Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
An investment in us involves a number of risks. A detailed discussion of our risk factors appears in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of the Annual Report. Any of the matters highlighted in the risk factors described in the Annual Report and the risk factors below could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, causing an investor to lose all, or part of, its, his or her investment. The risks and uncertainties described in the Annual Report and below are those we currently believe to be material, but they are not the only ones we face. If any of the risks described in the Annual Report, the following risks, or any other risks and uncertainties that we have not yet identified or that we currently consider not to be material, actually occur or become material risks, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and consequently the price of our securities could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business and results of operations have been adversely affected and will likely continue to be materially adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted the level of economic activity around the world and in all countries in which we or our affiliates operate (including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Colombia, and Israel). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the governments of many countries, states, cities and other geographic regions have taken preventative or protective actions, such as imposing restrictions on travel and business operations, ordering temporary closures of businesses and advising or requiring individuals to limit or forego their time outside of their homes. Numerous businesses have temporarily closed voluntarily or closed permanently. Although some preventative or protective actions have been eased or lifted in varying degrees by different governments of various countries, states and cities, the continued spread of COVID-19 and increase in infection rates have caused, and may continue to cause, some jurisdictions to reinstitute such actions, including rolling back reopening plans. The duration and ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the extent to which the virus may re-emerge following the current outbreak, are highly uncertain.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had a material impact on the growth of revenues and sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 related to the Company’s U.S. segment. With segments of the U.S. economy currently in an economic contraction, and a significant number of the Company’s customers’ stores continuing to be challenged by remaining temporarily closed or closing permanently, the U.S. segment is experiencing slower than expected revenue growth. The prolonged closures of retail stores as well as the changes in consumer purchasing during the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely affected our financial results. We anticipate further adverse effects on our financial results so long as the measures implemented to combat the COVID-19 pandemic stay in effect.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic could include closures of our facilities or the facilities of our suppliers and other vendors in our supply chain and other preventive and protective measures in our supply chain. For example, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier closures of manufacturers in China resulted in delays of deliveries of batteries and cartridges for our cannabis vaporizers and personal protective equipment, such as masks and gowns used in our GMP manufacturing processes, from such manufacturers in China. If the pandemic persists, closures or other restrictions on the conduct of business operations of our third-party manufacturers, suppliers or vendors could disrupt our supply chain. We have experienced minor delays in shipping and the increased global demand on shipping and transport services, in addition to customs and border control policies put in place in response to COVID-19 that require shipments to undergo quarantine periods, may cause us to experience delays or increased costs in the future which could impact our ability to obtain materials or deliver our products in a timely manner, could otherwise disrupt our operations and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In various provinces in Canada, cannabis retailers have been reducing opening hours, staff onsite and the number of customers allowed in-store for cannabis retailers that continue to be open. Further, retailers of our products in the U.S. and Canada have in some cases determined to, and may in other cases be required to close or choose to suspend or significantly curtail their operations due to health and safety concerns for their employees. Even if our production facilities remain open, mandatory or voluntary self-quarantines and travel restrictions may limit our employees’ ability to get to our facilities, and this, together with impacts on our supply chain and the uncertainty produced by the rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, may result in reduced or suspended production. Those type of restrictions could also impact the abilities of customers in the U.S. or certain Canadian provinces to continue to have access to our products. Quarantines, shelter-in-place and similar government orders, or the perception that such orders, shutdowns or other restrictions on the conduct of business operations could occur could impact personnel at third-party manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada and other countries, or the availability or cost of materials, which would disrupt our supply chain, in particular in relation to our supply of masks, gowns and other protective equipment used at our GMP facilities due to the global shortage of such protective equipment and materials. As a result of COVID-19, we have implemented work-from-home policies for certain employees and the effects of our work-from-home policies may negatively impact productivity, disrupt access to books and records, increase cybersecurity risks and disrupt our business. In addition, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may delay our R&D programs and our ability to execute on certain of our strategic plans involving construction.
60
The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly, and the extent of its effect on our operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including the duration, scope and severity of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain or mitigate its impact, and the direct and indirect economic effects of the pandemic and related containment measures, among others. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, our businesses could also be negatively impacted should the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lead to changes in consumer behavior, including as a result of a decline in the level of vaping or demand for inhalable products in light of certain recent published articles and studies on the potential increased susceptibility of individuals who smoke or vaporize nicotine or cannabis to COVID-19, in light of changes in consumer behavior such as reduced spending on certain product formats historically used in shared experiences such as pre-rolls or in reductions in discretionary spending. In addition, a severe or prolonged recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic would likely materially affect our business and the value of our common shares.
