TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (this "Annual Report") contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, financial condition, business strategies and plans, market opportunity, competitive position, industry environment, and potential growth opportunities. In some cases, you can identify forward- looking statements by terms such as "may", "will", "should", "believe", "expect", "could", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "continue", "predict", "project", "potential", "target," "goal" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. While our management considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, they are inherently subject to significant business, competitive, economic, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including, among others, those discussed in this Annual Report, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report. Risks and uncertainties, the occurrence of which could adversely affect our business, include, but are not limited to, the following:

Given the foregoing risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report. The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results of operations and financial condition may differ materially from such forward- looking statements. In addition, even if our results of operations and financial condition are consistent with the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

Any forward-looking statement that we make in this Annual Report speaks only as of the date of this Annual Report. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Annual Report.

Risk Factor Summary

There are a number of risks that you should carefully consider before making an investment in our business. These risks are discussed more fully in Item 1.A. of this Annual Report below. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. These risk factors include, but are not limited to:

PART I

Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Annual Report to the "Company," "Flora," "we," "us," "our," and similar references refer to Flora Growth Corp. and our subsidiaries.

Our functional currency and reporting currency is the United States dollar, the legal currency of the United States of America (the "U.S.") (which we refer to as "USD", "US$" or "$").

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Flora Growth Corp. was incorporated on March 13, 2019, under the laws of the Province of Ontario. We are a multi-national cannabis company that manufactures and distributes consumer packaged goods and distributes medicinal cannabis and pharmaceutical products.

Mission

Flora exists to create a world where the benefits of cannabis are accessible to everyone.

Development Overview

In May 2021, the Company completed its initial public offering ("IPO") of its Common Shares and commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the ticker symbol "FLGC." Prior to our IPO, the Company engaged in a series of transactions in Colombia which laid the foundation for our growth and development. These transactions included the acquisition of our interests in Flora Labs 1, 2 and 4 (hereinafter defined), our previously owned Cosechemos cultivation and processing facility and a number of brands.

Since our IPO, Flora has acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests in each of:

On July 5, 2023, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Lisan Farma Colombia LLC ("Lisan") to sell all of its ownership interests in Flora Growth Corp Colombia S.A.S., Flora Lab S.A.S., Flora Med S.A.S., Cosechemos Ya S.A.S. ("Cosechemos"), Kasa Wholefoods Company S.A.S. and other related Flora assets related to its Colombian operations. To date, the sales of all these Colombian entities have closed.

Business Strategy

Our business strategy is built on two core pillars: House of Brands and Commercial & Wholesale. This strategy was devised to allow us optimal access to markets around the globe based on the legal standing of cannabis in each of the geographical locations in which we operate. Our approach has enabled us to develop distribution networks, build customer bases, establish operations as the regulatory framework evolves and allow for expanded access to cannabis and its derivatives.

House of Brands

Our brand portfolio consists of a mix of products across multiple categories including food and beverage, nutraceuticals, cannabis accessories and technology, personal care and wellness. Consumer brands allow Flora to move assertively into nascent markets, develop customer bases and distribution channels and gather consumer insights which would not be possible with traditional cannabis sales alone. Through this channel we seek to build loyalty, credibility and enjoy healthy margins that help to support the rapid growth of our business.

JustCBD

Just Brands and High Roller (together with Just Brands, "JustCBD") are Flora's leading consumer packaged goods brand. JustCBD was launched in 2017 with a mission to bring high-quality, trustworthy, and budget-friendly CBD products to market. The JustCBD offering currently consists of over 350 products across 15 categories, including CBD gummies, topicals, tinctures, and vape products and ships to over 11,500 independent retailers worldwide. JustCBD also sells direct to consumers with a customer base of approximately 350,000 people. JustCBD products are available for purchase in smoke and vape shops, clinics, spas and pet stores, as well as other independent non-traditional retail channels. JustCBD's products are both internally and third-party lab-tested to ensure quality.

Vessel

Vessel is Flora's cannabis accessory and technology brand currently servicing the United States and Canada through direct-to-consumer and retail sales. Vessel's products include cannabis consumption accessories, personal storage, and travel accessories for the vape and dry herb categories, which are sold to consumers, dispensaries, smoke shops and cannabis brands. Vessel has been fully integrated into JustCBD and now benefits from operational, logistical and sales synergies with JustCBD.

Commercial & Wholesale

The Company's Commercial and Wholesale pillar encompasses the distribution of pharmaceutical products to international markets. This pillar is anchored by Flora's wholly owned subsidiary, Phatebo, a multi-national operator in pharmaceutical and medical cannabis distribution, with principal operations in Germany.

Phatebo

Based in Germany, Phatebo is a wholesale pharmaceutical distribution company with import and export capabilities of a wide range of pharmaceutical goods and medical cannabis products to treat a variety of health indications, including drugs related to cancer therapies, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ("ADHD"), multiple sclerosis and anti-depressants, among others. Phatebo holds a license for the Trade in Narcotic Drugs (including the cannabis sales license amendment) and a wholesale trading license, both of which are issued by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (the "BfArM") (the largest drug approval authority in Europe). Phatebo is focused on distributing pharmaceutical products within 28 countries globally, primarily in Europe, but also with sales to Asia, Latin America, and North America. In November 2018, Phatebo also received a medical cannabis import and distribution license. Additionally, the Phatebo warehouse provides a logistics outpost for Flora's growing product portfolio and distribution network within the European Union. 

Our Competitive Strengths

Due to the competitive and dynamic nature of the emerging cannabis products market and rapid changes in the regulatory environment, Flora does recognize the need to remain flexible, so we can react to opportunities and risks as they develop. Management will continue to re-evaluate and re-prioritize strategies to respond to these developments. We are actively fostering a culture of continued agility and exploration since the ability to pivot depending on market dynamics can result in a competitive advantage.

A diversified strategy

We believe that our growth strategy is our main competitive advantage. By creating our two-pillar approach that addresses the bell curve of the future cannabis industry; consumer packaged goods, commercial cannabis supply chain experience, and cannabis prescription medication, Flora creates a moat, playing brand, vendor, and distributor of a broad collection of cannabis products, owned and brokered, suitable for markets around the world.

Supply chain experience

Flora is continually developing the ability and expertise to move cannabis across the global supply chain in multiple business categories. The cannabis supply chain is complex and has high barriers of entry. Our team has been able to develop a strong understanding of distribution across the globe.

Regulatory expertise

Flora has the necessary regulatory requirements to fulfill needs across the global supply chain. Some of these requirements take several years to acquire.

Experienced management team

With a management team with diverse backgrounds that include public company management, early-stage cannabis, big box and mainstream retail, consumer packaged goods and technology services, Flora believes the right talent has been assembled to take advantage of the opportunities presented in the cannabis industry. Management expects that its experience and strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, the agricultural and scientific processes necessary to develop high quality and consistent medicinal cannabis products, as well as the knowledge and expertise in go to market strategy for its portfolio of brands, will continue to set the Company up for success.

Growth Tactics

Flora's goal is to become a consumer products market leader in distribution of natural, medicinal-grade cannabis and high-quality cannabis derived medical and wellness products for large channel distributors, including pharmacies, medical clinics, and cosmetic companies, continuing to explore strategic partnerships and pursuing accretive acquisitions to supplement our organic growth.

M&A

Acquisition of businesses both domestically and internationally has played a critical role in the growth of the Company. We continue to seek out M&A targets that are accretive in nature and which provide access to previously untapped capabilities within Flora. Essential to this strategy and the evaluation process will be geography, cash flow, positive earnings, management and human capital.

Sales and Marketing

Across our various pillars, we sell products through three main channels: direct-to-consumer, wholesale and retail. Within JustCBD and Phatebo, sales are primarily focused on direct-to-consumer sales through brand websites and wholesale retail partners and are concentrated in the United States. Our international sales are conducted primarily through distribution partners who sell to third party retailers.

Distribution

United States

Distribution activities in the United States are primarily run from our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office and warehouse where all US-based products are housed. Distribution activities include storage, direct to consumer fulfillment as well as wholesale direct and third-party distributor shipments.

Germany, United Kingdom & Europe

Flora has operations in Germany where we are an importer, exporter and distributor of prescription drugs and EU-GMP (as defined below) medical cannabis. Through leveraging Flora's facilities and existing infrastructure and extensive distribution network, we expect to be able to source, store and distribute a range of medical cannabis products, which will help support us meet the growing demand for medical cannabis throughout Europe. We operate a distribution facility in Hilzingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

Flora operates a small sales office in London, England, which serves as a homebase for all activities being conducted in Europe. From this office, Flora is able to support the European distribution and wholesale business for its products.

The Global Cannabis Industry

The global cannabis market is growing at approximately a 16.6% compounded annual growth rate ("CAGR") and projected to reach approximately $51 billion by 2025¹ globally.

United States

As Flora is listed on Nasdaq, we operate exclusively today in CBD-based or ancillary/accessory businesses in the U.S. market given the U.S. federal prohibition on cannabis products containing tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC"). This includes importing cosmetic and beauty products, accessory and non-cannabinoid products and CBD products. The U.S. hemp-derived CBD market is expected to grow to $11 billion in 2027². Hemp-derived CBD and its derivatives remain legal at the federal level under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the " 2018 Farm Bill").

Europe

The European cannabis landscape continues to advance largely with Germany, Malta, Switzerland, Poland and the United Kingdom being the furthest ahead by means of establishing a legal cannabis framework.

Prohibition Partners, a leading market intelligence firm on the global cannabis industry, estimated that the European cannabis market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 61.1% to reach $13 billion by 2028. Products like CBD edibles continue to be governed by the EU Novel Food Act and as a result provide near term upside for the Company.

In 2022, Germany, the largest cannabis market in the European Union, announced it would begin the process of moving towards recreational adult-use cannabis in the country in addition to continuing to expand its existing medical cannabis program. Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 14% between 2023 and 2027, resulting in a market volume of $607.6 million by 2027³.

In February 2024, the Budestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, voted to legalize cannabis for limited recreational use. Under the new legislation, adults over the age of 18 can cultivate up to three plants for private consumption and be allowed to possess 50 grams at one time at home, and 25 grams in public, starting from April 1, 2024. From July 1, 2024, cannabis would also be available in licensed not-for-profit clubs with no more than 500 members, all of whom would have to be adults. Only club members would be allowed to consume their output. The legislation was ratified by the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper parliamentary chamber, on March 22, 2024, and will be implemented once the President of Germany officially signs it. The legislation makes Germany the largest federally legal recreational and medicinal cannabis market in the world.

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¹ New Frontier Data - The Global Cannabis Report; Growth & Trends through 2025

² Bright Field Group - CBD: FDA Impact & the Path Forward; 2022 Mid-Year US CBD Report

³ Statista - Medical Cannabis; Germany

Pharmaceutical Market and Health Sector

According to the data reported to the Drug Price Information System, pharmaceutical sales have shown sustained growth in recent years, although in 2019 it grew at the lowest rate since 2015. In turn, the units sold rose from 1.06 billion in 2018 to 1.08 billion in 2019, showing a 2% increase. In 2020, drug makers raised prices on more than 860 drugs by around 5%, on average, according to 3 Axis. Drug price increases have slowed substantially since 2015, both in terms of the size of the hikes and the number of drugs affected. Drug increases come at a time where increased pharmaceutical engineering has moved to fight COVID-19, with many companies exploring CBD as a drug to combat COVID-19.

Europe has a strong pharmaceutical history and a thriving industry with concentration of pharmaceutical companies in the German-Switzerland border area. The industry has a projected CAGR of 5.4% between 2022 and 2026 resulting in total sales of $295 billion by 2026⁴. In the European Union, Germany was the leading pharmaceutical market with a total revenue⁵.

Cannabidiol (CBD) Market

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found naturally occurring within the cannabis plant with the majority of CBD consumed being derived from the hemp plant. The global CBD market is projected to reach $47.3 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 21.3% with the U.S. market alone making up an estimated $4.1 billion in product sales in 2022⁶. The CBD market in the United States has seen steady growth with an inflection point occurring with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, clearing the way for CBD and other compounds derived from the hemp plant. The majority of CBD consumers site seeking relief from pain, anxiety, and sleep issues as their primary reason for use. In the United States, CBD is readily found in brick-and-mortar stores as well as online. However, advertising remains difficult due to its association with its psychoactive cousin, THC, and the early proliferation of bad-actors making effects-based claims that were not backed by science to bolster sales.

Ancillary/Accessories

The ancillary or accessory category continues to grow as we see the expansion of legal access to cannabis around the globe. The accessory space is broad and spans smoking accessories as well as ash trays and storage pieces. While the primary use for most products Flora produces is cannabis consumption, the majority of consumers do not buy their accessories at legal dispensaries instead relying on smoke shops and online retail. Looking ahead, Future Markets Insights projects the global accessory market will reach $101 billion by 2031, representing a CAGR of 4.2%.

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⁴ Statista - Pharmaceutical Industry in Europe - Statistics & Facts

⁵ Statista - Revenue of leading pharmaceutical markets in Europe
⁶ Vantage Market Research - Cannabidiol (CBD) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report

Regulatory

Flora has obtained the licenses to operate on a global scale including required governmental approvals, licenses and permits. A summary of such governmental approvals, licenses and permits are set forth below.

