Province of British Columbia, Canada
(Principal jurisdiction regulating this offering (if applicable))
It is proposed that this filing shall become effective (check appropriate box)
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☐
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upon filing with the Commission, pursuant to Rule 467(a) (if in connection with an offering being made contemporaneously in the United States and Canada).
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B.
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at some future date (check the appropriate box below):
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1.
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pursuant to Rule 467(b) on (date) at (time) (designate a time not sooner than 7 calendar days after filing).
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2.
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pursuant to Rule 467(b) on (date) at (time) (designate a time 7 calendar days or sooner after filing) because the securities regulatory authority in the review jurisdiction has issued a receipt or notification of clearance on (date).
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3.
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pursuant to Rule 467(b) as soon as practicable after notification of the Commission by the Registrant or the Canadian securities regulatory authority of the review jurisdiction that a receipt or notification of clearance has been issued with respect hereto.
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4.
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after the filing of the next amendment to this Form (if preliminary material is being filed).
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If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to the home jurisdiction's shelf prospectus offering procedures, check the following box. ☒
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class
of Securities to
be Registered(1)
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Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)(2) (3)
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Amount of
Registration Fee
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Common Shares
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$200,000,000
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$21,820.00
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Preferred Shares
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Warrants
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Subscription Receipts
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Units
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Debt Securities
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Share Purchase Contracts
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Total
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$200,000,000
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$21,820.00
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(1)
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There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of common shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units, debt securities and share purchase contracts of the Registrant, as may be sold from time to time by the Registrant. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. There are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of common shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units, debt securities and share purchase contracts as shall be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities that provide for such issuance. The Registrant may offer and sell any of such securities or any combination of such securities in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $200,000,000.
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(2)
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In U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof in Canadian dollars or one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies based on the exchange rate at the time of sale.
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(3)
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Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.
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The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registration statement shall become effective as provided in Rule 467 under the Securities Act of 1933 or on such date as Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Act, may determine.
PART 1
INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED TO OFFEREES OR PURCHASERS
A copy of this preliminary short form base shelf prospectus has been filed with the securities regulatory authorities in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario but has not yet become final for the purpose of the sale of securities. Information contained in this preliminary short form base shelf prospectus may not be complete and may have to be amended. The securities may not be sold until a receipt for the short form base shelf prospectus is obtained from the securities regulatory authorities.
This short form prospectus is a base shelf prospectus. This short form prospectus has been filed under legislation in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario that permits certain information about these securities to be determined after this prospectus has become final and that permits the omission from this prospectus of that information. The legislation requires the delivery to purchasers of a prospectus supplement containing the omitted information within a specified period of time after agreeing to purchase any of these securities, except in cases where an exemption from such delivery requirement is available.
No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about these securities and it is an offence to claim otherwise. This short form base shelf prospectus constitutes a public offering of these securities only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and therein only by persons permitted to sell such securities.
Information has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request without charge from the Secretary of GreenPower Motor Company Inc., #240 - 209 Carrall Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2J2, Canada (telephone number (604) 563-4144) and are also available electronically at www.sedar.com.
PRELIMINARY SHORT FORM BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS
GREENPOWER MOTOR COMPANY INC.
US$200,000,000
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Warrants
Subscription Receipts
Units
Debt Securities
Share Purchase Contracts
This short form base shelf prospectus relates to the offering for sale from time to time, during the 25-month period that this prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective, of the securities of GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (the "Company", "GreenPower", "we", "our" or "us") listed above in one or more series or issuances, with a total offering price of such securities, in the aggregate, of up to US$200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in Canadian dollars or one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies). The securities may be offered separately or together, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined based on market conditions at the time of the sale and set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
In addition, the securities may be offered and issued in consideration for the acquisition of other businesses, assets or securities by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. The consideration for any such acquisition may consist of any of the securities separately, a combination of securities or any combination of, among other things, securities, cash and the assumption of liabilities.
The common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") are listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") under the symbol "GPV" and listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the "Nasdaq") under the symbol "GP". On July 21, 2021, being the last complete trading day prior to the date hereof, the closing prices of the Common Shares on the TSXV and the Nasdaq were C$22.36 per share and US$17.98 per share, respectively. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units, debt securities and share purchase contracts will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system. There is currently no market through which our securities, other than our Common Shares, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell such securities purchased under this short form prospectus. This may affect the pricing of our securities, other than our Common Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of our securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See "Risk Factors".
Acquiring our securities may subject you to tax consequences in Canada. This prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any applicable prospectus supplement with respect to any particular offering and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.
No underwriter has been involved in the preparation of this prospectus or performed any review of the contents of this prospectus.
This prospectus constitutes a public offering of the securities only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and only by persons permitted to sell the securities in such jurisdiction. All applicable information permitted under securities legislation to be omitted from this prospectus that has been so omitted will be contained in one or more prospectus supplements that will be delivered to purchasers together with this prospectus, except in cases where an exemption from such delivery requirement is available. Each prospectus supplement will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus for the purposes of securities legislation as of the date of the prospectus supplement and only for the purposes of the distribution of the securities to which the prospectus supplement pertains. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any securities issued pursuant to this prospectus. Our securities may be sold pursuant to this prospectus through underwriters or dealers or directly or through agents designated from time to time at amounts and prices and other terms determined by us. This prospectus may qualify an "at-the market distribution" as defined in National Instrument 44-102 - Shelf Distributions (an "ATM Distribution").
In connection with any underwritten offering of securities, excluding an ATM Distribution, the underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities offered. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. No underwriter or dealer involved in an ATM Distribution undertaken pursuant to any prospectus supplement, no affiliate of such an underwriter or dealer and no person or company acting jointly or in concert with such an underwriter or dealer will over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities offered. See "Plan of Distribution".
A prospectus supplement will set out the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities, the amounts, if any, to be purchased by underwriters, the plan of distribution for such securities, including the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of such securities, if any, the amounts and prices at which such securities are sold and the compensation of such underwriters, dealers or agents.
Investment in the securities being offered is highly speculative and involves significant risks that you should consider before purchasing such securities. You should carefully review the risks outlined in this prospectus (including any prospectus supplement) and in the documents incorporated by reference as well as the information under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and consider such risks and information in connection with an investment in the securities. See "Risk Factors".
The specific terms of the securities with respect to a particular offering will be set out in one or more prospectus supplements and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Common Shares, the number of Common Shares offered, the offering price and any other specific terms; (ii) in the case of preferred shares, the designation of the particular series, the number of shares offered, the offering price, the currency, dividend rate, if any, and any other terms specific to the preferred shares being offered; (iii) in the case of warrants, the offering price, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares, preferred shares or debt securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of these numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, the currency in which the warrants are issued and any other specific terms; (iv) in the case of subscription receipts, the number of subscription receipts being offered, the offering price, the procedures for the exchange of the subscription receipts for Common Shares, preferred shares, debt securities or warrants, as the case may be, and any other specific terms; (v) in the case of debt securities, the specific designation, the aggregate principal amount, the currency or the currency unit for the debt securities being offered, the maturity, the interest provisions, the authorized denominations, the offering price, the covenants, the events of default, any terms for redemption or retraction, any exchange or conversion terms, whether the debt securities are secured, affiliate-guaranteed, senior or subordinated and any other terms specific to the debt securities being offered; (vi) in the case of units, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts, share purchase contracts or debt securities comprising the units; and (vii) in the case of share purchase contracts, whether the share purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell or both purchase and sell Common Shares, whether the share purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not or paid in instalments, any conditions upon which the purchase or sale will be contingent and the consequences if such conditions are not satisfied, whether the share purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, any provisions relating to the settlement of the share purchase contracts, the date or dates on which the sale or purchase must be made, whether the share purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form and the material income tax consequences of owning, holding and disposing of the share purchase contracts. Where required by statute, regulation or policy, and where securities are offered in currencies other than Canadian dollars, appropriate disclosure of foreign exchange rates applicable to the securities will be included in the prospectus supplement describing the securities.
Brendan Riley, our President and director, resides outside of Canada. Mr. Riley has appointed the Company, at #240 - 209 Carrall Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2J2, Canada as agent for service of process in Canada. Purchasers are advised that it may not be possible for investors to enforce judgements obtained in Canada against any person that resides outside of Canada, even if the party has appointed an agent for service of process.
Our head office is located at #240 - 209 Carrall Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2J2, Canada. Our registered and records office is located at 800 - 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3H1, Canada.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
Unless we otherwise indicate or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to:
• the terms "we", "us", "our", the "Company" and "GreenPower" refer to GreenPower Motor Company Inc. together, where context requires, with its subsidiaries;
• the term "securities" means the common shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription receipts, units, debt securities and share purchase contracts described in this prospectus; and
• all reference to "dollars", "$", "USD" or "US$" are to U.S. dollars and all reference to "CDN$" or "C$" are to Canadian dollars.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and on the other information included in the registration statement of which this prospectus will form a part. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell or seeking an offer to buy the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of such document and that information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of that document, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or of any sale of our securities pursuant thereto. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Information contained on our website shall not be deemed to be a part of this prospectus (including any applicable prospectus supplement) or incorporated by reference herein and should not be relied upon by prospective investors for the purpose of determining whether to invest in the securities.
Market data and certain industry forecasts used in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, were obtained from market research, publicly available information and industry publications. We believe that these sources are generally reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed. We have not independently verified such information, and we do not make any representation as to the accuracy of such information.
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include certain terms or performance measures that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), such as Total Cash expenses ("Total Cash Expenses") and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"). The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These non- IFRS measures should be read in conjunction with the financial statements. For a description of the methodology used to calculate these non-IFRS measures, see the definition of "Non-IFRS Measures" in the Company's latest management's discussion and analysis incorporated by reference herein.
CURRENCY PRESENTATION AND EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
Unless otherwise noted herein and in the documents incorporated by reference, all dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars.
The following tables set forth, the annual average exchange rates for the years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, and the monthly average exchange rates for each month during the previous twelve months, as supplied by the Bank of Canada. These exchange rates are expressed as one United States dollar converted into Canadian dollars.
