AGORACOM Small-cap Investor Relations Blog

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

Teas and edibles and vapes, oh my!

By: Kyle Mack

The latest in cannabis products will be available for legal sale in Ontario.

The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) is releasing 59 new products including edibles, beverages, lotions, and concentrates in stores today but online Jan 16.

Prices of edibles range from $7.50 to $16 per item while beverages can cost between $4 to $10 and vapes falling between $25 – $125. Daniel Safayeni, Director of Policy at The Ontario Chamber of Commerce has previously released a statement on the THC limit per edible stating,

“The OCC supports a THC limit of 10-milligrams per discrete unit of edibles, as well as the sale of multi-packs or multiple products—up to a maximum of 100-milligrams of THC per package—within child-proof packaging. As we outline in the report, single-packs are costly, while multi-packs would allow licensed producers to create economies of scale. The proposed regulations, however, limit the amount of THC per package to only 10 milligrams, which is significantly lower than illegal alternatives and lower in other U.S. jurisdictions where recreational cannabis is legal”.

The THC cap may act as a barrier to shifting cannabis shoppers from making illicit purchases, where higher THC contents can be found.

For more information on edibles, visit the Ontario Cannabis Store.

Source: https://www.bttoronto.ca/2020/01/06/teas-and-edibles-and-vapes-oh-my/

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

Edibles, vapes and tea coming to legal Ontario cannabis shops Monday

• Ontario’s cannabis distributor says dozens of new marijuana products will be available in retail shops starting Monday but supplies will be limited.
• Unveiled 59 new items today including a variety of vapes, edibles and a tea.

TORONTO – Ontario’s cannabis distributor says dozens of new marijuana products will be available in retail shops starting Monday but supplies will be limited.

The Ontario Cannabis Store unveiled 59 new items today including a variety of vapes, edibles and a tea.

The products will be available in the province’s legal cannabis retail stores starting next week and Cannabis edibles to hit store shelves in January.

The distributor estimates that products will be in short supply until March as manufacturers ramp up production to meet demand.

The number of products will grow to 100 in the coming months as they receive regulatory approval.

The OCS says the new selection will help it combat black market sales across the province.

Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/6362213/ontario-cannabis-store-edibles-vapes-tea-retail-shops/

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

Ontario sold the most cannabis in first year of legalization

• Ontario accounted for $217 million in recreational cannabis sales — or 24 per cent of the overall Canadian market
• From October 2018 to September 2019, followed by Alberta and Quebec, which sold $196 million and $195 million worth, respectively

By: Vanmala Subramaniam

Cannabis retailers in Ontario sold the most cannabis of any province in the first year following legalization, even though there was only one online store and 24 brick-and-mortar stores in operation for most of that period, according to new Statistics Canada data.

Ontario accounted for $217 million in recreational cannabis sales — or 24 per cent of the overall Canadian market — from October 2018 to September 2019, followed by Alberta and Quebec, which sold $196 million and $195 million worth, respectively.

The year following legalization saw more than 400 brick-and-mortar stores established across the country. Total adult-use cannabis sales from online retail stores amounted to $908 million for that period, far short of many estimates prior to legalization.

For instance, a June 2018 report from CIBC estimated that legal cannabis sales could reach $6.5 billion by 2020, with the potential to yield $1 billion in EBITDA. A similar report by Deloitte had forecast the legal cannabis market to generate $4.3 billion in sales in the year following legalization.

The StatsCanada data also observed a sharp decline in the number of consumers who purchased cannabis online, in tandem with the growth of the number of retail stores across the country. The share of online sales declined from 43.4 per cent in Oct. 2018 to just 5.9 per cent the following September, while the number of brick-and-mortar stores rose 88 per cent between March and July 2019.

Online retail stores — most of which are operated by provincial wholesalers — made approximately $120 million in the year following legalization, while brick-and-mortar stores raked in the remaining $788 million in sales.

Indeed, government-run stores have been struggling. Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp. which operates the Ontario Cannabis Store, lost $42 million in its latest fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. In New Brunswick, Cannabis NB, the crown corporation in charge of selling cannabis, recently said it was looking for a buyer, as losses piled up.

