Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This
Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is intended to provide an understanding of our financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year to year. This discussion should
be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Unaudited Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes and MD&A appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for
the year ended December 31, 2023. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of results
for future interim periods or for the year.
Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the financial statements and related notes, contains forward-looking statements that discuss,
among other things, future expectations and projections regarding future developments, operations and financial conditions. All forward-looking
statements are based on management’s existing beliefs about present and future events outside of management’s control and
on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. If any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially
from those anticipated, estimated, projected or intended. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements to reflect actual results, changes in expectations or events or circumstances after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
When
this report uses the words “we,” “us,” or “our,” and the “Company,” they refer to TREES
Corporation (formerly, “General Cannabis Corp”).
Our
Products, Services, and Customers
TREES
Corporation is a cannabis retailer and cultivator in the States of Colorado and Oregon.
We
presently operate six (6) cannabis dispensaries as follows:
●
Englewood,
Colorado
o
5005
S. Federal Boulevard – Recreational license only
●
Denver,
Colorado
o
East
Hampden Avenue (formerly Green Man) – Recreational license only
●
Longmont,
Colorado
o
12626
N. 107 th Street (formerly Green Tree/Ancient Alternatives) – Medical and Recreational licenses
●
Three
(3) in Oregon
o
SW
Corbett Avenue, Portland, OR – Medical and Recreational licenses
o
NE
102 nd Avenue, Portland, OR – Medical and Recreational licenses
o
7050
NE MLK, Portland, OR – Medical and Recreational licenses
14
We
also operate two (2) cultivation facilities in Colorado as follows:
●
SevenFive
Farm – 3705 N. 75 th Street, Boulder – Retail cultivation license only
●
6859
N. Foothills Highway E-100 (formerly Green Tree/Hillside Enterprises) – Retail cultivation license only
Our
principal business model is to acquire, integrate and optimize cannabis companies in the retail and cultivation segments utilizing the
combined experience of entrepreneurs and synergistic operations of our vertically integrated network. During the three months ended June
30, 2024 and 2023, 100% of SevenFive’s revenue was with three customers and 81% of SevenFive’s revenue was with two customers,
respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, 100% of SevenFive’s revenue was with three customers and 77%
of SevenFive’s revenue was with two customers, respectively. The customers in 2024 are related party dispensaries and the revenues
associated with these customers are eliminated in consolidation.
During the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, 100% of Hillside
Cultivation’s (formerly noted as Green Tree) revenue was with three customers, and 90% of Hillside Cultivation’s (formerly
noted as Green Tree) revenue was with four customers, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, 100% of Hillside
Cultivation’s (formerly noted as Green Tree) revenue was with three customers, and 83% of Hillside Cultivation’s (formerly
noted as Green Tree) revenue was with three customers, respectively. The customers in 2024 are related party dispensaries and the revenues
associated with these customers are eliminated in consolidation.
Results
of Operations
The
following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, statements of operations data. The tables and the discussion below should be read
in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in this report.
Three months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Revenues
$ 3,689,122
$ 5,097,994
$ (1,408,872 )
(28 )%
Costs and expenses
(3,475,320 )
(6,568,727 )
3,093,407
(47 )%
Other expense
(158,347 )
(565,422 )
407,075
(72 )%
Net Gain (Loss) before income taxes
$ 55,455
$ (2,036,155 )
$ 2,091,610
103 %
Six months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Revenues
$ 7,375,003
$ 10,208,613
$ (2,833,610 )
(28 )%
Costs and expenses
(7,638,549 )
(12,850,463 )
5,211,914
(41 )%
Other expense
(933,778 )
(1,195,103 )
261,325
(22 )%
Net Loss before income taxes
$ (1,197,324 )
$ (3,836,953 )
$ 2,639,629
(69 )%
Revenues
The
reversal of the acquisition of a portion of the Green Tree assets, which were returned in Q3 2023, contributed to the decrease in revenues
and expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to June 30, 2023, and for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and June
30, 2023, respectively.
