Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements as
that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as
"may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates",
"predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other
comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks in the
section entitled "Risk Factors", that may cause our or our industry's actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although
we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance
or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities
laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking
statements to conform these statements to actual results.
Our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements are
stated in United States Dollars and are prepared in accordance with United
States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The following discussion should
be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes that
appear elsewhere in this quarterly report. The following discussion contains
forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our
actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward
looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences
include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this
quarterly report, particularly in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of this
quarterly report.
In this quarterly report, unless otherwise specified, all
dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars. All references to "CAD$"
refer to Canadian dollars and all references to "common shares" and "shares"
refer to the common shares in our capital stock, unless otherwise indicated.
As used in this quarterly report, the terms "Lexaria" "we",
"us", "our" and "Company" mean Company and/or our subsidiaries, unless otherwise
indicated.
General and Historical Overview of Our Business
We were incorporated in the State of Nevada on December 9,
2004. We were an exploration and development oil and gas company engaged in the
exploration for and development of petroleum and natural gas in North America
from the date of incorporation until 2014. We owned various oil and gas
interests in Mississippi and Oklahoma, and produced cash flow from them. At
various times we issued equity to raise capital to acquire or sustain our
interests and operations, and entered various debt agreements for the same
reasons. In December 2014, we completed the sale of our last remaining oil and
gas assets for total consideration of $1,400,000 and repaid all outstanding
loans and debts associated with our tenure in the oil and gas business.
In 2014, we submitted an application to enter the legal medical
marijuana business in Canada and also launched a hemp oil-based food supplement
company in the USA.
We entered into a joint venture agreement with Enertopia Corp.
to source opportunities in the medical marijuana business. We also entered into
a separate joint venture agreement with Enertopia Corp. for a prospective
medical marijuana business under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations
(MMPR). Our company was to pay 55% of all costs to earn a 49% net ownership
interest in the business and Enertopia was to pay 45% of all costs to earn a 51%
ownership interest in the business. The joint venture identified a production
location in Burlington, Ontario and received municipal approval for the site in
July, 2014.
On June 26, 2015, we entered into a definitive agreement with
Enertopia Corp. and Shaxon Enterprises Ltd. to sell our 49% interest in the
Burlington Joint Venture and the MMPR application number 10MMPR0610. Pursuant to
the
agreement, the joint venture received a non-refundable $10,000 deposit and is entitled to receive up to $1,500,000 in milestone payments upon the Burlington facility becoming licensed under the MMPR. All payments made pursuant to the
agreement would be divided 51% to Enertopia Corp. and 49% to our Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we can neither guarantee nor provide a meaningful time estimate regarding the grant of a production license for the Burlington facility.
Our food sciences activities include the development of our proprietary nutrient infusion technologies for the production of superfoods, and the production of enhanced food products under our two consumer product brands, ViPova™ and Lexaria
Energy. Our patented lipid nutrient infusion technology is believed to enable higher bioavailability rates for CBD; THC; NSAIDs; Nicotine and other molecules than is possible without lipophilic enhancement technology. This can allow for lower
overall dosing requirements and/or higher effectiveness in active molecule delivery. Lexaria has caused to be filed several patent pending applications with the US Patent Office, and also internationally under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
On October 26, 2016, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 9,474,725, Cannabinoid Infused Food and Beverage Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof, pertaining to Lexaria’s method of improving bioavailability and taste of certain cannabinoid
lipophilic active agents in food products. The Company has also received a Notice of Acceptance from the Australian Patent Office with patent issuance date expected in June 2017. Lexaria hopes to reduce other common but less healthy ingestion
methods such as smoking as it embraces the benefits of public health.
As at February 28, 2017, we only had one reporatable segment, being the development and usage, including licensing of our proprietary nutrient infusion technology.
We maintain our registered agent's office and our U.S. business office at Nevada Agency and Transfer Company, 50 West Liberty, Suite 880, Reno, Nevada 89501. Our telephone number is (755) 322-0626.
The address of our principal executive office is 156 Valleyview Rd, Kelowna BC Canada V1X3M4. We have administrative functions located in Vancouver, British Columbia and Phoenix, Arizona.
Our common stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "LXRP" and on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “LXX”.
Due to the implementation of British Columbia Instrument 51-509 on September 30, 2008 by the British Columbia Securities Commission, we have been deemed to be a British Columbia based reporting issuer. As such, we are required to file certain
information and documents at
www.sedar.com
.
Our Current Business
Our company’s business plan is currently focused in the USA, on the introduction of hemp oil-infused food products extracted from Agricultural Hemp and on the development of strategic partnerships with licensees for our patented technology in
exchange for up front and/or staged licensing fees over time. Secondarily and more generally, we continue to investigate opportunities in the US legal regulated medical marijuana sector where possible; to investigate expansions and additions to our
intellectual property portfolio; and, to search for additional opportunities in alternative health sectors. This includes the acquisition or development of intellectual property if and when we believe it advisable to do so. We were issued our first
patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 26, 2016 and have received a Notice of Acceptance from the Australian Patent Office with related patent issuance date expected in June 2017. We are seeking additional patent
protection for what we believe to be a unique process for the nutritional delivery of certain molecules such as THC, CBD, Nicotine, NSAIDs, and Vitamins. To achieve sustainable and profitable growth, our company intends to control the timing and
costs of our projects wherever possible.
During the six-month period ended February 28, 2017 and up to the date of this report, we experienced the following significant corporate developments:
On September 8th, 2016, the Company announced signing new definitive technology licensing and private label agreements. Lexaria will earn a pre-defined premium to costs on all raw ingredient sourcing and manufacturing, and will further earn a
pre-defined royalty rate on all gross product sales revenues earned by Timeless Herbal Care Limited. The agreement is for an initial term of 5 years.
On October 11, 2016, the Company retained a consultant to provide market maintenance service for the Company in compliance with regulatory guidelines. The consultant trades shares of the Company on the Canadian Securities Exchange for purposes of
maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of Lexaria’s shares.
On October 11, 2016, in exchange of business advisory services including marketing strategies and assistance in preparing presentation materials, dissemination of information and other business and capital advisory services, the Company granted
250,000 stock options to a consultant with a strike price of $0.14 per share, and expiry term of two years. The Company also pays a compensation of CAD$5,000 to the consultant.
On October 11, 2016, pursuant to its agreement with Docherty Management Ltd., the Company issued 252,000 restricted common shares and cash compensation of $6,240.
On October 11, 2016, the Company issued 750,000 warrants with an exercise price of $0.14 per share and valid for five years, in return for consulting services provided in August, September, and October.
On October 11, 2016, the Company reached an agreement with a director to settle the outstanding amount pursuant to a marketing agreement with him, through issuance of common shares of the Company. To settle the outstanding amount of $16,000 for
four months to October 31, 2016, the Company issued 114,286 shares of its common stock at a value of $0.14 per share.