Regulation of our Industry

Regulatory Framework in the United States

Packaging, Labeling and Advertising

The processing, formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising and distribution of our products are subject to federal laws and regulation by one or more federal agencies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA"), Federal Trade Commission, United States Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. These activities are also regulated by various state, local and international laws and agencies of the states and localities in which our products are sold. Regulations may prevent or delay the introduction, or require the reformulation of our products, which could result in lost sales and increased costs to the Company. A regulatory agency may not accept the evidence of safety for any new ingredients that we may want to market or may determine that a particular product or product ingredient presents an unacceptable health risk. Regulatory agencies may also determine that a particular statement of nutritional support on our products, or a statement that we want to use on our products, is an unacceptable drug claim or an unauthorized version of a food "health claim", or that particular claims are not adequately supported by available scientific evidence. Any such regulatory determination could prevent us from marketing particular products or using certain statements on those products, which could adversely affect our sales and results of operations.

Developments in the laws and regulations governing our products may result in a more stringent regulatory landscape, which could require reformulation of certain products to meet new standards, recalls or discontinuance of certain products that we are unable to reformulate, additional record-keeping requirements, increased documentation of the properties of certain products, additional or different labeling requirements, additional scientific substantiation requirements, and other requirements or restrictions. Such developments could increase our costs significantly, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In October 2023, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Food Safety (the "Department") issued a stop sale order on 340 hemp extract products distributed by Just Brands primarily on the basis that such products were determined to be attractive to children with the product and/or labels in the shape of an animal, human, or cartoon; or bears any reasonable resemblance to an existing candy product, or branded food product. As a result, Just Brands has stopped distributing these products in the State of Florida. There is no assurance that these products can be sold in another jurisdiction, or at all.

Cannabis for Medical Purposes

The United States healthcare industry is heavily regulated and closely scrutinized by federal, state and local governments. Comprehensive statutes and regulations govern the manner in which we will provide and bill for telehealth services, our contractual relationships with our providers, vendors and clients, our marketing activities, and other aspects of our planned operations. Of particular importance are:

Failure to comply with these laws and other laws can result in civil and criminal penalties such as fines, damages, overpayment, recoupment, imprisonment, loss of enrollment status and exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The risk of our being found in violation of these laws and regulations is increased by the fact that many of them have not been fully interpreted by the regulatory authorities or the courts, and their provisions are sometimes open to a variety of interpretations. Our failure to accurately anticipate the application of these laws and regulations to our business or any other failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could impose liability on us and negatively affect our business. Any action against us for violation of these laws or regulations could cause us to incur significant legal expenses, divert our management's attention from business operations, and result in adverse publicity.

The laws, regulations and standards governing the provision of healthcare services may change significantly in the future. We cannot assure you that any new or changed healthcare laws, regulations or standards will not materially adversely affect our planned telehealth services business.

Regulatory Framework in Germany

The importation and distribution of medical cannabis in Germany is mainly covered by the German Narcotics Law (Betäubungsmittelgesetz or "BtMG"), the AMG, and the German Narcotics Foreign Trade Ordinance (Betäubungsmittel-Außenhandelsverordnung or "BtMAHV") as well as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) (the "Single Convention"). The relevant competent authorities in Germany are the BfArM, the Federal Opium Authority (a sub-unit of the BfArM), and German Federal authorities.

Under Section 1(1) in conjunction with Annex I of BtMG, cannabis is a narcotic drug, subject to certain exceptions including seeds and cannabis from a certified source with a THC content of less than 0.2%, which are only used for scientific or commercial purposes and for which psychoactive abuse is excluded. It is a criminal offence in Germany to illicitly cultivate, produce and trade in cannabis or to import, export, transit, sell, supply, otherwise place it on the market or acquire or procure it in any other way, subject to the foregoing exemptions.

The Act on the Amendment of Narcotic Drugs and Other Regulations (Gesetz zur Änderung betäubungsmittelrechtlicher und anderer Vorschriften), which came into force on March 10, 2017, introduced an exception to allow the prescription and trade of cannabis for medical purposes. Prior to March 2017, the import of cannabis was not permitted, and pharmacies could request medical cannabis from abroad for specific patients only in exceptional circumstances (upon medical prescription), subject to a special case-by-case approval issued by BfArM. Since March 2017, cannabis cultivated for medical purposes outside Germany can be imported and marketed in Germany by private companies provided they have obtained the relevant licenses that must be in line with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. When the German federal government legalized cannabis for medical purposes in March 2017, they also established a cannabis agency as part of BfArM. This agency controls cultivation, harvesting, processing, quality inspection, storage, packaging and distribution to wholesaler and pharmacists or manufacturers.

EU-GMP Certification

The guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practices, promulgated by European Medicines Agency (the "EU GMP") describe the minimum standard that a pharmaceutical manufacturer must meet in its production processes according to European standards. Any pharmaceutical manufacturer wishing to import medicinal products into the European Union must comply with EU GMP.

A prerequisite under EU GMP is that medicinal products must be of consistently high quality, suitable for their intended use and meet the requirements of the marketing authorization based on stability data. For this reason, an EU-GMP certification facilitates the movement of goods and contributes to the credibility of the product. In general, Article 51 of Commission Directive 2001/83/EC requires that each and every batch imported from an European Union country outside the European Union is checked to ensure that it complies with EU-GMP standards. If a manufacturer in a non-EU country has an EU-GMP certification for its medicinal product, this batch testing is not required pursuant to Article 51(2) of Commission Directive 2001/83/EC.

Under German law, the EU-GMP guidelines must be complied with respect to medicinal products and active substances that are manufactured, tested, stored, placed on the market in Germany, brought into or out of the German territory, imported or exported.

Human Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2023, we had a total of 108 employees, 97 of which were full-time and eleven were part-time. A total of 74 of our employees and consultants were based in the United States and 34 of our employees and consultants were based internationally.

To our knowledge, none of our employees are represented by a labor organization or are a party to any collective bargaining arrangement. We have not experienced any work stoppages and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

Additional Information

Our website is at www.floragrowth.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, are available at www.sec.gov/edgar. Our website address is included in this Annual Report only as an inactive textual reference. Information contained on, or available through, our website is not incorporated by reference in, or made a part of, this Annual Report.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as other information contained in this report, including the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and Item 7 "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The occurrence of any of the events discussed below could significantly and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

We are an early-stage company with limited operating history and may never become profitable.

We are an early-stage company focused on supplying natural, medicinal-grade cannabis flower and high-quality cannabis derived medical and wellness products to large channel distributors and retailers globally. Formed in March 2019, we have a limited operating history. We have limited financial resources and minimal operating cash flow. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had losses of $56.3 million and $52.6 million, respectively, and as of December 31, 2023 an accumulated deficit of $142.5 million.

Additionally, there can be no assurance that additional funding will be available to us for the development of our business, which will require the commitment of substantial resources. Accordingly, you should consider our prospects in light of the costs, uncertainties, delays and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in the early stages of development. Potential investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties that a company with a limited operating history will face. In particular, potential investors should consider that we may be unable to:

Recent and future acquisitions and strategic investments could be difficult to integrate, divert the attention of key management personnel, disrupt our business, dilute shareholder value, may subject us to liability, and harm our results of operations and financial condition.

We have recently acquired Just Brands and FGH and have a history of acquisitive activity, and we may in the future seek to acquire or invest in businesses, products, or technologies that we believe could complement our operations or expand our breadth, enhance our capabilities, or otherwise offer growth opportunities. Our diversity of product offerings may not be successful. While our growth strategy includes broadening our service and product offerings, implementing an aggressive marketing plan and employing product diversification, there can be no assurance that our systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support our operations as they expand. We cannot assure you that our existing personnel, systems, procedures or controls will be adequate to support our operations in the future or that we will be able to successfully implement appropriate measures consistent with our growth strategy. As part of our planned growth and diversified product offerings, we may have to implement new operational and financial systems, procedures and controls to expand, train and manage our employee base, and maintain close coordination among our staff. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so, or that if we are able to do so, we will be able to effectively integrate them into our existing staff and systems. Additionally, the integration of our acquisitions and pursuit of potential future acquisitions may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying, investigating, and pursuing suitable acquisitions, whether or not they are consummated. Any acquisition, investment or business relationship may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. In addition, we have limited experience in acquiring other businesses. Specifically, we may not successfully evaluate or utilize the acquired products, assets or personnel, or accurately forecast the financial impact of an acquisition transaction, including accounting charges.

We may not be able to find and identify desirable acquisition targets or we may not be successful in entering into an agreement with any one target. Acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could harm our results of operations. In addition, if an acquired business fails to meet our expectations, our business, results of operations, and financial condition may suffer. In some cases, minority shareholders may exist in certain of our non-wholly-owned acquisitions (for businesses we do not purchase as an 100% owned subsidiary) and may retain minority shareholder rights which could make a future change of control or corporate approvals for actions more difficult to achieve and/or more costly.

We also make strategic investments in early-stage companies developing products or technologies that we believe could complement our business or expand our breadth, enhance our technical capabilities, or otherwise offer growth opportunities. These investments may be in early-stage private companies for restricted stock. Such investments are generally illiquid and may never generate value. Further, the companies in which we invest may not succeed, and our investments would lose their value.

Moreover, the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, investment, or business relationship may not be realized, or we may be exposed to unknown risks or liabilities of our acquisitions. Furthermore, we may be subject to unknown liabilities of the businesses we acquire. In addition, we may become subject to legal proceedings in connection with the businesses of, or resulting from, our acquisitions. For example, we have become party to certain litigation as a result of our acquisition of FGH, which falls under certain indemnification protections obtained in the acquisition. For more information, see Item 3 "Legal Proceedings."

Certain conditions or events could disrupt the Company's supply chains, disrupt operations, and increase operating expenses.

Conditions or events including, but not limited to, the following could disrupt the Company's supply chains and in particular its ability to deliver its products, interrupt operations at its facilities, increase operating expenses, resulting in loss of sales, delayed performance of contractual obligations or require additional expenditures to be incurred: (i) extraordinary weather conditions or natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, extreme heat, earthquakes, etc.; (ii) a local, regional, national or international outbreak of a contagious disease, including the COVID-19 coronavirus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, H1N1 influenza virus, avian flu, or any other similar illness could result in a general or acute decline in economic activity; (iii) political instability, social and labor unrest, war or terrorism, including the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine; or (iv) interruptions in the availability of basic commercial and social services and infrastructure including power and water shortages, and shipping and freight forwarding services including via air, sea, rail and road.

Cannabis laws, regulations, and guidelines are dynamic and subject to changes.

Cannabis laws and regulations are dynamic and subject to evolving interpretations which could require us to incur substantial costs associated with compliance or alter certain aspects of our business plan. It is also possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to certain of our products and/or aspects of our businesses. We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated, could have on our business. Management expects that the legislative and regulatory environment in the cannabis industry internationally will continue to be dynamic and will require innovative solutions to try to comply with this changing legal landscape in this nascent industry for the foreseeable future. Compliance with any such legislation may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Public opinion can also exert a significant influence over the regulation of the cannabis industry. A negative shift in the public's perception of the cannabis industry could affect future legislation or regulation in different jurisdictions. 

Demand for cannabis and derivative products could be adversely affected and significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other research findings.

The legal cannabis industry is at a relatively early stage of its development. Consumer perceptions regarding legality, morality, consumption, safety, efficacy and quality of medicinal cannabis are mixed and evolving and can be significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory investigations, litigation, media attention and other publicity regarding the consumption of medicinal cannabis products. There can be no assurance that future scientific research, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other research findings or publicity will be favorable to the medicinal cannabis market or any particular product, or consistent with earlier publicity. Future research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity that are perceived as less favorable than, or that question, earlier research reports, findings or publicity, could have a material adverse effect on the demand for medicinal cannabis and on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Further, adverse publicity reports or other media attention regarding cannabis in general or associating the consumption of medicinal cannabis with illness or other negative effects or events, could have such a material adverse effect. Public opinion and support for medicinal cannabis use has traditionally been inconsistent and varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Our ability to gain and increase market acceptance of our business may require substantial expenditures on investor relations, strategic relationships and marketing initiatives. There can be no assurance that such initiatives will be successful and their failure to materialize into significant demand may have an adverse effect on our financial condition.

Damage to the Company's reputation can be the result of the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, and could include any negative publicity, whether such publicity is accurate or not.

The increased usage of social media and other web-based tools used to generate, publish and discuss user-generated content and to connect with other users has made it increasingly easier for individuals and groups to communicate and share opinions and views regarding the Company and its activities, whether true or not. Although the Company believes that it operates in a manner that is respectful to all stakeholders and that it takes pride in protecting its image and reputation, it does not ultimately have direct control over how it is perceived by others. Reputational loss may result in decreased ability to enter into new customer, distributor or supplier relationships, retain existing customers, distributors or suppliers, reduced investor confidence and access to capital, increased challenges in developing and maintaining community relations and an impediment to our overall ability to advance our projects, thereby having a material adverse effect on our financial performance, financial condition, cash flows and growth prospects.

We are subject to the inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims, actions and litigation.

As a distributor of products designed to be ingested by humans, we face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims, regulatory action and litigation if our products are alleged to have caused bodily harm or injury. In addition, the sale of our products involves the risk of injury to consumers due to tampering by unauthorized third parties or product contamination. Adverse reactions resulting from human consumption of our products alone or in combination with other medications or substances could occur. We may be subject to various product liability claims, including, among others, that our products caused injury or illness, include inadequate instructions for use or include inadequate warnings concerning health risks, possible side effects or interactions with other substances. Product liability claims or regulatory actions against us could result in increased costs, could adversely affect our reputation with our clients and consumers generally, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. There can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain or maintain product liability insurance on acceptable terms or with adequate coverage against potential liabilities. Such insurance is expensive and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. The inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage on reasonable terms or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of our potential products.

We are subject to the inherent risks involved with product recalls.

