Cronos Group Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 29, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Feb 29, 2024
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Item 1. Business
General
Cronos is incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia with principal executive offices located at 111 Peter Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2H1. Our telephone number is +1-416-504-0004, our website is https://thecronosgroup.com/ and the investor relations section of our website is https://ir.thecronosgroup.com/. All references to our website are inactive references, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to incorporate any information from or referenced on our website into this Annual Report.
Our common shares are currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and on the NASDAQ Global Market (“Nasdaq”) under the trading symbol “CRON.”
Description of the Business
Overview
Cronos is an innovative global cannabinoid company committed to building disruptive intellectual property by advancing cannabis research, technology and product development. With a passion to responsibly elevate the consumer experience, Cronos is building an iconic brand portfolio. Cronos’ diverse international brand portfolio includes Spinach®, PEACE NATURALS® and Lord Jones®.
Strategy
Cronos seeks to create value for shareholders by focusing on four core strategic priorities:
growing a portfolio of iconic brands that responsibly elevate the consumer experience;
developing a diversified global sales and distribution network;
establishing an efficient global supply chain; and
creating and monetizing disruptive intellectual property.
Discontinued Operations
In the second quarter of 2023, Cronos exited its U.S. hemp-derived cannabinoid product operations. The exit of the U.S. operations represented a strategic shift that has a major effect on Cronos’ operations and financial results, and as such, qualifies for reporting as discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of net loss and comprehensive loss. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to reflect the discontinued operations classification of the U.S. operations. For further detail on the discontinuation of the U.S. operations, see Note 2 “Discontinued Operations” to the consolidated financial statements under Item 8 of this Annual Report.
Business Segments
Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, following the exit of our U.S. operations, Cronos is reporting through one consolidated segment, which includes operations in both Canada and Israel. In Canada, Cronos operates two wholly owned license holders under the Cannabis Act (Canada) (the “Cannabis Act”), Peace Naturals Project Inc. (“Peace Naturals”), which has production facilities near Stayner, Ontario, and Thanos Holdings Ltd., known as Cronos Fermentation (“Cronos Fermentation”), which has a production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In November 2023, Cronos announced Peace Naturals had entered into an agreement for the sale and leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus. See “Operations and Investments—Sale and Leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus” for more information. In August 2023, Cronos announced the planned wind-down of Cronos Fermentation, and has listed the facility for sale. In Israel, the Company operates under the IMC-GAP, IMC-GMP and IMC-GDP certifications required for the cultivation, production and marketing of dried flower, pre-rolls and oils in the Israeli medical market.
Operations and Investments
Peace Naturals Campus / Cronos GrowCo
The production facilities at the Peace Naturals Campus and the production facilities of Cronos GrowCo are licensed by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act to engage in the cultivation, processing, distribution and sale of dried flower, cannabis seeds, cannabis plants, cannabis extracts, cannabis topicals and cannabis edibles, among other prescribed activities.
Cronos Fermentation
The production facility at Cronos Fermentation is licensed by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act to engage in the processing and distribution and sale of dried flower, cannabis seeds, and cannabis plants, among other prescribed activities, which includes the production of cultured cannabinoids. The facility also holds a license for Analytical Testing under the Cannabis Regulations. As noted above, in August 2023, Cronos announced the planned wind-down of Cronos Fermentation and has listed the facility for sale.
Israel
In Israel, the Company operates under the IMC-GAP, IMC-GMP and IMC-GDP certifications required for the cultivation, production and marketing of dried flower, pre-rolls and oils in the Israeli medical market.
Operations Outside of Canada and Israel
Cronos anticipates that it will continue expanding in the geographic markets outside of Canada and Israel in which we currently participate and entering new geographic markets. By leveraging operational, manufacturing and regulatory expertise, quality standards and procedures and intellectual property, we believe that we are well-positioned to effectively access these markets. Subject to applicable regulatory approvals, strategic international business opportunities pursued by us could include:
production, distribution, sales and marketing in jurisdictions that have passed legislation to legalize the production, distribution and possession of cannabis products at all relevant levels of government; and
the export of cannabis products to markets that permit the import of such products.
We distribute PEACE NATURALS® branded products along with other white-labeled cannabis products in the German medical market through our strategic partnership with Cansativa, a leading German cannabis company. In Australia, we distribute cannabis products through a distribution relationship with Vitura (formerly known as Cronos Australia Limited).
We seek to conduct business only in jurisdictions where we believe it is legal to do so and where such operations remain compliant with our listing obligations with the TSX and Nasdaq. Determining whether a business activity is legal in a jurisdiction may require judgment since laws, rules, regulations and licenses may not be clear and legal interpretation and advice of counsel may vary. If a business activity in which we engage in any jurisdiction is determined to be illegal, we could be subject to fines, penalties, reputational harm, delisting from securities exchanges and material civil, criminal and regulatory litigation and proceedings or be enjoined from doing business in the applicable jurisdiction. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Regulation and Compliance—We operate in highly regulated sectors where the regulatory environment is rapidly developing, and we may not always succeed in complying fully with applicable regulatory requirements in all jurisdictions where we carry on business.”
Sale and Leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus
On November 27, 2023, the Company announced that Peace Naturals had entered into an agreement (the “Sale Agreement”) with Future Farmco Canada Inc. (“Future Farmco”) for the sale and leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus. Pursuant to the terms of the Sale Agreement, Future Farmco has agreed to acquire the Peace Naturals Campus for an aggregate purchase price of C$23 million cash, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, including (a) Future Farmco having given written notice that it has satisfied itself in its sole, absolute and subjective discretion with respect to all aspects of the property, including title to the property, the physical condition of the property, zoning, environmental matters, financial matters including financing of the purchase price, and its review of the deliverables on or before the first business day that is 180 calendar days following the date of the Sale Agreement; (b) the Company having obtained all requisite approvals for the amendment of its licensed site perimeter from Health Canada on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Company, acting reasonably, prior to the end of the first business day following the later of: (i) 180 calendar days after the date of the Sale Agreement; or (ii) 75 calendar days after the satisfaction or waiver of Future Farmco’s condition described above; and (c) the parties having agreed, no later than 75 calendar days following the date of the Sale Agreement, to a form of lease to be entered into at closing for the Company to lease a portion of the Peace Naturals Campus (the “Lease Condition”). On February 29, 2024, the Company entered into a waiver and amending agreement with Future Farmco, pursuant to which the parties waived the Lease Condition. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Growth Strategy—There can be no assurance that the regulatory approvals will be obtained or that the other closing conditions for the sale and leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus will be satisfied or waived in a timely manner or at all.” As of the date of this Annual Report, the parties have agreed to a form of lease to be entered into at closing.