On October 26, 2016, the USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 9474725, Cannabinoid Infused Food and Beverage Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof, pertaining to Lexaria’s method of improving bioavailability and taste of certain cannabinoid
lipophilic active agents in food products.
On October 27, 2016, the Compay received approval to offer existing warrant holders an incentive to exercise warrants early. For each exercise, in addition to the shares, the warrant holders were offered an additional warrant with identical terms.
During the period ended February 28, 2017, a total of 3,245,000 warrants were exercised at a weighted average price of $0.2273 and the Company issued 3,245,000 common shares and 3,245,000 warrants with a weighted average exercise price of
$0.2273 to buy one additional common share of the Company, expiring May 14, 2017. Total proceeds raised from such incentive amounted to $737,500.
On November 1, 2016, the Company issued 56,250 shares of its common stock in settlement of $9,000, previously recognized within accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
On November 1, 2016, the Company issued 500,000 warrants to a consultant. Each warrant is valid for purchase of one new common share of the Company at a price of $0.31 per share with and expiration date of May 31, 2017.
On November 22, 2016, the Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NeutrisSci International Inc. (“Neutrisci”) for forming a 50/50 joint venture to develop, produce, and sell a line of healthy edible cannabinoid products using
Lexaria’s patented technology and Neutrisci’s proprietary pterostilbene tablet formula and international distribution network. The joint venture expects to commercialize any newly created cannabinoid edible products through distribution
programs and existing strategic partners.
On November 29, 2016, the Company announced the entry of a letter of intent for the licensing of its proprietary absorption and palatability enhancing technology to Hempco Food and Fiber Inc. (“Hempco”). It is expected that the letter of
intent will advance into a definitive agreement, however an assurance cannot be provided to this effect.
On December 1, 2016, the Company amended its agreement with CAB for a revised consulting fee of $12,000 per month. The term of the amended agreement is two years but can be terminated by either party by providing two months notice.
On December 19, 2016, the Company filed to internationally expand its U.S patent number 9474725, granted on October 26, 2016. National filing patent applications in Canada, Australia, Japan, China, India and all 37 countries belonging to the
European Patent Convention were filed. All of these filings follow the Company’s initial international Patent Cooperation Treaty patent application.
On December 22, 2016, the Company extended the services of Frontier Merchant Capital Group (“Frontier”) for a period of three months, for a total fee of CAD$25,000. Frontier will assist the Company by increasing market awareness
utilizing a number of financial market communication initiatives including media outreach, facilitating in-person introduction for the Company with institutional and retail brokers and investors in cities across Canada and the U.S., and more.
On January 10, 2017, the Company issued 500,000 incentive warrants to an arm’s length party in exchange for corporate development services. The exercise price of the incentive warrants is $0.44, vesting immediately, and expiring on January
9, 2018.
On January 19, 2017, the Company and NeutriSci International Inc. announced the successful development and initial trial of the industry’s first zero-sugar cannabinoid / pterostilbene edible tablet utilizing both Neutrisci’s and
Lexaria’s proprietary and patented technologies. NeutriSci and Lexaria confirmed that the companies expect to officially bind the JV agreement to market and commercialize a line of edible products.
On February 8, 2017, the Company through its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Lexaria Canpharm Corp., signed and entered a master collaborative research agreement with the National Research Council of Canada (“NRC”) to investigate
technical aspects and new opportunities associated with bioavailability enhancement of lipophilic active ingredient compositions. Under the agreement, the Company and the NRC will both provide up to CAD$125,000 in funding for this research, a
total investment of up to CAD$250,000. The master research agreement has an 18-month term, during which a number of shorter-term studies will be undertaken. The collaboration will investigate and define the chemical nature of the molecular
association that Lexaria`s patented technology is believed to effectuate between lipophilic active agents and fatty acids as solubility and bioavailability enhancing agents.
On February 8, 2017, the Company issued 29,091 shares of its common stock in settlement of $16,000 service fee, previously recognized within accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
On February 27, 2017, the Company received a Notice of Acceptance from the Australian Patent Office that Lexaria’s Australian patent application 2015274698 was accepted with a patent issuance date expected in June, 2017. The Notice of
Acceptance covers Lexaria patent application entitled “Food and beverage compositions infused with lipophilic active agents and methods of use thereof”, which has been accepted with the same set of claims previously issued in US Patent
No 9,474,725 specific to non-psychoactive cannabinoids.
On March 14, 2017, the Company commenced the formal design phase for studies to be conducted under the master collaborative research agreement with the NRC. A number of studies have been proposed and are currently being evaluated , with the
intention to begin work and produce results over multiple intervals in the coming months. In aggregate, results from these studies will add to the understanding of the physical and biochemical characteristics imparted on molecules that have been
subjected to Lexaria’s technology, with a view to further demonstrating the power of the technology to prospective commercial partners across the various consumer product sectors the Company is targeting.
During the period from September 1, 2016 to April 14, 2017, in addition to the $737,500 received as a result of the exercised incentivized share purchase warrants described above, the Company received $330,873 from exercise of 959,125 stock
options and 957,250 warrants.
Food Science and Technology
Lexaria is a food sciences company focused on the delivery of
cannabinoid compounds procured from legal, agricultural hemp, through gourmet
foods based upon its proprietary infusion technologies. Lexaria is focusing its
capital and management time on its pursuit of intellectual property, technology
licensing opportunities, and an expanding portfolio of patent pending
applications. The Company introduced an expanding variety of hemp oil-fortified
consumer food products throughout 2015. From January 2015 to December 2015, we
introduced seven (7) flavors of teas; hot chocolate; coffee, and two (2) flavors
of protein energy bars all utilizing our patent pending technology for the
more efficient delivery of hemp oil infused within those food products.
On November 11, 2014, our Company acquired 51% of PoViva Tea
LLC and executed an operating agreement to develop a business of legally
producing, manufacturing, importing/exporting, testing, researching and
developing, a line of hemp oil with cannabidiol-infused teas, drinks and foods.
Lexaria oversees all aspects of the business including, but not limited to,
production, product quality, licensing, testing, product legality, accounting,
marketing, capital investment, capital raising, sales, branding, advertising and
fulfillment. Pursuant to the agreement, there is a Management Committee, whereby
there are two representatives from Lexaria and one of the founding members of
PoViva.
In the production of the products, for each batch of hemp oil
purchased as a raw material to be used in ViPova branded products, we assess if
the product inputs and the completed products comply with all applicable food
and drug laws, and that the inputs and the finished products meet all applicable
legal and quality standards including and as it relates to hemp oil content; THC
content; molds and mildews; heavy metals; and may measure additional components.
The US Federal government, through the US Department of Health
and Human Services, owns US Patent #6630507, which among other things, claims
that
Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant
properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism.