Manufacturers and distributors of products are sometimes subject to the recall or return of their products for a variety of reasons, including product defects, such as contamination, unintended harmful side effects or interactions with other substances, packaging safety and inadequate or inaccurate labeling disclosure. If any of our products are recalled due to an alleged product defect or for any other reason, we could be required to incur the unexpected expense of the recall and any legal proceedings that might arise in connection with the recall. We may lose a significant amount of sales and may not be able to replace those sales at an acceptable margin, or at all. In addition, a product recall may require significant management attention. There can be no assurance that any quality, potency or contamination problems will be detected in time to avoid unforeseen product recalls, regulatory action or lawsuits. Additionally, if our products are subject to recall, our reputation could be harmed. A recall for any of the foregoing reasons could lead to decreased demand for our products and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, product recalls may lead to increased scrutiny of our operations by regulatory agencies, requiring further management attention, potential loss of applicable licenses, and potential legal fees and other expenses.

The Company's products could have unknown side effects.

If the products the Company sells are not perceived to have the effects intended by the end user, its business may suffer and the business may be subject to products liability or other legal actions. Many of the Company's products contain innovative ingredients or combinations of ingredients. There is little long-term data available with respect to efficacy, unknown side effects and/or interaction with individual human biochemistry, or interaction with other drugs. Moreover, there is little long-term data available with respect to efficacy, unknown side effects and/or its interaction with individual animal biochemistry. As a result, the Company's products could have certain side effects if not taken as directed or if taken by an end user that has certain known or unknown medical conditions.

The Company may be unable to anticipate changes in its potential client requirements that could make the Company's existing products and services obsolete. The Company's success will depend, in part, on its ability to continue to enhance its product and service offerings so as to address the increasing sophistication and varied needs of the market and respond to technological and regulatory changes and emerging industry standards and practices on a timely and cost-effective basis.

Research regarding the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, use and social acceptance of cannabis or isolated cannabinoids (such as CBD and THC) remains in early stages.

There have been relatively few clinical trials on the benefits of cannabis or isolated cannabinoids (such as CBD and THC). Although the Company believes that the articles, reports and studies support its beliefs regarding the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis, future research and clinical trials may prove such statements to be incorrect, or could raise concerns regarding, and perceptions relating to, cannabis. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors should not place undue reliance on such articles and reports. Future research studies and clinical trials may draw opposing conclusions to those stated herein or reach negative conclusions related to medical cannabis, which could have a material adverse effect on the demand for the Company's products, which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations or prospects.

Our growth depends, in part, on expanding into additional consumer markets, and we may not be successful in doing so.

We believe that our future growth depends not only on continuing to provide our current customers with new products, but also continuing to enlarge our customer base. The growth of our business will depend, in part, on our ability to continue to expand in the United States, as well as into international markets. We are investing significant resources in these areas, and although we hope that our products will gain popularity, we may face challenges that are different from those we currently encounter, including competitive merchandising, distribution, hiring, and other difficulties. We may also encounter difficulties in attracting customers due to a lack of consumer familiarity with or acceptance of our brand, or a resistance to paying for premium products, particularly in international markets. In addition, although we are investing in sales and marketing activities to further penetrate newer regions, including expansion of our dedicated sales force, we may not be successful. If we are not successful, our business and results of operations may be harmed.

Fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials, equipment, labor, and transportation could cause manufacturing delays or increase our costs.

The price and availability of key components used to manufacture our products has been increasing and may continue to fluctuate significantly. In addition, the cost of labor within our company or at our third-party manufacturers could increase significantly due to regulation or inflationary pressures. Additionally, the cost of logistics and transportation fluctuates in large part due to the price of oil, and availability can be limited due to political and economic issues. Any fluctuations in the cost and availability of any of our raw materials, packaging, or other sourcing or transportation costs could harm our gross margins and our ability to meet customer demand. If we are unable to successfully mitigate a significant portion of these product cost increases or fluctuations, our results of operations could be harmed.

We rely on third-parties for raw materials and to manufacture and compound some of our products. We have no control over these third parties and if these relationships are disrupted our results of operations in future periods will be adversely impacted.

We currently hold short term supply contracts with unaffiliated third-party vendors for our critical raw materials. In addition, some of our products are manufactured or compounded by unaffiliated third parties and the use of these third-party co-packers changes from time to time due to customer demand and the composition of our product mix and product portfolio. We do not have any long-term contracts with any of these third parties, and we expect to compete with other companies for raw materials, production and imported packaging material capacity. If we experience significant increased demand or need to replace an existing raw material supplier or third-party manufacturer, there can be no assurances that replacements for these third-party vendors will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, or that any manufacturer or compounder would allocate sufficient capacity to us in order to meet our requirements. In addition, even if we are able to expand existing or find new sources, we may encounter delays in production and added costs as a result of the time it takes to engage third parties. Any delays, interruption or increased costs in raw materials and/or the manufacturing or compounding of our products could have an adverse effect on our ability to meet retail customer and consumer demand for our products and result in lower revenues and net income both in the short and long-term.

The Company's inventory has a shelf life and may reach its expiration and not be sold.

The Company holds finished goods in inventory and its inventory has a shelf life. Finished goods in the Company's inventory may include cannabis flower, cannabis oil products and cosmeceuticals. The Company's inventory may reach its expiration and not be sold. Although management regularly reviews the quantity and remaining shelf life of inventory on hand, and estimates manufacturing and sales lead times in order to manage its inventory, write-downs of inventory may still be required. Any such write-down of inventory could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The seasonal trends in our business create variability in our financial and operating results.

Our financial and operating results are subject to seasonal and quarterly variations in our net revenue and operating income and, as a result, our quarterly results may fluctuate and could be below expectations. Our business has realized a disproportionate amount of our net revenue and earnings for prior fiscal years in the third and fourth quarter as a result of the holiday season, and we expect this seasonal impact on our operations to continue in the future. If we experience lower than expected net revenue during any third or fourth quarter, it may have disproportionately large effects on our operating results and financial condition for that year. Any factors that harm our third or fourth quarter operating results, including disruptions in our brands or our supply chains or unfavorable economic conditions, could have a disproportionate effect on our results of operations and our financial condition for our entire fiscal year.

The Company may not be able to maintain effective quality control systems.

The Company may not be able to maintain an effective quality control system. The Company ascribes its early successes, in part, on its commitment to product quality and its effective quality control system. The effectiveness of the Company's quality control system and its ability to obtain or maintain good manufacturing practice ("GMP") certification with respect to its manufacturing, processing and testing facilities depend on a number of factors, including the design of its quality control procedures, training programs, and its ability to ensure that its employees adhere to the Company's policies and procedures. The Company also depends on service providers such as toll manufacturers and contract laboratories to manufacture, process or test its products that are subject to GMP certification requirements.

We expect that regulatory agencies will periodically inspect our and our service providers' facilities to evaluate compliance with applicable GMP requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject us or our service providers to possible regulatory enforcement actions. Any failure or deterioration of the Company's or its service providers' quality control systems, including loss of GMP certification, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

The cannabinoid industry faces strong opposition and may face similar opposition in other jurisdictions in which we operate.

Many political and social organizations oppose hemp and cannabis and their legalization, and many people, even those who support legalization, oppose the sale of hemp and cannabis in their geographies. Our business will need support from local governments, industry participants, consumers and residents to be successful. Additionally, there are large, well-funded businesses that may have a strong opposition to the cannabis industry. For example, the pharmaceutical and alcohol industries have traditionally opposed cannabis legalization. Any efforts by these or other industries to halt or impede the cannabis industry could have detrimental effects on our business.

The Company is subject to wholesale price volatility that could expose the Company to lower than anticipated revenues, gross margins, net income and cash flows.

The pharmaceutical distribution and cannabis industries are margin-based businesses in which gross profits depend on the excess of sales prices over costs. Consequently, profitability is sensitive to fluctuations in wholesale and retail prices caused by changes in supply (which itself depends on other factors such as weather, fuel, equipment and labor costs, shipping costs, economic situation, government regulations and demand), taxes, government programs and policies for the pharmaceutical distribution and cannabis industries (including price controls and wholesale price restrictions that may be imposed by government agencies responsible for the sale of pharmaceuticals and cannabis), and other market conditions, all of which are factors beyond our control. The Company's operating income may be significantly and adversely affected by a decline in the price of pharmaceuticals and cannabis and will be sensitive to changes in the price of cannabis and the overall condition of the cannabis industry, as our profitability is directly related to the price of pharmaceuticals and cannabis. These prices affected by numerous factors beyond our control. Any price decline may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company could face competitive risks from the development and distribution of synthetic cannabis.

The pharmaceutical industry and others may attempt to enter the cannabis industry and, in particular, the medical cannabis industry through the development and distribution of synthetic products that emulate the effects of and treatment provided by naturally occurring cannabis. If synthetic cannabis products are widely adopted, the widespread popularity of such synthetic cannabis products could change the demand, volume and profitability of the botanical cannabinoid industry. This could adversely affect our ability to secure long-term profitability and success through the sustainable and profitable operation of our business.

The legalization of adult-use, recreational cannabis may reduce sales of medical cannabis.

Legalization of the sale to adults of recreational, non-medical cannabis in any country may increase competition in the medical cannabis market. We may not be able to achieve our business plan in a highly competitive market where recreational, adult-use cannabis is legal, or the market may experience a drop in the price of cannabis and cannabis products over time, decreasing our profit margins.

The Company is reliant on third party transportation services and importation services to deliver its products to customers.

The Company relies on third party transportation services and importation services to deliver its products to its customers. The Company is exposed to the inherent risks associated with relying on third party transportation service-providers, including logistical problems, delays, loss or theft of product and increased shipping and insurance costs. Any delay in transporting the product, breach of security or loss of product, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial performance and results of operations.

We may not be able to establish and maintain bank accounts in certain countries.

There is a risk that banking institutions in countries where we operate will not open accounts for us or will not accept payments or deposits from proceeds related to the cannabis industry. Such risks could increase our costs or prevent us from expanding into certain jurisdictions.

We may not be able to renew certain of our leases.

Several of the properties or facilities that we utilize in our operations are leased for a specific term. There is a risk that we may not be able to extend the term on some or all of such leases or, if we do so, that the terms of any such lease extension will be favorable. Likewise, there is a risk that some leases may expire and we will be required to relocate our operations to another location, thereby incurring costs.

The Company may be subject to cyber-security and privacy risks that could disrupt its operations and expose the Company to financial losses, contractual losses, liability, reputational damage and additional expense.

The Company may be subject to risks related to our information technology systems, including cyber-attacks, malware, ransomware and phishing attacks that could target our intellectual property, trade secrets, financial information, personal information of our employees, customers and patients, including sensitive personal health information. The occurrence of such an attack could disrupt our operations and expose the Company to financial losses, contractual damages, liability under labor and privacy laws, reputational damage and additional expenses. We have implemented security measures to protect our data and information technology systems; however, such measures may not be effective in preventing cyber-attacks. We may be required to allocate additional resources to implement additional preventative measures including significant investments in information technology systems. A serious cyber-security breach could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may collect and store certain personal information about customers and is responsible for protecting such information from privacy breaches. A privacy breach may occur through procedural or process failure, information technology malfunction, or deliberate unauthorized intrusions. In addition, theft of data is an ongoing risk whether perpetrated via employee collusion or negligence or through deliberate cyber-attack. Any such privacy breach or theft could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. If the Company were found to be in violation of privacy or security rules or other laws protecting the confidentiality of information, the Company could be subject to sanctions and civil or criminal penalties, which could increase its liabilities, harm its reputation and have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may incur significant costs to defend its intellectual property and other proprietary rights.

The ownership and protection of trademarks, patents, trade secrets and intellectual property rights are significant aspects of the Company's future success. Unauthorized parties may attempt to replicate or otherwise obtain and use the Company's products and technology. Policing the unauthorized use of the Company's current or future trademarks, patents, trade secrets or intellectual property rights could be difficult, expensive, time-consuming and unpredictable, as may be enforcing these rights against unauthorized use by others.

In addition, other parties may claim that the Company's products infringe on their proprietary and perhaps patent protected rights. Such claims, regardless of their merit, may result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources, legal fees, injunctions, temporary restraining orders and/or require the payment of damages. As well, the Company may need to obtain licenses from third parties who allege that the Company has infringed on their lawful rights. Such licenses may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. In addition, the Company may not be able to obtain or utilize on terms that are favorable to it, or at all, licenses or other rights with respect to intellectual property that it does not own.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Marijuana remains illegal under U.S. federal law, and the enforcement of U.S. cannabis laws could change.

There are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. In those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized, its use remains a violation of federal law pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act. The Controlled Substances Act classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, and as such, medical and adult cannabis use is illegal under U.S. federal law. Unless and until the U.S. Congress amends the Controlled Substances Act with respect to marijuana (and the President approves such amendment), there is a risk that federal authorities may enforce current federal law. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation. While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with medical or adult-use cannabis regulatory programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve us of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against us. Since U.S. federal law criminalizing the use of marijuana pre-empts state laws that legalize its use, enforcement of federal law regarding marijuana is a significant risk and would greatly harm our business, prospects, revenue, results of operation and financial condition. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a risk to our business and any proceedings brought against us thereunder may materially, adversely affect our operations and financial performance.

Our activities are, and will continue to be, subject to evolving regulation by governmental authorities. The legality of the production, cultivation, extraction, distribution, retail sales, transportation and use of cannabis differs among states in the United States. Due to the current regulatory environment in the United States, new risks may emerge; Management may not be able to predict all such risks.

Due to the conflicting views between state legislatures and the federal government regarding cannabis, cannabis businesses are subject to inconsistent laws and regulations. There can be no assurance that the federal government will not enforce federal laws relating to marijuana and seek to prosecute cases involving marijuana businesses that are otherwise compliant with state laws in the future.

