As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2020

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

British Columbia, Canada       98-1463868
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10017
United States
(646) 600-9181

 

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

James A. Doherty, Esq.
366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10017
United States
(646) 600-9181

 

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

James A. Doherty
Acreage Holdings, Inc.
366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10017

United States

(646) 600-9181

Christopher J. Barry

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6100

Seattle, WA 98104-7043

United States

(206) 903-8815

   

From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement

 

(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public)

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company ¨
  Emerging growth company x
   

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ¨

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of
securities to be registered
Amount to be registered Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price per unit Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price Amount of
registration fee(6)(7)
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares     (1)  
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares     (1)  
Debt Securities     (1)  
Warrants     (1)  
Subscription Receipts     (1)  
Units     (1)  
Subtotal     $300,000,000  
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares Underlying Warrants (exercisable at $4.00) 4,259,633   $17,038,532  
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares Underlying Warrants (exercisable at $4.00) 1,825,556   $7,302,224  
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares

156,799

 

  $465,693(2)  
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares 67,199   $188,829(3)  
Primary Offering of Class E Subordinate Voting Shares owned by Acreage Holdings America, Inc.(4)

589,165

 

  $1,749,820(2)  
Primary Offering of Class D Subordinate Voting Shares owned by Acreage Holdings America, Inc. (5) 252,499   $709,522(3)  
Total     $327,454,620 $35,725
(1)   Represents the initial offering price of all securities sold up to an aggregate public offering price to the Registrant not to exceed $300,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies. This registration statement also covers Class E subordinate voting shares and Class D subordinate voting shares that may be issued upon exercise of warrants or other securities of the registrant that may be issued upon exercise of rights or conversion of debt securities, subscription receipts or units. In addition, any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities which may be offered pursuant to this registration statement include, pursuant to Rule 416 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), such additional number of Class E subordinate voting shares and Class D subordinate voting shares of the registrant that may become issuable as a result of any stock split, stock dividends or similar event.
(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices of our Class E subordinate voting shares reported on the OTCQX on October 20, 2020.
(3)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low prices of our Class D subordinate voting shares reported on the OTCQX on October 20, 2020.
(4)   The 589,165 Class E subordinate voting shares registered pursuant to the fourth prospectus contained in this registration statement are owned by Acreage Holdings America, Inc. Such shares have been previously issued and are currently outstanding.
(5)   The 252,499 Class D subordinate voting shares registered pursuant to the fourth prospectus contained in this registration statement are owned by Acreage Holdings America, Inc. Such shares have been previously issued and are currently outstanding.

(6)   Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act, the registration fee has been calculated on the basis of the maximum aggregate offering price and the number of securities being registered has been omitted.

 

(7)   The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act based on the current statutory fee of $109.10 per million.

       Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, a registration fee of $96,960 was paid with respect to securities available for issuance under a Registration Statement on Form F-10 (File No. 333-232313) filed on June 24, 2019, as amended on August 9, 2019, and declared effective on August 12, 2019 (the “Prior F-10”). In connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-239332) filed on June 22, 2020, as amended on August 21, 2020, and declared effective on September 3, 2020 (the “Prior S-3”), and pursuant to Rule 457(p), $89,046 was available to offset the filing fees associated with the Prior S-3, which represented the registration fees associated with $734,705,886 of unsold securities under the Prior F-10. The $52,955 registration fee associated with the Prior S-3 was entirely offset against the prepaid registration fees made in connection with the securities available for issuance under the Prior F-10, with $36,091 remaining to be applied to future filings. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the unsold securities registered under the Prior F-10 was deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of the Prior S-3.

Pursuant to Rule 457(p), $88,737 is presently available for offset, which represents (i) the $36,091 prepaid registration fees remaining from the Prior F-10 after entirely offsetting the registration fees in connection with the Prior S-3 and (ii) the registration fees associated with $52,646 of unsold securities under the Prior S-3. The $35,725 registration fee associated with this registration statement is hereby entirely offset against the prepaid registration fees made in connection with the securities available for issuance under the Prior F-10 and Prior S-3 with $53,021 remaining to be applied to future filings. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the unsold securities registered under the Prior S-3 will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

  

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This registration statement contains four prospectuses:

 

· a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale of such indeterminate number of Class E subordinate voting shares, Class D subordinate voting shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription receipts and units, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $300,000,000;
     
· a prospectus covering up to 4,259,633 Class E subordinate voting shares and up to 1,825,556 Class D subordinate voting shares, which are issuable upon the exercise of previously issued warrants of the Registrant, in each case, at an exercise price of $4.00 per share;
     
· a prospectus covering 156,799 Class E subordinate voting shares and 67,199 Class D subordinate voting shares; and
     
· a prospectus covering 589,165 Class E subordinate voting shares and 252,499 Class D subordinate voting shares.

 

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. Four additional prospectuses immediately and sequentially follow the base prospectus. The Class E subordinate voting shares and Class D subordinate voting shares that may be offered, issued and sold under the additional prospectuses are not included in the $300,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus.

 

   

 

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion October 21, 2020

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

$300,000,000

Class E Subordinate Voting Shares

Class D Subordinate Voting Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Receipts
Units

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $300,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of our Class E subordinate voting shares, without par value (the “Fixed Shares”), Class D subordinate voting shares, without par value (the “Floating Shares”), debt securities which may or may not be converted into other securities (the “Debt Securities”), warrants to purchase Fixed Shares or Floating Shares (the “Warrants”), subscription receipts for Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Warrants (the “Subscription Receipts”) or any combination thereof (the “Units”), in one or more transactions under this Prospectus (the “Prospectus”).

 

We may also offer under this Prospectus any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants and any Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or other securities issuable upon the conversion of Subscription Receipts, Debt Securities and Units. Collectively, the Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts, Units, Fixed Shares and Floating Shares issuable upon the exercise of Warrants or other securities issuable upon the conversion of Subscription Receipts, Debt Securities and Units are referred to as the “Securities.

 

This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. Each time we offer Securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) that describes specific information about the particular Securities being offered and may add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read both this Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, together with any additional information which is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. This Prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without the Prospectus Supplement which includes a description of the method and terms of that offering.

 

We may sell the Securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer Securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this Prospectus.

 

The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (“FRA”) under the trading symbol “0VZ1”.The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”.

 

The trading prices and volumes of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares will be provided, as required, in each Prospectus Supplement. On October 20, 2020, the last reported sale price of the Fixed Shares on the OTCQX was $3.00 per Fixed Share and on the CSE was $2.87 per Fixed Share; the last reported sale price of the Floating Shares on the OTCQX was $2.90 per Floating Share and on the CSE was $2.75 per Floating Share. There is currently no market through which the Securities, other than the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, may be sold, and purchasers may not be able to resell the Securities purchased under this Prospectus. This may affect the pricing of the Securities, other than the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these Securities and the extent of issuer regulation.

 

Investing in the Securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 9.

 

These Securities have not been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS           , 2020.

 

   

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
   
SUMMARY 2
   
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 7
   
RISK FACTORS 9
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 13
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 13
   
DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES 14
   
DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES 15
   
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 15
   
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 16
   
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPTS 17
   
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 18
   
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR 18
   
LEGAL MATTERS 18
   
EXPERTS 18
   
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 18
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 19

 

   

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This Prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the Securities described in this Prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of an initial aggregate offering price of $300,000,000. This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Fixed Shares, the number of Fixed Shares offered, the offering price and any other specific terms of the offering; (ii) in the case of Floating Shares, the number of Floating Shares offered, the offering price and any other specific terms of the offering; (iii) in the case of the Debt Securities, terms of any Debt Securities and any related agreements or indentures; (iv) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms; (v) in the case of Subscription Receipts, the designation, number and terms of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Warrants receivable upon satisfaction of certain release conditions, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, any additional payments to be made to holders of Subscription Receipts upon satisfaction of the release conditions, the terms of the release conditions, terms governing the escrow of all or a portion of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, terms for the refund of all or a portion of the purchase price for Subscription Receipts in the event the release conditions are not met and any other specific terms; and (vi) in the case of Units, the designation, number and terms of the Securities comprising the Units. A Prospectus Supplement may include specific variable terms pertaining to the Securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters set forth in this Prospectus.

 

In connection with any offering of the Securities (unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement), the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

Please carefully read both this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement together with the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference under “Documents Incorporated by Reference”, any free writing prospectus and the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Owning securities may subject you to tax consequences both in Canada and the United States. This Prospectus or any applicable Prospectus Supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstance.

 

References in this Prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “C$”.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Prospectus. The distribution or possession of this Prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these Securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these Securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of the Securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

In this Prospectus and in any Prospectus Supplement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “Acreage” “Company,” “we,” “us,” “Registrant,” “our” refer to Acreage Holdings, Inc., either alone or collectively with its subsidiaries as the context requires.

 

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 SUMMARY

 

The Company

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated, multi-state operator in the U.S. cannabis industry. Our operations include (i) cultivating cannabis plants, (ii) manufacturing branded consumer products, (iii) distributing cannabis flower and manufactured products, and (iv) retailing high-quality, effective and dosable cannabis products to consumers. We appeal to medical and adult recreational use (“adult-use”) customers through brand strategies intended to build trust and loyalty.

 

We are a British Columbia company that began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on November 15, 2018 following the completion of the reverse takeover transaction between us and High Street Capital Partners, LLC (“High Street”), which is an indirect subsidiary of ours, on November 14, 2018. We were originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on July 12, 1989 as Applied Inventions Management Inc. On August 29, 2014, we changed our name to Applied Inventions Management Corp. We redomiciled from Ontario into British Columbia and changed our name to Acreage Holdings, Inc. on November 9, 2018.

 

Kevin Murphy, our Chair and former Chief Executive Officer, began investing in the cannabis space in 2011 with minority investments in dispensaries located in medical-use states on the east coast of the United States. High Street was founded by Mr. Murphy in April 2014 to invest in the burgeoning U.S. regulated cannabis market and, until April 2018, was an investment holding company and engaged in the business of investing in cannabis companies. As part of the formation of High Street in 2014, Mr. Murphy contributed his cannabis related investment portfolio valued at approximately $14,000,000 to High Street in exchange for 20,000,000 Class B membership units of High Street.

 

We and High Street have invested in geographically diverse licensed entities that operate in both the adult-use and medical-use authorized U.S. states. The companies and other entities in which we and High Street have a direct or indirect ownership interest (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) focus on all aspects of the state regulated cannabis industry. As a result of its experience investing in the industry, and, in many cases, active involvement with the Subsidiaries, High Street’s management gained significant experience in cultivation, processing and dispensing of cannabis and cannabis infused products.

 

From inception until April 2018, when High Street began the process of converting its minority investments in many of the Subsidiaries into controlling interests, the principal business activity of High Street was to provide debt and equity capital to existing cannabis license holders, cannabis license applicants and related management companies which are party to financing and consulting services agreements with High Street-owned entities in certain U.S. states where medical-use and/or adult-use of cannabis is legal. Such investments included straight debt securities (secured or unsecured), convertible debt instruments and/or common or preferred equity securities issued by the Subsidiaries. As an investor in these Subsidiaries, High Street was generally entitled to hold board seats and played an advisory role in the management and operations of such Subsidiaries, which afforded High Street the opportunity to build its institutional knowledge in the cannabis space. Additionally, being an investor in the Subsidiaries provided High Street with the ability to develop a vertically-integrated U.S. cannabis market participant with one of the largest footprints in the industry at the time.

 

High Street is a Delaware limited liability company, or LLC, rather than a corporation. Unlike a corporation, generally all profits and losses of the business carried on by an LLC “pass through” to each member of the LLC. LLC members report their respective shares of such profits and losses on their U.S. federal tax returns. Membership equity interests in High Street are represented by units.

 

Since 2018, we have worked toward becoming the best multi-state operator in the U.S. and we continue to be committed to providing access to cannabis’ beneficial properties by creating the best quality products and consumer experiences.

 

Recent Developments

 

Amended Arrangement with Canopy Growth Corporation

 

On June 24, 2020, we entered into a proposal agreement (the “Proposal Agreement”) with Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy”) which set out, among other things, the terms and conditions upon which us and Canopy were proposing to ‎enter into an amending agreement (the “Amending Agreement”, and together with the Original Arrangement Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the “Arrangement Agreement”) to further amend the arrangement agreement between us and Canopy, dated April 18, 2019, as amended by that certain amending agreement between us and Canopy, dated May 15, 2019 (together, the “Original Arrangement Agreement”), amend and restate the plan of ‎arrangement between us, our securityholders and Canopy completed on June 24, 2019 (the “Amended Plan of Arrangement”) and implement the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Amended Arrangement”) pursuant ‎to the Business Corporations Act ‎‎(British Columbia) (“BCBCA”). The effectiveness of the amendment to the Original Arrangement Agreement and the ‎implementation of the Amended Plan of Arrangement was subject to the conditions set out in ‎the Proposal Agreement, which included, among others, approval by: (i) the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) at a hearing upon the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms ‎and conditions of the Amended Arrangement; and (ii) our shareholders, as ‎required by applicable corporate and securities laws.

 

The Amended Arrangement was approved by our shareholders at our ‎special meeting held on September 16, ‎‎2020 and a final order approving the Amended Arrangement was obtained from ‎the Court on September 18, 2020.

 

 

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Following the satisfaction of various conditions set forth in the Proposal Agreement, on ‎September 23, 2020, us and Canopy entered into the Arrangement Agreement ‎and implemented the Amended Arrangement effective at 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) (the “Amendment Time”) on September 23, 2020 ‎‎(the “Amendment Date”).

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, Canopy made a cash payment of $37,500,024 (the “Aggregate Amendment Option Payment”), which was delivered to our shareholders and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares. Holders of Class A subordinate voting shares (the “SVS”), Class B proportionate voting shares (the “PVS”), Class C multiple voting shares (the “MVS”), and certain other parties, received approximately $0.30 per SVS, being their pro rata portion (on an as-converted to SVS basis) of the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment, based on the number of our outstanding securities and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares, as of the ‎close of business on September 22, 2020, the record date for payment of ‎the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment. ‎ The ‎ Aggregate Amendment Option Payment was distributed to such holders of record on or ‎about September 25, 2020. 

 

Upon implementation of the ‎Amended Arrangement, our articles of incorporation were amended to, among other things, create three new classes of shares in our capital, being Fixed Shares, Floating Shares and Class F multiple voting shares (the “Fixed Multiple Shares”), and, in connection with such amendment, we completed a capital reorganization (the “Capital Reorganization”) effective as of the Amendment Time whereby: (i) ‎each SVS was exchanged for ‎‎0.7 of a Fixed Share and ‎‎0.3 of a Floating Share; ‎‎(ii) each PVS was exchanged for 28 ‎Fixed Shares and 12 Floating ‎Shares; and (iii) each ‎ MVS was exchanged for 0.7 ‎of a Fixed Multiple Share and 0.3 of a ‎Floating ‎Share‎.

 

At the Amendment Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of ‎Arrangement, each option, restricted share unit, compensation option and warrant to acquire SVS that was outstanding immediately prior to the Amendment Time were ‎exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as ‎applicable, to acquire Fixed Shares (a “Fixed Share Replacement Security”) and a ‎replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to ‎acquire Floating Shares (a “Floating Share Replacement Security”) in order to account for ‎the Capital Reorganization.

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, upon the occurrence, or waiver (at the discretion of Canopy), of a change in federal laws in ‎‎the United States to permit the general cultivation, distribution and possession of ‎marijuana (as defined ‎in the ‎relevant legislation) or to remove the regulation of such activities from the federal laws ‎of the ‎United States (the “Triggering Event” and the date on which the Triggering Event occurs, the “Triggering Event Date”), Canopy, will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement: (i) acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares (following the mandatory conversion of the Fixed Multiple Shares into Fixed Shares) on the basis of 0.3048 (the “Fixed Exchange Ratio”) of a common share of Canopy (each, a “Canopy Share”) for each Fixed Share held at the time of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition Time”), subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Canopy Call Option”); and ‎(ii) have the right (but not the obligation) (the ‎‎“Floating Call Option”), ‎exercisable for a period of 30 days ‎following the Triggering Event Date to acquire all of the ‎issued and outstanding Floating Shares. Upon exercise of ‎the Floating Call Option, Canopy may acquire the Floating Shares for cash or for Canopy ‎Shares or a combination thereof, in Canopy’s sole discretion. If paid in cash, the price per Floating ‎Share shall be equal to the volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on which the Floating Shares are ‎primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to the exercise (or deemed ‎exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41. If paid in Canopy ‎Shares, each Floating Share will be exchanged for a number of Canopy Shares equal to (i) the volume-‎weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on ‎which the Floating Shares are primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to ‎the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41, ‎divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average trading price (expressed in US$) of the Canopy Shares on ‎the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (or such other recognized stock exchange on which the Canopy Shares are primarily traded if not then traded on the NYSE) for the 30 trading day period immediately ‎prior to the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option (the “Floating Ratio”). The Floating ‎Ratio is subject to adjustment in accordance with the Amended Plan of Arrangement if Acreage issues greater ‎than the permitted number of Floating Shares prior to the Acquisition Date. No fractional Canopy ‎Shares will be issued pursuant to ‎the ‎Amended Plan of Arrangement. The Floating Call Option cannot be ‎exercised unless the Canopy Call Option is exercised (or deemed to be exercised). The closing of the acquisition of the Floating Shares pursuant to the Floating Call Option, if exercised, will take place concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition”) pursuant to the Canopy Call Option, if exercised. The Canopy Call Option and the Floating Call Option will expire 10 years from the Amendment Time.

  

At the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Fixed Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Fixed Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Fixed Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Fixed Exchange Ratio in effect immediately prior to the Acquisition Time (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

In the event that the Floating Call Option is exercised and Canopy acquires the Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Floating Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Floating Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Floating Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Floating Ratio (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).‎

 

3

 

 

In the event that Floating Call Option is ‎exercised and Canopy ‎acquires the ‎Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, we will be a ‎wholly-‎owned subsidiary of ‎Canopy. If Canopy completes the Acquisition of the Fixed Shares but does not ‎acquire the Floating Shares, the Floating Call Option will terminate, and the Floating Shares ‎shall remain outstanding.‎

 

‎See “Description of the Amended Arrangement” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.‎

 

Debenture

 

In connection with the implementation of the Amended Arrangement, 11065220 Canada Inc., an affiliate of Canopy (the “Hempco Lender”) agreed to provide a loan of up to $100,000,000 (the “Hempco Loan”) to Universal Hemp, LLC, an affiliate of ours that operates solely in the hemp industry in full compliance with all applicable laws (“Hempco”) pursuant to a secured debenture dated September 23, 2020 (the “Debenture”) issued by Hempco to the Hempco Lender.

 

$50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan was advanced on the Amendment Date (the “Initial Advance”) and $50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan (the “Hempco Second Advance”) will be advanced in the event that the following conditions, among others, are satisfied: (a) Hempco’s EBITDA (as defined in the Debenture) for any 90 day period is greater than or equal to 2.0 times the interest costs associated with the Initial Advance; and (b) Hempco’s business plan for the 12 months following the applicable 90 day period supports an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Debenture) of at least 2.00:1.

 

The principal amount of the Hempco Loan will bear interest from the date of advance, ‎compounded ‎annually, and will be ‎payable on each anniversary of the date of the ‎Debenture in cash in U.S. dollars at ‎a rate of 6.1% per annum. The ‎Hempco Loan will ‎mature 10 years from the date of the Initial Advance.‎

 

The Hempco Loan must be used exclusively for U.S. hemp-related operations and on the express condition that such amount will not be used, directly or indirectly, in connection with or for the operation or benefit of any of Hempco’s affiliates other than subsidiaries of Hempco exclusively engaged in U.S. hemp-related operations and not directly or indirectly, towards the operation or funding of any activities that are not permissible under applicable law. The Hempco Loan proceeds must be segregated in a distinct bank account and detailed records of debits to such distinct bank account will be maintained by Hempco.

 

No payment due and payable to the Hempco Lender by Hempco pursuant to the Debenture may be made using funds directly or indirectly derived from any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until the Triggering Event Date.

 

The Debenture includes usual and typical events of default for a financing of its nature, including, without limitation, if: (i) we are in breach or default of any representation or warranty in any material respect pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement; (ii) the Non-Core Divestitures (as defined in the Debenture) are not completed within 18 months from the Amendment Date; and (iii) we fail to perform or comply with any covenant or obligation in the Arrangement Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after written notice is given to Hempco by the Hempco Lender. The Debenture also includes customary representations and warranties, positive covenants and negative covenants of Hempco. ‎See “Transaction Agreements – Debenture” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.

 

Credit Agreement Amendment

 

In connection with, and as a condition to the implementation of, the Amended Arrangement, the credit agreement dated March 6, 2020 among Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, as borrower, and Acreage IP Holdings, LLC, Prime Wellness of Connecticut, LLC, D&B Wellness, LLC and Thames Valley Apothecary, LLC, as guarantors, and IP Investment Company, LLC, as lender, administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Original Credit Agreement”) was amended in accordance with an amendment to the Original Credit Agreement among the parties thereto dated the Amendment Date (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement, the “First Amended Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement Amendment provides that: (i) with respect to $21,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement (the “Mr. Murphy Amount”), effective as of the Amendment Time, the Original Credit Agreement was amended to (a) remove any entitlement to “Interest Shares” (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) in respect of such amount, (b) provide for an interest rate of 12% per annum payable in cash and (c) amend Section 9.3 of the Original Credit Agreement to amend the obligation of Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC to cause us to sell up to 8,800,000 SVS to repay the amount outstanding such that the obligation was reduced to cause the issuance of up to 2,000,000 Fixed Shares, and (ii) with respect to $1,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement, the lender is entitled to (a) 16,799 Fixed Shares and 7,199 Floating Shares, (b) upon maturity of the Original Credit Agreement, a return of $1,100,000 and (c) otherwise be treated in accordance with the current terms of the Original Credit Agreement.

 

On October 20, 2020, the First Amended Credit Agreement was amended to provide for certain housekeeping changes in accordance with an amendment to the First Amended Credit Agreement among the parties thereto (the “Second Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement and the First Amended Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”). 

 

 

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Special Warrant Indenture

 

In connection with the Amended Arrangement, we and Odyssey Trust Company (the “Warrant Agent”) entered into a supplemental indenture, dated as of the Amendment Date (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to amend the warrant indenture dated February 10, 2020 (the “Warrant Indenture”) between us and the Warrant Agent to, among other things, reflect the Capital Reorganization and certain amendments to the warrants issued pursuant to the Warrant Indenture. The Warrant Indenture provided for the issuance of up to 10,141,987 SVS purchase warrants (each, a “Warrant”), each of which when originally issued was exercisable to acquire one SVS at an exercise price of $5.80 per SVS at any time prior to 4:00 p.m. on February 10, 2025. As previously disclosed, we modified the exercise price of the Warrants to $4.00 per SVS immediately prior to the Amended Arrangement becoming effective. In accordance with the Supplemental Indenture, each outstanding Warrant at the Amendment Time, of which there were 6,085,192, was exchanged for: (i) 0.7 of a Fixed Share purchase warrant, with each whole Fixed Share purchase warrant (each, a “Fixed Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Fixed Share; and (ii) 0.3 of a Floating Share purchase warrant, with each whole Floating Share purchase warrant (each, a “Floating Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Floating Share. Upon completion of the Amended Arrangement, there were 4,259,633 Fixed Warrants and 1,825,556 Floating Warrants outstanding, each having an exercise price of $4.00.

 

Standby Equity Distribution

 

On May 29, 2020, we entered into a standby equity distribution agreement (the “SEDA”) with an institutional investor (the “SEDA Investor”), under which we may, at our ‎discretion, periodically sell to the SEDA Investor, and pursuant to which the SEDA Investor may, at its discretion, require us to sell to it, up to $35,000,000 of Fixed Shares and up to $15,000,000 of Floating Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, we have not drawn down against the SEDA. It is our intention to terminate the SEDA once the registration statement, of which this Prospectus is a part, is declared effective.

  

Institutional Loan Agreement

 

On September 28, 2020, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, HSCP CN Holdings II ULC (the “Institutional Investor Borrower”), entered into a loan agreement (the “Institutional Loan Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Institutional Investor”) for gross proceeds of $33,000,000. The loan from the Institutional Investor is unsecured, matures in three years, and bears interest at a 7.5% annual interest rate. At any time after September 28, 2022, upon 5 business days’ notice to the Institutional Investor, the Institutional Investor Borrower may prepay all or any portion of the loan together with all interest accrued thereon, without any premium, bonus, penalty or other charge. The loan is guaranteed by High Street.

 

Convertible Debenture

 

Effective May 29, 2020, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with YA, II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”) and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto. The Securities Purchase Agreement provided for the offer and sale of a $11,000,000 principal amount convertible debenture (the “Convertible Debenture”). The Convertible Debenture bore interest at 15% per annum and was secured by our medical cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut. The Convertible Debenture was convertible by Yorkville in whole or in part after September 30, 2020. Prior to September 30, 2020, Yorkville could convert only $550,000 of principal amount. The Convertible Debenture was convertible into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share, subject to the conversion limitations described above. We had the right to redeem up to 95% of the principal amount on or prior to September 29, 2020 without penalty.

 

On September 4, 2020, Yorkville exercised its right to convert $550,000 of the principal amount into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share and received 327,380 SVS. Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the SVS issued to Yorkville were exchanged for 229,166 Fixed Shares and 98,214 Floating Shares.

 

On September 29, 2020, we redeemed 95% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debenture.

   

Short-Term Bridge Loan

 

On June 16, 2020, we entered into a short-term definitive funding agreement with an institutional investor for a total of $15,000,000 in gross proceeds (the “Bridge Loan”). The short-term definitive funding agreement had a maturity ‎date of four months and bore interest at a per annum rate of 60%. It was secured by, among other items, our cannabis operations in Illinois, New Jersey and Florida, as well as our U.S. intellectual ‎property.

 

On October 16, 2020, we repaid the principal amount and all accrued interest owing on the Bridge Loan.

 

 

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Lease Dispute

 

On or around December 2019, we entered into three five-year leases to occupy approximately 70,000 square feet of commercial space on a cannabis cultivation campus in California. We are in an arbitration proceeding related to this commercial space and the commercial landlord is seeking to recover $12,100,000 from us. We intend to defend vigorously against all claims related to this matter.

 

The Securities Offered under this Prospectus

 

‎‎We may offer the Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units with a total value of up to $300,000,000 from time to time under this Prospectus, together with any applicable Prospectus Supplement and related free writing prospectus, if any, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities we may offer. Each time we offer Securities, we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the Securities, including, to the extent applicable:

 

· aggregate offering price;

 

· the number of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms;

 

· the number of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, issuable upon conversion of any convertible Debt Securities, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the conversion price, dates and periods of conversion, and the currency or the currency unit in which the conversion price must be paid and any other specific terms;

 

· rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any;

 

· redemption, conversion, exchange or sinking funds terms, if any;

 

· rank and security, if any;

 

· conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and if applicable, any provision for changes or adjustment in the conversion or exchange prices or rates in the Securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange;

 

· restrictive covenants, if any;

 

· voting or other rights, if any; and

 

· important United States and Canadian federal income tax considerations.

 

‎‎A Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no Prospectus Supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this Prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.

 

‎‎We may sell the Securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer Securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

 

Fixed Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Fixed Shares. Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a Prospectus Supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Fixed Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Fixed Shares.”

 

Floating Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Floating Shares. Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a Prospectus Supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Floating Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Floating Shares.”

 

Debt Securities

 

We may offer secured or unsecured Debt Securities under this Prospectus. The terms of any Debt Securities and any related agreements or indentures will be described in a Prospectus Supplement to be filed in respect of such offering.

 

Warrants

 

We may offer Warrants for the purchase of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, in one or more series, from time to time. We may issue Warrants independently or together with Fixed Shares or Floating Shares and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities.

 

The Warrants will be evidenced by warrant certificates and may be issued under one or more warrant indentures, which are contracts between us and a warrant trustee or agent for the holders of the Warrants. In this Prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Warrants under “Description of Warrants.” We urge you, however, to read any Prospectus Supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of Warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant indentures, if applicable, and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the Warrants. If applicable, specific warrant indentures will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or incorporated by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC.

 

Subscription Receipts

 

We may issue Subscription Receipts, which will entitle holders to receive upon satisfaction of certain release conditions and for no additional consideration, Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Warrants or other securities or any combination thereof. Subscription Receipts will be issued pursuant to one or more subscription receipt agreements, each to be entered into between us and a subscription receipt agent, which will establish the terms and conditions of the Subscription Receipts. Each subscription receipt agent will be a financial institution organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or Canada or any province thereof and authorized to carry on business as a trustee. A copy of the form of subscription receipt agreement will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will be incorporated by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC.

 

Units

 

We may offer Units consisting of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities and Warrants in any combination. In this Prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Units under “Description of Units.” We urge you, however, to read any Prospectus Supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of Units being offered. We may evidence each series of Units by unit certificates that we may issue under a separate unit agreement with a unit agent. If applicable, we will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the unit agreements that describe the terms of the series of Units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of Units.

 

Risk Factors

 

See “Risk Factors” as well as other information included in this Prospectus, for a discussion of factors you should read and consider carefully before investing in our securities.

 

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

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 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”), including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based upon our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, and other future conditions. Forward-looking ‎statements can be identified by the words such as “expect”, “likely”, “may”, “will”,, “would”, “could”, “should”, “continue”, “contemplate”, “intend”, or “anticipate”, “believe”, “envision”, “estimate”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “target”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate” and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Prospectus, or in the case of documents incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of each such document. Forward-looking statements in this Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

 

· the performance of our business and operations;
     
· our product offerings;
     
· the competitive conditions of the industry;
     
· our competitive and business strategies;
     
· the sufficiency of capital including our ability to obtain capital to develop our business;‎
     
· our operations in the United States, the characterization and consequences of those ‎operations under United States federal law and applicable State law, and the framework for the ‎enforcement of applicable laws in the United States;
     
· on-going implications of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”);
     
· statements relating to the business and future activities of, and developments related to, us, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of our business, operations and plans;
     
· expectations that planned acquisitions will be completed, and the expected financial results of such acquisitions;
     
· expectations that licenses applied for will be obtained;
     
· expectations regarding future cash flows from operations;
     
· statements regarding the proposed transaction with Canopy, including the anticipated benefits and likelihood of completion thereof;
     
· the likelihood that the Canopy Call Option will be exercised;
     
· the likelihood that the Floating Call Option will be exercised;
     
· the timing and outcome of the Acquisition;
     
· the likelihood of the Acquisition being completed and any benefits to be derived therefrom;
     
· potential future legalization of adult-use and/or medical cannabis under U.S. federal law;
     
· expectations of market size and growth in the U.S. and the states in which we operate;
     
· expectations for other economic, business, financial market, political, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to us or the cannabis industry generally; and
     
· other events or conditions that may occur in the future.

 

Forward-looking statements contained herein and in certain documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus concerning the cannabis industry and its medical and adult-use markets and the general expectations of ‎us concerning the industry and our business and operations are based on ‎estimates prepared by us using data from publicly available governmental sources as well as ‎from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of this ‎industry which we believe to be reasonable. However, although generally indicative of relative ‎market positions, market shares and performance characteristics, such data is inherently imprecise. ‎While we are not aware of any misstatement regarding any industry or government data ‎presented herein, the cannabis industry involves risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based ‎on various factors.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as at the date they are made and are based on information currently available and on the then current expectations. Potential purchasers of the Securities are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead are based on ‎reasonable assumptions and estimates of our management at the time they were provided ‎or made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the ‎actual results, performance or achievements of us, as applicable, to be materially different ‎from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking ‎statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to:

 

· risks related to the occurrence of changes in U.S. ‎federal laws regarding the cultivation, distribution or possession of ‎marijuana;
     
· the likelihood of the Triggering Event occurring or being waived by the expiry of the Canopy Call Option;
     
· the ability of us and Canopy to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory approvals;
     
· the ability of Canopy and us to satisfy, in a timely manner, the closing conditions to the Acquisition;

 

 

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· the likelihood ‎of Canopy ‎completing the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and/or Floating Shares;
     
· the ability of us and Canopy to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to closing following the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event;
     
· other expectations and assumptions concerning the Acquisition;
     
· our available funds and the anticipated use of such funds;
     
· the availability of financing opportunities for us and the risks associated with the ‎completion thereof;
     
· regulatory and licensing risks;
     
· changes in general ‎economic, business and ‎political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets;
     
· risks related to ‎infectious ‎diseases, including the impacts of the COVID-19;
     
· risks associated with dependence on management and currency risk;
     
· legal and regulatory risks inherent in the ‎cannabis ‎industry, including the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, ‎political risks and risks ‎relating to regulatory change;
     
· risks relating to U.S. regulatory landscape and ‎enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks;
     
· risks relating to anti-money laundering laws and ‎regulations;
     
· other governmental and environmental regulations;
     
· compliance with extensive government ‎regulations and the interpretation of various laws regulations ‎and policies;
     
· risk associated with divesting certain ‎assets;
     
· public opinion and perception of the ‎cannabis industry;
     
· risks related to contracts with third-party service providers;
     
· risks related to the ‎enforceability of contracts;
     
· reliance on the expertise and judgment of our senior management;
     
· risks related to proprietary intellectual property and potential infringement by third parties;
     
· the ‎concentrated voting control of our founder and the unpredictability caused by our ‎capital structure;
     
· risks relating to the management of growth;
     
· risks related to cash flow from operations;
     
· increasing competition in the industry;
     
· risks ‎inherent in an agricultural business;
     
· risks relating to energy costs;
     
· risks associated to cannabis products ‎manufactured for human consumption including potential product recalls;
     
· reliance on key inputs, ‎suppliers and skilled labor;
     
· cybersecurity risks;
     
· ability and constraints on marketing products;
     
· fraudulent ‎activity by employees, contractors and consultants;
     
· tax and insurance related risks;
     
· risks related to the ‎economy generally;
     
· risk of litigation;
     
· conflicts of interest;
     
· risks relating to certain remedies being limited ‎and the difficulty of enforcement of judgments and effecting service outside of Canada;
     
· risks related to ‎future acquisitions or dispositions;
     
· sales by existing shareholders; and
     
· limited research and data relating to ‎cannabis,

 

‎as well as those risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and as described from time to time in documents filed by us with securities regulatory authorities. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 dated May 29, 2020 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A ‎dated August 14, 2020‎, and under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein (see “Documents Incorporated by Reference”).

 

Readers are cautioned that the above list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in forward-looking statements. The purpose of forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management’s expectations, and such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Potential purchasers of the Securities should read this entire Prospectus, and each applicable Prospectus Supplement, and consult their own professional advisors to ascertain and assess the income tax and legal risks and other aspects associated with holding Securities.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Before deciding to invest in any Securities, prospective investors in the Securities should consider carefully the risk factors and the other information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to a specific offering of Securities, including those risks identified and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

 

Before making an investment decision, prospective purchasers of Securities should carefully consider the information described in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Additional risk factors relating to a specific offering of Securities may be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Some of the risk factors described herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the applicable Prospectus Supplement, are interrelated and, consequently, investors should treat such risk factors as a whole. If any event arising from these risks occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and the investor’s investment in the Securities could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or that are unknown or that we currently consider to be immaterial could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. We cannot assure an investor that we will successfully address any or all of these risks.

  

Prospective investors should carefully consider the risks below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020 and the other information elsewhere in this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement and consult with their professional advisors to assess any investment in the Securities.

 

Risks Related to the Securities

 

We cannot guarantee returns on our Securities.

 

There is no guarantee that the Securities will earn any positive return in the short term or long term. A holding of Securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk and should be undertaken only by holders whose financial resources are sufficient to enable them to assume such risks and who have no need for immediate liquidity in their investment. A holding of Securities is appropriate only for holders who have the capacity to absorb a loss of some or all of their investment.

 

We will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds from the sale of our Securities.

 

We will have broad discretion with respect to the application of net proceeds received by us from the sale of Securities under this Prospectus or a future Prospectus Supplement and may spend such proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of the Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or our other securities issued and outstanding from time to time. Any failure by us to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business or cause the price of our issued and outstanding securities from time to time to decline.

 

Our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may have a volatile market price.

 

The market price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. This volatility may affect the ability of holders of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares to sell their securities at an advantageous price. Market price fluctuations in the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may be due to our operating results failing to meet expectations of securities analysts or investors in any period, downward revision in securities analysts’ estimates, adverse changes in general market conditions or economic trends, acquisitions, dispositions or other material public announcements by us or our competitors, along with a variety of additional factors. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares.

 

Financial markets historically at times have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of companies and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. Accordingly, the market price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may decline even if our operating results, underlying asset values or prospects have not changed. Additionally, these factors, as well as other related factors, may cause decreases in asset values that are deemed to be other than temporary, which may result in impairment losses. There can be no assurance that continuing fluctuations in price and volume will not occur. If such increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, our operations could be adversely impacted, and the trading price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may be materially adversely affected.

 

Our securityholders resident in the United States may have difficulty settling trades because we operate in the cannabis sector.

 

Given the heightened risk profile associated with cannabis in the United States, capital markets participants may be unwilling to assist with the settlement of trades for U.S. resident securityholders of companies with operations in the United States cannabis industry which may prohibit or significantly impair the ability of securityholders in the United States to trade the Securities or any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof. In the event residents of the United States are unable to settle trades of the Securities or any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, this may affect the pricing of the Securities (and the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares) in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices and the liquidity of these securities.

 

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There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for certain Securities or that a trading market for certain Securities will develop.

 

Our shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of their Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, or at all. There can be no assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares on the trading market, and that we will continue to meet the listing requirements of one or more of the CSE, OTCQX or FRA or achieve listing on any other public exchange.

 

There is currently no market through which the Securities, other than the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, may be sold and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, none of the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units will be listed on any securities or stock exchange or any automated dealer quotation system. As a consequence, purchasers may not be able to resell the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units purchased under this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement. This may affect the pricing of the Securities, other than the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these securities and the extent of issuer regulation. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for the Securities, other than the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, will develop or, if developed, that any such market, including for the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, will be sustained.

 

Future offerings of Debt Securities, which would rank senior to our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, may adversely affect the market price of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares.

 

If, in the future, we decide to issue Debt Securities that may rank senior to our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, it is likely that such securities will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares and may result in dilution to owners of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares. We and, indirectly, our shareholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue Debt Securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, holders of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares and diluting the value of their shareholdings in us.

 

Our Fixed Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or at a discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio‎.

 

There is no guarantee that the Fixed Shares will trade at a price that reflects our performance or at ‎a price relative to the trading price of the Canopy Shares based upon the Fixed Exchange Ratio. Given the ‎uncertainties regarding the completion of the Acquisition, it is possible the Fixed Shares will trade at a significant ‎discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio.‎

 

Our Floating Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option.

 

The intrinsic value of the Floating Shares is indeterminate. There is no guarantee that the Floating Shares will trade ‎at a price that reflects our performance nor at the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option. Moreover, the Floating Shares will not trade at a price that ‎is necessarily proportionate to the trading price of the Fixed Shares. ‎

 

Our credit agreements contain restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

Our credit agreements and the Debenture contain restrictive ‎covenants that limit the discretion of management with respect to certain limited matters. A failure to comply with ‎these terms could result in an event of default which, if not cured or ‎waived, could result in accelerated repayment ‎and may have a material and adverse consequence on our business, operations or financial condition, ‎on a consolidated basis.‎

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants that may potentially impair the discretion of our ‎management with respect to certain business matters. These covenants place restrictions on, among other things, ‎the ability of us to make any material change to the nature of its business, to pay distributions or make ‎certain other payments, to create liens or encumbrances not permitted by the Arrangement Agreement and to sell ‎or otherwise dispose of certain assets. A failure to comply with these terms, if not cured or waived, could result in a ‎breach of the Arrangement Agreement.

 

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If we do not comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement, there may be significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to complete the Acquisition.

 

Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, we are required to comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement (the “Initial Business Plan”). The Initial Business Plan sets forth certain Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) for each applicable fiscal year of the Initial Business Plan.

 

If, at the end of a fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter dated December 31, 2020), our Pro-Forma Revenue (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than‎ 90% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan or if the Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than 90% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan, an Interim Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will be deemed to have occurred and the Austerity Measures (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will become applicable. The Austerity Measures place significant restrictions on our ability to take certain actions in the operation of our business. Among other things, the Austerity Measures prevent us from issuing any Fixed Shares, Fixed Multiple Shares or Floating Shares, granting any New Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) or Floating Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), entering into any contract in respect of Company Debt (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) (other than in the ordinary course of business), or paying any fees owing to members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Austerity Measures also prevent us and our subsidiaries from entering into any business combination, merger or acquisition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), from making any new capital investments or incurring any new capital expenditures, and from entering into any contract to dispose of any assets (other than in the ordinary course of business). The Austerity Measures will apply until the non-compliance causing the Interim Failure to Perform is cured by us and our subsidiaries, as applicable. However, if an Interim Failure to Perform occurs and the Austerity Measures are implemented, the ability of us to conduct our business in the ordinary course will be significantly restricted. Accordingly, the occurrence of an Interim Failure to Perform will increase the possibility that a Material Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and/or a Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will occur.

 

A Material Failure to Perform will be deemed to occur if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 80% ‎of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 80% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target, ‎as determined on an annual basis (commencing in respect of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021). The occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is considered a breach of a material term of the Arrangement Agreement incapable of being cured. Consequently, certain restrictive covenants under the Arrangement Agreement which relate to exclusivity and non-competition of Canopy in favor of us, including the restriction preventing Canopy from acquiring a competitor of ours ‎in the ‎United States, will terminate. In addition, the occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is likely to constitute an event of default under the Debenture, causing the Hempco Loan to become immediately due and payable. If the Hempco Loan is required to be repaid prior to the maturity date, it would have an immediate and lasting material adverse effect on us and our ability to complete the Acquisition.

 

In addition, if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 60% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 60% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target for the trailing 12 month ‎period ending on the date that is 30 days prior ‎to the proposed Acquisition Time, a Failure to Perform shall occur and a ‎material adverse impact will be deemed to have occurred ‎for purposes of Section ‎‎6.2(2)(h) of the Arrangement Agreement. In the event of a Failure to Perform, Canopy will ‎not be required ‎to complete the Acquisition.

 

If certain U.S. states do not legalize recreational cannabis use within a proximate timeframe, we may not be able to comply with the Initial Business Plan which may result in significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to Complete the Acquisition.

 

The Initial Business Plan has been prepared based on the assumption that certain regulatory initiatives legalizing recreational cannabis will be approved in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine and Ohio within a proximate timeframe. If some or all of the anticipated regulatory initiatives do not occur in the foregoing states within the contemplated timeline, or at all, it will have a significant adverse impact on our ability to meet the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets prescribed in the Initial Business Plan, which will likely result in an Interim Failure to Perform that could lead to a Material Failure to Perform and ultimately, a Failure to Perform.

 

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If Canopy fails to complete the Acquisition or the Acquisition is completed on different ‎terms, there could be a material adverse effect ‎on our business.