At closing, the parties expect to enter into a lease agreement for portions of the Peace Naturals Campus, which will include an initial five-year term and one five-year renewal option that may be exercised by the Company. The Company has the right to terminate the lease without penalty anytime after the second anniversary of the lease by giving written notice at least 12 months prior to termination. The leased premises will be identified and agreed between both parties prior to closing.
Joint Ventures/Strategic Investments
We have established two strategic joint ventures in Canada and Israel. Additionally, we hold approximately 9.6% of the issued capital of Vitura Health Limited (“Vitura”), which we account for as equity securities with a readily determinable fair value, and approximately 13.7% of the issued capital of NatuEra S.à.r.l. (“Natuera”), which we account for as equity securities without a readily determinable fair value, as of December 31, 2023.
Our ownership interest in each of our joint ventures is summarized in the table below.
| Joint Venture | Jurisdiction | Ownership Interest(i) |
|---|---|---|
| Cronos Israel(ii) | Israel | 70%/90% |
| Cronos GrowCo(iii) | Canada | 50% |
(i) We define ownership interest as the proportionate share of net income to which we are entitled; equity interest may differ from ownership interest shown above. We consolidate the financial results of Cronos Israel and account for our other joint ventures under the equity method of accounting. See Note 1 “Background, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”and Note 4 “Investments” to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report.
(ii) A strategic joint venture with Kibbutz Gan Shmuel (“Gan Shmuel”), an Israeli agricultural collective settlement, for the production, manufacturing and global distribution of medical cannabis, consisting of a cultivation company (Cronos Israel G.S. Cultivation Ltd.), a manufacturing company (Cronos Israel G.S. Manufacturing Ltd.), a distribution company (Cronos Israel G.S. Store Ltd.) and a pharmacy company (Cronos Israel G.S. Pharmacy Ltd., collectively, “Cronos Israel”). We hold a 70% equity interest in the cultivation company and a 90% equity interest in each of the manufacturing, distribution and pharmacy companies.
(iii) A strategic joint venture with a group of investors led by Bert Mucci (the “Greenhouse Partners”), a Canadian large-scale greenhouse operator. Each of Cronos and the Greenhouse Partners owns a 50% equity interest in Cronos GrowCo and has equal representation on its board of directors.
Strategic Investment in PharmaCann, Inc.
On June 14, 2021, Cronos USA Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, purchased an option (the “PharmaCann Option”), with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share, to acquire an approximately 10.5% ownership stake in PharmaCann, Inc. (“PharmaCann”) on a fully diluted basis for total consideration of approximately $110.4 million. PharmaCann is a leading vertically integrated U.S. cannabis company that has a broad geographic footprint in the U.S. and has built an efficient, effective and scalable operating model. The PharmaCann Option exercise will be based upon various factors, including the status of U.S. federal cannabis legalization, as well as regulatory approvals, including in the states where PharmaCann operates that may be required upon exercise. Following the exercise of the PharmaCann Option, the Company and PharmaCann will enter into commercial agreements that would permit each party to offer its products through the other party’s distribution channels.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s ownership percentage in PharmaCann on a fully diluted basis was approximately 5.9%. Under the terms of the Company’s investment in PharmaCann, the Company’s rights to nominate an observer or a director to the PharmaCann board of directors could be lost if the Company’s ownership drops below 6% on a fully diluted basis and it sells or transfers all or any portion of the option (subject to certain exceptions).
No U.S. Schedule I Cannabis-Related Activities
Though a number of states in the U.S. have authorized the cultivation, distribution or possession of U.S. Schedule I cannabis and U.S. Schedule I cannabis containing products to various degrees and subject to various requirements or conditions, U.S. Schedule I cannabis continues to be a Schedule I controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (the “CSA”). Therefore, the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and possession of U.S. Schedule I cannabis violates federal law in the U.S. unless a U.S. federal agency, such as the DEA, grants a registration for a specific activity, such as research, with U.S. Schedule I cannabis.
We do not engage in any activities related to U.S. Schedule I cannabis in the U.S. The Ginkgo Strategic Partnership contemplates the performance of licensed R&D activities in the U.S. in order to produce cultured cannabinoids, but such activities are conducted in compliance with all applicable laws regarding controlled substances.
Brand Portfolio
We are committed to building a portfolio of iconic brands that responsibly elevate the consumer experience.
In Canada, we sell a variety of cannabis products through wholesale channels under both our core adult-use brands, Spinach®and Lord Jones®, and under our core wellness platform, PEACE NATURALS®. In addition, PEACE NATURALS® cannabis products are currently available in the Israeli and German medical markets.
| Brand Positioning | Mainstream adult-use | Wellness | Premium adult-use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Offering | Dried flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles | Dried flower, pre-rolls, cannabis tinctures | Pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles |
| Geographic Availability | Canada | Canada, Israel & Germany | Canada |
Core Adult-Use Brands
Spinach® is a mainstream adult-use cannabis brand focused on friends, fun and legendary cannabis. The Spinach® brand portfolio includes cannabinoid products in a wide range of formats including dried flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers and edibles.
The Spinach® brand also has two sub-brands, SOURZ by Spinach® and Spinach FEELZ™. SOURZ by Spinach® is a line of multi-colored, multi-flavored edibles in a variety of cannabinoid ratios in a distinctive “S” shaped gummy, featuring proprietary flavor masking technology. Spinach FEELZ™ prominently features rare cannabinoids in a range of product formats, designed to deliver unique and enhanced experiences made possible through proprietary blends of rare cannabinoids alongside common cannabinoids, like delta-9-tetrayhydrocannabinol (“THC”). Each product is formulated to help adult consumers, “Feelz. The Way You Want.”