We have been and may in the future be required to write down intangible assets, including goodwill, due to impairment, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.
The Company has been and may in the future be required to write down intangible assets, including goodwill, due to impairment, which would reduce earnings. We periodically calculate the fair value of our reporting units and intangible assets to test for impairment. This calculation may be affected by several factors, including general economic conditions, regulatory developments, changes in category growth rates as a result of changing adult consumer preferences, success of planned new product introductions, and competitive activity. Certain events can also trigger an immediate review of goodwill and intangible assets. If the carrying value of our reporting unit and other intangible assets exceed their fair value and the loss in value is other than temporary, the goodwill and other intangible assets are considered impaired, which would result in impairment losses and could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. We cannot provide any assurance that the U.S. segment will successfully execute its business plans and strategies.
The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operating results for the U.S. segment has been difficult, if not impossible to predict. The longer than anticipated closures of retail stores have resulted in slower than anticipated revenue growth. As a result, the Company reassessed its estimates and forecasts using a discounted cash flow during the second quarter to determine the fair value of the goodwill and intangible asset relating to the U.S. segment. Based on the forecast of the U.S. segment at that time, there was an indication that fair value of the goodwill and intangible asset may not exceed carrying value. In the second quarter of 2020, we performed an interim impairment test due to the triggering events noted above. The Company incurred $35 million of impairment charges on the U.S. reporting unit and $5 million on the Lord Jones ™ brand during the second quarter of 2020.
It is possible that estimates in the Company’s financial statements will continue to change in the near-term as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of any such changes could be material, which could result in, among other things, further impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.
We have been and may in the future be required to write down inventory due to downward pressure on market prices, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.
At the end of each reporting period, management performs an assessment of inventory obsolescence, prices and demand to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. We also consider factors such as slow-moving or non-marketable products in our determination of obsolescence. As a result of this assessment, inventory write-downs may occur from period to period. Due to continued pricing pressures in the Canadian marketplace, we may incur further inventory write-downs in the future. We have had a series of inventory write-downs due to price compression in the cannabis market. We expect these write-downs to continue as pricing pressures remain elevated. These inventory write-downs have in the past and may in the future materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
61
We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to remediate the material weaknesses, or if we experience additional material weaknesses in the future, our business may be harmed.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) and for evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of our system of internal control. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide timely, reliable and accurate financial reports, identify and proactively correct any deficiencies, material weaknesses or fraud and meet our reporting obligations. As disclosed in Part I, Item 4, we have been conducting remediation efforts to improve our internal control over financial reporting. Remediation efforts place a significant burden on management and add increased pressure on our financial reporting resources and processes. If we are unable to successfully remediate our existing material weaknesses in a timely manner, or any additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting are identified, the accuracy of our financial reporting and our ability to timely file with the SEC may be adversely impacted. In addition, if our remedial efforts are insufficient, or if additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls occur in the future, we could be required to further restate our financial results, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, restrict our ability to access the capital markets, require us to expend significant resources to correct the material weaknesses or deficiencies, subject us to regulatory investigations and penalties, harm our reputation, cause a decline in investor confidence or otherwise cause a decline in our stock price.
If we are a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes in any year, certain adverse tax rules could apply to U.S. Holders of our common shares
As previously disclosed, we will be classified as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for any taxable year for U.S. federal income tax purposes if for a taxable year, (i) 75% or more of our gross income is passive income, or (ii) 50% or more of the value of our assets either produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, based on the quarterly average of the fair market value of such assets. The determination of PFIC status depends on interpretive rules and computational conventions that are often unclear. In particular, in making our determination, we are relying on the application of certain “look-through” rules, taking into account certain intercompany items. There is, however, no direct legal authority applying these look-through rules to our particular situation (including whether they apply and, if so, to what extent, and how they apply to intercompany items). Likewise, in light of the volatility of our common share price, we intend to take the position that the spot trading price of our stock at each quarter end, as adjusted by liabilities, does not dictate the determination of the fair market value of our assets. Based on current business plans and financial expectations, an independent valuation report in respect of our assets, and the application of certain look-through rules (including the taking into account of certain intercompany items), we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year ending December 31, 2020 and do not expect to become a PFIC in the foreseeable future. However, PFIC status is determined annually and depends upon the composition of our gross income and assets, both of which are subject to change. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our interpretation of fair market value or its computation, or with our interpretation of the PFIC rules (including the “look-through” rules and the scope of their application, including in respect of intercompany items). Therefore, there can be no assurance as to our PFIC status for the current taxable year or for future taxable years, nor any assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our determination of our PFIC status.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
62
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.