 

There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed, or if completed, that it will be ‎completed on the same or similar terms to those set out in the Arrangement Agreement. The completion ‎of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions which include, among others, ‎‎(i) obtaining necessary approvals, including the Acquisition Regulatory Approvals (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), (ii) performance by us, and Canopy, of our, and their, respective ‎obligations and covenants in the Arrangement Agreement, and (iii) cannabis production, distribution and sale becoming legal under United States federal law, or being removed from regulation under such law. If these conditions are not fulfilled or waived or the ‎Acquisition is not completed for any other reason, our shareholders will not receive the Consideration Shares (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and, if applicable, the Floating Cash Consideration (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). Certain of these conditions, including the occurrence of the Triggering Event Date, are outside of our control. ‎There can be no certainty, nor can we provide any assurance, that all conditions precedent will be satisfied or waived, ‎or, if satisfied or waived, when they will be satisfied or waived and, accordingly, the Acquisition may not be completed.‎

 

In addition, if the Acquisition is not completed, our ongoing business may be adversely ‎affected as a result of the costs (including opportunity costs) incurred in respect of pursuing the ‎Acquisition, and we could experience negative reactions from the financial markets, which ‎could cause a decrease in the market price of the Fixed Shares, particularly if the market price ‎reflects market assumptions that the Acquisition will be completed or completed on certain terms. We may also experience negative reactions from our customers and employees and there could be ‎negative impact on our ability to attract future acquisition opportunities. Failure to complete ‎the Acquisition or a change in the terms of the Acquisition could each have a material adverse effect ‎on Acreage’s business, financial condition and results of operations. ‎

 

If we issue more Fixed Shares than permitted under the Arrangement Agreement or if we, or one of our subsidiaries, make a $20,000,000 payout in certain situations, the holders of our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may receive fewer Canopy Shares upon completion of the Acquisition.

 

There is a fixed maximum number of Canopy Shares that may be issued in connection with the ‎Acquisition. In the event that we issue more Fixed Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement or if we or any of our subsidiaries ‎are required to make a payout over $20,000,000 in order to either (i) settle, (ii) satisfy a ‎judgment, or (iii) acquire the disputed minority non-controlling interest, in connection with the claim filed by EPMMNY ‎LLC against certain of our subsidiaries‎, the Fixed Exchange Ratio will be automatically reduced‎. In addition, in the event ‎that we issue more Floating Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement, the Floating Ratio will be ‎automatically reduced. Any such reduction of the Fixed Exchange Ratio or Floating Ratio will result in the holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, receiving fewer Canopy Shares upon ‎completion of the Acquisition.

 

Risks Related to our Articles of Incorporation

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation‎. Given that, under United States law, investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws, it is uncertain whether the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision. It is also uncertain whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia, although indirect causes of action may arise thereunder as a result of, without limitation, breach, misrepresentation or the like. In the event it was determined that the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws or, if it did, a British Columbia court refused to enforce such provision or a breach of U.S. securities law did not give rise to a cause of action in British Columbia, there is a risk that we would be required to litigate any such breach in a jurisdiction which is less favorable to us, which could result in additional costs and financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to the United States Regulatory System

 

Our employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and/or investors could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with us.

 

Because cannabis remains illegal under United States federal law, those investing in Canadian companies with ‎‎operations in the United States cannabis industry could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with United States cannabis businesses. Entry happens at the sole ‎‎discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers on duty, and these officers have wide latitude ‎to ask questions to determine the ‎admissibility of a non-United States citizen or foreign national. The government of Canada ‎has started warning travelers on its ‎website that previous use of cannabis, or any substance prohibited by United ‎States federal laws, could mean denial ‎of entry to the United States. Business or financial involvement in the ‎cannabis industry in the United States could ‎also be reason enough for United States border guards to deny entry. ‎On September 21, 2018, CBP released a ‎statement outlining its current position with respect to enforcement of the ‎laws of the United States. It stated that ‎Canada’s legalization of cannabis will not change CBP enforcement of ‎United States laws regarding controlled ‎substances and because cannabis continues to be a controlled substance ‎under United States law, working in or ‎facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in U.S. states ‎where it is deemed legal may affect ‎admissibility to the United States. On October 9, 2018, CBP released an ‎additional statement regarding the ‎admissibility of Canadian citizens working in the legal cannabis industry. CBP ‎stated that a Canadian citizen ‎working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in Canada ‎coming into the United States for ‎reasons unrelated to the cannabis industry will generally be admissible to the ‎United States; however, if such person ‎is found to be coming into the United States for reasons related to the ‎cannabis industry, such person may be ‎deemed inadmissible. As a result, CBP has affirmed that, employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and investors of ‎companies involved in business activities related to cannabis in the ‎United States who are not ‎United States citizens face the risk of being barred from entry into the United States for ‎life.‎

 

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Uncertainty regarding the regulations under the U.S. 2018 Farm Bill, and undeveloped shared state-federal regulations over hemp cultivation and production, may impact our hemp business.

 

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. Under Section 10113 of the Farm Bill, state departments of agriculture must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture the “USDA”). A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of USDA approves that state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will need to construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally-run program. Even if a state creates a plan in conjunction with its governor and chief law enforcement officer, the Secretary of the USDA must approve such plan. There can be no guarantee that any state plan will be approved. Review times may be extensive. Although interim rules for hemp production under the Farm Bill are now in place federally, the timing of finalized federal rules and regulations, in addition to state specific rules and regulations, cannot be assured. There may be amendments and the ultimate plans, if approved by the states and the USDA, may materially limit our hemp business depending upon the scope of the regulations.

 

Laws and regulations affecting our industry governing operations under the Farm Bill are in development.

 

As a result of the Farm Bill’s recent passage, there will be a constant evolution of laws and regulations affecting the hemp industry that could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state and federal hemp laws and regulations may be broad in scope and subject to changing interpretations. These changes may require us to incur substantial costs associated with legal and compliance fees and ultimately require us to alter our business plan. Furthermore, violations of these laws, or alleged violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business.

 

The possible FDA Regulation of hemp and industrial hemp-derived CBD, and the possible registration of facilities where hemp is grown and hemp-derived products are produced, if implemented, could negatively affect our hemp business.

 

As a result of the passage of the Farm Bill, at some indeterminate future time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)  may choose to change its position concerning products containing hemp, or cannabidiol (“CBD”)  derived from hemp, and may choose to enact regulations that are applicable to such products, including, but not limited to: the processing of hemp into hemp products; regulations covering the physical facilities where hemp is grown and/or processed; and possible testing to determine efficacy and safety of products containing hemp-derived CBD. In this hypothetical event, the proposed products, which we plan to introduce will likely contain CBD and may be subject to regulation. In the hypothetical event that some or all of these regulations are imposed, we do not know what the impact would be on the hemp industry in general, and what costs, requirements and possible prohibitions may be enforced. If we are unable to comply with the conditions and possible costs of possible regulations and/or registration, as may be prescribed by the FDA, we may be unable to continue to operate segments of our hemp business.

 

Our current officers and directors do not have experience in the hemp business.

 

Although management has business experience in cannabis, they have limited experience in the hemp-based product business or retail business. Therefore, without industry-specific experience, their business experience may not be enough to effectively start-up and maintain a hemp-based product company. As a result, the implementation of our hemp business plan may be delayed, or eventually, unsuccessful.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds to us from any offering of Securities and the proposed use of those proceeds will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to that offering of Securities. Among other potential uses, we may use the net proceeds from the sale of Securities for general corporate purposes, including funding ongoing operations and/or working capital requirements, to repay indebtedness outstanding from time to time, and to fund capital projects and potential future acquisitions.

 

Our management will retain broad discretion in allocating the net proceeds of any offering of Securities by us under this Prospectus and our actual use of the net proceeds will vary depending on the availability and suitability of investment opportunities and our operating and capital needs from time to time. All expenses relating to an offering of Securities and any compensation paid to underwriting dealers or agents as the case may be, will be paid out of the proceeds from the sale of Securities, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. See “Risk Factors - We will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds from the sale of our Securities”.

 

We may, from time to time, issue securities (including Securities) other than pursuant to this Prospectus.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may offer and sell Securities directly to one or more purchasers, through agents, or through underwriters or dealers designated by us from time to time. We may distribute the Securities from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices (which may be changed from time to time), at market prices prevailing at the times of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices including sales in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market distributions”. A description of such pricing will be disclosed in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We may offer Securities in the same offering, or may offer Securities in separate offerings, including sales in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market distributions” as defined in National Instrument 44-102 – Shelf Distributions if our Canadian prospectus provides for the same, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange in the United States, as applicable.

 

A Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of each specific offering of Securities, including: (i) the terms of the Securities to which the Prospectus Supplement relates, including the type of Security being offered; (ii) the name or names of any agents, underwriters or dealers involved in such offering of Securities; (iii) the purchase price of the Securities offered thereby and the proceeds to, and the portion of expenses borne by, us from the sale of such Securities; (iv) any agents’ commission, underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation payable to agents, underwriters or dealers; and (v) any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to agents, underwriters or dealers.

 

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If underwriters are used in an offering, the Securities offered thereby will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase Securities will be subject to the conditions precedent agreed upon by the parties and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all Securities under that offering if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to agents, underwriters or dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

The Securities may also be sold: (i) directly by us at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to; or (ii) through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offering and sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, any agent is acting on a “best efforts” basis for the period of its appointment.

 

We may agree to pay the underwriters a commission for various services relating to the issue and sale of any Securities offered under any Prospectus Supplement. Agents, underwriters or dealers who participate in the distribution of the Securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof.

 

Each class or series of Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts and Units will be a new issue of Securities with no established trading market. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, there is no market through which the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units may be sold and purchasers may not be able to sell the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units purchased under this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement. This may affect the pricing of the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the securities, and the extent of issuer regulation. Subject to applicable laws, certain dealers may make a market in the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units, as applicable, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given that any dealer will make a market in the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units or as to the liquidity of the trading market, if any, for the Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units.

 

No underwriter or dealer involved in an “at-the-market distribution”, no affiliate of such underwriter or dealer and no person acting jointly or in concert with such underwriter or dealer will over-allot Securities in connection with an offering of Securities or effect any other transactions that are intended to stabilize the market price of Securities.

 

In connection with any offering of Securities, other than an “at-the-market distribution”, unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of Securities offered at levels other than those which might otherwise prevail on the open market. Such transactions may be commenced, interrupted or discontinued at any time.

 

DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

As long as any Fixed Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Fixed Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Fixed Shares.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by our Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Fixed Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) ‎the Fixed Multiple Shares, in an amount per Fixed Multiple Share equal to the amount of the ‎dividend declared ‎per Fixed Share; and (ii) the Floating Shares, in an amount per ‎Floating Share equal to the amount of the dividend ‎declared per Fixed Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with the holders of Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares, with the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share equal to each of: (i) the amount of such distribution per Floating Share; and (ii) the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

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There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Fixed Shares unless, simultaneously, the Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated utilizing the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a Prospectus Supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

As long as any Floating Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Floating Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would be to prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Floating Shares or affect the rights of the holders of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Fixed Multiple Shares on a per share basis. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights in respect of any such approvals, each holder of Floating Shares has one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by the Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Floating Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) the Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Shares; and (ii) on the Fixed Multiple Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Floating Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with: (i) the holders of Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share; (ii) the holders of Fixed Multiple Share in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Floating Shares unless, simultaneously, the Fixed Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated using the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a Prospectus Supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by the us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, we have no Debt Securities outstanding. We may issue Debt Securities, separately or together, with Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units or any combination thereof, as the case may be. The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between us and one or more trustees (the “Trustee”) that will be named in a Prospectus Supplement for a series of Debt Securities. To the extent applicable, the Indenture will be subject to and governed by the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. A copy of the form of the Indenture to be entered into has been or will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement and will be filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada when it is entered into. The description of certain provisions of the Indenture in this section do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the Indenture. Terms used in this summary that are not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Indenture. The particular terms relating to Debt Securities offered by a Prospectus Supplement will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement. This description may include, but may not be limited to, any of the following, if applicable:

 

  15  

 

 

· the specific designation of the Debt Securities; any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities; the date or dates, if any, on which the Debt Securities will mature and the portion (if less than all of the principal amount) of the Debt Securities to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity;
     
· the rate or rates (whether fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue and on which any such interest will be payable and the record dates for any interest payable on the Debt Securities that are in registered form;
     
· the terms and conditions under which we may be obligated to redeem, repay or purchase the Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or otherwise;
     
· the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the Debt Securities, in whole or in part, at our option;
     
· the covenants applicable to the Debt Securities;
     
· the terms and conditions for any conversion or exchange of the Debt Securities for any other securities;
     
· the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect of the Debt Securities of the series will be senior or will be subordinated to the prior payment of our other liabilities and obligations;
     
· whether the Debt Securities will be secured or unsecured;
     
· whether the Debt Securities will be issuable in registered form or bearer form or both, and, if issuable in bearer form, the restrictions as to the offer, sale and delivery of the Debt Securities which are in bearer form and as to exchanges between registered form and bearer form;
     
· whether the Debt Securities will be issuable in the form of registered global securities (“Global Securities”), and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such registered Global Securities;
     
· the denominations in which registered Debt Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000, integral multiples of $1,000 and the denominations in which bearer Debt Securities will be issuable, if other than $5,000;
     
· each office or agency where payments on the Debt Securities will be made and each office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;
     
· if other than United States dollars, the currency in which the Debt Securities are denominated or the currency in which we will make payments on the Debt Securities;
     
· material Canadian federal income tax consequences and United States federal income tax consequences of owning the Debt Securities;
     
· any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Debt Securities; and
     
· any other terms, conditions, rights or preferences of the Debt Securities which apply solely to the Debt Securities.

 

If we denominate the purchase price of any of the Debt Securities in a currency or currencies other than United States dollars or a non-United States dollar unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any Debt Securities is payable in a currency or currencies other than United States dollars or a non-United States dollar unit or units, we will provide investors with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of Debt Securities and such non-United States dollar currency or currencies or non-United States dollar unit or units in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

 

Each series of Debt Securities may be issued at various times with different maturity dates, may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary.

 

The terms on which a series of Debt Securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or other securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. These terms may include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of Debt Securities would be subject to adjustment.

 

To the extent any Debt Securities are convertible into Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or other securities, prior to such conversion the holders of such Debt Securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities into which the Debt Securities are convertible, including the right to receive payments of dividends or the right to vote such underlying securities.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

‎‎‎The following is a brief summary of certain general terms and provisions of the Warrants that may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus. This summary does not purport to be complete. The particular terms and provisions of the Warrants which may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement pertaining to such offering of Warrants, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to such Warrants will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

 

  16  

 

 

Warrants may be offered separately or together with other Securities, as the case may be. Each series of Warrants may be issued under a separate warrant indenture or warrant agency agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies acting as Warrant agent or may be issued as stand-alone contracts. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will include details of the Warrant agreements, if any, governing the Warrants being offered. The Warrant agent, if any, will be expected to act solely as our agent and will not assume a relationship of agency with any holders of Warrant certificates or beneficial owners of Warrants. A copy of any warrant indenture or any warrant agency agreement relating to an offering of Warrants will be filed by us with the relevant securities regulatory authorities after it has been entered into by us.

 

Each applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the terms and other information with respect to the Warrants being offered thereby, which may include, without limitation, the following (where applicable):

 

· the designation of the Warrants;
     
· the aggregate number of Warrants offered and the offering price;
     
· the designation, number and terms of the other Securities purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, and procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers;
     
· the exercise price, including currency, of the Warrants;
     
· the dates or periods during which the Warrants are exercisable including any “early termination” provisions;
     
· the designation, number and terms of any Securities with which the Warrants are issued;
     
· if the Warrants are issued as a unit with another Security, the date on and after which the Warrants and the other Security will be separately transferable;
     
· whether such Warrants are to be issued in registered form, “book-entry only” form, bearer form or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities and the basis of exchange, transfer and ownership thereof;
     
· any minimum or maximum amount of Warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
     
· whether such Warrants will be listed on any securities exchange;
     
· any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the Warrants;
     
· certain material Canadian and United States tax consequences of owning the Warrants; and
     
· any other material terms and conditions of the Warrants.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPTS

 

‎‎The following is a brief summary of certain general terms and provisions of the Subscription Receipts that may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus. This summary does not purport to be complete. The particular terms and provisions of the Subscription Receipts which may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement pertaining to such offering of Subscription Receipts, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to such Subscription Receipts will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Subscription Receipts may be offered separately or together with other Securities, as the case may be.

 

‎‎The Subscription Receipts may be issued under a subscription receipt agreement. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will include details of the subscription receipt agreement, if any, governing the Subscription Receipts being offered. We will file a copy of the subscription receipt agreement, if any, relating to an offering of Subscription Receipts with the relevant securities regulatory authorities after it has been entered into by us.

 

‎‎Each applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the terms and other information with respect to the Subscription Receipts being offered thereby, which may include, without limitation, the following (where applicable):

 

· the number of Subscription Receipts;
     
· the price, including currency, at which the Subscription Receipts will be offered;
     
· the terms, conditions and procedures for the conversion of the Subscription Receipts into other Securities;
     
· the dates or periods during which the Subscription Receipts are convertible into other Securities;
     
· the designation, number and terms of the other Securities that may be issued upon conversion of each Subscription Receipt;
     
· the designation, number and terms of any other Securities with which the Subscription Receipts will be offered, if any, and the number of Subscription Receipts that will be offered with each Security;
     
· whether such Subscription Receipts are to be issued in registered form, “book-entry only” form, bearer form or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities and the basis of exchange, transfer and ownership thereof;
     
· terms applicable to the gross or net proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts plus any interest earned thereon;
     
· certain material Canadian and United States tax consequences of owning the Subscription Receipts; and
     
· any other material terms and conditions of the Subscription Receipts.

 

  17  

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

‎‎The following is a brief summary of certain general terms and provisions of the Units that may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus. This summary does not purport to be complete. The particular terms and provisions of the Units which may be offered pursuant to this Prospectus will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement pertaining to such offering of Units, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to such Units will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Units may be offered separately or together with other Securities, as the case may be.

 

‎‎Each applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the terms and other information with respect to the Units being offered thereby, which may include, without limitation, the following (where applicable):

 

· the number of Units;
     
· the price, including currency, at which the Units will be offered;
     
· the designation, number and terms of the Securities comprising the Units;
     
· whether the Units will be issued with any other Securities and, if so, the amount and terms of these Securities;
     
· terms applicable to the gross or net proceeds from the sale of the Units plus any interest earned thereon;
     
· the date on and after which the Securities comprising the Units will be separately transferable;
     
· whether the Securities comprising the Units will be listed on any securities exchange;
     
· whether such Units or the Securities comprising the Units are to be issued in registered form, “book-entry only” form, bearer form or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities and the basis of exchange, transfer and ownership thereof;
     
· any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the Units;
     
· certain material Canadian and United States tax consequences of owning the Units; and
     
· any other material terms and conditions of the Units.

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

‎‎Our transfer agent and registrar is Odyssey Trust Company located at 835 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1T2.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

‎‎Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement relating to any Securities offered, certain Canadian legal matters in connection with the offering of Securities will be passed upon on behalf of Acreage by DLA Piper (Canada) LLP and certain United States legal matter in connection with the offering of Securities may be passed upon on behalf of Acreage by Dorsey & Whitney LLP. In addition, certain legal matters in connection with any offering of Securities will be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel to be designated at the time of the offering by such underwriters, dealers or agents, as the case may be.

 

EXPERTS

 

‎‎The following persons or companies are named as having prepared or certified a report, valuation, statement or opinion in this Prospectus, either directly or in a document incorporated herein by reference, and whose profession or business gives authority to the report, valuation, statement or opinion made by the expert.

 

‎‎Marcum LLP is our independent registered public accounting firm, and audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A, incorporated by reference herein.

 

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of Canopy included in Canopy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and issued its report on the effectiveness of Canopy’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020.

 

Eight Capital is named as having prepared or certified a report, statement or opinion contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

‎‎We incorporate by reference (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all filings made by us pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (iii) future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Item 7.01 and certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are deemed to be furnished and not filed and therefore not incorporated by reference herein, unless specifically stated otherwise in such filings, after the date of the initial filing of this registration statement on Form S-3 to which this Prospectus relates until the termination of the offering under this Prospectus). Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus, any related free writing prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

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  ‎‎(a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020, as amended on August 14, 2020;

 

(b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2020;

 

(c) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2020;

 

(d) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2020;

 

(e) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020;

 

(f) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2020, February 21, 2020, February 26, 2020, March 17, 2020, March 30, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 22, 2020, June 4, 2020, June 19, 2020, June 26, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 27, 2020, August 11, 2020, August 19, 2020, September 16, 2020, September 21, 2020, September 23, 2020, September 28, 2020 and September 30, 2020; and

 

(g) the description of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 23, 2020, including any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

 

‎Copies of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus may be obtained by submitting a written request to us at our principal offices at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

 

‎‎We also maintain a web site at http://www.acreageholdings.com through which you can obtain copies of documents that we have filed with the SEC. The contents of that site are not incorporated by reference into or otherwise a part of this Prospectus.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

‎‎We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This Prospectus is part of a registration statement and, as permitted by SEC rules, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this Prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete and, for a copy of the contract or document, you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement. Our SEC filings and ‎‎information omitted from this Prospectus but contained in the Registration Statement is available on our profile at www.sec.gov.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

$300,000,000
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares

Class D Subordinate Voting Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Receipts
Units

 

, 2020

 

 

 

 

Subject to Completion October 21, 2020

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

4,259,633
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares Underlying Warrants (exercisable at $4.00) Previously Issued
1,825,556
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares Underlying Warrants (exercisable at $4.00) Previously Issued
 

‎‎This Prospectus relates to 4,259,633 Class E subordinate voting shares, no par value (the “Fixed Shares”), issuable upon the exercise of warrants previously issued by us in February 2020, with an exercise price of $4.00 per share, subject to adjustment, and which expire five years after their issuance (the “Fixed Warrants”) and to 1,825,556 Class D subordinate voting shares, no par value (the “Floating Shares”), issuable upon the exercise of warrants previously issued by us in February 2020, with an exercise price of $4.00 per share, subject to adjustment, and which expire five years after their issuance (the “Floating Warrants”).

 

The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (“FRA”) under the trading symbol “0VZ1”.The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”. On October 20, 2020, the last reported sale price of the Fixed Shares on the OTCQX was $3.00 per Fixed Share and on the CSE was $2.87 per Fixed Share; the last reported sale price of the Floating Shares on the OTCQX was $2.90 per Floating Share and on the CSE was $2.75 per Floating Share.

 

‎‎Investing in the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 11.

 

‎‎These Fixed Shares and Floating Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS           , 2020.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
   
SUMMARY 2
   
THE OFFERING 7
   
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 8
   
RISK FACTORS 10
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 14
   
DILUTION 14
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 15
   
DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES 15
   
DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES 16
   
CERTAIN CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS 16
   
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS 19
   
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR 23
   
LEGAL MATTERS 23
   
EXPERTS 24
   
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 24
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 24

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

‎‎This Prospectus relates to the offering by us of (i) 4,259,633 Fixed Shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants previously issued by us in February 2020, with an exercise price of $4.00 per share, subject to adjustment, and which expire five years after their issuance, and (ii) 1,825,556 Floating Shares, issuable upon the exercise of warrants previously issued by us in February 2020, with an exercise price of $4.00 per share, subject to adjustment, and which expire five years after their issuance.

 

This Prospectus describes the specific terms of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares that will be issued upon the exercise of the Fixed Warrants and Floating Warrants, respectively, and also adds to, and updates information contained in, the documents incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. However, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the earlier dates. You should read this Prospectus, the documents and information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering when making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to under the captions “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” You should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

 

‎‎This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this Prospectus or any documents we incorporate by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

The information contained in this Prospectus, the documents and information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering are accurate only as of their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. In this Prospectus, unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “Acreage,” the “Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “our” and “us” or similar terms refer to Acreage Holdings, Inc., including our subsidiaries. Any references in this Prospectus to our financial statements include, unless the context indicates otherwise, the related notes.

 

‎‎Owning Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may subject you to tax consequences both in Canada and the United States. You should read the tax discussion in this Prospectus with respect to the offering of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.

 

‎‎References in this Prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “C$”.

 

‎‎You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Prospectus. The distribution or possession of this Prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these Securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these Securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

1

 

 

SUMMARY

 

The Company

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated, multi-state operator in the U.S. cannabis industry. Our operations include (i) cultivating cannabis plants, (ii) manufacturing branded consumer products, (iii) distributing cannabis flower and manufactured products, and (iv) retailing high-quality, effective and dosable cannabis products to consumers. We appeal to medical and adult recreational use (“adult-use”) customers through brand strategies intended to build trust and loyalty.

 

We are a British Columbia company that began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on November 15, 2018 following the completion of the reverse takeover transaction (the “RTO”) between us and High Street Capital Partners, LLC (“High Street”), which is an indirect subsidiary of ours, on November 14, 2018. We were originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on July 12, 1989 as Applied Inventions Management Inc. On August 29, 2014, we changed our name to Applied Inventions Management Corp. We redomiciled from Ontario into British Columbia and changed our name to Acreage Holdings, Inc. on November 9, 2018.

 

Kevin Murphy, our Chair and former Chief Executive Officer, began investing in the cannabis space in 2011 with minority investments in dispensaries located in medical-use states on the east coast of the United States. High Street was founded by Mr. Murphy in April 2014 to invest in the burgeoning U.S. regulated cannabis market and, until April 2018, was an investment holding company and engaged in the business of investing in cannabis companies. As part of the formation of High Street in 2014, Mr. Murphy contributed his cannabis related investment portfolio valued at approximately $14,000,000 to High Street in exchange for 20,000,000 Class B membership units of High Street.

 

We and High Street have invested in geographically diverse licensed entities that operate in both the adult-use and medical-use authorized U.S. states. The companies and other entities in which we and High Street have a direct or indirect ownership interest (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) focus on all aspects of the state regulated cannabis industry. As a result of its experience investing in the industry, and, in many cases, active involvement with the Subsidiaries, High Street’s management gained significant experience in cultivation, processing and dispensing of cannabis and cannabis infused products.

 

From inception until April 2018, when High Street began the process of converting its minority investments in many of the Subsidiaries into controlling interests, the principal business activity of High Street was to provide debt and equity capital to existing cannabis license holders, cannabis license applicants and related management companies which are party to financing and consulting services agreements with High Street-owned entities in certain U.S. states where medical-use and/or adult-use of cannabis is legal. Such investments included straight debt securities (secured or unsecured), convertible debt instruments and/or common or preferred equity securities issued by the Subsidiaries. As an investor in these Subsidiaries, High Street was generally entitled to hold board seats and played an advisory role in the management and operations of such Subsidiaries, which afforded High Street the opportunity to build its institutional knowledge in the cannabis space. Additionally, being an investor in the Subsidiaries provided High Street with the ability to develop a vertically-integrated U.S. cannabis market participant with one of the largest footprints in the industry at the time.

 

High Street is a Delaware limited liability company, or LLC, rather than a corporation. Unlike a corporation, generally all profits and losses of the business carried on by an LLC “pass through” to each member of the LLC. LLC members report their respective shares of such profits and losses on their U.S. federal tax returns. Membership equity interests in High Street are represented by units.

 

Since 2018, we have worked toward becoming the best multi-state operator in the U.S. and we continue to be committed to providing access to cannabis’ beneficial properties by creating the best quality products and consumer experiences.

 

Recent Developments

 

Amended Arrangement with Canopy Growth Corporation

 

On June 24, 2020, we entered into a proposal agreement (the “Proposal Agreement”) with Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy”) which set out, among other things, the terms and conditions upon which us and Canopy were proposing to ‎enter into an amending agreement (the “Amending Agreement”, and together with the Original Arrangement Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the “Arrangement Agreement”) to further amend the arrangement agreement between us and Canopy, dated April 18, 2019, as amended by that certain amending agreement between us and Canopy, dated May 15, 2019 (together, the “Original Arrangement Agreement”), amend and restate the plan of ‎arrangement between us, our securityholders and Canopy completed on June 24, 2019 (the “Amended Plan of Arrangement”) and implement the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Amended Arrangement”) pursuant ‎to the Business Corporations Act ‎‎(British Columbia) (“BCBCA”). The effectiveness of the amendment to the Original Arrangement Agreement and the ‎implementation of the Amended Plan of Arrangement was subject to the conditions set out in ‎the Proposal Agreement, which included, among others, approval by: (i) the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) at a hearing upon the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms ‎and conditions of the Amended Arrangement; and (ii) our shareholders, as ‎required by applicable corporate and securities laws.   

 

The Amended Arrangement was approved by our shareholders at our ‎special meeting held on September 16, ‎‎2020 and a final order approving the Amended Arrangement was obtained from ‎the Court on September 18, 2020.

  

Following the satisfaction of various conditions set forth in the Proposal Agreement, on ‎September 23, 2020, us and Canopy entered into the Arrangement Agreement ‎and implemented the Amended Arrangement effective at 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) (the “Amendment Time”) on September 23, 2020 ‎‎(the “Amendment Date”).

 

2

 

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, Canopy made a cash payment of $37,500,024 (the “Aggregate Amendment Option Payment”), which was delivered to our shareholders and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares. Holders of Class A subordinate voting shares (the “SVS”), Class B proportionate voting shares (the “PVS”), Class C multiple voting shares (the “MVS”), and certain other parties, received approximately $0.30 per SVS, being their pro rata portion (on an as-converted to SVS basis) of the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment, based on the number of our outstanding securities and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares, as of the ‎close of business on September 22, 2020, the record date for payment of ‎the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment. ‎ The ‎ Aggregate Amendment Option Payment was distributed to such holders of record on or ‎about September 25, 2020. 

 

Upon implementation of the ‎Amended Arrangement, our articles of incorporation were amended to, among other things, create three new classes of shares in our capital, being Fixed Shares, Floating Shares and Class F multiple voting shares (the “Fixed Multiple Shares”), and, in connection with such amendment, we completed a capital reorganization (the “Capital Reorganization”) effective as of the Amendment Time whereby: (i) ‎each SVS was exchanged for ‎‎0.7 of a Fixed Share and ‎‎0.3 of a Floating Share; ‎‎(ii) each PVS was exchanged for 28 ‎Fixed Shares and 12 Floating ‎Shares; and (iii) each ‎ MVS was exchanged for 0.7 ‎of a Fixed Multiple Share and 0.3 of a ‎Floating ‎Share‎.‎

 

At the Amendment Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of ‎Arrangement, each option, restricted share unit, compensation option and warrant to acquire SVS that was outstanding immediately prior to the Amendment Time were ‎exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as ‎applicable, to acquire Fixed Shares (a “Fixed Share Replacement Security”) and a ‎replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to ‎acquire Floating Shares (a “Floating Share Replacement Security”) in order to account for ‎the Capital Reorganization.‎

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, upon the occurrence, or waiver (at the discretion of Canopy), of a change in federal laws in ‎‎the United States to permit the general cultivation, distribution and possession of ‎marijuana (as defined ‎in the ‎relevant legislation) or to remove the regulation of such activities from the federal laws ‎of the ‎United States (the “Triggering Event” and the date on which the Triggering Event occurs, the “Triggering Event Date”), Canopy, will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement: (i) acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares (following the mandatory conversion of the Fixed Multiple Shares into Fixed Shares) on the basis of 0.3048 (the “Fixed Exchange Ratio”) of a common share of Canopy (each, a “Canopy Share”) for each Fixed Share held at the time of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition Time”), subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Canopy Call Option”); and ‎(ii) have the right (but not the obligation) (the ‎‎“Floating Call Option”), ‎exercisable for a period of 30 days ‎following the Triggering Event Date to acquire all of the ‎issued and outstanding Floating Shares. Upon exercise of ‎the Floating Call Option, Canopy may acquire the Floating Shares for cash or for Canopy ‎Shares or a combination thereof, in Canopy’s sole discretion. If paid in cash, the price per Floating ‎Share shall be equal to the volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on which the Floating Shares are ‎primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to the exercise (or deemed ‎exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41. If paid in Canopy ‎Shares, each Floating Share will be exchanged for a number of Canopy Shares equal to (i) the volume-‎weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on ‎which the Floating Shares are primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to ‎the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41, ‎divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average trading price (expressed in US$) of the Canopy Shares on ‎the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (or such other recognized stock exchange on which the Canopy Shares are primarily traded if not then traded on the NYSE) for the 30 trading day period immediately ‎prior to the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option (the “Floating Ratio”). The Floating ‎Ratio is subject to adjustment in accordance with the Amended Plan of Arrangement if Acreage issues greater ‎than the permitted number of Floating Shares prior to the Acquisition Date. No fractional Canopy ‎Shares will be issued pursuant to ‎the ‎Amended Plan of Arrangement. The Floating Call Option cannot be ‎exercised unless the Canopy Call Option is exercised (or deemed to be exercised). The closing of the acquisition of the Floating Shares pursuant to the Floating Call Option, if exercised, will take place concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition”) pursuant to the Canopy Call Option, if exercised. The Canopy Call Option and the Floating Call Option will expire 10 years from the Amendment Time.‎

 

At the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Fixed Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Fixed Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Fixed Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Fixed Exchange Ratio in effect immediately prior to the Acquisition Time (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

‎In the event that the Floating Call Option is exercised and Canopy acquires the Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Floating Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Floating Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Floating Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Floating Ratio (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

In the event that Floating Call Option is ‎exercised and Canopy ‎acquires the ‎Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, we will be a ‎wholly-‎owned subsidiary of ‎Canopy. If Canopy completes the Acquisition of the Fixed Shares but does not ‎acquire the Floating Shares, the Floating Call Option will terminate, and the Floating Shares ‎shall remain outstanding‎.

 

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‎See “Description of the Amended Arrangement” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.‎

 

Debenture

 

In connection with the implementation of the Amended Arrangement, 11065220 Canada Inc., an affiliate of Canopy (the “Hempco Lender”) agreed to provide a loan of up to $100,000,000 (the “Hempco Loan”) to Universal Hemp, LLC, an affiliate of ours that operates solely in the hemp industry in full compliance with all applicable laws (“Hempco”) pursuant to a secured debenture dated September 23, 2020 (the “Debenture”) issued by Hempco to the Hempco Lender.

 

$50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan was advanced on the Amendment Date (the “Initial Advance”) and $50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan (the “Hempco Second Advance”) will be advanced in the event that the following conditions, among others, are satisfied: (a) Hempco’s EBITDA (as defined in the Debenture) for any 90 day period is greater than or equal to 2.0 times the interest costs associated with the Initial Advance; and (b) Hempco’s business plan for the 12 months following the applicable 90 day period supports an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Debenture) of at least 2.00:1.

 

The principal amount of the Hempco Loan will bear interest from the date of advance, ‎compounded ‎annually, and will be ‎payable on each anniversary of the date of the ‎Debenture in cash in U.S. dollars at ‎a rate of 6.1% per annum. The ‎Hempco Loan will ‎mature 10 years from the date of the Initial Advance.‎

 

The Hempco Loan must be used exclusively for U.S. hemp-related operations and on the express condition that such amount will not be used, directly or indirectly, in connection with or for the operation or benefit of any of Hempco’s affiliates other than subsidiaries of Hempco exclusively engaged in U.S. hemp-related operations and not directly or indirectly, towards the operation or funding of any activities that are not permissible under applicable law. The Hempco Loan proceeds must be segregated in a distinct bank account and detailed records of debits to such distinct bank account will be maintained by Hempco.

 

No payment due and payable to the Hempco Lender by Hempco pursuant to the Debenture may be made using funds directly or indirectly derived from any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until the Triggering Event Date.

 

The Debenture includes usual and typical events of default for a financing of its nature, including, without limitation, if: (i) we are in breach or default of any representation or warranty in any material respect pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement; (ii) the Non-Core Divestitures (as defined in the Debenture) are not completed within 18 months from the Amendment Date; and (iii) we fail to perform or comply with any covenant or obligation in the Arrangement Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after written notice is given to Hempco by the Hempco Lender. The Debenture also includes customary representations and warranties, positive covenants and negative covenants of Hempco. ‎See “Transaction Agreements – Debenture” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.

 

Credit Agreement Amendment

 

In connection with, and as a condition to the implementation of, the Amended Arrangement, the credit agreement dated March 6, 2020 among Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, as borrower, and Acreage IP Holdings, LLC, Prime Wellness of Connecticut, LLC, D&B Wellness, LLC and Thames Valley Apothecary, LLC, as guarantors, and IP Investment Company, LLC, as lender, administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Original Credit Agreement”) was amended in accordance with an amendment to the Original Credit Agreement among the parties thereto dated the Amendment Date (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement, the “First Amended Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement Amendment provides that: (i) with respect to $21,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement (the “Mr. Murphy Amount”), effective as of the Amendment Time, the Original Credit Agreement was amended to (a) remove any entitlement to “Interest Shares” (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) in respect of such amount, (b) provide for an interest rate of 12% per annum payable in cash and (c) amend Section 9.3 of the Original Credit Agreement to amend the obligation of Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC to cause us to sell up to 8,800,000 SVS to repay the amount outstanding such that the obligation was reduced to cause the issuance of up to 2,000,000 Fixed Shares, and (ii) with respect to $1,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement, the lender is entitled to (a) 16,799 Fixed Shares and 7,199 Floating Shares, (b) upon maturity of the Original Credit Agreement, a return of $1,100,000 and (c) otherwise be treated in accordance with the current terms of the Original Credit Agreement.

 

On October 20, 2020, the First Amended Credit Agreement was amended to provide for certain housekeeping changes in accordance with an amendment to the First Amended Credit Agreement among the parties thereto (the “Second Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement and the First Amended Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

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Special Warrant Indenture

 

In connection with the Amended Arrangement, we and Odyssey Trust Company (the “Warrant Agent”) entered into a supplemental indenture, dated as of the Amendment Date (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to amend the warrant indenture dated February 10, 2020 (the “Warrant Indenture”) between us and the Warrant Agent to, among other things, reflect the Capital Reorganization and certain amendments to the warrants issued pursuant to the Warrant Indenture. The Warrant Indenture provided for the issuance of up to 10,141,987 SVS purchase warrants (each, a “Warrant”), each of which when originally issued was exercisable to acquire one SVS at an exercise price of $5.80 per SVS at any time prior to 4:00 p.m. on February 10, 2025. As previously disclosed, we modified the exercise price of the Warrants to $4.00 per SVS immediately prior to the Amended Arrangement becoming effective. In accordance with the Supplemental Indenture, each outstanding Warrant at the Amendment Time, of which there were 6,085,192, was exchanged for: (i) 0.7 of a Fixed Share purchase warrant, with each whole Fixed Share purchase warrant (each, a “Fixed Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Fixed Share; and (ii) 0.3 of a Floating Share purchase warrant, with each whole Floating Share purchase warrant (each, a “Floating Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Floating Share. Upon completion of the Amended Arrangement, there were 4,259,633 Fixed Warrants and 1,825,556 Floating Warrants outstanding, each having an exercise price of $4.00.

 

Standby Equity Distribution

 

On May 29, 2020, we entered into a standby equity distribution agreement (the “SEDA”) with an institutional investor (the “SEDA Investor”), under which we may, at our ‎discretion, periodically sell to the SEDA Investor, and pursuant to which the SEDA Investor may, at its discretion, require us to sell to it, up to $35,000,000 of Fixed Shares and up to $15,000,000 of Floating Shares.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, we have not drawn down against the SEDA. It is our intention to terminate the SEDA once the registration statement, of which this Prospectus is a part, is declared effective.

 

Institutional Loan Agreement

 

On September 28, 2020, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, HSCP CN Holdings II ULC (the “Institutional Investor Borrower”), entered into a loan agreement (the “Institutional Loan Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Institutional Investor”) for gross proceeds of $33,000,000. The loan from the Institutional Investor is unsecured, matures in three years, and bears interest at a 7.5% annual interest rate. At any time after September 28, 2022, upon 5 business days’ notice to the Institutional Investor, the Institutional Investor Borrower may prepay all or any portion of the loan together with all interest accrued thereon, without any premium, bonus, penalty or other charge. The loan is guaranteed by High Street.

 

Convertible Debenture

 

Effective May 29, 2020, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with YA, II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”) and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto. The Securities Purchase Agreement provided for the offer and sale of a $11,000,000 principal amount convertible debenture (the “Convertible Debenture”). The Convertible Debenture bore interest at 15% per annum and was secured by our medical cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut. The Convertible Debenture was convertible by Yorkville in whole or in part after September 30, 2020. Prior to September 30, 2020, Yorkville could convert only $550,000 of principal amount. The Convertible Debenture was convertible into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share, subject to the conversion limitations described above. We had the right to redeem up to 95% of the principal amount on or prior to September 29, 2020 without penalty.

 

On September 4, 2020, Yorkville exercised its right to convert $550,000 of the principal amount into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share and received 327,380 SVS. Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the SVS issued to Yorkville were exchanged for 229,166 Fixed Shares and 98,214 Floating Shares.

 

On September 29, 2020, we redeemed 95% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debenture.

  

Short-Term Bridge Loan

 

On June 16, 2020, we entered into a short-term definitive funding agreement with an institutional investor for a total of $15,000,000 in gross proceeds (the “Bridge Loan”). The short-term definitive funding agreement had a maturity ‎date of four months and bore interest at a per annum rate of 60%. It was secured by, among other items, our cannabis operations in Illinois, New Jersey and Florida, as well as our U.S. intellectual ‎property.

 

On October 16, 2020, we repaid the principal amount and all accrued interest owing on the Bridge Loan.

 

Lease Dispute

 

On or around December 2019, we entered into three five-year leases to occupy approximately 70,000 square feet of commercial space on a cannabis cultivation campus in California. We are in an arbitration proceeding related to this commercial space and the commercial landlord is seeking to recover $12,100,000 from us. We intend to defend vigorously against all claims related to this matter.

 

The Securities Offered under this Prospectus

 

Warrants Issued in February 2020

 

‎‎On February 10, 2020, we closed an offering made pursuant to an agency agreement dated February 10, 2020 between us and Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the “February 2020 Offering”). The February 2020 Offering consisted of (i) 6,085,192 special warrants (the “Special Warrants”) and (ii) up to 4,056,795 units issuable upon the exercise of an option granted to the lead purchaser (“Additional Units”). The Special Warrants were automatically converted into units (“Initial Units”) each comprised of one SVS and one SVS purchase warrant (each, an “Initial Warrant”). Each Additional Unit is comprised of one SVS and one SVS purchase warrant.

 

In connection with the Amended Arrangement, we and the Warrant Agent entered into the Supplemental Indenture to amend the Warrant Indenture. In accordance with the Supplemental Indenture, each outstanding Warrant at the Amendment Time, of which there were 6,085,192, was exchanged for: (i) 0.7 of a Fixed Warrant; and (ii) 0.3 of a Floating Warrant. Upon completion of the Amended Arrangement, there were 4,259,633 Fixed Warrants and 1,825,556 Floating Warrants outstanding, each having an exercise price of $4.00.

 

‎‎Under this Prospectus, we are continuing to register the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares now underlying the Warrants offered as part of the February 2020 Offering.

 

Fixed Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Fixed Shares. Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

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‎‎‎‎Our Fixed Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Fixed Shares.”

 

Floating Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Floating Shares. Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Floating Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Floating Shares.”

 

Risk Factors

 

‎‎See “Risk Factors,” as well as other information included in this Prospectus, for a discussion of factors you should read and consider carefully before investing in our securities.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

‎‎Fixed Shares We Are Offering ‎‎4,259,633 Fixed Shares issuable upon exercise of the Fixed Warrants. Each Fixed Warrant has an exercise price of $4.00 per share, has been exercisable since issuance and will expire five years from the issuance date.
‎‎Floating Shares We Are Offering ‎‎1,825,556 Floating Shares issuable upon exercise of the Floating Warrants. Each Floating Warrant has an exercise price of $4.00 per share, has been exercisable since issuance and will expire five years from the issuance date.
‎‎Fixed Shares To Be Outstanding After This Offering If All Fixed Warrants Are Exercised 75,253,841 Fixed Shares.
‎‎Floating Shares To Be Outstanding After This Offering If All Floating Warrants Are Exercised 32,301,911 Floating Shares.
‎‎Use Of Proceeds ‎‎We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 15.
‎‎Risk Factors ‎‎This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this Prospectus, of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and of any free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with this offering for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.
‎‎Trading Symbol ‎The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ1”. The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”.
   