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Year Ended
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Average
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March 31, 2021
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1.3219
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March 31, 2020
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1.3308
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Month Ended
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Average
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June 30, 2021
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1.2219
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May 31, 2021
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1.2126
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April 30, 2021
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1.2496
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March 31, 2021
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1.2574
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February 28, 2021
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1.2699
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January 31, 2021
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1.2724
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December 31, 2020
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1.2808
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November 30, 2020
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1.3068
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October 31, 2020
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1.3215
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September 30, 2020
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1.3228
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August 31, 2020
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1.3222
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July 31, 2020
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1.3499
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference herein) contains certain information that may constitute forward‐looking information and forward‐looking statements as such terms are defined under applicable securities laws (collectively, the "Forward‐Looking Statements") which are based on management's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-Looking Statements can be identified by the use of forward‐looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof. The Forward-Looking Statements may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance and other statements that are not statements of fact. The Forward‐Looking Statements are made only as of the date of this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein, as applicable. The Forward‐Looking Statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:
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the intentions, plans and future actions of the Company;
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statements relating to the business and future activities of the Company;
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anticipated developments in operations of the Company;
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market position, ability to compete and future financial or operating performance of the Company;
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the timing and amount of funding required to execute the Company's business plans;
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capital expenditures;
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the effect on the Company of any changes to existing or new legislation or policy or government regulation;
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the availability of labour;
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requirements for additional capital;
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goals, strategies and future growth;
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the adequacy of financial resources;
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expectations regarding revenues, expenses and anticipated cash needs; and
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the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business and operations of the Company.
The actual results, performance or achievements of the Company could differ materially from those anticipated in the Forward-Looking Statements as a result of the risk factors set forth below and under the heading "Risk Factors", including, but not limited to, risks related to: (i) the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations and obtain financing, if needed, on acceptable terms or at all; (ii) general economic, financial market and regulatory conditions in which the Company operates; (iii) the yield from the Company's operations; (iv) consumer interest in the Company's products; (v) competition; (vi) anticipated and unanticipated costs; (vii) government regulation of the Company's products and operations; (viii) the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; (ix) the Company's ability to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; (x) the Company's ability to conduct operations in a safe, efficient and effective manner; and (xi) the Company's plans and timeframe for completion of such plans.
Readers are cautioned that these factors are difficult to predict and that the assumptions used in developing the Forward-Looking Statements may prove to be incorrect. Readers are also cautioned that the list of risk factors contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein is not exhaustive. Accordingly, readers are cautioned that the Company's actual results may vary from the Forward-Looking Statements, and the variations may be material.
Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the Forward‐Looking Statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and the Forward‐Looking Statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The purpose of the Forward‐Looking Statements is to provide the reader with a description of management's expectations, and the Forward‐Looking Statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. The reader should not place undue reliance on the Forward‐Looking Statements. The Forward-Looking Statements are made as at the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the Forward‐Looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Information has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request without charge from GreenPower Motor Company Inc., #240 - 209 Carrall Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2J2, Canada, Attention: Secretary, telephone number (604) 563-4144. These documents are also available through SEDAR, which can be accessed at www.sedar.com
We have previously filed the following documents with the various securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in the provinces of Canada, and specifically incorporate them by reference into this prospectus:
1. the annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2021 filed on June 29, 2021;
2. the audited annual financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2021 filed on June 29, 2021, together with the auditor's report thereon and the notes thereto;
3. the management discussion and analysis for the year ended March 31, 2021 filed on June 29, 2021; and
4. the notice of annual general and special meeting of shareholders and information circular dated April 12, 2021 and filed on April 22, 2021.
Any documents of the type referred to above (including material change reports but excluding confidential material change reports) and other disclosure documents of the type required by Item 11.1 of Form 44-101F1 of National Instrument 44-101 - Short Form Prospectus Distributions to be incorporated by reference in a short form prospectus, if filed by us with a securities commission or any similar regulatory authority in Canada after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of any offering under this prospectus, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded, for the purposes of this prospectus, to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or to constitute a part of this prospectus. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. The making of a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purpose that the modified or superseded statement, when made, constituted a misrepresentation, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made.
A prospectus supplement containing the specific terms of an offering of securities will be delivered to the purchasers of such securities together with this prospectus, except in cases where an exemption from such delivery requirement is available, and will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus as of the date of such prospectus supplement, but only for the purpose of the offering of the securities covered by that prospectus supplement.
Any template version of any "marketing materials" (as such term is defined in National Instrument 44-101 - Short Form Prospectus Distributions) filed after the date of a prospectus supplement and before the termination of the distribution of the securities offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement (together with this prospectus) is deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus supplement.
Upon our filing of a new annual information form and the related annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis with applicable securities regulatory authorities during the currency of this prospectus, the previous annual information form, the previous annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis and all interim financial statements, supplemental information, material change reports and information circulars filed prior to the commencement of our financial year in which the new annual information form is filed will be deemed no longer to be incorporated into this prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of our securities under this prospectus. Upon interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying management's discussion and analysis being filed by us with the applicable securities regulatory authorities during the duration of this prospectus, all interim consolidated financial statements and the accompanying management's discussion and analysis filed prior to the new interim consolidated financial statements shall be deemed no longer to be incorporated into this prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of securities under this prospectus.
References to our website in any documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus do not incorporate by reference the information on such website into this prospectus, and we disclaim any such incorporation by reference.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
We design, build and distribute a full suite of high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo van and a cab and chassis. We employ a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose built to be battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key components. This original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") platform allows us to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements.
We are an OEM of Class 4-8 commercial, heavy-duty bus vehicles for products ranging from a 25-foot Min-eBus to a 45-foot double decker bus. We utilize various contract manufacturers in Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China for all of the major components with final assembly in Porterville, California.
We believe our battery-electric commercial vehicles offer fleet operators significant benefits, which include:
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low total cost-of-ownership vs. conventional gas or diesel-powered vehicles;
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lower maintenance costs;
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reduced fuel expenses;
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satisfaction of government mandates to move to zero-emission vehicles; and
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decreased vehicle emissions and reduction in carbon footprint.
We sell and lease our vehicles to customers directly and may sell our vehicles through distributors in certain markets, such as ABC Bus, Inc. in the states of New York and New Jersey. We entered into a three-year dealership contract with Creative Bus Sales ("CBS") in May of 2018 and during the term of this contract CBS sold our products through its 18 physical locations across the United States. Our dealership contract with CBS expired in May 2021 and was not renewed.
CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION
Since March 31, 2021, the date of our financial statements for the most recently completed financial period, there have been no material changes in our consolidated share or debt capital, other than (i) the grant of 173,650 incentive stock options, (ii) 628,571 Common Shares issued pursuant to exercised warrants and (iii) 8,929 Common Shares issued pursuant to exercised incentive stock options.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities pursuant to this prospectus for general corporate and working capital requirements, including to fund ongoing operations, growth initiatives and/or working capital requirements, to repay indebtedness outstanding from time to time (if any), to complete one or more future acquisitions of companies, businesses, technologies, intellectual property and/or other assets or for other corporate purposes, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the securities.
More detailed information regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of securities, including any determinable milestones at the applicable time, will be described in a prospectus supplement. We may also, from time to time, issue securities otherwise than pursuant to a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. All expenses relating to an offering of securities and any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents, as the case may be, will be paid out of the proceeds from the sale of such securities, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Update on Prior Use of Proceeds Disclosure
On August 28, 2020, the Company completed the U.S. initial public offering (the "U.S. IPO") of common shares at $20 per share, raising gross proceeds of $37.7 million before underwriting fees and expenses. The Company intended to use the net proceeds from this offering in the production of all-electric vehicles, including EV Stars, EV Star plus, EV Star cab and chassis, Synapse school buses, and EV 250 thirty-foot low floor transit style buses, as well as for product development and geographic expansion, with the remainder, if any, for working capital.
The following table sets out the original intended uses of the net proceeds from the U.S. IPO and the estimated actual uses of such net proceeds. There have been no variations from the original intended uses of such net proceeds and the Company continues to proceed towards its original intended uses for such net proceeds.
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Original Estimate1
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Actual2
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Difference
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Gross proceeds
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$37,700,000
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$37,700,000
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-
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Underwriting discounts and commissions
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($2,604,000)
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($2,604,000)
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-
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Expenses
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($210,374)
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($463,411)
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($253,037)
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Net proceeds after underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses
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$34,885,626
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$34,632,589
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($253,037)
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Net proceeds used in electric vehicle production
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N/A
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$14,000,000
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N/A
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Net proceeds used in product development and geographic expansion
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N/A
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$500,000
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N/A
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Net proceeds used in working capital
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N/A
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$20,132,589
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N/A
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Notes:
(1) Consists of the U.S. IPO of $37,200,000 and a concurrent private placement of $500,000.
(2) Actual results are as of March 31, 2021.
The Company intends to use the majority of the net proceeds from the U.S. IPO for electric vehicle production, and these expenditures will occur over time.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
Our authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without par value and an unlimited number of preferred shares without par value.
Common Shares
Holders of our common shares are entitled to vote one vote for each share held at all meetings of our shareholders, to receive any dividend declared by our board of directors and, to receive the remaining property of our company upon dissolution. None of our common shares are subject to any call or assessment nor pre-emptive or conversion rights. There are no provisions attached to our common shares for redemption, purchase for cancellation, surrender or sinking or purchase funds.
Preferred Shares
Our preferred shares may include one or more series and, subject to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), the directors of our company may, by resolution, if none of the shares of any particular series are issued, alter articles of our company and authorize the alteration of the notice of articles of our company, as the case may be, to do one or more of the following:
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determine the maximum number of shares of that series that our company is authorized to issue, determine that there is no such maximum number, or alter any such determination;
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create an identifying name for the shares of that series, or alter any such identifying name; and
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attach special rights or restrictions to the shares of that series, or alter any such special rights or restrictions.