Lord Jones® is a premium adult-use cannabis brand that goes above and beyond to unlock differentiated ways to experience cannabis. The Lord Jones® brand portfolio includes cannabis products in the pre-roll, vaporizer and edible categories.
Core Wellness Brand
PEACE NATURALS® is a global wellness platform committed to producing high-quality cannabis products. It is focused on building and shaping the global cannabis wellness market and promoting a holistic approach to wellness. The Company currently distributes products under PEACE NATURALS® for Canadian, Israeli and German medical markets.
Cronos Marketing Code
In 2021, Cronos released its Marketing Code, which is designed to responsibly move the emerging cannabis industry forward. Cronos believes that those below the legal age of consumption should not be targeted in an adult-use cannabis market. Cronos recognizes there is a clear need for standards.
The principles in the Cronos Marketing Code apply to all marketing activities of all Cronos brands globally and are communicated to all business partners in any work they do on the Company’s behalf. The Marketing Code represents Cronos’ commitment to responsible marketing standards. The code standards are:
Our advertising will be targeted to adults.
We will highlight responsible cannabis consumption and any people depicted in any imagery will be adults.
Our brand websites and social media will be designed for adults.
Our marketing events will be targeted to adults and will promote responsible cannabis consumption.
We will provide our customers with facts and substantiate our claims.
Global Sales and Distribution - Principal Markets
Cronos has developed a diversified global sales and distribution network. We have built a distribution footprint in Canada through the adult-use and medical markets, as well as a distribution channel for the Israeli medical market.
Canadian Market and Distribution
Medical Market. Following the closure of the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers Drug Mart platform, our PEACE NATURALS® medical cannabis products are sold in Canada through various third-party distributors.
Adult-Use. We currently sell dried flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers and edibles through our core adult-use brands, Spinach®and Lord Jones®, to cannabis control authorities in all provinces of Canada and the Yukon territory, except Saskatchewan, where we sell to private-sector retailers, subject to the relevant province’s or territory’s product or other restrictions and requirements. As the Company’s supply chain grows, the Company continues to expand its portfolio of cannabis products for the existing markets in Canada.
Markets and Distribution Outside of Canada
Israel. Cronos Israel holds the IMC-GAP, IMC-GMP and IMC-GDP certifications required for the cultivation, production and marketing of dried flower, pre-rolls and oils in Israel. Cronos Israel distributes PEACE NATURALS® branded cannabis products to the Israeli medical market through pharmacies. See “—Licenses and Regulatory Framework in Israel.”
Europe. In September 2023, Cronos established a strategic partnership with Cansativa, a leading German cannabis company, to distribute PEACE NATURALS®branded products along with other white-labeled cannabis products in the German medical market
Australia. We distribute cannabis products in Australia through a distribution relationship with Vitura (formerly known as Cronos Australia Limited).
We continue to seek new international distribution channels in jurisdictions that have legalized the production, distribution and possession of cannabis products at all relevant levels of government.
Global Supply Chain
Cronos is focused on establishing an efficient global supply chain by seeking to develop industry-leading methodologies and best practices at Cronos Fermentation and the Peace Naturals Campus and leveraging this expertise to create beneficial production partnerships. We plan to continue to develop a global supply chain, which will employ a combination of wholly-owned production facilities, third party suppliers and global production partnerships, all of which will support the manufacturing of cannabinoid-based consumer goods.
Canadian Supply Chain
Peace Naturals Campus. The Peace Naturals Campus is licensed for cannabis production and the manufacturing of certain cannabis products. The Peace Naturals Campus is engaged in processing, finishing, packaging and shipping activities, as well as R&D activities, including cannabinoid product formulation, product development, tissue culture and micro propagation. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Cronos announced that its wholly owned subsidiary entered into an agreement with Future Farmco, a vertical farming company, for the sale and leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. As described under “Operations and Investments–Sale and Leaseback of the Peace Naturals Campus” above, the parties plan to enter into a lease agreement upon closing for portions of the Peace Naturals Campus.
Cronos GrowCo. The Cronos GrowCo production facility is licensed for cannabis production and the manufacturing of certain cannabis products. Under its current licenses, Cronos GrowCo is permitted to sell certain cannabis products to other license holders in the wholesale channel, as well as to provincial cannabis control authorities. Cronos GrowCo holds Global GAP and ICANN GAP certifications (equivalent to IMC-GAP) for the export of dried flower to Israel.
Cronos Fermentation. Cronos Fermentation is licensed for cannabis production and the manufacturing of certain cannabis products. In August 2023, Cronos announced the planned wind-down of Cronos Fermentation and has listed the facility for sale. Cronos Fermentation engaged in R&D to produce high-quality cultured cannabinoids at commercial scale.
Third-party Supply and Manufacturing Agreements. In the ordinary course of our business, we enter into spot market purchase agreements and supply agreements with suppliers of dried flower and other cannabis products. Our supply agreements, for the most part, do not obligate us to purchase minimum quantities of products and generally contain provisions permitting cancellation of orders or termination on notice. We also enter into contract manufacturing agreements with other license holders for certain manufacturing and processing services related to our products.
Supply Chain Outside of Canada
Cronos Israel. Cronos Israel holds the IMC-GAP, IMC-GMP and IMC-GDP certifications required for the cultivation, production, distribution, and marketing of dried flower, pre-rolls and oils in Israel. Cronos Israel distributes PEACE NATURALS® branded cannabis products to the Israeli medical market. See “—Licenses and Regulatory Framework in Israel” for more information on our licenses in Israel.
Major Customers
Major customers are customers for which sales equaled or exceeded 10% of our consolidated net revenues for the year. We had three major customers, Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission, and BC Liquor Distribution Branch, which accounted for approximately 34%, 21%, and 11%, respectively, of our consolidated net revenues, before excises taxes, for the year ended December 31, 2023. We mitigate credit risk through verification of the customers’ liquidity prior to the authorization of material transactions.