The uncertainty of U.S. federal enforcement practices going forward and the inconsistency between U.S. federal and state laws and regulations present major risks for the Company.

Changes to federal or state laws pertaining to industrial hemp could slow the use of industrial hemp which would materially impact our revenues in future periods.

As of the date hereof, most states and the District of Columbia have authorized industrial hemp programs pursuant to the United States of the 2018 Farm Bill, or under prior programs authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill or have plans under review by the USDA. Effective January 1, 2022, several states without an approved plan under the Farm Bill, or a plan under review, will default to the USDA Hemp Producer License. Continued development of the industrial hemp industry will be dependent upon new legislative authorization of industrial hemp at the state level, and further amendment or supplementation of legislation at the federal level. Any number of events or occurrences could slow or halt progress all together in this space. While progress within the industrial hemp industry is currently encouraging, growth is not assured. While there appears to be ample public support for favorable legislative action, numerous factors may impact or negatively affect the legislative process(es) within the various states where we have business interests. Any one of these factors could slow or halt use of industrial hemp, which could negatively impact the business up to possibly causing us to discontinue operations as a whole. In addition, changes in Federal or state laws could require us to alter the way we conduct our business in order to remain compliant with applicable state laws in ways we are presently unable to foresee. These possible changes, if necessary, could be costly and may adversely impact our results of operations in future periods.

Uncertainty caused by potential changes to legal regulations could impact the use of CBD products.

There is substantial uncertainty and different interpretations among federal, state and local regulatory agencies, legislators, academics and businesses as to the scope of operation of Farm Bill-compliant hemp programs relative to the emerging regulation of cannabinoids. These different opinions include, but are not limited to, the regulation of cannabinoids by the FDA and the extent to which manufacturers of products containing Farm Bill-compliant cultivators and processors may engage in interstate commerce. The uncertainties cannot be resolved without further federal, and perhaps even state-level, legislation, regulation or a definitive judicial interpretation of existing legislation and rules. If these uncertainties continue, they may have an adverse effect upon the introduction of our products in different markets.

Any failure on our part to comply with applicable regulations could prevent us from being able to carry on our business, and there may be additional costs associated with any such failure.

Our business activities are heavily regulated in all jurisdictions where we do business. Our operations are subject to various laws, regulations and guidelines by governmental authorities relating to the cultivation, processing, manufacture, marketing, management, distribution, transportation, storage, sale, packaging, labeling, pricing and disposal of cannabis and cannabis products. In addition, we are subject to laws and regulations relating to employee health and safety, insurance coverage and the environment. Laws and regulations, applied generally, grant government agencies and self-regulatory bodies broad administrative discretion over our activities, including the power to limit or restrict business activities as well as impose additional disclosure requirements on our products and services.

Any failure by us to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements could

There can be no assurance that any future regulatory or agency proceedings, investigations or audits will not result in substantial costs, a diversion of management's attention and resources or other adverse consequences to our business.

Achievement of our business objectives is contingent, in part, upon compliance with regulatory requirements enacted by governmental authorities and obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals for the cultivation, processing, production, storage, distribution, transportation, sale, import and export, as applicable, of our products. Any failure to comply with the regulatory requirements applicable to our operations may lead to possible sanctions, including:

In addition, changes in regulations, government or judicial interpretation of regulations, or more vigorous enforcement thereof or other unanticipated events could require extensive changes to our operations, increase compliance costs or give rise to material liabilities or a revocation of our licenses and other permits. Furthermore, governmental authorities may change their administration, application or enforcement procedures at any time, which may adversely affect our ongoing regulatory compliance costs. There is no assurance that we will be able to comply or continue to comply with applicable regulations.

The FDA limits the ability to discuss the medical benefits of CBD.

Under FDA rules it is illegal for companies to make "health claims" or claim that a product has a specific medical benefit. The FDA has not recognized any medical benefits derived from CBD, which means that we are not legally permitted to advertise any potential health claims related to our CBD products. Because of the perception among many consumers that CBD is a health/medicinal product, the inability to make such health claims about its CBD products may limit our ability to market and sell products to consumers, which would negatively affect our revenues and profits.

The legal cannabis market is a relatively new industry. As a result, the size of our target market is difficult to quantify, and investors will be reliant on their own estimates on the accuracy of market data.

Because the cannabis industry is in a nascent stage, there is a lack of information about comparable companies available for potential investors to review and to decide whether to invest in us and, few, if any, established companies whose business model we can follow or upon whose success we can build. Accordingly, investors should rely on their own estimates regarding the potential size, economics and risks of the cannabis market in deciding whether to invest in our Common Shares. We are an early-stage company that has not generated net income. There can be no assurance that our growth estimates are accurate or that the cannabis market will be large enough for our business to grow as projected.

Although we are committed to researching and developing new markets and products and improving existing products, there can be no assurances that such research and market development activities will prove profitable or that the resulting markets or products, if any, will be commercially viable or successfully produced and marketed. We must rely largely on our own market research to forecast sales and design products as detailed forecasts and consumer research are not generally obtainable from reliable third-party sources in Canada and in other international jurisdictions.

In addition, there is no assurance that the industry and market will continue to exist and grow as currently estimated or anticipated or function and evolve in the manner consistent with management's expectations and assumptions. We could also be subject to other events or circumstances that adversely affect the cannabis industry, such as the imposition of further restrictions on sales and marketing or further restrictions on sales in certain areas and markets.

RISKS RELATED TO FINANCIALS AND ACCOUNTING

Management has performed an analysis of our ability to continue as a going concern, and has determined that, based on our current financial position, there is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm has raised substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.

Based on its assessment, management has raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4.4 million at December 31, 2023, a loss of $56.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and an accumulated deficit of $142.5 million at December 31, 2023. The Company's ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on its ability to obtain additional capital. The Company believes that its current level of cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to continue investing in growth, while at the same time meeting its obligations as they become due. These conditions raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. In an effort to alleviate these conditions, management continues to evaluate various cost reduction, asset sales, and other alternatives and may seek to raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, mezzanine or debt securities, through arrangements with strategic partners, through obtaining credit from financial institutions or otherwise.

Our independent registered public accounting firm has raised substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. A going concern opinion in the report of our independent registered public accounting firm could impair our ability to finance our operations through public or private equity offerings or debt financings, or a combination of one or more of these funding sources. Any additional equity or equity-linked debt financing could be extremely dilutive to our current stockholders. Additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all, and we may be required to terminate or significantly curtail our operations, or enter into arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require us to relinquish rights to certain aspects of our product candidates, or potential markets that we would not otherwise relinquish. If we are unable to obtain capital, our business would be jeopardized, and we may not be able to continue operations.

We may increase our foreign sales in the future, and such sales may be subject to unexpected regulatory requirements and other barriers.

Our functional currency is denominated in U.S. dollars. We currently expect that a portion of our sales will be denominated in European euros and we may, in the future, have sales denominated in the currencies of additional countries in which we establish operations or distribution. In addition, we incur a portion of our operating expenses in European euros. In the future, the proportion of our sales that are international may increase. Such sales may be subject to unexpected regulatory requirements and other barriers. Any fluctuation in the exchange rates of foreign currencies may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have not previously engaged in foreign currency hedging. If we decide to hedge our foreign currency exposure, we may not be able to hedge effectively due to lack of experience, unreasonable costs or illiquid markets. In addition, those activities may be limited in the protection they provide from foreign currency fluctuations and can themselves result in losses.

Assumptions, estimates and judgments related to critical accounting matters could significantly affect our reported financial results or financial condition.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (" U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on limited historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, as provided in the notes to our financial statements, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our operating results may be adversely affected if the assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from those in the assumptions, which could cause our operating results to fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the price of our Common Shares. Significant assumptions and estimates used in preparing the financial statements include those related to the credit quality of accounts receivable, income tax credits receivable, share based payments, impairment of non-financial assets, as well as revenue and cost recognition.

There are tax risks the Company may be subject to in carrying on business in multiple jurisdictions.

We and our subsidiaries will operate and, accordingly, will be subject to income tax and other forms of taxation in multiple jurisdictions. We may be subject to income taxes and non-income taxes in a variety of jurisdictions and our tax structure may be subject to review by both domestic and foreign taxation authorities. Those tax authorities may disagree with our interpretation and/or application of relevant tax rules. A challenge by a tax authority in these circumstances might require us to incur costs in connection with litigation against the relevant tax authority or reaching a settlement with the tax authority and, if the tax authority's challenge is successful, could result in additional taxes (perhaps together with interest and penalties) being assessed on us, and as a result an increase in the amount of tax payable by us.

Taxation laws and rates which determine taxation expenses may vary significantly in different jurisdictions, and legislation governing taxation laws and rates are also subject to change. Therefore, our earnings may be affected by changes in the proportion of earnings taxed in different jurisdictions, changes in taxation rates, changes in estimates of liabilities and changes in the amount of other forms of taxation. The determination of our provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities will require significant judgment (including based on external advice) as to the interpretation and application of these rules. We may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities or expenses.

Additionally, dividends and other intra-group payments made by our subsidiaries or international branches may expose the recipients of such payments to taxes in their jurisdictions of organization and operation and such dividends and other intra-group payments may also be subject to withholding taxes imposed by the jurisdiction in which the entity making the payment is organized or tax resident. Unless such withholding taxes are fully creditable or refundable, dividends and other intra-group payments may increase the amount of tax paid by us. Although the Company and its subsidiaries arrange themselves and their affairs with a view to minimizing the incurrence of such taxes, there can be no assurance that we will succeed.

Restrictions on Deduction of Certain Expenses for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes.

Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), prohibits businesses from deducting certain expenses associated with trafficking-controlled substances for United States federal income tax purposes. The Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") has invoked Code Section 280E in tax audits against various cannabis businesses in the U.S. that are permitted under applicable state laws. Section 280E of the Code prohibits cannabis businesses that are deemed to be trafficking in controlled substances from deducting certain ordinary and necessary business expenses, forcing them to pay higher effective federal tax rates than similar companies in other industries. The effective tax rate on a cannabis business depends on how large its ratio of non-deductible expenses is to its total revenues. Therefore, businesses in the U.S. legal cannabis industry may be less profitable than they would otherwise be.

Although the IRS issued a clarification allowing the deduction of certain expenses, the scope of such items is interpreted very narrowly and the bulk of operating costs and general administrative costs are not permitted to be deducted. While there are currently several pending cases before various administrative bodies and federal courts challenging these restrictions, there is no guarantee that these authorities will issue an interpretation of Code Section 280E favorable to cannabis businesses.

Although the IRS issued a clarification allowing the deduction of certain expenses, the scope of such items is interpreted very narrowly and the bulk of operating costs and general administrative costs are not permitted to be deducted. While there are currently several pending cases before various administrative bodies and federal courts challenging these restrictions, there is no guarantee that these authorities will issue an interpretation of Code Section 280E favorable to cannabis businesses.

If our tax filing positions were to be challenged by federal, state and local or foreign tax jurisdictions, we may not be wholly successful in defending our tax filing positions. We record reserves for unrecognized tax benefits based on our assessment of the probability of successfully sustaining tax filing positions. We, therefore, analyze and consider the appropriateness of recording reserves for unrecognized tax benefits each quarter. Management exercises significant judgment when assessing the probability of successfully sustaining tax filing positions, and in determining whether a contingent tax liability should be recorded and, if so, estimating the amount. If our tax filing positions are successfully challenged, payments could be required that are in excess of reserved amounts or we may be required to reduce the carrying amount of our net deferred tax asset, either of which result could be significant to our financial condition or results of operations.

The Company may be at a higher risk of IRS audit.

The Company believes there is a greater likelihood that the IRS will audit the tax returns of cannabis-related businesses. Any such audit of our tax returns could result in us being required to pay additional tax, interest and penalties, as well as incremental accounting and legal expenses, which could be material.

The Company will likely be a "passive foreign investment company" for its current tax year, which may have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. investors.

The Company believes it was a PFIC within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code for its most recently completed tax year, and based on current business plans and financial expectations, it believes that it will likely be a PFIC for its current tax year and may be a PFIC in subsequent tax years. If the Company is a PFIC for any year during a U.S. taxpayer's holding period of Common Shares, then such U.S. taxpayer generally will be required to treat any gain realized upon a disposition of the Common Shares or any so-called "excess distribution" received on its Common Shares as ordinary income, and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such gain or distribution. In certain circumstances, the sum of the tax and the interest charge may exceed the total amount of proceeds realized on the disposition, or the amount of excess distribution received, by the U.S. taxpayer. Subject to certain limitations, these tax consequences may be mitigated if a U.S. taxpayer makes a timely and effective "QEF election" under Code Section 1295 ("QEF Election") or a "mark-to-market" election under Section 1296 of the Code ("Mark-to-Market Election"). U.S. taxpayers should be aware that there can be no assurances that the Company will satisfy the record keeping requirements that apply to a qualified electing fund (a "QEF"), or that the Company will supply U.S. taxpayers with information that such U.S. taxpayers are required to report under the QEF rules, in the event the Company is a PFIC. Thus, U.S. Holders may not be able to make a QEF Election with respect to their Common Shares. A U.S. taxpayer who makes a Mark-to-Market Election generally must include as ordinary income each year the excess of the fair market value of the Common Shares over the taxpayer's basis therein. This paragraph is qualified in its entirety by the discussion below under the heading of "Certain United States Federal Income Taxation Considerations - Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules." Each potential investor who is a U.S. taxpayer should consult its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the PFIC rules and the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Common Shares.

The Company's ability to use its U.S. net operating loss carryforwards to offset its future U.S. taxable income may be subject to limitations.