The holders of our preferred shares are entitled, on the liquidation or dissolution of our company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or on any other distribution of the assets of our company among shareholders of our company for the purpose of winding up its affairs, to receive, before any distribution is made to the holders of our common shares or any other shares of our company ranking junior to our preferred shares with respect to the repayment of capital on the liquidation or dissolution of our company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or on any other distribution of the assets of our company among shareholders of our company for the purpose of winding up its affairs, the amount paid up with respect to each preferred share held by them, together with the fixed premium (if any) thereon, all accrued and unpaid cumulative dividends (if any and if preferential) thereon, which for such purpose will be calculated as if such dividends were accruing on a day-to-day basis up to the date of such distribution, whether or not earned or declared, and all declared and unpaid non-cumulative dividends (if any and if preferential) thereon. After payment to the holders of our preferred shares of the amounts so payable to them, they will not, as such, be entitled to share in any further distribution of the property or assets of our company, except as specifically provided in the special rights and restrictions attached to any particular series. All assets remaining after payment to the holders of our preferred shares as aforesaid will be distributed rateably among the holders of our common shares.
Except for such rights relating to the election of directors on a default in payment of dividends as may be attached to any series of the preferred shares by the directors, holders of our preferred shares are not entitled, as such, to receive notice of, or to attend or vote at, any general meeting of shareholders of our company
Dividend Policy
There is no dividend restriction; however, we have not declared any dividends since our inception and do not anticipate that we will do so in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the development of our business. Any future payment of dividends or distributions will be determined by our board of directors on the basis of our earnings, financial requirements and other relevant factors.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of debt securities in respect of which a prospectus supplement may be filed. The particular terms and provisions of debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply thereto, will be described in the prospectus supplement filed in respect of such debt securities. Prospective investors should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if it is different from the following information.
Debt securities may be offered separately or in combination with one or more other securities of the Company. The Company may, from time to time, issue debt securities and incur additional indebtedness other than through the issue of debt securities pursuant to this prospectus.
The debt securities will be issued under one or more indentures (each, a "Trust Indenture"), in each case between the Company and a financial institution or trust company organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof and authorized to carry on business as a trustee (each, a "Trustee").
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities and is not intended to be complete. The particular terms and provisions of the debt securities and a description of how the general terms and provisions described below may apply to the debt securities will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description is subject to the detailed provisions of the applicable Trust Indenture. Accordingly, reference should also be made to the applicable Trust Indenture, a copy of which will be filed by the Company with the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in applicable Canadian offering jurisdictions, after it has been entered into, and will be available electronically at www.sedar.com.
General
The applicable Trust Indenture will not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under such Trust Indenture and will not limit the amount of other indebtedness that the Company may incur. The applicable Trust Indenture will provide that the Company may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or any foreign currency. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be unsecured obligations of the Company.
The Company may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of debt securities may be reopened for issuance of additional debt securities of such series. The applicable Trust Indenture will also permit the Company to increase the principal amount of any series of the debt securities previously issued and to issue that increased principal amount.
Any prospectus supplement for debt securities supplementing this prospectus will contain the specific terms and other information with respect to the debt securities being offered thereby, including, but not limited to, the following:
• the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of such debt securities;
• the percentage of principal amount at which the debt securities will be issued;
• whether payment on the debt securities will be senior or subordinated to other liabilities or obligations of the Company;
• whether the payment of the debt securities will be guaranteed by any other person;
• the date or dates, or the methods by which such dates will be determined or extended, on which the Company may issue the debt securities and the date or dates, or the methods by which such dates will be determined or extended, on which the Company will pay the principal and any premium on the debt securities and the portion (if less than the principal amount) of debt securities to be payable upon a declaration of acceleration of maturity;
• whether the debt securities will bear interest, the interest rate (whether fixed or variable) or the method of determining the interest rate, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which the Company will pay interest and the record dates for interest payments, or the methods by which such dates will be determined or extended;
• the place or places the Company will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, and the place or places where debt securities can be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;
• whether and under what circumstances the Company will be required to pay any additional amounts for withholding or deduction for Canadian taxes with respect to the debt securities, and whether and on what terms the Company will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts;
• whether the Company will be obligated to redeem or repurchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking or purchase fund or other provisions, or at the option of a holder, and the terms and conditions of such redemption;
• whether the Company may redeem the debt securities at its option and the terms and conditions of any such redemption;
• the denominations in which the Company will issue any registered and unregistered debt securities;
• the currency or currency units for which debt securities may be purchased and the currency or currency units in which the principal and any interest is payable (in either case, if other than Canadian dollars) or if payments on the debt securities will be made by delivery of Common Shares, preferred shares or other property;
• whether payments on the debt securities will be payable with reference to any index or formula;
• if applicable, the ability of the Company to satisfy all or a portion of any redemption of the debt securities, any payment of any interest on such debt securities or any repayment of the principal owing upon the maturity of such debt securities through the issuance of securities of the Company or of any other entity, and any restriction(s) on the persons to whom such securities may be issued;
• whether the debt securities will be issued as global securities (defined below) and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global securities;
• whether the debt securities will be issued as unregistered securities (with or without coupons), registered securities or both;
• the periods within which and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company may redeem the debt securities prior to maturity and the price or prices of which, and the currency or currency units in which, the debt securities are payable;
• any events of default or covenants applicable to the debt securities;
• any terms under which debt securities may be defeased, whether at or prior to maturity;
• whether the holders of any series of debt securities have special rights if specified events occur;
• any mandatory or optional redemption or sinking fund or analogous provisions;
• the terms, if any, for any conversion or exchange of the debt securities for any other securities;
• rights, if any, on a change of control;
• provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of any rights or terms attaching to the debt securities;
• the Trustee under the Trust Indenture pursuant to which the debt securities are to be issued;
• whether the Company will undertake to list the debt securities of the series on any securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system; and
• any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) including covenants and events of default which apply solely to a particular series of the debt securities being offered which do not apply generally to other debt securities, or any covenants or events of default generally applicable to the debt securities which do not apply to a particular series of the debt securities.
The Company reserves the right to include in a prospectus supplement specific terms pertaining to the debt securities which are not within the options and parameters set forth in this prospectus. In addition, to the extent that any particular terms of the debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, the description of such terms set forth in this prospectus shall be deemed to have been superseded by the description of such differing terms set forth in such prospectus supplement with respect to such debt securities.
Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, no holder of debt securities will have the right to require the Company to repurchase the debt securities and there will be no increase in the interest rate if the Company becomes involved in a highly leveraged transaction or has a change of control.
The Company may issue debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate below the prevailing market rate at the time of issuance, and offer and sell these securities at a discount below their stated principal amount. The Company may also sell any of the debt securities for a foreign currency or currency unit, and payments on the debt securities may be payable in a foreign currency or currency unit. In any of these cases, the Company will describe certain Canadian federal income tax consequences and other special considerations in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Company may issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of such series.
Ranking and Other Indebtedness
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be direct unsecured obligations of the Company. The debt securities will be senior or subordinated indebtedness of the Company as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the debt securities are senior indebtedness, they will rank equally and ratably with all other unsecured indebtedness of the Company from time to time issued and outstanding which is not subordinated. If the debt securities are subordinated indebtedness, they will be subordinated to senior indebtedness of the Company as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and they will rank equally and ratably with other subordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time issued and outstanding as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The Company reserves the right to specify in a prospectus supplement whether a particular series of subordinated debt securities is subordinated to any other series of subordinated debt securities.
Our board of directors may establish the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect of a series of debt securities will be senior or will be subordinated to the prior payment of our other liabilities and obligations and whether the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be guaranteed by any other person and the nature and priority of any security.
Registration of Debt Securities
Debt Securities in Book Entry Form
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities of any series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities ("Global Securities") registered in the name of a designated clearing agency (a "Depositary") or its nominee and held by or on behalf of the Depositary in accordance with the terms of the applicable Trust Indenture. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a Global Security will, to the extent not described herein, be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series. The Company anticipates that the provisions described in this section will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee will credit, in its book-entry and registration system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of such participants that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee ("Participants"). Such accounts are typically designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities or by the Company if such debt securities are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through Participants. With respect to the interests of Participants, ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee. With respect to the interests of persons other than Participants, ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through records maintained by Participants or persons that hold through Participants.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the applicable Trust Indenture and payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities represented by a Global Security will be made by the Company to the Depositary or its nominee. The Company expects that the Depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the Global Security as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The Company also expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security held through such Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such Participants.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to direct Participants, by direct Participants to indirect Participants and by direct and indirect Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Beneficial owners of debt securities may wish to take certain steps to augment transmission to them of notices of significant events with respect to the debt securities, such as redemptions, tenders, defaults and proposed amendments to the Trust Indenture.
Owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such debt securities in certificated non-book-entry form, and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable Trust Indenture, and the ability of a holder to pledge a debt security or otherwise take action with respect to such holder's interest in a debt security (other than through a Participant) may be limited due to the lack of a physical certificate.
No Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless: (i) the Depositary is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its responsibilities as depositary and the Company is unable to locate a qualified successor; (ii) the Company at its option elects, or is required by law, to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or the book-entry system ceases to exist; or (iii) if provided for in the Trust Indenture, after the occurrence of an event of default thereunder (provided the Trustee has not waived the event of default in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture), Participants acting on behalf of beneficial holders representing, in aggregate, a threshold percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding advise the Depositary in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through the Depositary is no longer in their best interest.
If one of the foregoing events occurs, such Global Security shall be exchanged for certificated non-book-entry debt securities of the same series in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security and registered in such names and denominations as the Depositary may direct.
The Company, any underwriters, dealers or agents and any Trustee identified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, as applicable, will not have any liability or responsibility for (i) records maintained by the Depositary relating to beneficial ownership interests in the debt securities held by the Depositary or the book-entry accounts maintained by the Depositary, (ii) maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to any such beneficial ownership interests, or (iii) any advice or representation made by or with respect to the Depositary and contained in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or Trust Indenture with respect to the rules and regulations of the Depositary or at the direction of Depositary Participants.
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. or its successor will act as Depositary for any debt securities represented by a Global Security.
