southampton, New York. He has also served as President of the Board of Directors of the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, as a member of the President’s Council of the Peconic Land Trust, a founding member of Mt. Sinai’s Hospital Associates, a board member of the Nature Conservancy, and a board member of the Collegiate School and Marymount Schools in New York. In 2005 the Preservation League of New York State presented Mr. Suskind with its Pillar of New York Award.

 

All of our directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been elected or qualified. Officers serve at the discretion of the board of directors. There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers. There is no arrangement or understanding between or among our officers and directors pursuant to which any director or officer was or is to be selected as a director or officer, and there is no arrangement, plan or understanding as to whether non-management stockholders will exercise their voting rights to continue to elect the current board of directors.

 

None of our directors and executive officers have during the past five years:

 

  had any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which he was a general partner or executive officer, either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;
     
  been convicted in a criminal proceeding and is not subject to a pending criminal proceeding;
     
  been subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities, futures, commodities or banking activities;
     
  or been found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Securities Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or vacated.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

None of our executive officers serves as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors.

 

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, the Company’s executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities are required to file with the SEC reports of their ownership of, and transactions in, the Company’s common stock.

 

Family Relationships

 

None.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors has established the following committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating/corporate governance committee. Our board of directors may from time to time establish other committees.

 

 56 

 

 

The Board of Directors has approved charters for each committee. The Audit Committee is currently composed of Steve Hubbard Chairman and Lindy Snider. Lindy Snider is an independent director. Mr. Hubbard and Ms. Snider are each considered financially literate. The Company is currently in the process of adding additional independent board members who will also be members of the Audit Committee. The relevant education and experience of the members of the Audit Committee is detailed above. The Board has yet to make appointments to the other Board committees, neither of which has met as of the date of this report.

 

Audit Committee

 

The purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the processes of accounting and financial reporting of the Company and the audits and financial statements of the Company. The Audit Committee’s primary duties and responsibilities are to:

 

  Monitor the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting process and systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting and legal compliance.
     
  Monitor the independence and performance of the Company’s independent auditors and the Company’s accounting personnel.
     
  Provide an avenue of communication among the independent auditors, management, the Company’s accounting personnel, and the Board.
     
  Appoint and provide oversight for the independent auditors engaged to perform the audit of the financial statements.
     
  Discuss the scope of the independent auditors’ examination.
     
  Review the financial statements and the independent auditors’ report.
     
   Review areas of potential significant financial risk to the Company.
     
  Monitor compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
     
  Solicit recommendations from the independent auditors regarding internal controls and other matters.
     
  Make recommendations to the Board.
     
  Resolve any disagreements between management and the auditors regarding financial reporting.
     
  Prepare the report required by Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K, as required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
     
  Perform other related tasks as requested by the Board.

 

The Audit Committee has the authority to conduct any investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and it has direct access to the independent auditors as well as anyone in the organization. The Committee has the ability to retain, at the Company’s expense, special legal, accounting, or other consultants or experts it deems necessary in the performance of its duties.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the responsibilities which are required under the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ, including the responsibility to determine compensation of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the President and all other executive officers. The Compensation Committee’s actions shall generally be related to overall considerations, policies and strategies.

 

 57 

 

 

The following are specific duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee:

 

  Review the competitiveness of the Company’s executive compensation programs to ensure (a) the attraction and retention of corporate officers, (b) the motivation of corporate officers to achieve the Company’s business objectives, and I the alignment of the interests of key leadership with the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders.
     
  Review and determine the annual salary, bonus, stock options, other equity-based incentives, and other benefits, direct and indirect, of the Company’s executive officers, including development of an appropriate balance between short-term pay and long-term incentives while focusing on long-term stockholder interests.
     
  Determine salary increases and bonus grants for the Chairman of the Board, the CEO, the President and all other executive officers of the Company.
     
  Review and approve corporate goals and objectives for purposes of bonuses and long- term incentive plans.
     
  Review and approve benefit plans, including equity incentive plans, and approval of individual grants and awards.
     
  Review and approve employment or other agreements relating to compensation for the Chairman of the Board, the CEO, the President and the other executive officers of the Company.
     