Costs
and expenses
Three
months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Cost
of sales
$ 1,687,442
$ 3,230,777
$ (1,543,335 )
(48 )%
Selling,
general and administrative
1,333,836
2,485,751
(1,151,915 )
(46 )%
Stock-based
compensation
—
18,054
(18,054 )
(100 )%
Professional
fees
237,135
543,566
(306,431 )
(56 )%
Depreciation
and amortization
216,907
290,579
(73,672 )
(25 )%
$ 3,475,320
$ 6,568,727
$ (3,093,407 )
(47 )%
15
Six months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Cost of sales
$ 3,876,537
$ 6,288,491
$ (2,411,954 )
(38 )%
Selling, general and administrative
2,779,088
4,781,991
(2,002,903 )
(42 )%
Stock-based compensation
14,968
45,450
(30,482 )
(67 )%
Professional fees
560,708
1,151,110
(590,402 )
(51 )%
Depreciation and amortization
407,248
583,421
(176,173 )
(30 )%
$ 7,638,549
$ 12,850,463
$ (5,211,914 )
(41 )%
Cost
of sales decreased for three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to June 30, 2023 due to the reversal of the acquisition
of a portion of the Green Tree assets.
Selling,
general and administrative expense decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to June 30, 2023 due to the
decreased expenses resulting from the reversal of the acquisition of one dispensary and one cultivation facility in the third quarter
of 2023 and one additional dispensary license in the first quarter of 2023, resulting in a decrease in employees and rent expense.
Stock-based
compensation included the following:
Three months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Restricted Stock Awards
$ —
$ 18,054
$ (18,054 )
(100 )%
$ —
$ 18,054
$ (18,054 )
(100 )%
Six months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Restricted Stock Awards
$ 14,968
$ 45,450
$ (30,482 )
(67 )%
$ 14,968
$ 45,450
$ (30,482 )
(67 )%
Employee
awards are issued under our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on November 23, 2020. Expense varies primarily
due to the number of stock options and restricted stock awards granted and the share price on the date of grant. The decrease in expense
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to June 30, 2023, is due to issuing less restricted stock awards at a higher
per unit grant date value in the second quarter of 2024.
Professional
fees consist primarily of accounting and legal expenses. Professional fees decreased for the three and six months ended June 30,
2024 as compared to June 30, 2023 due to the lack of unusual accounting activity in the first and second quarters of 2024 as compared
to the 2023 periods.
Depreciation
and amortization decreased due to the reversal of the acquisition of a portion of the Green Tree assets and a revaluation of the Green
Tree and Green Man acquisitions as of the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to June 30, 2023.
Other
Expense
Three months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Amortization of debt discount
$ 174,305
$ 220,077
$ (45,772 )
(21 )%
Interest expense
457,172
716,728
(259,556 )
(36 )%
(Gain) loss on derivative liability
(3,223 )
(3,912 )
689
(18 )%
Gain on sale of assets
—
2,400
(2,400 )
(100 )%
Other (income)
—
(369,871 )
369,871
(100 )%
(Gain) loss on contingent earnout
(469,907 )
—
(469,907 )
100 %
$ 158,347
$ 565,422
$ (407,075 )
(72 )%
16
Other
Expense
Six months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Amortization of debt discount
$ 294,635
$ 401,754
$ (107,119 )
(27 )%
Interest expense
1,010,915
1,166,039
(155,124 )
(13 )%
(Gain) loss on derivative liability
(4,716 )
(5,219 )
503
(10 )%
Gain on sale of assets
—
2,400
(2,400 )
(100 )%
Other income
—
(369,871 )
369,871
(100 )%
(Gain) loss on contingent earnout
(367,056 )
—
(367,056 )
100 %
$ 933,778
$ 1,195,103
$ (261,325 )
(22 )%
Amortization
of debt discount decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to June 30, 2023 due to the change in outstanding
debt related to the Green Tree acquisition reversal. Interest expense decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024,
as compared to June 30, 2023, due to the modification of the 12% Notes with an interest rate of 12% in Q4 2023 and a delay in Q2 2023
payments. The gain on warrant derivative liability reflects the change in the fair value of the 2019 Warrants which expired in Q2 2024.