Debt Securities in Certificated Form
A series of the debt securities may be issued in definitive form, solely as registered securities, solely as unregistered securities or as both registered securities and unregistered securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, unregistered securities will have interest coupons attached.
In the event that the debt securities are issued in certificated non-book-entry form, and unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities (other than a Global Security) will be made at the office or agency of the Trustee or, at the option of the Company, by the Company by way of cheque mailed or delivered to the address of the person entitled at the address appearing in the security register of the Trustee or electronic funds wire or other transmission to an account of the person entitled to receive such payments. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest, if any, will be made to the persons in whose name the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the day or days specified by the Company.
At the option of the holder of debt securities, registered securities of any series will be exchangeable for other registered securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. If, but only if, provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, unregistered securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all matured coupons in default) of any series may be exchanged for registered securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. In such event, unregistered securities surrendered in a permitted exchange for registered securities between a regular record date or a special record date and the relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such date for payment of interest, and interest will not be payable on such date for payment of interest in respect of the registered security issued in exchange for such unregistered security, but will be payable only to the holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, unregistered securities will not be issued in exchange for registered securities.
The applicable prospectus supplement may indicate the places to register a transfer of the debt securities in definitive form. Except for certain restrictions to be set forth in the Trust Indenture, no service charge will be payable by the holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities in definitive form, but the Company may, in certain instances, require a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection with these transactions
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
General
This section describes the general terms that will apply to any warrants for the purchase of Common Shares, preferred shares or equity warrants, or for the purchase of debt securities, or debt warrants.
We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agency agreements to be entered into by us and one or more banks or trust companies acting as warrant agent.
The Company will deliver an undertaking to the applicable securities regulatory authorities that it will not distribute warrants that, according to their terms as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, are "novel" specified derivatives within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, separately to any member of the public in Canada, unless the offering is in connection with and forms part of the consideration for an acquisition or merger transaction or unless such prospectus supplement containing the specific terms of the warrants to be distributed separately is first approved by or on behalf of the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada where the warrants will be distributed.
This summary of some of the provisions of the warrants is not complete. The statements made in this prospectus relating to any warrant agreement and warrants to be issued under this prospectus are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable warrant agreement. You should refer to the warrant indenture or warrant agency agreement relating to the specific warrants being offered for the complete terms of the warrants. A copy of any warrant indenture or warrant agency agreement relating to an offering or warrants will be filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in the applicable Canadian offering jurisdictions after we have entered into it, and will be available electronically on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we offer will describe the particular terms of those warrants and include specific terms relating to the offering.
Original purchasers of warrants (if offered separately) will have a contractual right of rescission against us in respect of the exercise of such warrant. The contractual right of rescission will entitle such original purchasers to receive, upon surrender of the underlying securities acquired upon exercise of the warrant, the total of the amount paid on original purchase of the warrant and the amount paid upon exercise, in the event that this prospectus (as supplemented or amended) contains a misrepresentation, provided that: (i) the exercise takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the warrant under the applicable prospectus supplement; and (ii) the right of rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of purchase of the warrant under the applicable prospectus supplement. This contractual right of rescission will be consistent with the statutory right of rescission described under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia), and is in addition to any other right or remedy available to original purchasers under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) or otherwise at law.
In an offering of warrants, or other convertible securities, original purchasers are cautioned that the statutory right of action for damages for a misrepresentation contained in the prospectus is limited, in certain provincial and territorial securities legislation, to the price at which the warrants, or other convertible securities, are offered to the public under the prospectus offering. This means that, under the securities legislation of certain provinces and territories, if the purchaser pays additional amounts upon conversion, exchange or exercise of such securities, those amounts may not be recoverable under the statutory right of action for damages that applies in those provinces or territories. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for the particulars of these rights, or consult with a legal advisor.
Equity Warrants
The particular terms of each issue of equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This description will include, where applicable:
• the designation and aggregate number of equity warrants;
• the price at which the equity warrants will be offered;
• the currency or currencies in which the equity warrants will be offered;
• the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
• the number of Common Shares or preferred shares that may be purchased upon exercise of each equity warrant and the price at which and currency or currencies in which the Common Shares or preferred shares may be purchased upon exercise of each equity warrant;
• the terms of any provisions allowing or providing for adjustments in (i) the number and/or class of shares that may be purchased, (ii) the exercise price per share or (iii) the expiry of the equity warrants;
• whether we will issue fractional shares;
• whether we have applied to list the equity warrants or the underlying shares on a stock exchange;
• the designation and terms of any securities with which the equity warrants will be offered, if any, and the number of the equity warrants that will be offered with each security;
• the date or dates, if any, on or after which the equity warrants and the related securities will be transferable separately;
• whether the equity warrants will be subject to redemption or call and, if so, the terms of such redemption or call provisions;
• material Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the equity warrants;
• any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the equity warrants; and
• any other material terms or conditions of the equity warrants.
Debt Warrants
The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants will be described in the related prospectus supplement. This description will include, where applicable:
• the designation and aggregate number of debt warrants;
• the price at which the debt warrants will be offered;
• the currency or currencies in which the debt warrants will be offered;
• the designation and terms of any securities with which the debt warrants are being offered, if any, and the number of the debt warrants that will be offered with each security;
• the date or dates, if any, on or after which the debt warrants and the related securities will be transferable separately;
• the principal amount and designation of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which and currency or currencies in which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant;
• the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
• the minimum or maximum amount of debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
• whether the debt warrants will be subject to redemption or call, and, if so, the terms of such redemption or call provisions;
• material Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the debt warrants;
• whether we have applied to list the debt warrants or the underlying debt securities on an exchange;
• any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the debt warrants; and
• any other material terms or conditions of the debt warrants
Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities subject to the warrants
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
GreenPower may issue units, which may consist of one or more of Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants or any other security specified in the relevant prospectus supplement. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each of the securities included in the unit. In addition, the relevant prospectus supplement relating to an offering of units will describe all material terms of any units offered, including, as applicable:
• the designation and aggregate number of units being offered;
• the price at which the units will be offered;
• the designation, number and terms of the securities comprising the units and any agreement governing the units;
• the date or dates, if any, on or after which the securities comprising the units will be transferable separately;
• whether we will apply to list the units or any of the individual securities comprising the units on any exchange;
• material Canadian income tax consequences of owning the units, including, how the purchase price paid for the units will be allocated among the securities comprising the units; and
• any other material terms or conditions of the units.
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPTS
We may issue subscription receipts separately or in combination with one or more other securities, which will entitle holders thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of certain release conditions (the "Release Conditions") and for no additional consideration, Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants, debt securities or any combination thereof. Subscription receipts will be issued pursuant to one or more subscription receipt agreements (each, a "Subscription Receipt Agreement"), the material terms of which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, each to be entered into between the Company and an escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent") that will be named in the relevant prospectus supplement. Each Escrow Agent will be authorized to carry on business as a trustee. If underwriters or agents are used in the sale of any subscription receipts, one or more of such underwriters or agents may also be a party to the Subscription Receipt Agreement governing the subscription receipts sold to or through such underwriter or agent.
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of subscription receipts that may be issued hereunder and is not intended to be complete. The statements made in this prospectus relating to any Subscription Receipt Agreement and subscription receipts to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable Subscription Receipt Agreement. Prospective investors should refer to the Subscription Receipt Agreement relating to the specific subscription receipts being offered for the complete terms of the subscription receipts. We will file a copy of any Subscription Receipt Agreement relating to an offering of subscription receipts with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada after it has been entered into.
General
The prospectus supplement and the Subscription Receipt Agreement for any subscription receipts that we may offer will describe the specific terms of the subscription receipts offered. This description may include, but may not be limited to, any of the following, if applicable:
• the designation and aggregate number of subscription receipts being offered;
• the price at which the subscription receipts will be offered;
• the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and/or debt securities to be received by the holders of subscription receipts upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions, and any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers;
• the Release Conditions that must be met in order for holders of subscription receipts to receive, for no additional consideration, the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and/or debt securities;
• the procedures for the issuance and delivery of the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and/or debt securities to holders of the subscription receipts upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions;
• whether any payments will be made to holders of subscription receipts upon delivery of the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and/or debt securities upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions;
• the identity of the Escrow Agent;
• the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will hold all or a portion of the gross proceeds from the sale of subscription receipts, together with interest and income earned thereon (collectively, the "Escrowed Funds"), pending satisfaction of the Release Conditions;
• the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Escrow Agent will hold the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and/or debt securities pending satisfaction of the Release Conditions;
• the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will release all or a portion of the Escrowed Funds to the Company upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions;
• if the subscription receipts are sold to or through underwriters or agents, the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will release a portion of the Escrowed Funds to such underwriters or agents in payment of all or a portion of their fees or commissions in connection with the sale of the subscription receipts;
• procedures for the refund by the Escrow Agent to holders of subscription receipts of all or a portion of the subscription price of their subscription receipts, plus any pro rata entitlement to interest earned or income generated on such amount, if the Release Conditions are not satisfied;
• any contractual right of rescission to be granted to initial purchasers of subscription receipts in the event that this prospectus, the prospectus supplement under which such subscription receipts are issued or any amendment hereto or thereto contains a misrepresentation;
• any entitlement of GreenPower to purchase the subscription receipts in the open market by private agreement or otherwise;
• whether we will issue the subscription receipts as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depository for the global securities;
• whether we will issue the subscription receipts as unregistered bearer securities, as registered securities or both;
• provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of the Subscription Receipt Agreement or any rights or terms of the subscription receipts, including upon any subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or other material change of the Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants or other GreenPower securities, any other reorganization, amalgamation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or any distribution of property or rights to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Shares or preferred shares;
• whether we will apply to list the subscription receipts on any exchange;
• material Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the subscription receipts; and
• any other material terms or conditions of the subscription receipts.