On a per capita basis, British Columbia reported the lowest sales values in the country at $10 per capita in the year following legalization. Ontario did not fare much better on that measure, with a per capita sales value of $15. Alberta, by contrast, had one of the highest per capita sales values at $45.

Statistics Canada attributed these vast differences to varying access to cannabis stores. In Ontario, for instance, just nine per cent of residents lived within a three kilometre distance to a cannabis store, whereas in Alberta — the province with the highest number of stores — 50 per cent of residents lived within three kilometres of a cannabis store.

The Canadian cannabis industry has, for the most part, struggled to meet expectations from both investors and consumers, with price, quality and accessibility being the key reasons why the sector did not take off at a rate many had hoped it would.

While the first few months of legalization were characterized by a supply shortage, the production ramp-up in the latter half of 2019 has now created the opposite problem: oversupply.

Cannabis producers are urging the Ontario government to open up the licensing process for retail stores, which they hope will lead to a sharp growth in the number of stores across Canada’s most populous province.

Source: https://business.financialpost.com/cannabis/cannabis-business/ontario-sold-the-most-cannabis-in-first-year-of-legalization-despite-low-store-count

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

Canadians spent $908M at cannabis stores since legalization, StatCan says

• Canadians spent $907,833 on non-medical cannabis between October 2018 and September 2019, the agency said, which works out to $24 per capita.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA – Canadians spent about $908 million on non-medical cannabis in the first year since legalization, but online sales dropped as more brick-and-mortar locations opened, said Statistics Canada.

Canadians spent $907,833 on non-medical cannabis between October 2018 and September 2019, the agency said, which works out to $24 per capita.

Canada legalized cannabis on Oct. 17, 2018, becoming the second country in the world – after Uruguay – to legalize the drug. Demand initially appeared to outstrip supply as retailers warned of a pending shortfall of product.

Over the year, demand appeared to be highest in the sparsely populated Yukon where sales per capita led the other provinces and territories at $103, according to Statistics Canada. It was not able to provide data for Nunavut – the only area without a physical store.

Prince Edward Island sales per capita were the second highest at $97, while B.C. ranked lowest at $10.

Throughout the year, Canadians’ access to cannabis stores increased. The number of retail stores jumped from 217 this past March to 407 in July, according to the agency.

Alberta boasts the highest number of stores at 176 and B.C. took second place with 57 stores. Nunavut had the fewest with zero, followed by Prince Edward Island and the Yukon, both of which have four.

Nineteen per cent of Canadians lived three kilometres from a cannabis store as of July 2019. Thirty per cent lived 30 kilometres away and 45 per cent lived within 10 kilometres.

Albertans enjoyed the closest proximity to a store of any province, with half of the population living within three kilometres of a cannabis outlet. That figure rises to 63 per cent for five kilometres and 70 per cent for 10 kilometres.

Ontarians lived the furthest from cannabis stores on average. Nine per cent of the population resided three kilometres from a cannabis store. Eighteen per cent lived five kilometres away and 33 per cent were 10 kilometres away.

As the number of physical stores increased, the share of online sales dropped from 43.4 per cent in October 2018 to 5.9 per cent in September 2019.

“While online cannabis retail ensures access to all Canadians regardless of proximity to a physical store, accessibility continues to improve as more stores open across the country,” wrote Statistics Canada in its paper.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2019.

Source: https://www.cp24.com/lifestyle/canadians-spent-908m-at-cannabis-stores-since-legalization-statcan-says-1.4725872

• On November 22nd, 2019, the Company received a request for information from Health Canada
• The Request required the Company to provide certain information and confirmations related to the Company’s outstanding cultivation license application and evidence package
• Company is pleased to report that the Request was responded to in full in advance of the December 8th, 2019 deadline.

TORONTO, Dec. 09, 2019 — North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) (“NORTHBUD” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Ryan Brown as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Jennifer Ross-Carriere to the Board of Directors and Mr. Sean Homuth as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. 

