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VANCOUVER, Sept. 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Geyser Brands Inc.
(formerly Kanzen Capital Corp.) (TSX-V: GYSR) ("Geyser
Brands" or the "Company") is extremely pleased to
announce that the Company has closed its previously announced
acquisition of Solace Management Group Inc. ("Solace"), a
private corporation existing under the laws of British Columbia (the "Transaction"),
that owns several brands that are already in market and being sold
nationwide.
Geyser Brands CEO, Andreas
Thatcher, stated "This is a transformational strategic
acquisition for Geyser Brands, which will establish us as a leading
provider of health-focused hemp and CBD wellness products. With the
constant evolution of the national and international hemp and CBD
landscape, by combining our expertise in innovation and development
with Solace's expertise and market recognition, we will be
well-positioned to capitalize on what is predicted to be a
multibillion-dollar industry."
Solace CEO, Brad Kersch, added,
"We see the huge potential in extending our brands further into
the cannabis markets. Geyser Brands is the perfect platform to
provide manufacturing and distribution with their Licensed
Production facilities. Their plans to roll out beverage, cosmetics
and edibles capacity matches our determination to be first to
market with our already established products."
About Solace
As reported in previously disseminated news releases, Solace
leverages its brands, intellectual property and proprietary
formulations in the hemp and CBD markets by licensing distribution
and production arrangements. Solace's brands and assets include
among others, the Apawthecary Pets line of products which are
leading all-natural hemp-based pet treats with formulations for pet
treats, salves and oral drops. Apawthecary Pets products are
currently being sold in pet stores and veterinarian clinics across
Canada, including Bosley's,
PetSmart, PetLand, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmasave, Bukerfields,
Global Pet Foods and Pet Planet to name a few. Solace's product
portfolio currently comprises of 23 products and 57 SKU's of both
pet and consumer healthcare goods. All products are currently
utilizing organic, unrefined, cold-pressed hemp seed oil extracts.
As part of the Solace's continued growth, it has recently moved to
a new 7,500 sq. ft. facility built to Good Manufacturing Practices.
The new facility is anticipated to increase Solace's production
capacity significantly in order to meet growing demand and is also
equipped with a specialized lab for the development of new products
and formulations.
Transaction Summary
Pursuant to the definitive agreement dated May 15, 2019 (the "Agreement"), a copy of
which can be found on the Company's SEDAR profile, the Company
acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Solace (the
"Purchased Shares") from the shareholders of Solace
(the "Solace Shareholders") for an aggregate purchase
price of $3,900,000 (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to customary adjustments
as outlined in the Agreement.
The Purchase Price is payable by way of (1) an aggregate cash
payment of $400,000 (the "Cash
Payment"), payable by way of a promissory note (the
"Promissory Notes") delivered to each of the Solace
Shareholders on closing in proportion to the number of Purchased
Shares previously owned by such Solace Shareholder against the
aggregate number of the Purchased Shares (the "Principal
Amount"), 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 (the "Share Payment"). As with the Cash
Payment, the number of Consideration Shares each Solace Shareholder
received on closing was in proportion to the number of Purchased
Shares such Solace Shareholder previously owned against the
aggregate number of Purchased Shares.
The terms of the Promissory Notes provide that the Principal
Amount will be paid in full, without interest, on or before the
first anniversary of the closing of the Transaction. The Company
has the right to prepay all or any part of the Principal Amount at
any time without notice, bonus or penalty. Furthermore, in the
event the Company raises capital after the closing of the
Transaction in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 by way of one or more private
placement financings, or other form of investment from arm's length
third parties, the unpaid balance of the Principal Amount will be
immediately due and payable.
All Consideration shares issued to the Solace Shareholders will
be subject to a statutory hold period expiring 4 months and 1 day
from the date of closing. No finder's fees were payable in
connection with the Transaction. Solace is now a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company.
As previously announced, the Transaction was not an "arm's
length transaction" as such term is defined in the Exchange's
Policy 1.1 and therefore constituted 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"). Bradley D. Kersch ("Mr. Kersch")
is a director of the Company and was also a director and President
of Solace. Mr. Kersch owned 23.48% of the Purchased Shares. Mr.
Kersch along with other members of his family that are deemed to be
"associates" of Mr. Kersch as such term is defined in the
Exchange's Policy 1.1, owned 53.01% of the Purchased Shares.