Government Contracts
In Canada, we sell cannabis products to cannabis control authorities in all provinces of Canada and the Yukon territory, except for Saskatchewan (where we sell to private-sector retailers), where each such cannabis control authority is the sole wholesale distributor and in certain provinces, the sole retailer, of cannabis products. We sell these products to the various cannabis control authorities under supply agreements that are subject to terms that allow for renegotiation of sale prices and termination at the election of the applicable cannabis control authority. In particular, the cannabis control authorities have in the past and may in the future choose to stop purchasing our products, may change the prices at which they purchase our products, may return our products to us and, in certain circumstances, may cancel purchase orders at any time including after products have been shipped. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had approximately $96.5 million in sales to cannabis control authorities in Canada.
Research and Development Activities and Intellectual Property
Ginkgo
The collaboration and license agreement between Ginkgo and the Company (the “Ginkgo Collaboration Agreement”) enabled us to produce certain cultured cannabinoids at commercial scale at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional cultivation practices. The Ginkgo Collaboration Agreement was amended in June 2021 to enable accelerated commercialization of such cultured cannabinoids, ultimately resulting in the Company’s launching of its first cultured cannabinoid product containing cannabigerol (“CBG”) in the second half of 2021. These cultured cannabinoid molecules are identical to those produced by plants grown using traditional cultivation but are created by leveraging the power of biological manufacturing via fermentation. These cultured cannabinoids include rare cannabinoids that are difficult to produce at high purity and scale through traditional cultivation.
The Ginkgo Strategic Partnership enabled Cronos to produce large volumes of these cultured cannabinoids from custom yeast strains by leveraging the fermentation infrastructure at Cronos Fermentation. However, in August 2023, Cronos announced the planned wind-down of the Cronos Fermentation facility and has listed the facility for sale. As a result, we are no longer operating facilities that leverage the patented intellectual property under the Ginkgo Strategic Partnership, although Cronos may leverage this intellectual property, either through production at the Peace Naturals Campus or through a contract manufacturer, and Cronos continues to utilize these cultured cannabinoids in our products sold in Canada.
Ginkgo has filed certain patent applications pertaining to biosynthesis of cannabinoids to protect the intellectual property developed as part of the research progressing under the Ginkgo Strategic Partnership. Under the partnership, Cronos is the exclusive licensee of the intellectual property covered by the patent applications for the target cannabinoids.
The Ginkgo Strategic Partnership contemplates the performance of licensed R&D activities in the U.S. in order to produce cultured cannabinoids, and such activities are to be conducted in compliance with all applicable laws regarding controlled substances. We intend to distribute the target cannabinoids globally, where permitted by applicable law, and have received confirmation from Health Canada that this method of production is permitted under the Cannabis Act.
Cronos Fermentation
Cronos Fermentation is a fermentation and manufacturing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The facility provided the fermentation and manufacturing capabilities we used to capitalize on the Ginkgo Strategic Partnership, by enabling us to produce the target cannabinoids contemplated under the Ginkgo Collaboration Agreement at commercial scale with high quality and high purity. In August 2023, Cronos announced the planned wind-down of the Cronos Fermentation facility and has listed the facility for sale.
Competitive Conditions
Competitive Conditions in Canada
We face competition in all aspects of our business in the Canadian adult-use and medical markets. As the demand for cannabis increases as a result of the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Canada under the Cannabis Act, we believe that new competitors will continue to enter the market.
The principal factors on which we compete with other Canadian license holders are product quality, innovation, intellectual property, brand recognition and price. We believe the Company’s strong capitalization resulting from the Altria Investment, along with the Spinach®and Lord Jones®brand recognition and differentiation in the Canadian adult-use market, will enable us to provide better quality consumer products, grow our Canadian business and strengthen our market position in Canada. However, a rapidly evolving and stringent federal regulatory framework affects all areas of our business. See “—Regulatory Framework in Canada” for further information on the regulatory framework applicable to our Canadian business.
We also face competition from illegal market participants that are unlicensed and unregulated. As these illegal market participants do not comply with the regulations governing the cannabis industry, their operations may also have significantly lower costs. Any inability of the Canadian federal or provincial law enforcement authorities to enforce existing laws prohibiting the unlicensed cultivation and sale of cannabis and cannabis-based products could result in the perpetuation of the illegal market for cannabis.
In addition to competition from illegal market participants, we also face competition from licensed cannabis competitors that fail to comply with the regulations governing the cannabis industry when developing and selling cannabis products. If regulatory authorities are delayed in, or fail to, effectively restrict the sale and distribution of these non-compliant cannabis products, such regulatory non-compliance by our competitors may have adverse effects on our business and the perception of cannabis use.
Competitive Conditions Outside of Canada
We face competition when entering new markets. The principal factors on which we compete are product quality, innovation, intellectual property, brand recognition, price and physician familiarity. We believe we are positioned to enter certain markets in Europe in a meaningful way while continuing to operate and penetrate the markets we currently serve, such as in Israel and Germany, due to our strong capitalization resulting from the Altria Investment, extensive experience and expertise in the highly regulated cannabis industry in Canada, which can be leveraged when entering new markets or growing existing operations, and strong partnerships with local distributors. We believe these factors will enable us to develop greater market penetration, provide a greater variety of quality consumer products and enter into new markets and strengthen our existing market position in Europe, Australia and Israel. However, a patchwork of regulatory frameworks and federal regulations in these various regions also affects our ability to compete in emerging markets as evolving regulations and federal frameworks have the potential to affect all areas of our business.
Altria Strategic Investment
Altria Investment and Investor Rights Agreement
As of December 31, 2023, Altria beneficially owned 41.1% of our common shares and had the right to acquire additional common shares under its pre-emptive and top-up rights as discussed under “Pre-Emptive Rights and Top-Up Rights” below.
Investor Rights Agreement
In connection with the Altria Investment, we entered into the Investor Rights Agreement with Altria pursuant to which Altria received certain governance rights that are summarized below.
Board Representation
The Investor Rights Agreement provides that, for so long as Altria and certain of its affiliates (the “Altria Group”) continue to beneficially own at least 40% of our issued and outstanding common shares and the size of our board of directors (the “Board”) is seven directors, we agree to nominate for election as directors to the Board four individuals designated by Altria (the “Altria Nominees”). In addition, for so long as the Altria Group continues to beneficially own greater than 10% but less than 40% of our issued and outstanding common shares, Altria is entitled to nominate a number of Altria Nominees that represents its proportionate share of the number of directors comprising the Board (rounded up to the next whole number) based on the percentage of our issued and outstanding common shares beneficially owned by the Altria Group at the relevant time. At least one Altria Nominee must be independent as long as Atria has the right to designate at least three Altria Nominees and the Altria Group’s beneficial ownership of our issued and outstanding common shares does not exceed 50%.