This new found
property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of
wide variety of
oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic,
age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The
cannabinoids
are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example
in limiting
neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as
stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of
neurodegenerative
diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV
dementia.
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For reference, cannabinoids are compounds that affect
cannabinoid receptors located on many human cells. CB1 receptors are widely
found within the human brain; and CB2 receptors are found with the human immune
system and have been linked to anti-inflammatory and other responses.
Despite independent scientific findings in many locations
around the world, some regulatory agencies do not officially recognize that a
human endocannabinoid system exists.
Eighty-five different cannabinoids have been isolated from the
cannabis plant, most of which do not have psychoactive properties. One that does
have psychoactive properties is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Endocannabinoids are
produced naturally in the human body while phytocannabinoids are produced in
several plant species, most abundantly in the Cannabis plant.
Cannabidiol is one of the major phytocannabinoid forms of
cannabinoids, contributing more than 35% of the extracts from the cannabis plant
resin. Cannabidiol occurs naturally in other plant species beyond cannabis. For
example, the most widely acknowledged alternative source of phytocannabinoid is
in the better understood Echinacea species, in widespread use as a dietary
supplement. Most phytocannabinoids are virtually insoluble in water but are
soluble in lipids and alcohol.
The Alternative Health sector is large and growing. A long term
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was conducted from 2002 until 2008 with at
least 29,370 subjects asked repeatedly if they had seen any kind of health care
practitioner in the previous six months. The survey recorded
whether the health care provider was a complementary and alternative medicine
care professional, including homeopathic, naturopathic, or herbalist.
Between 5.3% and 5.8% of the survey group at any one time
reported that they had seen a complementary or alternative medicine provider.
Based on the US population of ~319,000,000, this suggests between 16.9 million
and 18.5 million Americans are seeking an alternative health care professional
at any given time.
Meanwhile the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in an
April 2011 NCHS Data Brief, reported that more than 50% of the population uses
dietary supplements of one kind or another. Detailed findings from that report
included:
-
Use of dietary supplements is common among the U.S. adult population. Over
40% used supplements in 19881994, and over one-half in 20032006.
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Multivitamins/multiminerals are the most commonly used dietary supplements,
with approximately 40% of men and women reporting use during 20032006.
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Use of supplemental calcium increased from 28% during 19881994 to 61%
during 20032006 among women aged 60 and over.
Status of Operations
More than 150 million Americans drink tea every day, amounting
to some 79 billion servings of tea in America every year. Our launch of ViPova
Tea brand is meant to tap into this existing demand. Part of our corporate
strategy is to build national brands through products that large groups of
potential customers are already familiar and comfortable with.
PoViva Tea LLC has filed patents pending, and has received one
granted patent and one Notice of Acceptance of the patent, to bind active hemp
oil ingredients with a lipid, potentially allowing for more efficient and
comforting delivery of the CBD.
We began producing cash flows from our products in January
2015; focused on the immediate opportunities in the CBD-sectors derived from
hemp oil that is federally legal. Cannabinoids have been found by many
researchers to have antioxidant properties and Lexaria plans to use the patented
process it has acquired with ViPova teas, to infuse CBDs into a number of
popular food and beverages.
Lexaria has launched a line of premium products, always relying
on our patented hemp oil-infusion process, to bring hemp oil into the
mainstream. Because hemp oil does not have psychoactive properties we expect our
products to appeal to the widest possible customer base. Initially we will focus
our sales efforts across the continental USA. Some studies have found that 3% of
the Canadian population regularly consumes hemp food products, while 1% of the
American population regularly consumes hemp food products. We believe the
consumption of hemp based food products offers exceptional growth possibilities.
According to Nutrition Business Journal, the Organic Food
sector was a $246 billion industry in the USA during 2014, while Dietary
Supplements was a $34.6 billion industry. According to Arcview, Legal Cannabis
was a $4.7 billion US industry in 2015 but is clearly a much smaller industry
sector than the more established food sectors. Lexaria has not yet determined
whether our hemp oil-infused products will be accepted into any or all three of
these particular sectors.
Lexaria commissioned three new websites in 2015 one for
ViPova-branded food products, another for a new Lexaria corporate website, and
a third for Lexaria Energy branded food products - which were completed
throughout 2015. All the sites are in operation and the two food products
websites allow customers to place orders and interact with normal e-commerce
capabilities. The majority of our product have taken place through these
websites. A contracted national distribution center ensures rapid and accurate
fulfillment of all orders. A 1-800 ordering center has also been placed into
operation.
In 2015 Lexaria launched the LexariaEnergy brand that is
100% owned by the Company. Lexaria has had manufactured products such as protein
energy bars and hemp oil supplements that are designed for people with active
lifestyles. The Lexaria Energy brand utilizes the same patented infusion process
as does the Vipova line. Because all manufacturing has been conducted through
licensed third-party facilities, Lexaria cannot control precise manufacturing
schedules and is currently without a suitable location to manage additional
protein energy bars. Lexaria is considering additional product lines such as
additional fitness products as protein shakes and protein powders, and other
supplements including various herbal ingredients, but has not made any final
decisions regarding such products at this time.
Lexaria has not secured any widespread distribution for any of
its products and needs to do so before product sales can be considered a viable
long term business endeavor. Achieving distribution for its products is a goal
for Lexaria in upcoming quarters.
Through the November 2014 acquisition of 51% of Poviva Teas
LLC, Lexaria acquired control of certain patents pending with the United States
Patent Office. Lexaria has worked to broaden the patents and extend their
utility to molecules other than those originally named.
On June 11, 2015, Lexaria initiated the simultaneous filing of
a U.S. utility patent application and an International patent application under
the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) procedure, both at the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO). These applications follow the Companys 2014 and
2015 family of provisional patent application filings in the U.S. and serve two
additional broad purposes:
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1)
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Lexaria is seeking protection of its intellectual
property under international treaties. To this end Lexaria has filed for
PCT patent application protection. There are 148 countries that are
signatories to the Patent Cooperation Treaty, including such major markets
as Canada, China, India, much of Europe and the Middle East, the United
Kingdom and Japan among others.
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2)
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Lexaria believes its lipid infusion technology has
applications beyond the delivery of just cannabinoids. Based on further
formulation testing, Lexaria has included additional lipophilic molecules
that may be delivered via food and beverage formats utilizing its
technology, widely encompassing three major new market opportunities for
the Company: Nicotine; Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs); and
Vitamins.
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On October 26, 2016, the USPTO issued U.S Patent No. 9474725,
Cannabinoid Infused Food and Beverage Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof,
pertaining to our method of improving bioavailability and taste of certain
cannabinoid lipophilic active agents in food products. This is the Companys
first patent granted and has a publish date of October 27, 2016 and protects our
technology for twenty years.
The Company has since expanded this patent internationally.