The Company's U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards ("NOLs") generated in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018 may be carried forward for 20 years. The Company's U.S. federal NOLs generated in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 may be carried forward indefinitely, but the utilization of such NOLs is limited. In addition, under Section 382 of the Code, a corporation that undergoes an "ownership change" (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its stock ownership over a three-year period) is subject to limitations on its ability to utilize its pre-change U.S. federal NOLs to offset its future U.S. taxable income. If the Company has undergone an ownership change in the past, or if future changes in its stock ownership, some of which are outside its control, results in an ownership change, its ability to utilize its U.S. federal NOLs may be limited by Section 382 of the Code. It is uncertain if and to what extent U.S. states will conform to U.S. federal income tax law with respect to the treatment of NOLs. As a result, the Company's ability to use its U.S. NOLs to offset its future U.S. taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could increase its tax liability and decrease its cash flow.

Changes in global and local tax laws and regulations in jurisdictions in which the Company operates may adversely impact the Company and the value of the Common Shares.

Changes to tax laws in the U.S. or in any jurisdiction in which the Company conducts business (which changes may have retroactive application) could adversely affect the Company or holders of the Common Shares. In recent years, many changes to U.S. federal income tax laws have been proposed and made, and additional changes to U.S. federal income tax laws are likely to continue to occur in the future.

The U.S. Congress is currently considering numerous items of legislation which may be enacted prospectively or with retroactive effect, which legislation could adversely impact the Company's financial performance and the value of the Common Shares. Additionally, states in which the Company operates or owns assets may impose new or increased taxes. If enacted, most of the proposals would be effective for the current or later years. The proposed legislation remains subject to change, and its impact on the Company and purchasers of the Common Shares is uncertain.

In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes provisions that impact the U.S. federal income taxation of corporations. Among other items, this legislation includes provisions that impose a minimum tax on the book income of certain large corporations and an excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases that is imposed on the corporation purchasing such stock. It is unclear how this legislation will be implemented by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Company cannot predict how this legislation or any future changes in tax laws might affect the Company or purchasers of the Common Shares.

A number of international legislative and regulatory bodies have proposed legislation and begun investigations of the tax practices of multinational companies and, in the European Union, the tax policies of certain European Union member states. One of these efforts has been led by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which has finalized recommendations to revise corporate tax, transfer pricing, and tax treaty provisions in member countries. On December 15, 2022, European Union member states unanimously adopted the Minimum Tax Directive ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational companies. Member states had until December 31, 2023, to transpose the Minimum Tax Directive into national legislation. The enactment of this and the heightened interest in and taxation of large multinational companies increase tax uncertainty and could ultimately have a material effect on our effective tax rate, income tax expense, net income, or cash flows.

Failure to develop our internal controls over financial reporting as we grow could have an adverse effect on our operations.

As we mature we will need to continue to develop and improve our current internal control systems and procedures to manage our growth. We are required to establish and maintain appropriate internal controls over financial reporting. Failure to establish appropriate controls, or any failure of those controls once established, could adversely affect our public disclosures regarding our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, management's assessment of internal controls over financial reporting may identify weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal controls over financial reporting or other matters that may raise concerns for investors. In connection with the audit of our financials for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company's auditors noted material weaknesses and made certain recommendations to management regarding material weaknesses related to goodwill impairment testing and purchase price allocations, contract receivables and corresponding revenue and inventory procedures (the "2021 Material Weaknesses"). In connection with the 2021 Material Weaknesses, the Company allocated resources to its remediation plan, including (i) continuing to enhance our impairment testing procedures with the assistance of our third party experts (ii) implementing enhanced credit assessment over the creditworthiness of certain contract receivables and their corresponding revenue and (iii) implementing regularly scheduled physical inventory counts in all company locations and reconciling with internal accounting records. As of December 31, 2022, management believed the 2021 Material Weaknesses relating to its contract receivables and corresponding revenue and investor procedures have been fully remediated.

However, in connection with the audit of our financials for the year ended December 31, 2022, our auditors noted that the material weakness with respect to goodwill impairment testing and purchase price allocations remains un-remediated (the "2022 Material Weakness"). In connection with the 2022 Material Weakness, management has, and will continue to, allocate resources to its remediation plan, which include (i) the establishment of additional internal procedures with respect to the documentation of budget and forecasting process with respect to material assumptions or determinations, (ii) the implementation of a new validation process to bolster accuracy of underlying assumptions and (iii) the assessment of our third party experts engaged to assist in the accuracy of our impairment testing. As of December 31, 2023, management believes the 2022 Material Weaknesses relating to its goodwill impairment testing and purchase price allocations have been fully remediated.

Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure of management's assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting or disclosure of our public accounting firm's attestation to or report on management's assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting may have an adverse effect on the price of our Common Shares.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMMON SHARES

We will need, but may be unable to, obtain additional funding on satisfactory terms, which could dilute our shareholders or impose burdensome financial restrictions on our business.

In the future, we hope to rely on revenues generated from operations to fund all of the cash requirements of our activities. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate any significant cash from our operating activities in the future. Future financings may not be available on a timely basis, in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Any debt financing or other financing of securities senior to the Common Shares will likely include financial and other covenants that will restrict our flexibility. Any failure to comply with these covenants would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations because we could lose our existing sources of funding and impair our ability to secure new sources of funding. There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate any investor interest in our securities. If we do not obtain additional financing, our business may never commence, in which case you would likely lose the entirety of your investment in the Company.

Holders of our Common Shares are subject to dilution resulting from the issuance of equity-based compensation by us.

We have awarded stock options and restricted common shares to our management and key employees to incentivize their performance and retention. Any additional equity grants and any exercise of existing warrants will cause our shareholders to be diluted and may negatively affect the price of the Common Shares.

We continue to incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company and our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.

As a public company, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company, we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2022 ("Sarbanes-Oxley Act"), and rules implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq, impose various requirements on public companies, including requirements to file annual, quarterly and event-driven reports with respect to our business and financial condition and operations and establish and maintain effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our existing management team will continue to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives, and we may need to hire additional personnel to assist us with complying with these requirements. Moreover, these rules and regulations will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly.

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act ("Section 404"), we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal controls over financial reporting, which, after we are no longer an emerging growth company, must be accompanied by an attestation report on internal controls over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we will document and evaluate our internal controls over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal controls over financial reporting.

In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some public company required activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We continue to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and divert management's time and attention from revenue generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.

If we fail to meet applicable listing requirements, Nasdaq may delist our Common Shares from trading, in which case the liquidity and market price of our Common Shares could decline.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet the continued listing standards of Nasdaq currently or in the future. Nasdaq imposes, among other requirements, continued listing standards including a minimum bid requirement.

The price of our Common Shares must trade at or above $1.00 to comply with the minimum bid requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. On July 8, 2022, the Company was notified by the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC that it was not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days as set forth in Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules (the "Minimum Bid Price Requirement"). In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), Nasdaq provided a 180-calendar day period following the date of the notice to regain compliance. To regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, the Company was required to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 or more for at least 10 consecutive trading days. From June 9, 2023 through June 23, 2023, a period of 10 consecutive trading days, the closing bid price of the Company's Common Shares was greater than $1.00 per share. Accordingly, on June 26, 2023, the Company received formal notice from Nasdaq that it had regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement and that the matter has been closed.

The audit committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, must include three independent members as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(2)(A). With the resignation of Director Thomas Solomon, the Company informed Nasdaq of the foregoing on December 4, 2023. On December 6, 2023, the Company received a notification from Nasdaq, confirming that, for the reasons described above, the Company no longer complies with Nasdaq's audit committee requirements contained in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(2)(A). As set forth in such notification, Nasdaq advised the Company that, under Nasdaq Rule 5605(c)(4), Nasdaq will provide the Company a cure period in order to regain compliance (i) until the earlier of the Company's next annual shareholders' meeting or November 30, 2024, or (ii) if the next annual shareholders' meeting is held before May 28, 2024, then the Company must evidence compliance no later than May 28, 2024.

If the Company fails to regain compliance with the audit committee requirement, or if we otherwise fail to meet any other applicable requirements of the Nasdaq and we are unable to regain compliance, Nasdaq may make a determination to delist our Common Shares. Any delisting of our Common Shares would likely adversely affect the market liquidity and market price of our Common Shares and our ability to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations or result in the loss of confidence by investors.

Ownership of our Common Shares may be considered unlawful in some jurisdictions and holders of our Common Shares may consequently be subject to liability in such jurisdictions.

Cannabis-related financial transactions, including investment in the securities of cannabis companies and receipt of any associated benefits, such as dividends, are currently subject to anti-money laundering and a variety of other laws that vary by jurisdiction, many of which are unsettled and still developing. While the interpretation of these laws is unclear, in some jurisdictions, financial benefit directly or indirectly arising from conduct that would be considered unlawful in such jurisdiction may be viewed to be within the purview of these laws, and persons receiving any such benefit, including investors in an applicable jurisdiction, may be subject to liability under such laws. Each prospective investor should therefore contact his, her or its own legal advisor regarding the ownership of our Common Shares and any related potential liability.

The Company's directors and officers may have a conflict of interest in conducting their duties.

We may be subject to various potential conflicts of interest because of the fact that some of our officers and directors may be engaged in a range of business activities. In addition, our executive officers and directors may devote time to their outside business interests, so long as such activities do not materially or adversely interfere with their duties to the Company. In some cases, our executive officers and directors may have fiduciary obligations associated with these business interests that interfere with their ability to devote time to our business and affairs and that could adversely affect our operations. These business interests could require significant time and attention of our executive officers and directors.

As of January 1, 2023, we were required to report as a U.S. domestic issuer and the benefits of a "foreign private issuer" are no longer available to us, which will likely result in additional costs and expenses for us.

On January 1, 2023, we lost our status as a "foreign private issuer" (within the meaning of Rule 3b-4 of the Exchange Act). Complying with these additional requirements increases our legal and audit fees which in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result of being considered a "domestic issuer" for reporting and disclosure requirements. We were required to adjust our disclosure and reporting to comply with the requirements for domestic U.S. companies, including that:

We expect that complying with these additional requirements would increase our legal and audit fees which in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, as a result of being considered a "domestic issuer" for reporting and disclosure requirements:

As a foreign private issuer, we were permitted to follow, and had followed through December 31, 2022, certain home country corporate governance practices instead of those otherwise required under Nasdaq rules for domestic U.S. issuers. For instance, we followed home country practice in Canada with regard to the lack of need to obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events such as (i) the establishment or amendment of certain equity-based compensation plans and (ii) certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or more interest in the company.

The regulated nature of our business may impede or discourage a takeover, which could reduce the market price of our Common Shares.

We require and hold various government licenses to operate our business. These licensing requirements could impede a merger, amalgamation, takeover or other business combination involving us or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer for our Common Shares, which, under certain circumstances, could reduce the market price of our Common Shares.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our Common Shares in the near future, and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our Common Shares.

We have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our Common Shares and do not currently intend to do so in the foreseeable future. We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the success of an investment in the Common Shares will depend upon any future appreciation in their value. There is no guarantee that the Common Shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased them.

We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company, and our compliance with the reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies could make our Common Shares less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to raise capital as and when we need it.

We are an "emerging growth company", as defined in the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, referred to as the JOBS Act, and we expect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved and extended adoption period for accounting pronouncements.

Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a "smaller reporting company," which would allow us to continue to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this Annual Report and our periodic reports and proxy statements.

We cannot predict whether investors will find our Common Shares less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions. If some investors find our Common Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Common Shares and our stock price may be more volatile.

Additionally, because of the exemptions from various reporting requirements provided to us as an emerging growth company, we may be less attractive to investors and it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital as and when we need it. Investors may be unable to compare our business with other companies in our industry if they believe that our reporting is not as transparent as the reporting of other companies in our industry. If we are unable to raise additional capital as and when we need it, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Future issuances of debt securities, which would rank senior to our Common Shares upon our bankruptcy or liquidation, and future issuances of preferred stock, which could rank senior to our Common Shares for the purposes of dividends and liquidating distributions, may adversely affect the level of return you may be able to achieve from an investment in our Common Shares.

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by offering debt securities. Upon bankruptcy or liquidation, holders of our debt securities, and lenders with respect to other borrowings we may make, would receive distributions of our available assets prior to any distributions being made to holders of our Common Shares. Moreover, if we issue preferred stock, the holders of such preferred stock could be entitled to preferences over holders of Common Shares in respect of the payment of dividends and the payment of liquidating distributions. Because our decision to issue debt or preferred stock in any future offering, or borrow money from lenders, will depend in part on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any such future offerings or borrowings. Holders of our Common Shares must bear the risk that any future offerings we conduct or borrowings we make may adversely affect the level of return, if any, they may be able to achieve from an investment in our Common Shares.

If the price of our Common Shares fluctuates, you could lose a significant part of your investment.

The market price of our Common Shares could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to, among other things, the risk factors described in this section of this Annual Report, and other factors beyond our control, such as fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us. Furthermore, the stock markets have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political, and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rate changes or international currency fluctuations, may negatively affect the market price of our Common Shares. In the past, many companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management's attention from other business concerns, which could seriously harm our business.

Volatility in the market price of our Common Shares may prevent investors from being able to sell their shares at or above the public offering price. As a result, you may suffer a loss on your investment.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

The Company may become involved in legal proceedings from time to time, which could adversely affect the Company.