‎‎The number of Fixed Shares shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 70,994,208 Fixed Shares outstanding (including 589,165 Fixed Shares held by Acreage Holdings America, Inc. (the “Acreage Subsidiary”)) as of September 30, 2020, and excludes:

 

· 3,147,629 Fixed Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; and
· 4,928,863 Fixed Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

The number of Floating Shares shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 30,476,355 Floating Shares outstanding (including 252,499 Floating Shares held by the Acreage Subsidiary) as of September 30, 2020, and excludes:

 

· 1,348,961 Floating Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; and
· 2,119,975 Floating Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

‎‎This Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”), including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based upon our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, and other future conditions. Forward-looking ‎statements can be identified by the words such as “expect”, “likely”, “may”, “will”,, “would”, “could”, “should”, “continue”, “contemplate”, “intend”, or “anticipate”, “believe”, “envision”, “estimate”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “target”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate” and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Prospectus, or in the case of documents incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of each such document. Forward-looking statements in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

 

· the performance of our business and operations;
· our product offerings;
· the competitive conditions of the industry;
· our competitive and business strategies;
· the sufficiency of capital including our ability to obtain capital to develop our business;‎
· our operations in the United States, the characterization and consequences of those ‎operations under United States federal law and applicable State law, and the framework for the ‎enforcement of applicable laws in the United States;
· on-going implications of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”);
· statements relating to the business and future activities of, and developments related to, us, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of our business, operations and plans;
· expectations that planned acquisitions will be completed, and the expected financial results of such acquisitions;
· expectations that licenses applied for will be obtained;
· expectations regarding future cash flows from operations;
· statements regarding the proposed transaction with Canopy, including the anticipated benefits and likelihood of completion thereof;
· the likelihood that the Canopy Call Option will be exercised;
· the likelihood that the Floating Call Option will be exercised;
· the timing and outcome of the Acquisition;
· the likelihood of the Acquisition being completed and any benefits to be derived therefrom;
· potential future legalization of adult-use and/or medical cannabis under U.S. federal law;
· expectations of market size and growth in the U.S. and the states in which we operate;
· expectations for other economic, business, financial market, political, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to us or the cannabis industry generally; and
· other events or conditions that may occur in the future.

 

Forward-looking statements contained herein and in certain documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus concerning the cannabis industry and its medical and adult-use markets and the general expectations of ‎us concerning the industry and our business and operations are based on ‎estimates prepared by us using data from publicly available governmental sources as well as ‎from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of this ‎industry which we believe to be reasonable. However, although generally indicative of relative ‎market positions, market shares and performance characteristics, such data is inherently imprecise. ‎While we are not aware of any misstatement regarding any industry or government data ‎presented herein, the cannabis industry involves risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based ‎on various factors.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as at the date they are made and are based on information currently available and on the then current expectations. Potential purchasers of our securities are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead are based on ‎reasonable assumptions and estimates of our management at the time they were provided ‎or made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the ‎actual results, performance or achievements of us, as applicable, to be materially different ‎from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking ‎statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to:

 

· risks related to the occurrence of changes in U.S. ‎federal laws regarding the cultivation, distribution or possession of ‎marijuana;
· the likelihood of the Triggering Event occurring or being waived by the expiry of the Canopy Call Option;
  · the ability of us and Canopy to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory approvals;
· the ability of Canopy and us to satisfy, in a timely manner, the closing conditions to the Acquisition;

  

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· the likelihood ‎of Canopy ‎completing the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and/or Floating Shares;
· the ability of us and Canopy to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to closing following the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event;
· other expectations and assumptions concerning the Acquisition;
· our available funds and the anticipated use of such funds;
· the availability of financing opportunities for us and the risks associated with the ‎completion thereof;
· regulatory and licensing risks;
· changes in general ‎economic, business and ‎political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets;
· risks related to ‎infectious ‎diseases, including the impacts of the COVID-19;
· risks associated with dependence on management and currency risk;
· legal and regulatory risks inherent in the ‎cannabis ‎industry, including the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, ‎political risks and risks ‎relating to regulatory change;
· risks relating to U.S. regulatory landscape and ‎enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks;
· risks relating to anti-money laundering laws and ‎regulations;
· other governmental and environmental regulations;
· compliance with extensive government ‎regulations and the interpretation of various laws regulations ‎and policies;
· risk associated with divesting certain ‎assets;
· public opinion and perception of the ‎cannabis industry;
· risks related to contracts with third-party service providers;
· risks related to the ‎enforceability of contracts;
· reliance on the expertise and judgment of our senior management;
· risks related to proprietary intellectual property and potential infringement by third parties;
· the ‎concentrated voting control of our founder and the unpredictability caused by our ‎capital structure;
· risks relating to the management of growth;
· risks related to cash flow from operations;
· increasing competition in the industry;
· risks ‎inherent in an agricultural business;
· risks relating to energy costs;
· risks associated to cannabis products ‎manufactured for human consumption including potential product recalls;
· reliance on key inputs, ‎suppliers and skilled labor;
· cybersecurity risks;
· ability and constraints on marketing products;
· fraudulent ‎activity by employees, contractors and consultants;
· tax and insurance related risks;
· risks related to the ‎economy generally;
· risk of litigation;
· conflicts of interest;
· risks relating to certain remedies being limited ‎and the difficulty of enforcement of judgments and effecting service outside of Canada;
· risks related to ‎future acquisitions or dispositions;
· sales by existing shareholders; and
· limited research and data relating to ‎cannabis,

 

‎as well as those risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and as described from time to time in documents filed by us with securities regulatory authorities. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 dated May 29, 2020 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A ‎dated August 14, 2020‎, and under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein (see “Documents Incorporated by Reference”).

 

Readers are cautioned that the above list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in forward-looking statements. The purpose of forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management’s expectations, and such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Potential purchasers of our securities should read this entire Prospectus, and each applicable prospectus supplement, and consult their own professional advisors to ascertain and assess the income tax and legal risks and other aspects associated with holding our securities.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

‎‎Before deciding to invest in our securities, prospective investors in our securities should consider carefully the risk factors and the other information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering of our securities, including those risks identified and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

 

Before making an investment decision, prospective purchasers of our securities should carefully consider the information described in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including any applicable prospectus supplement. Additional risk factors relating to a specific offering of our securities may be described in any applicable prospectus supplement. Some of the risk factors described herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including any applicable prospectus supplement, are interrelated and, consequently, investors should treat such risk factors as a whole. If any event arising from these risks occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and the investor’s investment in our securities could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or that are unknown or that we currently consider to be immaterial could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. We cannot assure an investor that we will successfully address any or all of these risks.

 

Prospective investors should carefully consider the risks below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020 and the other information elsewhere in this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and consult with their professional advisors to assess any investment in our securities.

 

Risks Related to the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares

 

We cannot guarantee returns on our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎There is no guarantee that either the Fixed Shares or the Floating Shares will earn any positive return in the short term or long term. A holding of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares is speculative and involves a high degree of risk and should be undertaken only by holders whose financial resources are sufficient to enable them to assume such risks and who have no need for immediate liquidity in their investment. A holding of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares is appropriate only for holders who have the capacity to absorb a loss of some or all of their investment.

 

We will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds from the sale of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares.

 

‎‎We will have broad discretion with respect to the application of net proceeds received by us from the sale of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares under this Prospectus or a future prospectus supplement and may spend such proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares or our other securities issued and outstanding from time to time. Any failure by us to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business or cause the price of our issued and outstanding securities from time to time to decline.

 

Our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may have a volatile market price.

 

‎‎The market price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. This volatility may affect the ability of holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares to sell their securities at an advantageous price. Market price fluctuations in the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be due to our operating results failing to meet expectations of securities analysts or investors in any period, downward revision in securities analysts’ estimates, adverse changes in general market conditions or economic trends, acquisitions, dispositions or other material public announcements by us or our competitors, along with a variety of additional factors. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎Financial markets historically at times have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of companies and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. Accordingly, the market price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may decline even if our operating results, underlying asset values or prospects have not changed. Additionally, these factors, as well as other related factors, may cause decreases in asset values that are deemed to be other than temporary, which may result in impairment losses. There can be no assurance that continuing fluctuations in price and volume will not occur. If such increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, our operations could be adversely impacted, and the trading price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be materially adversely affected.

 

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Our securityholders resident in the United States may have difficulty settling trades because we operate in the cannabis sector.

 

‎‎Given the heightened risk profile associated with cannabis in the United States, capital markets participants may be unwilling to assist with the settlement of trades for U.S. resident securityholders of companies with operations in the United States cannabis industry which may prohibit or significantly impair the ability of securityholders in the United States to trade the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. In the event residents of the United States are unable to settle trades of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, this may affect the pricing of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices and the liquidity of these securities.

 

There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎Our shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of their Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, or at all. There can be no assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares on the trading market, or that we will continue to meet the listing requirements of one or more of the CSE, OTCQX or FRA or achieve listing on any other public listing exchange.

 

Our Fixed Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or at a discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio‎.

 

There is no guarantee that the Fixed Shares will trade at a price that reflects our performance or at ‎a price relative to the trading price of the Canopy Shares based upon the Fixed Exchange Ratio. Given the ‎uncertainties regarding the completion of the Acquisition, it is possible the Fixed Shares will trade at a significant ‎discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio.‎

 

Our Floating Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option.

 

The intrinsic value of the Floating Shares is indeterminate. There is no guarantee that the Floating Shares will trade ‎at a price that reflects our performance nor at the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option. Moreover, the Floating Shares will not trade at a price that ‎is necessarily proportionate to the trading price of the Fixed Shares. ‎

 

Our credit agreements contain restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

Our credit agreements and the Debenture contain restrictive ‎covenants that limit the discretion of management with respect to certain limited matters. A failure to comply with ‎these terms could result in an event of default which, if not cured or ‎waived, could result in accelerated repayment ‎and may have a material and adverse consequence on our business, operations or financial condition, ‎on a consolidated basis.‎

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants that may potentially impair the discretion of our ‎management with respect to certain business matters. These covenants place restrictions on, among other things, ‎the ability of us to make any material change to the nature of its business, to pay distributions or make ‎certain other payments, to create liens or encumbrances not permitted by the Arrangement Agreement and to sell ‎or otherwise dispose of certain assets. A failure to comply with these terms, if not cured or waived, could result in a ‎breach of the Arrangement Agreement. ‎

 

If we do not comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement, there may be significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to complete the Acquisition.

 

Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, we are required to comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement (the “Initial Business Plan”). The Initial Business Plan sets forth certain Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) for each applicable fiscal year of the Initial Business Plan.

 

If, at the end of a fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter dated December 31, 2020), our Pro-Forma Revenue (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than‎ 90% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan or if the Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than 90% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan, an Interim Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will be deemed to have occurred and the Austerity Measures (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will become applicable. The Austerity Measures place significant restrictions on our ability to take certain actions in the operation of our business. Among other things, the Austerity Measures prevent us from issuing any Fixed Shares, Fixed Multiple Shares or Floating Shares, granting any New Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) or Floating Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), entering into any contract in respect of Company Debt (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) (other than in the ordinary course of business), or paying any fees owing to members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Austerity Measures also prevent us and our subsidiaries from entering into any business combination, merger or acquisition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), from making any new capital investments or incurring any new capital expenditures, and from entering into any contract to dispose of any assets (other than in the ordinary course of business). The Austerity Measures will apply until the non-compliance causing the Interim Failure to Perform is cured by us and our subsidiaries, as applicable. However, if an Interim Failure to Perform occurs and the Austerity Measures are implemented, the ability of us to conduct our business in the ordinary course will be significantly restricted. Accordingly, the occurrence of an Interim Failure to Perform will increase the possibility that a Material Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and/or a Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will occur.

 

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A Material Failure to Perform will be deemed to occur if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 80% ‎of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 80% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target, ‎as determined on an annual basis (commencing in respect of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021). The occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is considered a breach of a material term of the Arrangement Agreement incapable of being cured. Consequently, certain restrictive covenants under the Arrangement Agreement which relate to exclusivity and non-competition of Canopy in favor of us, including the restriction preventing Canopy from acquiring a competitor of ours ‎in the ‎United States, will terminate. In addition, the occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is likely to constitute an event of default under the Debenture, causing the Hempco Loan to become immediately due and payable. If the Hempco Loan is required to be repaid prior to the maturity date, it would have an immediate and lasting material adverse effect on us and our ability to complete the Acquisition.

 

In addition, if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 60% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 60% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target for the trailing 12 month ‎period ending on the date that is 30 days prior ‎to the proposed Acquisition Time, a Failure to Perform shall occur and a ‎material adverse impact will be deemed to have occurred ‎for purposes of Section ‎‎6.2(2)(h) of the Arrangement Agreement. In the event of a Failure to Perform, Canopy will ‎not be required ‎to complete the Acquisition.

 

If certain U.S. states do not legalize recreational cannabis use within a proximate timeframe, we may not be able to comply with the Initial Business Plan which may result in significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to Complete the Acquisition.

 

The Initial Business Plan has been prepared based on the assumption that certain regulatory initiatives legalizing recreational cannabis will be approved in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine and Ohio within a proximate timeframe. If some or all of the anticipated regulatory initiatives do not occur in the foregoing states within the contemplated timeline, or at all, it will have a significant adverse impact on our ability to meet the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets prescribed in the Initial Business Plan, which will likely result in an Interim Failure to Perform that could lead to a Material Failure to Perform and ultimately, a Failure to Perform.

 

If Canopy fails to complete the Acquisition or the Acquisition is completed on different ‎terms, there could be a material adverse effect ‎on our business.

 

There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed, or if completed, that it will be ‎completed on the same or similar terms to those set out in the Arrangement Agreement. The completion ‎of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions which include, among others, ‎‎(i) obtaining necessary approvals, including the Acquisition Regulatory Approvals (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), (ii) performance by us, and Canopy, of our, and their, respective ‎obligations and covenants in the Arrangement Agreement, and (iii) cannabis production, distribution and sale becoming legal under United States federal law, or being removed from regulation under such law. If these conditions are not fulfilled or waived or the ‎Acquisition is not completed for any other reason, our shareholders will not receive the Consideration Shares (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and, if applicable, the Floating Cash Consideration (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). Certain of these conditions, including the occurrence of the Triggering Event Date, are outside of our control. ‎There can be no certainty, nor can we provide any assurance, that all conditions precedent will be satisfied or waived, ‎or, if satisfied or waived, when they will be satisfied or waived and, accordingly, the Acquisition may not be completed.‎

 

In addition, if the Acquisition is not completed, our ongoing business may be adversely ‎affected as a result of the costs (including opportunity costs) incurred in respect of pursuing the ‎Acquisition, and we could experience negative reactions from the financial markets, which ‎could cause a decrease in the market price of the Fixed Shares, particularly if the market price ‎reflects market assumptions that the Acquisition will be completed or completed on certain terms. We may also experience negative reactions from our customers and employees and there could be ‎negative impact on our ability to attract future acquisition opportunities. Failure to complete ‎the Acquisition or a change in the terms of the Acquisition could each have a material adverse effect ‎on Acreage’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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If we issue more Fixed Shares than permitted under the Arrangement Agreement or if we, or one of our subsidiaries, make a $20,000,000 payout in certain situations, the holders of our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may receive fewer Canopy Shares upon completion of the Acquisition.

 

There is a fixed maximum number of Canopy Shares that may be issued in connection with the ‎Acquisition. In the event that we issue more Fixed Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement or if we or any of our subsidiaries ‎are required to make a payout over $20,000,000 in order to either (i) settle, (ii) satisfy a ‎judgment, or (iii) acquire the disputed minority non-controlling interest, in connection with the claim filed by EPMMNY ‎LLC against certain of our subsidiaries‎, the Fixed Exchange Ratio will be automatically reduced‎. In addition, in the event ‎that we issue more Floating Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement, the Floating Ratio will be ‎automatically reduced. Any such reduction of the Fixed Exchange Ratio or Floating Ratio will result in the holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, receiving fewer Canopy Shares upon ‎completion of the Acquisition.

 

Risks Related to our Articles of Incorporation

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation‎. Given that, under United States law, investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws, it is uncertain whether the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision. It is also uncertain whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia, although indirect causes of action may arise thereunder as a result of, without limitation, breach, misrepresentation or the like. In the event it was determined that the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws or, if it did, a British Columbia court refused to enforce such provision or a breach of U.S. securities law did not give rise to a cause of action in British Columbia, there is a risk that we would be required to litigate any such breach in a jurisdiction which is less favorable to us, which could result in additional costs and financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to the United States Regulatory System

 

Our employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and/or investors could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with us.

 

Because cannabis remains illegal under United States federal law, those investing in Canadian companies with ‎‎operations in the United States cannabis industry could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with United States cannabis businesses. Entry happens at the sole ‎‎discretion of U.S. Customers and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers on duty, and these officers have wide latitude ‎to ask questions to determine the ‎admissibility of a non-United States citizen or foreign national. The government of Canada ‎has started warning travelers on its ‎website that previous use of cannabis, or any substance prohibited by United ‎States federal laws, could mean denial ‎of entry to the United States. Business or financial involvement in the ‎cannabis industry in the United States could ‎also be reason enough for United States border guards to deny entry. ‎On September 21, 2018, CBP released a ‎statement outlining its current position with respect to enforcement of the ‎laws of the United States. It stated that ‎Canada’s legalization of cannabis will not change CBP enforcement of ‎United States laws regarding controlled ‎substances and because cannabis continues to be a controlled substance ‎under United States law, working in or ‎facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in U.S. states ‎where it is deemed legal may affect ‎admissibility to the United States. On October 9, 2018, CBP released an ‎additional statement regarding the ‎admissibility of Canadian citizens working in the legal cannabis industry. CBP ‎stated that a Canadian citizen ‎working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in Canada ‎coming into the United States for ‎reasons unrelated to the cannabis industry will generally be admissible to the ‎United States; however, if such person ‎is found to be coming into the United States for reasons related to the ‎cannabis industry, such person may be ‎deemed inadmissible. As a result, CBP has affirmed that, employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and investors of ‎companies involved in business activities related to cannabis in the ‎United States who are not ‎United States citizens face the risk of being barred from entry into the United States for ‎life.‎

 

Uncertainty regarding the regulations under the U.S. 2018 Farm Bill, and undeveloped shared state-federal regulations over hemp cultivation and production, may impact our hemp business.

 

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. Under Section 10113 of the Farm Bill, state departments of agriculture must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture the “USDA”). A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of USDA approves that state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will need to construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally-run program. Even if a state creates a plan in conjunction with its governor and chief law enforcement officer, the Secretary of the USDA must approve such plan. There can be no guarantee that any state plan will be approved. Review times may be extensive. Although interim rules for hemp production under the Farm Bill are now in place federally, the timing of finalized federal rules and regulations, in addition to state specific rules and regulations, cannot be assured. There may be amendments and the ultimate plans, if approved by the states and the USDA, may materially limit our hemp business depending upon the scope of the regulations.

  

Laws and regulations affecting our industry governing operations under the Farm Bill are in development.

 

As a result of the Farm Bill’s recent passage, there will be a constant evolution of laws and regulations affecting the hemp industry that could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state and federal hemp laws and regulations may be broad in scope and subject to changing interpretations. These changes may require us to incur substantial costs associated with legal and compliance fees and ultimately require us to alter our business plan. Furthermore, violations of these laws, or alleged violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business.

 

The possible FDA Regulation of hemp and industrial hemp-derived CBD, and the possible registration of facilities where hemp is grown and hemp-derived products are produced, if implemented, could negatively affect our hemp business.

 

As a result of the passage of the Farm Bill, at some indeterminate future time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)  may choose to change its position concerning products containing hemp, or cannabidiol (“CBD”)  derived from hemp, and may choose to enact regulations that are applicable to such products, including, but not limited to: the processing of hemp into hemp products; regulations covering the physical facilities where hemp is grown and/or processed; and possible testing to determine efficacy and safety of products containing hemp-derived CBD. In this hypothetical event, the proposed products, which we plan to introduce will likely contain CBD and may be subject to regulation. In the hypothetical event that some or all of these regulations are imposed, we do not know what the impact would be on the hemp industry in general, and what costs, requirements and possible prohibitions may be enforced. If we are unable to comply with the conditions and possible costs of possible regulations and/or registration, as may be prescribed by the FDA, we may be unable to continue to operate segments of our hemp business.

 

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Our current officers and directors do not have experience in the hemp business.

 

Although management has business experience in cannabis, they have limited experience in the hemp-based product business or retail business. Therefore, without industry-specific experience, their business experience may not be enough to effectively start-up and maintain a hemp-based product company. As a result, the implementation of our hemp business plan may be delayed, or eventually, unsuccessful.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

‎‎Assuming the exercise of all of the previously issued Fixed Warrants and Floating Warrants, we will receive gross proceeds of $24,340,756. We do not expect to pay any expenses in connection with the exercise of any Fixed Warrants or Floating Warrants.

 

‎‎The net proceeds from the exercise of the Fixed Warrants and Floating Warrants will be used to fund our working capital and for general corporate purposes.

 

‎‎We cannot estimate precisely the allocation of the net proceeds from the exercise of the Fixed Warrants and Floating Warrants. Accordingly, our management team will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds of this offering.

 

DILUTION

 

Fixed Share Dilution

 

Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities attributable to the Fixed Share class, divided by the number of Fixed Shares outstanding as of June 30, 2020.

 

‎‎After giving effect to the issuance of an aggregate of 4,259,633 Fixed Shares in this offering at an exercise price of $4.00, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 would have been $114,492,572, or $1.55 per Fixed Share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.15 per Fixed Share to our already existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $2.45 per Fixed Share to purchasers in this offering.

 

Floating Share Dilution

 

‎‎Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total tangible assets less total liabilities attributable to the Floating Share class, divided by the number of Floating Shares outstanding as of June 30, 2020.

 

‎‎After giving effect to the issuance of an aggregate of 1,825,556 Floating Shares in this offering at an exercise price of $4.00, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020 would have been $49,068,241, or $1.55 per Floating Share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.15 per Floating Share to our already existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $2.45 per Floating Share to purchasers in this offering.

 

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The following table illustrates this calculation on a per share basis for each respective share class:

 

    Fixed     Floating     Total  
Public offering price per share   $ 4.00     $ 4.00          
Net tangible book value as of June 30, 2020   $ 97,454,040     $ 41,766,017     $ 139,220,057  
Increase attributable to this offering   $ 17,038,532     $ 7,302,224     $ 24,340,756  
    $ 114,492,572     $ 49,068,241     $ 163,560,813  
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2020   $ 1.55     $ 1.55          
Dilution per share to investors participating in this offering   $ 2.45     $ 2.45          

 

‎The above discussion and table are based on 69,467,699 Fixed Shares and 29,822,131 Floating Shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2020 on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the Capital Reorganization, and excludes (i) Fixed and Floating Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options and (ii) Fixed and Floating Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

‎‎We are offering, as part of the February 2020 Offering, 4,259,633 Fixed Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Fixed Warrants and 1,825,556 Floating Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Floating Warrants.

 

The Fixed Shares issued upon the exercise of the Fixed Warrants will be listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF” and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ1”. The Floating Shares issued upon the exercise of the Fixed Warranted will be listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF” and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”.

 

‎‎The Fixed Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Fixed Warrants and the Floating Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Floating Warrants will not be offered through underwriters, brokers or dealers. We will not pay any compensation in connection with the offering of the Fixed Shares upon exercise of the Fixed Warrants or the Floating Shares upon exercise of the Floating Warrants. Pursuant to the terms of the Fixed Warrants and Floating Warrants, the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, as applicable, will be distributed to those holders who properly exercise their warrants and deliver payment of the aggregate exercise price, in accordance with the terms of such warrants.

 

DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

As long as any Fixed Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Fixed Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Fixed Shares.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by our Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Fixed Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) ‎the Fixed Multiple Shares, in an amount per Fixed Multiple Share equal to the amount of the ‎dividend declared ‎per Fixed Share; and (ii) the Floating Shares, in an amount per ‎Floating Share equal to the amount of the dividend ‎declared per Fixed Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with the holders of Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares, with the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share equal to each of: (i) the amount of such distribution per Floating Share; and (ii) the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Fixed Shares unless, simultaneously, the Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated utilizing the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

As long as any Floating Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Floating Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would be to prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Floating Shares or affect the rights of the holders of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Fixed Multiple Shares on a per share basis. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights in respect of any such approvals, each holder of Floating Shares has one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by the Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Floating Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) the Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Shares; and (ii) on the Fixed Multiple Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Floating Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with: (i) the holders of Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share; (ii) the holders of Fixed Multiple Share in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Floating Shares unless, simultaneously, the Fixed Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated using the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by the us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

CERTAIN CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

In the opinion of DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, counsel to the Company, the following is a general summary, as of the date hereof, of the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Tax Act”) generally applicable to an investor who, as beneficial owner, acquires Fixed Shares on the exercise of Fixed Warrants or Floating Shares on the exercise of Floating Warrants, as capital property and deals at arm’s length with the Company and is not affiliated with the Company (a “‎Holder”‎). Generally, the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares will be considered to be capital property to a Holder unless they are held or acquired in the course of carrying on a business of trading in or dealing in securities or as part of an adventure or concern in the nature of trade. In this summary, the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares are collectively referred to as the “Subordinate Voting Shares” and the Fixed Warrants and Floating Warrants are collectively referred to as the “Warrants”.

 

This summary is based on the facts set out in this Prospectus, the current provisions of the Tax Act (including the regulations thereunder), all specific proposals to amend the Tax Act publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) (“‎Tax Proposals”‎) before the date of this Prospectus, the current published administrative policies and assessing practices of the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canada - United States Tax Convention (1980), as amended (the “‎Treaty”‎). No assurance can be made that the Tax Proposals will be enacted in the form proposed or at all. This summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax considerations and, except as mentioned above, does not take into account or anticipate any changes in law or administrative policy or assessing practice, whether by legislative, regulatory, administrative or judicial decision or action, nor does it take into account provincial, or foreign income tax legislation or considerations, which may differ significantly from the Canadian federal income tax considerations discussed herein.

 

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This summary is of a general nature only and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular Holder, and no representation concerning the tax consequences to any particular Holder or prospective Holder are made. Accordingly, prospective Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to an investment in the Offering having regard to their particular circumstances.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

No gain or loss will be realized by a Holder upon the exercise of a Warrant to acquire a Subordinate Voting Share. When a Warrant is exercised, the Holder’s cost of the Subordinate Voting Share acquired thereby will be the aggregate of the Holder’s adjusted cost base of such Warrant and the exercise price paid for the Subordinate Voting Share. The Holder’s adjusted cost base of the Subordinate Voting Share so acquired will be determined by averaging such cost with the adjusted cost base to the Holder of all Subordinate Voting Shares owned by the Holder as capital property immediately prior to such acquisition.

 

Holders Resident in Canada

 

This portion of the summary applies to a Holder who, for purposes of the Tax Act and at all relevant times, is or is deemed to be a resident of Canada (a “‎Canadian Holder”‎). Canadian Holders whose Subordinate Voting Shares do not otherwise qualify as capital property may in certain circumstances make an irrevocable election in accordance with subsection 39(4) of the Tax Act to have their Subordinate Voting Shares and every other “‎Canadian security”‎ (as defined in the Tax Act) owned by such Canadian Holder in the taxation year of the election and in all subsequent taxation years deemed to be capital property. Canadian Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to whether the election is available and advisable in their particular circumstances.

 

This summary is not applicable to: (a) a Canadian Holder that is a “‎financial institution”‎, as defined in the Tax Act for purposes of the mark-to-market rules, (b) a Canadian Holder, an interest in which would be a “‎tax shelter investment”‎ as defined in the Tax Act, (c) a Canadian Holder that is a “‎specified financial institution”‎ as defined in the Tax Act, or (d) a Canadian Holder which has made an election under the Tax Act to determine its Canadian tax results in a foreign currency. This summary does not apply to a Canadian Holder who has entered or will enter into a “‎derivative forward agreement”‎ under the Tax Act with respect to the Subordinate Voting Shares. This summary does not address the possible application of the “‎foreign affiliate dumping”‎ rules that may be applicable to a Canadian Holder that is a corporation resident in Canada (for the purposes of the Tax Act) and is, or becomes, or does not deal at arm’s length with a corporation resident in Canada that is, or that becomes as part of a transaction or event or series of transactions or events that includes the acquisition of the Subordinate Voting Shares, controlled by a non-resident corporation ‎(or pursuant to the Proposed Amendments, a non-resident person or a group of persons comprised of any ‎‎combination of non-resident corporations, non-resident individuals or non-resident trusts that do not deal with each ‎‎other at arm's length),‎ for purposes of the rules in section 212.3 of the Tax Act. Any such Canadian Holder to which this summary does not apply should consult its own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the Offering.

 

For purposes of the Tax Act, all amounts relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of Subordinate Voting Shares (including dividends, adjusted cost base and proceeds of disposition) must generally be expressed in Canadian Dollars. Amounts denominated in any other currency must be converted into Canadian Dollars generally based on the exchange rate quoted by the Bank of Canada on the date such amounts arise or such other rate of exchange as is acceptable to the Minister of National Revenue (Canada).

 

Dividends on Subordinate Voting Shares

 

In the case of a Canadian Holder who is an individual, dividends received or deemed to be received on the Subordinate Voting Shares will be included in computing the Canadian Holder’s income and will be subject to the gross-up and dividend tax credit rules that apply to taxable dividends received from taxable Canadian corporations. Provided that appropriate designations are made by the Company, any such dividend will be treated as an “‎eligible dividend”‎ for the purposes of the Tax Act and a Canadian Holder who is an individual will be entitled to an enhanced dividend tax credit in respect of such dividend. There may be limitations on the Company’s ability to designate dividends and deemed dividends as eligible dividends.

 

Dividends received or deemed to be received on the Subordinate Voting Shares by a Canadian Holder that is a corporation will be required to be included in computing the corporation’s income for the taxation year in which such dividends are received, but such dividends will generally be deductible in computing the corporation’s taxable income. In certain circumstances, subsection 55(2) of the Tax Act will treat a taxable dividend received by a Canadian Holder that is a corporation as proceeds of disposition or a capital gain. Canadian Holders that are corporations should consult their own tax advisors having regard to their own circumstances.

 

A Canadian Holder that is a “‎private corporation”‎ or a “‎subject corporation”‎ (each as defined in the Tax Act) may be liable under Part IV of the Tax Act to pay a refundable tax on dividends received or deemed to be received on the Subordinate Voting Shares to the extent that such dividends are deductible in computing the Canadian Holder’s taxable income for the taxation year.

 

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Dividends received by a Canadian Holder who is an individual (including certain trusts) may result in such Canadian Holder being liable for alternative minimum tax under the Tax Act. Canadian Holders who are individuals should consult their own tax advisors in this regard.

 

As the Company is treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax ‎purposes‎ pursuant to section 7874 of ‎the Code, ‎ a Canadian Holder may be subject to United States withholding tax on dividends received on the Subordinate Voting Shares (see “‎Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”‎). Any United States withholding tax paid by or on behalf of a Canadian Holder in respect of dividends received on the Subordinate Voting Shares by a Canadian Holder may be eligible for foreign tax credit or deduction treatment where applicable under the Tax Act. Generally, a foreign tax credit in respect of a tax paid to a particular foreign country is limited to the Canadian tax otherwise payable in respect of income sourced in that country. Dividends received on the Subordinate Voting Shares by a Canadian Holder may not be treated as income sourced in the United States for these purposes. Canadian Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the availability of any foreign tax credits or deductions under the Tax Act in respect of any United States withholding tax applicable to dividends on the Subordinate Voting Shares.

 

Dispositions of Subordinate Voting Shares

 

Upon a disposition or deemed disposition of a Subordinate Voting Share, a capital gain (or loss) will generally be realized by a Canadian Holder to the extent that the proceeds of disposition are greater (or less) than the aggregate of the adjusted cost base of such Subordinate Voting Share to the Canadian Holder immediately before the disposition and any reasonable costs of disposition. The adjusted cost base of a Subordinate Voting Share to a Canadian Holder will be determined in accordance with the Tax Act by averaging the cost to the Canadian Holder of a Subordinate Voting Share with the adjusted cost base of all other Subordinate Voting Shares held by the Canadian Holder as capital property. Such capital gain (or capital loss) will be subject to the treatment described below under “‎Holders Resident in Canada — Taxation of Capital Gains and Capital Losses”‎.

 

Taxation of Capital Gains and Capital Losses

 

Generally, one-half of any capital gain realized by a Canadian Holder in a taxation year will be included in ‎computing the Canadian Holder’s income in that taxation year (a “taxable capital gain”) and, generally, one-half ‎of any capital loss realized in a taxation year (an “allowable capital loss”) must be deducted from the taxable ‎capital gains realized by the Canadian Holder in the same taxation year, in accordance with the rules contained in ‎the Tax Act. Allowable capital losses in excess of taxable capital gains realized by a Canadian Holder in a ‎particular taxation year may be carried back and deducted in any of the three preceding taxation years or carried ‎forward and deducted in any subsequent taxation year against net taxable capital gains realized by the Canadian ‎Holder in such taxation year, subject to and in accordance with the rules contained in the Tax Act. ‎

 

Capital gains realized by an individual and certain trusts may give rise to a liability for alternative minimum tax ‎under the Tax Act. A Canadian Holder that is, throughout the year, a “Canadian-controlled private corporation”, as ‎defined in the Tax Act, may be subject to an additional refundable tax on its “aggregate investment income” which ‎is defined to include taxable capital gains. ‎

 

The amount of any capital loss realized by a Canadian Holder that is a corporation on the disposition of a Subordinate Voting Share may be reduced by the ‎amount of dividends received or deemed to be received by it on such share (or on a share for which the share has ‎been substituted) to the extent and under the circumstances prescribed by the Tax Act. Similar rules may apply ‎where a corporation is a member of a partnership or a beneficiary of a trust that owns shares, directly or indirectly, ‎through a partnership or a trust. Canadian Holders to whom these rules may apply should consult their own tax ‎advisors. ‎

 

As the Company is treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax ‎purposes‎ pursuant to section 7874 of ‎the Code, a Canadian Holder may be subject to United States tax on a gain realized on the disposition of Subordinate Voting Shares if ‎the Company is classified as a United ‎States real property holding corporation under the Code. United States tax, if any, levied on any gain realized on a ‎disposition ‎of a Subordinate Voting Share may be eligible for a foreign tax credit under the Tax Act to the ‎extent and under the ‎circumstances described in the Tax Act. Generally, a foreign tax credit in respect of a tax paid ‎to a particular foreign ‎country is limited to the Canadian tax otherwise payable in respect of income sourced in that ‎country. Gains ‎realized on the disposition of a Subordinate Voting Share by a ‎Canadian Holder may not be treated as income sourced in the ‎United States for these purposes. Canadian Holders ‎should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the ‎availability of a foreign tax credit, having regard to their ‎own particular circumstances.‎

 

Non-Canadian Holders

 

This section of the summary applies to a Holder who, for the purposes of the Tax Act and any applicable income tax treaty or convention, and at all relevant times, is not, and is not deemed to be, resident in Canada, and does not use or hold, and is not deemed to use or hold, the Subordinate Voting Shares in the course of carrying on a business in Canada (a “Non-Canadian Holder”‎). This section does not apply to an insurer who carries on an insurance business in Canada and elsewhere or an “authorized foreign bank” (as defined in the Tax Act)‎. Such Non-Canadian Holders should consult their own tax advisors.

 

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Dividends on Subordinate Voting Shares

 

Dividends paid or credited or deemed to be paid or credited to a Non-Canadian Holder on the Subordinate Voting Shares will be subject to Canadian withholding tax. The Tax Act imposes withholding tax at a rate of 25% on the gross amount of the dividend, although such rate may be reduced by virtue of an applicable tax treaty. For example, under the Treaty, where dividends on the Subordinate Voting Shares are considered to be paid to a Non-Canadian Holder that is the beneficial owner of the dividends and is a U.S. resident for the purposes of, and is entitled to all of the benefits of, the Treaty, the applicable rate of Canadian withholding tax is generally reduced to 15%. The Company will be required to withhold the applicable withholding tax from any dividend and remit it to the Canadian government for the Non-Canadian Holder’s account.

 

Dispositions of Subordinate Voting Shares

 

A Non-Canadian Holder who disposes of or is deemed to have disposed of a Subordinate Voting Share will not be subject to income tax under the Tax Act unless the Subordinate Voting Share is, or is deemed to be, “‎taxable Canadian property”‎ (as defined in the Tax Act) of the Non-Canadian Holder at the time of disposition and the Non-Canadian Holder is not entitled to relief under an applicable income tax treaty or convention between Canada and the country of residence of the Non-Canadian Holder.

 

Generally, provided that the Subordinate Voting Shares are, at the time of disposition, listed on a “‎designated stock exchange”‎ (which currently includes the CSE), the Subordinate Voting Shares will not constitute taxable Canadian property of a Non-Canadian Holder unless, at any time during the 60-month period immediately preceding the disposition the following two conditions were met: (i) 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company were owned by one or any combination of (a) the Non-Canadian Holder, (b) persons with whom the Non-Canadian Holder did not deal at arm’s length (for the purposes of the Tax Act), and (c) partnerships in which the Non-Canadian Holder or a person described in (b) holds a membership interest directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships; and (ii) more than 50% of the fair market value of such shares was derived, directly or indirectly, from one or any combination of: (a) real or immovable property situated in Canada, (b) Canadian resource property (as defined in the Tax Act), (c) timber resource property (as defined in the Tax Act) or (d) options in respect of, or interests in any of, the foregoing property, whether or not such property exists. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subordinate Voting Shares may otherwise be deemed to be taxable Canadian property to ‎a Non-Canadian Holder for purposes of the Tax Act in certain circumstances.‎ Non-Canadian Holders for whom the Subordinate Voting Shares are, or may be, taxable Canadian property should consult their own tax advisors.

 

In the event that a Subordinate Voting Share constitutes taxable Canadian property of a Non-Canadian Holder and any capital gain that would be realized on the disposition thereof is not exempt from tax under the Tax Act pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty or convention, the income tax consequences discussed above for Canadian Holders under “‎Dispositions of Subordinate Voting Shares”‎ will generally apply to the Non-Canadian Holder. Non-Canadian Holders should consult their own tax advisor in this regard.

 

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of (i) Warrants and (ii) Fixed Shares or Floating Shares that are issued upon the exercise of Warrants (“Warrant Shares”) that are applicable to U.S. Holders and certain Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below), that own Warrants or Warrant Shares. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (“‎‎Treasury Regulations”‎), administrative pronouncements or practices and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. Future legislative, judicial, or administrative modifications, revocations, or interpretations, which may or may not be retroactive, may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences significantly different from those discussed herein. This discussion is not binding on the IRS. No ruling has been or will be sought or obtained from the IRS with respect to any of the U.S. federal tax consequences discussed herein. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any of the conclusions described herein or that a U.S. court will not sustain such a challenge. This summary assumes that the Warrants are held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment), in the hands of a warrant holder at all relevant times and the Warrant Shares to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants would be capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.

 

This summary does not address U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders subject to special rules, including holders that (i) are banks, financial institutions, or insurance companies; (ii) are regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; (iii) are brokers, dealers, or traders in securities or currencies; (iv) are tax-exempt organizations; (v) hold the Warrants or Warrant Shares as part of hedges, straddles, constructive sales, conversion transactions, or other integrated investments; (vi) acquire the Warrants or Warrant Shares as compensation for services or through the exercise or cancellation of employee stock options or warrants; (vii) have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; (viii) own or have owned directly, indirectly, or constructively 10% or more of the voting power or value of the Company; or (ix) are U.S. expatriates. In addition, this discussion does not address any U.S. federal estate, gift, or other non-income tax, or any state, local, or non-U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Warrants or Warrant Shares or the impact of the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income.

 

If an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the Warrants, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership generally will depend on the status of such partner and on the activities of the partner and the partnership.

 

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A person that is a partner of an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes where such entity holds the Warrants or Warrant Shares is urged to consult its tax advisor.

 

THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX RULES TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL AS THE STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF WARRANTS OR WARRANT SHARES.

 

U.S. Holders

 

The discussion in this section is addressed to a holder of Warrants or Warrant Shares that is a “‎‎U.S. Holder”‎ for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As used herein, “‎‎U.S. ‎Holder”‎ means a beneficial owner of Warrants or Warrant Shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax ‎purposes, (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation created ‎or organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, including any ‎State thereof and the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. ‎federal income tax regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust that (a) is subject to the primary ‎jurisdiction of a court within the United States and for which one or more U.S. persons have ‎authority to control all substantial decisions or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable ‎Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.‎

 

Tax Classification of the Company as a U.S. Domestic Corporation

 

A corporation is generally considered for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be a tax resident in ‎the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation. Accordingly, under the generally applicable ‎U.S. federal income tax rules, the Company, which is incorporated under the laws of Canada, ‎would be classified as a non-U.S. corporation (and, therefore, not a U.S. tax resident) for U.S. ‎federal income tax purposes. However, Section 7874 of the Code, provides an exception to this general rule, under which a non-U.S. incorporated ‎entity may, in certain circumstances, be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax ‎purposes. These rules are complex and there is limited guidance regarding their application.‎

 

Under Section 7874, a corporation created or organized outside the United States (i.e., a non-U.S. ‎corporation) will nevertheless be treated as a U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes ‎‎(and, therefore, as a U.S. tax resident subject to U.S. federal income tax on its worldwide income) ‎if each of the following three conditions are met: (i) the non-U.S. corporation, directly or indirectly, ‎acquires substantially all of the properties held directly or indirectly by a U.S. corporation ‎‎(including through the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of the U.S. corporation); (ii) the ‎non-U.S. corporation’s “‎expanded affiliated group”‎ does not have “‎substantial business activities”‎ in ‎the non-U.S. corporation’s country of organization or incorporation and tax residence relative to the ‎expanded affiliated group’s worldwide activities; and (iii) after the acquisition, the former ‎shareholders of the acquired U.S. corporation hold at least 80% (by either vote or value) of the ‎shares of the non-U.S. acquiring corporation by reason of holding shares in the U.S. acquired ‎corporation (taking into account the receipt of the non-U.S. corporation’s shares in exchange for the ‎U.S. corporation’s shares) as determined for purposes of Section 7874 (this test is referred to as the ‎‎”‎80% ownership test”‎). ‎

 

For purposes of Section 7874, the Company believes that the three conditions described above have been met by reason of the RTO, and the ‎Company has taken the position that it is treated as a U.S. domestic corporation for U.S. federal income ‎tax purposes. A number of significant and complicated U.S. federal income tax consequences may ‎result from such classification, and this summary does not attempt to describe all such U.S. federal ‎income tax consequences. Section 7874 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated ‎thereunder do not address all the possible tax consequences that arise from the Company being ‎treated as a U.S. domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, there ‎may be additional or unforeseen U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Company that are not ‎discussed in this summary.‎

 

Generally, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its worldwide taxable income ‎‎(regardless of whether such income is “‎‎U.S. source”‎ or “‎‎foreign source”‎) and will be required to ‎file a U.S. federal income tax return annually with the IRS. The Company is subject to tax in Canada. It is unclear how the foreign tax credit rules under the Code will ‎operate in certain circumstances, given the treatment of the Company as a U.S. domestic ‎corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the taxation of the Company in Canada. ‎Accordingly, it is possible that the Company will be subject to double taxation with respect to all or ‎part of its taxable income. It is anticipated that such U.S. and Canadian tax treatment will continue ‎indefinitely and that the Warrant Shares will be treated indefinitely as shares in a U.S. domestic ‎corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, notwithstanding future transfers. ‎

 

Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders

 

Exercise, Sale, Redemption or Expiration of Warrant

 

Generally, no U.S. federal income tax will be imposed upon the U.S. Holder of a Warrant upon exercise of such Warrant to acquire Warrant Shares. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a Warrant will generally be the amount of the purchase price that was allocated to the Warrant.‎ Upon exercise of a Warrant, the tax basis of the Warrant Shares acquired thereby would be equal to the sum of the tax basis of the Warrant in the hands of the U.S. Holder plus the exercise price paid, and the holding period of the Warrant Shares would begin on the date that the Warrant is exercised.