National filing patent applications in Canada, Australia, China, Japan, and
India and all 37 countries belonging to the European Patent Convention have been
filed. All of these filings follow the initial international PCT patent
application number PCT/US2015/035128. As of February 27, 2017, a Notice of
Acceptance from the Australian Patent Office was received that Lexarias
Australian patent application 2015274698 has been accepted with a patent
issuance date expected in June, 2017. The Notice of Acceptance covers Lexaria
patent application entitled Food and beverage compositions infused with
lipophilic active agents and methods of use thereof, which has been accepted
with the same set of claims previously issued in US Patent No 9,474,725.
INTERNATIONAL PATENT PROTECTION
When Lexaria first began examining the legal medical cannabis
market in 2013, and entered the market in 2014, the Company believed it could
make an impact in perhaps both the Canadian and U.S. marketplaces. Our pursuit
and development of technology has expanded our potential area of impact, both
geographically and by sector. Because of the applicability of our technology to
markets outside of the legal cannabis sector, we have taken the necessary steps
to protect that intellectual property within larger global markets, regardless
of whether they lie within the medical cannabis sector or in other unrelated
sectors.
ADDITIONAL MOLECULES
NICOTINE.
More than 99% of all nicotine that is consumed worldwide is delivered through smoking cigarettes. Approximately 6,000,000 deaths per year, worldwide, are attributed primarily to the delivery of nicotine through the act of smoking
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also estimates that over $170 billion per year is spent just in the USA on direct medical care costs for adult smokers. 69% of U.S. adult smokers want to quit smoking and 43% of
US adult smokers have attempted to quit in any twelve-month period.
Worldwide, retail cigarette sales were worth $722 billion in 2013, with over 5.7 trillion cigarettes sold to more than 1 billion smokers.
RELEVANCE
: Lexaria postulates that delivery of nicotine to satisfy current demand, utilizing our patented lipid-delivery technology in common food groups, could shift demand from smoking cigarettes to alternative nicotine-based food products.
Since most of the adverse health outcomes of nicotine consumption are associated with the delivery method and only to a lesser degree to the actual ingestion of nicotine, there could be a vast positive community health outcome through the reduction
in smoking cigarettes. Additional research and regulatory compliant investigations would need to be conducted before otherwise healthy foods such as tea, coffee or energy bar snacks containing nicotine could be introduced. Nicotine is a named
molecule in the latest Lexaria patent applications.
NSAID
. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories are the second-largest category of pain management treatment options in the world. The global pain management market was estimated at $22 billion in 2011, with $5.4 billion of this market being
served by NSAID’s. The U.S. makes up over one-half of the global market. The opiods market (such as morphine) form the largest single pain management sector but are known to be associated with serious dependence and tolerance issues.
Some of the most commonly known NSAIDs are ASA (Aspirin), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and Acetaminophen (Tylenol). (Acetaminophen is not accepted by all persons to be an NSAID.) Although NSAIDs are generally a safe and effective treatment method for
pain, they have been associated with a number of gastrointestinal problems including dyspepsia and gastric bleeding.
RELEVANCE
: Lexaria postulates that delivery of NSAIDs through a lipid-based mechanism could provide the beneficial properties of pain relief with lessened negative gastrointestinal effects, and also potentially deliver lower dosages of active
ingredients with similar pain management outcomes as current pill forms at higher dosages. ASA, Piroxicam, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, and Acetaminophen are all named molecules in the latest Lexaria patent applications.
VITAMINS.
The global vitamin and supplement market is worth $68 billion according to Euromonitor. The category is both broad and deep, comprised of many popular and some lesser known substances. Vitamins in general are thought to be an
$8.5 billion annual market in the U.S. The U.S. is the largest single national market in the world, and China and Japan are the 2
nd
and 3
rd
largest vitamin markets.
Vitamin E is fat soluble and can be incorporated into cell membranes which can protect them from oxidative damage. Global consumption of natural source vitamin E was 10,900 metric tons in 2013 worth $611.9 million.
RELEVANCE
: Lexaria postulates that delivery of fat soluble vitamins through its patented lipid-based delivery mechanism may result in less waste and lower dosages required than most current pill forms. As well, ingestion of pills is an
unpleasant experience for many people so it is possible that vitamin delivery through common food groups could vastly expand market demand for this sector. Vitamin E is a named molecule in the latest Lexaria patent applications.
On August 11, 2015, Lexaria signed a license agreement with PoViva Tea LLC for $10,000, granting Lexaria a 35-year non exclusive worldwide license to unencumbered use of PoViva Tea LLC’s IP Rights, including rights of resale. This license
agreement ensures Lexaria has full access to the underlying infusion technology.
On August 24, 2015, the Company announced potential industry-changing achievements in enhanced gastrointestinal absorption of cannabidiol (CBD) utilizing Lexaria’s technology. The third-party testing was conducted in two phases of
in
vitro
tests beginning in June and completed in August, 2015.
The independent laboratory results delivered average CBD permeability of 499% of baseline permeability, compared to CBD permeability without Lexaria’s technology. These results exceed Company expectations. This was assessed in a strictly
controlled,
in vitro
experiment using a human intestinal tissue model. Samples of Lexaria’s commercially available CBD-fortified ViPova™ black tea were administered in the model compared with concentration-matched CBD control
preparations that lacked Lexaria’s patented formulation and process enhancements. Lexaria believes that its
in vitro
findings provide compelling evidence of the intestinal absorption enhancing capabilities of its technology, based on
which it is exploring opportunities to progress to more advanced, follow-on bioavailability testing in animals.
The tests also showed 325% of baseline gastro-intestinal permeability of CBD comparing Lexaria’s CBD-fortified ViPova™ black tea to a second control of CBD and black tea combined,
without
Lexaria’s patented formulation
enhancements. This confirmed that the specialized processing undertaken by Lexaria during its manufacturing process together with its formulation enhancements, does indeed significantly improve absorption levels.
The bioavailability of CBD (or of THC) varies greatly by delivery method. Smoking typically delivers cannabinoids at an average bioavailability rate of 30% (Huestis (2007) Chem. Biodivers. 4:1770–1804; McGilveray (2005) Pain Res. Manag. 10
Suppl. A:15A – 22A). By comparison, orally consumed cannabis edibles typically deliver cannabinoids at an average bioavailability rate of only 5% (Karschner et al. (2011) Clin. Chem. 57:66–75).
The Company’s present findings suggest that its technology may achieve a 5-fold improvement in cannabinoid absorption in edible form over that which can be achieved without its proprietary process and formulation enhancements. This
conceptually supports that Lexaria’s technology represents a significant breakthrough in cannabinoid delivery by approximating the high absorption levels achieved as though through administration by smoking, but without the associated negative
effects on human health caused by smoking.