From time to time, we may be a party to legal and regulatory proceedings, including matters involving governmental agencies, entities with whom it does business and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We will evaluate our exposure to these legal and regulatory proceedings and establish reserves for the estimated liabilities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. For more information, see Item 3 "Legal Proceedings." Assessing and predicting the outcome of these matters involves substantial uncertainties. Unexpected outcomes in these legal proceedings, or changes in management's evaluations or predictions and accompanying changes in established reserves, could have an adverse impact on our financial results.

Our participation in the cannabis industry may lead to litigation, formal or informal complaints, enforcement actions, and inquiries by third parties, other companies and/or various governmental authorities against us. Litigation, complaints, and enforcement actions involving us could consume considerable amounts of financial and other corporate resources, which could have an adverse effect on our future cash flows, earnings, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company's success will depend, in part, on its ability to continue to enhance its product and service offerings to respond to technological and regulatory changes and emerging industry standards and practices.

Rapidly changing markets, technology, emerging industry and regulatory standards and frequent introduction of new products characterize the Company's business. The introduction of new products embodying new technologies and regulatory developments may render the Company's equipment obsolete and its products and services less competitive or less marketable. The process of developing the Company's products and services is complex and requires significant continuing costs, development efforts, third-party commitments and regulatory approvals. The Company may not be successful in developing or effectively commercializing such new products and services, or obtaining any required regulatory approvals, which, together with any capital expenditures made in the course of developing such products and services, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and operating results.

We are dependent upon our management and key employees, and the loss of any member of our management team or key employees could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

The Company's success is dependent upon the ability, expertise, judgment, discretion and good faith of its senior management and key employees. The loss of any member of our management team or key employees could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. While employment agreements and incentive programs are customarily used as primary methods of retaining the services of key employees, these agreements and incentive programs cannot assure the continued services of such employees. Any loss of the services of such individuals, or an inability to attract other suitably qualified persons when needed, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results or financial condition. We do not currently maintain key-person insurance on the lives of any of our key employees. Competition for qualified technical, sales and marketing staff, as well as officers and directors can be intense, and no assurance can be provided that the Company will be able to attract or retain key employees in the future, which may adversely affect the Company's operations.

Our inability to retain and acquire skilled personnel could impair our business and operations.

The loss of any member of our management team could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, the inability to hire or the increased costs of hiring new personnel, including members of executive management, could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. The expansion of marketing and sales of our products will require us to find, hire and retain additional capable employees who can understand, explain, market and sell our products. There is intense competition for capable personnel in all of these areas and we may not be successful in attracting, training, integrating, motivating, or retaining new personnel, vendors, or subcontractors for these required functions. New employees often require significant training and, in many cases, take a significant amount of time before they achieve full productivity. As a result, we may incur significant costs to attract and retain employees, including significant expenditures related to salaries and benefits and compensation expenses issued in connection to equity awards, and we may lose new employees to our competitors or other companies before we realize the benefit of our investment in recruiting and training them. In addition, as we move into new jurisdictions, we will need to attract and recruit skilled employees in those new areas.

We will need to grow the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing any growth we may achieve.

As our development and commercialization plans and strategies develop, we expect to need additional research, development, managerial, operational, sales, marketing, financial, accounting, legal and other resources. Future growth would impose significant added responsibilities on members of management. In order to manage growth and changes in strategy effectively, the Company must: (a) maintain adequate systems to meet customer demand; (b) expand sales and marketing, distribution capabilities, and administrative functions; (c) expand the skills and capabilities of its current management team; and (d) attract and retain qualified employees. Our management may not be able to accommodate those added responsibilities, and our failure to do so could prevent us from effectively managing future growth and successfully growing our Company.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about us, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our Common Shares will depend, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our operations. We do not have any control over these analysts and their research and reports. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our share price would likely decline. In addition, if our operating results fail to meet the forecast of analysts, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our shares could decrease, which might cause our share price and trading volume to decline.

We expect to incur significant ongoing costs and obligations related to our investment in infrastructure, growth, regulatory compliance and operations.

We expect to incur significant ongoing costs and obligations related to our investment in infrastructure and growth and regulatory compliance, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. In addition, future changes in regulations, more vigorous enforcement thereof or other unanticipated events could require extensive changes to our operations, increased compliance costs or give rise to material liabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our efforts to grow our business may be costlier than we expect, and we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to offset such higher operating expenses. We may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays, and other unknown events.

There is no assurance that the Company's insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover all claims to which the Company may become subject.

Our production is, in general, subject to different risks and hazards, including adverse weather conditions, fires, plant diseases and pest infestations, other natural phenomena, industrial accidents, labor disputes, changes in the legal and regulatory framework applicable to us and environmental contingencies.

We may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount desired at a reasonable cost. If we were to incur significant liability for which we were not fully insured, it could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We do not currently maintain key-person insurance on the lives of any of our key employees.

We may be unable to implement our business strategy, which could have negative financial and reputational effects on our business.

The growth and expansion of our business is heavily dependent upon the successful implementation of our business strategy. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in the implementation of our business strategy. A failure to do so could have negative financial and reputational effects on us. Future clinical research studies may lead to conclusions that dispute or conflict with our understanding and belief regarding the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis.

The Company could be subject to a security breach that could result in significant damage or theft of products and equipment.

Breaches of security at our facilities may occur and could result in damage to or theft of products and equipment. A security breach at our facilities could result in a significant loss of inventory or work in process, expose us to liability under applicable regulations and increase expenses relating to the investigation of the breach and implementation of additional preventative security measures, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY.

We have processes in place for assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from potential unauthorized occurrences on or through our electronic information systems that could adversely affect the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information systems or the information residing on those systems. These include a wide variety of mechanisms, controls, technologies, methods, systems, and other processes that are designed to prevent, detect, or mitigate data loss, theft, misuse, unauthorized access, or other security incidents or vulnerabilities affecting the data. The data include confidential, proprietary, and business and personal information that we collect, process, store, and transmit as part of our business, including on behalf of third parties. We also maintain a third-party security program to identify, prioritize, assess, mitigate and remediate third-party risks; however, we rely on the third parties we use to implement security programs commensurate with their risk, and we cannot ensure in all circumstances that their efforts will be successful.

We have implemented numerous policies and procedures concerning cybersecurity matters, which include policies that directly or indirectly relate to encryption standards, antivirus protection, remote access, multi-factor authentication, confidential information and the use of the internet, social media, email and wireless and personal devices for both Company business and personal matters while utilizing Company resources, among other relevant topics. These policies go through an internal review process on a periodic basis and are, if needed, updated and re-approved by the appropriate members of management.

Our systems periodically experience directed attacks intended to lead to interruptions and delays in our operations as well as loss, misuse or theft of personal information (of third parties, employees, and our members) and other data, confidential information, or intellectual property. Risk from cybersecurity threats, including relating to past incidents, have not materially affected our systems or business. Any significant disruption to our operations or access to our systems could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Further, a penetration of our systems or a third party's systems or other misappropriation or misuse of personal information could subject us to business, regulatory, litigation, and reputation risk, which could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We established an interdisciplinary team to monitor and assess cybersecurity risks on an ongoing basis, which is led by our Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"). It is a cross-departmental team that consists of finance and operations personnel, as well as third party legal and information technology ("IT") consultants, with all significant implementation efforts executed by our IT consultant, who has extensive experience in IT, enterprise security and cyber risk management. This team is in charge of developing, maintaining and measuring compliance with the cyber risk management program, and dedicates significant resources to cybersecurity and risk management processes to adapt to the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape and to respond to emerging threats in a timely and effective manner.

When a potential incident is first detected, the matter is communicated to the CFO as soon as possible so that the Company may work quickly and diligently to re-secure its systems and work to minimize any damage and further risk to it as a result thereof. Upon receipt, the CFO is charged with immediately investigating the report to ensure the existence or possibility of a cyberattack and employs every effort toward thwarting or limiting a cyberattack, if ongoing, to the fullest extent possible to avoid further damage and exposure to the Company and its systems. As soon as an immediate threat or cyberattack is sufficiently contained to permit it, the CFO notifies the Chief Executive Officer of the situation, who is charged to direct the CFO on any additional or special measures to be taken, including but not limited to a Company-wide alert or directive, which the CFO must follow/implement without delay. Questions or concerns relating to a directive's validity may be confirmed only by the CFO, or a designated executive officer, through a known form of contact not questionably in breach. As soon as reasonably practicable after response efforts commence, the designated executive officers are required to notify the Chair of the Audit Committee of the situation and to thereafter keep the Chair apprised of all material developments, who may escalate the matter to the full Board in the Chair's discretion. Our emergency response plan also sets forth our procedures for a transition back into normal work practices, as well as security incident investigation, remediation procedures, security incident recovery and mandatory reporting.

Our Board of Directors oversees the Company's aggregate risk profile and risk management process. The Board of Directors administers this oversight function with respect to cybersecurity risks through the Audit Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the Company's cybersecurity risk management processes, including the steps our management has taken to monitor and control cybersecurity risks.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

We lease a 24,425 sq. ft. facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where Just CBD's and Vessel's distribution, wholesale (B2B), and direct-to-consumer (D2C) orders are fulfilled and shipped worldwide. We currently lease this facility for $30,787 a month, pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in April 2024.

We lease a 13,483 sq. ft. facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where Flora Lab 3 conducts its manufacturing operations. We currently lease this facility for $41,400 a month, pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in June 2024.

Phatebo leases a 7,300 square foot pharmaceutical storage and logistic center certified under Good Distribution Practices located in Hilzingen, Germany. The monthly lease payments are €3,600 per month and the lease expires on February 29, 2024.

Our Vessel operations were previously headquartered in Carlsbad, California, where we lease 12,000 sq. ft. of office and warehouse space for $24,000 a month, pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in June 2027. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we made the decision to shift all operations relating to Vessel and its business to our facility in Fort Lauderdale. This property has been sublet to third parties for a total of $23,000 per month, pursuant to a sublease agreement that expires in June 2027.

We lease an 800 sq. ft store located in Miami, Florida for $8,000 per month, pursuant to a lease agreement that expires in November 2026, where we previously sold Stardog merchandise. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we made the decision to close this location and this property has been sublet to a third-party for $8,000 per month, pursuant to a sublease agreement that expires in November 2026.

We believe that our current offices and facilities are sufficient to meet our anticipated needs for the foreseeable future and are suitable for the conduct of our business. We believe that suitable additional space would be available if required in the future on commercially reasonable terms.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

Below is a summary of certain material legal matters relating to the Company. Other than the matters disclosed below, from time to time, we are involved in various routine legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We do not currently believe that the outcome of these legal matters have had in the recent past, or will have (with respect to any pending matters), significant effects on our financial position or profitability.

FGH-related litigation

Prior to consummating the Arrangement with FGH, we entered into an agreement with Clifford Starke, our current CEO and the former Chairman and CEO of FGH, along with certain of his affiliated entities, pursuant to which they agreed to indemnify the Company against any financial losses we may incur with respect to certain matters, up to an aggregate amount of $5.0 million. Set forth below are two legal proceedings that have been brought against subsidiaries of the Company and for which we are entitled to be indemnified by Mr. Starke and his affiliated entities:

On February 3, 2023, an action was brought in the Ontario Superior Court by Nathan Shantz and Liberacion E Inversiones S.A. against various parties, including Clifford Starke, our curren CEO and the former CEO of FGH, and FGH. The statement of claim alleges that prior to closing the Arrangement, an aggregate of 8,831,109 FGH shares purportedly owned by the plaintiffs were wrongfully transferred to third parties, in part through alleged unauthorized steps taken by Mr. Starke. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, a declaration that they are the rightful owners of the shares or, in the alternative, damages. Against FGH, they claim a declaration that, by virtue of the alleged unauthorized transfer of shares, FGH acted oppressively and seek damages in the amount of $3,979,999. The defendants have brought motions to stay the proceedings on the grounds that the Ontario court lacks jurisdiction over the claim.

In December 2022, an action was brought against Franchise Cannabis Corp. ("FCC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FGH, in the Constance Regional Court in Germany, by the former principal shareholder of ACA Muller ADAG Pharma Vertriebs GmbH ("ACA Muller"). Plaintiff claims that FCC breached a share purchase agreement between the parties pertaining to the sale of ACA Muller to FCC and is seeking damages in the amount of $3,600,000. The Company disputes such claims and intends to vigorously defend against this action.

JustCBD-related litigation

On November 1, 2023, Just Brands filed an emergency complaint for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief in the Southern District of Florida against the Department stemming from Stop Sale Orders issued by the Department whereby the Department prohibited Just Brands from selling and moving the majority of its products. Relying on Florida Statute Section 581.217, which includes the definition of "attractive to children," the Department determined Just Brand's product could not be sold or moved because the products were manufactured in the shape of humans, cartoons, or animals; in a form that bears a reasonable resemblance to an existing candy product; and containing color additives. The court ruled in favor of the Department and that Order is being appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Since then, the Department has initiated an Administrative Action claiming Just Brands moved product outside the State of Florida in violation of the Stop Sale Orders. The statute provides for a penalty of up to $5,000 per violation. The Department seeks to assess penalties on what they claim to be a total of 215,154 violations (one for each package).

The Company disputes this claim and intends to vigorously defend against these actions.

Other matters

On May 31, 2023, Maria Beatriz Fernandez Otero and Sara Cristina Jacome De Torres brought an action against the Company in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice claiming that the Company is obligated to issue 500,000 Common Shares (before the June 9, 2023 1-for-20 reverse stock split) each for a purchase price of $0.05 per share. The plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to such shares as compensation for alleged consulting services performed.

On May 31, 2023, Ramon Ricardo Castellanos Saenz and Miriam Ortiz brought an action against the Company in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice claiming that the Company is obligated to issue 1,500,000 Common Shares (before the June 9, 2023 1-for-20 reverse stock split) each for a purchase price of $0.05 per share. The plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to such shares as compensation for alleged consulting services performed.