“Since Sean has joined our team, he has been instrumental in structuring and closing the first round of our debenture financing as well as completing our acquisitions in California and Nevada,” said Ryan Brown, Executive Chairman of NORTHBUD. “As NORTHBUD evolves its operations in the USA, we are very excited in our future as 2020 will be a significant year of growth for the Company.  The extensive operational experience Sean brings to the team will be essential in executing our strategic plan and guiding the Company through its next level of growth. Moving forward NORTHBUD is committed to the highest level of financial management and diligence as we move from a pre-revenue startup into the revenue generating operational phase of development. Having someone with Sean’s experience and background at the helm of NORTHBUD’s day-to-day operations is a natural evolution for our Company. This transition will allow me to focus on overseeing the corporate strategy while supporting the management team in its execution.”

“We are also pleased to welcome Jennifer Ross-Carriere to our Board as she brings a strong legal and business background coupled with a wealth of corporate governance experience to our board,” said Ryan Brown. “Her knowledge, perspective and diverse skill set will complement our existing board members and be an incredible asset for our Company as we advance our strategic plan.”

Mr. Brown further stated, “I am pleased to take on the role of Executive Chairman supported by our first class independent Board of Directors consisting of Lead Independent Director and former Altria executive, Micheal Saxon, former multiple term Canadian Federal Cabinet Minister, Leona Aglukkat, Dr. Terresa DeLuca, Managing Director of the NY Life Science Venture Fund, Jennifer Ross-Carriere, and experienced capital markets executive and co-founder, André Audet.”   

“I am extremely pleased to be assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer working alongside Ryan, a seasoned veteran of our industry, as we move towards placing our vision into action,” said Sean Homuth, CEO of NORTHBUD. “Our strategy is to build a Company focused on operating cost-efficient cultivation facilities in the largest addressable markets in North America.  With a world class board and executive team, we are poised to lead NORTHBUD through a period of tremendous growth and opportunity.”

Annual and Special Meeting
The Company expects to hold its Annual and Special Meeting (the “Meeting”) in Ottawa, Ontario toward the last week of January 2020 or in early February 2020.  The Company will update shareholders and file the required notices on its website and under its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Corporate Update
On November 22nd, 2019, the Company received a request for information from Health Canada (the “Request”). The Request required the Company to provide certain information and confirmations related to the Company’s outstanding cultivation license application and evidence package. The Company is pleased to report that the Request was responded to in full in advance of the December 8th, 2019 deadline. The Request did not contain any notices of deficiencies in the Company’s cultivation license application nor did it require the Company to make any modifications to its facilities. On November 27th, senior management of the Company partook in a conference call with the Company’s assigned reviewer at Health Canada to ensure the completeness of the Company’s responses to the Request prior to submission. The Company is confident that the approval process is on track but, at this time, cannot predict when it will be granted a cultivation license by Health Canada. The Company will update shareholders on any material advancement of the application.

In preparation for the anticipated licensing of the Company’s Canadian production facility, the Company has entered into a purchase agreement with Ottawa-based licensed producer apollogreen inc.  apollogreen inc.’s business is focused on the sale of clones and starting genetics. Under the terms of the agreement, apollogreen inc. will provide the Company with starting materials which the Company expects to be cultivated and sold under its Business to Business (“B2B”) sales program.

“We are very happy to be working with the team at apollogreen whom we have known for many years,” said Ryan Brown. “Their services will significantly expedite our ability to achieve revenue post-receipt of our cultivation license. The Company is in negotiation with multiple licensed producers and expects to sign one or more letters of intent for wholesale B2B supply in the coming weeks. The Company’s intention is to secure immediate line of sight on revenue through the process of obtaining our direct sales licenses and preparing our unique genetics for commercialization under the NORTHBUD brand. Historically many producers have chosen to bank inventory for the first 12 months pending the receipt of a sales licence. We believe this is an inefficient strategy and has resulted in large inventory valuation write downs and inferior product being released to consumers. This provides us with a focused cultivation strategy from day one which will increase profitability and allow us to incrementally enter the market with higher-margin branded products while ensuring cash flow needs will be met in the near and medium term.” 