 

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In general, if you are a U.S. Holder of a Warrant, you will recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other taxable disposition of the Warrant (provided that the Warrant Shares to be issued on the exercise of such Warrant would have been a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code if acquired by the U.S. Holder) in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale and your adjusted tax basis in the Warrant. If a Warrant lapses without exercise, the U.S. Holder will generally realize a capital loss equal to its tax basis in the Warrant.

 

Prospective U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of acquiring, holding, exercising and disposing of Warrants.

 

Distributions

 

The Company does not anticipate declaring or paying dividends to holders of Warrant Shares in the foreseeable future. However, if the Company decides to make any such distributions, such distributions with respect to Warrant Shares will be taxable as dividend income when paid to the extent of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent that the amount of a distribution with respect to the Company’s Warrant Shares exceeds its current and accumulated earnings and profits, such distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Warrant Shares, and thereafter as a capital gain which will be a long-term capital gain if the U.S. Holder has held such stock at the time of the distribution for more than one year. Distributions on the Company’s Warrant Shares constituting dividend income paid to U.S. Holders that are U.S. corporations may qualify for the dividends received deduction, subject to various limitations. Distributions on Company’s Warrant Shares constituting dividend income paid to U.S. Holders that are individuals may qualify for the reduced rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

Sale or Redemption

 

A U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss on a sale, exchange, redemption (other than a redemption that is treated as a dividend) or other disposition of the Company’s Warrant Shares equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares so disposed. Such capital gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares disposed of exceeds one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers are generally taxed at a lower maximum marginal tax rate than the maximum marginal tax rate applicable to ordinary income. The deductibility of net capital losses by individuals and corporations is subject to limitations.

 

Foreign Tax Credit Limitations

 

Because the Company is subject to tax both as a U.S. domestic corporation and as a Canadian corporation, a U.S. Holder may pay, through withholding, Canadian tax, as well as U.S. federal income tax, with respect to dividends paid on its Warrant Shares. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder may elect for any taxable year to receive either a credit or a deduction for all foreign income taxes paid by the holder during the year. Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including a general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of a taxpayer’s U.S. federal income tax that the taxpayer’s foreign source taxable income bears to the taxpayer’s worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, items of income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either foreign source or U.S. source. The status of the Company as a U.S. domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will cause dividends paid by the Company to be treated as U.S. source rather than foreign source income for this purpose. As a result, a foreign tax credit may be unavailable for any Canadian tax paid on dividends received from the Company. Similarly, to the extent a sale or disposition of Warrants or Warrant Shares by a U.S. Holder results in Canadian tax payable by the U.S. Holder (for example, because the Warrants or Warrant Shares constitute taxable Canadian property within the meaning of the Tax Act), a U.S. foreign tax credit may be unavailable to the U.S. Holder for such Canadian tax. In each case, however, the U.S. Holder may be able to take a deduction for the U.S. Holder’s Canadian tax paid, provided that the U.S. Holder has not elected to credit other foreign taxes during the same taxable year. The foreign tax credit rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding these rules.

 

Foreign Currency

 

The amount of any distribution paid to a U.S. Holder in foreign currency, or the amount of proceeds paid in foreign currency on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Warrants or Warrant Shares, generally will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency based on the exchange rate applicable on the date of receipt (regardless of whether such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars at that time). A U.S. Holder will have a basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any U.S. Holder who converts or otherwise disposes of the foreign currency after the date of receipt may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss, and generally will be U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. Different rules apply to U.S. Holders who use the accrual method of tax accounting. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisors.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of Warrant or Warrants Shares payable to a U.S. Holder that is not an exempt recipient, such as a corporation. Certain U.S. Holders may be subject to backup withholding with respect to the payment of dividends on Warrant Shares and to certain payments of proceeds on the sale or redemption of Warrants or Warrant Shares unless such U.S. Holders provide proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number, and otherwise comply with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

 

  21  

 

 

Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a U.S. Holder is allowable as a credit against such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax, which may entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the U.S. Holder timely provides the required information to the IRS. Moreover, certain penalties may be imposed by the IRS on a U.S. Holder who is required to furnish information but does not do so in the proper manner. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding in their particular circumstances and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current Treasury Regulations.

 

Non-U.S. Holders

 

The discussion in this section is addressed to holders of Warrants and Warrant Shares that are “‎‎Non-U.S. Holders”‎ that do not hold Warrants or Warrant Shares in connection with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. For purposes of this discussion, a “‎‎Non-U.S. Holder”‎ is any beneficial owner of the Company’s Warrants or Warrant Shares that is neither a “‎‎U.S. Holder”‎ nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders

 

Exercise, Sale or Redemption of Warrant

 

Generally, no U.S. federal income tax will be imposed upon the Non-U.S. Holder of a Warrant upon exercise of such Warrant to acquire Warrant Shares. A Non-U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a Warrant will generally be the amount of the purchase price that was allocated to the Warrant.‎ Upon exercise of a Warrant, the tax basis of the Warrant Shares acquired thereby would be equal to the sum of the tax basis of the Warrant in the hands of the Non-U.S. Holder plus the exercise price paid, and the holding period of the Warrant Shares would begin on the date that the Warrant is exercised.

 

In general, if you are a Non-U.S. Holder of a Warrant, the tax consequences of the sale or redemption of a Warrant should be the same as described below under “‎‎‎Non-U.S. Holders — Sale or Redemption”‎ related to the sale or redemption of Warrant Shares.

 

Prospective Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of acquiring, holding, exercising and disposing of Warrants.

 

Distributions

 

Generally, distributions treated as dividends as described above under “‎U.S. Holders — Distributions”‎ paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of the Company’s Warrant Shares will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or other applicable documentation, certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation for a reduced treaty rate, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

 

Sale or Redemption

 

Subject to the discussions below under “‎Non-U.S. Holders – Information Reporting and Backup Withholding”‎ and “‎Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts”‎, a Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of the Company’s Warrant Shares unless:

 

· the Non-U.S. Holder is a non-resident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or
· Warrant Shares constitutes a U.S. real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of Company’s status as a U.S. real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

 

With respect to the second bullet point above, the Company believes it currently is not, and does not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether the Company is a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of Company’s USRPIs relative to the fair market value of the Company’s non-U.S. real property interests and other business assets, there can be no assurance the Company currently is not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if the Company is or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of the Company’s Warrant Shares will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if the Warrant Shares are “‎regularly traded”,‎ as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of the Warrant Shares throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

 

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Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

Information Reporting and Withholding

 

Payments of dividends on the Company’s Warrant Shares will not be subject to withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any dividends on the Company’s Warrant Shares paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of the Company’s Warrants or Warrant Shares within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to withholding or information reporting, if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of Warrants or Warrant Shares conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to withholding or information reporting.

 

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

 

Withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

 

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or “‎FATCA”‎) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, the Company’s Warrant Shares paid to a “‎foreign financial institution”‎ or a “‎non-financial foreign entity”‎ (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “‎substantial United States owners”‎, as defined in the Code, or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “‎specified United States persons”‎ or “‎United States-owned foreign entities”‎ (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

 

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on the Company’s Warrant Shares. While withholding under FATCA would have also applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of such stock on or after January 1, 2019, recently proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

 

Investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in Warrants or Warrant Shares.

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

Our transfer agent and registrar is Odyssey Trust Company located at 835 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1T2.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement relating to any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares offered, certain Canadian legal matters in connection with the offering of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares will be passed upon on behalf of Acreage by DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

 

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EXPERTS

 

‎‎The following persons or companies are named as having prepared or certified a report, valuation, statement or opinion in this Prospectus, either directly or in a document incorporated herein by reference, and whose profession or business gives authority to the report, valuation, statement or opinion made by the expert.

 

‎‎‎ Marcum LLP is our independent registered public accounting firm, and audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A, incorporated by reference herein.

 

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of Canopy included in Canopy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and issued its report on the effectiveness of Canopy’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020.

 

Eight Capital is named as having prepared or certified a report, statement or opinion contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

‎‎We incorporate by reference (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all filings made by us pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (iii) future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Item 7.01 and certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are deemed to be furnished and not filed and therefore not incorporated by reference herein, unless specifically stated otherwise in such filings, after the date of the initial filing of this registration statement on Form S-3 to which this Prospectus relates until the termination of the offering under this Prospectus). Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus, any related free writing prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

‎(a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020, as amended on August 14, 2020;

 

(b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2020;

 

(c) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2020;

 

(d) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2020;

 

(e) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020;

 

(f) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2020, February 21, 2020, February 26, 2020, March 17, 2020, March 30, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 22, 2020, June 4, 2020, June 19, 2020, June 26, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 27, 2020, August 11, 2020, August 19, 2020, September 16, 2020, September 21, 2020, September 23, 2020, September 28, 2020 and September 30, 2020; and

 

(g) the description of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 23, 2020, including any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

 

‎Copies of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus may be obtained by submitting a written request to us at our principal offices at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

 

‎‎We also maintain a web-site at http://www.acreageholdings.com through which you can obtain copies of documents that we have filed with the SEC. The contents of that site are not incorporated by reference into or otherwise a part of this Prospectus.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

‎‎We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This Prospectus is part of a registration statement and, as permitted by SEC rules, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this Prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete and, for a copy of the contract or document, you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement. Our SEC filings and ‎‎information omitted from this Prospectus but contained in the Registration Statement is available on our profile at www.sec.gov.

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

4,259,633
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares
Underlying Warrants (exercisable at
$4.00) Previously Issued
1,825,556
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares
Underlying Warrants (exercisable at
$4.00) Previously Issued

 

, 2020

 

 

 

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion October 21, 2020

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

156,799
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares
67,199
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares

‎‎

This Prospectus relates to the resale by the selling security holders named herein of 156,799 Class E subordinate voting shares, no par value (the “Fixed Shares”) and 67,199 Class D subordinate voting shares, no par value (the “Floating Shares”).

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any of either the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (“FRA”) under the trading symbol “0VZ1”.The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”. On October 20, 2020, the last reported sale price of the Fixed Shares on the OTCQX was $3.00 per Fixed Share and on the CSE was $2.87 per Fixed Share; the last reported sale price of the Floating Shares on the OTCQX was $2.90 per Floating Share and on the CSE was $2.75 per Floating Share.

 

‎‎Investing in the Subordinate Voting Shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 12.

 

‎‎These Subordinate Voting Shares have not been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS           , 2020.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
   
SUMMARY 2
   
THE OFFERING 8
   
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 9
   
RISK FACTORS 11
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 15
   
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS 15
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 16
   
DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES 18
   
DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES 19
   
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR 20
   
LEGAL MATTERS 20
   
EXPERTS 20
   
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 20
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 20

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

‎‎This Prospectus relates to the resale by certain selling security holders from time to time, of 156,799 Fixed Shares and 67,199 Floating Shares. We are not selling any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares under this Prospectus, and we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares offered hereby by the selling security holders.

 

‎‎Under this Registration Statement on Form S-3, the selling security holders may sell from time to time in one or more offerings the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares described in this Prospectus. Any statement contained in the prospectus concerning the provisions of any document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC is not necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is made to the copy of the document filed. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

 

‎‎You should carefully read this Prospectus, any documents that we incorporate by reference in this Prospectus and the information below under the captions “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents By Reference” before making an investment decision. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

 

‎‎This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this Prospectus or any documents we incorporate by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

‎‎The information contained in this Prospectus, the documents and information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering are accurate only as of their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. In this Prospectus, unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “Acreage,” the “Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “our” and “us” or similar terms refer to Acreage Holdings, Inc., including our subsidiaries. Any references in this Prospectus to our financial statements include, unless the context indicates otherwise, the related notes.

 

‎‎References in this Prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “C$”.

 

‎‎You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Prospectus. The distribution or possession of this Prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these Fixed Shares or Floating Shares and is not soliciting an offer to buy these Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

1

 

 

SUMMARY

 

The Company

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated, multi-state operator in the U.S. cannabis industry. Our operations include (i) cultivating cannabis plants, (ii) manufacturing branded consumer products, (iii) distributing cannabis flower and manufactured products, and (iv) retailing high-quality, effective and dosable cannabis products to consumers. We appeal to medical and adult recreational use (“adult-use”) customers through brand strategies intended to build trust and loyalty.

 

We are a British Columbia company that began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on November 15, 2018 following the completion of the reverse takeover transaction (the “RTO”) between us and High Street Capital Partners, LLC (“High Street”), which is an indirect subsidiary of ours, on November 14, 2018. We were originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on July 12, 1989 as Applied Inventions Management Inc. On August 29, 2014, we changed our name to Applied Inventions Management Corp. We redomiciled from Ontario into British Columbia and changed our name to Acreage Holdings, Inc. on November 9, 2018.

 

Kevin Murphy, our Chair and former Chief Executive Officer, began investing in the cannabis space in 2011 with minority investments in dispensaries located in medical-use states on the east coast of the United States. High Street was founded by Mr. Murphy in April 2014 to invest in the burgeoning U.S. regulated cannabis market and, until April 2018, was an investment holding company and engaged in the business of investing in cannabis companies. As part of the formation of High Street in 2014, Mr. Murphy contributed his cannabis related investment portfolio valued at approximately $14,000,000 to High Street in exchange for 20,000,000 Class B membership units of High Street.

 

We and High Street have invested in geographically diverse licensed entities that operate in both the adult-use and medical-use authorized U.S. states. The companies and other entities in which we and High Street have a direct or indirect ownership interest (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) focus on all aspects of the state regulated cannabis industry. As a result of its experience investing in the industry, and, in many cases, active involvement with the Subsidiaries, High Street’s management gained significant experience in cultivation, processing and dispensing of cannabis and cannabis infused products.

 

From inception until April 2018, when High Street began the process of converting its minority investments in many of the Subsidiaries into controlling interests, the principal business activity of High Street was to provide debt and equity capital to existing cannabis license holders, cannabis license applicants and related management companies which are party to financing and consulting services agreements with High Street-owned entities in certain U.S. states where medical-use and/or adult-use of cannabis is legal. Such investments included straight debt securities (secured or unsecured), convertible debt instruments and/or common or preferred equity securities issued by the Subsidiaries. As an investor in these Subsidiaries, High Street was generally entitled to hold board seats and played an advisory role in the management and operations of such Subsidiaries, which afforded High Street the opportunity to build its institutional knowledge in the cannabis space. Additionally, being an investor in the Subsidiaries provided High Street with the ability to develop a vertically-integrated U.S. cannabis market participant with one of the largest footprints in the industry at the time.

 

High Street is a Delaware limited liability company, or LLC, rather than a corporation. Unlike a corporation, generally all profits and losses of the business carried on by an LLC “pass through” to each member of the LLC. LLC members report their respective shares of such profits and losses on their U.S. federal tax returns. Membership equity interests in High Street are represented by units.

 

Since 2018, we have worked toward becoming the best multi-state operator in the U.S. and we continue to be committed to providing access to cannabis’ beneficial properties by creating the best quality products and consumer experiences.

 

Recent Developments

 

Amended Arrangement with Canopy Growth Corporation

 

On June 24, 2020, we entered into a proposal agreement (the “Proposal Agreement”) with Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy”) which set out, among other things, the terms and conditions upon which us and Canopy were proposing to ‎enter into an amending agreement (the “Amending Agreement”, and together with the Original Arrangement Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the “Arrangement Agreement”) to further amend the arrangement agreement between us and Canopy, dated April 18, 2019, as amended by that certain amending agreement between us and Canopy, dated May 15, 2019 (together, the “Original Arrangement Agreement”), amend and restate the plan of ‎arrangement between us, our securityholders and Canopy completed on June 24, 2019 (the “Amended Plan of Arrangement”) and implement the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Amended Arrangement”) pursuant ‎to the Business Corporations Act ‎‎(British Columbia) (“BCBCA”). The effectiveness of the amendment to the Original Arrangement Agreement and the ‎implementation of the Amended Plan of Arrangement was subject to the conditions set out in ‎the Proposal Agreement, which included, among others, approval by: (i) the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) at a hearing upon the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms ‎and conditions of the Amended Arrangement; and (ii) our shareholders, as ‎required by applicable corporate and securities laws.  

 

 

2

 

 

 

The Amended Arrangement was approved by our shareholders at our ‎special meeting held on September 16, ‎‎2020 and a final order approving the Amended Arrangement was obtained from ‎the Court on September 18, 2020.

 

Following the satisfaction of various conditions set forth in the Proposal Agreement, on ‎September 23, 2020, us and Canopy entered into the Arrangement Agreement ‎and implemented the Amended Arrangement effective at 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) (the “Amendment Time”) on September 23, 2020 ‎‎(the “Amendment Date”). ‎

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, Canopy made a cash payment of $37,500,024 (the “Aggregate Amendment Option Payment”), which was delivered to our shareholders and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares. Holders of Class A subordinate voting shares (the “SVS”), Class B proportionate voting shares (the “PVS”), Class C multiple voting shares (the “MVS”), and certain other parties, received approximately $0.30 per SVS, being their pro rata portion (on an as-converted to SVS basis) of the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment, based on the number of our outstanding securities and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares, as of the ‎close of business on September 22, 2020, the record date for payment of ‎the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment. ‎ The ‎ Aggregate Amendment Option Payment was distributed to such holders of record on or ‎about September 25, 2020.

 

Upon implementation of the ‎Amended Arrangement, our articles of incorporation were amended to, among other things, create three new classes of shares in our capital, being Fixed Shares, Floating Shares and Class F multiple voting shares (the “Fixed Multiple Shares”), and, in connection with such amendment, we completed a capital reorganization (the “Capital Reorganization”) effective as of the Amendment Time whereby: (i) ‎each SVS was exchanged for ‎‎0.7 of a Fixed Share and ‎‎0.3 of a Floating Share; ‎‎(ii) each PVS was exchanged for 28 ‎Fixed Shares and 12 Floating ‎Shares; and (iii) each ‎ MVS was exchanged for 0.7 ‎of a Fixed Multiple Share and 0.3 of a ‎Floating ‎Share‎.

 

At the Amendment Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of ‎Arrangement, each option, restricted share unit, compensation option and warrant to acquire SVS that was outstanding immediately prior to the Amendment Time were ‎exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as ‎applicable, to acquire Fixed Shares (a “Fixed Share Replacement Security”) and a ‎replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to ‎acquire Floating Shares (a “Floating Share Replacement Security”) in order to account for ‎the Capital Reorganization.

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, upon the occurrence, or waiver (at the discretion of Canopy), of a change in federal laws in ‎‎the United States to permit the general cultivation, distribution and possession of ‎marijuana (as defined ‎in the ‎relevant legislation) or to remove the regulation of such activities from the federal laws ‎of the ‎United States (the “Triggering Event” and the date on which the Triggering Event occurs, the “Triggering Event Date”), Canopy, will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement: (i) acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares (following the mandatory conversion of the Fixed Multiple Shares into Fixed Shares) on the basis of 0.3048 (the “Fixed Exchange Ratio”) of a common share of Canopy (each, a “Canopy Share”) for each Fixed Share held at the time of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition Time”), subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Canopy Call Option”); and ‎(ii) have the right (but not the obligation) (the ‎‎“Floating Call Option”), ‎exercisable for a period of 30 days ‎following the Triggering Event Date to acquire all of the ‎issued and outstanding Floating Shares. Upon exercise of ‎the Floating Call Option, Canopy may acquire the Floating Shares for cash or for Canopy ‎Shares or a combination thereof, in Canopy’s sole discretion. If paid in cash, the price per Floating ‎Share shall be equal to the volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on which the Floating Shares are ‎primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to the exercise (or deemed ‎exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41. If paid in Canopy ‎Shares, each Floating Share will be exchanged for a number of Canopy Shares equal to (i) the volume-‎weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on ‎which the Floating Shares are primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to ‎the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41, ‎divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average trading price (expressed in US$) of the Canopy Shares on ‎the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (or such other recognized stock exchange on which the Canopy Shares are primarily traded if not then traded on the NYSE) for the 30 trading day period immediately ‎prior to the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option (the “Floating Ratio”). The Floating ‎Ratio is subject to adjustment in accordance with the Amended Plan of Arrangement if Acreage issues greater ‎than the permitted number of Floating Shares prior to the Acquisition Date. No fractional Canopy ‎Shares will be issued pursuant to ‎the ‎Amended Plan of Arrangement. The Floating Call Option cannot be ‎exercised unless the Canopy Call Option is exercised (or deemed to be exercised). The closing of the acquisition of the Floating Shares pursuant to the Floating Call Option, if exercised, will take place concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition”) pursuant to the Canopy Call Option, if exercised. The Canopy Call Option and the Floating Call Option will expire 10 years from the Amendment Time.

 

At the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Fixed Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Fixed Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Fixed Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Fixed Exchange Ratio in effect immediately prior to the Acquisition Time (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

‎In the event that the Floating Call Option is exercised and Canopy acquires the Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Floating Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Floating Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Floating Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Floating Ratio (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

In the event that Floating Call Option is ‎exercised and Canopy ‎acquires the ‎Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, we will be a ‎wholly-‎owned subsidiary of ‎Canopy. If Canopy completes the Acquisition of the Fixed Shares but does not ‎acquire the Floating Shares, the Floating Call Option will terminate, and the Floating Shares ‎shall remain outstanding‎.

 

 

‎See “Description of the Amended Arrangement” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.‎

 

Debenture

 

In connection with the implementation of the Amended Arrangement, 11065220 Canada Inc., an affiliate of Canopy (the “Hempco Lender”) agreed to provide a loan of up to $100,000,000 (the “Hempco Loan”) to Universal Hemp, LLC, an affiliate of ours that operates solely in the hemp industry in full compliance with all applicable laws (“Hempco”) pursuant to a secured debenture dated September 23, 2020 (the “Debenture”) issued by Hempco to the Hempco Lender.

 

$50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan was advanced on the Amendment Date (the “Initial Advance”) and $50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan (the “Hempco Second Advance”) will be advanced in the event that the following conditions, among others, are satisfied: (a) Hempco’s EBITDA (as defined in the Debenture) for any 90 day period is greater than or equal to 2.0 times the interest costs associated with the Initial Advance; and (b) Hempco’s business plan for the 12 months following the applicable 90 day period supports an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Debenture) of at least 2.00:1.

 

The principal amount of the Hempco Loan will bear interest from the date of advance, ‎compounded ‎annually, and will be ‎payable on each anniversary of the date of the ‎Debenture in cash in U.S. dollars at ‎a rate of 6.1% per annum. The ‎Hempco Loan will ‎mature 10 years from the date of the Initial Advance.‎

 

The Hempco Loan must be used exclusively for U.S. hemp-related operations and on the express condition that such amount will not be used, directly or indirectly, in connection with or for the operation or benefit of any of Hempco’s affiliates other than subsidiaries of Hempco exclusively engaged in U.S. hemp-related operations and not directly or indirectly, towards the operation or funding of any activities that are not permissible under applicable law. The Hempco Loan proceeds must be segregated in a distinct bank account and detailed records of debits to such distinct bank account will be maintained by Hempco.

 

No payment due and payable to the Hempco Lender by Hempco pursuant to the Debenture may be made using funds directly or indirectly derived from any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until the Triggering Event Date.

 

The Debenture includes usual and typical events of default for a financing of its nature, including, without limitation, if: (i) we are in breach or default of any representation or warranty in any material respect pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement; (ii) the Non-Core Divestitures (as defined in the Debenture) are not completed within 18 months from the Amendment Date; and (iii) we fail to perform or comply with any covenant or obligation in the Arrangement Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after written notice is given to Hempco by the Hempco Lender. The Debenture also includes customary representations and warranties, positive covenants and negative covenants of Hempco. ‎See “Transaction Agreements – Debenture” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.

  

Credit Agreement Amendment

 

In connection with, and as a condition to the implementation of, the Amended Arrangement, the credit agreement dated March 6, 2020 among Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, as borrower (the “IP Borrower”), and Acreage IP Holdings, LLC, Prime Wellness of Connecticut, LLC, D&B Wellness, LLC and Thames Valley Apothecary, LLC, as guarantors, and IP Investment Company, LLC, as lender, administrative agent and collateral agent (the “IP Lender”) (the “Original Credit Agreement”) was amended in accordance with an amendment to the Original Credit Agreement among the parties thereto dated the Amendment Date (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement, the “First Amended Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement Amendment provides that: (i) with respect to $21,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement (the “Mr. Murphy Amount”), effective as of the Amendment Time, the Original Credit Agreement was amended to (a) remove any entitlement to “Interest Shares” (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) in respect of such amount, (b) provide for an interest rate of 12% per annum payable in cash and (c) amend Section 9.3 of the Original Credit Agreement to amend the obligation of Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC to cause us to sell up to 8,800,000 SVS to repay the amount outstanding such that the obligation was reduced to cause the issuance of up to 2,000,000 Fixed Shares, and (ii) with respect to $1,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement, the lender is entitled to (a) 16,799 Fixed Shares and 7,199 Floating Shares, (b) upon maturity of the Original Credit Agreement, a return of $1,100,000 and (c) otherwise be treated in accordance with the current terms of the Original Credit Agreement.

 

On October 20, 2020, the First Amended Credit Agreement was amended to provide for certain housekeeping changes in accordance with an amendment to the First Amended Credit Agreement among the parties thereto (the “Second Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement and the First Amended Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

 

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Special Warrant Indenture

 

In connection with the Amended Arrangement, we and Odyssey Trust Company (the “Warrant Agent”) entered into a supplemental indenture, dated as of the Amendment Date (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to amend the warrant indenture dated February 10, 2020 (the “Warrant Indenture”) between us and the Warrant Agent to, among other things, reflect the Capital Reorganization and certain amendments to the warrants issued pursuant to the Warrant Indenture. The Warrant Indenture provided for the issuance of up to 10,141,987 SVS purchase warrants (each, a “Warrant”), each of which when originally issued was exercisable to acquire one SVS at an exercise price of $5.80 per SVS at any time prior to 4:00 p.m. on February 10, 2025. As previously disclosed, we modified the exercise price of the Warrants to $4.00 per SVS immediately prior to the Amended Arrangement becoming effective. In accordance with the Supplemental Indenture, each outstanding Warrant at the Amendment Time, of which there were 6,085,192, was exchanged for: (i) 0.7 of a Fixed Share purchase warrant, with each whole Fixed Share purchase warrant (each, a “Fixed Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Fixed Share; and (ii) 0.3 of a Floating Share purchase warrant, with each whole Floating Share purchase warrant (each, a “Floating Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Floating Share. Upon completion of the Amended Arrangement, there were 4,259,633 Fixed Warrants and 1,825,556 Floating Warrants outstanding, each having an exercise price of $4.00.

 

Standby Equity Distribution

 

On May 29, 2020, we entered into a standby equity distribution agreement (the “SEDA”) with an institutional investor (the “SEDA Investor”), under which we may, at our ‎discretion, periodically sell to the SEDA Investor, and pursuant to which the SEDA Investor may, at its discretion, require us to sell to it, up to $35,000,000 of Fixed Shares and up to $15,000,000 of Floating Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, we have not drawn down against the SEDA. It is our intention to terminate the SEDA once the registration statement, of which this Prospectus is a part, is declared effective.

  

Institutional Loan Agreement

 

On September 28, 2020, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, HSCP CN Holdings II ULC (the “Institutional Investor Borrower”), entered into a loan agreement (the “Institutional Loan Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Institutional Investor”) for gross proceeds of $33,000,000. The loan from the Institutional Investor is unsecured, matures in three years, and bears interest at a 7.5% annual interest rate. At any time after September 28, 2022, upon 5 business days’ notice to the Institutional Investor, the Institutional Investor Borrower may prepay all or any portion of the loan together with all interest accrued thereon, without any premium, bonus, penalty or other charge. The loan is guaranteed by High Street.

 

Convertible Debenture

 

Effective May 29, 2020, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with YA, II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”) and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto. The Securities Purchase Agreement provided for the offer and sale of a $11,000,000 principal amount convertible debenture (the “Convertible Debenture”). The Convertible Debenture bore interest at 15% per annum and was secured by our medical cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut. The Convertible Debenture was convertible by Yorkville in whole or in part after September 30, 2020. Prior to September 30, 2020, Yorkville could convert only $550,000 of principal amount. The Convertible Debenture was convertible into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share, subject to the conversion limitations described above. We had the right to redeem up to 95% of the principal amount on or prior to September 29, 2020 without penalty.

 

On September 4, 2020, Yorkville exercised its right to convert $550,000 of the principal amount into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share and received 327,380 SVS. Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the SVS issued to Yorkville were exchanged for 229,166 Fixed Shares and 98,214 Floating Shares.

 

On September 29, 2020, we redeemed 95% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debenture.

  

Short-Term Bridge Loan

 

On June 16, 2020, we entered into a short-term definitive funding agreement with an institutional investor for a total of $15,000,000 in gross proceeds (the “Bridge Loan”). The short-term definitive funding agreement had a maturity ‎date of four months and bore interest at a per annum rate of 60%. It was secured by, among other items, our cannabis operations in Illinois, New Jersey and Florida, as well as our U.S. intellectual ‎property.

 

On October 16, 2020, we repaid the principal amount and all accrued interest owing on the Bridge Loan.

 

Lease Dispute

 

On or around December 2019, we entered into three five-year leases to occupy approximately 70,000 square feet of commercial space on a cannabis cultivation campus in California. We are in an arbitration proceeding related to this commercial space and the commercial landlord is seeking to recover $12,100,000 from us. We intend to defend vigorously against all claims related to this matter.

 

The Securities Offered under this Prospectus

 

‎‎Loan Transaction

 

On February 7, 2020, we entered into a credit agreement (the “February Credit Agreement”) through our subsidiary, HSCP CN Holdings ULC (the “Borrower”), by and among the Borrower, Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC (the “Guarantor”), and the institutional lender party thereto and its administrative agent.

 

‎‎The February Credit Agreement provides for a secured credit facility in the amount of up to $100,000,000, which may be drawn down on by the Borrower in three tranches, maturing on the date that is two years from the date the first tranche is drawn down on. The obligations under the February Credit Agreement are guaranteed by the Guarantor, and secured by a first priority lien (the “Security Interest”) over $50,000,000 in cash deposited in a bank account by us (the “Restricted Account”).

 

‎‎In order to fund the Restricted Account, on March 6, 2020, our subsidiary, the IP Borrower entered into the Original Credit Agreement, which provided for a credit facility in the amount of up to $50,000,000 (“Credit Facility”) to be available in two advances. The maturity date for the first advance of borrowings under the March Credit Agreement, subject to acceleration in certain instances, is 366 days from the closing date of the Credit Facility. All funds drawn under the Credit Facility are required to be deposited into the Restricted Account as security for repayment of funds borrowed and amounts owing pursuant to the February Credit Agreement.

 

‎‎On March 11, 2020, IP Borrower drew the first advance of $22,000,000 (the “Borrowed Amount”) under the Original Credit Agreement and deposited the funds into the Restricted Account (the “Loan Transaction”). Kevin Murphy, our Chair and former Chief Executive Officer, loaned $21,0000,000 of the Borrowed Amount to the IP Lender in connection with the Loan Transaction.

 

Interest on the principal amount borrowed under the Credit Facility was to be satisfied by the IP Borrower delivering to the IP ‎Lender ‎‎83,333 SVS per ‎month (or 58,333 Fixed Shares and 24,999 Floating Shares), or 1,000,000 SVS (or 700,000 Fixed Shares and 300,000 Floating Shares) in the aggregate ‎‎(the “Interest Shares”). ‎ We were advised that Mr. Murphy was not a member, an officer nor a director of IP Lender and that Mr. Murphy was entitled to receive, assuming full repayment of the Borrowed Amount at maturity, $23,100,000 along with up to 304,001 SVS, forming part of the Interest Shares, which entitlement to Interest Shares he forfeited in accordance with the Amended Arrangement.

 

 

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In connection with, and as a condition to the implementation of, the Amended Arrangement, the Original Credit Agreement was amended in accordance with the Credit Agreement Amendment. The Credit Agreement Amendment provides that: (i) with respect to the Mr. Murphy Amount, effective as of the Amendment Time, the Original Credit Agreement was amended to (a) remove any entitlement to “Interest Shares” (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) in respect of this amount, (b) provide for an interest rate of 12% per annum payable in cash, (c) amend Section 9.3 of the Original Credit Agreement to amend the obligation of IP Borrower to cause us to sell up to 8,800,000 SVS to repay the amount outstanding such that the obligation was reduced to cause the issuance of up to 2,000,000 Fixed Shares, and (ii) with respect to $1,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement, the lender is entitled to (a) 16,799 Fixed Shares and 7,199 Floating Shares, (b) upon maturity of the Original Credit Agreement, a return of $1,100,000 and (c) otherwise be treated in accordance with the current terms of the Original Credit Agreement.

 

IP Lender was entitled to 23,999 SVS under the Original Credit Agreement, of which 12,000 SVS were issued to IP Lender prior to the Capital Reorganization. The 12,000 SVS issued to IP Lender prior to the Capital Reorganization were subsequently transferred to Pilgrim Foresight Fund, LLC (“Pilgrim”), an affiliate of IP Lender, pursuant to applicable securities laws. Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the SVS originally issued to IP Lender and currently held by Pilgrim were exchanged for 8,400 Fixed Shares and 3,600 Floating Shares. In accordance with the Credit Agreement Amendment, IP Lender is entitled to receive an additional 8,399 Fixed Shares and 3,599 Floating Shares, with such shares replacing the 11,999 SVS IP Lender was entitled to pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement; IP Lender will receive 1,527 Fixed Shares and 654 Floating Shares each month (the “Unissued Interest Shares”), with any remaining balance to be issued and delivered upon maturity of the Loan Transaction. We understand that IP Lender intends to transfer the Unissued Interest Shares to Pilgrim, pursuant to applicable securities laws, once such shares are received.

 

This Prospectus registers the resale of the 16,799 Fixed Shares and 7,199 Floating Shares by Pilgrim in connection with the Loan Transaction (the “Loan Shares”). We will not receive any cash proceeds from the sale of the Loan Shares.

 

Standby Equity Distribution Agreement

 

On May 29, 2020, we entered into the SEDA with SAFMB Concord LP (“SAFMB” and together with Pilgrim, the “Selling Security Holders” and each a “Selling Security Holder”), pursuant to which we may, in our discretion, periodically sell to SAFMB, and pursuant to which SAFMB may, at its discretion, require us to sell to it, up to $35,000,000 Fixed Shares and up to $15,000,000 Floating Shares. For each Fixed Share or Floating Share purchased under the SEDA, SAFMB will pay us the greater of (i) 95% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares on the CSE or other principal market on which the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares are traded (the “Principal Market”) for the five consecutive trading days immediately following the date we or SAFMB delivers notice requiring SAFMB to purchase or us to sell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares under the SEDA; or (ii) the lowest price allowable under the rules of the Principal Market.

 

SAFMB’s obligation to purchase, and our obligation to sell, Fixed Shares and Floating Shares under the SEDA is subject to certain conditions, including obtaining requisite relief from applicable Canadian securities regulators in respect of transactions of this nature, us filing and maintaining the effectiveness of a registration statement, and a supplement to our Canadian shelf prospectus, qualifying the issue of the commitment shares described below and up to an aggregate of $35,000,000 of Fixed Shares and $15,000,000 of Floating Shares sold under the SEDA, and is limited to $500,000 per advance, and no more than $5,000,000 in the thirty days following May 29, 2020.

 

We agreed to issue to SAFMB 200,000 SVS as commitment shares in consideration for entering into the SEDA. Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the SVS issued to SAFMB were exchanged for 140,000 Fixed Shares and 60,000 Floating Shares (the “Commitment Shares”). This Prospectus registers the Commitment Shares. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the sale of the Commitment Shares.

 

It is our intention to terminate the SEDA once the registration statement, of which this Prospectus is a part, is declared effective.

 

 

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Fixed Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Fixed Shares. Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Fixed Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Fixed Shares.”

 

Floating Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Floating Shares. Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Floating Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Floating Shares.”

 

Risk Factors

 

‎‎See “Risk Factors” as well as other information included in this Prospectus, for a discussion of factors you should read and consider carefully before investing in our securities.

 

 

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THE OFFERING

 

‎‎Fixed Shares We Are Offering 156,799 Fixed Shares
‎‎Floating Shares We Are Offering 67,199 Floating Shares
‎‎Fixed Shares To Be Outstanding After This Offering

71,002,607 Fixed Shares

 

Floating Shares To Be Outstanding After This Offering

30,479,954 Floating Shares

 

‎‎Use Of Proceeds All proceeds from the sale of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares offered hereby will be for the account of the Selling Security Holders. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Fixed Share or Floating Shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 16.
‎‎Risk Factors This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this Prospectus, of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and of any free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with this offering for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.
‎‎Trading Symbol ‎The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ1”. The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”.

‎‎

The number of Fixed Shares shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 70,994,208 Fixed Shares outstanding (including 589,165 Fixed Shares held by Acreage Holdings America, Inc. (the “Acreage Subsidiary”)) as of September 30, 2020, and excludes:

 

· 3,147,629 Fixed Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; and
     
· 4,928,863 Fixed Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

The number of Floating Shares shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 30,476,355 Floating Shares outstanding (including 252,499 Floating Shares held by the Acreage Subsidiary) as of September 30, 2020, and excludes:

 

· 1,348,961 Floating Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; and
     
· 2,119,975 Floating Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

‎‎This Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”), including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based upon our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, and other future conditions. Forward-looking ‎statements can be identified by the words such as “expect”, “likely”, “may”, “will”,, “would”, “could”, “should”, “continue”, “contemplate”, “intend”, or “anticipate”, “believe”, “envision”, “estimate”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “target”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate” and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Prospectus, or in the case of documents incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of each such document. Forward-looking statements in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

 

· the performance of our business and operations;
     
· our product offerings;
     
· the competitive conditions of the industry;
     
· our competitive and business strategies;
     
· the sufficiency of capital including our ability to obtain capital to develop our business;‎
     
· our operations in the United States, the characterization and consequences of those ‎operations under United States federal law and applicable State law, and the framework for the ‎enforcement of applicable laws in the United States;
     
· on-going implications of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”);
     
· statements relating to the business and future activities of, and developments related to, us, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of our business, operations and plans;
     
· expectations that planned acquisitions will be completed, and the expected financial results of such acquisitions;
     
· expectations that licenses applied for will be obtained;
     
· expectations regarding future cash flows from operations;
     
· statements regarding the proposed transaction with Canopy, including the anticipated benefits and likelihood of completion thereof;
     
· the likelihood that the Canopy Call Option will be exercised;
     
· the likelihood that the Floating Call Option will be exercised;
     
· the timing and outcome of the Acquisition;
     
· the likelihood of the Acquisition being completed and any benefits to be derived therefrom;
     
· potential future legalization of adult-use and/or medical cannabis under U.S. federal law;
     
· expectations of market size and growth in the U.S. and the states in which we operate;
     
· expectations for other economic, business, financial market, political, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to us or the cannabis industry generally; and
     
· other events or conditions that may occur in the future.

 

Forward-looking statements contained herein and in certain documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus concerning the cannabis industry and its medical and adult-use markets and the general expectations of ‎us concerning the industry and our business and operations are based on ‎estimates prepared by us using data from publicly available governmental sources as well as ‎from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of this ‎industry which we believe to be reasonable. However, although generally indicative of relative ‎market positions, market shares and performance characteristics, such data is inherently imprecise. ‎While we are not aware of any misstatement regarding any industry or government data ‎presented herein, the cannabis industry involves risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based ‎on various factors.

 

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Forward-looking statements speak only as at the date they are made and are based on information currently available and on the then current expectations. Potential purchasers of our securities are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead are based on ‎reasonable assumptions and estimates of our management at the time they were provided ‎or made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the ‎actual results, performance or achievements of us, as applicable, to be materially different ‎from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking ‎statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to:

 

· risks related to the occurrence of changes in U.S. ‎federal laws regarding the cultivation, distribution or possession of ‎marijuana;
     
· the likelihood of the Triggering Event occurring or being waived by the expiry of the Canopy Call Option;
     
· the ability of us and Canopy to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory approvals;
     
· the ability of Canopy and us to satisfy, in a timely manner, the closing conditions to the Acquisition;

 

· the likelihood ‎of Canopy ‎completing the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and/or Floating Shares;
     
· the ability of us and Canopy to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to closing following the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event;
     
· other expectations and assumptions concerning the Acquisition;
     
· our available funds and the anticipated use of such funds;
     
· the availability of financing opportunities for us and the risks associated with the ‎completion thereof;
     
· regulatory and licensing risks;
     
· changes in general ‎economic, business and ‎political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets;
     
· risks related to ‎infectious ‎diseases, including the impacts of the COVID-19;
     
· risks associated with dependence on management and currency risk;
     
· legal and regulatory risks inherent in the ‎cannabis ‎industry, including the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, ‎political risks and risks ‎relating to regulatory change;
     
· risks relating to U.S. regulatory landscape and ‎enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks;
     
· risks relating to anti-money laundering laws and ‎regulations;
     
· other governmental and environmental regulations;
     
· compliance with extensive government ‎regulations and the interpretation of various laws regulations ‎and policies;
     
· risk associated with divesting certain ‎assets;
     
· public opinion and perception of the ‎cannabis industry;
     
· risks related to contracts with third-party service providers;
     
· risks related to the ‎enforceability of contracts;
     
· reliance on the expertise and judgment of our senior management;
     
· risks related to proprietary intellectual property and potential infringement by third parties;
     
· the ‎concentrated voting control of our founder and the unpredictability caused by our ‎capital structure;
     
· risks relating to the management of growth;
     
· risks related to cash flow from operations;
     
· increasing competition in the industry;
     
· risks ‎inherent in an agricultural business;
     
· risks relating to energy costs;
     
· risks associated to cannabis products ‎manufactured for human consumption including potential product recalls;
     
· reliance on key inputs, ‎suppliers and skilled labor;
     
· cybersecurity risks;
     
· ability and constraints on marketing products;
     
· fraudulent ‎activity by employees, contractors and consultants;
     
· tax and insurance related risks;
     
· risks related to the ‎economy generally;
     
· risk of litigation;
     
· conflicts of interest;
     
· risks relating to certain remedies being limited ‎and the difficulty of enforcement of judgments and effecting service outside of Canada;
· risks related to ‎future acquisitions or dispositions;
     
· sales by existing shareholders; and
     
· limited research and data relating to ‎cannabis,

 

‎as well as those risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and as described from time to time in documents filed by us with securities regulatory authorities. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 dated May 29, 2020 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A ‎dated August 14, 2020‎, and under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein (see “Documents Incorporated by Reference”).