  Review and discuss with management the Company’s CD&A and recommend to the Board that the CD&A be included in the Post-Effective Amendment #1 to Form S-1 and/or proxy statement in accordance with applicable SEC rules.
     
  If required by SEC rules, provide a Compensation Committee Report on executive compensation to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement in accordance with applicable SEC rules.
     
  Perform an annual evaluation of the performance of the Chairman of the Board, the CEO, the President and the other executive officers.
     
  Perform an annual review of non-employee director compensation programs and recommend changes thereto to the Board when appropriate.
     
  Plan for executive development and succession.
     
  Review and approve all equity-based compensation plans and amendments thereto, subject to any stockholder approval under the listing standards of NASDAQ.
     
  Recommend an appropriate method by which stockholder concerns about compensation may be communicated by stockholders to the Committee and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to respond to such stockholder concerns.
     
  Perform such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board to the Committee under the terms of any executive compensation plan, incentive compensation plan or equity-based plan.
     
  Review risks related to the Company’s compensation policies and practices and review and discuss, at least annually, the relationship between the Company’s risk management policies and practices, corporate strategy and compensation policies and practices.

 

 58 

 

 

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the responsibilities which are required under the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ, including the responsibilities to identify individuals who are qualified to become directors of the Company, consistent with criteria approved by the Board, and make recommendations to the Board of nominees, including Stockholder Nominees (nominees whether by appointment or election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders) to serve as a directors of the Company. To fulfill its purpose, the responsibilities and duties of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are as follows:

 

  Evaluate, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the current Composition, size, role and functions of the Board and its committees to oversee successfully the business and affairs of the Company in a manner consistent with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and make recommendations to the Board for approval.
     
  Determine, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and CEO, director selection criteria consistent with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and conduct searches for prospective directors whose skills and attributes reflect these criteria.
     
  Assist in identifying, interviewing and recruiting candidates for the Board.
     
  Evaluate, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and CEO, nominees, including nominees nominated by stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Bylaws, and recommend nominees for election to the Board or to fill vacancies on the Board.
     
  Before recommending an incumbent, replacement or additional director, review his or her qualifications, including capability, availability to serve, conflicts of interest, and other relevant factors.
     
  Evaluate, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board and CEO and make recommendations to the Board concerning the appointment of directors to Board committees and the selection of the Chairman of the Board and the Board committee chairs consistent with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
     
  Determine the methods and execution of the annual evaluations of the Board’s and each Board committee’s effectiveness and support the annual performance evaluation process.
     
  Evaluate and make recommendations to the Board regarding director retirements, director re-nominations and directors’ changes in circumstances in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
     
   Review and make recommendations to the Board regarding policies relating to directors’ compensation, consistent with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
     
  As set forth herein, monitor compliance with, and at least annually evaluate and make recommendations to the Board regarding, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and overall corporate governance of the Company.
     
   Assist the Board and the Company’s officers in ensuring compliance with an implementation of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
     
  Develop and implement continuing education programs for all directors, including orientation and training programs for new directors.
     
  Annually evaluate and make recommendations to the Board regarding the Committee’s performance and adequacy of this Charter.
     
  Review the Code of Ethics periodically and propose changes thereto to the Board, if appropriate.

 

 59 

 

 

  Review requests from outside the Committee for any waiver or amendment of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and recommend to the Board whether a particular waiver should be granted or whether a particular amendment should be adopted.
     
  Oversee Committee membership and qualifications and the performance of members of the Board.
     
  Review and recommend changes in (i) the structure and operations of Board Committees, and (ii) Committee reporting to the Board.
     
  Make recommendations annually to the Board as to the independence of directors under the Corporate Governance Guidelines.
     
  Review and make recommendations to the Board regarding the position the Company should take with respect to any proposals submitted by stockholders for approval at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.
     
  Regularly report on Committee activities and recommendations to the Board.
     