Original purchasers of subscription receipts will have a contractual right of rescission against us in respect of the conversion of the subscription receipts. The contractual right of rescission will entitle such original purchasers to receive the amount paid on original purchase of the subscription receipts upon surrender of the underlying securities gained thereby, in the event that this prospectus (as supplemented or amended) contains a misrepresentation, provided that: (i) the conversion takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the subscription receipts under this prospectus; and (ii) the right of rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of purchase of the subscription receipts under this prospectus. This contractual right of rescission will be consistent with the statutory right of rescission described under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia), and is in addition to any other right or remedy available to original purchasers under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) or otherwise at law.
Rights of Holders of Subscription Receipts Prior to Satisfaction of Release Conditions
The holders of subscription receipts will not be, and will not have the rights of, shareholders of GreenPower. Holders of subscription receipts are entitled only to receive Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and/or debt securities on exchange of their subscription receipts, plus any cash payments, if any, all as provided for under the Subscription Receipt Agreement and only once the Release Conditions have been satisfied. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied, holders of subscription receipts shall be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of the subscription price therefor and their pro rata share of interest earned or income generated thereon, if provided for in the Subscription Receipt Agreement, all as provided in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
Escrow
The Subscription Receipt Agreement will provide that the Escrowed Funds will be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent, and such Escrowed Funds will be released to the Company (and, if the subscription receipts are sold to or through underwriters or agents, a portion of the Escrowed Funds may be released to such underwriters or agents in payment of all or a portion of their fees in connection with the sale of the subscription receipts) at the time and under the terms specified by the Subscription Receipt Agreement. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied, holders of subscription receipts will receive a refund of all or a portion of the subscription price for their subscription receipts, plus their pro-rata entitlement to interest earned or income generated on such amount, if provided for in the Subscription Receipt Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Common Shares, preferred shares, warrants and or debt securities may be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent and will be released to the holders of subscription receipts following satisfaction of the Release Conditions at the time and under the terms specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
Modifications
The Subscription Receipt Agreement will specify the terms upon which modifications and alterations to the subscription receipts issued thereunder may be made by way of a resolution of holders of subscription receipts at a meeting of such holders or consent in writing from such holders. The number of holders of subscription receipts required to pass such a resolution or execute such a written consent will be specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
The Subscription Receipt Agreement will also specify that we may amend any Subscription Receipt Agreement and the subscription receipts without the consent of the holders of the subscription receipts to cure any ambiguity, to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision or in any other manner that will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of outstanding subscription receipts or as otherwise specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue share purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to us, and obligating us to purchase from or sell to the holders, a specified number of Common Shares, as applicable, at a future date or dates, and including by way of instalment.
The price per Common Share and the number of Common Shares, as applicable, may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula or method set forth in the share purchase contracts. We may issue share purchase contracts in accordance with applicable laws and in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we may determine.
The share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a share purchase contract and beneficial interests in debt securities, or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities or obligations of our subsidiaries, securing the holders' obligations to purchase the Common Shares under the share purchase contracts, which we refer to in this prospectus as share purchase units. The share purchase contracts may require the Company to make periodic payments to the holders of the share purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or refunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The share purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those contracts in a specified manner.
Holders of share purchase contracts are not shareholders of GreenPower. The particular terms and provisions of share purchase contracts offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to them, will be described in the prospectus supplement filed in respect of such share purchase contracts. This description will include, where applicable: (i) whether the share purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, Common Shares, as applicable, and the nature and amount of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts; (ii) whether the share purchase contracts are to be prepaid or paid in instalments; (iii) any conditions upon which the purchase or sale will be contingent and the consequences if such conditions are not satisfied; (iv) whether the share purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value or performance of Common Shares; (v) any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the share purchase contracts; (vi) the date or dates on which the sale or purchase must be made, if any; (vii) whether the share purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form; (viii) the material income tax consequences of owning, holding and disposing of the share purchase contracts; and (ix) any other material terms and conditions of the share purchase contracts including, without limitation, transferability and adjustment terms and whether the share purchase contracts will be listed on a stock exchange.
Original purchasers of share purchase contracts will be granted a contractual right of rescission against the Company in respect of the conversion, exchange or exercise of such share purchase contract. The contractual right of rescission will entitle such original purchasers to receive the amount paid upon conversion, exchange or exercise, upon surrender of the underlying securities gained thereby, in the event that this prospectus (as supplemented or amended) contains a misrepresentation, provided that: (i) the conversion, exchange or exercise takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the convertible, exchangeable or exercisable security under this prospectus; and (ii) the right of rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the convertible, exchangeable or exercisable security under this prospectus. This contractual right of rescission will be consistent with the statutory right of rescission described under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia), and is in addition to any other right or remedy available to original purchasers under section 131 of the Securities Act (British Columbia) or otherwise at law.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may issue our securities offered by this prospectus for cash or other consideration (i) to or through underwriters, dealers, placement agents or other intermediaries, (ii) directly to one or more purchasers or (iii) in connection with acquisitions of assets or shares or another entity or company. The consideration for an acquisition of assets or shares of another entity or company may consist of any of the securities covered hereby separately, a combination of such securities, or any combination of, among other things, securities, cash or the assumption of liabilities.
Each prospectus supplement with respect to our securities being offered will set forth the terms of the offering, including:
• the person offering the securities;
• the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or other placement agents;
• the number and the purchase price of, and form of consideration for, our securities;
• any proceeds to the Company from such sale; and
• any commissions, fees, discounts and other items constituting underwriters', dealers' or agents' compensation.
Our securities may be sold, from time to time, in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market price or at negotiated prices, including sales in transactions that are deemed to be ATM Distributions, including sales made directly on the TSXV or other existing trading markets for the securities. The prices at which the securities may be offered may vary as between purchasers and during the period of distribution. If, in connection with the offering of securities at a fixed price or prices, the underwriters have made a bona fide effort to sell all of the securities at the initial offering price fixed in the applicable prospectus supplement, the public offering price may be decreased and thereafter further changed, from time to time, to an amount not greater than the initial offering price fixed in such prospectus supplement, in which case the compensation realized by the underwriters will be decreased by the amount that the aggregate price paid by purchasers for the securities is less than the gross proceeds paid by the underwriters to the Company.
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with our securities offered by that prospectus supplement.
Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of our securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities under applicable Canadian securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. The underwriters, dealers and agents with whom we enter into agreements may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business.
No underwriter or dealer involved in an ATM Distribution, no affiliate of such underwriter or dealer and no person acting jointly or in concert with such underwriter or dealer has over-allotted, or will over allot, our securities in connection with an ATM Distribution of our securities or effect any other transactions that are intended to stabilize the market price of our securities during an ATM Distribution. In connection with any offering of our securities other than in an ATM Distribution, the underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of our securities offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
EARNINGS COVERAGE RATIOS
If we offer debt securities having a term to maturity in excess of one year or preferred shares, we will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement our earnings coverage ratios.
PRIOR SALES
Information regarding our securities being distributed pursuant to this prospectus and other securities that are convertible or exchangeable into our securities being distributed pursuant to this prospectus that we issued within the previous twelve-month period will be provided as required in a prospectus supplement with respect to the issuance of securities pursuant to such prospectus supplement.
TRADING PRICE AND VOLUME
The Common Shares are listed for trading on the TSXV under the symbol "GPV" and listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol "GP". Trading price and volume information for the Company's securities will be provided as required in each prospectus supplement to this prospectus.
CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The applicable prospectus supplement may describe certain Canadian federal income tax consequences to an investor who is a non-resident of Canada or to an investor who is a resident of Canada of acquiring, owning and disposing of any of our securities offered thereunder. Investors should read the tax discussion in any prospectus supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own particular circumstances.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk due to the nature of our business and the present stage of its development. The following risk factors, as well as risks currently unknown to us, could materially and adversely affect our future business, operations and financial condition and could cause them to differ materially from the estimates described in forward-looking statements relating to the Company, or its business or financial results, each of which could cause purchasers of our securities to lose part or all of their investment. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face; risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. You should also refer to the other information set forth or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, including our annual financial statements, and the related notes, and accompanying management's discussion and analysis. A prospective investor should carefully consider the risk factors set out below along with the other matters set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus
Risks Related to Our Business
The COVID-19 global pandemic has had and may continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business and financial condition.
We face risks from the COVID-19 global pandemic which has had, and may continue to have, a material adverse impact on our business and financial condition. While we have recently seen a gradual re-opening of the economy, and a resumption of travel and sales activity, this activity is not at the level it was prior to the pandemic and the future impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic is inherently uncertain, and may negatively impact the financial ability of our customers to purchase vehicles from us, of our suppliers' ability to deliver products used in the manufacture of our all-electric vehicles, in our employees' ability to manufacture our vehicles and to carry out their other duties in order to sustain our business, and in our ability to collect certain receivables owing to us, among other factors. These factors may continue to have a negative impact on our financial results, operations, outlook, goals, growth prospects, cash flows, liquidity and share price, and the potential timing, severity, and ultimate duration of any potential negative impacts is uncertain.
We have not reached profitability and currently have negative operating cash flows and a negative net tangible book value
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, we generated a loss of $(7,836,754), bringing our accumulated deficit to $(31,625,388). We have minimal revenues and expect significant increases in costs and expenses as we invest in expanding our production and operations. Even if we are successful in increasing revenues from sales of our products, we may be unable to achieve positive cash flow or profitability for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, an inability to control production costs, increases in our selling general and administrative expenses, and a reduction in our product sales price due to competitive or other factors. An inability to generate positive cash flow and profitability until we reach a sufficient level of sales with positive gross margins that cover operating expenses, or an inability to raise additional capital on reasonable terms, will adversely affect our viability as an operating business.
We operate in a capital-intensive industry and will require a significant amount of capital to continue operations
If the revenue from the sale of our electric buses, if any, is not sufficient to cover our cash requirements, we will need to raise additional funds through the sale of equity or other securities, or the issuance of additional debt. Financing may not be available at terms that are acceptable to us, if at all.
Our ability to obtain the necessary financing for our business is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business plan. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities, or substantially change our current operations and plans in order to reduce our cost structure. Our competitors, many of which have raised or who have access to significant capital, may be able to compete more effectively in our markets given their access to capital, if our access to capital does not improve or is further limited. We might not be able to obtain any funding, and we might not have sufficient resources to conduct our business as projected, both of which could mean that we would be forced to curtail or discontinue our operations.
