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.

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] 

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.

Cannabis edibles preview: What to expect come mid-December

• June 2019 report by Deloitte titled “Nurturing new growth: Canada gets ready for Cannabis 2.0” estimated the size of the edible and alternative cannabis product market could be “worth more than $2.5 billion a year and generate higher profits for retailers than cannabis products that are already legal.”

Edibles are on the way.

The 60-day Health Canada review period for cannabis edibles, extracts and topical products began counting down after the second wave of cannabis legalization across Canada came into effect Oct. 17.

With that review period set to end in mid-December, it won’t be long now before consumers can purchase and try all the new cannabis products licensed retailers are set to offer.

The Toronto Sun spoke with Sarah Gillin, COO of Etobicoke-based cannabis producer Olli Brands about what they have in store for customers.

“Olli is planning on launching with a strawberry real fruit chew, a butter cookie, a hemp crunch chocolate and five specialty tea blends — melo green, vanilla black, misty mint, sweet chamomile and my personal favourite, the berry bliss,” Gillin said, adding, “They will be offered in a variety of dosing options with CBD being featured prominently in almost all of them.”

This combo photo (top) shows Olli brands Butter Cookie edible and (bottom) their Misty Mint cannabis tea. Supplied

Gillin explained Olli partnered with Adrian Niman, a Michelin trained executive chef from The Food Dudes, to help develop and hand prepare the company’s edible products.

Olli will also be providing specialty cannabis teas. Gillin says Richard Guzauskas, Olli’s in-house “tea sommelier,” helps to internationally source the ingredients.

The “Sweet Chamomile Herbal Tea” is described on Olli’s website as a “Sweet and relaxing with an apple-honey aroma, this blend will lull you into calm.”

Canopy Growth Edibles and Beverages ‘Sneak Peek’ Tastings and Tours Beverages. Supplied photo jpg

Canopy Growth’s Tweed Inc. unveiled its line of 13 expected cannabis-infused beverages in late October. The low dosage “distilled cannabis” beverages are geared towards being consumed as a social beverage — with 10 designed to provide you with 2.5 mg of THC (Health Canada permits 10 mg per package).

Aurora Cannabis Inc., a Canadian owned licensed producer of medical and consumer cannabis gave eager edible consumers a sneak peek at a line of vapes they are working on last month as well.

They will come in three formats: a disposable vape pen, premium vape pen pods, and a pen with a universal cartridge system equipped with a rechargeable battery. They will be available for purchase on both the medical and consumer cannabis markets.

It’s worth noting, however, the U.S. Center for Disease Control identified vitamin E acetate as a “chemical of concern” among e-cigarette and vape users.

As of Nov. 20, 2019, the CDC stated there have been “2,290 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping product use” associated with lung injuries. The CDC recommends “people should not use THC-containing e-cigarette or vaping products, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers.”

Meanwhile, a June 2019 report by Deloitte titled “Nurturing new growth: Canada gets ready for Cannabis 2.0” estimated the size of the edible and alternative cannabis product market could be “worth more than $2.5 billion a year and generate higher profits for retailers than cannabis products that are already legal.”

“The edibles market alone is estimated to be worth at least $1.6 billion a year in Canada, with cannabis-infused beverages adding a further $529 million,” said Jennifer Lee, a partner and Deloitte Canada’s Cannabis National Leader.

Given the estimated size of the market, “It was not an easy choice,” Gillin said of choosing which edibles and alternative cannabis products to produce.

The review period has generally been frustrating for consumers.

Gillin said the 60 days has been “inconvenient” but also “necessary” to ensure ” the safety of consumers.”