 

Readers are cautioned that the above list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in forward-looking statements. The purpose of forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management’s expectations, and such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Potential purchasers of our securities should read this entire Prospectus, and each applicable prospectus supplement, and consult their own professional advisors to ascertain and assess the income tax and legal risks and other aspects associated with holding our securities.

 

9

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Before deciding to invest in our securities, prospective investors in our securities should consider carefully the risk factors and the other information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering of our securities, including those risks identified and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

 

Before making an investment decision, prospective purchasers of our securities should carefully consider the information described in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including any applicable prospectus supplement. Additional risk factors relating to a specific offering of our securities may be described in any applicable prospectus supplement. Some of the risk factors described herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including any applicable prospectus supplement, are interrelated and, consequently, investors should treat such risk factors as a whole. If any event arising from these risks occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and the investor’s investment in our securities could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or that are unknown or that we currently consider to be immaterial could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. We cannot assure an investor that we will successfully address any or all of these risks.

 

Prospective investors should carefully consider the risks below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020 and the other information elsewhere in this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and consult with their professional advisors to assess any investment in our securities.

 

Risks Related to the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares

 

We cannot guarantee returns on our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎There is no guarantee that either the Fixed Shares or the Floating Shares will earn any positive return in the short term or long term. A holding of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares is speculative and involves a high degree of risk and should be undertaken only by holders whose financial resources are sufficient to enable them to assume such risks and who have no need for immediate liquidity in their investment. A holding of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares is appropriate only for holders who have the capacity to absorb a loss of some or all of their investment.

 

Our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may have a volatile market price.

 

‎‎The market price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. This volatility may affect the ability of holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares to sell their securities at an advantageous price. Market price fluctuations in the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be due to our operating results failing to meet expectations of securities analysts or investors in any period, downward revision in securities analysts’ estimates, adverse changes in general market conditions or economic trends, acquisitions, dispositions or other material public announcements by us or our competitors, along with a variety of additional factors. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎Financial markets historically at times have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of companies and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. Accordingly, the market price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may decline even if our operating results, underlying asset values or prospects have not changed. Additionally, these factors, as well as other related factors, may cause decreases in asset values that are deemed to be other than temporary, which may result in impairment losses. There can be no assurance that continuing fluctuations in price and volume will not occur. If such increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, our operations could be adversely impacted, and the trading price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be materially adversely affected.

 

Our securityholders resident in the United States may have difficulty settling trades because we operate in the cannabis sector.

 

‎‎Given the heightened risk profile associated with cannabis in the United States, capital markets participants may be unwilling to assist with the settlement of trades for U.S. resident securityholders of companies with operations in the United States cannabis industry which may prohibit or significantly impair the ability of securityholders in the United States to trade the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. In the event residents of the United States are unable to settle trades of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, this may affect the pricing of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices and the liquidity of these securities.

 

10

 

 

There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎Our shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of their Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, or at all. There can be no assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares on the trading market, or that we will continue to meet the listing requirements of one or more of the CSE, OTCQX or FRA or achieve listing on any other public listing exchange.

 

Our Fixed Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or at a discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio‎.

 

There is no guarantee that the Fixed Shares will trade at a price that reflects our performance or at ‎a price relative to the trading price of the Canopy Shares based upon the Fixed Exchange Ratio. Given the ‎uncertainties regarding the completion of the Acquisition, it is possible the Fixed Shares will trade at a significant ‎discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio.‎

 

Our Floating Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option.

 

The intrinsic value of the Floating Shares is indeterminate. There is no guarantee that the Floating Shares will trade ‎at a price that reflects our performance nor at the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option. Moreover, the Floating Shares will not trade at a price that ‎is necessarily proportionate to the trading price of the Fixed Shares. ‎

 

Our credit agreements contain restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

Our credit agreements and the Debenture contain restrictive ‎covenants that limit the discretion of management with respect to certain limited matters. A failure to comply with ‎these terms could result in an event of default which, if not cured or ‎waived, could result in accelerated repayment ‎and may have a material and adverse consequence on our business, operations or financial condition, ‎on a consolidated basis.‎

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants that may potentially impair the discretion of our ‎management with respect to certain business matters. These covenants place restrictions on, among other things, ‎the ability of us to make any material change to the nature of its business, to pay distributions or make ‎certain other payments, to create liens or encumbrances not permitted by the Arrangement Agreement and to sell ‎or otherwise dispose of certain assets. A failure to comply with these terms, if not cured or waived, could result in a ‎breach of the Arrangement Agreement. ‎

 

If we do not comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement, there may be significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to complete the Acquisition.

 

Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, we are required to comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement (the “Initial Business Plan”). The Initial Business Plan sets forth certain Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) for each applicable fiscal year of the Initial Business Plan.

 

If, at the end of a fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter dated December 31, 2020), our Pro-Forma Revenue (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than‎ 90% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan or if the Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than 90% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan, an Interim Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will be deemed to have occurred and the Austerity Measures (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will become applicable. The Austerity Measures place significant restrictions on our ability to take certain actions in the operation of our business. Among other things, the Austerity Measures prevent us from issuing any Fixed Shares, Fixed Multiple Shares or Floating Shares, granting any New Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) or Floating Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), entering into any contract in respect of Company Debt (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) (other than in the ordinary course of business), or paying any fees owing to members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Austerity Measures also prevent us and our subsidiaries from entering into any business combination, merger or acquisition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), from making any new capital investments or incurring any new capital expenditures, and from entering into any contract to dispose of any assets (other than in the ordinary course of business). The Austerity Measures will apply until the non-compliance causing the Interim Failure to Perform is cured by us and our subsidiaries, as applicable. However, if an Interim Failure to Perform occurs and the Austerity Measures are implemented, the ability of us to conduct our business in the ordinary course will be significantly restricted. Accordingly, the occurrence of an Interim Failure to Perform will increase the possibility that a Material Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and/or a Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will occur.

 

11

 

 

A Material Failure to Perform will be deemed to occur if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 80% ‎of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 80% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target, ‎as determined on an annual basis (commencing in respect of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021). The occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is considered a breach of a material term of the Arrangement Agreement incapable of being cured. Consequently, certain restrictive covenants under the Arrangement Agreement which relate to exclusivity and non-competition of Canopy in favor of us, including the restriction preventing Canopy from acquiring a competitor of ours ‎in the ‎United States, will terminate. In addition, the occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is likely to constitute an event of default under the Debenture, causing the Hempco Loan to become immediately due and payable. If the Hempco Loan is required to be repaid prior to the maturity date, it would have an immediate and lasting material adverse effect on us and our ability to complete the Acquisition.

 

In addition, if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 60% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 60% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target for the trailing 12 month ‎period ending on the date that is 30 days prior ‎to the proposed Acquisition Time, a Failure to Perform shall occur and a ‎material adverse impact will be deemed to have occurred ‎for purposes of Section ‎‎6.2(2)(h) of the Arrangement Agreement. In the event of a Failure to Perform, Canopy will ‎not be required ‎to complete the Acquisition.

 

If certain U.S. states do not legalize recreational cannabis use within a proximate timeframe, we may not be able to comply with the Initial Business Plan which may result in significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to Complete the Acquisition.

 

The Initial Business Plan has been prepared based on the assumption that certain regulatory initiatives legalizing recreational cannabis will be approved in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine and Ohio within a proximate timeframe. If some or all of the anticipated regulatory initiatives do not occur in the foregoing states within the contemplated timeline, or at all, it will have a significant adverse impact on our ability to meet the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets prescribed in the Initial Business Plan, which will likely result in an Interim Failure to Perform that could lead to a Material Failure to Perform and ultimately, a Failure to Perform.

 

If Canopy fails to complete the Acquisition or the Acquisition is completed on different ‎terms, there could be a material adverse effect ‎on our business.

 

There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed, or if completed, that it will be ‎completed on the same or similar terms to those set out in the Arrangement Agreement. The completion ‎of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions which include, among others, ‎‎(i) obtaining necessary approvals, including the Acquisition Regulatory Approvals (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), (ii) performance by us, and Canopy, of our, and their, respective ‎obligations and covenants in the Arrangement Agreement, and (iii) cannabis production, distribution and sale becoming legal under United States federal law, or being removed from regulation under such law. If these conditions are not fulfilled or waived or the ‎Acquisition is not completed for any other reason, our shareholders will not receive the Consideration Shares (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and, if applicable, the Floating Cash Consideration (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). Certain of these conditions, including the occurrence of the Triggering Event Date, are outside of our control. ‎There can be no certainty, nor can we provide any assurance, that all conditions precedent will be satisfied or waived, ‎or, if satisfied or waived, when they will be satisfied or waived and, accordingly, the Acquisition may not be completed.‎

 

In addition, if the Acquisition is not completed, our ongoing business may be adversely ‎affected as a result of the costs (including opportunity costs) incurred in respect of pursuing the ‎Acquisition, and we could experience negative reactions from the financial markets, which ‎could cause a decrease in the market price of the Fixed Shares, particularly if the market price ‎reflects market assumptions that the Acquisition will be completed or completed on certain terms. We may also experience negative reactions from our customers and employees and there could be ‎negative impact on our ability to attract future acquisition opportunities. Failure to complete ‎the Acquisition or a change in the terms of the Acquisition could each have a material adverse effect ‎on Acreage’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

If we issue more Fixed Shares than permitted under the Arrangement Agreement or if we, or one of our subsidiaries, make a $20,000,000 payout in certain situations, the holders of our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may receive fewer Canopy Shares upon completion of the Acquisition.

 

There is a fixed maximum number of Canopy Shares that may be issued in connection with the ‎Acquisition. In the event that we issue more Fixed Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement or if we or any of our subsidiaries ‎are required to make a payout over $20,000,000 in order to either (i) settle, (ii) satisfy a ‎judgment, or (iii) acquire the disputed minority non-controlling interest, in connection with the claim filed by EPMMNY ‎LLC against certain of our subsidiaries‎, the Fixed Exchange Ratio will be automatically reduced‎. In addition, in the event ‎that we issue more Floating Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement, the Floating Ratio will be ‎automatically reduced. Any such reduction of the Fixed Exchange Ratio or Floating Ratio will result in the holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, receiving fewer Canopy Shares upon ‎completion of the Acquisition.

 

12

 

 

Risks Related to our Articles of Incorporation

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation‎. Given that, under United States law, investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws, it is uncertain whether the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision. It is also uncertain whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia, although indirect causes of action may arise thereunder as a result of, without limitation, breach, misrepresentation or the like. In the event it was determined that the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws or, if it did, a British Columbia court refused to enforce such provision or a breach of U.S. securities law did not give rise to a cause of action in British Columbia, there is a risk that we would be required to litigate any such breach in a jurisdiction which is less favorable to us, which could result in additional costs and financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to the United States Regulatory System

 

Our employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and/or investors could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with us.

 

Because cannabis remains illegal under United States federal law, those investing in Canadian companies with ‎‎operations in the United States cannabis industry could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with United States cannabis businesses. Entry happens at the sole ‎‎discretion of U.S. Customers and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers on duty, and these officers have wide latitude ‎to ask questions to determine the ‎admissibility of a non-United States citizen or foreign national. The government of Canada ‎has started warning travelers on its ‎website that previous use of cannabis, or any substance prohibited by United ‎States federal laws, could mean denial ‎of entry to the United States. Business or financial involvement in the ‎cannabis industry in the United States could ‎also be reason enough for United States border guards to deny entry. ‎On September 21, 2018, CBP released a ‎statement outlining its current position with respect to enforcement of the ‎laws of the United States. It stated that ‎Canada’s legalization of cannabis will not change CBP enforcement of ‎United States laws regarding controlled ‎substances and because cannabis continues to be a controlled substance ‎under United States law, working in or ‎facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in U.S. states ‎where it is deemed legal may affect ‎admissibility to the United States. On October 9, 2018, CBP released an ‎additional statement regarding the ‎admissibility of Canadian citizens working in the legal cannabis industry. CBP ‎stated that a Canadian citizen ‎working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in Canada ‎coming into the United States for ‎reasons unrelated to the cannabis industry will generally be admissible to the ‎United States; however, if such person ‎is found to be coming into the United States for reasons related to the ‎cannabis industry, such person may be ‎deemed inadmissible. As a result, CBP has affirmed that, employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and investors of ‎companies involved in business activities related to cannabis in the ‎United States who are not ‎United States citizens face the risk of being barred from entry into the United States for ‎life.‎

 

Uncertainty regarding the regulations under the U.S. 2018 Farm Bill, and undeveloped shared state-federal regulations over hemp cultivation and production, may impact our hemp business.

 

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. Under Section 10113 of the Farm Bill, state departments of agriculture must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture the “USDA”). A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of USDA approves that state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will need to construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally-run program. Even if a state creates a plan in conjunction with its governor and chief law enforcement officer, the Secretary of the USDA must approve such plan. There can be no guarantee that any state plan will be approved. Review times may be extensive. Although interim rules for hemp production under the Farm Bill are now in place federally, the timing of finalized federal rules and regulations, in addition to state specific rules and regulations, cannot be assured. There may be amendments and the ultimate plans, if approved by the states and the USDA, may materially limit our hemp business depending upon the scope of the regulations.

   

Laws and regulations affecting our industry governing operations under the Farm Bill are in development.

 

As a result of the Farm Bill’s recent passage, there will be a constant evolution of laws and regulations affecting the hemp industry that could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state and federal hemp laws and regulations may be broad in scope and subject to changing interpretations. These changes may require us to incur substantial costs associated with legal and compliance fees and ultimately require us to alter our business plan. Furthermore, violations of these laws, or alleged violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business.

 

The possible FDA Regulation of hemp and industrial hemp-derived CBD, and the possible registration of facilities where hemp is grown and hemp-derived products are produced, if implemented, could negatively affect our hemp business.

 

As a result of the passage of the Farm Bill, at some indeterminate future time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)  may choose to change its position concerning products containing hemp, or cannabidiol (“CBD”)  derived from hemp, and may choose to enact regulations that are applicable to such products, including, but not limited to: the processing of hemp into hemp products; regulations covering the physical facilities where hemp is grown and/or processed; and possible testing to determine efficacy and safety of products containing hemp-derived CBD. In this hypothetical event, the proposed products, which we plan to introduce will likely contain CBD and may be subject to regulation. In the hypothetical event that some or all of these regulations are imposed, we do not know what the impact would be on the hemp industry in general, and what costs, requirements and possible prohibitions may be enforced. If we are unable to comply with the conditions and possible costs of possible regulations and/or registration, as may be prescribed by the FDA, we may be unable to continue to operate segments of our hemp business.

 

Our current officers and directors do not have experience in the hemp business.

 

Although management has business experience in cannabis, they have limited experience in the hemp-based product business or retail business. Therefore, without industry-specific experience, their business experience may not be enough to effectively start-up and maintain a hemp-based product company. As a result, the implementation of our hemp business plan may be delayed, or eventually, unsuccessful.

 

13

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

‎‎This Prospectus relates to the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares that may be offered and sold from time to time by the Selling Security Holders. We will not receive any of the proceeds resulting from the sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares by the Selling Security Holders. The Selling Security Holders will receive all of the proceeds from this offering.

 

SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS

 

With respect to the resale of 156,799 Fixed Shares and 67,199 Floating Shares, the following tables set forth certain information with respect to the below Selling Security Holders including (i) the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares beneficially owned by each Selling Security Holder prior to this offering, (ii) the number of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares being offered by each Selling Security Holder pursuant to this Prospectus and (iii) each Selling Security Holder’s beneficial ownership after completion of this offering, assuming that all of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares covered hereby (but no other securities, if any, held by each Selling Security Holder) are sold to third parties.

 

‎‎The tables are based on information supplied to us by each Selling Security Holder, with beneficial ownership and percentage ownership determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to our shares. This information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. In computing the number of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares beneficially owned by each Selling Security Holder and the percentage ownership of each Selling Security Holder, Fixed Shares and Floating Shares subject to stock options or other rights to acquire our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares held by each Selling Security Holder that are exercisable as of or will be exercisable within 60 days after September 30, 2020, are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering is based on 70,994,208 Fixed Shares and 30,476,355 Floating Shares outstanding (including 589,165 Fixed Shares and 252,499 Floating Shares held by the Acreage Subsidiary) on September 30, 2020.

 

‎‎The registration of these Fixed Shares and Floating Shares does not mean that the below Selling Security Holders will sell or otherwise dispose of all or any of those securities. The Selling Security Holders may sell or otherwise dispose of all, a portion or none of such shares from time to time. We do not know the number of shares, if any, that will be offered for sale or other disposition by the Selling Security Holders under this Prospectus. Furthermore, the Selling Security Holders may have sold, transferred or disposed of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered hereby in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, since the date on which we filed this Prospectus.

 

    Beneficial Ownership Before this
Offering
     

Beneficial Ownership After this
Offering(3)

Selling Security Holder(1)   Number of
Fixed Shares
Owned
 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Fixed Shares(2)

 

Maximum
Number of
Fixed Shares to
be Sold
Pursuant to this
Prospectus

  Number of
Fixed Shares
Owned
 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Fixed Shares

Pilgrim Foresight Fund, LLC   22,745   *   16,799   11,291   *
SAFMB Concord LP   140,000   *   140,000   0   0%

 

* Less than one percent.
   
(1) ‎This table and the information in the notes below are based upon information supplied by the Selling Security Holder.
   
(2) The actual number of Fixed Shares offered hereby and included in the registration statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, includes, in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, such indeterminate number of additional Fixed Shares as may become issuable in connection with any proportionate adjustment for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events with respect to our Fixed Shares.
   
(3) The “Beneficial Ownership After this Offering” assumes the sale of all shares offered by the Selling Security Holders pursuant to this Prospectus.

 

14

 

 

 
    Beneficial Ownership Before this
Offering
     

Beneficial Ownership After this
Offering(3)

 
Selling Security Holder(1)   Number of
Floating Shares
Owned
 

Percentage of Outstanding
Floating
Shares(2)

 

Maximum
Number of
Floating Shares
to be Sold
Pursuant to this
Prospectus

  Number of
Floating Shares
Owned
 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Floating Shares

 
Pilgrim Foresight Fund, LLC   9,747   *   7,199   4,839   *  
SAFMB Concord LP   60,000   *   60,000   0   0%  

 

* Less than one percent.
   
(1) This table and the information in the notes below are based upon information supplied by the Selling Security Holder.
   
(2) The actual number of Floating Shares offered hereby and included in the registration statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, includes, in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, such indeterminate number of additional Floating Shares as may become issuable in connection with any proportionate adjustment for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events with respect to our Floating Shares.
   
(3) The “Beneficial Ownership After this Offering” assumes the sale of all shares offered by the Selling Security Holders pursuant to this Prospectus.

 

Relationships with the Selling Security Holders

 

We entered into that certain credit agreement dated as of February 7, 2020 among HSCP CN Holdings ULC, Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, SAFMB Harmony LP and the other lenders party thereto and SAFMB Harmony LP, as administrative agent, as amended by a first amending agreement dated as of February 28, 2020 and as further amended by a second amending agreement dated as of March 6, 2020, with SAFMB and certain affiliates as amended by a first amending agreement dated as of February 28, 2020 and as further amended by a second amending agreement dated as of March 6, 2020.

 

15

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Timing of Sales

 

‎‎Each Selling Security Holder, and any of their respective pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest, may offer and sell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered by this Prospectus at various times. Each Selling Security Holder will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale.

 

Offering Price

 

‎‎Each Selling Security Holder may sell all or a portion of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares beneficially owned by it and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the Selling Security Holder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be sold on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which such securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, or in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems and in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions.

 

Manner of Sale

 

‎‎The Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be sold by means of one or more of the following methods:

 

1. a block trade in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

2. purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by that broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus;

 

3. ordinary brokerage transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

4. through options, swaps or derivative;

 

5. privately negotiated transactions;

 

6. an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

7. broker-dealers may agree with any Selling Security Holder to sell a specified number of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

8. through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

9. in a combination of any of the above methods; or

 

10. any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

‎‎Each Selling Security Holder may sell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares directly to purchasers or may use brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents to sell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. Brokers or dealers engaged by a Selling Security Holder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Brokers or dealers may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the Selling Security Holder(s), or, if any such broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of such Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, from the purchaser in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with NASD Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD IM-2440. The compensation received by brokers or dealers may, but is not expected to, exceed that which is customary for the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Security Holder(s) to sell a specified number of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares at a stipulated price per share, and, to the extent the broker-dealer is unable to do so acting as agent for such Selling Security Holder(s), to purchase as principal any of the unsold Fixed Shares or Floating Shares at the price required to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to such Selling Security Holder(s). Broker-dealers who acquire the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares as principal may thereafter resell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares from time to time in transactions, which may involve block transactions and sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices then related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. In connection with resales of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, broker-dealers may pay commissions to or receive commissions from the purchasers of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares as described above.

 

16

 

 

‎‎If a Selling Security Holder enters into arrangements with brokers or dealers, as described above, we are obligated to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, disclosing such arrangements, including the names of any broker dealers acting as underwriters.

 

‎‎A Selling Security Holder and any broker-dealers or agents that participate with a Selling Security Holder in the sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. In that event, any commissions received by broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Security Holder has informed us that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

In connection with the sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, the Selling Security Holders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Security Holders may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this Prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this Prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

We agreed to keep this Prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered by this Prospectus may be resold by the Selling Security Holders without registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered by this Prospectus have been sold pursuant to this Prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.

 

Sales Pursuant to Rule 144

 

‎‎Any of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered by this Prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.

 

Regulation M

 

‎‎We have advised the Selling Security Holders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) may apply to sales of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in the market and to the activities of the Selling Security Holders and their respective affiliates. Regulation M under the Exchange Act prohibits, with certain exceptions, participants in a distribution from bidding for, or purchasing for an account in which the participant has a beneficial interest, any of the securities that are the subject of the distribution.

 

‎‎Accordingly, Selling Security Holders are not permitted to cover short sales by purchasing Fixed Shares or Floating Shares while the distribution is taking place. Regulation M also governs bids and purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with a distribution of the security. Because Selling Security Holders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 172 thereunder. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered by this Prospectus by the Selling Security Holders.

 

We will make copies of this Prospectus available to the Selling Security Holders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this Prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

State Securities Laws

 

‎‎Under the securities laws of some states, the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may not be sold unless the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

 

Expenses of Registration

 

‎‎We are bearing all costs relating to the registration of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. The Selling Security Holders, however, will pay any commissions or other fees payable to brokers or dealers in connection with any sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. We have agreed to indemnify the Selling Security Holders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

17

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

As long as any Fixed Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Fixed Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Fixed Shares.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by our Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Fixed Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) ‎the Fixed Multiple Shares, in an amount per Fixed Multiple Share equal to the amount of the ‎dividend declared ‎per Fixed Share; and (ii) the Floating Shares, in an amount per ‎Floating Share equal to the amount of the dividend ‎declared per Fixed Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with the holders of Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares, with the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share equal to each of: (i) the amount of such distribution per Floating Share; and (ii) the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Fixed Shares unless, simultaneously, the Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated utilizing the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

18

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

As long as any Floating Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Floating Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would be to prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Floating Shares or affect the rights of the holders of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Fixed Multiple Shares on a per share basis. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights in respect of any such approvals, each holder of Floating Shares has one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by the Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Floating Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) the Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Shares; and (ii) on the Fixed Multiple Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Floating Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with: (i) the holders of Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share; (ii) the holders of Fixed Multiple Share in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Floating Shares unless, simultaneously, the Fixed Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated using the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by the us with U.S. federal securities laws.

 

If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

19

 

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

‎‎Our transfer agent and registrar is Odyssey Trust Company located at 835 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1T2.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

‎‎Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement relating to any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares offered, certain Canadian legal matters in connection with the offering of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares will be passed upon on behalf of Acreage by DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

‎‎The following persons or companies are named as having prepared or certified a report, valuation, statement or opinion in this Prospectus, either directly or in a document incorporated herein by reference, and whose profession or business gives authority to the report, valuation, statement or opinion made by the expert.

 

‎‎‎‎ Marcum LLP is our independent registered public accounting firm, and audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A, incorporated by reference herein.

 

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of Canopy included in Canopy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and issued its report on the effectiveness of Canopy’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020.

 

Eight Capital is named as having prepared or certified a report, statement or opinion contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

‎‎ We incorporate by reference (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all filings made by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (iii) future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Item 7.01 and certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are deemed to be furnished and not filed and therefore not incorporated by reference herein, unless specifically stated otherwise in such filings, after the date of the initial filing of this registration statement on Form S-3 to which this Prospectus relates until the termination of the offering under this Prospectus). Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus, any related free writing prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.

‎‎ 

  (a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020, as amended on August 14, 2020;
     
(b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2020;

 

(c) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2020;

 

(d) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2020;

 

(e) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020;

 

(f) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2020, February 21, 2020, February 26, 2020, March 17, 2020, March 30, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 22, 2020, June 4, 2020, June 19, 2020, June 26, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 27, 2020, August 11, 2020, August 19, 2020, September 16, 2020, September 21, 2020, September 23, 2020, September 28, 2020 and September 30, 2020; and

 

(g) the description of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 23, 2020, including any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

 

‎Copies of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus may be obtained by submitting a written request to us at our principal offices at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

 

‎‎We also maintain a web-site at http://www.acreageholdings.com through which you can obtain copies of documents that we have filed with the SEC. The contents of that site are not incorporated by reference into or otherwise a part of this Prospectus.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

‎‎We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This Prospectus is part of a registration statement and, as permitted by SEC rules, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this Prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete and, for a copy of the contract or document, you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement. Our SEC filings and ‎‎information omitted from this Prospectus but contained in the Registration Statement is available on our profile at www.sec.gov.

 

20

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

156,799
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares
67,199
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares

 

, 2020

 

 

 

 

The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion October 21, 2020

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.‎‎

 

589,165
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares
252,499
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares
 

‎‎

 

This Prospectus relates to the sale by Acreage Holdings America, Inc. (the “Acreage Subsidiary”) of (i) 589,165 of our Class E subordinate voting shares, without par value (the “Fixed Shares”) and (ii) 252,499 of our Class D subordinate voting shares, without par value (the “Floating Shares”). The Acreage Subsidiary is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acreage Holdings, Inc. and may deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, as a result will be deemed to be offering the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares on our behalf as a primary offering.

 

The prices at which the Acreage Subsidiary may sell our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares pursuant to this Prospectus will be determined by the prevailing market price for the Fixed and Floating Shares or in negotiated transactions.

 

‎The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (“FRA”) under the trading symbol “0VZ1”.The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”. On October 20, 2020, the last reported sale price of the Fixed Shares on the OTCQX was $3.00 per Fixed Share and on the CSE was $2.87 per Fixed Share; the last reported sale price of the Floating Shares on the OTCQX was $2.90 per Floating Share and on the CSE was $2.75 per Floating Share.‎‎

 

Investing in the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 10.

 

‎‎The Fixed Shares and Floating Shares offered hereby have not been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS           , 2020.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
   
SUMMARY 2
   
THE OFFERING 7
   
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 8
   
RISK FACTORS 10
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 14
   
SELLING SECURITY HOLDER 14
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 15
   
DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES 16
   
DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES 17
   
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR 17
   
LEGAL MATTERS 17
   
EXPERTS 17
   
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 18
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 18

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This Prospectus relates to the sale by the Acreage Subsidiary from time to time, of (i) 589,165 of our Fixed Shares and (ii) 252,499 of our Floating Shares.

 

Under this Prospectus, the Acreage Subsidiary may sell from time to time in one or more offerings the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares described in this Prospectus. Any statement contained in the prospectus concerning the provisions of any document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC is not necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is made to the copy of the document filed. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

 

‎‎You should carefully read this Prospectus, any documents that we incorporate by reference in this Prospectus and the information below under the captions “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents By Reference” before making an investment decision. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

 

‎‎This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this Prospectus or any documents we incorporate by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

‎‎The information contained in this Prospectus, the documents and information incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering are accurate only as of their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares. In this Prospectus, unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “Acreage,” the “Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “our” and “us” or similar terms refer to Acreage Holdings, Inc., including our subsidiaries. Any references in this Prospectus to our financial statements include, unless the context indicates otherwise, the related notes.

 

‎‎References in this Prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “C$”.

 

‎‎You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Prospectus. The distribution or possession of this Prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these Fixed Shares or Floating Shares and is not soliciting an offer to buy these Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

  1  

 

 

SUMMARY

 

The Company

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated, multi-state operator in the U.S. cannabis industry. Our operations include (i) cultivating cannabis plants, (ii) manufacturing branded consumer products, (iii) distributing cannabis flower and manufactured products, and (iv) retailing high-quality, effective and dosable cannabis products to consumers. We appeal to medical and adult recreational use (“adult-use”) customers through brand strategies intended to build trust and loyalty.

 

We are a British Columbia company that began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on November 15, 2018 following the completion of the reverse takeover transaction (the “RTO”) between us and High Street Capital Partners, LLC (“High Street”), which is an indirect subsidiary of ours, on November 14, 2018. We were originally incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on July 12, 1989 as Applied Inventions Management Inc. On August 29, 2014, we changed our name to Applied Inventions Management Corp. We redomiciled from Ontario into British Columbia and changed our name to Acreage Holdings, Inc. on November 9, 2018.

 

Kevin Murphy, our Chair and former Chief Executive Officer, began investing in the cannabis space in 2011 with minority investments in dispensaries located in medical-use states on the east coast of the United States. High Street was founded by Mr. Murphy in April 2014 to invest in the burgeoning U.S. regulated cannabis market and, until April 2018, was an investment holding company and engaged in the business of investing in cannabis companies. As part of the formation of High Street in 2014, Mr. Murphy contributed his cannabis related investment portfolio valued at approximately $14,000,000 to High Street in exchange for 20,000,000 Class B membership units of High Street.

 

We and High Street have invested in geographically diverse licensed entities that operate in both the adult-use and medical-use authorized U.S. states. The companies and other entities in which we and High Street have a direct or indirect ownership interest (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) focus on all aspects of the state regulated cannabis industry. As a result of its experience investing in the industry, and, in many cases, active involvement with the Subsidiaries, High Street’s management gained significant experience in cultivation, processing and dispensing of cannabis and cannabis infused products.

 

From inception until April 2018, when High Street began the process of converting its minority investments in many of the Subsidiaries into controlling interests, the principal business activity of High Street was to provide debt and equity capital to existing cannabis license holders, cannabis license applicants and related management companies which are party to financing and consulting services agreements with High Street-owned entities in certain U.S. states where medical-use and/or adult-use of cannabis is legal. Such investments included straight debt securities (secured or unsecured), convertible debt instruments and/or common or preferred equity securities issued by the Subsidiaries. As an investor in these Subsidiaries, High Street was generally entitled to hold board seats and played an advisory role in the management and operations of such Subsidiaries, which afforded High Street the opportunity to build its institutional knowledge in the cannabis space. Additionally, being an investor in the Subsidiaries provided High Street with the ability to develop a vertically-integrated U.S. cannabis market participant with one of the largest footprints in the industry at the time.

 

High Street is a Delaware limited liability company, or LLC, rather than a corporation. Unlike a corporation, generally all profits and losses of the business carried on by an LLC “pass through” to each member of the LLC. LLC members report their respective shares of such profits and losses on their U.S. federal tax returns. Membership equity interests in High Street are represented by units.

 

Since 2018, we have worked toward becoming the best multi-state operator in the U.S. and we continue to be committed to providing access to cannabis’ beneficial properties by creating the best quality products and consumer experiences.

 

Recent Developments

 

Amended Arrangement with Canopy Growth Corporation

 

On June 24, 2020, we entered into a proposal agreement (the “Proposal Agreement”) with Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy”) which set out, among other things, the terms and conditions upon which us and Canopy were proposing to ‎enter into an amending agreement (the “Amending Agreement”, and together with the Original Arrangement Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the “Arrangement Agreement”) to further amend the arrangement agreement between us and Canopy, dated April 18, 2019, as amended by that certain amending agreement between us and Canopy, dated May 15, 2019 (together, the “Original Arrangement Agreement”), amend and restate the plan of ‎arrangement between us, our securityholders and Canopy completed on June 24, 2019 (the “Amended Plan of Arrangement”) and implement the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Amended Arrangement”) pursuant ‎to the Business Corporations Act ‎‎(British Columbia) (“BCBCA”). The effectiveness of the amendment to the Original Arrangement Agreement and the ‎implementation of the Amended Plan of Arrangement was subject to the conditions set out in ‎the Proposal Agreement, which included, among others, approval by: (i) the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the “Court”) at a hearing upon the procedural and substantive fairness of the terms ‎and conditions of the Amended Arrangement; and (ii) our shareholders, as ‎required by applicable corporate and securities laws.

 

The Amended Arrangement was approved by our shareholders at our ‎special meeting held on September 16, ‎‎2020 and a final order approving the Amended Arrangement was obtained from ‎the Court on September 18, 2020.

 

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Following the satisfaction of various conditions set forth in the Proposal Agreement, on ‎September 23, 2020, us and Canopy entered into the Arrangement Agreement ‎and implemented the Amended Arrangement effective at 12:01 a.m. (Vancouver time) (the “Amendment Time”) on September 23, 2020 ‎‎(the “Amendment Date”). ‎

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, Canopy made a cash payment of $37,500,024 (the “Aggregate Amendment Option Payment”), which was delivered to our shareholders and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares. Holders of Class A subordinate voting shares (the “SVS”), Class B proportionate voting shares (the “PVS”), Class C multiple voting shares (the “MVS”), and certain other parties, received approximately $0.30 per SVS, being their pro rata portion (on an as-converted to SVS basis) of the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment, based on the number of our outstanding securities and certain holders of securities convertible or exchangeable into our shares, as of the ‎close of business on September 22, 2020, the record date for payment of ‎the Aggregate Amendment Option Payment. ‎ The ‎ Aggregate Amendment Option Payment was distributed to such holders of record on or ‎about September 25, 2020.

 

Upon implementation of the ‎Amended Arrangement, our articles of incorporation were amended to, among other things, create three new classes of shares in our capital, being Fixed Shares, Floating Shares and Class F multiple voting shares (the “Fixed Multiple Shares”), and, in connection with such amendment, we completed a capital reorganization (the “Capital Reorganization”) effective as of the Amendment Time whereby: (i) ‎each SVS was exchanged for ‎‎0.7 of a Fixed Share and ‎‎0.3 of a Floating Share; ‎‎(ii) each PVS was exchanged for 28 ‎Fixed Shares and 12 Floating ‎Shares; and (iii) each ‎ MVS was exchanged for 0.7 ‎of a Fixed Multiple Share and 0.3 of a ‎Floating ‎Share‎.

 

At the Amendment Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of ‎Arrangement, each option, restricted share unit, compensation option and warrant to acquire SVS that was outstanding immediately prior to the Amendment Time were ‎exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as ‎applicable, to acquire Fixed Shares (a “Fixed Share Replacement Security”) and a ‎replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to ‎acquire Floating Shares (a “Floating Share Replacement Security”) in order to account for ‎the Capital Reorganization.

 

Pursuant to the Amended Plan of Arrangement, upon the occurrence, or waiver (at the discretion of Canopy), of a change in federal laws in ‎‎the United States to permit the general cultivation, distribution and possession of ‎marijuana (as defined ‎in the ‎relevant legislation) or to remove the regulation of such activities from the federal laws ‎of the ‎United States (the “Triggering Event” and the date on which the Triggering Event occurs, the “Triggering Event Date”), Canopy, will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement: (i) acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares (following the mandatory conversion of the Fixed Multiple Shares into Fixed Shares) on the basis of 0.3048 (the “Fixed Exchange Ratio”) of a common share of Canopy (each, a “Canopy Share”) for each Fixed Share held at the time of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition Time”), subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Amended Plan of Arrangement (the “Canopy Call Option”); and ‎(ii) have the right (but not the obligation) (the ‎‎“Floating Call Option”), ‎exercisable for a period of 30 days ‎following the Triggering Event Date to acquire all of the ‎issued and outstanding Floating Shares. Upon exercise of ‎the Floating Call Option, Canopy may acquire the Floating Shares for cash or for Canopy ‎Shares or a combination thereof, in Canopy’s sole discretion. If paid in cash, the price per Floating ‎Share shall be equal to the volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on which the Floating Shares are ‎primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to the exercise (or deemed ‎exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41. If paid in Canopy ‎Shares, each Floating Share will be exchanged for a number of Canopy Shares equal to (i) the volume-‎weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE (or other recognized stock exchange on ‎which the Floating Shares are primarily traded as determined by volume) for the 30 trading day period prior to ‎the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option, subject to a minimum amount of $6.41, ‎divided by (ii) the volume-weighted average trading price (expressed in US$) of the Canopy Shares on ‎the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (or such other recognized stock exchange on which the Canopy Shares are primarily traded if not then traded on the NYSE) for the 30 trading day period immediately ‎prior to the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Canopy Call Option (the “Floating Ratio”). The Floating ‎Ratio is subject to adjustment in accordance with the Amended Plan of Arrangement if Acreage issues greater ‎than the permitted number of Floating Shares prior to the Acquisition Date. No fractional Canopy ‎Shares will be issued pursuant to ‎the ‎Amended Plan of Arrangement. The Floating Call Option cannot be ‎exercised unless the Canopy Call Option is exercised (or deemed to be exercised). The closing of the acquisition of the Floating Shares pursuant to the Floating Call Option, if exercised, will take place concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the Fixed Shares (the “Acquisition”) pursuant to the Canopy Call Option, if exercised. The Canopy Call Option and the Floating Call Option will expire 10 years from the Amendment Time.

 

At the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Fixed Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Fixed Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Fixed Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Fixed Exchange Ratio in effect immediately prior to the Acquisition Time (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

‎In the event that the Floating Call Option is exercised and Canopy acquires the Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Amended Plan of Arrangement, each Floating Share Replacement Security will be exchanged for a replacement option, restricted stock unit, compensation option or warrant, as applicable, to acquire from Canopy such number of Canopy Shares as is equal to: (i) the number of Floating Shares that were issuable upon exercise of such Floating Share Replacement Security immediately prior to the Acquisition Time, multiplied by (ii) the Floating Ratio (provided that if the foregoing would result in the issuance of a fraction of a Canopy Share, then the number of Canopy Shares to be issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number).

 

In the event that Floating Call Option is ‎exercised and Canopy ‎acquires the ‎Floating Shares at the Acquisition Time, we will be a ‎wholly-‎owned subsidiary of ‎Canopy. If Canopy completes the Acquisition of the Fixed Shares but does not ‎acquire the Floating Shares, the Floating Call Option will terminate, and the Floating Shares ‎shall remain outstanding‎.

 

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‎See “Description of the Amended Arrangement” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.‎

 

Debenture

 

In connection with the implementation of the Amended Arrangement, 11065220 Canada Inc., an affiliate of Canopy (the “Hempco Lender”) agreed to provide a loan of up to $100,000,000 (the “Hempco Loan”) to Universal Hemp, LLC, an affiliate of ours that operates solely in the hemp industry in full compliance with all applicable laws (“Hempco”) pursuant to a secured debenture dated September 23, 2020 (the “Debenture”) issued by Hempco to the Hempco Lender.

 

$50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan was advanced on the Amendment Date (the “Initial Advance”) and $50,000,000 of the Hempco Loan (the “Hempco Second Advance”) will be advanced in the event that the following conditions, among others, are satisfied: (a) Hempco’s EBITDA (as defined in the Debenture) for any 90 day period is greater than or equal to 2.0 times the interest costs associated with the Initial Advance; and (b) Hempco’s business plan for the 12 months following the applicable 90 day period supports an Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Debenture) of at least 2.00:1.

 

The principal amount of the Hempco Loan will bear interest from the date of advance, ‎compounded ‎annually, and will be ‎payable on each anniversary of the date of the ‎Debenture in cash in U.S. dollars at ‎a rate of 6.1% per annum. The ‎Hempco Loan will ‎mature 10 years from the date of the Initial Advance.‎

 

The Hempco Loan must be used exclusively for U.S. hemp-related operations and on the express condition that such amount will not be used, directly or indirectly, in connection with or for the operation or benefit of any of Hempco’s affiliates other than subsidiaries of Hempco exclusively engaged in U.S. hemp-related operations and not directly or indirectly, towards the operation or funding of any activities that are not permissible under applicable law. The Hempco Loan proceeds must be segregated in a distinct bank account and detailed records of debits to such distinct bank account will be maintained by Hempco.

 

No payment due and payable to the Hempco Lender by Hempco pursuant to the Debenture may be made using funds directly or indirectly derived from any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until the Triggering Event Date.

 

The Debenture includes usual and typical events of default for a financing of its nature, including, without limitation, if: (i) we are in breach or default of any representation or warranty in any material respect pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement; (ii) the Non-Core Divestitures (as defined in the Debenture) are not completed within 18 months from the Amendment Date; and (iii) we fail to perform or comply with any covenant or obligation in the Arrangement Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after written notice is given to Hempco by the Hempco Lender. The Debenture also includes customary representations and warranties, positive covenants and negative covenants of Hempco. ‎See “Transaction Agreements – Debenture” in our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020.

 

Credit Agreement Amendment

 

In connection with, and as a condition to the implementation of, the Amended Arrangement, the credit agreement dated March 6, 2020 among Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, as borrower, and Acreage IP Holdings, LLC, Prime Wellness of Connecticut, LLC, D&B Wellness, LLC and Thames Valley Apothecary, LLC, as guarantors, and IP Investment Company, LLC, as lender, administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Original Credit Agreement”) was amended in accordance with an amendment to the Original Credit Agreement among the parties thereto dated the Amendment Date (the “Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement, the “First Amended Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement Amendment provides that: (i) with respect to $21,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement (the “Mr. Murphy Amount”), effective as of the Amendment Time, the Original Credit Agreement was amended to (a) remove any entitlement to “Interest Shares” (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement) in respect of such amount, (b) provide for an interest rate of 12% per annum payable in cash and (c) amend Section 9.3 of the Original Credit Agreement to amend the obligation of Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC to cause us to sell up to 8,800,000 SVS to repay the amount outstanding such that the obligation was reduced to cause the issuance of up to 2,000,000 Fixed Shares, and (ii) with respect to $1,000,000 of the principal amount advanced pursuant to the Original Credit Agreement, the lender is entitled to (a) 16,799 Fixed Shares and 7,199 Floating Shares, (b) upon maturity of the Original Credit Agreement, a return of $1,100,000 and (c) otherwise be treated in accordance with the current terms of the Original Credit Agreement.

 

On October 20, 2020, the First Amended Credit Agreement was amended to provide for certain housekeeping changes in accordance with an amendment to the First Amended Credit Agreement among the parties thereto (the “Second Credit Agreement Amendment”, and together with the Original Credit Agreement and the First Amended Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”).