The loss on contingent earnout reflects the change in the fair value of the Green Tree Contingent Earnout liability which expired in
Q2 2024.
Retail
Three months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Revenues
$ 3,689,122
$ 5,079,564
$ (1,390,442 )
(27 )%
Costs and expenses
(2,981,932 )
(5,347,268 )
2,365,336
(44 )%
Segment operating income
$ 707,190
$ (267,704 )
$ 974,894
364 %
Six months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Revenues
$ 7,375,003
$ 10,190,183
$ (2,815,180 )
(28 )%
Costs and expenses
(6,098,192 )
(9,882,836 )
3,784,644
(38 )%
Segment operating income
$ 1,276,811
$ 307,347
$ 969,464
315 %
With
the partial reversal of the acquisition of Green Tree in Q3 2023, retail revenue decreased for the three and six months ended June 30,
2024, compared to June 30, 2023. Costs and expenses also decreased as a result of the partial acquisition reversal.
Cultivation
Three months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Revenues
$ 344,149
$ 944,830
$ (600,681 )
(64 )%
Costs and expenses
(211,796 )
(1,046,274 )
834,478
(80 )%
Segment operating gain (loss)
$ 132,353
$ (101,444 )
$ 233,797
230 %
Six months ended June 30,
Percent
2024
2023
Change
Change
Revenues
$ 592,791
$ 1,628,847
$ (1,036,056 )
(64 )%
Costs and expenses
(820,082 )
(2,185,847 )
1,365,765
(62 )%
Segment operating loss
$ (227,291 )
$ (557,000 )
$ 329,709
(59 )%
The
decrease in revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to June 30, 2023, is due to the closure of three cultivations
during Q2 2023 and a reduction in grow operations at one of the remaining cultivations facilities in Q1 2023. The decrease in cost and
expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to June 30, 2023 is attributed to the closure of three cultivations
during Q2 2023 and a reduction in grow operations at one of the remaining cultivations facilities in Q1 2023. The costs and expense
incurred between our dispensaries and cultivation locations are eliminated in consolidation.
17
Liquidity
Sources
of liquidity
Our
sources of liquidity historically have included the cash exercise of common stock options and warrants, debt, and the issuance of common
stock or other equity-based instruments. We anticipate our significant uses of resources will include funding operations.
Sources
and uses of cash
We had cash of $383,029 and $969,676 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31,
2023, respectively. Our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities were as follows:
Six months ended June 30,
2024
2023
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (580,633 )
$ (883,305 )
Net cash used in investing activities
$ (29,994 )
$ (267,314 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
$ 23,980
$ (789,246 )
Net
cash used in operating activities increased in 2024 due to the expiration and subsequent gain of the Green Tree contingent earnout.
Net
cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 from June 30, 2023 decreased as a result of a lack of acquisition
activity in 2024.
Net
cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 decreased from June 30, 2023 due to the partial reversal of
the acquisition of a portion of the Green Tree assets and the issuance of the 2024 Working Capital Note.
Capital
Resources
We had no
material commitments for capital expenditures as of June 30, 2024. Part of our growth strategy, however, is to acquire operating
businesses. We expect to fund such activity through cash on hand, the issuance of debt, common stock, warrants for our common stock or
a combination thereof.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities, and the amounts of revenues and expenses. Critical accounting policies are those that require the application
of management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often because of the need to make estimates about the effect
of matters that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. In applying these critical accounting policies, our
management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in making certain estimates. Actual results may differ
from these estimates.
We
define critical accounting policies as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and which may potentially
result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. In applying these critical accounting policies, our
management uses its judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in making certain estimates. These estimates are subject
to an inherent degree of uncertainty.