  Perform any other activities consistent with this Charter, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended from time to time, the NASDAQ company guide, and any governing law, as the Board considers appropriate and delegates to the Committee.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

Effective May 11, 2020, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Stem Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) applicable to the Company and all subsidiaries and entities controlled by the Company and the Company’s directors, officers and employees. Compliance with the Code of Ethics is required of all Company personnel at all times. The Company’s senior management is charged with ensuring that the Code of Ethics and the Company’s corporate policies will govern, without exception, all business activities of the Company. The Code of Ethics addresses, among other things, the use and protection of Company assets and information, avoiding conflicts of interest, corporate opportunities and transactions with business associates and document retention.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

There are no material proceedings to which any director or officer, or any associate of any such director or officer, is a party that is adverse to our Company or any of our subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to our Company or any of our subsidiaries. No director or executive officer has been a director or executive officer of any business which has filed a bankruptcy petition or had a bankruptcy petition filed against it during the past ten years. No director or executive officer has been convicted of a criminal offense or is the subject of a pending criminal proceeding during the past ten years. No director or executive officer has been the subject of any order, judgment or decree of any court permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities during the past ten years. No director or officer has been found by a court to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law during the past ten years.

 

Officers and Directors Indemnification

 

Under our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the corporation, the Company may indemnify an officer or director who is made a party to any proceeding, including a lawsuit, because of his or her position, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the Company’s best interest. The Company may advance expenses incurred in defending a proceeding. To the extent that the officer or director is successful on the merits in a proceeding as to which he or she is to be indemnified, the Company must indemnify the officer or director against all expenses incurred, including attorney’s fees. With respect to a derivative action, indemnity may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in defending the proceeding, and if the officer or director is judged liable, then only by a court order. The indemnification coverage is intended to be to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws.

 

 60 

 

 

Regarding indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, which may be permitted to officers or directors under applicable state law, the Company is informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The following is a summary of the compensation we paid for each of the last two years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively (i) to the persons who acted as our principal executive officer during our fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and (ii) to the person who acted as our next most highly compensated executive officer other than our principal executive officer who was serving as an executive officer as of the end of our last fiscal year.

 

Name and Principal Position  Year   Salary
($)
   Bonus
($)
   Stock Awards
($)
   Option Awards
($)
   Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation   Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($)
   All other Compensation
($)
   Total
($)
 
Adam Berk   2019   $300,000        3,032,000    1,407,000                4,739,000 
CEO   2018   $220,000        960,000    2,374,900                3,554,900 
                                              
Steven Hubbard   2019   $60,000             527,200                587,200 
CFO   2018   $60,000        240,000    652,500                952,500 
                                              
Garrett M. Bender   2019   $            555,170                555,170 
Director   2018   $            117,350                117,350 
                                              
Lindy Snider   2019   $            136,200                136,200 
Director   2018   $            117,350                117,350 
                                              
Ellen B. Deutsch   2019   $                             
EVP & COO   2018   $                             
                                              
Jessica Michelle Feingold   2019   $        7,850    70,800                78,650 
Former Director and General Counsel   2018   $112,500        25,000    97,500                235,000 

 

 61 

 

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

 

      Option Awards            
Name 

Grant Date
Number

of Securities
Underlying

Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable

  Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(1)
   Option
Exercise
Price ($)
  

Option Expiration

Date

Adam Berk, CEO, Director  6/1/2017          -    50,000    2.40   5/31/2020
Adam Berk, CEO, Director  6/1/2018   -    50,000    2.40   6/1/2021
Adam Berk, CEO, Director  6/1/2018   -    1,000,000    2.40   6/1/2021
Adam Berk, CEO, Director  6/1/2018   -    50,000    2.40   6/1/2021
Steven Hubbard, CFO, Director  6/1/2017   -    100,000    2.40   5/31/2020
Steven Hubbard, CFO, Director  6/1/2018   -    100,000    2.40   6/1/2021
Steven Hubbard, CFO, Director  6/1/2018   -    100,000    2.40   6/1/2021
Steven Hubbard, CFO, Director  6/1/2018   -    100,000    2.40   6/1/2021
Garrett M. Bender, Director  6/1/2017   -    50,000    2.40   5/31/2021
Garrett M. Bender, Director  6/1/2018   -    50,000    2.40   6/1/2022
Lindy Snider, Director  6/1/2017   -    50,000    2.40   5/31/2021
Lindy Snider, Director  6/1/2018   -    50,000    2.40   6/1/2022
Jessica Michelle Feingold, Former Director and Senior Legal Counsel  5/20/2018   -    50,000    2.40   2/14/2021