  

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Special Warrant Indenture

 

In connection with the Amended Arrangement, we and Odyssey Trust Company (the “Warrant Agent”) entered into a supplemental indenture, dated as of the Amendment Date (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to amend the warrant indenture dated February 10, 2020 (the “Warrant Indenture”) between us and the Warrant Agent to, among other things, reflect the Capital Reorganization and certain amendments to the warrants issued pursuant to the Warrant Indenture. The Warrant Indenture provided for the issuance of up to 10,141,987 SVS purchase warrants (each, a “Warrant”), each of which when originally issued was exercisable to acquire one SVS at an exercise price of $5.80 per SVS at any time prior to 4:00 p.m. on February 10, 2025. As previously disclosed, we modified the exercise price of the Warrants to $4.00 per SVS immediately prior to the Amended Arrangement becoming effective. In accordance with the Supplemental Indenture, each outstanding Warrant at the Amendment Time, of which there were 6,085,192, was exchanged for: (i) 0.7 of a Fixed Share purchase warrant, with each whole Fixed Share purchase warrant (each, a “Fixed Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Fixed Share; and (ii) 0.3 of a Floating Share purchase warrant, with each whole Floating Share purchase warrant (each, a “Floating Warrant”) exercisable to purchase one Floating Share. Upon completion of the Amended Arrangement, there were 4,259,633 Fixed Warrants and 1,825,556 Floating Warrants outstanding, each having an exercise price of $4.00.

  

Standby Equity Distribution

 

On May 29, 2020, we entered into a standby equity distribution agreement (the “SEDA”) with an institutional investor (the “SEDA Investor”), under which we may, at our ‎discretion, periodically sell to the SEDA Investor, and pursuant to which the SEDA Investor may, at its discretion, require us to sell to it, up to $35,000,000 of Fixed Shares and up to $15,000,000 of Floating Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, we have not drawn down against the SEDA. It is our intention to terminate the SEDA once the registration statement, of which this Prospectus is a part, is declared effective.

 

Institutional Loan Agreement

 

On September 28, 2020, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, HSCP CN Holdings II ULC (the “Institutional Investor Borrower”), entered into a loan agreement (the “Institutional Loan Agreement”) with an institutional investor (the “Institutional Investor”) for gross proceeds of $33,000,000. The loan from the Institutional Investor is unsecured, matures in three years, and bears interest at a 7.5% annual interest rate. At any time after September 28, 2022, upon 5 business days’ notice to the Institutional Investor, the Institutional Investor Borrower may prepay all or any portion of the loan together with all interest accrued thereon, without any premium, bonus, penalty or other charge. The loan is guaranteed by High Street.

 

Convertible Debenture

 

Effective May 29, 2020, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with YA, II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”) and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto. The Securities Purchase Agreement provided for the offer and sale of a $11,000,000 principal amount convertible debenture (the “Convertible Debenture”). The Convertible Debenture bore interest at 15% per annum and was secured by our medical cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut. The Convertible Debenture was convertible by Yorkville in whole or in part after September 30, 2020. Prior to September 30, 2020, Yorkville could convert only $550,000 of principal amount. The Convertible Debenture was convertible into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share, subject to the conversion limitations described above. We had the right to redeem up to 95% of the principal amount on or prior to September 29, 2020 without penalty.

 

On September 4, 2020, Yorkville exercised its right to convert $550,000 of the principal amount into SVS at a conversion price of $1.68 per share and received 327,380 SVS. Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the SVS issued to Yorkville were exchanged for 229,166 Fixed Shares and 98,214 Floating Shares.

 

On September 29, 2020, we redeemed 95% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debenture.

 

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Short-Term Bridge Loan

 

On June 16, 2020, we entered into a short-term definitive funding agreement with an institutional investor for a total of $15,000,000 in gross proceeds (the “Bridge Loan”). The short-term definitive funding agreement had a maturity ‎date of four months and bore interest at a per annum rate of 60%. It was secured by, among other items, our cannabis operations in Illinois, New Jersey and Florida, as well as our U.S. intellectual ‎property.

 

On October 16, 2020, we repaid the principal amount and all accrued interest owing on the Bridge Loan.

  

Lease Dispute

 

On or around December 2019, we entered into three five-year leases to occupy approximately 70,000 square feet of commercial space on a cannabis cultivation campus in California. We are in an arbitration proceeding related to this commercial space and the commercial landlord is seeking to recover $12,100,000 from us. We intend to defend vigorously against all claims related to this matter.

 

The Securities Offered under this Prospectus

 

‎‎Acreage Subsidiary is one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. In connection with the RTO, Acreage Subsidiary obtained 841,665 SVS under the withholding tax provisions of the business combination agreement between us and High Street, pursuant to which Acreage Subsidiary withheld 841,665 SVS from Canadian High Street investors and made withholding tax payments to the United States Internal Revenue Service in cash.

  

Subsequent to the Capital Reorganization, the 841,665 SVS held by Acreage Subsidiary were exchanged for 589,165 Fixed Shares and 252,499 Floating Shares (together, the “Subsidiary Shares”). This Prospectus registers the Subsidiary Shares.

   

Fixed Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Fixed Shares. Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Fixed Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Fixed Shares.”

 

Floating Shares

 

‎‎We may offer Floating Shares. Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting at which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

‎‎‎‎Our Floating Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Floating Shares.”

 

Risk Factors

 

‎‎See “Risk Factors” as well as other information included in this Prospectus, for a discussion of factors you should read and consider carefully before investing in our securities.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

‎‎Fixed Shares We Are Offering 589,165  Fixed Shares
‎‎Floating Shares We Are Offering 252,499  Floating Shares
‎‎Fixed Shares To Be Outstanding After This Offering

70,994,208 Fixed Shares

 

‎‎Floating Shares To Be Outstanding After This Offering

30,476,355 Floating Shares

 

‎‎Use Of Proceeds We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 14.
‎‎Risk Factors This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this Prospectus, of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and of any free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with this offering for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.
‎‎Trading Symbol The Fixed Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.A.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRHF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ1”. The Floating Shares are currently listed on the CSE under the trading symbol “ACRG.B.U”, quoted on the OTCQX under the trading symbol “ACRDF”, and traded on the FRA under the trading symbol “0VZ2”.
 

‎‎The number of Fixed Shares shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 70,994,208 Fixed Shares outstanding (including 589,165 Fixed Shares held by the Acreage Subsidiary) as of September 30, 2020, and excludes:

 

· 3,147,629 Fixed Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; and
· 4,928,863 Fixed Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

The number of Floating Shares shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 30,476,355 Floating Shares outstanding (including 252,499 Floating Shares held by the Acreage Subsidiary) as of September 30, 2020, and excludes:

 

· 1,348,961 Floating Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; and
· 2,119,975 Floating Shares authorized and available for issuance under our equity compensation plan.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

‎‎This Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”), including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based upon our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future of the business, future plans and strategies, and other future conditions. Forward-looking ‎statements can be identified by the words such as “expect”, “likely”, “may”, “will”,, “would”, “could”, “should”, “continue”, “contemplate”, “intend”, or “anticipate”, “believe”, “envision”, “estimate”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “project”, “target”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate” and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Prospectus, or in the case of documents incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of each such document. Forward-looking statements in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

 

· the performance of our business and operations;
· our product offerings;
· the competitive conditions of the industry;
· our competitive and business strategies;
· the sufficiency of capital including our ability to obtain capital to develop our business;‎
· our operations in the United States, the characterization and consequences of those ‎operations under United States federal law and applicable State law, and the framework for the ‎enforcement of applicable laws in the United States;
· on-going implications of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”);
· statements relating to the business and future activities of, and developments related to, us, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of our business, operations and plans;
· expectations that planned acquisitions will be completed, and the expected financial results of such acquisitions;
· expectations that licenses applied for will be obtained;
· expectations regarding future cash flows from operations;
· statements regarding the proposed transaction with Canopy, including the anticipated benefits and likelihood of completion thereof;
· the likelihood that the Canopy Call Option will be exercised;
· the likelihood that the Floating Call Option will be exercised;
· the timing and outcome of the Acquisition;
· the likelihood of the Acquisition being completed and any benefits to be derived therefrom;
· potential future legalization of adult-use and/or medical cannabis under U.S. federal law;
· expectations of market size and growth in the U.S. and the states in which we operate;
· expectations for other economic, business, financial market, political, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to us or the cannabis industry generally; and
· other events or conditions that may occur in the future.

 

Forward-looking statements contained herein and in certain documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus concerning the cannabis industry and its medical and adult-use markets and the general expectations of ‎us concerning the industry and our business and operations are based on ‎estimates prepared by us using data from publicly available governmental sources as well as ‎from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of this ‎industry which we believe to be reasonable. However, although generally indicative of relative ‎market positions, market shares and performance characteristics, such data is inherently imprecise. ‎While we are not aware of any misstatement regarding any industry or government data ‎presented herein, the cannabis industry involves risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based ‎on various factors.

 

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Forward-looking statements speak only as at the date they are made and are based on information currently available and on the then current expectations. Potential purchasers of our securities are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead are based on ‎reasonable assumptions and estimates of our management at the time they were provided ‎or made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the ‎actual results, performance or achievements of us, as applicable, to be materially different ‎from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking ‎statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to:

 

· risks related to the occurrence of changes in U.S. ‎federal laws regarding the cultivation, distribution or possession of ‎marijuana;
· the likelihood of the Triggering Event occurring or being waived by the expiry of the Canopy Call Option;
· the ability of us and Canopy to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory approvals;
· the ability of Canopy and us to satisfy, in a timely manner, the closing conditions to the Acquisition;
· the likelihood ‎of Canopy ‎completing the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and/or Floating Shares;
· the ability of us and Canopy to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to closing following the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event;
· other expectations and assumptions concerning the Acquisition;
· our available funds and the anticipated use of such funds;
· the availability of financing opportunities for us and the risks associated with the ‎completion thereof;
· regulatory and licensing risks;
· changes in general ‎economic, business and ‎political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets;
· risks related to ‎infectious ‎diseases, including the impacts of the COVID-19;
· risks associated with dependence on management and currency risk;
· legal and regulatory risks inherent in the ‎cannabis ‎industry, including the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, ‎political risks and risks ‎relating to regulatory change;
· risks relating to U.S. regulatory landscape and ‎enforcement related to cannabis, including political risks;
· risks relating to anti-money laundering laws and ‎regulations;
· other governmental and environmental regulations;
· compliance with extensive government ‎regulations and the interpretation of various laws regulations ‎and policies;
· risk associated with divesting certain ‎assets;
· public opinion and perception of the ‎cannabis industry;
· risks related to contracts with third-party service providers;
· risks related to the ‎enforceability of contracts;
· reliance on the expertise and judgment of our senior management;
· risks related to proprietary intellectual property and potential infringement by third parties;
· the ‎concentrated voting control of our founder and the unpredictability caused by our ‎capital structure;
· risks relating to the management of growth;
· risks related to cash flow from operations;
· increasing competition in the industry;
· risks ‎inherent in an agricultural business;
· risks relating to energy costs;
· risks associated to cannabis products ‎manufactured for human consumption including potential product recalls;
· reliance on key inputs, ‎suppliers and skilled labor;
· cybersecurity risks;
· ability and constraints on marketing products;
· fraudulent ‎activity by employees, contractors and consultants;
· tax and insurance related risks;
· risks related to the ‎economy generally;
· risk of litigation;
· conflicts of interest;
· risks relating to certain remedies being limited ‎and the difficulty of enforcement of judgments and effecting service outside of Canada;
· risks related to ‎future acquisitions or dispositions;
· sales by existing shareholders; and
· limited research and data relating to ‎cannabis,

 

‎as well as those risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and as described from time to time in documents filed by us with securities regulatory authorities. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements can be found in Part I, Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 dated May 29, 2020 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A ‎dated August 14, 2020‎, and under the heading “Risk Factors” of our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein (see “Documents Incorporated by Reference”).

 

Readers are cautioned that the above list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in forward-looking statements. The purpose of forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management’s expectations, and such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference herein or therein. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Potential purchasers of our securities should read this entire Prospectus, and each applicable prospectus supplement, and consult their own professional advisors to ascertain and assess the income tax and legal risks and other aspects associated with holding our securities.

 

  9  

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Before deciding to invest in our securities, prospective investors in our securities should consider carefully the risk factors and the other information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering of our securities, including those risks identified and discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and our Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020, each of which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

 

Before making an investment decision, prospective purchasers of our securities should carefully consider the information described in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including any applicable prospectus supplement. Additional risk factors relating to a specific offering of our securities may be described in any applicable prospectus supplement. Some of the risk factors described herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including any applicable prospectus supplement, are interrelated and, consequently, investors should treat such risk factors as a whole. If any event arising from these risks occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, and the investor’s investment in our securities could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are currently unaware or that are unknown or that we currently consider to be immaterial could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation. We cannot assure an investor that we will successfully address any or all of these risks.

 

Prospective investors should carefully consider the risks below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A and Definitive Proxy Statement and Management Information Circular dated August 17, 2020 and the other information elsewhere in this Prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and consult with their professional advisors to assess any investment in our securities.

 

Risks Related to the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares

 

We cannot guarantee returns on our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎There is no guarantee that either the Fixed Shares or the Floating Shares will earn any positive return in the short term or long term. A holding of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares is speculative and involves a high degree of risk and should be undertaken only by holders whose financial resources are sufficient to enable them to assume such risks and who have no need for immediate liquidity in their investment. A holding of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares is appropriate only for holders who have the capacity to absorb a loss of some or all of their investment.

 

We will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds from the sale of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares.

 

‎‎We will have broad discretion with respect to the application of net proceeds received by us from the sale of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares under this Prospectus or a future prospectus supplement and may spend such proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares or our other securities issued and outstanding from time to time. Any failure by us to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business or cause the price of our issued and outstanding securities from time to time to decline.

 

Our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may have a volatile market price.

 

‎‎The market price of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. This volatility may affect the ability of holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares to sell their securities at an advantageous price. Market price fluctuations in the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be due to our operating results failing to meet expectations of securities analysts or investors in any period, downward revision in securities analysts’ estimates, adverse changes in general market conditions or economic trends, acquisitions, dispositions or other material public announcements by us or our competitors, along with a variety of additional factors. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎Financial markets historically at times have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of companies and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. Accordingly, the market price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may decline even if our operating results, underlying asset values or prospects have not changed. Additionally, these factors, as well as other related factors, may cause decreases in asset values that are deemed to be other than temporary, which may result in impairment losses. There can be no assurance that continuing fluctuations in price and volume will not occur. If such increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, our operations could be adversely impacted, and the trading price of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be materially adversely affected.

 

  10  

 

 

Our securityholders resident in the United States may have difficulty settling trades because we operate in the cannabis sector.

 

‎‎Given the heightened risk profile associated with cannabis in the United States, capital markets participants may be unwilling to assist with the settlement of trades for U.S. resident securityholders of companies with operations in the United States cannabis industry which may prohibit or significantly impair the ability of securityholders in the United States to trade the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. In the event residents of the United States are unable to settle trades of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, this may affect the pricing of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices and the liquidity of these securities.

 

There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares.

 

‎‎Our shareholders may be unable to sell significant quantities of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares into the public trading markets without a significant reduction in the price of their Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, or at all. There can be no assurance that there will be sufficient liquidity of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares on the trading market, or that we will continue to meet the listing requirements of one or more of the CSE, OTCQX or FRA or achieve listing on any other public listing exchange.

 

Our Fixed Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or at a discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio‎.

 

There is no guarantee that the Fixed Shares will trade at a price that reflects our performance or at ‎a price relative to the trading price of the Canopy Shares based upon the Fixed Exchange Ratio. Given the ‎uncertainties regarding the completion of the Acquisition, it is possible the Fixed Shares will trade at a significant ‎discount to the Fixed Exchange Ratio.‎

 

Our Floating Shares may trade at a price that is not indicative of our performance or the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option.

 

The intrinsic value of the Floating Shares is indeterminate. There is no guarantee that the Floating Shares will trade ‎at a price that reflects our performance nor at the minimum price required to be paid by Canopy pursuant to the Floating Call Option. Moreover, the Floating Shares will not trade at a price that ‎is necessarily proportionate to the trading price of the Fixed Shares. ‎

 

Our credit agreements contain restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

Our credit agreements and the Debenture contain restrictive ‎covenants that limit the discretion of management with respect to certain limited matters. A failure to comply with ‎these terms could result in an event of default which, if not cured or ‎waived, could result in accelerated repayment ‎and may have a material and adverse consequence on our business, operations or financial condition, ‎on a consolidated basis.‎

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants which may adversely limit management’s discretion in operating our business.

 

The Arrangement Agreement contains restrictive covenants that may potentially impair the discretion of our ‎management with respect to certain business matters. These covenants place restrictions on, among other things, ‎the ability of us to make any material change to the nature of its business, to pay distributions or make ‎certain other payments, to create liens or encumbrances not permitted by the Arrangement Agreement and to sell ‎or otherwise dispose of certain assets. A failure to comply with these terms, if not cured or waived, could result in a ‎breach of the Arrangement Agreement. ‎

 

If we do not comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement, there may be significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to complete the Acquisition.

 

Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, we are required to comply with the initial business plan set forth in the Proposal Agreement (the “Initial Business Plan”). The Initial Business Plan sets forth certain Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) for each applicable fiscal year of the Initial Business Plan.

 

If, at the end of a fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter dated December 31, 2020), our Pro-Forma Revenue (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than‎ 90% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan or if the Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) is less than 90% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target set forth in the Initial Business Plan, an Interim Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will be deemed to have occurred and the Austerity Measures (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will become applicable. The Austerity Measures place significant restrictions on our ability to take certain actions in the operation of our business. Among other things, the Austerity Measures prevent us from issuing any Fixed Shares, Fixed Multiple Shares or Floating Shares, granting any New Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) or Floating Options (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), entering into any contract in respect of Company Debt (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) (other than in the ordinary course of business), or paying any fees owing to members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Austerity Measures also prevent us and our subsidiaries from entering into any business combination, merger or acquisition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), from making any new capital investments or incurring any new capital expenditures, and from entering into any contract to dispose of any assets (other than in the ordinary course of business). The Austerity Measures will apply until the non-compliance causing the Interim Failure to Perform is cured by us and our subsidiaries, as applicable. However, if an Interim Failure to Perform occurs and the Austerity Measures are implemented, the ability of us to conduct our business in the ordinary course will be significantly restricted. Accordingly, the occurrence of an Interim Failure to Perform will increase the possibility that a Material Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and/or a Failure to Perform (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) will occur.

 

  11  

 

 

A Material Failure to Perform will be deemed to occur if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 80% ‎of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 80% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target, ‎as determined on an annual basis (commencing in respect of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021). The occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is considered a breach of a material term of the Arrangement Agreement incapable of being cured. Consequently, certain restrictive covenants under the Arrangement Agreement which relate to exclusivity and non-competition of Canopy in favor of us, including the restriction preventing Canopy from acquiring a competitor of ours ‎in the ‎United States, will terminate. In addition, the occurrence of a Material Failure to Perform is likely to constitute an event of default under the Debenture, causing the Hempco Loan to become immediately due and payable. If the Hempco Loan is required to be repaid prior to the maturity date, it would have an immediate and lasting material adverse effect on us and our ability to complete the Acquisition.

 

In addition, if our Pro-Forma Revenue is less than 60% of the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Target or the Consolidated EBITDA is less than 60% of the Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Target for the trailing 12 month ‎period ending on the date that is 30 days prior ‎to the proposed Acquisition Time, a Failure to Perform shall occur and a ‎material adverse impact will be deemed to have occurred ‎for purposes of Section ‎‎6.2(2)(h) of the Arrangement Agreement. In the event of a Failure to Perform, Canopy will ‎not be required ‎to complete the Acquisition.

 

If certain U.S. states do not legalize recreational cannabis use within a proximate timeframe, we may not be able to comply with the Initial Business Plan which may result in significant restrictions on the operation of our business and Canopy may not be required to Complete the Acquisition.

 

The Initial Business Plan has been prepared based on the assumption that certain regulatory initiatives legalizing recreational cannabis will be approved in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine and Ohio within a proximate timeframe. If some or all of the anticipated regulatory initiatives do not occur in the foregoing states within the contemplated timeline, or at all, it will have a significant adverse impact on our ability to meet the Pro-Forma Net Revenue Targets and Consolidated Adj. EBITDA Targets prescribed in the Initial Business Plan, which will likely result in an Interim Failure to Perform that could lead to a Material Failure to Perform and ultimately, a Failure to Perform.

 

If Canopy fails to complete the Acquisition or the Acquisition is completed on different ‎terms, there could be a material adverse effect ‎on our business.

 

There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed, or if completed, that it will be ‎completed on the same or similar terms to those set out in the Arrangement Agreement. The completion ‎of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions which include, among others, ‎‎(i) obtaining necessary approvals, including the Acquisition Regulatory Approvals (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), (ii) performance by us, and Canopy, of our, and their, respective ‎obligations and covenants in the Arrangement Agreement, and (iii) cannabis production, distribution and sale becoming legal under United States federal law, or being removed from regulation under such law. If these conditions are not fulfilled or waived or the ‎Acquisition is not completed for any other reason, our shareholders will not receive the Consideration Shares (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) and, if applicable, the Floating Cash Consideration (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). Certain of these conditions, including the occurrence of the Triggering Event Date, are outside of our control. ‎There can be no certainty, nor can we provide any assurance, that all conditions precedent will be satisfied or waived, ‎or, if satisfied or waived, when they will be satisfied or waived and, accordingly, the Acquisition may not be completed.‎

 

In addition, if the Acquisition is not completed, our ongoing business may be adversely ‎affected as a result of the costs (including opportunity costs) incurred in respect of pursuing the ‎Acquisition, and we could experience negative reactions from the financial markets, which ‎could cause a decrease in the market price of the Fixed Shares, particularly if the market price ‎reflects market assumptions that the Acquisition will be completed or completed on certain terms. We may also experience negative reactions from our customers and employees and there could be ‎negative impact on our ability to attract future acquisition opportunities. Failure to complete ‎the Acquisition or a change in the terms of the Acquisition could each have a material adverse effect ‎on Acreage’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

  12  

 

 

If we issue more Fixed Shares than permitted under the Arrangement Agreement or if we, or one of our subsidiaries, make a $20,000,000 payout in certain situations, the holders of our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may receive fewer Canopy Shares upon completion of the Acquisition.

 

There is a fixed maximum number of Canopy Shares that may be issued in connection with the ‎Acquisition. In the event that we issue more Fixed Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement or if we or any of our subsidiaries ‎are required to make a payout over $20,000,000 in order to either (i) settle, (ii) satisfy a ‎judgment, or (iii) acquire the disputed minority non-controlling interest, in connection with the claim filed by EPMMNY ‎LLC against certain of our subsidiaries‎, the Fixed Exchange Ratio will be automatically reduced‎. In addition, in the event ‎that we issue more Floating Shares than the permitted threshold under ‎the Arrangement Agreement, the Floating Ratio will be ‎automatically reduced. Any such reduction of the Fixed Exchange Ratio or Floating Ratio will result in the holders of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, receiving fewer Canopy Shares upon ‎completion of the Acquisition.

 

Risks Related to our Articles of Incorporation

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation‎. Given that, under United States law, investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws, it is uncertain whether the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision. It is also uncertain whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia, although indirect causes of action may arise thereunder as a result of, without limitation, breach, misrepresentation or the like. In the event it was determined that the forum selection provision applies to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws or, if it did, a British Columbia court refused to enforce such provision or a breach of U.S. securities law did not give rise to a cause of action in British Columbia, there is a risk that we would be required to litigate any such breach in a jurisdiction which is less favorable to us, which could result in additional costs and financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to the United States Regulatory System

 

Our employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and/or investors could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with us.

 

Because cannabis remains illegal under United States federal law, those investing in Canadian companies with ‎‎operations in the United States cannabis industry could face detention, denial of entry or lifetime bans from the ‎‎United States for their business associations with United States cannabis businesses. Entry happens at the sole ‎‎discretion of U.S. Customers and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers on duty, and these officers have wide latitude ‎to ask questions to determine the ‎admissibility of a non-United States citizen or foreign national. The government of Canada ‎has started warning travelers on its ‎website that previous use of cannabis, or any substance prohibited by United ‎States federal laws, could mean denial ‎of entry to the United States. Business or financial involvement in the ‎cannabis industry in the United States could ‎also be reason enough for United States border guards to deny entry. ‎On September 21, 2018, CBP released a ‎statement outlining its current position with respect to enforcement of the ‎laws of the United States. It stated that ‎Canada’s legalization of cannabis will not change CBP enforcement of ‎United States laws regarding controlled ‎substances and because cannabis continues to be a controlled substance ‎under United States law, working in or ‎facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in U.S. states ‎where it is deemed legal may affect ‎admissibility to the United States. On October 9, 2018, CBP released an ‎additional statement regarding the ‎admissibility of Canadian citizens working in the legal cannabis industry. CBP ‎stated that a Canadian citizen ‎working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal cannabis industry in Canada ‎coming into the United States for ‎reasons unrelated to the cannabis industry will generally be admissible to the ‎United States; however, if such person ‎is found to be coming into the United States for reasons related to the ‎cannabis industry, such person may be ‎deemed inadmissible. As a result, CBP has affirmed that, employees, ‎directors, officers, managers and investors of ‎companies involved in business activities related to cannabis in the ‎United States who are not ‎United States citizens face the risk of being barred from entry into the United States for ‎life.‎

 

Uncertainty regarding the regulations under the U.S. 2018 Farm Bill, and undeveloped shared state-federal regulations over hemp cultivation and production, may impact our hemp business.

 

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. Under Section 10113 of the Farm Bill, state departments of agriculture must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture the “USDA”). A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of USDA approves that state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will need to construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally-run program. Even if a state creates a plan in conjunction with its governor and chief law enforcement officer, the Secretary of the USDA must approve such plan. There can be no guarantee that any state plan will be approved. Review times may be extensive. Although interim rules for hemp production under the Farm Bill are now in place federally, the timing of finalized federal rules and regulations, in addition to state specific rules and regulations, cannot be assured. There may be amendments and the ultimate plans, if approved by the states and the USDA, may materially limit our hemp business depending upon the scope of the regulations.

   

Laws and regulations affecting our industry governing operations under the Farm Bill are in development.

 

As a result of the Farm Bill’s recent passage, there will be a constant evolution of laws and regulations affecting the hemp industry that could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state and federal hemp laws and regulations may be broad in scope and subject to changing interpretations. These changes may require us to incur substantial costs associated with legal and compliance fees and ultimately require us to alter our business plan. Furthermore, violations of these laws, or alleged violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business.

 

The possible FDA Regulation of hemp and industrial hemp-derived CBD, and the possible registration of facilities where hemp is grown and hemp-derived products are produced, if implemented, could negatively affect our hemp business.

 

As a result of the passage of the Farm Bill, at some indeterminate future time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)  may choose to change its position concerning products containing hemp, or cannabidiol (“CBD”)  derived from hemp, and may choose to enact regulations that are applicable to such products, including, but not limited to: the processing of hemp into hemp products; regulations covering the physical facilities where hemp is grown and/or processed; and possible testing to determine efficacy and safety of products containing hemp-derived CBD. In this hypothetical event, the proposed products, which we plan to introduce will likely contain CBD and may be subject to regulation. In the hypothetical event that some or all of these regulations are imposed, we do not know what the impact would be on the hemp industry in general, and what costs, requirements and possible prohibitions may be enforced. If we are unable to comply with the conditions and possible costs of possible regulations and/or registration, as may be prescribed by the FDA, we may be unable to continue to operate segments of our hemp business.

 

  13  

 

 

Our current officers and directors do not have experience in the hemp business.

 

Although management has business experience in cannabis, they have limited experience in the hemp-based product business or retail business. Therefore, without industry-specific experience, their business experience may not be enough to effectively start-up and maintain a hemp-based product company. As a result, the implementation of our hemp business plan may be delayed, or eventually, unsuccessful.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds from the sales of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares will be used to fund our working capital and for general corporate purposes.

 

‎‎We cannot estimate precisely the allocation of the net proceeds from the sale of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares. Accordingly, our management team will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds of this offering.

 

SELLING SECURITY HOLDER

 

‎With respect to the resale of 589,165 Fixed Shares and up to an aggregate of 252,499 Floating Shares, the following tables set forth certain information with respect to the Acreage Subsidiary including (i) the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares beneficially owned the Acreage Subsidiary prior to this offering, (ii) the number of Fixed Shares and Floating being offered by the Acreage Subsidiary pursuant to this Prospectus and (iii) the Acreage Subsidiary’s beneficial ownership after completion of this offering, assuming that all of the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares covered hereby (but no other securities, if any, held by the Acreage Subsidiary) are sold to third parties.

 

‎‎The tables are based on information supplied to us by the Acreage Subsidiary, with beneficial ownership and percentage ownership determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to our shares. This information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. In computing the number of Fixed Shares and Floating Shares beneficially owned by the Acreage Subsidiary and the percentage ownership of the Acreage Subsidiary, Fixed Shares and Floating Shares subject to stock options or other rights to acquire our Fixed Shares or Floating Shares held by that Selling Security Holder that are exercisable as of or will be exercisable within 60 days after September 30, 2020, are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering is based on 70,994,208 Fixed Shares and 30,476,355 Floating Shares outstanding (including 589,165 Fixed Shares and 252,499 Floating Shares held by the Acreage Subsidiary) on September 30, 2020.

 

‎‎The registration of these Fixed Shares and Floating does not mean that the Acreage Subsidiary will sell or otherwise dispose of all or any of those securities. The Acreage Subsidiary may sell or otherwise dispose of all, a portion or none of such shares from time to time. We do not know the number of shares, if any, that will be offered for sale or other disposition by the Acreage Subsidiary under this Prospectus. Furthermore, the Acreage Subsidiary may have sold, transferred or disposed of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares covered hereby in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, since the date on which we filed this Prospectus.

 

    Beneficial Ownership Before this Offering          

Beneficial Ownership After this Offering(3)

 
Selling Security Holder(1)   Number of
Fixed Shares
Owned
   

Percentage of
Outstanding
Fixed Shares(2)

    Maximum
Number of
Fixed Shares to
be Sold
Pursuant to this
Prospectus
    Number of
Fixed Shares
Owned
    Percentage of
Outstanding Fixed
Shares
 
Acreage Holdings America, Inc.     589,165       *       589,165       0       0 %

 

* Less than one percent.

 

‎‎(1) This table and the information in the notes below are based upon information supplied by the Acreage Subsidiary.
   
‎(2) The actual number of Fixed Shares offered hereby and included in the registration statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, includes, in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, such indeterminate number of additional Fixed Shares as may become issuable in connection with any proportionate adjustment for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events with respect to our Fixed Shares.

 
(3) The “Beneficial Ownership After this Offering” assumes the sale of all shares offered by the Selling Security Holders pursuant to this Prospectus.

 

  14  

 

 

    Beneficial Ownership Before this
Offering
         

Beneficial Ownership After this
Offering(3)

 
Selling Security Holder(1)   Number of
Floating Shares
Owned
   

Percentage of
Outstanding
Floating
Shares(2)

    Maximum
Number of
Floating Shares
to be Sold
Pursuant to this
Prospectus
    Number of
Floating Shares
Owned
   

Percentage of
Outstanding
Floating
Shares(3)

 
Acreage Holdings America, Inc.     252,499       *       252,499       0       0 %

 

* Less than one percent.

 

‎‎(1) This table and the information in the notes below are based upon information supplied by the Acreage Subsidiary.
 
‎‎(2) The actual number of Floating Shares offered hereby and included in the registration statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, includes, in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, such indeterminate number of additional Floating Shares as may become issuable in connection with any proportionate adjustment for any stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar events with respect to our Floating Shares.
 
(3) The “Beneficial Ownership After this Offering” assumes the sale of all shares offered by the Selling Security Holders pursuant to this Prospectus.

 

Relationships with the Selling Security Holder

 

Acreage Subsidiary is one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The Acreage Subsidiary may sell the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares covered by this prospectus through agents, underwriters or dealers, or directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.

 

The Acreage Subsidiary may distribute the securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or at negotiated prices.

 

The Acreage Subsidiary may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, and the Acreage Subsidiary may directly sell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares to institutional or other investors. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

 

The Acreage Subsidiary may designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. If applicable, we will name any agent involved in offering or selling securities, and any commissions that will be paid to the agent, in an applicable prospectus supplement or amended prospectus. Unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, agents will act on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

 

Agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, which includes sales made directly on or through the CSE, OTCQX or FRA, or any trading markets for our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, the Fixed Shares and Floating Shares will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares in one or more transactions (including block transactions), at negotiated prices, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. If the Acreage Subsidiary uses an underwriter, we or they will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter(s) at the time that an agreement is reached for the sale of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares will be subject to certain conditions contained in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

  15  

 

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the Fixed Shares or Floating Shares may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act and any discounts or commissions received by them from the Acreage Subsidiary and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. In connection with the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus, underwriters may receive compensation from the Acreage Subsidiary or from the purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be identified and their compensation described in an applicable prospectus supplement or amended prospectus. The Acreage Subsidiary may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

 

Any underwriter to whom securities are sold by the Acreage Subsidiary for public offering and sale may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of the securities in excess of the offering size, which creates a syndicate short position.  Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.  Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.  Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.  These activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be.  The underwriters will not be obligated to engage in any of the aforementioned transactions and may discontinue such transactions at any time without notice.

 

In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

DESCRIPTION OF FIXED SHARES

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Fixed Share held.

 

As long as any Fixed Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Fixed Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Fixed Shares.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by our Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Fixed Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) ‎the Fixed Multiple Shares, in an amount per Fixed Multiple Share equal to the amount of the ‎dividend declared ‎per Fixed Share; and (ii) the Floating Shares, in an amount per ‎Floating Share equal to the amount of the dividend ‎declared per Fixed Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Fixed Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with the holders of Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares, with the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share equal to each of: (i) the amount of such distribution per Floating Share; and (ii) the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Fixed Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Fixed Shares unless, simultaneously, the Floating Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated utilizing the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Fixed Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Fixed Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

  16  

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF FLOATING SHARES

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to notice of and to attend at any meeting of our shareholders, except a meeting of which only holders of another particular class or series of our shares shall have the right to vote. At each such meeting, holders of Floating Shares are entitled to one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

As long as any Floating Shares remain outstanding, we may not, without the consent of the holders of the Floating Shares expressed by separate special resolution, alter or amend our Articles if the result would be to prejudice or interfere with any right or special right attached to the Floating Shares or affect the rights of the holders of Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Fixed Multiple Shares on a per share basis. In connection with the exercise of the voting rights in respect of any such approvals, each holder of Floating Shares has one vote in respect of each Floating Share held.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are entitled to receive, as and when declared by the Board, dividends in cash or our property. No dividend may be declared on the Floating Shares unless we simultaneously declare dividends on: (i) the Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Shares; and (ii) on the Fixed Multiple Shares in an amount equal to the dividend declared per Floating Share.

 

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in the event of any other distribution of assets among our shareholders for the purpose of winding up our affairs, the holders of Floating Shares are entitled to participate pari passu with: (i) the holders of Fixed Shares in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Share; (ii) the holders of Fixed Multiple Share in an amount equal to the amount of such distribution per Fixed Multiple Share.

 

Holders of Floating Shares are not entitled to a right of first refusal to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of any issue of shares, or bonds, debentures or our other securities.

 

There may be no subdivision or consolidation of the Floating Shares unless, simultaneously, the Fixed Shares and Fixed Multiple Shares are subdivided or consolidated using the same divisor or multiplier.

 

Any Floating Shares issued pursuant to this Prospectus, or to a prospectus supplement, will be subject in all respects to the Canopy Call Option to acquire such Floating Shares.

 

Forum Selection Provision

 

Our Articles of Incorporation contain a forum selection provision under Article 30, which, among other things, identifies the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Court of Appeal of ‎British Columbia as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, however, it is uncertain whether such provision would apply to actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, and if it does, whether a British Columbia Court would enforce such provision given that investors cannot waive compliance by the us with U.S. federal securities laws. If the forum selection provision does in fact apply to a cause of actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws and a British Columbia court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation, it is nevertheless true that investors cannot waive compliance by us with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, which would seemingly include procedural and therefore likely jurisdictional provisions. It also remains uncertain as to whether a breach of U.S. securities law in and of itself would give rise to a direct cause of action in British Columbia. We believe that if a British Columbia Court were to enforce Article 30 of our Articles of Incorporation in an action brought by an investor against us under U.S. federal securities laws, the investor would be obliged to bring such action in a British Columbia Court and prove U.S. federal securities laws by expert evidence in such an action.

 

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

 

‎‎Our transfer agent and registrar is Odyssey Trust Company located at 835 - 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 1T2.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

‎‎Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement relating to any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares offered, certain Canadian legal matters in connection with the offering of Fixed Shares or Floating Shares will be passed upon on behalf of Acreage by DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

‎‎The following persons or companies are named as having prepared or certified a report, valuation, statement or opinion in this Prospectus, either directly or in a document incorporated herein by reference, and whose profession or business gives authority to the report, valuation, statement or opinion made by the expert.

 

‎‎‎Marcum LLP is our independent registered public accounting firm, and audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the amendment thereto on Form 10-K/A, incorporated by reference herein.

 

  17  

 

 

KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the financial statements of Canopy included in Canopy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and issued its report on the effectiveness of Canopy’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference into our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020.

 

Eight Capital is named as having prepared or certified a report, statement or opinion contained in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

‎‎We incorporate by reference (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all filings made by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (iii) future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, Item 7.01 and certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are deemed to be furnished and not filed and therefore not incorporated by reference herein, unless specifically stated otherwise in such filings, after the date of the initial filing of this registration statement on Form S-3 to which this Prospectus relates until the termination of the offering under this Prospectus). Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus, any related free writing prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement.

 

  ‎‎(a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020, as amended on August 14, 2020;

 

(b) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2020;

 

(c) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2020;

 

(d) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2020;

 

(e) our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on August 17, 2020;

 

(f) our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2020, February 21, 2020, February 26, 2020, March 17, 2020, March 30, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 22, 2020, June 4, 2020, June 19, 2020, June 26, 2020, June 30, 2020, July 27, 2020, August 11, 2020, August 19, 2020, September 16, 2020, September 21, 2020, September 23, 2020, September 28, 2020 and September 30, 2020; and

 

(g) the description of our Fixed Shares and Floating Shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on September 23, 2020, including any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

 

‎Copies of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus may be obtained by submitting a written request to us at our principal offices at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

 

‎‎We also maintain a web-site at http://www.acreageholdings.com through which you can obtain copies of documents that we have filed with the SEC. The contents of that site are not incorporated by reference into or otherwise a part of this Prospectus.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

‎‎We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This Prospectus is part of a registration statement and, as permitted by SEC rules, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this Prospectus to any of our contracts or other documents, the reference may not be complete and, for a copy of the contract or document, you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement. Our SEC filings and ‎‎information omitted from this Prospectus but contained in the Registration Statement is available on our profile at www.sec.gov.

 

  18  

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

589,165
Class E Subordinate Voting Shares
252,499
Class D Subordinate Voting Shares

 

, 2020

 

1

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14- OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

 

    Amount  
SEC Registration Fee   $ 35,725  
Legal Fees and Expenses*   $ 70,000  
Accounting Fees and Expenses*   $ 17,500  
Printing Expenses*   $ 2,000  
Miscellaneous Expenses*   $  
Total*   $ 125,225  

  

* Except for the SEC Registration Fee, all other amounts are estimates based on expenses incurred in connection with the filing of the registration statement. Expenses in connection with the offer and sale of securities are expected to increase depending on the securities offered.

 

ITEM 15- INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

‎‎Under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”) the Registrant may indemnify a director or officer, a former director or officer, or an individual who acts or acted as a director or officer of an affiliate of the Registrant, or at the Registrant’s request as a director or officer (or in a similar capacity) of another corporation or other legal entity, against all judgments, penalties or fines awarded or imposed in, or amounts paid in settlement of, any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed, in which such individual or any of his or her heirs and personal or other legal representatives is or may be joined as a party, or is or may liable for in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to such legal proceeding or investigative action because of serving in such capacity, on condition that (i) the individual acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Registrant or such other corporation or legal entity, and (ii) in the case of such a proceeding or investigative action other than a civil proceeding, the individual had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful. The Registrant may also indemnify a person described above in respect of all costs, charges and expenses, including legal and other fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of such a legal proceeding or investigative action, providing such person complies with (i) and (ii) above. The Registrant may provide indemnification in respect of such costs, charges and expenses after the final disposition of such legal proceeding or investigative action, and may pay such costs, charges and expenses as they are incurred in advance of such final disposition, provided it obtains a written undertaking that such person will repay the amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that the individual did not comply with (i) and (ii) above. Under the BCBCA, an individual described above is entitled to indemnification from the Registrant in respect of such costs, charges and expenses after the final disposition of such legal proceeding or investigative action as a matter of right if the individual has not been reimbursed for such costs, charges and expenses and is wholly successful in the outcome of such legal proceeding or investigative action, or is substantially successful on the merits thereof, providing such individual complies with (i) and (ii) above. On application of the Registrant or an individual described above, the Supreme Court of British Columbia may order the Registrant to indemnify a person described above in respect of any liability incurred by such person in respect of such a legal proceeding or investigative action, and to pay some or all of the expenses incurred by such individual in respect of such legal proceeding or investigative action.

 

‎‎In accordance with the BCBCA, the Articles of the Registrant provide that the Registrant must indemnify a person named above, and such person’s heirs and legal personal representatives, against all judgments, penalties or fines awarded or imposed in, or amounts paid in settlement of, any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened or completed, which such individual or any of his or her heirs and legal personal representatives is or may be joined as a party, or is or may be liable for in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or costs, charges and expenses, including legal and other fees relating to such legal proceeding or investigative action, because of that person having been a director or officer of the Registrant, provided that (i) the individual acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Registrant; and (ii) in the case of such a legal proceeding or investigative action other than a civil proceeding, the person had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was lawful.

 

‎‎A policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is maintained by the Registrant which insures directors and officers for losses as a result of claims against the directors and officers of the Registrant in their capacity as directors and officers and also reimburses the Registrant for payments made pursuant to the indemnity provisions under the Articles of the Registrant and the BCBCA.