The Company disputes these claims and intends to vigorously defend against these actions.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Market Information

Our Common Shares are traded publicly on Nasdaq under the symbol "FLGC".

As of March 21, 2024, there were approximately 4,531 holders of record of our Common Shares.

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our Common Shares. No cash dividends have been previously paid on our Common Shares and none are anticipated in fiscal 2024. We repurchased no Common Shares during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2023.

Unregistered sale of Equity Securities

There were no unregistered sales of equity securities by us during the year ended December 31, 2023 that were not reported in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or our current reports on Form 8-K.

Certain Canadian Federal Income Taxation Considerations

The following is a general summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable under Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") to a holder of Common Shares, each of whom, at all relevant times, for the purposes of the Tax Act, holds such Common Shares as capital property, deals at arm's length with the Company, is not affiliated with the Company and, for purposes of the Tax Act, is not, is not deemed to be, a resident of Canada and has not and will not use or hold or be deemed to use or hold the Common Shares in the course of carrying on business in Canada (a "Non-Resident Holder"). Special rules, which are not discussed below, may apply to a non-resident of Canada that is an insurer which carries on business in Canada and elsewhere. Such Non-Resident Holders should consult their own tax advisors.

The Common Shares will generally be considered capital property to a Non-Resident Holder unless either (i) the Non-Resident Holder holds the Common Shares in the course of carrying on a business of buying and selling securities or (ii) the Non-Resident Holder has acquired the Common Shares in a transaction or transactions considered to be an adventure or concern in the nature of trade.

The term "U.S. Holder," for the purposes of this section, means a Non-Resident Holder who, for purposes of the Canada-United States Tax Convention (1980) as amended, (the "Convention"), is at all relevant times a resident of the United States and is a "qualifying person" within the meaning of the Convention. In some circumstances, fiscally transparent entities (including limited liability companies) will be entitled to benefits under the Convention. Non-Resident Holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors to determine their entitlement to benefits under the Convention based on their particular circumstances.

This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act, the regulations thereunder (the "Regulations"), the current provisions of the Convention, counsel's understanding of the current published administrative policies and assessing practices of the Canada Revenue Agency (the "CRA") publicly available prior to the date hereof. This summary also takes into account all specific proposals to amend the Tax Act and Regulations publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof (collectively, the "Proposed Tax Amendments"). No assurances can be given that the Proposed Tax Amendments will be enacted or will be enacted as proposed. Other than the Proposed Tax Amendments, this summary does not take into account or anticipate any changes in law or the administration policies or assessing practice of CRA, whether by judicial, legislative, governmental or administrative decision or action, nor does it take into account provincial, territorial or foreign income tax legislation or considerations, which may differ significantly from those discussed herein.

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 Non-Resident Holder and no representations with respect to the income tax consequences to any particular Non-Resident Holder are made. This summary is not exhaustive of all Canadian federal income tax considerations. Accordingly, Non-Resident Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own particular circumstances. The discussion below is qualified accordingly.

Currency Conversion

Subject to certain exceptions that are not discussed herein, for purposes of the Tax Act, all amounts relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of Common Shares, including dividends, adjusted cost base and proceeds of dispositions must be determined in Canadian dollars using the daily exchange rate of the Bank of Canada on the particular date the particular amount arose or such other rate of exchange as acceptable to the CRA.

Disposition of Common Shares

A Non-Resident Holder will not be subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of any capital gain realized by such Non-Resident Holder on a disposition of the Common Shares, nor will capital losses arising from the disposition be recognized under the Tax Act, unless the Common Shares constitute "taxable Canadian property" (as defined in the Tax Act) of the Non-Resident Holder at the time of disposition and the Non-Resident Holder is not entitled to relief under an applicable income tax treaty or convention. As long as the shares are then listed on a "designated stock exchange" (as defined in the Tax Act) (which currently includes the TSX and the NYSE American) at the time of disposition, the Common Shares generally will not constitute taxable Canadian property of a Non-Resident Holder, unless at any time during the 60-month period immediately preceding the disposition the following two conditions are met concurrently: (i) the Non-Resident Holder, persons with whom the Non-Resident Holder did not deal at arm's length, partnerships in which the Non-Resident Holder or persons with whom the Non-Resident Holder did not deal at arm's length holds a membership interest directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships, or the Non-Resident Holder together with all such persons, owned or was considered to own 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of shares of the capital stock of the Company; and (ii) more than 50% of the fair market value of the Common Shares was derived directly or indirectly from one or any combination of real or immovable property situated in Canada, "Canadian resource properties" (as defined in the Tax Act), "timber resource properties" (as defined in the Tax Act) or a options in respect of, or interests in, or civil law rights in, such properties, whether or not it exists.

If the Common Shares are taxable Canadian property to a Non-Resident Holder, any capital gain realized on the disposition or deemed disposition of such shares, may not be subject to Canadian federal income tax pursuant to the terms of an applicable income tax treaty or convention between Canada and the country of residence of a Non-Resident Holder, including the Convention.

A Non-Resident Holder whose shares are taxable Canadian property should consult their own advisors.

Dividends on Common Shares

Under the Tax Act, dividends on Common Shares paid or credited to a Non-Resident Holder will be subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 25% of the gross amount of the dividends. This withholding tax may be reduced pursuant to the terms of an applicable income tax treaty or convention between Canada and the country of residence of a Non-Resident Holder. Under the Convention, a U.S. Holder will generally be subject to Canadian withholding tax at a rate of 15% of the gross amount of such dividends (or 5% in the case of a U.S. Holder that is a company beneficially owning at least 10% of the Company's voting shares). In addition, under the Convention, dividends may be exempt from Canadian non-resident withholding tax if paid to certain U.S. Holders that are qualifying religious, scientific, literary, educational or charitable tax-exempt organizations and qualifying trusts, companies, organizations or arrangements operated exclusively to administer or provide pension, retirement or employee benefits that are exempt from tax in the United States and that have complied with specific administrative procedures.

Certain United States Federal Income Taxation Considerations

The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below) arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. This summary is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations that may apply to a U.S. Holder arising from or relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. In addition, this summary does not take into account the individual facts and circumstances of any particular U.S. Holder that may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder, including, without limitation, specific tax consequences to a U.S. Holder under an applicable income tax treaty. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income tax advice with respect to any U.S. Holder. This summary does not address the U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal net investment income, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. In addition, except as specifically set forth below, this summary does not discuss applicable income tax reporting requirements. Each prospective U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal net investment income, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.

No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") or legal opinion from legal counsel has been requested, or will be obtained, regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. This summary is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS is not precluded from taking a position that is different from, or contrary to, the positions taken in this summary. In addition, because the authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various interpretations, the IRS and the U.S. courts could disagree with one or more of the conclusions described in this summary.

Scope of this Summary

Authorities

This summary is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations (whether final, temporary, or proposed), published rulings of the IRS, published administrative positions of the IRS, the current provisions of the Convention between Canada and the United States with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital of 1980, as amended (the "Canada-U.S. Tax Convention"), and U.S. court decisions that are applicable, and, in each case, as in effect and available, as of the date of this document. Any of the authorities on which this summary is based could be changed in a material and adverse manner at any time, and any such change could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis, which could affect the U.S. federal income tax considerations described in this summary. Except as provided herein, this summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis.

U.S. Holders

For purposes of this summary, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of Common Shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

• An individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
• a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
• an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
• a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the U.S. and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Non-U.S. Holders

For purposes of this summary, a "non-U.S. Holder" is a beneficial owner of Common Shares that is not a U.S. Holder or an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This summary does not address the U.S. federal, state or local tax consequences to non-U.S. Holders arising from or relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. Accordingly, a non-U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state or local and non-U.S. tax consequences (including the potential application of and operation of any income tax treaties) relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.

U.S. Holders Subject to Special U.S. Federal Income Tax Rules Not Addressed

This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including, but not limited to U.S. Holders that: (a) are tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, or other tax-deferred accounts; (b) are financial institutions, underwriters, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, or regulated investment companies; (c) are broker-dealers, dealers, or traders in securities or currencies that elect to apply a mark-to-market accounting method; (d) have a "functional currency" other than the U.S. dollar; (e) own Common Shares as part of a straddle, hedging transaction, conversion transaction, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction; (f) acquire Common Shares in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services; (g) hold Common Shares other than as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes); (h) are subject to the alternative minimum tax; (i) are subject to special tax accounting rules with respect to Common Shares; (j) are partnerships or other "pass-through" entities (and partners or other owners thereof); (k) are S corporations (and shareholders thereof); (l) are U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States subject to Sections 877 or 877A of the Code; (m) hold Common Shares in connection with a trade or business, permanent establishment, or fixed base outside the United States; or (n) own or have owned or will own (directly, indirectly, or by attribution) 10% or more of the total combined voting power or value of the Company's outstanding shares. U.S. Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including, but not limited to, U.S. Holders described immediately above, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. federal alternative minimum, U.S. federal net investment income, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.

If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership (or other "pass-through" entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Common Shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such entity or arrangement and the partners (or other owners or participants) of such entity or arrangement generally will depend on the activities of the entity or arrangement and the status of such partners (or owners or participants). This summary does not address the tax consequences to any such partner (or owner or participant). Partners (or other owners or participants) of entities or arrangements that are classified as partnerships or as "pass-through" entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

If the Company were to constitute a "passive foreign investment company" or "PFIC" within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code for any year during a U.S. Holder's holding period, then certain potentially adverse rules would affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder resulting from the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. The Company believes it was a PFIC for its most recently completed tax year, and based on current business plans and financial expectations, it believes that it will likely be a PFIC for its current tax year and may be a PFIC in subsequent tax years. No opinion of legal counsel or ruling from the IRS concerning its status as a PFIC has been obtained or is currently planned to be requested. The determination of whether any corporation was, or will be, a PFIC for a tax year depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. In addition, whether any corporation will be a PFIC for any tax year depends on the assets and income of such corporation over the course of each such tax year and, as a result, cannot be predicted with certainty as of the date of this document. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any determination made by the Company or any of its subsidiaries concerning its PFIC status. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the PFIC status of the Company and each of its subsidiaries.

In any year in which the Company is classified as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will be required to file an annual report with the IRS containing such information as Treasury Regulations and/or other IRS guidance may require. In addition to penalties, a failure to satisfy such reporting requirements may result in an extension of the time period during which the IRS can assess a tax. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing such information returns under these rules, including the requirement to file an IRS Form 8621 annually.

The Company generally will be a PFIC if, for a tax year, (a) 75% or more of its gross income is passive income (the "PFIC income test") or (b) 50% or more of the value of its assets either produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, based on the quarterly average of the fair market value of such assets (the "PFIC asset test"). "Gross income" generally includes all sales revenues less the cost of goods sold, plus income from investments and from incidental or outside operations or sources, and "passive income" generally includes, for example, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, certain gains from the sale of stock and securities, and certain gains from commodities transactions. Active business gains arising from the sale of commodities generally are excluded from passive income if substantially all of a foreign corporation's commodities are stock in trade or inventory, depreciable property used in a trade or business, or supplies regularly used or consumed in the ordinary course of its trade or business, and certain other requirements are satisfied.

For purposes of the PFIC income test and PFIC asset test described above, if the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the total value of the outstanding shares of another corporation, the Company will be treated as if it (a) held a proportionate share of the assets of such other corporation and (b) received directly a proportionate share of the income of such other corporation. In addition, for purposes of the PFIC income test and PFIC asset test described above, and assuming certain other requirements are met, "passive income" does not include certain interest, dividends, rents, or royalties that are received or accrued by the Company from certain "related persons" (as defined in Section 954(d)(3) of the Code) also organized in Canada, to the extent such items are properly allocable to the income of such related person that is not passive income.

Under certain attribution rules, if the Company is a PFIC, U.S. Holders will generally be deemed to own their proportionate share of the Company's direct or indirect equity interest in any company that is also a PFIC (a "Subsidiary PFIC"), and will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on their proportionate share of (a) any "excess distributions," as described below, on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC and (b) a disposition or deemed disposition of the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC by the Company or another Subsidiary PFIC, both as if such U.S. Holders directly held the shares of such Subsidiary PFIC. In addition, U.S. Holders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any indirect gain realized on the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC on the sale or disposition of Common Shares. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should be aware that they could be subject to tax under the PFIC rules even if no distributions are received and no redemptions or other dispositions of Common Shares are made.

Default PFIC Rules Under Section 1291 of the Code

If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during which a U.S. Holder owns Common Shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares will depend on whether and when such U.S. Holder makes an election to treat the Company and each Subsidiary PFIC, if any, as a "qualified electing fund" or "QEF" under Section 1295 of the Code (a "QEF Election") or makes a mark-to-market election under Section 1296 of the Code (a "Mark-to-Market Election"). A U.S. Holder that does not make either a QEF Election or a Mark-to-Market Election will be referred to in this summary as a "Non-Electing U.S. Holder."

A Non-Electing U.S. Holder will be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code (described below) with respect to: (a) any gain recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares; and (b) any "excess distribution" received on the Common Shares. A distribution generally will be an "excess distribution" to the extent that such distribution (together with all other distributions received in the current tax year) exceeds 125% of the average distributions received during the three preceding tax years (or during a U.S. Holder's holding period for the Common Shares, if shorter).

