Geyser Brands Inc. (formerly Kanzen Capital Corp.) (TSX-V: GYSR) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the “Letter of Intent”) with Solace Management Group Inc. (“Solace”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, setting out certain terms and conditions as to the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares (the “PurchasedShares”) of Solace by way of a share purchase, share exchange or similar transaction, following a review of all relevant legal, regulatory and tax matters (the “Proposed Transaction”).
Solace’s business consists of leveraging its brands, intellectual property, proprietary formulations in the hemp and cannabis markets by licensing distribution and production arrangements. Solace’s brands and assets include among other assets:
- Apawthecary Pets – a leading hemp-based pet treat brand with formulations for human grade, all-natural pet treats, salves and oral drops. Apawthecary Pets products are currently sold in pet stores and veterinarian clinics across Canada.
- Apothecary Naturals – a line of hemp based topical products, pain creams, organic soaps, lip balms and men’s topical grooming products.
- Apothecary Ink – a line of hemp based all-natural tattoo after care products.
- WildTail Pets – a line of single ingredient freeze-dried pet products, including hemp-infused pet treats, kibble and freeze-dried pet foods for dogs and cats.
- Apothecary Labs – a research and development arm of Solace engaged in technology and formulation development for beverages, topicals and other cannabis and hemp infused nutraceutical products.
Solace distributes its products in Canada through over 3,000 stores including Bosleys, PetLand, Pharmasave, Bukerfields, Master-Feeds, Global Pet Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, Woofies, PetValue, Pet Planet & Bone & Biscuit. International distribution extends to the UK, Caribbean Islands, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the USA.
Summary of the Proposed Transaction
The Proposed Transaction is subject to, among other things: (1) the Company being satisfied with its due diligence review of Solace; (2) the receipt of all necessary consents, including all necessary third party consents; (3) board approvals of Geyser and Solace, (4) approvals and authorizations including any applicable shareholder approval; (5) TSXV Exchange (the “Exchange”) approval; (6) receipt of an independent valuation report of Solace, if required; (7) satisfaction of any Exchange requirements; and (8) the parties negotiating and entering into a definitive binding agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction, with such other customary closing conditions.
The Letter of Intent contemplates that in exchange for the Purchased Shares, the Company will pay an aggregate purchase price of $3,900,000 (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustments, to the shareholders of Solace (the “SolaceShareholders”). The Purchase Price payable by the Company shall be paid by way of (1) an aggregate cash payment of $400,000 (the “Cash Payment”), a portion of which will be payable to each Solace Shareholder in proportion to the number of Purchased Shares such Solace Shareholder owns against the aggregate number of Purchased Shares, and (2) in respect of the balance of $3,500,000, by the issuance of 5,833,333 common shares (the “Consideration Shares”) of the Company at a deemed price of $0.60 per common share, subject to Exchange approval (the “Share Payment”). As with the Cash Payment, the number of the Consideration Shares each Solace Shareholder shall receive upon closing of the Proposed Transaction will be in proportion to the number of Purchased Shares such Solace Shareholder owns against the aggregate number of Purchased Shares. The specific terms of the Cash Payment and Share Payment will be outlined in the definitive binding agreement and the Company will provide an update accordingly. Certain Consideration Shares may be subject to escrow in accordance with Exchange policies. All Consideration Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring on 4 months and 1 days from the date of issuance. On completion of the Proposed Transaction, Solace will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
Although the parties have entered into the Letter of Intent, there can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all. No finder’s fees are payable in respect of the Proposed Transaction.
The Letter of Intent may be terminated at any time by either party in certain circumstances.
The Company currently has 20,928,284 common shares issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company will have 26,751,617 common shares issued and outstanding.
The Proposed Transaction is not an “arm’s length transaction” as such term is defined in the Exchange’s Policy 1.1 and constitutes a “related party transaction” as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”) by reason of Bradley D. Kersch (“Mr. Kersch”), director of the Company, also being director and President of Solace. Furthermore, Mr. Kersch owns 25% of the Purchased Shares, and who, together with other members of Mr. Kersch’s family, own an aggregate of 52.98% of the Purchased Shares. Mr. Kersch currently owns 1,826,434 common shares of the Company representing 8.73% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a non-fully diluted basis. The Letter of Intent contemplates that, in the event the Proposed Transaction were to close, Mr. Kersch would hold 3,284,767 common shares of the Company representing 12.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a non-fully diluted basis, and Mr. Kersch, together with other members of his family, would own 4,917,127 common shares of the Company representing 18.38% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a non-fully diluted basis.
Notwithstanding any requirement the Exchange may have with respect to the Proposed Transaction, Mr. Kersch has disclosed to the other directors of the Company (the “Disinterested Directors”) his interest in Solace and the Proposed Transaction and as such, only the Disinterested Directors who are “independent” as such term is defined in MI 61-101 will be entitled to vote on any board resolutions, or make any decisions, to approve the Proposed Transactions. The Letter of Intent has been approved by only the independent Disinterested Directors.
In respect of the requirements of MI 61-101, the Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval required under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101 in reliance of sections 5.5(b) and 5.5(e) as no securities of the Company are listed on the specified markets outlined therein and the current Control Person, as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, owning 26.29% of the current issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company, supports the Proposed Transaction and (1) is not an interested party, (2) is at arm’s length to the interested party, and (3) supports the transaction. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval of MI 61-101 in reliance of section 5.7(1)(c). The Proposed Transaction will not create a new Control Person as such term is used applicable securities laws.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
THIS NEWS RELEASE, PROVIDED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION OR APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
This news release contains forward‐looking statements and forward‐looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements or information. Forward‐looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “appear”, “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “approximate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “would” and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward‐looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the marijuana industry in general such as operational risks in growing; competition; incorrect assessment of the value and potential benefits of various transactions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws and government regulations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward‐looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information relating to Geyser is available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE: Geyser Brands Inc.