Option Grants
On December 9, 2019, the board of directors of the Company approved the grant of 1,025,000 incentive stock options (“Options”) to certain directors and senior officers of the Company. The Options vest immediately and are exercisable to acquire common shares of the Company at a price of $0.25 per common share, subject to the rules of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) and the Company’s newly adopted 2019 Omnibus Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”). The Options expire five years from the date of grant. The Omnibus Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on December 9, 2019 and is subject to ratification and approval by the shareholders of the Company at the Meeting. The foregoing grant of Options is subject to the ratification and approval of the Omnibus Plan.

RSU Grants
On December 9, 2019, the board of directors of the Company also approved the grant of 3,388,889 restricted share units (“RSUs”) to certain officers, directors, key employees and consultants of the Company. The RSUs vest in four equal tranches starting three months from the date of grant. Each vested RSU entitles the holder thereof to receive one common share of the Company upon delivery of an exercise notice, in accordance with the Omnibus Plan. The foregoing grant of RSUs is subject to the ratification and approval of the Omnibus Plan at the Meeting by the shareholders of the Company.

About Sean Homuth, CEO of NORTHBUD
Mr. Homuth brings extensive experience with both Canadian and U.S. publicly traded organizations both in industry as well as from a client perspective during his tenure at Ernst & Young and, more recently, as an independent consultant. Previously, Mr. Homuth was Chief Financial Officer at Orezone Gold Corporation (and Vice President, Finance and Administration for its predecessor company, Orezone Resources Inc.) a publicly listed company headquartered in Canada with operations in West Africa. At Orezone Mr. Homuth led a global team of finance professionals and was involved in over $800 million in financings and M&A transactions with the company and its predecessor. Mr. Homuth holds accounting designations in both Canada (CPA, CA) and the United States (CPA – Illinois).

About Jennifer Ross-Carriere, Director
Mrs. Ross-Carriere brings over 20 years of experience working with global companies in the technology industry providing strategic and operational advice to organizations of all sizes at the senior leadership and board levels with a particular emphasis on legal matters and employee relations. Previously, Mrs. Ross-Carriere held the roles as General Counsel and Vice-President, People & Culture at IFS Aerospace & Defense and General Counsel and Vice-President, People & Culture at Mxi Technologies. In these roles, she demonstrated strong skills in many areas including, intellectual property, licensing, M&A, corporate governance and employment. She is a senior HR professional with a focus on the development of an employee support organization truly matched to company culture.  Mrs. Ross-Carriere was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1999, holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from McGill University and a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.  She has served as a Board member of several technology companies and non-profit organizations.

About North Bud Farms Inc.
North Bud Farms Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary GrowPros MMP Inc., is pursuing a license under The Cannabis Act.  The Company has built a state-of-the-art purpose-built cannabis production facility located on 135 acres of Agricultural Land in Low, Quebec, Canada. NORTHBUD through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Bonfire Brands USA has acquired cannabis production facilities in California and Nevada. The Salinas, California property is located on 11 acres which currently consists of a 300,000 sq. ft. of licensable greenhouse space with 60,000 sq. ft. actively cultivating cannabis and a 2,000 sq. ft. building licensed for distribution.  The Reno, Nevada property is located on 3.2 acres of land which was acquired through the acquisition of Nevada Botanical Science, Inc. a world class cannabis production, research and development facility with 5,000 sq. ft. of indoor cultivation which holds medical and adult use licenses for cultivation, extraction and distribution.

For more information visit: www.northbud.com

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements
Certain statements and information included in this press release that, to the extent they are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation.  Forward-looking statements, including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “should” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management.

Forward-looking statements, including those regarding the success of the Company’s license application, the Company’s ability to execute its strategic plan, conditions in the cannabis market, the Company’s shareholders approving the Omnibus Plan, the vesting of the RSUs, the Company entering agreements in connection with the B2B supply of cannabis and the Company’s transition into a revenue generating operational phase of development are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in the Company’s final long form prospectus dated August 21, 2018, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company’s management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect information, events, results, circumstances or otherwise after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law including securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
North Bud Farms Inc.
Edward Miller
VP, IR & Communications
Office: (855) 628-3420 ext. 3
[email protected]