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan category   Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights(a)
    Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights
    Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a) (1)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   -    -    - 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders   1,850,000    2.40    996,453 
Total   1,850,000    2.40    996,453 

 

(1) As of June 30, 2020

 

Warrants Issued to Management

 

Name  Grant Date   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Exercisable
Warrants
   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Exercisable
Warrants
   Warrant
Exercise
Price($)
   Warrant
Expiration
Date
 
None                                       
                          
Total                         

 

Employment Agreements

 

Adam Berk—On June 1, 2017, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement for an initial term of one year, subject to automatic renewals for additional one-year periods until terminated, with the remaining term at all times being not less than one year. The Employment Agreement provides for a base salary of $10,000 per month. Mr. Berk also received a restricted stock grant of 100,000 shares of Company common stock and options to purchase 50,000 shares of Company common stock exercisable for a period of three years at an exercise price of $2.40 per share. At the end of the initial one-year term of the Employment Agreement, and assuming that the term is extended, Mr. Berk is entitled to receive an additional restricted stock grant of 100,000 shares of Company common stock and options to purchase 50,000 shares of Company common stock at the then market value, exercisable for a period of three years.

 

 62 

 

 

Steven Hubbard— On June 1, 2017, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement for an initial term of one year, subject to automatic renewals for additional one-year periods until terminated, with the remaining term at all times being not less than one year. The Employment Agreement provides for a base salary of $5,000 per month. Mr. Hubbard also received a restricted stock grant of 50,000 shares of Company common stock and options to purchase 100,000 shares of Company common stock exercisable for a period of three years at an exercise price of $2.40 per share. At the end of the initial one-year term of the Employment Agreement, and assuming that the term is extended, Mr. Hubbard is entitled to receive an additional restricted stock grant of 50,000 shares of Company common stock and options to purchase 100,000 shares of Company common stock at the then market value, exercisable for a period of three years.

 

Compensation of Directors

 

Independent members of the Board of Directors receive periodic stock option grants (see Grants of Plan-Based Awards, above). At this time, there is no other board of director compensation plan in place.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND

RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our voting securities by (i) any person or group owning more than 5% of any class of voting securities, (ii) each director, (iii) our chief executive officer and president and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group as of June 30, 2020. Unless noted, the address for the following beneficial owners and management is 2201 NW Corporate Blvd., Suite 205, Boca Raton, FL 33431.

 

Title of Class  Name and Address of Beneficial Owner  Amount and Nature of Beneficial
Owner (1)
   Percent of Class 
Common Stock  Adam Berk (2)   4,074,424    6.01%
Common Stock  Steven Hubbard (3)   1,132,258    1.69%
Common Stock  Garrett M. Bender (4)   3,922,355    5.88%
Common Stock  Lindy Snider (5)   259,044    0.39%
Common Stock  Ellen B. Deutsch (6)   100,000    0.15%
Common Stock  Dennis Suskind (7)   62,500    0.10%
Common Stock  All executive officers and directors as a group   9,550,581    14.38%
Common Stock  Mitchell Gevinson (5% holder) 3299 Harrington Dr. Boca Raton, FL 33496   3,548,266    5.33%
Common Stock  Opco Holdings, Inc. (5% holder) (8) 2201 NW Corporate Blvd., Suite 205 Boca Raton, FL 33431   9,326,207    14.0%

 

  (1) In determining beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, the number of shares shown includes shares which the beneficial owner may acquire upon exercise of debentures, warrants and options which may be acquired within 60 days. In determining the percent of Common Stock owned by a person or entity on June 30, 2020, (a) the numerator is the number of shares of the class beneficially owned by such person or entity, including shares which the beneficial ownership may acquire within 60 days of exercise of debentures, warrants and options; and (b) the denominator is the sum of (i) the total shares of that class outstanding on June 30, 2020 (66,616,526 shares of Common Stock) and (ii) the total number of shares that the beneficial owner may acquire upon exercise of the debentures, warrants and options. Unless otherwise stated, each beneficial owner has sole power to vote and dispose of its shares.
     