The Investor Rights Agreement also provides that, subject to certain exceptions, for so long as Altria is entitled to designate one or more Altria Nominees, we agree to appoint to each committee established by the Board such number of Altria Nominees that represents Altria’s proportionate share of the number of directors comprising the applicable Board committee (rounded up to the next whole number) based on the percentage of our issued and outstanding common shares beneficially owned by the Altria Group at the relevant time.
Approval Rights
The Investor Rights Agreement also grants Altria, until the Altria Group beneficially owns less than 10% of our issued and outstanding common shares, approval rights over certain transactions that may be undertaken by us. We have agreed that, among other things, we will not (and will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause our affiliates not to), without the prior written consent of Altria:
consolidate or merge into or with another person or enter into any similar business combination;
acquire any shares or similar equity interests, instruments convertible into or exchangeable for shares or similar equity interests, assets, business or operations with an aggregate value of more than C$100,000,000, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;
sell, transfer, cause to be transferred, exclusively license, lease, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our or any of our significant subsidiaries’ assets, business or operations in the aggregate with a value of more than C$60,000,000;
except as required by applicable law, make any changes to our policy with respect to the declaration and payment of any dividends on our common shares;
subject to certain exceptions, enter into any contract or other agreement, arrangement, or understanding with respect to, or consummate, any transaction or series of related transactions between us or any of our subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any related parties, on the other hand, involving consideration or any other transfer of value required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act; or
engage in the production, cultivation, advertisement, marketing, promotion, sale or distribution of cannabis or any Related Products and Services (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) in any jurisdiction, including the U.S., where such activity is prohibited by applicable law as of the date of the Investor Rights Agreement (subject to certain limitations).
Exclusivity Covenant
Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, until the earlier of:
the six-month anniversary of the date on which the Altria Group beneficially owns less than 10% of our issued and outstanding common shares; and
the six-month anniversary of the termination of the Investor Rights Agreement,
Altria has agreed to make us its exclusive partner for pursuing cannabis opportunities throughout the world (subject to certain limited exceptions).
Pre-Emptive Rights and Top-Up Rights
Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement and provided the Altria Group continues to beneficially own at least 20% of our issued and outstanding common shares, Altria has a right to purchase, directly or indirectly by another member of the Altria Group, upon the occurrence of certain issuances of common shares by us (including issuances of common shares to Ginkgo under the Ginkgo Collaboration Agreement (each, a “Ginkgo Issuance”)) (each, a “Triggering Event”) and subject to obtaining the necessary approvals, up to such number of our common shares issuable in connection with the Triggering Event which will, when added to our common shares beneficially owned by the Altria Group immediately prior to the Triggering Event, result in the Altria Group beneficially owning the same percentage of our issued and outstanding common shares that the Altria Group beneficially owned immediately prior to the Triggering Event (in each case, calculated on a non-diluted basis). The price per common share to be paid by Altria pursuant to the exercise of these pre-emptive rights will be, subject to certain limited exceptions, the same price per common share at which the common shares are sold in the relevant Triggering Event; provided that if the consideration paid in connection with any such issuance is non-cash, the price per common share that would have been received had such common shares been issued for cash consideration will be determined by an independent committee (acting reasonably and in good faith); provided further that the price per common share to be paid by Altria pursuant to the exercise of its pre-emptive rights in connection with a Ginkgo Issuance will be C$16.25 per common share.
In addition to (and without duplication of) the aforementioned pre-emptive rights, the Investor Rights Agreement provides Altria with top-up rights, exercisable on a quarterly basis, whereby, subject to obtaining the necessary approvals and for so long as the Altria Group beneficially owns at least 20% of our issued and outstanding common shares, Altria has the right to subscribe for such number of common shares in connection with any Top-Up Securities (as defined below) that we may, from time to time, issue after the date of the Investor Rights Agreement, as will, when added to the common shares beneficially owned by the Altria Group prior to such issuance, result in the Altria Group beneficially owning the same percentage of our issued and outstanding common shares that the Altria Group beneficially owned immediately prior to such issuance. “Top-Up Securities” means any of our common shares issued:
on the exercise, conversion or exchange of our convertible securities issued prior to the date of the Investor Rights Agreement or on the exercise, conversion or exchange of our convertible securities issued after the date of the Investor Rights Agreement in compliance with the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, in each case, excluding any of our convertible securities owned by any member of the Altria Group;
pursuant to any share incentive plan of the Company;
on the exercise of any right granted by us pro rata to all shareholders to purchase additional common shares and/or other securities of the Company (other than a right issued in a rights offering in which Altria had the right to participate);
in connection with bona fide bank debt, equipment financing or non-equity interim financing transactions with our lenders, in each case, with an equity component; or
in connection with bona fide acquisitions (including acquisitions of assets or rights under a license or otherwise), mergers or similar business combination transactions or joint ventures undertaken and completed by us, in each case, other than (A) common shares issued pursuant to Altria’s pre-emptive right and (B) common shares issued pursuant to the Ginkgo Collaboration Agreement.
The price per common share to be paid by Altria pursuant to the exercise of its top-up rights will be, subject to certain limited exceptions, the volume-weighted average price of our common shares on the TSX for the 10 full trading days preceding such exercise by Altria; provided that the price per common share to be paid by Altria pursuant to the exercise of its top-up rights in connection with the issuance of common shares pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants that were outstanding on the date of closing of the Altria Investment will be C$16.25 per common share without any set off, counterclaim, deduction or withholding.
Open Market Purchases
The Altria Group is permitted to acquire our common shares in the open market at any time and in any amount.
Registration Rights
The Investor Rights Agreement provides Altria with the right, subject to certain limitations and to the extent permitted by applicable law, to require us to use reasonable commercial efforts to file a prospectus under applicable securities laws and/or a registration statement, qualifying our common shares held by Altria for distribution in Canada and/or the U.S. In addition, the Investor Rights Agreement provides Altria with the right to require us to include our common shares held by Altria in any proposed distribution of common shares in Canada and/or the U.S. by us for our own account.