In respect of the requirements of MI 61-101, the Company relied
on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval
required under MI 61-101. The Company was 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, who, prior
to the completion of the Transaction, owned 25.96% of the issued
and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company,
supported the Transaction and (1) was not an interested party, (2)
was at arm's length to the interested party. Additionally, the
Company was exempt from minority shareholder approval of MI 61-101
in reliance of section 5.7(1)(c).
Although the Company was exempt under MI 61-101 in respect of
minority shareholder approval and formal valuations, in accordance
with the Exchange's Policy 5.3, the Transaction constituted a
"reviewable transaction", and, as the number of Consideration
Shares issuable to "Non-Arm's Length" parties exceeded 10% of the
number of common shares issued and outstanding in the capital of
the Company immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction,
the Exchange required the Company to seek approval of a simple
majority of the Company's shareholders, excluding certain insiders.
The Company is pleased to confirm that the Company received
overwhelming support from the Company's shareholders in the form of
written consents from shareholders holding 60.66% of the issued and
outstanding shares in the capital of the Company immediately prior
to the closing of the Transaction.
Early Warning Report
Pursuant to National Instrument 62 – 103 – The Early Warning
System and Related Take Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, Mr.
Kersch is announcing (i) the direct acquisition of 1,369,861 common
shares in the capital of the Company, (ii) the direct acquisition
by Mr. Kersch's spouse, Tammy Lee
Kersch of 1,548,263 common shares in the capital of the
Company, and (iii) the direct acquisition by Mr. Kersch's daughter,
Cassidy Kersch, of 154,583 common
shares in the capital of the Company. Mr. Kersch's spouse and his
daughter are deemed be joint actors with Mr. Kersch (the
"Deemed Joint Actors") under applicable
Canadian securities legislation and Exchange policies. Immediately
before the closing of the Transaction, Mr. Kersch, together with
the Deemed Joint Actors, owned and controlled 2,832,434 common
shares in the capital of the Company, which are subject to escrow
provisions, representing 11.48% of the 24,662,412 then issued and
outstanding shares in the capital of the Company on a non-diluted
basis, and 788,217 warrants. Immediately after the closing of the
Transaction, Mr. Kersch, together with the Deemed Joint Actors, own
and control 5,905,141 common shares in the capital of the Company,
representing 19.36% of the current 30,495,745 issued and
outstanding shares in the capital of the Company on a non-diluted
basis, or 21.39% of the Company's issued and outstanding common
shares on a partially-diluted basis assuming exercise of the
788,217 warrants held by Mr. Kersch only and not taking into
account any other exercise of any other warrants or options issued
by the Company to other third parties. The common shares owned by
Mr. Kersch and the Deemed Joint Actors are for investment purposes,
and subject to escrow provisions, depending on market conditions,
general economic and industry conditions, trading prices of the
Company's securities, the Company's business, financial condition
and prospects and/or other relevant factors, Mr. Kersch and the
Deemed Joint Actors may from time to time acquire additional
securities, dispose of some or all of the existing or additional
securities or may continue to hold the common shares or other
securities of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mr.
Kersch and the Deemed Joint Actors have provided the Exchange with
an undertaking dated August 28, 2019
in which Mr. Kersch and the Deemed Joint Actors will not, within
prior Exchange approval, exercise any warrants or other convertible
securities if the exercise of which will result in the creation of
a new Control Person as such terms is defined by the Exchange. The
early warning report, as required under applicable securities laws,
contains additional information with respect to the foregoing
matters and will be filed by Mr. Kersch on the Company's SEDAR
profile at www.sedar.com.
About Geyser Brands
Geyser Brands builds consumer product brands that use hemp and
CBD as a value-added ingredient. These involve next-generation
formulas that focus on the mix of cannabinoids for specific
conditions such as insomnia, anxiety and pain. Proprietary delivery
technologies include all natural nano-technology, slow-release
mechanisms and non-molecule degrading baking processes. Geyser
Brands owns a Health Canada approved Licensed Production Facility,
and operates 15,000 sqft of manufacturing space in two GMP
facilities near Vancouver, BC.
For more information, visit Geyser Brands' website at
www.geyserbrands.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
"Andreas Thatcher"
____________________________________
Andreas Thatcher
Director and CEO
andreas@geyserinc.ca
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 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.
NEITHER 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.
SOURCE Geyser Brands Inc.