   (2) Includes 2,924,424 shares and options to purchase 1,150,000 shares.
     
  (3) Includes 732,258 shares and options to purchase 400,000 shares

 

 63 

 

 

  (4) Includes 3,822,355 shares and options to purchase 100,000 shares
     
  (5) Includes 159,044 shares and options to purchase 100,000 shares
     
  (6) Includes 100,000 shares granted under Employment Agreement
     
  (7) Includes 62,500 shares
     
  (8) The beneficial owner of Opco Holdings, Inc. is Oregon Acquisitions JV, LLC.

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN CONTROL PERSONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Due to related parties

 

As of September 30, 2019, there were no amounts due to related parties. As of September 30, 2018, related parties had advanced cash and equipment, on a due on demand, unsecured and undocumented basis, to the Company in the amount of approximately $34,000.

 

Consolidated Ventures of Oregon, LLC (“CVO”) and Opco Holdings, LLC (“Opco”)

 

In August 2016, the Company and certain shareholders of the Company entered into a “Multi Party” Agreement, in which the Company became obligated to lease or acquire three separate real estate assets, and separately, if certain events occur, additional real estate assets held by entities related to those shareholders. The Agreement also gives the Company the right of first refusal in regard to certain properties owned by the persons and entities affiliated with the parties of the Agreement so long as certain targets are met. In the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company issued 12,500,000 shares of its common stock (shares are held in escrow) in connection with its acquisition of Consolidated Ventures of Oregon, LLC (“CVO”) and Opco Holdings, LLC (“Opco”) which comprise the entities within the Multi Party Agreement. In addition, the Company is also currently negotiation with the owners of certain properties contained within the Multi Party Agreement. The Company and owners of CVO and Opco closed the Company’s acquisition of CVO and Opco on September 4, 2020. Effective the completion of these transactions, the Company will no longer be engaged primarily in property rental operations, but will take over the operations of its primary renters, which is the cultivation, production and sale of cannabis and related productions. Because CVO and Opco are related to the Company, it will not be accounted for as a business combination at fair value under the codification sections of ASC 805. The assets and liabilities will transfer at their historical cost and the company will include the operations of CVO and Opco for all periods presented and the rental revenue recorded by the Company will eliminate in full the rental expense recorded by CVO and Opco. The Company has therefore recorded the par value of the shares issued of $12,500 as of September 30, 2019. At September 30, 2019, the Company had advanced funds and paid expenses on behalf of CVO in the amount of approximately $492,000.

 

Purchase of Buildings with Common Stock

 

On July 10, 2019, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with an Oregon limited liability company which owns title to Real property (buildings) located at 399 and 451 Wallis Street, Eugene, OR 97402 for a total purchase price tendered in kind for approximately 6,322,058 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company acquired the property from a related party and recorded the building and improvements at their carrying value of approximately $2.99 million. Included in the shares above were 457,191 shares which were issued because the Company determined that certain milestones were met contained within the Multi-Party Agreement. Those shares were valued at approximately $0.973 million and were recorded to impairment of property and equipment within the statement of operations.

 

Purchase of Land with Common Stock

 

On July 10, 2019, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with an Oregon limited liability company which owns title to Real property (land) located at 12590 Highway 238, Jacksonville, Or 97503 for a total purchase price tendered in kind for 1,233,665 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company acquired the property from a related party and recorded the land at it’s carrying value of approximately $1.205 million.

 

 64 

 

 

Director Independence

 

As of May 15, 2020, of our six (7) directors, Garrett M. Bender, Lindy Snider, Arthur H. Kwan and Dennis Suskind are considered “independent” in accordance with Rule 4200(a)(15) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. The remaining three (3) directors are not considered “independent”. Therefore, over fifty percent (50%) of the board is independent.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Stem Holdings, Inc. as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 and for the years then ended have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of L J Soldinger Associates, LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the September 30, 2019 consolidated financial statements of Stem Holdings, Inc. refers to a change in the method of accounting for stock based compensation in connection with grants of equity to employees and consultants, as part of employment agreements or service contracts, which are fully vested at the time of grant.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

Our filings are available to the public at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Further information on the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the SEC under the Securities Act for the common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, reference is made to the registration statement and its exhibits. Whenever we make references in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for the copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN MATERIAL BY REFERENCE

 

The Company does not elect to incorporate any material by reference.