The tests were completed in two phases culminating with testing using simulated intestinal fluid conditions that delivered these findings. These results were stronger than earlier iterations of the tests that did not use a simulated intestinal fluid
environment and contributed to Lexaria’s understanding of the mechanisms at work. For these and other reasons, Lexaria believes that bioavailability testing in animals is likely to yield even stronger absorption results in the presence of
natural intestinal fluid conditions.
CBD has been repeatedly found to provide beneficial pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, neuroprotection, anti-psychotic, and anti-convulsive effects among others. Lexaria’s patented technology could significantly reduce
individual serving requirements for CBD to consumers. This could lead to reduced costs of consumption for consumers and increased profitability for Lexaria.
Lexaria believes that the same technology used to enhance the absorption of CBD in the recent laboratory tests, is applicable to THC, nicotine, NSAIDs and other lipophilic compounds that are widely used today.
On November 3, 2015, Lexaria Energy10 protein bars became available for retail sales with 2 new flavors. The Company sells Cashew Berry Date vegan bar which is optimal for pre-workout or morning use, with 10 grams of protein and a combination of
dates, cherries and blueberries for energy from natural sugar sources. The 70-gram bar delivers energy for a workout or for the day to come. The Chocolate Berry Date bar is optimal for post-workout and for afternoon or evening use, or anytime one
has the munchies. This 82-gram bar has 21 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber to provide one’s body with comfort and cleansing after strenuous activity.
During January 2015, Lexaria conducted a study of nitric oxide levels in humans, as a biomarker for absorption of cannabidiol, with the expectation that it would provide additional evidence of the efficient absorption of cannabidiol from Lexaria
food products enhanced with hemp oil, by demonstrating the elevation of nitric oxide in the human body in response to product ingestion.
The study data from human subjects demonstrated significant elevation of systemic nitric oxide levels as a surrogate biomarker for cannabidiol (CBD) bioabsorption in response to ingestion of Lexaria's products. This provided clinical support for
the CBD bioavailability enhancing properties of Lexaria's patented technology, on the premise that bioavailable CBD is known to elevate levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide in the human body which, in turn, stimulates release of nitric oxide in
the vascular system.
In summary, consuming Lexaria and ViPova™ food products resulted in elevated levels of nitric oxide within the body. The results of the study indicated that all Lexaria and ViPova™ food products elicited significant increases in salivary
nitric oxide, achieving levels from 110 µM to as high as 220 µM in the test subjects. The beverage products generally had faster initial responses in as little as 15 minutes after product ingestion, whereas the initial responses from the
protein-energy bars required 30 minutes. The faster response time with the beverage products was to be expected, given the relative ease of digesting liquids versus solids. All products sustained their maximum levels of nitric oxide detection
through to the 60-minute end-points used in the study, indicating a need for additional study to determine the length of time that nitric oxide levels remain elevated following production consumption.
The study assessed six flavors of ViPova™ tea (Yunan Black, Herbal Cherry Black, Earl Grey, Herbal Bengal Chai, Herbal Masala Chai and Decaf English Breakfast), ViPova™ Columbian Supremo Coffee, ViPova™ Hot Chocolate and Lexaria
Energy Foods’ Chocolate Berry Date and Cashew Berry Date protein-energy bars.
Six healthy human subjects (3 male and 3 female) between the ages of 22 and 65 years of age were recruited for the study. Subjects were screened for cardiovascular and allergic response to hemp products, were non-smokers and did not have any history
of substance or alcohol abuse. One product was studied per day across all six subjects, with each subject consuming a full product serving size. Subjects were required to refrain from eating food or using vape products for at least 12 hours before
test article administration on each day of the study. Nitric oxide levels in the test subjects were assessed using a commercially available, colorimetric test kit designed to quantify systemic nitric oxide via a detectable salivary marker.
Immediately before test article administration each day, all subjects were required to demonstrate a negative baseline nitric oxide saliva test. Subjects were considered to have a negative test strip reading at a level of 20 µM according to
the test strip scale, and positive readings anywhere above this. Subjects performed salivary nitric oxide testing at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes’ post-consumption of each product. All subjects remained sedentary from baseline through to the
completion of testing for each product.
On January 28, 2016, Lexaria signed a distribution agreement with Telluride Coffee Roasters, LLC. That agreement has since expired.
On May 14, 2016, the Company entered into a Licensing Agreement allowing the Licensee, for a two-year period, to utilize the Company’s technology to create, test, manufacture, and sell marijuana-infused consumable and/or topical products, in
the state of Colorado, with an option of extending the terms of the Licensing Agreement to Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition to the granting of the license, the Company will provide support services to the Licensee in connection with
the use of the Company’s technology during the term of the Licensing Agreement. The Licensing Agreement is the first contracted, predictable, and significant revenue stream to be achieved as a direct result of Lexaria’s technological
advantage in the marketplace. Under the terms of the Licensing Agreement, the Licensee will pay a minimum of $122,000 in pre-defined staged payments to Lexaria over the initial two-year term. As per the Licensing Agreement, if the Licensee were
to introduce certain product lines utilizing Lexaria’s technology in each of the four states contemplated, Lexaria could expect to receive a maximum of $1,064,000 over approximately 3.5 years, and the Licensee would enjoy semi-exclusivity
to introduce its products in each of those states. This licensee is currently contributing to Lexaria’s revenues as expected.
Lexaria has since entered into further letters of intent for out-licensing its technology and has also collaborated with other parties for production of other products such as edible tablets and to conduct research to investigate technical aspects
associated with bioavailability enhancement of lipophilic active ingredient compositions.
The Company does not know and cannot know whether these strategies will be successful, or if successful, how long it will take to gain consumer acceptance and customer loyalty. It can be a challenge to be successful by introducing new consumer
products to a competitive retail marketplace, and we can offer no assurances that our products will be a commercial success.
The continuation of our business interests in these sectors is dependent upon obtaining further financing, a successful programs of development, and, ultimately, achieving a profitable level of operations. The issuance of additional equity
securities by us could result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of our current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will increase our liabilities and future cash commitments.
There are no assurances that we will be able to obtain further funds required for our continued operations. As noted herein, we are pursuing various financing alternatives to meet our immediate and long-term financial requirements. There can be no
assurance that additional financing will be available to us when needed or, if available, that it can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. If we are not able to obtain the additional financing on a timely basis, we will be unable to conduct
our operations as planned, and we will not be able to meet our other obligations as they become due. In such event, we will be forced to scale down or perhaps even cease our operations. There is significant uncertainty as to whether we can obtain
additional financing.
Our business plan does not anticipate that we will hire a large number of employees or that we will require extensive office space. We expect to be able to utilize contracted third parties for most of our production and distribution needs, instead
focusing on our capital on higher value added aspects of the business such as research and development, and scientific testing. We have no current plans to build our own production facility.