 

‎‎Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

1

 

 

ITEM 16- EXHIBITS

 

‎‎Other than contracts made in the ordinary course of business, the following are the material contracts and other material exhibits as of the date of this registration statement:

 

    Incorporated by Reference    
Exhibit
No.
Description of Document Schedule
Form
File Number Exhibit/Form   Filing Date   Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
2.1 Arrangement Agreement between Canopy Growth Corporation and Acreage Holdings Inc. dated April 18, 2019.† 6-K 000-56021 99.2   4/30/2019    
                 
2.2 First Amendment to Arrangement Agreement between Canopy Growth Corporation and Acreage Holdings, Inc., dated May 15, 2019. 6-K 000-56021 99.2   6/20/2019    
                 
2.3 Agency Agreement, between Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Acreage Holdings, Inc., dated February 10, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 1.1   2/13/2020    
                 
2.4 Proposal Agreement between Canopy Growth Corporation and Acreage Holdings Inc. dated June 24, 2020 8-K 000-56021 2.1   6/30/2020    
                 
3.1 Articles of Incorporation. 10-K 000-56021 3.1   5/29/2020    
                 
4.1 Form of Indenture.             X
                 
4.2 Credit Agreement dated February 7, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 4.1   2/13/2020    
                 
4.3 Special Warrant Indenture, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Odyssey Trust Company, dated February 10, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 4.2   2/13/2020    
                 
4.4 Warrant Indenture, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Odyssey Trust Company, dated February 10, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 4.3   2/13/2020    
                 
4.5 Credit Agreement, dated March 11, 2020, by and among Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, Acreage IP Holdings, LLC, Prime Wellness of Connecticut, LLC, D&B Wellness, LLC, Thames Valley Apothecary, LLC and IP Investment Company, LLC. 10-K 000-56021 4.5   5/29/2020    
                 
4.6 Security Agreement, dated March 11, 2020, by and among Acreage IP Holdings, LLC and IP Investment Company, LLC. 10-K 000-56021 4.6   5/29/2020    
                 
4.7 Guaranty, dated March 11, 2020, of Acreage IP Holdings, LLC to IP Investment Company, LLC. 10-K 000-56021 4.7   5/29/2020    
                 
4.8 Second Amending Agreement, effective March 11, 2020. 10-K 000-56021 4.8   5/29/2020    
                 
4.9 Description of Securities. 10-K 000-56021 4.9   5/29/2020    

 

2

 

 

    Incorporated by Reference    
Exhibit
No.
Description of Document Schedule
Form
File Number Exhibit/Form   Filing Date   Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
4.10 Canopy Growth Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020. 10-K 001-38496 10-K   6/1/2020    
                 
4.11 Canopy Growth Corporation’s Amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended March 31, 2020. 10-K/A 001-38496 10-K/A   7/29/2020    
                 
4.12 Canopy Growth Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended June 30, 2020. 10-Q 001-38496 10-Q   8/10/2020    
                 
4.13 Canopy Growth Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 1, 2020. 8-K 001-38496 8-K   4/2/2020    
                 
4.14 Canopy Growth Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 30, 2020 (except for information furnished under Item 7.01, which shall not be incorporated by reference herein).     8-K 001-38496 8-K   6/30/2020    
                 
4.15 Canopy Growth Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 11, 2020.   8-K 001-38496 8-K   9/11/2020    
                 
5.1 Opinion of DLA Piper LLP.             X
                 
5.2 Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.             X
                 
10.1 Acreage Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended and restated August 19, 2019.+ 10-K 000-56021 10.1   5/29/2020    
                 
10.2 Form of Stock Option Award Agreement.+ 10-K 000-56021 10.2   5/29/2020    
                 
10.3 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement.+ 10-K 000-56021 10.3   5/29/2020    
                 
10.4 Form of Indemnity Agreement. 10-K 000-56021 10.4   5/29/2020    
                 
10.5 Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement, dated November 14, 2018. 40-F 000-56021 99.42   1/29/2019    
                 
10.6 First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement, dated November 14, 2018, dated May 10, 2019. 10-K 000-56021 10.6   5/29/2020    
                 
10.7 Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement, dated November 14, 2018, dated June 27, 2019. 10-K 000-56021 10.7   5/29/2020    

 

3

 

 

    Incorporated by Reference    
Exhibit
No.
Description of Document Schedule
Form
File Number Exhibit/Form   Filing Date   Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
10.8 Tax Receivables Agreement, by and among Acreage Holdings America, Inc., High Street Capital Partners, LLC and the members of the High Street Capital Partners, LLC, dated November 14, 2018. 40-F 000-56021 99.43   1/29/2019    
                 
10.9 Coattail Agreement, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Odyssey Trust Fund, dated November 14, 2018. 40-F 000-56021 99.41   1/29/2019    
                 
10.10 Support Agreement, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Acreage Holdings WC, Inc., dated November 14, 2018. 40-F 000-56021 99.44   1/29/2019    
                 
10.11 Support Agreement, by and among Acreage Holdings, Inc., Acreage Holdings America, Inc. and High Street Capital Partners, dated November 14, 2018. 40-F 000-56021 99.45   1/29/2019    
                 
10.12 Securities Purchase Agreement, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and YA II PN, Ltd., dated May 29, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 10.1   6/4/2020    
                 
10.13 Secured Convertible Debenture of Acreage Holdings, Inc., dated May 29, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 10.2   6/4/2020    
                 
10.14 Registration Rights Agreement, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and YA II PN, Ltd., dated May 29, 2020. 8-K 000-56021 10.3   6/4/2020    
                 
10.15 Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and SAFMB Concord LP, dated May 29, 2020. S-3 333-239332 10.15   6/22/2020    
                 
10.16 Loan Agreement between High Street Capital Partners, LLC and ALBF Investments, LLC, dated June 15, 2020. S-3 333-239332 10.16   6/22/2020    
                 
10.17 Term Loan Note between High Street Capital Partners, LLC and ALBF Investments, LLC, dated June 15, 2020. S-3 333-239332 10.16   6/22/2020    
                 
10.18 Form of Voting Support and Lock-Up Agreement. 8-K 000-56021 1.1   8/19/2020    
                 
10.19 Second Amendment to the Arrangement Agreement between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Canopy Growth Corporation, dated September 23, 2020.††   8-K 000-56021 10.1   9/28/2020    
                 
10.20 Debenture between Universal Hemp, LLC to 11065220 Canada Inc., dated September 23, 2020.†† 8-K 000-56021 10.2   9/28/2020    

 

4

 

 

    Incorporated by Reference    
Exhibit
No.
Description of Document Schedule
Form
File Number Exhibit/Form   Filing Date   Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
10.21 Amendment to Credit Agreement by and among Acreage Finance Delaware, LLC, Acreage IP Holdings, LLC, ‎Prime Wellness of Connecticut, LLC, ‎D&B Wellness, LLC, Thames Valley Apothecary, ‎LLC, and IP ‎Investment Company, LLC, dated September 23, 2020.†† 8-K 000-56021 10.3   9/28/2020    
                 
10.22 Amendment to Warrant Indenture between Acreage Holdings, Inc. and Odyssey Trust Company, dated September 23, 2020.†† 8-K 000-56021 10.4   9/28/2020    
                 
10.23 Loan Agreement by and among HSCP CN Holdings II ULC, High Street Capital Partners, LLC and Lender, dated September 28, 2020. †† 8-K 000-56021 10.1   9/30/2020    
                 
21.1 Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019. 10-K 000-56021 21.1   5/29/2020    
                 
23.1 Consent of Marcum LLP, the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Acreage Holdings, Inc.             X
                 
23.2 Consent of KPMG.**               
                 
23.3 Consent of Eight Capital.             X
                 
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page).              
                 

+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

 

* Document has been furnished, is not deemed filed and is not to be incorporated by reference into any of the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in any such filing.

 

** To be filed by amendment.

 

† Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.

 

†† Portions of these exhibits are redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 17 – UNDERTAKINGS

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

‎‎(1)            To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

‎‎(i)          To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

5

 

 

‎‎(ii)         To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

‎‎(iii)        To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

‎‎provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2)            ‎‎That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)            ‎‎To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4)            ‎‎That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

‎‎(i)          Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii)         Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5)            That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

6

 

 

(6)            That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7)            Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(8)            To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

7

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on October 21, 2020.

 

    ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
 
  By:   /s/ Glen Leibowitz
  Name: Glen Leibowitz
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
 

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

 

‎‎Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints William Van Faasen and Glen Leibowitz and each of them, either of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

‎‎Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
         
/s/ William Van Faasen  

Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

  October 21, 2020
William Van Faasen        
         
/s/ Glen Leibowitz  

Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

  October 21, 2020
Glen Leibowitz        
         
/s/ Kevin Murphy   Director   October 21, 2020
Kevin Murphy        
         
/s/ John Boehner   Director   October 21, 2020
John Boehner        
         
/s/ Douglas Maine   Director   October 21, 2020
Douglas Maine        
         
/s/ Brian Mulroney   Director   October 21, 2020
Brian Mulroney        

 

1

 

 

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

 

‎‎Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act, the Authorized Representative has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, solely in his capacity as the duly authorized representative of the Registrant in the United States, on October 21, 2020.

 

  By:  /s/ Glen Leibowitz
  Name: Glen Leibowitz
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

2

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
as Issuer

and

[        ]
as U.S. Trustee

 

and

[        ]
as Canadian Trustee

 

Indenture

Dated as of [ ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE One DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
Section 1.01 Definitions 1
Section 1.02 Rules of Construction 10
Section 1.03 Compliance Certificates and Opinions 10
Section 1.04 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustees 11
Section 1.05 Acts of Holders 11
Section 1.06 Notices, Etc. to Trustees and Company 13
Section 1.07 Notice to Holders; Waiver 13
Section 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 14
Section 1.09 Successors and Assigns 14
Section 1.10 Severability Clause 14
Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture 14
Section 1.12 Governing Law 15
Section 1.13 Legal Holidays 15
Section 1.14 Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities 15
Section 1.15 Conversion of Judgment Currency 16
Section 1.16 Currency Equivalent 17
Section 1.17 Conflict with Trust Indenture Legislation 17
Section 1.18 Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability 17
Section 1.19 Waiver of Jury Trial 17
Section 1.20 Counterparts 17
Section 1.21 Force Majeure 18
     
ARTICLE Two SECURITIES FORMS 18
Section 2.01 Forms Generally 18
Section 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 18
Section 2.03 Securities Issuable in Global Form 19
     
ARTICLE Three THE SECURITIES 20
Section 3.01 Issuable in Series 20
Section 3.02 Denominations 23
Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating 23
Section 3.04 Temporary Securities 25
Section 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange 27
Section 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 30
Section 3.07 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset 31
Section 3.08 Optional Extension of Stated Maturity 34
Section 3.09 Persons Deemed Owners 34
Section 3.10 Cancellation 35
Section 3.11 Computation of Interest 35

 

i

 

 

Section 3.12 Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities 35
Section 3.13 Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent 38
     
ARTICLE Four SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 39
Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 39
Section 4.02 Application of Trust Money 40
     
ARTICLE Five REMEDIES 40
Section 5.01 Events of Default 40
Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 41
Section 5.03 Collection of Debt and Suits for Enforcement by Trustees 42
Section 5.04 Trustees May File Proofs of Claim 43
Section 5.05 Trustees May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 43
Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected 44
Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits 44
Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest 45
Section 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies 45
Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative 45
Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver 45
Section 5.12 Control by Holders 46
Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults 46
Section 5.14 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws 46
Section 5.15 Undertaking for Costs 47
     
ARTICLE Six THE TRUSTEES 47
Section 6.01 Notice of Defaults 47
Section 6.02 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees 47
Section 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustees 48
Section 6.04 Trustees Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 49
Section 6.05 May Hold Securities 50
Section 6.06 Money Held in Trust 50
Section 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement 50
Section 6.08 Corporate Trustees Required; Eligibility 51
Section 6.09 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 52
Section 6.10 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 53
Section 6.11 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 54
Section 6.12 Appointment of Authenticating Agent 55
Section 6.13 Joint Trustees 56
Section 6.14 Other Rights of Trustees 57
     
ARTICLE Seven HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 58
Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustees Names and Addresses of Holders 58
Section 7.02 Preservation of List of Names and Addresses of Holders 58
Section 7.03 Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders 58

 

ii

 

 

Section 7.04 Reports by Trustees 58
Section 7.05 Reports by the Company 59
     
ARTICLE Eight CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 59
Section 8.01 Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms 59
Section 8.02 Successor Person Substituted 60
     
ARTICLE Nine SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 61
Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 61
Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 62
Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures 63
Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures 63
Section 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Legislation 64
Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 64
Section 9.07 Notice of Supplemental Indentures 64
     
ARTICLE Ten COVENANTS 64
Section 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest 64
Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency 64
Section 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust 66
Section 10.04 Statement as to Compliance 67
Section 10.05 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims 67
Section 10.06 Corporate Existence 67
Section 10.07 Waiver of Certain Covenants 67
     
ARTICLE Eleven REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 68
Section 11.01 Applicability of Article 68
Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustees 68
Section 11.03 Selection by Trustees of Securities to Be Redeemed 68
Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption 68
Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price 70
Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date 70
Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part 70
     
ARTICLE Twelve SINKING FUNDS 71
Section 12.01 Applicability of Article 71
Section 12.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 71
Section 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 71
     
ARTICLE Thirteen REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS 72
Section 13.01 Applicability of Article 72
Section 13.02 Repayment of Securities 72
Section 13.03 Exercise of Option 73
Section 13.04 When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable 73
Section 13.05 Securities Repaid in Part 74

 

iii

 

 

ARTICLE Fourteen DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 74
Section 14.01 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 74
Section 14.02 Defeasance and Discharge 74
Section 14.03 Covenant Defeasance 75
Section 14.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 75
Section 14.05 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 77
Section 14.06 Reinstatement 78
     
ARTICLE Fifteen MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 78
Section 15.01 Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called 78
Section 15.02 Call, Notice and Place of Meetings 78
Section 15.03 Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings 78
Section 15.04 Quorum; Action 79
Section 15.05 Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings 80
Section 15.06 Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings 81

 

iv

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA
Section
  Indenture
Section
310 (a)   6.08(1)
  (b)   6.09
  (c)   Not Applicable
311 (a)   6.05
  (b)   6.05
  (c)   Not Applicable
312 (a)   7.05
  (b)   7.03
  (c)   7.03
313 (a)   7.04
  (b)   7.04
  (c)   7.04
  (d)   7.05
314 (a)   7.05
  (a)(4)   10.04
  (b)   Not Applicable
  (c)(1)   1.01
  (c)(2)   1.01
  (d)   Not Applicable
  (e)   1.01
  (f)   Not Applicable
315 (a)   6.02
  (b)   6.01
  (c)   6.02
  (d)   6.02
  (e)   5.15
316 (a)(last sentence)   1.02 (“Outstanding”)
  (a)(1)(A)   5.12
  (a)(1)(B)   5.02, 5.13
  (a)(2)   Not Applicable
  (b)   5.08
  (c)   1.04(e)
317 (a)(1)   5.03
  (a)(2)   5.04
  (b)   10.03
318 (a)   1.16

 

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

 

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of ____________________, among ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC., a corporation duly continued and existing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York, and ______________________, a ______________________, organized under the laws of ______________________, as U.S. trustee (herein called the “U.S. Trustee”), and ______________________, a ______________________, organized under the laws of ______________________, as Canadian trustee (the “Canadian Trustee” and, together with the U.S. Trustee, the “Trustees”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of Trust Indenture Legislation that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE One
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01         Definitions.

 

Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the applicable Trustee pursuant to Section 6.12 to act on behalf of such Trustee to authenticate Securities.

 

Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

 

 

 

Base Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

 

Bearer Security” means any Security except a Registered Security.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees.

 

Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are permitted or required by any applicable law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

calculation period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11.

 

Canadian Trustee” means the Person named as the “Canadian Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Canadian Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Canadian Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Canadian Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Canadian Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Canadian Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

Common Depository” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer and delivered to the Trustees.

 

Component Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(h).

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(d).

 

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency (other than the Euro or other Currency unit) both by the government of the country which issued such Currency and by a central bank or other public institution of or within the international banking community for the settlement of transactions, (ii) the Euro or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) other than the Euro for the purposes for which it was established.

 

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Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee, as applicable, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business may be administered, such an office on the date of execution of this Indenture of the U.S. Trustee is located at _________________________, Attention: _______________________, and of the Canadian Trustee is located at ______________________, Attention: ____________________________, except that with respect to presentation of Securities for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee, as applicable, designated in writing to the Company at which, at any particular time, its corporate agency business shall be conducted.

 

coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

 

covenant defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 14.03.

 

Currency” means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units, including, without limitation, the Euro, issued by the government of one or more countries or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

 

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of one or more Registered Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.05 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Registered Securities of that series.

 

Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(g).

 

Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(f).

 

Election Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(h).

 

Euro” means the single currency of the participating member states from time to time of the European Union described in legislation of the European Counsel for the operation of a single unified European currency (whether known as the Euro or otherwise).

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

 

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

3

 

 

Exchange Rate Agent” means, with respect to Securities of or within any series, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, a New York clearing house bank, designated pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.13.

 

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate” means a tested telex or a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 3.02 in the relevant Currency), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate, sent (in the case of a telex) or signed (in the case of a certificate) by the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

Extension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

 

Extension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

 

Final Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

 

First Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.15.

 

Foreign Currency” means any Currency other than Currency of the United States.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in Canada in effect from time to time, unless the Person’s most recent audited or quarterly financial statements are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada, in which case “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States in effect from time to time.

 

Government Obligations” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, securities which are (i) direct obligations of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by such government, which, in either case, are full faith and credit obligations of such government payable in such Currency and are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, shall mean the bearer thereof.

 

4

 

 

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

 

Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

 

interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Original Issue Discount Security.

 

Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, charge, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, security interest, lien (statutory or other), or preference, priority or other security or similar agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any agreement to give or grant a Lien or any lease, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01.

 

Market Exchange Rate” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, (i) for any conversion involving a Currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant Currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon (New York City time) buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in New York City, Vancouver, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, Vancouver, London or another principal market for the Currency in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any Currency by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such Currency shall be that upon which a non-resident issuer of securities designated in such Currency would purchase such Currency in order to make payments in respect of such securities.

 

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Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.

 

Notice of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Officer” means the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Corporate Secretary of the Company or, in the event that the Company is a partnership or a limited liability company that has no such officers, a person duly authorized under applicable law by the general partner, managers, members or a similar body to act on behalf of the Company.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate, which shall comply with this Indenture, signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustees.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, including an employee of the Company, who shall be acceptable to the Trustees, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications as to the matters set forth therein.

 

Optional Reset Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01.

 

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

 

Original Stated Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

 

Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by either Trustee or delivered to either Trustee for cancellation;

 

(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with either Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustees has been made;

 

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(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Section 14.02 and Section 14.03, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and

 

(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustees proof satisfactory to them that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustees, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 3.01, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustees shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustees know to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustees the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

Paying Agent” means any Person (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Securities on behalf of the Company. Such Person must be capable of making payment in the Currency of the issued Security.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, body corporate, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, each place where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities are payable as specified as contemplated by Sections 3.01 and 10.02.

 

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Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or the Security to which the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, as the case may be.

 

Privacy Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 6.14.

 

rate(s) of exchange” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

 

Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

 

Registered Security” means any Security registered in the Security Register.

 

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Reset Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to a Trustee, means any vice president, secretary, any assistant secretary, treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, any trust officer, the controller within the corporate trust administration division of a Trustee or any other officer of a Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above-designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

 

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.07.

 

Specified Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(h).

 

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Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.08 (if applicable).

 

Subsequent Interest Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 9.05.

 

Trust Indenture Legislation” means, at any time, the provisions of (i) any applicable statute of Canada or any province or territory thereof and the regulations thereunder as amended or re-enacted from time to time, but only to the extent applicable, or (iii) the Trust Indenture Act and regulations thereunder, in each case, relating to trust indentures and to the rights, duties and obligations of trustees under trust indentures and of corporations issuing debt obligations under trust indentures, to the extent that such provisions are at such time in force and applicable to this Indenture or the Company or the Trustees.

 

Trustee” or “Trustees” means the U.S. Trustee and the Canadian Trustee. If a Canadian Trustee is not appointed under this Indenture, or resigns or is removed and, pursuant to Section 6.09, the Company is not required to appoint a successor Trustee to the Canadian Trustee, “Trustee,” “Trustees” and any reference to “either Trustee,” “both of the Trustees” or such similar references shall mean the Person named as the U.S. Trustee or any successor thereto appointed pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture. Except to the extent otherwise indicated, “Trustees” shall refer to the Canadian Trustee (if appointed and still serving) and the U.S. Trustee, both jointly and individually.

 

U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Act of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time.

 

U.S. Trustee” means the Person named as the “U.S. Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor U.S. Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “U.S. Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a U.S. Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the U.S. Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership (including any entity treated as a corporation or as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or a trust if (A) it is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

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Valuation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(c).

 

Writing” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13.

 

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

 

Section 1.02         Rules of Construction.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1) the terms defined in this Indenture have the meanings assigned to them hereinand include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2) all terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper,” as used in TIA Section 319, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(4) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(5) words implying any gender shall apply to all genders;

 

(6) the words Subsection, Section and Article refer to the Subsections, Sections and Articles, respectively, of this Indenture unless otherwise noted; and

 

(7) “include,” “includes” or “including” means include, includes or including, in each case, without limitation.

 

Section 1.03         Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustees to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenant compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 10.04) shall include:

 

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

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(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

 

Section 1.04         Form of Documents Delivered to Trustees.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons may certify or give an opinion with respect to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, a certificate of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which such certificate or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustees shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 1.05         Acts of Holders.

 

(a)          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustees and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustees and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 15.06.

 

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(b)          The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustees deem sufficient.

 

(c)          The principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(d)          The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustees to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustees to be satisfactory. The Trustees and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustees by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustees deem sufficient.

 

(e)          If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding Trust Indenture Legislation, including TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

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(f)          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

Section 1.06         Notices, Etc. to Trustees and Company.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other documents provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

 

(1) the U.S. Trustee, by the Canadian Trustee, any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the U.S. Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: ________________, or

 

(2) the Canadian Trustee, by the U.S. Trustee, any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Canadian Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: ________________, or

 

(3) the Company by either Trustee or any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or sent by overnight courier, to the Company at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York, 10017, Attention: Corporate Secretary’s office or such other address and/or officer as the Company may designate on written notice to the Trustees.

 

Section 1.07         Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustees, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

 

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Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Bearer Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Securities on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the latest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of the first such publication.

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder. Neither the failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustees, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

Section 1.08         Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 1.09         Successors and Assigns.

 

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and the Trustees shall bind their successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 1.10         Severability Clause.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security or coupon shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 1.11         Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities or coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture. Subject to Section 1.16, at all times in relation to this Indenture and any action to be taken hereunder, the Company and the Trustees each shall observe and comply with Trust Indenture Legislation and the Company, the Trustees and each Holder of a Security shall be entitled to the benefits of Trust Indenture Legislation.

 

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Section 1.12         Governing Law.

 

This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby. Each Trustee and the Company agrees to comply with all provisions of Trust Indenture Legislation applicable to or binding upon it in connection with this Indenture and any action to be taken hereunder. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the exercise, performance or discharge by the Canadian Trustee of any of its rights, powers, duties or responsibilities hereunder shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of [British Columbia] and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto.

 

Section 1.13         Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment or other location contemplated hereunder, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of any Security or coupon other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.13), payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest (if any), need not be made at such Place of Payment or other location contemplated hereunder on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment or other location contemplated hereunder with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.14         Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities.

 

By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company (i) acknowledges that it has irrevocably designated and appointed _____________________ as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture that may be instituted in any United States federal or New York state court located in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or brought by the Trustees (whether in their individual capacity or in their capacity as Trustees hereunder), (ii) irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon _____________________ and written notice of said service to the Company (mailed or delivered to the Company at 366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York, 10017, Attention: Corporate Secretary’s office or such other address and/or officer as the Company may designate on written notice to the Trustees), shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of _____________________ in full force and effect so long as this Indenture shall be in full force and effect.

 

To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the Company hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities, to the extent permitted by law.

 

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The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action, suit or proceeding in any such court or any appellate court with respect thereto. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action, suit or proceeding in any such court.

 

Section 1.15         Conversion of Judgment Currency.

 

(a)          The Company covenants and agrees that the following provisions shall apply to conversion of Currency in the case of the Securities and this Indenture, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(i)          If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in, or enforcing the judgment of, any court in any country, it becomes necessary to convert into a Currency (the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due or contingently due in any other Currency under the Securities of any series and this Indenture (the “Base Currency”), then the conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which the final judgment is given or the order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (unless a court shall otherwise determine).

 

(ii)         If there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Business Day before the day on which the judgment referred to in (i) above is given or an order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (or such other date as a court shall determine), and the date of receipt of the amount due, the Company shall pay such additional (or, as the case may be, such lesser) amount, if any, as may be necessary so that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt will produce the amount in the Base Currency originally due.

 

(b)          In the event of the winding-up of the Company at any time while any amount or damages owing under the Securities and this Indenture, or any judgment or order rendered in respect thereof, shall remain outstanding, the Company shall indemnify and hold the Holders and the Trustees harmless against any deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange between (1) the date as of which the equivalent of the amount in the Base Currency due or contingently due under the Securities and this Indenture (other than under this Subsection (b)) is calculated for the purposes of such winding-up and (2) the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in such winding-up. For the purpose of this Subsection (b) the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in the winding-up of the Company shall be the date fixed by the liquidator or otherwise in accordance with the relevant provisions of applicable law as being the latest practicable date as at which liabilities of the Company may be ascertained for such winding-up prior to payment by the liquidator or otherwise in respect thereto.

 

(c)          The obligations contained in Subsections (a)(ii) and (b) of this Section 1.15 shall constitute separate and independent obligations of the Company from its other obligations under the Securities and this Indenture, shall give rise to separate and independent causes of action against the Company, shall apply irrespective of any waiver or extension granted by any Holder or the Trustees from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order or the filing of any proof of claim in the winding up of the Company for a liquidated sum in respect of amounts due hereunder (other than under Subsection (b) above) or under any such judgment or order. Any such deficiency as aforesaid shall be deemed to constitute a loss suffered by the Holders or the Trustees, as the case may be, and no proof or evidence of any actual loss shall be required by the Company or its liquidator. In the case of Subsection (b) above, the amount of such deficiency shall not be deemed to be increased or reduced by any variation in rates of exchange occurring between the said final date and the date of any liquidating distribution.

 

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The term “rate(s) of exchange” shall mean the rate of exchange quoted by a Canadian chartered bank as may be designated in writing by the Company to the Trustees from time to time, at its central foreign exchange desk in its main office in Vancouver at 12:00 noon (Vancouver time) on the relevant date for purchases of the Base Currency with the Judgment Currency and includes any premiums and costs of exchange payable. The Trustees shall have no duty or liability with respect to monitoring or enforcing this Section 1.15.

 

Section 1.16         Currency Equivalent.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, for purposes of the construction of the terms of this Indenture or of the Securities, in the event that any amount is stated herein in the Currency of one nation (the “First Currency”), as of any date such amount shall also be deemed to represent the amount in the Currency of any other relevant nation which is required to purchase such amount in the First Currency at the Bank of Canada noon rate as reported by Telerate on screen 3194 (or such other means of reporting the Bank of Canada noon rate as may be agreed upon by each of the parties to this Indenture) on the date of determination.

 

Section 1.17         Conflict with Trust Indenture Legislation.

 

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any mandatory requirement of Trust Indenture Legislation, such mandatory requirement shall control. If and to the extent that any provision hereof modifies or excludes any provision of Trust Indenture Legislation that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply hereof as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.18         Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability.

 

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future shareholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 1.19         Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

Each of the Company and the Trustees hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 1.20         Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts (either by facsimile or by original manual signature), each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.

 

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Section 1.21         Force Majeure.

 

Except for the payment obligations of the Company contained herein, neither the Company nor the Trustees shall be liable to each other, or held in breach of this Indenture, if prevented, hindered, or delayed in the performance or observance of any provision contained herein by reason of act of God, riots, terrorism, acts of war, epidemics, governmental action or judicial order, earthquakes, or any other similar causes (including, but not limited to, mechanical, electronic or communication interruptions, disruptions or failures). Performance times under this Indenture shall be extended for a period of time equivalent to the time lost because of any delay that is excusable under this Section 1.21.

 

ARTICLE Two
SECURITIES FORMS

 

Section 2.01         Forms Generally.

 

The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series and related coupons, if any, shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Securities or coupons, as evidenced by the execution of such Securities or coupons by such Officer. If the forms of Securities or coupons of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustees at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities or coupons. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached.

 

Either Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two.

 

Section 2.02         Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

Subject to Section 6.12, either Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

(Certificate of Authentication may be executed by either Trustee)

 

Dated: ____________

 

_______________________, as U.S. Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

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  ,

 

  as U.S. Trustee
     
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

Dated: ____________

 

____________________, as Canadian Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  ,

 

  as Canadian Trustee
   
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

Section 2.03         Securities Issuable in Global Form.

 

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified and contemplated by Section 3.01, then any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustees in such manner and upon instructions given by the Holder or its nominee as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.03 or 3.04. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.03 and 3.04 (if applicable), the Trustees shall deliver and redeliver any Security in global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Holder or its nominee as shall be specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.03 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.07, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Holder or its nominee specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding Section 3.09 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustees and any agent of the Company and the Trustees shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security (i) in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a permanent global Security in bearer form, the Depositary.

 

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ARTICLE Three
THE SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01         Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in Dollars or any Foreign Currency. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable:

 

(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series);

 

(2) the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer (including any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series) of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06, 11.07 or 13.05) and, in the event that no limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series is specified, the Company shall have the right, subject to any terms, conditions or other provisions specified pursuant to this Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series, to re-open such series for the issuance of additional Securities of such series from time to time;

 

(3) the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect of the Securities of the series will be senior or will be subordinated to the prior payment of other liabilities and obligations of the Company, and whether the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) will be guaranteed by any other Person;

 

(4) the percentage or percentages of principal amount at which the Securities of the series will be issued;

 

(5) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the Securities of the series may be issued and the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of and premium (if any) on the Securities of the series is payable;

 

(6) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, whether fixed or variable (if any), or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, whether such interest shall be payable in cash or additional Securities of the same series or shall accrue and increase the aggregate principal amountoutstanding of such series, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

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(7) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and, if different than the location specified in Section 1.06, the place or places where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

(8) the period or periods within which, the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

 

(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the Currency in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable and, if other than denominations of $5,000, the denomination or denominations in which any Bearer Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(11) the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

 

(12) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

(13) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of the series shall be payable or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 3.12;

 

(14) whether the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(15) whether the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities are to be so payable, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 3.12;

 

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(16) the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;

 

(17) the applicability, if any, of Sections 14.02 and/or 14.03 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen that shall be applicable to the Securities of the series;

 

(18) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

(19) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to Section 10.09) of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

(20) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Securities of the series, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 3.05, whether Registered Securities of the series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities of the series (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series, and the circumstances under which and the place or places where any such exchanges may be made and, if Securities of the series are to be issuable in global form, the designation of any Depositary therefor;

 

(21) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

(22) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 3.04;

 

(23) if Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

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(24) if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants or subscription receipts, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

(25) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

(26) provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of any rights or terms attaching to the Securities;

 

(27) whether the Securities will be secured or unsecured and the nature and priority of any security; and

 

(28) any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) relating to the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of Trust Indenture Legislation or the provisions of this Indenture).

 

All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 3.03) and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, such Board Resolutions shall be delivered to the Trustees at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

Section 3.02         Denominations.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and the Bearer Securities of such series, other than the Bearer Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in a denomination of $5,000 and any integral multiples thereof.

 

Section 3.03         Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

The Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Company by an Officer. The signature of an Officer on the Securities or coupons may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

 

Securities or coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or coupons.

 

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At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series together with any coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Company to the applicable Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the applicable Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States; provided further that, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, a Bearer Security may be delivered in connection with its original issuance only if the Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security shall have furnished a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture, dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the earlier of the date on which such Bearer Security is delivered and the date on which any temporary Security first becomes exchangeable for such Bearer Security in accordance with the terms of such temporary Security and this Indenture. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent global Bearer Security, then, for purposes of this Section 3.03 and Section 3.04, the notation of a beneficial owner’s interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. Except as permitted by Section 3.06, the Trustees shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled. If not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustees for the issuance of such Securities and determining terms of particular Securities of such series such as interest rate, Stated Maturity, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue.

 

In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Trust Indenture Legislation, including TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

(a)          that the form or forms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(b)          that the terms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(c)          that such Securities, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the applicable Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the applicable Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms;

 

(d)          the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities, any coupons and any supplemental indenture will not contravene the articles of incorporation or continuance, or such other constating documents then in effect, if any, or the by-laws of the Company, or violate applicable laws; and

 

(e)          that the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities and any coupons, and has duly taken all necessary corporate action with respect to such issuance.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding two paragraphs, if not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs prior to or at the time of issuance of each Security, but such documents shall be delivered prior to or at the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

 

The Trustees shall not be required to authenticate and deliver any such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustees’ own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustees.

 

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

No Security or coupon shall entitle a Holder to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the applicable Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer thereof, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustees for cancellation as provided in Section 3.10 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 1.03 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never entitle a Holder to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 3.04         Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Officer executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any unmatured coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; provided further that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 3.03. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

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If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the office of the Depositary for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).

 

Without unnecessary delay, but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustees definitive Securities, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustees, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, permanent global bearer form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Depositary, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by the Depositary as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01); provided further that definitive Bearer Securities shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 3.03.

 

Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs the Depositary to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to the Depositary a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of the Depositary, the Trustees, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like in the event that such Person does not take delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of the Depositary. Definitive Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States and Canada.

 

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Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to the Depositary on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by the Depositary to the Trustees of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01), for credit without further interest thereon on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to the Depositary a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 3.04 and of the third paragraph of Section 3.03 and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by the Depositary and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustees immediately prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company in accordance with Section 10.03.

 

Section 3.05         Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

 

So long as required by Trust Indenture Legislation, the Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Offices of the Trustees a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in the Corporate Trust Offices of the Trustees and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Holders of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, the Security Register shall be open to inspection by the Trustees. The Trustees are hereby initially appointed as security registrar (the “Security Registrar”) for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities as herein provided. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided, however, that, no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Registered Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustees shall not be or shall cease to be the Securities Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, they shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Securities Register for such series of Securities.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness.

 

For Canadian Securities, the Security must be duly endorsed for transfer or in a duly endorsed transferable form as applicable and must comply with the current industry practice in accordance with the Securities Transfer Association of Canada.

 

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At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01, Bearer Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.

 

If (but only if) expressly permitted in or pursuant to the applicable Board Resolution and (subject to Section 3.03) set forth in the applicable Officer’s Certificate, or in any indenture supplemental hereto, delivered as contemplated by Section 3.01, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at the office of the applicable Trustee, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, any such permitted exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustees if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in a permitted exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this Section. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as contemplated by Section 3.01 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given to the Company, the Trustees and the Depositary, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the applicable Trustee definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the applicable Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof. No Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States or Canada. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Transfers of global Securities shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. If at any time the Depositary for Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualifies to continue as Depositary for Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series. If a successor to the Depositary for Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.01 shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities for such series and the Company will execute, and the applicable Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive, registered form, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series and evidencing the same indebtedness in exchange for such global Security or Securities.

 

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the applicable Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive, registered form, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series and evidencing the same indebtedness in exchange for such global Security or Securities.

 

Upon the exchange of a global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, such global Security shall be cancelled by the applicable Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a global Security pursuant to this Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the applicable Trustee in writing. The applicable Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

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All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar or applicable securities transfer industry practices) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

Any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities may be subject to service charges by the Securities Registrar and the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06, 11.07 or 13.05 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series in definitive form during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of that series under Section 11.03 or 12.03 and ending at the close of business on (A) if Securities of the series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if Securities of the series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, (C) if Securities of the series are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security in definitive form so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor; provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption, or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security in definitive form which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

Section 3.06         Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the applicable Trustee, the Company shall execute and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and evidencing the same indebtedness and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security, or, in case any such mutilated Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security, pay such Security or coupon. If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustees (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon and (ii) such security (or surety in the case of the Canadian Trustee) or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustees that such Security or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser , the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security for which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and evidencing the same indebtedness and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, pay such Security or coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and Canada and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.06, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustees) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section 3.06 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and the Holders of such Security shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with the Holders of any and all other Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section 3.06 as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities or generally are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons.

 

Section 3.07         Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset.

 

(a)         Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest (if any) on any Registered Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid by the Paying Agent to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02; provided, however, that each installment of interest (if any) on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 3.09, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the Person entitled to such payment as specified in the Security Register. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, principal and premium (if any) paid in relation to any Security shall be paid to the Holder of such Security only upon presentation and surrender of such Security at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02.

 

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Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest (if any) may be made, in the case of a Bearer Security, by transfer to an account located outside the United States and Canada maintained by the payee.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, every permanent global Security will provide that interest (if any) payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Depositary with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by the Depositary, for the purpose of permitting the Depositary to credit the interest (if any) received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.

 

Any interest on any Registered Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest on such defaulted interest (to the extent lawful) at the rate specified in the Securities of such series (such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) must be paid by the Company as provided for in either clause (1) or (2), at the Company’s election:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustees in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the applicable Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustees for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustees shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustees of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustees shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner provided in Section 1.07, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose name the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustees of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustees.

 

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(b)          The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.01). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an “Optional Reset Date”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustees of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustees shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the “Reset Notice”) indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each such period a “Subsequent Interest Period”), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustees to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).

 

The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustees shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustees, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07 and Section 3.05, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

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Section 3.08         Optional Extension of Stated Maturity.

 

The provisions of this Section 3.08 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.01). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an “Extension Period”) up to but not beyond the date (the “Final Maturity”) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustees of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the “Original Stated Maturity”). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustees shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the “Extension Notice”) indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate (if any) applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustees’ transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustees to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.

 

If the Company extends the Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustees shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustees revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.

 

Section 3.09         Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustees and any agent of the Company or the Trustees may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium (if any) and (subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07) interest (if any) on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustees or any agent of the Company or the Trustees shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Title to any Bearer Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustees and any agent of the Company or the Trustees may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupons be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustees or any agent of the Company or the Trustees shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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The Depositary for Securities may be treated by the Company, the Trustees, and any agent of the Company or the Trustees as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustees, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustees, or any agent of the Company or the Trustees, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such Depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.

 

Section 3.10         Cancellation.

 

All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any current or future sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than a Trustee, be delivered to either Trustee. All Securities and coupons so delivered to either Trustee shall be promptly cancelled by such Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to a Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to either Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to such Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by such Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to either Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section 3.10, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by either Trustee shall be disposed of by such Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and certification of their disposal delivered to the Company unless by Company Order the Company shall direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it.

 

Section 3.11         Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any Securities, interest (if any) on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. For the purposes of disclosure under the Interest Act (Canada), the yearly rate of interest to which interest calculated under a Security for any period in any calendar year (the “calculation period”) is equivalent, is the rate payable under a Security in respect of the calculation period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the actual number of days in such calendar year and the denominator of which is the actual number of days in the calculation period.

 

Section 3.12         Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities.

 

(a)          With respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, and with respect to Bearer Securities of any series, except as provided in paragraph (d) below, payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Registered Security or Bearer Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security or Bearer Security, as the case may be, is payable. The provisions of this Section 3.12 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01.

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(b)          It may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustees a written election with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 3.01, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustees (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustees not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 3.12(a). The Trustees shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.

 

(c)          Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 3.01, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying, in the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities of such series shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 3.01 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to the Trustees for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, the Dollar or Foreign Currency amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the third Business Day (the “Valuation Date”) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(d)          If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then, with respect to each date for the payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the “Conversion Date”), the Dollar shall be the Currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustees and by the Trustees or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.

 

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(e)          Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) above.

 

(f)          The “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.

 

(g)          The “Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.

 

(h)          For purposes of this Section 3.12 the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

A “Component Currency” shall mean any Currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro.

 

A “Specified Amount” of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single Currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single Currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single Currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent value of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of “Specified Amount”) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.

 

Election Date” shall mean the date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause (15) of Section 3.01 by which the written election referred to in paragraph (b) above may be made.

 

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All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustees and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustees of any such decision or determination.

 

In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustees and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and the Trustees will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided for in Section 1.07 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to the Euro or any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustees and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and the Trustees will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided for in Section 1.07 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will similarly give written notice to the Trustees and the Exchange Rate Agent.

 

The Trustees shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.

 

Section 3.13         Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent.

 

(a)          Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a Currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) pursuant to Section 3.12.

 

(b)          The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Exchange Rate Agent for any series of Securities. No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section 3.13 shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustees.

 

(c)          If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).

 

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ARTICLE Four
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 4.01         Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto and the rights of Holders of such series of Securities and any related coupons to receive, solely from the trust fund described in subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 4.01, payments in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities and any related coupons when such payments are due and except as provided in the last paragraph of this Section 4.01) and the Trustees, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

 

(1) either

 

(a)          all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered for exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 3.05, (ii) Securities and coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06, (iii) coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 11.06, and (iv) Securities and coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with either Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to either Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b)          all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to either Trustee for cancellation

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustees for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustees in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with either Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to such Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustees under Section 6.07, the obligations of the Trustees to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.12 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustees pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 4.01, the obligations of the Trustees under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive.

 

Section 4.02         Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustees pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustees may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustees; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE Five
REMEDIES

 

Section 5.01         Events of Default.

 

Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.01 of this Indenture:

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest due on any Security of that series, or any related coupon, when such interest or coupon becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal or premium (if any) in respect of any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund, amortization or analogous payment when due by the terms of any Security of that series and Article Twelve; or

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture which affects or is applicable to the Securities of that series (other than a covenant or agreement, a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 5.01 specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given (and 120 days with respect to a default or breach under Section 7.05), by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustees or to the Company and the Trustees by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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(5) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, or the issuance of a sequestration order or the (appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or in receipt of any substantial part of the property of the Company, and any such decree, order or appointment continues unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(6) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or the taking by it of corporate action in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

Section 5.02         Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, either Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series and all interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustees if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01 occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all the Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustees or any Holder.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by either Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article Five, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), by written notice to the Company and the Trustees, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

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(1) the Company has paid or deposited with either Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)),

 

(a) all overdue interest (if any) on all Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) and any related coupons,

 

(b) all unpaid principal of and premium (if any) on any Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal and premium (if any) at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(c) to the extent that payment of such interest is legally enforceable, interest on overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

(d) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustees hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees, their agents and counsel; and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 5.03         Collection of Debt and Suits for Enforcement by Trustees.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security and any related coupon when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium (if any) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustees, pay to the applicable Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) and interest on any overdue principal, overdue premium (if any) and, to the extent lawful, overdue interest (if any), at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees, their agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustees, in their own names as trustees of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

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If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) occurs and is continuing, either Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series (or of all series, as the case may be) by such appropriate judicial proceedings as such Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 5.04         Trustees May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, each Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether either Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium (if any) or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium (if any), or such portion of the principal amount of any series of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities as may be specified in the terms of such series, and interest (if any) owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of such Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to such Trustee and, in the event that such Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to such Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of each Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to such Trustee under Section 6.07.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustees to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustees to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 5.05         Trustees May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture, the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustees without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by either Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

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Section 5.06         Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by either Trustee pursuant to this Article Five shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustees and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First: to the payment of all amounts due the Trustees under Section 6.07;

 

Second: to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any), on the Securities and coupons in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any), respectively; and

 

Third: the balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

Section 5.07         Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupons shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Securities, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustees of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, shall have made written request to the Trustees to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in their own names as Trustees hereunder;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustees reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4) the Trustees for 60 days after their receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity have failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustees during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities;

 

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it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or of Holders of all Securities in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or of Holders of all Securities in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01.

 

Section 5.08         Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including, if applicable, Article Fourteen) and in such Security, of the principal of and premium (if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest (if any) on, such Security or payment of such coupon on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder as contemplated by Article Twelve, on the Repayment Date) and subject to the limitations on a Holder’s ability to institute suit contained Section 5.07, to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 5.09         Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If either Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to such Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustees and the Holders of Securities and coupons shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustees and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 5.10         Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustees or to the Holders of Securities or coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11         Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustees or of any Holder of any Security or coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustees or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustees or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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Section 5.12         Control by Holders.

 

With respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustees, relating to or arising under clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, and, with respect to all Securities, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustees, not relating to or arising under clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, provided that in each case

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(2) the Trustees may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustees which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

(3) the Trustees need not take any action which might involve them in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.

 

Section 5.13         Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 5.02, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01 (or, in the case of a Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities may waive any such past Default), and its consequences, except a default

 

(1) in respect of the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Security or any related coupon, or

 

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision herein which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, any such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 5.14         Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustees, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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Section 5.15         Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against either Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in Trust Indenture Legislation; provided, however, that neither this Section 5.15 nor the provisions of TIA Section 315(e) shall apply to any suit instituted by either Trustee or by any Holder or group of Holders holding more than 10% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities or by any Holder of any Security on any suit for the enforcement of the right to receive the principal of and interest on any such Securities.

 

ARTICLE Six
THE TRUSTEES

 

Section 6.01         Notice of Defaults.