Developments in alternative technologies or improvements in the internal combustion engine may materially adversely affect the demand for our electric vehicles
Significant developments in alternative technologies, such as advanced diesel, ethanol, fuel cells or compressed natural gas, or improvements in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine, may materially and adversely affect our business and prospects in ways we do not currently anticipate. For example, fuel which is abundant and relatively inexpensive in North America, such as compressed natural gas, may emerge as consumers' preferred alternative to petroleum-based propulsion. Any failure by us to develop new or enhanced technologies or processes, or to react to changes in existing technologies, could materially delay our development and introduction of new and enhanced electric vehicles, which could result in the loss of competitiveness of our vehicles, decreased revenue and a loss of market share to competitors.
If we are unable to keep up with advances in electric vehicle technology, we may suffer a decline in our competitive position
We may be unable to keep up with changes in electric vehicle technology and, as a result, may suffer a decline in our competitive position. Any failure to keep up with advances in electric vehicle technology would result in a decline in our competitive position which would materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. Our research and development efforts may not be sufficient to adapt to changes in electric vehicle technology. As technologies change, we plan to upgrade or adapt our vehicles and introduce new models to continue to provide vehicles with the latest technology. However, our vehicles may not compete effectively with alternative vehicles if we are not able to source and integrate the latest technology into our vehicles at a competitive price. For example, we do not manufacture battery cells or drive motors which makes us dependent upon suppliers of these products for our vehicles.
The majority of our manufacturing is currently contracted out to third party manufacturers and we are dependent on these manufacturers to operate competitively
We currently contract out the majority of the manufacturing of our vehicles to third party manufacturers in Asia, with final assembly performed by our employees in North America. As a result, we are dependent on third party manufacturers to manufacture our vehicles according to our specifications and quality, at a competitive cost and within agreed upon timeframes. If our chosen manufacturing vendors are unable or unwilling to perform these functions, then our financial results and reputation may suffer, which may prevent us from being able to continue as a going concern. In addition, we are subject to inherent risks involved in shipping our vehicles from these primary manufacturers to our facilities in North America. During the shipping process our vehicles are subject to theft, loss or damage due to a number of factors, some of which we may be unable to insure cost-effectively, if at all.
We may need to defend ourselves against intellectual property infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and could cause us to incur substantial costs.
Others, including our competitors, may hold or obtain patents, copyrights, trademarks or other proprietary rights that could prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, sell or market our products and services, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. From time to time, the holders of such intellectual property rights may assert their rights and urge us to take licenses, and/or may bring suits alleging infringement or misappropriation of such rights. We may consider the entering into licensing agreements with respect to such rights, although no assurance can be given that such licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or that litigation will not occur, and such licenses could significantly increase our operating expenses. In addition, if we are determined to have infringed upon a third party's intellectual property rights, we may be required to cease making, selling or incorporating certain components or intellectual property into the goods and services we offer, to pay substantial damages and/or license royalties, to redesign our products and services, and/or to establish and maintain alternative branding for our products and services. In the event that we were required to take one or more such actions, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In addition, any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, negative publicity and diversion of resources and management attention.
We depend on certain key personnel, and our success will depend on our continued ability to retain and attract such qualified personnel
Our success depends on the efforts, abilities and continued service of our executive officers and management. A number of these key employees have significant experience in the electric vehicle industry, and valuable relationships with our suppliers, customers, and other industry participants. A loss of service from any one of these individuals may adversely affect our operations, and we may have difficulty or may be unable to locate and hire a suitable replacement. We have not obtained any "key person" insurance on any of our executives or managers.
We may be involved in litigation or legal proceedings that are deemed to be material and may require recognition as a provision or a contingent liability on our financial statements.
We may in the future be involved in litigation or legal proceedings that are material and may require recognition as a provision or contingent liability on our financial statements. We have filed a civil claim against the former CEO and director of our company in the Province of British Columbia, and he has filed a response with a counterclaim for wrongful dismissal in the Province of British Columbia. In addition, a company owned and controlled by a former employee who provided services to a subsidiary of our company until August 2013 filed a claim for breach of confidence against our company in July 2020. We do not expect the outcome of either our claim, or the claims filed against us, to be material, and as of the date of this prospectus the resolution of these claims, including the potential timing or financial impact of these claims is inherently uncertain. However, we may in the future determine that these claims become material or we may be subject to other claims that alone or in addition to other claims are considered to be material, and require recognition as a provision or contingent liability on our financial statements.
We are subject to numerous environmental and health and safety laws and any breach of such laws may have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results
We are subject to numerous environmental and health and safety laws, including statutes, regulations, bylaws and other legal requirements. These laws relate to the generation, use, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of regulated substances, including hazardous substances (such as batteries), dangerous goods and waste, emissions or discharges into soil, water and air, including noise and odors (which could result in remediation obligations), and occupational health and safety matters, including indoor air quality. These legal requirements vary by location and can arise under federal, provincial, state or municipal laws. Any breach of such laws, regulations or requirements could have a material adverse effect on our company and its operating results.
Our vehicles are subject to motor vehicle standards and the failure to satisfy such mandated safety standards would have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
All vehicles sold must comply with federal, state and provincial motor vehicle safety standards. In both Canada and the United States, vehicles that meet or exceed all federally mandated safety standards are certified under the federal regulations. In this regard, Canadian and U.S. motor vehicle safety standards are substantially the same. Rigorous testing and the use of approved materials and equipment are among the requirements for achieving federal certification. Failure by us to have our current or future electric vehicles satisfy motor vehicle standards would have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
If our vehicles fail to perform as expected, our ability to continue to develop, market and sell our electric vehicles could be harmed
Our vehicles may contain defects in design and manufacture that may cause them not to perform as expected or that may require repair. For example, our vehicles use technologically complex battery management software to operate. Given the inherent complexity of this software, it may contain defects and errors which would adversely impact the operation of our vehicles. While we have performed extensive testing of our vehicles, we currently have a limited frame of reference to evaluate the performance of our vehicles in the hands of our customers under a range of operating conditions.
We may not succeed in establishing, maintaining and strengthening the GreenPower brand, which would materially and adversely affect customer acceptance of our vehicles and components and our business, revenues and prospects.
Our business and prospects heavily depend on our ability to develop, maintain and strengthen the GreenPower brand. Any failure to develop, maintain and strengthen our brand may materially and adversely affect our ability to sell our planned electric vehicles. If we are not able to establish, maintain and strengthen our brand, we may lose the opportunity to expand our customer base. Promoting and positioning our brand will depend significantly on our ability to provide high quality electric vehicles and maintenance and repair services, and we have limited experience in these areas. In addition, we expect that our ability to develop, maintain and strengthen the GreenPower brand will also depend heavily on the success of our marketing efforts. To date, we have limited experience with marketing activities as we have relied primarily on the internet, word of mouth and attendance at industry trade shows to promote our brand. To further promote our brand, we may be required to change our marketing practices, which could result in substantially increased advertising expenses. We operate in a competitive industry, and we may not be successful in building, maintaining and strengthening our brand. Many of our current and potential competitors, particularly automobile manufacturers headquartered in the United States, Japan and the European Union have greater name recognition, broader customer relationships and substantially greater marketing resources than we do. If we do not develop and maintain a strong brand, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results will be materially and adversely impacted.
We are dependent on our suppliers, many of which are single-source suppliers, and the inability of these suppliers to deliver necessary components of our products according to our schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to us, or our inability to efficiently manage these components, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
Our products contain numerous purchased parts which we source globally directly from suppliers, many of which are single-source suppliers, although we attempt to qualify and obtain components from multiple sources whenever feasible. Any significant increases in our production may require us to procure additional components in a short amount of time, and in the past we have also replaced certain suppliers because of their failure to provide components that met our quality control standards or our timing requirements. Many of our suppliers have either temporarily suspended their operations or scaled back their operations in order to comply with government and regulatory orders and to protect the health of their employees due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. With ongoing vaccination efforts economies are gradually re-opening and activity is beginning to recover, though not at the same level as prior to the pandemic. If any of our single source suppliers is unable to deliver components to us there is no assurance that we will be able to secure additional or alternate sources of supply for our components or develop our own replacements in a timely manner, if at all. If we encounter unexpected difficulties with key suppliers, and if we are unable to fill these needs from other suppliers, we could experience production delays and potential loss of access to important technology and parts for producing, servicing and supporting our products.
This limited, and in many cases single source, supply chain exposes us to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages for production of our products. Furthermore, unexpected changes in business conditions, materials pricing, labor issues, wars, governmental changes, and natural disasters could also affect our suppliers' ability to deliver components to us on a timely basis. The loss of any single or limited source supplier or the disruption in the supply of components from these suppliers could lead to product design changes and delays in product deliveries to our customers, which could hurt our relationships with our customers and result in negative publicity, damage to our brand and a material and adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Changes in our supply chain may lead to an increased cost for our products. We have also experienced cost increases from certain of our suppliers in order to meet our quality targets and timelines as well as due to our design changes, and we may experience similar cost increases in the future. Certain suppliers have sought to renegotiate the terms of supply arrangements. Additionally, we are negotiating with existing suppliers for cost reductions and are seeking new and less expensive suppliers for certain parts. If we are unsuccessful in our efforts to control and reduce supplier costs, our operating results will suffer.
There is no assurance that our suppliers will be able to sustainably and timely meet our cost, quality and volume needs. Furthermore, if the scale of our vehicle production increases, we will need to accurately forecast, purchase, warehouse and transport to our manufacturing facilities components at much higher volumes. If we are unable to accurately match the timing and quantities of component purchases to our actual needs, or successfully manage our inventory to accommodate the increased complexity in our supply chain, we may incur unexpected production disruption, storage, transportation and write-off costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.