Our company relies on the business experience of our existing management, on the technical abilities of consulting experts, and on the technical and operational abilities of its operating partner companies to evaluate business opportunities.
Competition
The legal marijuana industry is comprised of several sub-sectors, and is legal under different guidelines in many states though it remains illegal under most federal laws. Notwithstanding, the overall sector is generally recognized to be one of the
fastest growing in the USA, with state-legal revenue of over $4 billion in 2015. Independent projections and publicized reports expect revenue of $20 billion or more in 2020, both as the sector gains in credibility and acceptance, and as
more and more states legalize either medical use or adult recreational use; or both. In any fast growing industry, competition is expected to be both strong and also difficult to evaluate as to the most effective competitive threats. While we are an
early adopter within the cannabinoid delivery sector, there are already reports of more than 300 public companies that have claimed to be involved in the sector in some fashion; and an unknown number of private companies. Our current strategies may
prove to be ineffective as the sector grows and matures, and if so, we will have to adapt quickly to changing sectoral circumstances.
Competition in alternative health sectors and in consumer products in the USA is fierce. We expect to encounter competitive threats from existing participants in the sector and new entrants. Although PoViva Tea LLC has filed patent applications to
protect intellectual property, there is no assurance that patents will be granted nor that other firms may not file superior patents pending. Food supplements, organic foods, and health food markets are all well established and our Company will face
many challenges trying to enter these markets.
Competition within the federally legal market for medical marijuana in Canada is intense, with many licensed producers regulated by the Federal Government of Canada. Many of these companies are well capitalized and capable of developing competing
technologies. There is no way to predict the outcome of natural competition and how it may affect our Company in Canada.
Compliance with Government Regulation
More than 24 States in the USA have passed some form of legislation related to that state’s permission to grow, cultivate, sell or use marijuana either for medical purposes or for recreational or “adult use” purposes; or both. The
various state legislation is not necessarily harmonious with one another, leading to potential conflicts between state laws. It is most often not legal to transport cannabis-related products across state lines.
Lexaria does not “touch the plant” in any location within or outside of the USA. We comply with federal law that provides for certain exemptions for agricultural (industrial) hemp and certain byproducts to be manufactured and sold in the
US. Our technology may have applications within the legal marijuana sector and we may seek to license that technology to companies that have met and comply with state regulations for the sale or distribution of cannabis related products in any
particular jurisdiction.
Lexaria’s patented technology may also have application in completely separate sectors such as vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and nicotine. We have no products nor operations in any of these sectors today. If we enter any of
these sectors at any time, we will be exposed to and of necessity will have to comply with, all local, state and federal regulations in each of those sectors. As a result of the possibility of Lexaria being involved in a number of disparate business
sectors, compliance with government regulations could require significant resources and expertise from our company.
Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions
We do not intend to purchase any significant equipment over the twelve months other than office computers, furnishings, and communication equipment as required, although that strategy could change if food manufacturing considerations demand it.
Corporate Offices
The address of our principal executive office is 156 Valleyview Rd., Kelowna, BC, Canada, V1X 3M4. We have 1,500 square feet of office space, which includes four executive offices for a monthly rate of CAD$826. Our current locations provide
adequate office space for our purposes at this stage of our development. Additional space may be required if/as the Company decides it requires additional personnel.
Employees
We primarily use sub-contractors and consultants in the intellectual property development and licensing, and alternative health product sectors. We primarily engage with consultants to serve our executive needs.
The Company has an agreement with CAB for a consulting fee of $12,000 per month. The term of the agreement is two years but can be terminated by either party by providing two months notice. The Company may pay Mr. Bunka a bonus from time to
time, at its sole discretion. Mr. Bunka will be entitled to receive common stock-based and stock option based bonuses upon achieving certain milestones during the time of his consultancy with the Company. These milestones are:
-
During the first 12 months after the date of the agreement with CAB, upon the Company achieving non- refundable revenues of $200,000 to any single customer in any consecutive 60-day period, CAB would be entitled to an award of 100,000 restricted
common shares of the Company and after the first 12-month period, expiring after 24 months of the amended agreement, upon the Company achieving non-refundable revenues of $200,000 to any single customer in any consecutive 60-day period, CAB
would be entitled to an award of 50,000 restricted common shares of the Company. These awards are limited to one payment per customer during the 24-month period but payable for each customer that meets the revenue thresholds.
-
During the first 12 months after the agreement, the Company achieving non-refundable revenues of $500,000 in any fiscal quarter would result in an award to CAB of 200,000 common shares of the Company and after the first 12 months, expiring 24
months after the amended agreement, the Company achieving non-refundable revenues of $500,000 in any fiscal quarter would result in an award to CAB of 100,000 common shares of the Company. These awards are limited to one payment per fiscal
quarter.
-
During the term of the agreement, for each provisional patent application substantively devised by CAB and successfully created, written and filed with the US Patent Office for the Company’s Technology, CAB will be entitled to an award of
250,000 restricted common shares of the Company.
On September 1, 2014, the Company entered into a contract with M&E Services Ltd., wholly owned company by Allan Spissinger as Controller for CAD$2,500 a month plus GST. This contract was amended on December 1, 2014 to CAD$3,400 a month plus
GST. Additional work performed is billed on an hourly basis.
The Company appointed Mr. John Docherty as President of Lexaria effective April 15, 2015 and has an agreement with Docherty Management Limited, solely owned by Mr. John Docherty with monthly compensation of CAD$15,000, plus additional milestone
payments as follows.
-
During the first twelve months after signing; for combined Lexaria Energy and ViPova products and including all combined sales efforts and/or technology licensing revenues, achieving non-refundable revenues of $200,000 to any single customer in
any consecutive 60-day period would result in a restricted common share award of 100,000 Company shares; and, after the first twelve months after signing and expiring twentyfour months after signing; for combined Lexaria Energy and ViPova products
and including all sales efforts, achieving non-refundable revenues of $200,000 to any single customer in any consecutive 60-day period would result in a restricted common share award of 50,000 Company shares; this clause limited to one payment
per customer during the 24-month period, but payable on each customer that meets these sales/licensing
-
During the first twelve months after signing; for combined Lexaria Energy and ViPova products and including all combined sales efforts and/or technology licensing revenues, achieving non-refundable revenues of $500,000 in any fiscal quarter
would result in a restricted common share award of 200,000 Company shares; and, after the first twelve months after signing and expiring twenty-four months after signing; for combined Lexaria Energy and ViPova products and including all sales
efforts, achieving nonrefundable revenues of $500,000 in any fiscal quarter would result in a restricted common share award of 100,000 Company shares; this clause limited to one payment per fiscal quarter;
-
During the time this Agreement remains in effect, for each new provisional patent application substantially devised by Consultant and successfully created, written and filed with the US Patent Office for Company- owned intellectual property, a
restricted common share award of 250,000 Company shares, this clause not limited to frequency of payment but each patent application to be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, in advance;
We do not expect any material changes in the number of employees over the next 12-month period. We do and will continue to outsource contract employment as needed. However, with widespread consumer acceptance of our new products that requires more
significant operations, we may retain additional employees.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital
expenditures or capital resources that are material to stockholders.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles used in the United States. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management's application of accounting policies. We believe that understanding the basis and nature of the estimates and
assumptions involved with the following aspects of our financial statements is critical to an understanding of our financials.
Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with FASB ASC 360 Section S45, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", the carrying value of intangible assets and other long-lived assets is reviewed on a regular basis for the existence of facts or
circumstances that may suggest impairment. We recognize impairment when the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Impairment losses, if any, are measured as the excess of the carrying
amount of the asset over its estimated fair value.
Revenue Recognition
Product revenue
ViPova™ product and Lexaria Energy product revenues are recorded using the sales method whereby our Company recognizes product sales based on the amount of products sold to purchasers. Cost of goods sold is recognized in the same period in
which the revenue is earned.
Licensing revenue
Pursuant to the license agreements for the Company’s patented technology, the licensee acquired territorial licenses for an upfront fee. The Company is also required to provide support services in connection with the licensees use of the
technology over the term of the license. As the support services will not be sold on a stand-alone basis, the Company is unable to establish vendor-specific objective evidence of their fair value to be able to allocate the proceeds objectively to
such services and the license. Accordingly, the up-front fee is being recognized ratably over the term of the first license granted, which is initially for two years.
Convertible Debenture
The Company entered into a convertible debenture agreement on March 8, 2016 and evaluated the terms of the various conversion options to assess if separate accounting is required for such embedded features, which are adjusted to fair value through
earnings at each reporting period. The Company determined that the embedded features within the debenture do not meet the net settlement provision characteristic of a derivative and as a result, did not apply the bifurcation requirements for such
conversion options.
Going Concern
We have suffered recurring losses from operations. The continuation of our Company as a going concern is dependent upon our Company attaining and maintaining profitable operations and/or raising additional capital. The financial statements do not
include any adjustment relating to the recovery and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should our Company discontinue operations.
The continuation of our business is dependent upon us raising additional financial support and/or attaining and maintaining profitable levels of internally generated revenue. The issuance of additional equity securities by us could result in a
significant dilution in the equity interests of our current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will increase our liabilities and future cash commitments.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued a new standard related to the revenue recognition. Under the new standard, recognition of revenue occurs when a customer obtains control of promised goods or
services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows
arising from contracts with customers. The FASB has recently issued several amendments to the standards, including clarification on the accounting for licenses of intellectual property and identifying performance obligations.
The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial
application (the cumulative catch-up transition method). The Company will apply the full retrospective approach to adopt the standard but does not anticipate that this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. The new guidance requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability
to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. An entity must provide certain disclosures if conditions or events raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The guidance
is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, the Company does not believe this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated results of
operations or financial position.
In July 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 requires that an entity measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. This ASU does not apply to inventory
measured using last-in, first-out methodology. ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company does not expect the new standard to have a
significant impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 requires companies to classify all deferred tax assets or liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet rather
than separately disclosing deferred taxes as current and noncurrent. This standard is effective for the Company beginning on September 1, 2017 and can be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented upon adoption. The
standard is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In January 2016, FASB issued a new standard to amend certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. Most prominent among the amendments is the requirement for changes in fair value of equity
investments, with certain exceptions, to be recognized through profit or loss rather than other comprehensive income. The new standard will be effective for the Company beginning September 1, 2018. The standard is not expected to have any impact on
the Company’s financial statements.
In February 2016 FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which supersedes FASB ASC Topic 840, Leases (Topic 840) and provides principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leases for both lessees and the
lessors. The new standard requires the lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. The classification
will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all
leases with a term of greater than twelve months regardless of classification. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The standard is effective for annual and interim
periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted upon issuance. When adopted, the Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Under ASU 2016-09, companies will no longer record excess tax benefits and certain tax deficiencies in
additional paid in capital (“APIC”). Instead, they will record all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the APIC pools will be eliminated. In addition, ASU 2016-09
eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before companies can recognize them. ASU 2016-09 also requires companies to present excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a
financing activity. Furthermore, ASU 2016-09 will increase the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes on awards and still qualify for the exception to liability classification for shares used to satisfy the employer’s statutory
income tax withholding obligation. An employer with a statutory income tax withholding obligation will now be allowed to withhold shares with the fair value up to the amount of taxes owed using the maximum statutory rate in
the employees applicable jurisdiction(s). ASU 2016-09 requires a company to
classify the cash paid to a tax authority when shares are withheld to satisfy
its statutory income tax withholding obligation as a financing activity on the
statement of cash flows. Under current U.S. GAAP, it is not specified how these
cash flows should be classified. In addition, companies will now have to elect
whether to account for forfeitures on share-based payments by (1) recognizing
forfeiture awards as they occur or (2) estimating the number of awards expected
to be forfeited and adjusting the estimate when it is likely to change, as in
currently required. The amendments of this ASU are effective for reporting
periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted but all
of the guidance must be adopted in the same period. The Company does not grant
non-statutory stock options and, as such, does not expect this guidance to have
a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to replace the
incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology
that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broarder
range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates.
For trade and other receivables, loans and other financial instruments, the
Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected loss model rather
than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses which reflects losses
that are probable. Credit losses relating to available for sale debt securities
will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a
reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. The new standard will
be effective for Lexaria beginning September 1, 2020, with early adoption
permitted. Application of the amendments is through a cumulative-effect
adjustment to deficit as of the effective date. The Company is currently
assessing the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.
Results of Operations Six Months Ended February 28, 2017
and 2016
The following summary of our results of operations should be
read in conjunction with our financial statements for the period ended February
28, 2017, which are included herein.
Our operating results for the six months ended February 28,
2017 and 2016 and the changes between those periods for the respective items are
summarized as follows:
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Between the
|
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
Periods
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
Sales
|
|
21,827
|
|
|
25,941
|
|
|
(4,114
|
)
|
Cost of Goods Sold
|
|
(15,760
|
)
|
|
(33,620
|
)
|
|
17,860
|
|
General and Administrative
|
|
(867,677
|
)
|
|
(644,377
|
)
|
|
(223,300
|
)
|
Impairment of Inventory
|
|
(3,925
|
)
|
|
(34,246
|
)
|
|
30,321
|
|
Net loss
|
|
(865,535
|
)
|
|
(686,302
|
)
|
|
(179,233
|
)
|
Our financial statements report a net loss of $865,535 for the
six month period ended February 28, 2017 compared to 2016 where we incurred a
net loss of $686,302. During the six month period ended February 28, 2017, our
general and administrative expenses were significantly higher compared to the
six months ended February 29, 2016, however the increase primarily is a result
of the third party costs primarily settled via issuance of common shares and
warrants of the Company. A total value of $280,288 worth of common shares and
warrants were issued for services received during the six months ended February
28, 2017. As evident by this, the Company continued to focus on the conservation
of its cash resources. We directed our efforts on value creating activities,
such as applying for international extensions for its patents and trademark,
investor relations programs, and consulting to further intellectual property
agreements.