Commercial Arrangements
In connection with the Altria Investment, we and Altria have entered into certain commercial arrangements (the “Commercial Arrangements”), pursuant to which Altria may provide us with consulting services on matters which may include R&D, marketing, advertising and brand management, government relations and regulatory affairs, finance, tax planning, logistics and other corporate administrative matters. The services under the Commercial Arrangements are provided on customary terms and for a services fee payable by us that is equal to Altria’s reasonably allocated costs plus 5%.
Protection of Intangible Assets
The ownership and protection of our intellectual property rights is a significant aspect of our future success. Currently, we rely on trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, technical know-how and proprietary information. We seek to protect our intellectual property by strategically seeking and obtaining registered protection where appropriate, developing and implementing standard operating procedures to protect inventions, germplasm, trade secrets, technical know-how and proprietary information and entering into agreements with parties that have access to our inventions, germplasm, trade secrets, technical know-how and proprietary information, such as our partners, collaborators, employees and consultants, to protect confidentiality and ownership. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our inventions, germplasm, trade secrets, trademarks, technical know-how and proprietary information by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems.
In addition, we have sought trademark protection in many jurisdictions, including Canada, Australia, the U.S., China, Israel and Europe. Our ability to obtain registered trademark protection for cannabis-related goods and services, in particular for cannabis itself, may be limited in certain countries outside of Canada. For example, in the U.S., registered federal trademark protection is only available for goods and services that can be lawfully used in interstate commerce; the PTO is not currently approving any trademark applications for U.S. Schedule I cannabis, or certain goods containing U.S. hemp-derived CBD (such as dietary supplements and food) until the FDA provides clearer guidance on the regulation of such products. In Europe, trademarks cannot be obtained for products that are “contrary to public policy or accepted principles of morality.” Accordingly, our ability to obtain intellectual property rights and enforce intellectual property rights against third-party uses of similar trademarks may be limited in certain jurisdictions.
Human Capital Resources
Cronos is an innovative global cannabinoid company committed to building disruptive intellectual property by advancing cannabis research, technology and product development. With a passion to responsibly elevate the consumer experience, Cronos is building an iconic brand portfolio. Our employees are critical to achieving this mission. In order to compete and succeed in our highly competitive and rapidly evolving industry, it is crucial that we continue to attract, develop, motivate and retain skilled, talented and passionate employees. The Company’s people strategy seeks to build a winning team and to foster a community where everyone feels included and empowered to do their best work.
As of December 31, 2023 we had 356 full-time employees. Of our full-time employees, 231 were in Canada, 49 were in the U.S., and 76 were in Israel. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Compensation and Benefits. Our compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and reward talented individuals who possess the skills necessary to support our business objectives, assist in the achievement of our strategic goals and create long-term value for our shareholders. We believe we offer competitive compensation and benefits in each of our locations, including long-term equity awards to eligible employees under our 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to reward and retain talented individuals and align employee and shareholder interests.
Safety, Health and Well-being. The safety, health and well-being of our employees are paramount to the Company. We provide our employees and their families with access to a variety of health and welfare programs, including benefits that support their physical and mental health by providing tools and resources to help them improve or maintain their health status. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Operations in Israel” for risks to the safety, health and well-being of our employees in Israel due to the Israel-Hamas War.
Employee Engagement, Development and Training. We are committed to developing our talent and building an agile and resilient organization with a workforce with the skillset to effectively adapt to changing business needs in order to best position the Company for success. We seek to foster a culture of employee learning, innovation and a drive to succeed through a talent development strategy that adapts to changing business needs. Management is an active enabler of our people strategy as we seek to recruit, retain and engage top talent that will maximize our business performance. Employees are enabled to succeed through our communicated behaviors, development training opportunities, our performance management program and pay for performance philosophy, and using their voice in our employee engagement survey.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Ethical Business Practices. We believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment mitigates the risk of groupthink, ensures that the Company has the opportunity to benefit from all available talent and enhances, among other things, our organizational strength, problem-solving ability and opportunity for innovation. We continue to focus on understanding our diversity and inclusion strengths and opportunities and executing on a strategy to support further progress. We are committed to hiring, developing, and promoting employees with diverse backgrounds. We are actively reviewing diversity across our Company to drive greater progress. We welcome, embrace, and celebrate all our employees. We seek to ensure this inclusivity is achieved through regular training and support for our employees. We maintain a whistleblower policy and anonymous hotline for the confidential reporting of any suspected policy violations and provide training and education to our global workforce with respect to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and related policies.
Regulatory Framework in Canada
Licenses and Regulatory Framework
The Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations (the “Cannabis Regulations”) establish six classes of licenses:
cultivation;
processing;
sale for medical purposes;
analytical testing;
research; and
cannabis drug.
The Cannabis Regulations also create subclasses for cultivation licenses (standard cultivation, micro-cultivation and nursery) and processing licenses (standard processing and micro-processing). Different licenses and each sub-class therein carry differing rules and requirements that are intended to be proportional to the public health and safety risks posed by each category and sub-class.
Federal Regime
The Cannabis Act provides a licensing and permitting scheme for, among other things, the cultivation, processing, testing, packaging, labeling, distribution, sale, possession and disposal of adult-use cannabis, implemented by regulations promulgated under the Cannabis Act. The Cannabis Act and Cannabis Regulations include, among other things, strict specifications for the plain packaging and labeling and analytical testing of all cannabis products as well as stringent physical and personnel security requirements for all federally licensed cultivation, processing and sales sites.
Health Canada allows license holders to export cannabis products with appropriate export permits. Export permits issued by Health Canada are specific to each shipment and may only be obtained for medical or scientific purposes. To apply for a permit to export cannabis, a license holder must submit significant information to Health Canada including information about the substance to be exported (including description, intended use, quantity) and the importer. As part of the application, applicants are also generally required to provide a copy of the import permit issued by a competent authority in the jurisdiction of final destination and to make a declaration to Health Canada that the shipment does not contravene the laws of the jurisdiction of the final destination or any country of transit or transshipment.