The reduction or elimination of government and economic incentives, funding approval or the delay in the timing of advancing funding that has been approved, in particular in the state of California, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
Any reduction, elimination or discriminatory application of government subsidies and economic incentives because of policy changes, the reduced need for such subsidies and incentives for electric vehicles may result in the diminished competitiveness of the alternative fuel vehicle industry generally or our electric vehicles in particular. This could materially and adversely affect the growth of the alternative fuel automobile markets and our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Our vehicles are eligible for vouchers from specific government programs, including the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project ("HVIP") from the California Air Resources Board ("CARB") in partnership with Calstart, and the Specialty-Use Vehicle Incentive Program funded by the Province of British Columbia, Canada. The ability for potential purchasers to receive funding from these programs is subject to the risk of the programs being funded by governments, and the risk of the delay in the timing of advancing funds to the specific programs. To the extent that program funding is not approved, or if the funding is approved but timing of advancing of funds is delayed, subject to cancellation, or otherwise uncertain, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
To date the vast majority of our electric vehicle sales have been in the state of California, in part due to subsidies and grants for electric vehicles and electric charging infrastructure available from the California state government. In some cases these grants or subsidies have covered the entire vehicle cost, and in many cases the grants or subsidies have reduced the net cost to our customers to a point that the vehicle is less expensive than purchasing a comparable diesel powered vehicle. The recent announcement from CARB that it is no longer accepting new applications to the HVIP program until new funding for the program is identified has negatively impacted new sales prospects for GreenPower buses in the state of California and any further reduction or elimination of the grants or incentives in the state of California would have a material negative impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
If we fail to manage future growth effectively, we may not be able to market and sell our vehicles successfully.
Any failure to manage our growth effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. We are expecting significant growth in sales, and are currently expanding our employees, facilities and infrastructure in order to accommodate this growth. Our future operating results depend to a large extent on our ability to manage this expansion and growth successfully. Risks that we face in undertaking this expansion include:
• training new personnel;
• forecasting production and revenue;
• controlling expenses and investments in anticipation of expanded operations;
• establishing or expanding manufacturing, sales and service facilities;
• implementing and enhancing administrative infrastructure, systems and processes;
• addressing new markets; and
• establishing international operations.
We intend to continue to hire a number of additional personnel, including manufacturing personnel and service technicians for our electric vehicles. There is significant competition for individuals with experience manufacturing and servicing electric vehicles, and we may not be able to attract, assimilate, train or retain additional highly qualified personnel in the future. The failure to attract, integrate, train, motivate and retain these additional employees could seriously harm our business and prospects.
Our business may be adversely affected by labor and union activities.
Although none of our employees are currently represented by a labor union, it is common throughout the automobile industry for employees to belong to a union. Having a unionized workforce may result in higher employee costs and increased risk of work stoppages. Additionally, we are in the process of expanding our in-house manufacturing capabilities and increasing the number of employees in this area. If our employees engaged in manufacturing were to unionize, this may increase our future production costs and negatively impact our gross margins and financial results.
We also directly and indirectly depend upon other companies with unionized work forces, such as parts suppliers and trucking and freight companies, and work stoppages or strikes organized by such unions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or operating results. If a work stoppage occurs within our business or in one of our key suppliers, it could delay the manufacture and sale of our electric vehicles and have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.
We may become subject to product liability or warranty claims, which could harm our financial condition and liquidity if we are not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.
We may become subject to product liability or warranty claims, which could harm our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. The automobile industry experiences significant product liability claims and we face inherent risk of exposure to claims in the event our vehicles do not perform as expected or malfunction resulting in personal injury or death. Our risks in this area are particularly pronounced given our vehicles have only been operating for a short period of time. A successful product liability claim against us could require us to pay a substantial monetary award. Moreover, a product liability claim could generate substantial negative publicity about our vehicles and business which would have a material adverse effect on our brand, business, prospects and operating results.
Global economic conditions could materially adversely impact demand for our products and services.
Our operations and performance depend significantly on economic conditions. The COVID-19 global pandemic and resulting government health regulations have resulted in significant reductions in global economic output and have negatively impacted global economic conditions. The ultimate impact and duration of current negative global economic conditions are highly uncertain. Uncertainty about global economic conditions could result in customers postponing purchases of our products and services in response to tighter credit, unemployment, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values and other macroeconomic factors, which could have a material negative effect on demand for our products and services and, accordingly, on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
The trade agreement with China includes tariffs on goods imported to the U.S. from China, and these tariffs negatively impact our financial performance, financial position, and financial results.
The United States and China signed a trade agreement in January 2020 after a trade war between the two countries that led to the implementation of tariffs on approximately $360 billion of Chinese imports to the United States. The trade agreement includes terms providing protection for intellectual property and includes a commitment from China to purchase goods and services from the United States, however the majority of the current tariffs on goods imported to the United States from China will remain in place under the trade agreement. GreenPower's buses include parts and components imported from China, and tariffs are applied to imports of these products to the United States. These tariffs have increased the cost of GreenPower's buses imported to the United States and have had and will continue to have a negative impact on our gross margins, profitability, financial performance and financial position. Any escalation of the tariffs on imported goods from China to the United States will cause further negative impacts to our gross margin, profitability, financial performance and financial position.
We rely on global shipping for our vehicles that are produced at contract manufacturers, and for certain parts and components sourced from our global network of suppliers. Over the past year the cost of shipping goods has increased and shipping availability has declined, and if these trends continue this may negatively impact our ability to deliver our vehicles to our customers on a timely basis, and increase our costs, which may negatively impact our financial results and ability to grow our business.
Shipping costs have grown significantly since the fall of 2020 due to a number of factors, including imbalances in global trade and countries locking down and opening up at different times. As well, while global demand for shipping has increased strongly over the past year, shipping supply has not, and is not expected to increase until 2023 when newbuild ships are expected to deliver. Furthermore, shipping has been delayed due to port congestion, port closures, and vessel delays.
We rely on global shipping for vehicles that we produce at contract manufacturers, and for certain parts and components sourced from our global network of suppliers. We have experienced an increase in shipping costs and have experienced delays of deliveries of parts and components from our global suppliers, and on vehicles arriving from our contract manufacturers. While these delays and cost increases are not currently at a level that they have caused a material disruption or negative impact to our profitability, these delays and costs may increase to a point that they may negatively impact our financial results and ability to grow our business.
Our line of credit contains covenant restrictions that may limit our ability to operate our business.
The terms of our line of credit contains, and future debt agreements we enter into may contain, covenant restrictions that limit our ability to operate our business, including restrictions on our ability to, among other things, incur additional debt or issue guarantees, create liens, and make certain dispositions of property or assets. As a result of these covenants, our ability to respond to changes in business and economic conditions and engage in beneficial transactions, including obtaining additional financing as needed, may be restricted. Furthermore, our failure to comply with our debt covenants could result in a default under our line of credit, which would permit the lender to demand repayment. If a demand is made for us to repay our line of credit, we may not have sufficient funds available to repay it.
The demand for commercial zero-emission electric vehicles depends, in part, on the continuation of current trends resulting from historical dependence on fossil fuels. Extended periods of low diesel or other petroleum-based fuel prices could adversely affect demand for electric vehicles, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
We believe that much of the present and projected demand for commercial zero-emission electric vehicles results from concerns about volatility in the cost of petroleum-based fuel, the dependency of the United States on oil from unstable or hostile countries, government regulations and economic incentives promoting fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy, as well as the belief that poor air quality and climate change results in part from the burning of fossil fuels. If the cost of petroleum-based fuel decreased significantly, or the long-term supply of oil in the United States improved, the government may eliminate or modify its regulations or economic incentives related to fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy. If there is a change in the perception that the burning of fossil fuels does not negatively impact the environment, the demand for commercial zero-emission electric vehicles could be reduced, and our business and revenue may be harmed. Diesel and other petroleum-based fuel prices have been extremely volatile, and we believe this continuing volatility will persist. Lower diesel or other petroleum-based fuel prices over extended periods of time may lower the current perception in government and the private sector that cheaper, more readily available energy alternatives should be developed and produced. If diesel or other petroleum-based fuel prices remain at deflated levels for extended periods of time, the demand for commercial electric vehicles may decrease, which could have an adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
We may be compelled to undertake product recalls.
Any product recall in the future may result in adverse publicity, damage to our brand and may adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. We may at various times, voluntarily or involuntarily, initiate a recall if any of our electric vehicle components prove to be defective. Such recalls, voluntary or involuntary, involve significant expense and diversion of management attention and other resources, which would adversely affect our brand image in our target markets and could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Security breaches and other disruptions to our information technology networks and systems could substantially interfere with our operations and could compromise the confidentiality of our proprietary information, notwithstanding the fact that no such breaches or disruptions have materially impacted us to date.
We rely upon information technology systems and networks, some of which are managed by third-parties, to process, transmit and store electronic information, and to manage or support a variety of business processes and activities, including supply chain management, manufacturing, invoicing and collection of payments from our customers. Additionally, we collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, proprietary business information, the proprietary business information of our suppliers, as well as personally identifiable information of our employees, in data centers and on information technology systems. The secure operation of these information technology systems, and the processing and maintenance of this information, is critical to our business operations and strategy. Despite security measures and business continuity plans, our information technology systems and networks may be vulnerable to damage, disruptions or shutdowns due to attacks by hackers or breaches due to errors or malfeasance by employees, contractors and others who have access to our networks and systems, or other disruptions during the process of upgrading or replacing computer software or hardware, hardware failures, software errors, third-party service provider outages, power outages, computer viruses, telecommunication or utility failures or natural disasters or other catastrophic events. The occurrence of any of these events could compromise our systems and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information, disrupt operations and reduce the competitive advantage we hope to derive from our investment in technology. Our insurance coverage may not be available or adequate to cover all the costs related to significant security attacks or disruptions resulting from such attacks.