 

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Policy on Indemnification

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the company pursuant to any provisions contained in its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of registrant’s legal counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Our consolidated financial statements are included with this prospectus. These financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and are expressed in US dollars.

 

 65 

 

 

Fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018 (audited)

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

  Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-4
   
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity F-5
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7

 

 F-1 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors

of Stem Holdings, Inc.

 

OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Stem Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, and the related notes (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 September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH – GOING CONCERN

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully explained in Note 1, the Company and its affiliates, net losses of $28.985 million and $8.698 million, negative working capital of $2.635 million and $3.11 million and accumulated deficits of $40.4 million and $11.533 million as of and for the year ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In addition, the Company has commenced operations in the production and sale of cannabis and related products, an activity that is illegal under United States Federal law for any purpose, by way of Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, otherwise known as the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (the “ACT”). These facts raises substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH – CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE

 

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has elected to change its methodology of accounting for stock based compensation such that for awards issued for compensation for services to be rendered to the Company over time in connection with employment and consulting agreements that fully vest at date of grant, that the Company will immediately expense in full those grants at grant.

 

EXPLANATORY PARAGRAPH – CORRECTION OF AN ERROR

 

The Company incorrectly included losses from its wholly owned subsidiary, South African Ventures, Inc., including the other than temporary impairment losses for its equity method investee losses of Stempro International, Inc. within its losses from non-controlling interests.

 

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 audits 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 audits 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 audits 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 audits 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 audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ LJ Soldinger Associates, LLC

Deer Park, IL

March 1, 2020, except for the correction of an error as described in Footnote 19, which is March 19, 2020

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.

 

 F-2 

 

 

STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except for share and per share amounts)

 

  

September 30,

2019

  

September 30,

2018

 
   As Amended     
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $3,339   $761 
Accounts receivable   427    - 
Inventory   611    - 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   491    156 
Notes payable subscriptions receivable   -    150 
Total current assets   4,868    1,067 
           
Property and equipment, net   14,706    8,325 
Investment in equity method investees   1,771    1,301 
Investments in affiliates   1,827    2,076 
Deposits and other assets   47    166 
Rent receivable   -    1,442 
Intangible assets   6,316    - 
Goodwill   1,070    - 
Due from related party   492    - 
Total assets  $31,097   $14,377 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable and accrued expenses  $1,082   $511 
Due to related parties   -    34 
Convertible notes, net   1,888    2,195 
Short term notes and advances   3,384    1,268 
Acquisition notes payable   708    - 
Current portion of long-term notes   -    170 
Derivative liability   158    - 
Warrant liability   283    - 
Total current liabilities   7,503    4,178 
           
Long-term debt, net of short term portion   -    1,912 
Total liabilities   7,503    6,090 
           
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)          
           
Shareholders’ equity          
Preferred stock, Series A; $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018   -    - 
Preferred stock, Series B; $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018   -    - 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 52,254,941 and 10,177,496 shares issued, issuable and outstanding as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively   52    10 
Additional paid-in capital   61,202    19,810 
Accumulated deficit   (40,384)   (11,533)
Total Stem Holdings stockholder’s equity   20,870    8,287 
Noncontrolling interest   2,724    - 
Total shareholders’ equity   23,594    8,287 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $31,097   $14,377 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-3 

 

 

STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

For the Years Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

(in thousands except for share and per share amounts)

 

   For the Years Ended September 30, 
   2019   2018 
   As Amended     
Revenues  $2,451   $1,296 
Cost of goods sold   1,935    - 
Gross Profit   516    1,296 
           
Operating expenses:          
Consulting fees   2,914    1,054 
Professional fees   1,454    779 
General and administration   14,920    7,860 
Impairment of intangible assets   450    - 
Impairment of property and equipment   1,682    - 
Loss on extinguishment of rent   1,159    - 
Total operating expenses   22,579    9,693 
Loss from operations   (22,063)   (8,397)
           