Under Section 1291 of the Code, any gain recognized on the sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares (including an indirect disposition of the stock of any Subsidiary PFIC), and any "excess distribution" received on Common Shares or with respect to the stock of a Subsidiary PFIC, must be ratably allocated to each day in a Non-Electing U.S. Holder's holding period for the respective Common Shares. The amount of any such gain or excess distribution allocated to the tax year of disposition or distribution of the excess distribution and to years before the entity became a PFIC, if any, would be taxed as ordinary income (and not eligible for certain preferred rates). The amounts allocated to any other tax year would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest tax rate applicable to ordinary income in each such year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the tax liability for each such year, calculated as if such tax liability had been due in each such year. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat any such interest paid as "personal interest," which is not deductible.

If the Company is a PFIC for any tax year during which a Non-Electing U.S. Holder holds Common Shares, the Company will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such Non-Electing U.S. Holder, regardless of whether the Company ceases to be a PFIC in one or more subsequent tax years. A Non-Electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above), but not loss, as if Common Shares were sold on the last day of the last tax year for which the Company was a PFIC.

QEF Election

A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective QEF Election for the first tax year in which the holding period of its Common Shares begins generally will not be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above with respect to its Common Shares. A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective QEF Election will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such U.S. Holder's pro rata share of (a) the Company's net capital gain, which will be taxed as long-term capital gain to such U.S. Holder, and (b) the Company's ordinary earnings, which will be taxed as ordinary income to such U.S. Holder. Generally, "net capital gain" is the excess of (a) net long-term capital gain over (b) net short-term capital loss, and "ordinary earnings" are the excess of (a) "earnings and profits" over (b) net capital gain. A U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such amounts for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed to such U.S. Holder by the Company. However, for any tax year in which the Company is a PFIC and has no net income or gain, U.S. Holders that have made a QEF Election would not have any income inclusions as a result of the QEF Election. If a U.S. Holder that made a QEF Election has an income inclusion, such a U.S. Holder may, subject to certain limitations, elect to defer payment of current U.S. federal income tax on such amounts, subject to an interest charge. If such U.S. Holder is not a corporation, any such interest paid will be treated as "personal interest," which is not deductible.

A U.S. Holder that makes a timely and effective QEF Election with respect to the Company generally (a) may receive a tax-free distribution from the Company to the extent that such distribution represents the Company's "earnings and profits" that were previously included in income by the U.S. Holder because of such QEF Election and (b) will adjust such U.S. Holder's tax basis in the Common Shares to reflect the amount included in income or allowed as a tax-free distribution because of such QEF Election. In addition, a U.S. Holder that makes a QEF Election generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares.

The procedure for making a QEF Election, and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of making a QEF Election, will depend on whether such QEF Election is timely. A QEF Election will be treated as "timely" if such QEF Election is made for the first year in the U.S. Holder's holding period for the Common Shares in which the Company is a PFIC. A U.S. Holder may make a timely QEF Election by filing the appropriate QEF Election documents at the time such U.S. Holder files a U.S. federal income tax return for such year. If a U.S. Holder does not make a timely and effective QEF Election for the first year in the U.S. Holder's holding period for the Common Shares, the U.S. Holder may still be able to make a timely and effective QEF Election in a subsequent year if such U.S. Holder meets certain requirements and makes a "purging" election to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above) as if such Common Shares were sold for their fair market value on the day the QEF Election is effective. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election but does not make a "purging" election to recognize gain as discussed in the preceding sentence, then such U.S. Holder shall be subject to the QEF Election rules and shall continue to be subject to tax under the rules of Section 1291 discussed above with respect to its Common Shares. If a U.S. Holder owns PFIC stock indirectly through another PFIC, separate QEF Elections must be made for the PFIC in which the U.S. Holder is a direct shareholder and the Subsidiary PFIC for the QEF rules to apply to both PFICs.

A QEF Election will apply to the tax year for which such QEF Election is timely made and to all subsequent tax years, unless such QEF Election is invalidated or terminated or the IRS consents to revocation of such QEF Election. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election and, in a subsequent tax year, the Company ceases to be a PFIC, the QEF Election will remain in effect (although it will not be applicable) during those tax years in which the Company is not a PFIC. Accordingly, if the Company becomes a PFIC in another subsequent tax year, the QEF Election will be effective and the U.S. Holder will be subject to the QEF rules described above during any subsequent tax year in which the Company qualifies as a PFIC.

U.S. Holders should be aware that there can be no assurances that the Company will satisfy the record keeping requirements that apply to a QEF, or that the Company will supply U.S. Holders with information that such U.S. Holders are required to report under the QEF rules, in the event the Company is a PFIC. Thus, U.S. Holders may not be able to make a QEF Election with respect to their Common Shares. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, a QEF Election.

A U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621, including a PFIC Annual Information Statement, to a timely filed United States federal income tax return. However, if the Company does not provide the required information with regard to the Company or any of its Subsidiary PFICs, U.S. Holders will not be able to make a QEF Election for such entity and will continue to be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above that apply to Non-Electing U.S. Holders with respect to the taxation of gains and excess distributions.

Mark-to-Market Election

A U.S. Holder may make a Mark-to-Market Election only if the Common Shares are marketable stock. The Common Shares generally will be "marketable stock" if the Common Shares are regularly traded on (a) a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC, (b) the national market system established pursuant to section 11A of the Exchange Act, or (c) a foreign securities exchange that is regulated or supervised by a governmental authority of the country in which the market is located, provided that (i) such foreign exchange has trading volume, listing, financial disclosure, and surveillance requirements, and meets other requirements and the laws of the country in which such foreign exchange is located, together with the rules of such foreign exchange, ensure that such requirements are actually enforced and (ii) the rules of such foreign exchange effectively promote active trading of listed stocks. If such stock is traded on such a qualified exchange or other market, such stock generally will be "regularly traded" for any calendar year during which such stock is traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor in this matter.

A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to its Common Shares generally will not be subject to the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above with respect to such Common Shares. However, if a U.S. Holder does not make a Mark-to-Market Election beginning in the first tax year of such U.S. Holder's holding period for the Common Shares for which the Company is a PFIC and such U.S. Holder has not made a timely QEF Election, the rules of Section 1291 of the Code discussed above will apply to certain dispositions of, and distributions on, the Common Shares.

A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will include in ordinary income, for each tax year in which the Company is a PFIC, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of the Common Shares, as of the close of such tax year over (b) such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in such Common Shares. A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will be allowed a deduction in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares, over (b) the fair market value of such Common Shares (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years).

A U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election generally also will adjust such U.S. Holder's tax basis in the Common Shares to reflect the amount included in gross income or allowed as a deduction because of such Mark-to-Market Election. In addition, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder that makes a Mark-to-Market Election will recognize ordinary income or ordinary loss (not to exceed the excess, if any, of (a) the amount included in ordinary income because of such Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years over (b) the amount allowed as a deduction because of such Mark-to-Market Election for prior tax years). Losses that exceed this limitation are subject to the rules generally applicable to losses provided in the Code and Treasury Regulations.

A U.S. Holder makes a Mark-to-Market Election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 to a timely filed United States federal income tax return. A Mark-to-Market Election applies to the tax year in which such Mark-to-Market Election is made and to each subsequent tax year, unless the Common Shares cease to be "marketable stock" or the IRS consents to revocation of such election. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, a Mark-to-Market Election.

Although a U.S. Holder may be eligible to make a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to the Common Shares, no such election may be made with respect to the stock of any Subsidiary PFIC that a U.S. Holder is treated as owning, because such stock is not marketable. Hence, the Mark-to-Market Election will not be effective to avoid the application of the default rules of Section 1291 of the Code described above with respect to deemed dispositions of Subsidiary PFIC stock or excess distributions from a Subsidiary PFIC to its shareholder.

Other PFIC Rules

Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the IRS has issued proposed Treasury Regulations that, subject to certain exceptions, would cause a U.S. Holder that had not made a timely QEF Election to recognize gain (but not loss) upon certain transfers of Common Shares that would otherwise be tax-deferred (e.g., gifts and exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations) in the event the Company is a PFIC during such U.S. Holder's holding period for the relevant shares. However, the specific U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder may vary based on the manner in which Common Shares are transferred.

Certain additional adverse rules may apply with respect to a U.S. Holder if the Company is a PFIC, regardless of whether such U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election. For example, under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S. Holder that uses Common Shares as security for a loan will, except as may be provided in Treasury Regulations, be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such Common Shares.

In addition, a U.S. Holder who acquires Common Shares from a decedent will not receive a "step up" in tax basis of such Common Shares to fair market value unless such decedent had a timely and effective QEF Election in place.

Special rules also apply to the amount of foreign tax credit that a U.S. Holder may claim on a distribution from a PFIC. Subject to such special rules, foreign taxes paid with respect to any distribution in respect of stock in a PFIC are generally eligible for the foreign tax credit. The rules relating to distributions by a PFIC and their eligibility for the foreign tax credit are complicated, and a U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit with respect to distributions by a PFIC.

The PFIC rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules and how the PFIC rules may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares.

General Rules Applicable to the Ownership and Disposition of Common Shares

The following discussion is subject, in its entirety, to the rules described above under the heading "Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules".

Distributions on Common Shares

A U.S. Holder that receives a distribution, including a constructive distribution, with respect to an Common Share will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend (without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distribution) to the extent of the Company's current or accumulated "earnings and profits", as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A dividend generally will be taxed to a U.S. Holder at ordinary income tax rates if the Company is a PFIC for the tax year of such distribution or was a PFIC for the preceding tax year. To the extent that a distribution exceeds the Company's current and accumulated "earnings and profits", such distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder's tax basis in the Common Shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of such Common Shares. (See "Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares" below). However, the Company does not intend to maintain the calculations of its earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, and each U.S. Holder therefore should assume that any distribution by the Company with respect to the Common Shares will constitute ordinary dividend income. Dividends received on Common Shares by corporate U.S. Holders generally will not be eligible for the "dividends received deduction". Subject to applicable limitations and provided the Company is eligible for the benefits of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention or the Common Shares are readily tradable on a United States securities market, dividends paid by the Company to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, in respect of Common Shares generally will be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains for dividends, provided certain holding period and other conditions are satisfied, including that the Company not be classified as a PFIC in the tax year of distribution or in the preceding tax year. The dividend rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the application of such rules.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares

Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of cash received plus the fair market value of any property received and such U.S. Holder's tax basis in such Common Shares sold or otherwise disposed of. A U.S. Holder's tax basis in Common Shares generally will be such U.S. Holder's U.S. dollar cost for such Common Shares. Gain or loss recognized on such sale or other disposition generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale or other disposition, the Common Shares have been held for more than one year.

Preferential tax rates currently apply to long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is a corporation. Deductions for capital losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code.

Additional Considerations

Receipt of Foreign Currency

The amount of any distribution paid to a U.S. Holder in foreign currency, or on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common 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 tax 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 regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving, owning, and disposing of foreign currency.

Foreign Tax Credit

Dividends paid on the Common Shares will be treated as foreign-source income, and generally will be treated as "passive category income" or "general category income" for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or other disposition of Common Shares generally will be United States source gain or loss. Certain U.S. Holders that are eligible for the benefits of Canada-U.S. Tax Convention may elect to treat such gain or loss as Canadian source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. The Code applies various complex limitations on the amount of foreign taxes that may be claimed as a credit by U.S. taxpayers. In addition, Treasury Regulations that apply to foreign taxes paid or accrued (the "Foreign Tax Credit Regulations") impose additional requirements for Canadian withholding taxes to be eligible for a foreign tax credit, and there can be no assurance that those requirements will be satisfied. The Treasury Department has recently released guidance temporarily pausing the application of certain of the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations.

Subject to the PFIC rules and the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations, each as discussed above, a U.S. Holder that pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian income tax with respect to dividends paid on the Common Shares generally will be entitled, at the election of such U.S. Holder, to receive either a deduction or a credit for such Canadian income tax. Generally, a credit will reduce a U.S. Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas a deduction will reduce a U.S. Holder's income that is subject to U.S. federal income tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid (whether directly or through withholding) by a U.S. Holder during a year. The foreign tax credit rules are complex and involve the application of rules that depend on a U.S. Holder's particular circumstances. Accordingly, each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisor regarding the foreign tax credit rules.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Under U.S. federal income tax law and Treasury Regulations, certain categories of U.S. Holders must file information returns with respect to their investment in, or involvement in, a foreign corporation. For example, U.S. return disclosure obligations (and related penalties) are imposed on individuals who are U.S. Holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets in excess of certain threshold amounts. The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, any stock or security issued by a non-U.S. person, any financial instrument or contract held for investment that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person and any interest in a non-U.S. entity. U.S. Holders may be subject to these reporting requirements unless their Common Shares are held in an account at certain financial institutions. Penalties for failure to file certain of these information returns are substantial. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the requirements of filing information returns, including the requirement to file an IRS Form 8938.

Payments made within the U.S. or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, of dividends on, and proceeds arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of Common Shares will generally be subject to information reporting and backup withholding tax if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish such U.S. Holder's correct U.S. taxpayer identification number (generally on IRS Form W-9), (b) furnishes an incorrect U.S. taxpayer identification number, (c) is notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly report items subject to backup withholding tax, or (d) fails to certify, under penalty of perjury, that such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S. taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified such U.S. Holder that it is subject to backup withholding tax. However, certain exempt persons generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S. Holder furnishes required information to the IRS in a timely manner.

The discussion of reporting requirements set forth above is not intended to constitute a complete description of all reporting requirements that may apply to a U.S. Holder. A failure to satisfy certain reporting requirements may result in an extension of the time period during which the IRS can assess a tax, and under certain circumstances, such an extension may apply to assessments of amounts unrelated to any unsatisfied reporting requirement. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the information reporting and backup withholding rules.

THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES. U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM IN LIGHT OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

ITEM 6. [Reserved].