 

Each Trustee shall promptly give the other Trustee notice of any Default or Event of Default known to it. Within a reasonable time, but no more than 30 days after either Trustee has knowledge of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, one or both of the Trustees shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in Trust Indenture Legislation, including TIA Section 313(c), notice to the Holders of such Default hereunder known to either Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived (and, in the case where such Default shall have been cured, the Trustees shall notify the Holders in writing of such cure in writing within a reasonable time, but not exceeding 30 days, after the Trustees have become aware that the Default has been cured); provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustees shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of each Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons; provided further that in the case of any Default of the character specified in clause (4) of Section 5.01 with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

Section 6.02         Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees.

 

(a)          The Trustees, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of any series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustees.

 

(b)          In all instances, in the exercise of the powers, rights, duties and discharge of obligations prescribed or conferred by the terms of this Indenture, each Trustee shall act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Holders and exercise that degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent trustee in respect of indentures for the purpose of issuing corporate debt obligations would exercise in comparable circumstances.

 

(c)          No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve each Trustee from liability for its own actions or failure to act in accordance with Subsection 6.02(b), except that:

 

(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

 

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(A) the duties and obligations of each Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustees shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustees; and

 

(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of either Trustee, such Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustees and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture and Trust Indenture Legislation; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustees, the Trustees shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however, the Canadian Trustee shall not be required to determine whether the certificates or opinions presented to it conform to the Trust Indenture Act and the U.S. Trustee shall not be required to determine whether the certificates or opinions presented to it conform to Canadian Trust Indenture Legislation.

 

(ii) the Trustees shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by them in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustees under this Indenture;

 

(iii) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require either Trustee to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur personal or any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers; and

 

(iv) whether or not therein expressly so provided, except to the extent expressly provided herein to the contrary, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or effecting the liability or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.02.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.02 or any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities, the Trustees will not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Event of Default or any other fact that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustees, or the taking of any other action by the Trustees, unless and until the Trustees have received written notice thereof from the Company or any Holder.

 

Section 6.03         Certain Rights of Trustees.

 

Subject to the provisions of TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d):

 

(1) the Trustees may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

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(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustees shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, each Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

 

(4) the Trustees may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by them hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(5) the Trustees shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustees reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by them in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6) the Trustees shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustees, in their discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as they may see fit, and, if the Trustees shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, they shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

(7) in an Event of Default, the Trustees’ powers shall not be infringed upon so long as they act in accordance with Section 6.02(b);

 

(8) the Trustees may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustees shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by them hereunder; and

 

(9) the Trustees shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by them in good faith and believed by them to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon them by this Indenture, so long as they act in accordance with this Section 6.02(b).

 

Section 6.04         Trustees Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except for a Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or coupons, except that the Trustees represent that they are duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform their obligations hereunder and that the statements made by the U.S. Trustee in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. Nothing herein contained will impose on either Trustee any obligation to see to, or to require evidence of, the registration or filing (or renewal thereof) of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture. The Trustees shall not be bound to give notice to any person of the execution hereof.

 

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Section 6.05         May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustees, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustees, in their individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and coupons and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company, including, without limitation, as a creditor of the Company, with the same rights they would have if they were not Trustees, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent. A Trustee that has resigned or is removed shall remain subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent provided therein.

 

Section 6.06         Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustees in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustees shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by them hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

Section 6.07         Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon their request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the U.S. Trustee’s gross negligence or bad faith or the Canadian Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, respectively; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustees for, and to hold them and their directors, officers, agents, representatives, successors, assigns and employees harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the U.S. Trustee, or gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Canadian Trustee, respectively, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder.

 

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The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.07 to compensate the Trustees, to pay or reimburse the Trustees for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustees shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Company, the Trustees shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustees as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on particular Securities or any coupons.

 

When the Trustees incur expenses or render services in connection with an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, the expenses (including reasonable charges and expense of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable United States or Canadian federal, state or provincial bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.07 shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.08         Corporate Trustees Required; Eligibility.

 

(1) There shall be at all times a U.S. Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and, together with its immediate parent, shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If the U.S. Trustee publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of United States federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.08, the combined capital and surplus of U.S. Trustee shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the U.S. Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.08, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

 

(2) For so long as required by Trust Indenture Legislation, there shall be a Canadian Trustee under this Indenture. The Canadian Trustee shall at all times be a resident or authorized to do business in the Province of [British Columbia] and any other province in Canada where Holders may be resident from time to time. The Canadian Trustee represents and warrants that no material conflict of interest exists in the Canadian Trustee’s role as a fiduciary hereunder and agrees that in the event of a material conflict of interest arising hereafter it will, within 30 days after ascertaining that it has such material conflict of interest, either eliminate the same or resign its trust hereunder. If any such material conflict of interests exists or hereafter shall exist, the validity and enforceability of this Indenture shall not be affected in any manner whatsoever by reason thereof.

 

(3) The Trustees will not be required to give any bond or security in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers set out in this Indenture or otherwise in respect of the premises.

 

(4) Neither Trustee nor any Affiliate of either Trustee shall be appointed a receiver or receiver and manager or liquidator of all or any part of the assets or undertaking of the Company.

 

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Section 6.09         Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(1) No resignation or removal of either Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article Six shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.10.

 

(2) Either Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.10 shall not have been delivered to such Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(3) Either Trustee may be removed following 30 days notice at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to such Trustee and to the Company.

 

(4) If at any time:

 

(i) either Trustee shall acquire any conflicting interest as defined in TIA Section 310(b) and fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b)(i), or

 

(ii) either Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(iii) either Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(iv) either Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of such Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of such Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by a Board Resolution, may remove such Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of such Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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(5) If either Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series) provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to appoint a successor Trustee to the Canadian Trustee if the Canadian Trustee resigns or is removed and a Canadian Trustee under this Indenture is no longer required under Trust Indenture Legislation. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(6) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

(7) If a Canadian Trustee under this Indenture is no longer required by Trust Indenture Legislation, then the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Canadian Trustee.

 

Section 6.10         Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

(1) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

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(2) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of Securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms “Indenture” and “Securities” shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definitions of those terms in Section 1.01 which contemplate such situation.

 

(3) Upon reasonable request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section 6.10, as the case may be.

 

(4) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article Six.

 

Section 6.11         Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any corporation into which either Trustee or its corporate trust business may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which either Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of either Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by a Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of such Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

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Section 6.12         Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Trustees may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents, with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustees to authenticate Securities of such series and the Trustees shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the applicable Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustees, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustees or either Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustees by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustees by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or the laws of Canada or any province thereof, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by United States federal or state or Canadian federal or provincial authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 6.12.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustees or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustees and to the Company. The Trustees may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, the Trustees may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 6.12.

 

The Trustees agree to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.12, and the Trustees shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.07.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.12, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to either Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

(Certificate of Authentication may be executed by either Trustee)

 

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_____________________, as U.S. Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: ____________

 

  ____________________________________________,
  as U.S. Trustee

 

   
  By:  
    As Authenticating Agent
     
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

_____________________, as Canadian Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: ____________

 

  ____________________________________________,
  as Canadian Trustee

 

     
  By:  
    As Authenticating Agent
     
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

Section 6.13         Joint Trustees.

 

The rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred and imposed upon the Trustees are conferred and imposed upon and shall be exercised and performed by the U.S. Trustee and the Canadian Trustee individually, except to the extent the Trustees are required under Trust Indenture Legislation to perform such acts jointly, and neither Trustee shall be liable or responsible for the acts or omissions of the other Trustee. If the U.S. Trustee and Canadian Trustee are unable to agree jointly to act or refrain from acting, the applicable Trustee shall make the decision in accordance with its applicable legislation. Unless the context implies or requires otherwise, any written notice, request, direction, certificate, instruction, opinion or other document (each such document, a “Writing”) delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture to any of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee shall be deemed for all purposes of this Indenture as delivery of such Writing to the Trustee. Each such Trustee in receipt of such Writing shall notify such other Trustee of its receipt of such Writing within two Business Days of such receipt provided, however, that any failure of such trustee in receipt of such Writing to so notify such other Trustee shall not be deemed as a deficiency in the delivery of such Writing to the Trustee.

 

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Section 6.14         Other Rights of Trustees.

 

Each Trustee shall retain the right not to act and shall not be liable for refusing to act if, due to a lack of information or for any other reason whatsoever, either Trustee, in its sole judgment, determines that such act might cause it to be in non-compliance with any applicable anti-money laundering or anti-terrorist legislation, regulation or guideline. Further, should either Trustee, in its sole judgment, determine at any time that its acting under this Indenture has resulted in its being in non-compliance with any applicable anti-money laundering or anti-terrorist legislation, regulation or guideline, then it shall have the right to resign on 10 days written notice to all parties provided (i) that such Trustee’s written notice shall describe the circumstances of such non-compliance; and (ii) that if such circumstances are rectified to such Trustee’s satisfaction within such 10 day period, then such resignation shall not be effective.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that Canadian federal and provincial legislation addressing the protection of individuals’ personal information (collectively, “Privacy Laws”) applies to obligations and activities under this Indenture. Despite any other provision of this Indenture, neither party shall take or direct any action that would contravene, or cause the other to contravene, applicable Privacy Laws. The Company, prior to transferring, or causing to be transferred, personal information to the Canadian Trustee, shall obtain and retain required consents of the relevant individuals to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information, or shall have determined that such consents either have been previously given and can be relied on or are not required under Privacy Laws. The Canadian Trustee shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that its services hereunder comply with Privacy Laws. Specifically, the Trustee agrees to (i) have designated a chief privacy officer; (ii) maintain policies and procedures to protect personal information and to receive and respond to any privacy complaint or inquiry; (iii) use personal information solely for the purposes of providing its services under or ancillary to this Indenture and not to use it for any other purpose except with the consent and direction of the Company; (iv) not sell or otherwise improperly disclose personal information to any third party; and (v) use employee administrative, physical and technological safeguards to reasonably secure and protect personal information against loss, theft or unauthorized access, use or modification.

 

It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the Canadian Trustee may, in the course of providing services hereunder, collect or receive, use and disclose financial and other personal information about such parties and/or their representatives, as individuals, or about other individuals related to the subject matter hereof, and use such information for the following purposes:

 

(i) to provide the services required under this Indenture and other services that may be requested from time to time;

 

(ii) to help the Canadian Trustee manage its servicing relationships with such individuals;

 

(iii) to meet the Canadian Trustee’s legal and regulatory requirements; and

 

(iv) if social insurance numbers are collected by the Canadian Trustee, to perform tax reporting and to assist in verification of an individual’s identity for security purposes.

 

Further, each party agrees that it shall not provide or cause to be provided to the Canadian Trustee any personal information relating to an individual who is not a party to this Indenture unless that party has assured itself that such individual understands and has consented to the aforementioned uses and disclosures. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company and the Trustees may, without liability, disclose information about the Holders and beneficial owners or potential Holders or potential beneficial owners of the Securities pursuant to subpoena or other order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or when otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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Each Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided for and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and to hold all rights, privileges and benefits conferred hereby and by law in trust for the various persons who shall from time to time be holders, subject to all the terms and conditions herein set forth.

 

ARTICLE Seven
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 7.01         Company to Furnish Trustees Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustees (1) not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, or such lesser time as required by the Trustees, a list, in such form as the Trustees may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of such Regular Record Date; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustees by the Company or at such times as either Trustee is acting as Security Registrar for the applicable series of Securities and (2) at such other times as the Trustees may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished.

 

Section 7.02         Preservation of List of Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Trustees shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to them as provided in Section 7.01 and as to the names and addresses of Holders received by either Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar for the applicable series of Securities (if acting in such capacity).

 

The Trustees may destroy any list furnished as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

Holders may communicate as provided in TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.

 

Section 7.03         Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustees that none of the Company or the Trustees or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustees shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

 

Section 7.04         Reports by Trustees.

 

(1) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first year after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the U.S. Trustee shall transmit to the Holders of Securities, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such reporting date, if required by TIA Section 313(a).

 

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(2) The U.S. Trustee shall comply with TIA Sections 313(b) and 313(c).

 

(3) A copy of such report shall, at the time of such transmission to the Holders, be filed by the U.S. Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any of the Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustees when the Securities become listed on any securities exchange.

 

Section 7.05         Reports by the Company.

 

(1) The Company will file with the Trustees, within 20 days after filing with or furnishing to the Commission, copies of its annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file or furnish with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustees and the Commission, in accordance with rules and reulations prescribed by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed in such rules and regulations; provided that any such reports, information or documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system shall be deemed filed with the Trustees.

 

(2) The Company will transmit to all Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustees, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraph (1) of this Section 7.05 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

(3) If at any time the Securities are guaranteed by a direct or indirect parent of the Company, and such parent has furnished the reports required by this Section 7.05 with respect to parent as required by this Section 7.05 as if parent were the Company (including any financial information required hereby), the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section 7.05.

 

ARTICLE Eight
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 8.01         Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not amalgamate or consolidate with or merge into or enter into any statutory arrangement with any other Person, or, directly or indirectly, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

 

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(1) the Person formed by or continuing from such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or with which it enters into such statutory arrangement or the Person which acquires by operation of law or by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company shall be a corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof, the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or, if such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, statutory arrangement or other transaction would not impair the rights of Holders, any other country, and, unless the Company is the continuing corporation, shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustees, in form satisfactory to the Trustees, the Company’s obligation for the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on all the Securities and the performance and observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3) the Company or such Person shall have delivered to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, statutory arrangement or other transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the above, the Company may consolidate with, amalgamate with, undergo an arrangement with, merge with or into an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in a state of the United States or the District of Columbia or in another province or territory of Canada.

 

This Section 8.01 shall only apply to a merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which the Company is not the surviving Person and to conveyances, leases and transfers by the Company as transferor or lessor.

 

Section 8.02         Successor Person Substituted.

 

Upon any amalgamation or consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other corporation or a statutory arrangement or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any Person in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or statutory arrangement, or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 8.01), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and the coupons and may be dissolved and liquidated.

 

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ARTICLE Nine
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.01         Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustees, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustees, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities and any related coupons (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(4) to delete or modify any Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities, the form and terms of which are being established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01 (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series, and to specify the rights and remedies of the Trustees and the Holders of such Securities in connection therewith); or

 

(5) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

(6) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01; or

 

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10; or

 

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(9) to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or

 

(10) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Securities of any series to the description of the terms of such Securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of initial sale thereof; or

 

(11) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of the Holders of such Securities; or

 

(12) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(13) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 4.01, 14.02 and 14.03; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

 

(14) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualifications of this Indenture under any applicable law of the United States and Canada or of any province or territory thereof to the extent they do not conflict with the applicable law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted.

 

Section 9.02         Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 9.02, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustees, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustees may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture which affect such series of Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series,

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, premium (if any) or any installment of interest (if any) on any Security of such series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, premium (if any) or the rate of interest (if any) thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security of such series that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.04, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of any Holder of any Security of such series, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security of such series or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 herein, or

 

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(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture which affect such series or certain defaults applicable to such series hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 15.04 for quorum or voting with respect to Securities of such series, or

 

(3) modify any of the provisions of this 9.02 Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.09, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture which affect such series cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. Any such supplemental indenture adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series, shall not affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this 9.02 Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.03         Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. Each Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects such Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.04         Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

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Section 9.05         Conformity with Trust Indenture Legislation.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of Trust Indenture Legislation as then in effect.

 

Section 9.06         Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustees, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustees as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustees and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustees in exchange for outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Section 9.07         Notice of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustees of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

 

ARTICLE Ten
COVENANTS

 

Section 10.01         Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities and any related coupons that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any), on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, any interest installments due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.

 

Section 10.02         Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

(1) If the Securities of a series are issuable as Registered Securities, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served and, if the Securities of a series are also issuable as Bearer Securities, where Bearer Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented or surrendered for payment in the circumstances described in Subsection 10.02(3).

 

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(2) If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain (A) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series which is located outside the United States, an office or agency where Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however, that, if the Securities of that series are listed on any securities exchange located outside the United States and such securities exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that series in any required city located outside the United States so long as the Securities of that series are listed on such exchange and (B) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series located outside the United States an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible and exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.

 

(3) The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustees of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustees with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Offices of the Trustees, except that Bearer Securities of any series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment at the offices specified in the Security and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agents to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

(4) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, no payment of principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, that, if the Securities of a series are payable in Dollars, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any), on any Bearer Security shall be made at the office of the Company’s Paying Agent in The City of New York, if (but only if) payment in Dollars of the full amount of such principal, premium or interest, as the case may be, at all offices or agencies outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

 

(5) The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustees of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby initially appoints the U.S. Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in such city and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

(6) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a Currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent.

 

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Section 10.03         Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities and any related coupons, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) sufficient to pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustees of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities and any related coupons, it will, prior to or on each due date of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal, premium (if any) or interest (if any) so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is a Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustees of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent (other than the Trustees) for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees, subject to the provisions of this 10.03 Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(2) give the Trustees notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of such series; and

 

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustees, forthwith pay to the Trustees all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustees all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustees upon the same trusts as those upon which sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustees, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

Except as provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustees or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Security of any series, or any coupon appertaining thereto, and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or coupon shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustees or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustees or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 10.04         Statement as to Compliance.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustees, on or before 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer, that the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or propose to take with respect thereto). The Company shall deliver to the Trustees upon demand evidence in such form as the Trustees may require as to compliance by the Company with any condition or covenant of the Company set out herein relating to any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company under this Indenture or as a result of any obligation imposed by this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 10.04, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

 

Section 10.05         Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

 

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or upon the income, profits or property of the Company, and (2) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon any property or assets of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

Section 10.06         Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

 

Section 10.07         Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition which affects such series set forth in Sections 10.06 and 10.07, or, as specified pursuant to Section 3.01(19) for Securities of such series, in any covenants of the Company added to this Article Ten pursuant to Section 3.01(19) in connection with Securities of such series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any series, by Act of such Holders, waive such compliance in such instance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustees to Holders of Securities of such series in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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ARTICLE Eleven
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.01         Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

 

Section 11.02         Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustees.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustees), notify the Trustees of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustees such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustees to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.03. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

Section 11.03         Selection by Trustees of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustees, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustees shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

The Trustees shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.04         Notice of Redemption.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 1.07 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice in the manner provided in Section 1.07 to the Holder of any Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

 

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All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.06, if any,

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

 

(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

(5) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest (if any) to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.06 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest (if any),

 

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

 

(8) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all coupons maturing subsequent to the Redemption Date or the amount of any such missing coupon or coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustees and any Paying Agent is furnished, and

 

(9) if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on such Redemption Date pursuant to Section 3.05 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustees in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

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Section 11.05         Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with a Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest (if any) on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 11.06         Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) (together with accrued interest (if any) to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest (if any)) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (if any), to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest; provided further that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

 

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustees if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustees or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and premium (if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

 

Section 11.07         Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustees so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustees duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

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ARTICLE Twelve
SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.01         Applicability of Article.

 

Retirements of Securities of any series pursuant to any sinking fund shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Twelve.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

Section 12.02         Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

Subject to Section 12.03, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustees Outstanding Securities of a such series (other than any previously called for redemption) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all un-matured coupons appertaining thereto, and/or (2) receive credit for the principal amount of Securities of such series which have been previously delivered to the Trustees by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of the same series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided, however, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustees at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 12.03         Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering or crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02 (which Securities will, if not previously delivered, accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series.

 

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Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such certificate, the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Securities as provided in Section 12.02 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

 

Not more than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustees shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.06 and 11.07.

 

Prior to any sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustees or a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) in cash a sum equal to any interest that will accrue to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this 12.03 Section.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a sinking fund for any series of Securities, if at any time the amount of cash to be paid into such sinking fund on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date, together with any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payment or payments for such series, does not exceed in the aggregate $100,000, the Trustees, unless requested by the Company, shall not give the next succeeding notice of the redemption of Securities of such series through the operation of the sinking fund. Any such unused balance of moneys deposited in such sinking fund shall be added to the sinking fund payment for such series to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date or, at the request of the Company, shall be applied at any time or from time to time to the purchase of Securities of such series, by public or private purchase, in the open market or otherwise, at a purchase price for such Securities (excluding accrued interest and brokerage commissions, for which the Trustees or any Paying Agent will be reimbursed by the Company) not in excess of the principal amount thereof.

 

ARTICLE Thirteen
REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 13.01         Applicability of Article.

 

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Thirteen.

 

Section 13.02         Repayment of Securities.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, together with interest (if any) thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that, with respect to such Securities, on or before the Repayment Date it will deposit with a Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) sufficient to pay the principal (or, if so provided by the terms of the Securities of any series, a percentage of the principal) of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest (if any) on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.

 

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Section 13.03         Exercise of Option.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

 

Section 13.04         When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

 

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article Thirteen and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest- bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Repayment Date, the principal amount of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest (if any) to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that coupons whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of such coupons; provided further that, in the case of Registered Securities, installments of interest (if any) whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

 

If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Repayment Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the amount payable therefor as provided in Section 13.02 an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustees if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustees or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made as provided in the preceding sentence, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

 

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If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal amount and premium (if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

 

Section 13.05         Securities Repaid in Part.

 

Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

 

ARTICLE Fourteen
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 14.01         Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, the provisions of this Article Fourteen shall apply to each series of Securities, and the Company may, at its option, effect defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 14.02, or covenant defeasance of or within a series under Section 14.03 in accordance with the terms of such Securities and in accordance with this Article Fourteen.

 

Section 14.02         Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 14.02 with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities and any related coupons on the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and any related coupons, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 14.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and any related coupons and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any related coupons are concerned (and the Trustees, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Securities and any related coupons to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities and any related coupons when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustees hereunder and (D) this Article Fourteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 14.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.03 with respect to such Securities and any related coupons.

 

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Section 14.03         Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 14.03 with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 10.05 and 10.06, and, if specified pursuant to Section 3.01, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Securities and any related coupons on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities and any related coupons shall thereafter be deemed not to be “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities and any related coupons, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under clauses (4) or (7) of Section 5.01 or otherwise but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any related coupons shall be unaffected thereby.

 

Section 14.04         Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to any Securities of or within a series and any related coupons:

 

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with either Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.08 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons, (A) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities and any related coupons are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (B) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest (if any) under such Securities and any related coupons, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustees, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustees (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.08 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities and any related coupons on the Stated Maturity (or Redemption Date, if applicable) of such principal of, premium (if any) or installment of interest (if any), (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Securities and any related coupons on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any related coupons, and (iii) all amounts due the Trustees under Section 6.07; provided that the Trustees shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities and any related coupons. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustees, in accordance with Section 11.02, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of such Securities and Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

 

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(2) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any related coupons shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as clauses (5) and (6) of Section 5.01 are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(3) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default or an Event of Default under, this Indenture or any default under any material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(4) In the case of an election under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Opinion of Counsel in the United States stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

(5) In the case of an election under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Opinion of Counsel in the United States to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(6) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Opinion of Counsel in Canada or a ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax or other tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, and will be subject to Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax and other tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case had such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, not occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume that Holders of such Securities include Holders who are not resident in Canada).

 

(7) The Company is not an “insolvent person” within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) on the date of such deposit or at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(8) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 14.04, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

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(9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for, relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03 (as the case may be), have been complied with.

 

Section 14.05         Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with a Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.08 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen) pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of such Securities and any related coupons shall be held in trust and applied by such Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any related coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 3.01, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 14.04(1) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 3.12(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 14.04(1) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 3.12(d) or 3.12(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 14.04(1) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any related coupons shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the third Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify such Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons.

 

Anything in this Article Fourteen to the contrary notwithstanding, such Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 14.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to such Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article Fourteen.

 

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Section 14.06         Reinstatement.

 

If a Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 14.05 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and any related coupons shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 14.02 or 14.03, as the case may be, until such time as such Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 14.05; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any such Security or any related coupon following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons to receive such payment from the money held by such Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE Fifteen
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 15.01         Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article Fifteen to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

Section 15.02         Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(1) The Trustees may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 15.01, to be held at such time and at such place in The City of New York, in Vancouver or in London as the Trustees shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(2) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustees to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 15.01, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustees shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in The City of New York, in Vancouver or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in paragraph (1) of this Section 15.02.

 

Section 15.03         Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder of Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustees and their counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

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Section 15.04         Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that, if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chair of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chair of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 15.02(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Subject to the foregoing, at the reconvening of any meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum the Persons entitled to vote 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities at the time shall constitute a quorum for the taking of any action set forth in the notice of the original meeting.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series who have casted their votes; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section 15.04 shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 15.04, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

 

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(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.

 

Section 15.05         Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

(1) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture, the Trustees may make such reasonable regulations as they may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as they shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.05 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.05 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 1.05 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.05 or other proof.

 

(2) The Trustees shall, by an instrument in writing appoint a temporary chair of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 15.02(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair. A permanent chair and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(3) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him (determined as specified in the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01); provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chair of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chair of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or a proxy.

 

(4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 15.02 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

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Section 15.06         Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers, if any, of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chair of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 15.02 and, if applicable, Section 15.04. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chair and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustees to be preserved by the Trustees, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  __________________________________,
  as U.S. Trustee

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  __________________________________,
  as Canadian Trustee

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:   Authorized Signing Officer
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:   Authorized Signing Officer

 

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EXHIBIT A-1

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY
PERSON ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BEARER SECURITY
OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR
TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

 

CERTIFICATE

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
_____% Notes due _________________

 

This is to certify that as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by any person(s) that is not a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation or partnership (including any entity treated as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia unless, in the case of a partnership, United States Treasury Regulations provide otherwise; any estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or a trust if (A) a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it was in existence on August 20, 1996 and has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person (“United States persons(s)”), (ii) are owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States. United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise Acreage Holdings, Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, in addition, if the owner is a United States or foreign financial institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)), this is to further certify that such financial institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

 

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

We undertake to advise you promptly in writing on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your operating procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.

 

This certificate excepts and does not relate to U.S. $__________ of such interest in the above-captioned Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand an exchange for an interest in a permanent global security or an exchange for and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.

 

A-1-1

 

 

We understand that this certificate may be required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Dated:__________________
[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to
(i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest
Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange
Date, as applicable]

 

[Name of Person Making Certification]

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

A-1-2

 

 

EXHIBIT A-2

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY THE DEPOSITARY
IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF A PORTION OF A
TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST
PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

 

CERTIFICATE

 

ACREAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
_____% Notes due _________________

 

This is to certify that based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our “Member Organizations”) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, U.S. $__________ principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by any person(s) that is not a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation or partnership (including any entity treated as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia unless, in the case of a partnership, United States Treasury Regulations provide otherwise; any estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or a trust if (A) a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it was in existence on August 20, 1996 and has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person (“United States person(s)”), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise Acreage Holdings, Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)) and, to the further effect, that financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

 

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.

 

A-2-1

 

 

We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Dated:_____________
[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to
(i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest
Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange
Date, as applicable]

 

[INSERT NAME OF DEPOSITARY]

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

A-2-2

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

 

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

Suite 6000, 1 First Canadian Place
PO Box 367, 100 King St W
Toronto ON M5X 1E2

www.dlapiper.com

 

 

October 21, 2020

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York, 10017

 

Dear Sirs/Mesdames

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”)

 

We have acted as British Columbia and Ontario counsel to Acreage Holdings, Inc., a British Columbia company (the “Company”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the registration by the Company, under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of: (A) the offer and sale by ‎the Company from time to time of: (i) up to U.S.$300,000,000 aggregate offering price of (a) ‎ Class E subordinate voting shares, without par value (“Fixed Shares”), ‎‎(b) Class D subordinate voting shares, without par value (the “Floating Shares”), (c) ‎debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”) which may be issued in one or more ‎series under an indenture proposed to be entered into by the Company and the trustee to be ‎named therein, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration ‎Statement, (d) warrants to purchase Fixed Shares or Floating Shares ‎ (the ‎‎“Warrants”), (e) subscription receipts for Fixed Shares, Floating Shares ‎or Warrants (the ‎‎“Subscription Receipts”) and (f) units comprising one or more Fixed Shares, Floating Shares‎, ‎Debt Securities, Warrants or Subscription Receipts in any combination (the “Units”) (the ‎Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts and Units are ‎collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”), which Securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and to be set forth in supplements (each a “Prospectus Supplement”) to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement; (B) the offer and sale by the Company of ‎‎‎4,259,633‎ Fixed Shares underlying warrants (exercisable at U.S.$4.00) and ‎1,825,556‎ Floating Shares underlying warrants (exercisable at U.S.$4.00), in each case previously ‎issued pursuant to a separate prospectus contained in the registration statement; and (C) the resale of (i) ‎ ‎156,799‎‎ Fixed Shares and ‎67,199‎ Floating Shares; and (D) the sale by ‎Acreage Holdings America, Inc. ‎ of ‎589,165‎ Fixed Shares and ‎252,499‎ Floating Shares, each pursuant to separate prospectuses contained in the registration statement.

 

In rendering the opinion stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the ‎Registration Statement. ‎We have also examined such documents and considered such questions of law as we have considered necessary in order to render our opinions expressed below. In rendering our opinions expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or facsimile transmissions. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had (or have at the relevant time) the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been (or will be at the relevant time) duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are (or will be at the relevant time) the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials. We have not undertaken any independent investigation to verify the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing assumptions.

 

 

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For purposes of our opinions expressed below, we have also assumed that (a) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective and such effectiveness will not have been terminated or rescinded, (b) a Prospectus Supplement will have been prepared and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission describing the Securities offered thereby, (c) all Securities will be offered, issued and sold in compliance with applicable United States federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate Prospectus Supplement, (d) any definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (e) any securities issuable upon exercise of any Securities being offered will have been duly authorized, created and, if necessary, reserved for issuance upon such exercise, (f) at the time of any offering or sale of any Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants to purchase Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Units comprised of, in whole or in part, Debt Securities convertible into Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Subscription Receipts for, in whole or in part, Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, and as of the date of the issuance of any Fixed Shares or Floating Shares, as applicable, issuable upon conversion of Debt Securities, exercise of Warrants or Subscription Receipts, there will be sufficient Fixed Shares and Floating Shares, as applicable, authorized and unissued under the Company’s then operative Notice of Articles (the “Notice of Articles”) and not otherwise reserved for issuance, (g) at the time of issuance of the Securities, the Company will validly exist and be duly qualified and in good standing under the laws of British Columbia, and will have the necessary corporate power for such issuance, (h) at the time of issuance of the Securities, the Notice of Articles and then operative Articles of the Company (the “Articles” and collectively with the Notice of Articles, the “Charter Documents”) are in full force and effect and have not been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise altered, and there has been no authorization of any such amendment, restatement, supplement or other alteration, in either case since the date hereof, (i) any Warrant Indenture (defined below), Subscription Receipt Agreement (defined below) or Unit Agreement (defined below) will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto (other than the Company) and constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto (other than the Company), enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, (j) the Warrant Indenture, Subscription Receipt Agreement and Unit Agreement will be governed by Ontario law, and (k) that the issuance, terms, execution and delivery of the Securities (i) will not result in breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments to which the Company is bound or violations of applicable statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, and (ii) will comply with any applicable requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company. We have undertaken no independent investigation to verify the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing assumptions.

 

Whenever our opinions expressed below refer to shares of the Company, whether issued or to be issued, as ‎being “fully paid and non-assessable”, we mean that the holder of such shares cannot ‎be required to contribute any further amounts to the Company by virtue of its status as holder of ‎such shares, either in order to complete payment for the shares, to satisfy claims of creditors or ‎otherwise. We express no opinion as to actual receipt by the Company of the consideration for the ‎issuance of such shares or as to the adequacy of any consideration received.‎

 

Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that:

 

(1) With respect to Fixed Shares offered and/or to be resold under the Registration Statement, when (a) the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (b) certificates representing the Fixed Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, or if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations have been made in the share register of the Company, in each case in accordance with the Charter Documents, either (i) against payment therefor in an amount not less than the amount of such consideration set by the Company’s Board of Directors and permitted under the laws of the Province of British Columbia then in effect and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, if any, approved by the Board of Directors, or (ii) upon exercise or conversion of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security as approved and executed by the Company, for the consideration approved by the Company (in an amount not less than such consideration set by the Company’s Board of Directors and permitted under the laws of the Province of British Columbia then in effect), such Fixed Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

 

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(2) With respect to Floating Shares offered and/or to be resold under the Registration Statement, when (a) the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (b) certificates representing the Floating Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, or if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations have been made in the share register of the Company, in each case in accordance with the Charter Documents, either (i) against payment therefor in an amount not less than the amount of such consideration set by the Company’s Board of Directors and permitted under the laws of the Province of British Columbia then in effect and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, if any, approved by the Board of Directors, or (ii) upon exercise or conversion of any other Security in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security as approved and executed by the Company, for the consideration approved by the Company (in an amount not less than such consideration set by the Company’s Board of Directors and permitted under the laws of the Province of British Columbia then in effect), such Floating Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(3) With respect to Warrants offered under the Registration Statement,‎ when (a) the Company has taken all necessary action to authorize and approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the ‎terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (b) a ‎Warrant Indenture in respect thereof (a “Warrant ‎Indenture”) has been duly authorized, executed and ‎delivered by the Company and a Warrant trustee or agent in respect of the Warrants in accordance with applicable law, and (c) the certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Indenture and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement (assuming the Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action and in accordance with applicable law), the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

(4) With respect to Subscription Receipts offered under the Registration Statement, when (a) the Company has taken all necessary action to authorize and approve ‎the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Subscription Receipts, the terms of the ‎offering thereof and related matters, (b) a subscription receipt agreement in respect thereof (a ‎‎“Subscription Receipt Agreement”) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the ‎Company in accordance with applicable law and (c) the Subscription Receipts have been duly ‎executed and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of the ‎Subscription Receipt Agreement and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement ‎and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement (assuming the Securities issuable upon exercise ‎of the Subscription Receipts have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all ‎necessary corporate action and in accordance with applicable law), the Subscription Receipts will ‎constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in ‎accordance with their terms.‎

 

 

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(5) With respect to Units, assuming that (a) any Fixed Shares that form a part of such Units are validly issued, fully paid and ‎non-assessable, as contemplated in numbered paragraph 1 above, (b) any Floating Shares that form a part of such Units are validly issued, fully paid and ‎non-assessable, as contemplated in numbered paragraph 2 above, (c) any Debt Securities that form a part of such Units constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms, as contemplated in numbered paragraph 3 above, ‎‎(d) any Warrants that form a part of such Units constitute valid ‎and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with ‎their terms, as contemplated in numbered paragraph 4 above, ‎‎(e) any Subscription Receipts that form a part of such Units ‎constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company in ‎accordance with their terms, as contemplated in numbered ‎paragraph 5 above, and (f) when (i) the Company has taken all ‎necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the ‎issuance and terms of the Units (including the Securities ‎which comprise such Units), the terms of the offering thereof ‎and related matters, (ii) any applicable unit agreement has been ‎duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company in ‎accordance with applicable law (a “Unit Agreement”), and (iii) ‎the Units or certificates representing the Units, as the case ‎may be, have been delivered against payment in respect thereof in ‎accordance with the provisions of any applicable Unit ‎Agreement or purchase or similar agreement approved by ‎the Company and in the manner contemplated by the ‎Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus ‎Supplement, the Units will constitute valid and binding ‎obligations of the Company,‎ enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.‎

 

Our opinions expressed herein are subject to the following qualifications:‎

 

(a) the enforceability of any agreement may be limited by bankruptcy,‎ reorganization, winding-up, insolvency, ‎moratorium, arrangement, fraudulent preference ‎and conveyance, assignment and preference and ‎other similar laws of general application affecting ‎the enforcement of creditor’s rights;‎

 

(b) we express no opinion as to the enforceability of any term providing for the severance of void, illegal or unenforceable provisions from the remaining provisions of an ‎agreement;‎

 

(c) we express no opinion as to the enforceability of any term providing that modifications, amendments or waivers are not binding unless in writing;‎

 

(d) we express no opinion with respect to rights to indemnity and contribution;‎

 

(e) the enforceability of the obligations of a party under any agreement is subject to general principles of equity, including, without ‎limitation:‎

 

(i) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing in performance and ‎enforcement of a contract required of ‎the party seeking its enforcement;‎

 

 

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(ii) the discretion exercisable by a court with respect to equitable remedies, such as specific performance and injunction;‎

 

(iii) the discretion exercisable by a court with respect to stays of enforcement proceedings and execution of judgments;‎

 

(iv) the effect of vitiating factors, such as mistake,‎ misrepresentation, fraud, duress or undue influence; and

 

(v) the discretion of a court with respect to the enforcement of provisions in an agreement to the effect that ‎certain factual or legal determinations, ‎calculations or certificates will be ‎conclusive and binding;‎

 

(f) a court may reserve to itself the right to decline jurisdiction in any action if the court is an inconvenient forum to ‎hear the action or if concurrent proceedings are ‎being brought elsewhere, notwithstanding any ‎waiver of the right to raise such objection or ‎defence thereto;‎

 

(g) the right to exercise any unilateral or unfettered discretion pursuant to an agreement will not prevent a court from ‎requiring such discretion to be exercised ‎reasonably; and

 

(h) the recoverability of costs and expenses may be limited to those a court considers to be reasonably incurred, the costs and expenses incidental to all court proceedings are ‎in the discretion of the court and the court has the discretion to determine by whom and to what ‎extent these costs shall be paid.‎

 

The foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the Provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein on the date hereof, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction, domestic or foreign.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we hereby consent to the filing hereof as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

 

 

October 21, 2020

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc.

366 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York, 10017

 

Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as United States counsel to Acreage Holdings, Inc., a British Columbia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to (i) the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of up to $300,000,000 aggregate offering price of (a) Class E subordinate voting shares of the Company, no par value (the “Fixed Shares”), (b) Class D subordinate voting shares of the Company, no par value (the “Floating Shares”), (c) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”) which may be issued in one or more series under an indenture proposed to be entered into by the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”), the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Indenture”), (d) warrants to purchase Fixed Shares or Floating Shares (the “Warrants”), (e) subscription receipts for Fixed Shares, Floating Shares or Warrants (the “Subscription Receipts”) and (f) units comprising one or more Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants or Subscription Receipts in any combination (the “Units”); (ii) 4,259,633 Fixed Shares underlying warrants (exercisable at $4.00) previously issued and 1,825,556 Floating Shares underlying warrants (exercisable at $4.00) previously issued; (iii) the resale of 156,799 Fixed Shares and 67,199 Floating Shares; and (iv) the resale of 589,165 Fixed Shares and 252,499 Floating Shares. The Fixed Shares, Floating Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Receipts and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”. As used herein, “Transaction Agreements” means the Indenture and any officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of the Offered Debt Securities (as defined herein).This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

In rendering the opinion stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement and the Indenture. We have also examined such documents and have reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of our opinion set forth below. In rendering our opinion set forth below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements and instruments, that such agreements and instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and, except to the extent expressly stated in the opinion contained herein, that such agreements and instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. As to questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc.

October 21 2020

Page 2

 

Based on the foregoing, and assuming that (i) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be so effective, (ii) a prospectus supplement to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, describing the Debt Securities offered thereby, will have been prepared and filed with the Commission under the Securities Act, (iii) all Debt Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement, (iv) the Company is duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (v) none of the terms of any Debt Security to be established subsequent to the date hereof, nor the issuance, sale or delivery of such Debt Security, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Debt Security, (a) will violate (1) any applicable law or (2) the organizational documents of the Company or (b) will result in a violation or breach of (1) any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any of its assets or (2) any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets, (vi) any applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and any other applicable agreement with respect to any Debt Securities offered or sold, will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company, (viii) the Transaction Agreements will be governed by the laws of the State of New York and (ix) any securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any Debt Securities being offered or sold will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement, we are of the opinion that: with respect to any Debt Securities to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (a) the Trustee has been qualified to act as trustee under the Indenture, (b) the Indenture and any officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, (c) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (d) the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and their issuance and sale in conformity with the Indenture and any officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture, and (e) the Offered Debt Securities have been issued, executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and any officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any other security, in accordance with the terms of such security or the instrument governing such security providing for such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the Offered Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

 

 

 

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc.

October 21 2020

Page 3

 

Our opinion set forth above is subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

 

(a) Our opinion set forth above is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws).

 

(b) Our opinion set forth above is subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

(c) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Document relating to any indemnification, contribution, non-reliance, exculpation, release, limitation or exclusion of remedies, waiver or other provisions having similar effect that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations, or to the extent any such provision purports to, or has the effect of, waiving or altering any statute of limitations.

 

(d) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of (i) provisions that relate to choice of law, forum selection or submission to jurisdiction (including, without limitation, any express or implied waiver of any objection to venue in any court or of any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), (ii) waivers by the Company of any statutory or constitutional rights or remedies, (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require the Company to indemnify such person or entity against, such person’s or entity’s negligence or willful misconduct or (iv) obligations to pay any prepayment premium, default interest rate, early termination fee or other form of liquidated damages, if the payment of such premium, interest rate, fee or damages may be construed as unreasonable in relation to actual damages or disproportionate to actual damages suffered as a result of such prepayment, default or termination.

 

(e) We draw your attention to the fact that, under certain circumstances, the enforceability of terms to the effect that provisions may not be waived or modified except in writing may be limited.

 

(f) We have assumed that any agent of service will have accepted appointment as agent to receive service of process and call to your attention that we do not express any opinion if and to the extent such agent shall resign such appointment.  Further, we do not express any opinion with respect to the irrevocability of the designation of such agent to receive service of process.

 

 

 

 

 

Acreage Holdings, Inc.

October 21 2020

Page 4

 

(g) We note that, as of the date of this opinion, a judgment for money in an action based on a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit in a federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in United States dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the foreign currency or currency unit in which a particular Security is denominated into United States dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment. Under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on a Security would be required to render that judgment in the foreign currency or currency unit in which the Security is denominated, and the judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment.

 

(h) We call to your attention that the opinion stated herein is subject to possible judicial action giving effect to governmental actions or laws of jurisdictions other than those with respect to which we express our opinion.

 

Our opinion expressed above is limited to the laws of the State of New York. The Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Dorsey & Whitney LLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Acreage Holdings, Inc. on Form S-3 of our report dated May 29, 2020, with respect to our audit of the consolidated financial statements of Acreage Holdings, Inc. as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Acreage Holdings, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2019. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectuses, which are part of this Registration Statement.

 

Our report on the consolidated financial statements refers to a change in the method of accounting for leases effective January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of the guidance in ASC Topic 842, Leases.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum LLP

New York, NY

October 20 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.3 

 

Consent of Eight Capital

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “S-3”) of Acreage Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) of our new fairness opinion dated June 24, 2020 (the “Eight Capital Opinion”) as to the fairness of the consideration receivable under the proposal agreement by and between the Company and Canopy Growth Corporation (“Canopy”) dated June 24, 2020 whereby the Company and Canopy will enter into an amending agreement to amend the existing arrangement agreement dated April 18, 2019, as amended on May 15, 2019 by and between the Company and Canopy, from a financial point of view, to the Company shareholders (other than Canopy and/or its affiliates) appearing in this Registration Statement being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

We also consent to the inclusion of summaries of the Eight Capital Opinion and all references to the Eight Capital Opinion in the documents incorporated by reference in the S-3.

 

We also consent to the references to us contained in the S-3 and in the documents incorporated by reference therein.

 

In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

 

/s/ Eight Capital

 

EIGHT CAPITAL

 

October 21, 2020

Toronto, Ontario