Other income (expenses), net          
Interest expense   (2,591)   (346)
Change in fair value of derivative liability   1,011    - 
Change in fair value of warrant liability   1,209    - 
Foreign currency exchange loss   36    - 
Other expense   (40)   45 
Total other expense   (375)   (301)
           
Loss from equity method investees   (6,547)   - 
           
Net loss   (28,985)   (8,698)
           
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest   391    - 
           
Net loss attributable to Stem Holdings  $(28,594)  $(8,698)
           
Net loss per share, basic and diluted  $(1.01)  $(1.05)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted   28,245,297    8,305,383 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-4 

 

 

STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

For the Years Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

(in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)

 

                   Total Stem         
   Common Stock  

Additional

Paid-in

   Accumulated
Deficit
  

Holdings

Shareholders’
Equity As

   Non-Controlling
Interest As
   Total Shareholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   As Amended   Amended   Amended   Equity 
Balance as of September 30, 2017   6,354,860   $6   $7,013   $(2,835)  $4,184   $-   $4,184 
Common stock issued for cash   2,688,834    3    6,568    -    6,571    -    6,571 
Beneficial conversion feature and warrants attached to convertible notes   -    -    528    -    528    -    528 
Stock based compensation   1,055,416    1    5,676    -    5,677    -    5,677 
Common stock issued for legal settlement   12,500    -    25    -    25    -    25 
Common stock issued for options exercised   65,886    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Noncontrolling interests issued for asset acquisitions   -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Net loss   -    -    -    (8,698)   (8,698)   -    (8,698)
Balance as of September 30, 2018   10,177,496    10   $19,810   $(11,533)  $8,287   $-   $8,287 
Adjustments to consolidate variable interest entities   -    -    -    (257)   (257)   -    (257)
Common stock issued for cash   51,418    -    35    -    35    -    35 
Common stock issued in connection with conversion of notes payable   1,430,556    1    2,574    -    2,575    -    2,575 
Correction to 2018 cashless exercise of stock options   15,662    -    -    -    -    -    - 
Investment in South African Ventures   8,250,000    8    14,017    -    14,025    -    14,025 
Investment in West Coast Ventures   2,500,000    3    4,432    -    4,435    1,352    5,787 
Investment in NVD RE   -    -    -    -    -    1,042    1,042 
Issuance of common stock for related party acquisitions   12,500,000    12    -    -    12    -    12 
Yerba Buena acquisition   2,492,266    2    3,487    -    3,489    -    3,489 
Asset Purchase Agreement - 399 & 451 Wallis St and Applegate   7,553,723    8    5,160    -    5,168    -    5,168 
Investment in YMY   187,500    -    487    -    487    721    1,208 
Canaccord fee   16,666    -    35    -    35    -    35 
Inducement cost to convert convertible notes   -    -    973    -    973    -    973 
Issuance of common stock related to separation agreement   18,900    -    18    -    18    -    18 
Stock based compensation   7,060,754    8    10,174    -    10,182    -    10,182 
Net loss   -    -    -    (28,594)   (28,594)   (391)   (28,985)
Balance as of September 30, 2019   52,254,941   $52   $61,202   $(40,384)  $20,870   $2,724   $23,594 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-5 

 

 

STEM HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Years Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

(in thousands)

 

   For the Years Ended September 30, 
   2019   2018 
Cash flows from operating activities          
Net loss  $(28,985)  $(8,698)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Adjustments to consolidate variable interest entities   (257)   - 
Stock-based compensation expense   10,182    5,677 
Issuance of common stock in connection with convertible notes   35    - 
Issuance of common stock related to separation agreement   18    - 
Depreciation and amortization   1,228    1,363 
Impairment of subscription receivable   700    - 
Impairment of intangible assets   450    - 
Impairment of property and equipment   1,682    - 
Warrants issued in relation to consulting agreements   893    - 
Accrued interest   431    197 
Settlement gain   -    (44)
Amortization of debt discount   903    - 
Inducement to convert convertible notes   973    - 
Loss on equity method investments   6,547    - 
Loss on extinguishment of rent   1,159    - 
Change in fair value of derivative liability   (1,011)   - 
Change in fair value of warrant liability   (1,209)   -