Business
Combinations
Amounts
paid for acquisitions are allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value at the date of
acquisition. The fair value of identifiable intangible assets is based on detailed valuations that use information and assumptions provided
by management, including expected future cash flows. We allocate any excess purchase price over the fair value of the net assets and
liabilities acquired to goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. Acquisition-related
costs, including advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other costs, are expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred.
The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date.
Goodwill
and Intangibles
Goodwill
represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill and
long-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of ASC No. 350, Intangibles-Goodwill
and Other (“ASC No. 350”). ASC No. 350 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating
segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change
that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carry value. Application of the goodwill impairment
test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment
of goodwill to reporting units, and determination of the fair value of each reporting unit. We test goodwill annually in December, unless
an event occurs that would cause us to believe the value is impaired at an interim date. See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023, for discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
18
Intangible
assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment whenever events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable.
Impairment
of Long-lived Assets
We
periodically evaluate whether the carrying value of property and equipment has been impaired when circumstances indicate the carrying
value of those assets may not be recoverable. The carrying amount is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows
expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying value is not recoverable, the impairment loss
is measured as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value.
Our
impairment analyses require management to apply judgment in estimating future cash flows as well as asset fair values, including forecasting
useful lives of the assets, assessing the probability of different outcomes, and selecting the discount rate that reflects the risk inherent
in future cash flows. If the carrying value is not recoverable, we assess the fair value of long-lived assets using commonly accepted
techniques, and may use more than one method, including, but not limited to, recent third-party comparable sales and undiscounted cash
flow models. If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, or our assumptions and estimates change due to
new information, we may be exposed to an impairment charge in the future.
Debt with
Equity-linked Features
We may issue
debt that has separate warrants, conversion features, or other equity-linked attributes.
Debt
with warrants – When we issue debt with warrants, we treat the warrants as a debt discount, record as a contra-liability against
the debt, and amortize the balance over the life of the underlying debt as amortization of debt discount expense in the consolidated
statements of operations. The offset to the contra-liability is recorded as additional paid in capital in our consolidated balance sheets.
If the debt is retired early, the associated debt discount is then recognized immediately as amortization of debt discount expense in
the consolidated statement of operations. The debt is treated as conventional debt.
We
determine the value of the non-complex warrants using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model (“Black-Scholes”) using the
stock price on the date of issuance, the risk-free interest rate associated with the life of the debt, and the volatility of our stock.
For warrants with complex terms, we use the binomial lattice model to estimate their fair value.
Convertible
Debt - When we issue debt with a conversion feature, we must first assess whether the conversion feature meets the requirements to
be treated as a derivative. If the conversion feature within convertible debt meets the requirements to be treated as a derivative, we
estimate the fair value of the convertible debt derivative using Black-Scholes upon the date of issuance, using the stock price on the
date of issuance, the risk-free interest rate associated with the life of the debt, and the estimated volatility of our stock.
Modification
of Debt - When we change the terms of existing notes payable, we evaluate the amendments under ASC 470-50, Debt Modification and
Extinguishment to determine whether the change should be treated as a modification or as a debt extinguishment. This evaluation includes
analyzing whether there are significant and consequential changes to the economic substance of the note. If the change is deemed insignificant
then the change is considered a debt modification, whereas if the change is substantial the change is reflected as a debt extinguishment.
Equity-based
Payments
We
estimate the fair value of equity-based instruments issued to employees or to third parties for services or goods using Black-Scholes
or the Binomial Model, which requires us to estimate the volatility of our stock and forfeiture rate.
Revenue
Recognition
ASC
Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”) requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict
the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to
be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing
so, judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process including identifying performance obligations in the
contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to
each separate performance obligation.
19
The
following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:
● Step
1: Identify the contract with the customer;
● Step
2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract;
● Step
3: Determine the transaction price;
● Step
4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and
● Step
5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation.
ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As
a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide information required
by this Item.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.