Our electric vehicles make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which, if not appropriately managed and controlled, have occasionally been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flames. If such events occur in our electric vehicles, we could face liability associated with our warranty, for damage or injury, adverse publicity and a potential safety recall, any of which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
The battery packs in our electric vehicles use lithium-ion cells, which have been used for years in laptop computers and cell phones. Highly publicized incidents of laptop computers and cell phones bursting into flames have focused consumer attention on the safety of these cells. These events also have raised questions about the suitability of these lithium-ion cells for automotive applications. There can be no assurance that a field failure of our battery packs will not occur, which would damage the vehicle or lead to personal injury or death and may subject us to lawsuits. Furthermore, there is some risk of electrocution if individuals who attempt to repair battery packs on our vehicles do not follow applicable maintenance and repair protocols. Any such damage or injury would likely lead to adverse publicity and potentially a safety recall. Any such adverse publicity could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Risks Related to Our Company
Our shareholders approved a shareholder rights plan which may be implemented by management and may impede a change in control.
Our shareholders approved a shareholder rights plan which has not been implemented by management, but which, if implemented, may impede a change in control. The shareholder rights plan provides for the issuance of one right for each common share of our company outstanding, and the rights become separable and exercisable upon the receipt of a take-over bid or similar proposal other than those meeting certain conditions or those that are exempted by our board of directors. The potential for the rights becoming separable and exercisable may have the effect of impeding a change of control of our company.
Risks Related to Our Securities
There is currently no market through which our securities, other than our Common Shares, may be sold.
There is currently no market through which our securities, other than our Common Shares, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell such securities purchased under this short form prospectus. This may affect the pricing of our securities, other than our Common Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of our securities and the extent of issuer regulation.
Because we can issue additional common shares or preferred shares, our shareholders may experience dilution in the future.
We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of common shares without par value and an unlimited number of preferred shares without par value. Our board of directors has the authority to cause us to issue additional common shares or preferred shares and to determine the special rights and restrictions of the shares of one or more series of our preferred shares, without consent of our shareholders. The issuance of any such securities may result in a reduction of the book value or market price of our common shares. Given the fact that we have not achieved profitability or generated positive cash flow historically, and we operate in a capital intensive industry with significant working capital requirements, we may be required to issue additional common equity or securities that are dilutive to existing common shares in the future in order to continue its operations. Our efforts to fund our intended business plan may result in dilution to existing shareholders. Further, any such issuances could result in a change of control or a reduction in the market price for our common shares.
The market price of our common shares may be volatile and may fluctuate in a way that is disproportionate to our operating performance.
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq and the TSXV. Trading of our common shares on Nasdaq or TSXV is often characterized by wide fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors that may have little to do with our operations or business prospects.
The price of our common shares has fluctuated significantly. This volatility could depress the market price of our common shares for reasons unrelated to operating performance. The market price of our common shares could decline due to the impact of any of the following factors upon the market price of our common shares:
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sales or potential sales of substantial amounts of our common shares;
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announcements about us or about our competitors;
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litigation and other developments relating to our company or those of our suppliers or our competitors;
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conditions in the automobile industry;
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governmental regulation and legislation;
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variations in our anticipated or actual operating results;
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change in securities analysts' estimates of our performance, or our failure to meet analysts' expectations;
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change in general economic conditions or trends;
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changes in capital market conditions or in the level of interest rates; and
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investor perception of our industry or our prospects.
Many of these factors are beyond our control. The stock markets in general, and the market price of common shares of vehicle companies in particular, have historically experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market and industry factors could reduce the market price of our common shares, regardless of our actual operating performance.
Volatility in our common share price may subject us to securities litigation.
The market for our common shares may have, when compared to seasoned issuers, significant price volatility, and we expect that our share price may continue to be more volatile than that of a seasoned issuer for the foreseeable future. In the past, plaintiffs have often initiated securities class action litigation against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of its securities. We may, in the future, be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and liabilities and could divert management's attention and resources away from the day to day business operations.
A prolonged and substantial decline in the price of our common shares could affect our ability to raise further working capital, thereby adversely impacting our ability to continue operations.
A prolonged and substantial decline in the price of our common shares could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our common shares and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. Because we plan to acquire a significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned operations through the sale of equity securities, a decline in the price of our common shares could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because the decline may cause investors not to choose to invest in our shares. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all our planned operations and to meet our existing and future financial obligations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and we may go out of business.
Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common shares in the near future, our shareholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common shares in the near future. The declaration, payment and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as the board of directors considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. Unless we pay dividends, our shareholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters related to our securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon on our behalf by Clark Wilson LLP.
AUDITORS, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Our auditors are Crowe MacKay LLP with a business address at 1100 - 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4T5, Canada. Crowe MacKay LLP is independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Professional Accounts of British Columbia.
The transfer agent and registrar for the Company's Common Shares in Canada is Computershare Investor Services Inc., located at 3rd Floor, 510 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3B9, Canada.
STATUTORY RIGHTS OF WITHDRAWAL AND RESCISSION
Securities legislation in certain of the provinces of Canada provides purchasers with the right to withdraw from an agreement to purchase securities. This right may be exercised within two business days after receipt or deemed receipt of a prospectus and any amendment, or in the case of a non-fixed price offering, this right may only be exercised within two business days after receipt or deemed receipt of a prospectus and any amendment, irrespective of the determination at a later date of the purchase price of the securities distributed. In several of the provinces, the securities legislation further provides a purchaser with remedies for rescission or, in some jurisdictions, revisions of the price or damages if the prospectus and any amendment contains a misrepresentation or is not delivered to the purchaser, provided that the remedies for rescission, revision of the price or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province for the particulars of these rights or consult with a legal adviser.
In an offering of warrants, or other convertible, exchangeable or exercisable securities, investors are cautioned that the statutory right of action for damages under Canadian securities laws for a misrepresentation contained in the prospectus or a prospectus supplement (or any amendment thereto) is limited, in certain provincial securities legislation, to the price at which the warrants, or other convertible, exchangeable or exercisable securities are offered to the public under the prospectus offering. This means that, under the securities legislation of certain provinces, if the purchaser pays additional amounts upon conversion, exchange or exercise of such securities, those amounts may not be recoverable under the statutory right of action for damages that applies in those provinces. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province for the particulars of these rights, or consult with a legal advisor.
CERTIFICATE OF GREENPOWER MOTOR COMPANY INC.
DATE: July 22, 2021
This short form prospectus, together with the documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference, will, as of the date of the last supplement to this prospectus relating to the securities offered by this prospectus and the supplement(s), constitute full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered by this prospectus and the supplement(s) as required by the securities legislation of each of the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
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"Fraser Atkinson"
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"Michael Sieffert"
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Fraser Atkinson
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Michael Sieffert
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Chief Executive Officer and Director
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Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
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ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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"Mark Achtemichuk"
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"Malcolm Clay"
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Mark Achtemichuk
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Malcolm Clay
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Director
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Director
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C-1
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED TO
OFFEREES OR PURCHASERS
Indemnification
Division 5 of Part 5 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) provides that a corporation may (a) indemnify an eligible party against all eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable and (b) after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses (not including judgments, penalties, fines or amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding) actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding.
An "eligible party" means an individual who (a) is or was a director or officer of the corporation, (b) is or was a director or officer of another corporation (i) at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the corporation, or (ii) at the request of the corporation, or (c) at the request of the corporation, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity. An "eligible proceeding" means a proceeding in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the corporation or an associated corporation (a) is or may be joined as a party, or (b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding.
A corporation must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party (a) has not been reimbursed for those expenses, and (b) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.
A corporation may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding, provided the corporation first receives from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.
A corporation must not indemnify an eligible party or pay the expenses of an eligible party if any of the following circumstances apply:
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if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the agreement to indemnify or pay expenses was made, the corporation was prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles;
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if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, the corporation is prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles;
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if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation or the associated corporation, as the case may be;
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in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party's conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful.
If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of the corporation or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, the corporation must not (a) indemnify the eligible party in respect of the proceeding or (b) pay the expenses of the eligible party in respect of the proceeding.
A corporation may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible party or the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party against any liability that may be incurred by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the corporation or an associated corporation.
The Registrant's articles provide that the Registrant's directors must cause the Registrant to indemnify its directors and former directors, and their respective heirs and personal or other legal representatives to the greatest extent permitted by Division 5 of Part 5 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and each director is deemed to have contracted with the Registrant on this term.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Exhibits
The following exhibits have been filed as part of this registration statement:
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Exhibit
Number
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Description
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4.1
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Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2021 filed on June 29, 2021 (incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on June 29, 2021)
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4.2*
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Audited annual financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2021
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4.3*
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Management discussion and analysis for the year ended March 31, 2021
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4.4
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Notice of annual general and special meeting of shareholders and information circular dated April 12, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 the Current Report on Form 6-K filed on April 22, 2021)
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4.5
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Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for the year ended March 31, 2021 filed on July 6, 2021 (incorporated by reference to the Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 20-F/A filed on June 29, 2021)
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5.1*
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Consent of Crowe MacKay LLP
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* Filed herewith
PART III
UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
The Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to the securities registered pursuant to this Form F-10 or to transactions in said securities.
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Item 2.
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Consent to Service of Process
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Concurrently with the filing of this registration statement on Form F-10, the Registrant is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a written irrevocable consent and power of attorney on Form F-X.
Any change to the name or address of the agent for service of the Registrant shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by amendment to Form F-X referencing the file number of this registration statement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-10 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia, Canada, on July 22, 2021.
GREENPOWER MOTOR COMPANY INC.
By:
__/s/ Fraser Atkinson_____________________________________
Fraser Atkinson
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
____/s/ Fraser Atkinson__________________________________
Fraser Atkinson
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: July 22, 2021
__/s/ Michael Sieffert____________________________________
Michael Sieffert
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
Date: July 22, 2021
__/s/ Mark Achtemichuk_____________________________________
Mark Achtemichuk
Director
Date: July 22, 2021
___/s/ Malcolm Clay____________________________________
Malcolm Clay
Director
Date: July 22, 2021
___/s/ Cathy McLay_________________________________
Cathy McLay
Director
Date: July 22, 2021
__/s/ David Richardson___________________________________
David Richardson
Director
Date: July 22, 2021
___/s/ Brendan Riley_____________________________________
Brendan Riley
Authorized Representative in the United States and Director
Date: July 22, 2021
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