Revenues remain low in a reflection of the unique challenges in
operating in a constantly changing regulatory environment with consumer products
and technology that are new to most consumers. The Company continues to pursue
more widespread distribution possibilities which have the potential to unlock
more significant consumer revenues. Meanwhile the Company continues to record
growing pro-rata amounts of technology licensing revenues.
Readers are cautioned that the Company is still at an early
stage of its development and the revenue of $21,827 represents the start-up of
our entry into a new business sector. The Company is building product sales
channels in internet-based locations, and also through the formation and
launching of a direct sales model. Continued efforts are also progressing to
increase exposure of the ViPova brand and of the Lexaria Energy brand. All of
our product sales at this early stage are likely to be non-representative. Our
consumer product sales only accounted for a small portion of our total revenue
during the six months ended February 28, 2017 compared to 100% of our revenue
during the same period in 2016. This is due to our focus on generating revenues
through other avenues such as the licensing of the Companys patented technology
as well as our focus on developing additional products.
Our revenue from technology licensing to third parties amounted
to $18,431 (2016 - $nil) during the six months ended February 28, 2017,
representing more than 84% (2016 0%) of our total revenues. We expect this
trend to continue in the future. At the time of this report, the Company has one
definitive license agreement and has also entered into additional letters of
intent for similar agreeements. The Company also has several sets of
negotiations ongoing for additional technology licensing agreements and has also
entered into an Memorandum of Understanding to form a joint venture to develop,
produce, and sell a line of healthy edible cannabinoid products using our
patented technology. Due to the service provisions in our licensing agreements,
the Company recognizes it Territorial License fee revenues ratably over the
course of these agreements. During the six months ended February 28, 2017, the
Company earned $20,000 from its Territorial License fees and $6,000 from its
Usage Fees, of which a total of $18,431 was recognized in its consolidated
financial statements. The revenue recognized in the Companys statement of
operations is therefore not reflective of its cash revenues. Since the inception
of the Companys licensing agreement entered into during the third quarter of
its fiscal 2016, the Company has earned $40,000 of revenue from this sole
agreement, of which, $19,931 has been recognized in its financial statements on
a cumulative basis.
The Companys early-stage revenue figures are not expected to
be representative of longer term trends, and any single commercial order or
technology licensing arrangement could be disruptive to longer term averages. As
the Company does not incur additional costs of sales in conjunction with its
licensing agreements, it expects its gross margin to improve once this sector of
its business reaches a more mature stage.
Results of Operations Three Months Ended February 28, 2017
and February 29, 2016
The following summary of our results of operations should be
read in conjunction with our financial statements for the period ended February
28, 2017, which are included herein.
Our operating results for the three months ended February 28,
2017 and February 29, 2016 and the changes between those periods for the
respective items are summarized as follows:
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Between the
|
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
Periods
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
Sales
|
|
12,602
|
|
|
15,154
|
|
|
(2,552
|
)
|
Cost of Goods Sold
|
|
(14,872
|
)
|
|
(19,237
|
)
|
|
4,365
|
|
General and Administrative
|
|
(462,211
|
)
|
|
(247,692
|
)
|
|
(214,519
|
)
|
Impairment of Inventory
|
|
(501
|
)
|
|
(22,782
|
)
|
|
22,281
|
|
Net loss
|
|
(464,982
|
)
|
|
(274,557
|
)
|
|
(190,425
|
)
|
As described above, the significant increase in our general and
administrative expenses pertains to non-cash compensation for our consultants.
During the three months ended February 28, 2017, the Company issued common
shares and warrants in exchange for services of $128,725. The remaining increase
in our costs is attributable to value creating activities such as applying for
international extensions for patents and trademark, investor relations programs,
and consulting to further intellectual property agreements.
During the three months ended February 28, 2017, the Company
continued its focus on entering into additional agreements for out-licensing its
technology. As described above, as a result of the service provisions in our
licensing agreements, the Company only ratably recognizes its revenue earned
into its consolidated financial statements. Of the total potential revenue of
$10,000 based on the quarterly receipts from its licensee, the Company
recognized $6,181 as revenue. The Company entered into its first technology
licensing agreement during the third quarter of its fiscal 2016. During the
three months ended February 29, 2016, the Companys primary source of revenue
was from its Lexaria Energy and ViPova brand products. As noted above, we
expect our future revenues to be primarily from our out-licensing agreements,
however, we are also expanding our product mix to include pterostilbene edible
tablets to further enhance our revenues from selling hemp oil infused consumer
products.
Liquidity and Financial Condition
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
August 31
|
|
Working Capital
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
Current assets
|
|
803,692
|
|
|
510,166
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
333,547
|
|
|
433,881
|
|
Working capital balance (deficiency)
|
|
470,145
|
|
|
76,285
|
|
The Companys working capital balance increased during the six
months ended February 28, 2017, as a result of its financing activities during
the period, including the provision of early warrant exercise incentives, which
resulted in the Company raising in excess of $737,000. Other incentive option
and warrant exercises in the period raised an additional $216,000.
Comparatively, the Company raised approximately $419,000 during fiscal 2016.
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
Cash flows
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
$
|
|
Cash flows used in operating activities
|
|
(589,072
|
)
|
|
(291,776
|
)
|
Cash flows used in investing activities
|
|
(9,699
|
)
|
|
(15,055
|
)
|
Cash flows provided by financing activities
|
|
1,028,995
|
|
|
86,980
|
|
Increase
(decrease) in cash
|
|
430,224
|
|
|
(219,851
|
)
|
Operating Activities
The increase in the net cash used in operating activities
during the six months ended February 28, 2017 is primarily the result of the
Companys relative cash position during the respective periods. Even though the
Companys cash expenditures remained relatively consistent during the two
periods, Lexaria built a significant payable balance during the six months ended
Febraury 29, 2016, whereas during the six months ended February 28, 2017, the
Company settled its liabilities as incurred.
Investing Activities
During the six months ended February 28, 2017, the Company
continued its investment in expanding its patent applications. During the same
period in 2016, the Company also acquired certain office equipment.
Financing Activities
The Company raised a total of $953,495 from equity issuances from exercise of its outstanding stock options and warrants, as noted above. In addition, $93,500 was collected from certain common shares subscribed during fiscal 2016. The
Company also made contractual payments of $18,000 on the principal amount of the loan from its chief executive officer. During the six months ended February 29, 2016, the Company raised $86,980 from private placements.