The Cannabis Act requires the federal government to conduct a review of the Cannabis Act after three years, which commenced in September 2022. The scope of this statutory review includes, among other things, consideration of (i) the administration and operation of the Cannabis Act, (ii) the impact of the Cannabis Act on public health, (iii) the health and consumption habits of young persons, (iv) the impact of cannabis on indigenous persons and communities and (v) the impact of the cultivation of cannabis plants in a dwelling-house. The federal Minister of Health is expected to table a report in both Houses of Parliament by March 2024. The report resulting from the statutory review may recommend and/or lead to the amendment, removal or addition of provisions in or to the Cannabis Act which could adversely affect our business.
In addition to the current medical and adult-use regimes under the Cannabis Act, Health Canada has also been considering the implementation of a cannabis health product regime for products with potential therapeutic uses that would not require practitioner oversight. Between June and September 2019, Health Canada held a public consultation titled “Potential Market for Cannabis Health Products (CHPs) that would not Require Practitioner Oversight.” The consultation sought feedback from Canadians on the kinds of cannabis health products they would be interested in if such products were made available in Canada. A summary report of the consultation results was published by Health Canada in September 2020. Given the results of the consultation, Health Canada has indicated that it intends to obtain external scientific advice on the appropriate evidence standards required to demonstrate safety, efficacy and quality in cannabis health products, with the information it gathers informing the next steps on a potential implementation of a cannabis health product regime. Health Canada intends to engage with key stakeholders further in 2024.
In June 2021, Health Canada opened a consultation into the use of flavors in inhaled cannabis extracts as it claims that the availability of flavors is one of the factors that contributes to the increase in cannabis vaping in youth and young adults. As part of this consultation, Health Canada released proposed regulations that contemplate restricting the production, sale, promotion, packaging and labelling of inhaled cannabis extracts from having a flavor, other than the flavor of cannabis. The proposed amendments would apply equally to inhaled cannabis extracts sold for medical and non-medical purposes. The proposed amendments were pre-published in June 2021 and the consultation period closed in September 2021. No expected in-force date has been publicized.
In March 2023, Health Canada opened a consultation into potential amendments to the Cannabis Regulations, to streamline and clarify existing requirements; eliminate inefficiencies in the regulations such as duplication between requirements; and reduce administrative and regulatory burden, while continuing to meet the public health and public safety objectives of the Cannabis Act. The consultation closed in May 2023 and Health Canada is reviewing the comments received through the public consultation. The proposed amendments to the Cannabis Regulations are expected to be published in spring 2024 and the consultation period is expected to last 30 days.
In December 2023, Health Canada released guidance on cannabis products deliberately made with intoxicating cannabinoids other than delta-9-tetrayhydrocannabinol. Health Canada defines “intoxicating cannabinoids” as cannabinoids that bind to and activate the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (“CB1 receptor”). This guidance recommends that license holders apply the regulatory controls currently applicable to THC to all other cannabinoids that Health Canada defines as “intoxicating cannabinoids” in order to minimize the risks of accidental consumption, overconsumption and adverse effects. Health Canada’s guidance comes at a time when certain provincial cannabis regulators (such as those in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta) are actively evaluating whether to permit the sale of, or whether to impose limits on the levels of, of certain cannabinoids.
Provincial and Territorial Developments
While the Cannabis Act provides for the regulation by the Canadian federal government of, among other things, the commercial production of cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis, the various provinces and territories of Canada regulate certain aspects of adult-use cannabis, including the distribution, sale, minimum age requirements and places where cannabis can be consumed.
The governments of each Canadian province and territory have implemented regulatory regimes for the distribution and sale of cannabis for adult-use purposes which continue to evolve over time. Most provinces and territories have announced a minimum age for possession and consumption of 19 years old, except for Québec and Alberta, where the minimum age is 21 and 18, respectively. In addition, provinces and territories may impose additional licensing requirements and restrictions on sales, distribution and promotion which are more stringent than those at the federal level. For example, the Société Quebécoise du Cannabis (the “SQDC”), the exclusive distributor of cannabis in the province and the sole retail and online vendor in Québec, does not permit cannabis vaporizers or other high THC non-edible cannabis products to be sold through its channels. The SQDC has also placed significant restrictions on the types of edibles that may be sold through its channels, prohibiting edibles that are sweet, confectionary, dessert, chocolate or any other product SQDC considers attractive to persons under 21 years of age. Similarly, the Prince Edward Island Cannabis Management Corporation does not allow cannabis vaporizers to be sold through its channels. Provincial distributors may also take different positions on the sale and distribution of products with various cannabinoids (including tetrahydrocannabivarin and cannabinol).
Licenses and Regulatory Framework in Israel
In Israel, cannabis is subject to the Israeli Dangerous Drugs Ordinance [New Version], 5733 – 1973 (the “Ordinance”), and its sale and use are prohibited unless applicable licenses have been obtained. Licenses to cultivate, produce, possess and use cannabis for medical or research purposes in Israel are granted by the Israel Medical Cannabis Agency within the Israeli Ministry of Health (the “Yakar” and the “Israeli MOH,” respectively). Until the Reform Regulations (as described below) take effect, patients must also obtain licenses either directly from physicians who have been authorized to grant patient licenses or from the Yakar following a request from the patient’s physician in order to purchase and consume medical cannabis.
In January 2019, the Israeli government approved, in principle, the export from Israel of medical cannabis products that meet applicable quality standards under the strict supervision of the Israeli authorities. Only products that can be directly marketed to patients (including smoking products, oils, and vaporizer products) may be exported, and only to those countries that have signed the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and that have explicitly approved the import of cannabis. The export of plant substances, including seeds and tissue cultures, is not permitted. In October 2020, the Israeli MOH initiated a pilot program in which certain medical cannabis companies were permitted to export their products, and the Yakar issued guidelines relating to the export of medical cannabis products. These guidelines set forth the process and conditions for obtaining an export license, which can only be issued to an applicant already holding a valid Yakar license.