Cannabis edibles will be available in mid-December. Chocolate Hemp Crunch, left, and Olli brands Strawberry Fruit Chews are two such products you will be able to get your hands on. Supplied

Source: https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/cannabis-edibles-preview-what-to-expect-come-mid-december

• Bonfire Brands USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of NORTHBUD, has signed multiple definitive agreements related to its previously announced letters of intent with the Qlora Group and Monterey Holdings
• Finalized the acquisition of an 11-acre property located at 20180 Spence Road Salinas, California
• Property currently consists of 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

TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2019 — North Bud Farms Inc. (CSE: NBUD) (OTCQB: NOBDF) (“NORTHBUD” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Bonfire Brands USA (“Bonfire”), a wholly owned subsidiary of NORTHBUD, has signed multiple definitive agreements related to its previously announced letters of intent with the Qlora Group and Monterey Holdings (see September 12, 2019 press release).

Transaction Terms:

1. Bonfire Brands USA has finalized the acquisition of an 11-acre property located at 20180 Spence Road Salinas, California from Monterey Holdings Inc. The property currently consists of 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 purchase price of the property is USD$8,000,000 which represents the fair market value of the real estate. The buyer and seller have entered into a seller carry back financing for the full purchase price.
   
   
2. Bonfire Brands USA has signed a definitive agreement with the Qlora Group for the acquisition of cultivation, processing and distribution licenses associated to the Spence Road property. As part of this acquisition Bonfire Brands USA also acquires all the Intellectual Property (IP) and assets related to the brands California Bud Co and Live For The Day (LFTD). The two brands combined for approximately USD$6,500,000 in unaudited sales over the past 18 months. In consideration for this acquisition Bonfire has assumed a USD$2,500,000 debt note from the Qlora Group. The debt will be settled over a 24-month period through a combination of cash and stock at the discretion of the note holder.  Immediately upon signing of the definitive agreement Bonfire will have acquired 80% ownership of the licenses with the remaining 20% to be transferred after approval from the California Cannabis Control and Licensing Bureau.
   
   The buyer will be taking possession of all biological assets including:

•    6000 plants currently in the fifth week of flowering;
• ~ 5000 plants in various stages of vegetative growth;
• ~ 350 Lbs. of dried and harvested flower and trim; and 
•    3000 filled vape cartridges of various strains.                                                  

“On the heels  of the historic adoption of the MORE Act, the NORTHBUD and Bonfire team is extremely proud to have finalized this agreement and how the structure allows for the acquisition to be financed from ongoing cash flow from the acquired business with minimal dilution while allowing the company to acquire what we believe to be exceptionally positioned infrastructure located in the heart of California’s Sun Belt and home to the largest cannabis cultivators in the state,” said Ryan Brown, CEO of NORTHBUD.

This infrastructure will serve as the primary operation for Bonfire Brands USA within the state of California, which is considered to be the largest cannabis market in North America valued at USD$3 billion dollars per year according to Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics (August 2019).

“We are very pleased with the successful acquisition of the Salinas facility,” said Justin Braune, President of Bonfire Brands USA. “We have been working closely with the cultivation team at Qlora over the past two months and will immediately take over operations to begin driving revenue growth. We anticipate our first harvest within 45 days and have been actively negotiating agreements with distribution and cultivation partners whom wish to leverage our strategic infrastructure through joint venture and subletting agreements. We anticipate closing these transactions in the near future with the goal of having the California operation generating positive cash flow in the near term.”

The Transaction is a significant acquisition but will not result in a “Fundamental Change” pursuant to the policies of the CSE. NORTHBUD will be preparing the necessary corporate and securities filings in order to secure the required approvals for the Transaction.

NORTHBUD has agreed to pay up to 3% in finder fees to arm’s length parties in connection with the closing of the Transaction. The fee is payable in common shares of NORTHBUD.

The closing of the Transaction is conditional on the receipt by the parties of applicable corporate and regulatory approvals including that of the CSE.

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 Canadian Securities Exchange (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. This press release contains forward- looking statements including those relating to projected revenue for 2020 from the Qlora cannabis farm being acquired by Bonfire, the timing of the Company’s first harvest from the farm, and the negotiation of cultivation and distribution agreements. Forward-looking statements 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]