Vireo Health and Former Executive Chairman Enter into Mutual Release

Vireo Health International Inc. (“Vireo” or the “Company”) (CNSX: VREO; OTCQX: VREOF), a leading physician-led, science-focused, multi-state cannabis company, today announced that it has entered into a mutual release (the “Mutual Release“) with Bruce Linton, a globally recognized authority in cannabinoid policy and business and the Company’s former Executive Chairman, relating to all outstanding matters between them.

Mr. Linton joined Vireo in November of 2019. On June 8, 2020, the Company elected to terminate its employment agreement with Mr. Linton as Executive Chairman, on an entirely without-cause basis. In connection with Mr. Linton’s employment agreement, Mr. Linton received warrants (the “Warrants“) to acquire up to 15 million subordinate voting shares (each, a “Share“) in the Company. 10 million of the Warrants (the “First Tranche Warrants“) have an exercise price of US$1.02 per Share.

As part of the Mutual Release, Vireo has issued 8,000,000 Shares to Mr. Linton. 7,110,381 Shares were issued to Mr. Linton pursuant to the exercise of the First Tranche Warrants on a cashless basis. The remaining 889,519 Shares were issued to Mr. Linton pursuant to a private placement exemption resulting in no cash consideration being paid to Vireo. The Shares issued pursuant to the First Tranche Warrants are free of trading restrictions and the 889,519 Shares are subject to a hold period expiring on August 1, 2021. In addition, as part of the Mutual Release, Mr. Linton has surrendered all right, title and interest in all other Warrants for cancellation.

The issuance of Shares pursuant to the Debt Settlement constitutes a “related party transaction” as this term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101“). All of the independent directors of the Company, acting in good faith, determined that the fair market value of the Shares being issued pursuant to the Debt Settlement and the consideration being paid is reasonable. The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the Shares nor the debt exceeds 25% of the Company’s market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Debt Settlement as the details and amounts of debts settled under the transaction were not finalized until closer to the closing and the Company wished to close the Debt Settlement as soon as practicable. All Shares issued to pursuant to the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four (4) month hold period.

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