In December 2021, the Director General of the Israeli MOH announced the appointment of a committee (the “CBD Committee”) intended to examine the possibility of excluding CBD from being considered a “dangerous drug” under the Ordinance. In February 2022, the CBD Committee published its recommendations. The CBD Committee concluded that it would be advisable to exclude CBD from the Ordinance and to allow CBD use, other than in food and cosmetics products, provided that the aggregate concentration of THC does not exceed 0.2%. The CBD Committee further recommended that during the next two years, CBD components not be approved as a component in food, food supplements, and cosmetics and that this issue be re-examined by a committee designated by the Israeli MOH. In March 2022, the Israeli MOH adopted the conclusions of the CBD Committee and published a draft order for public comments which excludes CBD from the Ordinance while setting the threshold of aggregate concentration of THC (or any structural derivative of THC) in any product, at 0.3%. Cosmetics and food products would be handled by specific regulations in such fields. As of January 2024, no final order was issued, and CBD has yet to be excluded from the Ordinance.
On January 31, 2022, the Economic Affairs Committee of the Israeli Parliament held a discussion regarding the adverse effect on the local cannabis industry of significant import of medical cannabis. The discussion was concluded with a request to the Israeli MOH to study the matter and consider banning medical cannabis import until a balance is reached in the market between the import and export of medical cannabis. The Israeli MOH has not yet publicly issued a study on the matter.
In July 2022, a committee appointed by the Director General of the Israeli MOH concluded that it would be advisable to reform the medical cannabis regulatory framework by transitioning from the grant of personal patient licenses to the issuance of prescriptions available through public healthcare services. In August 2022, the new regulations adopting this reform (the “Reform Regulations”) were presented for public comments. The Reform Regulations propose to amend the Ordinance to allow medical cannabis to be prescribed by trained and certified physicians and to be held and distributed by pharmacies. The Reform Regulations aim to ease the Yakar’s regulations relating to medical cannabis prescriptions and accelerate research and innovation in the field. The Reform Regulations were approved by the Israeli Parliament’s health committee in June 2023, and published in July 2023. The Reform Regulations were expected to enter into effect in December 2023, however, due to the situation in Israel and the Israel-Hamas War, its entrance into effect was postponed until March 29, 2024. On December 31, 2023, the Israeli MOH published proposed changes to the current directives and guidelines of the Yakar and Israeli MOH, which remained open for public comments until January 21, 2024.
In June 2022, 11 cannabis manufacturers (including Cronos Israel G.S Manufacturing Ltd.) (the “Petitioners”) filed an administrative petition to the District Court in Jerusalem regarding the Yakar’s decision to issue a constructive license (i.e., a license for dealing with medical cannabis, without a direct contact with the drug, such as brokering medical cannabis transactions) (the “Constructive License”). The Petitioners claim that the procedure and requirements for other licenses (e.g., for cultivation or production), granted by the Yakar, are unreasonably more stringent than those of the Constructive License. On January 5, 2023, the District Court in Jerusalem ordered the Israeli MOH to stop the issuance of Constructive Licenses for 60 days, and to formulate a clear policy regarding the issuance of such Constructive Licenses. On February 12, 2023, the director general of the Yakar published a decision regarding the Constructive Licenses, in response to the District Court’s order. The decision clarifies the Yakar’s authority to grant Constructive Licenses for the import/export of medical cannabis.
On August 30, 2023, following recommendation by the Israeli MOH’s committee, the Director General of the Israeli MOH appointed an additional committee (the “2023 Committee”). The 2023 Committee’s mandate is to comprehensively examine which cannabinoids and parts of the cannabis plant have a psychoactive-addictive effect and whether the classification of cannabis as a “dangerous drug” under the Ordinance is warranted. In September 2023, the Israeli MOH sought public comments and input about the 2023 Committee’s subject matter. The 2023 Committee was scheduled to publish its recommendations by January 1, 2024, but to date, has not done so.
Cronos Israel Licenses
Cronos Israel maintains the following certificates and corresponding permits: (1) full Good Agricultural Practices (“GAP”) certification, including a permit to propagate and cultivate at the full capacity of the greenhouse; and (2) Good Manufacturing Practices (“GMP”) and Good Distribution Practices (“GDP”) certificates and permits to produce and distribute dried flower, cannabis oils and pre-rolls.
Licenses and Regulatory Framework in Other Jurisdictions
We and our joint venture partners, strategic investments and strategic partners are subject to comprehensive and evolving regulations in each jurisdiction in which we and they operate. All aspects of the production, manufacture and distribution of cannabis products are regulated and subject to licensing regimes. These regulations and licensing regimes vary by jurisdiction and we, our joint venture partners, strategic investments and strategic partners spend significant time, effort and money to comply with the applicable requirements. We seek to comply with export laws in connection with distributing our products in other jurisdictions by obtaining export permits from Health Canada. Our strategic partners are responsible for compliance with import laws and local regulatory requirements (including laws related to distribution of medical products) in jurisdictions in which they operate.
Available Information
We are subject to the informational requirements of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, in accordance with the Exchange Act, we also file reports with and furnish other information to the SEC. The public may obtain any document that we file with or furnish to the SEC from the SEC’s Electronic Document Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, which can be accessed atwww.sec.gov, or via the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval Plus, which can be accessed atwww.sedarplus.com, as well as from commercial document retrieval services.
Copies of this Annual Report may be obtained on request without charge from our Corporate Secretary, corporate.secretary@thecronosgroup.com, telephone: +1-416-504-0004. We also provide access without charge to all of our SEC filings, including copies of this Annual Report, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 or 5, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing or furnishing, on our website located at https://thecronosgroup.com. In addition, our website includes, among other things, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is also available in print to any shareholder upon request without charge from our Corporate Secretary, corporate.secretary@thecronosgroup.com, telephone: +1-416-504-0004. Within the time period required by the SEC, we will post on our website any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and any waiver applicable to any executive officer, director or senior financial officer.
From time to time, we use our website, as well as the following social media sites, as an additional means of disclosing public information to investors, the media and others interested in the Company.
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/The-Cronos-Group-419168411987225);
X (f.k.a. Twitter) (https://twitter.com/cronosgroup); and
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cronosgroupcron/).
It is possible that certain information we post on our website or these social media sites could be deemed to be material information, and we encourage investors, the media and others interested in the Company to review the business and financial information we or our officers post on our website or these social media sites. None of the information on our website or disclosed through these social media sites is incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.