PROSPECTUS
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)
File No. 333-267896
Up to 2,100,000 Units, Each Unit Consisting of One Common Share
or One Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase One Common Share
and Two Warrants to Purchase One Common Share
(and common shares underlying such pre-funded warrants and warrants)
We are offering up to 2,100,000 units, with each unit consisting of one of our common shares, no par value per share, and two warrants to purchase one common share each at a public offering price of $1.00 per unit, on a best-efforts basis. All of the shares and warrants included in this offering are being sold by us.
We are also offering to certain purchasers whose purchase of common shares in this offering would otherwise result in the purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common shares immediately following the consummation of this offering, the opportunity to purchase, if any such purchaser so chooses, pre-funded warrants, in lieu of common shares that would otherwise result in such purchaser’s beneficial ownership exceeding 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common shares. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable for one common share. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant and the accompanying warrants will be equal to the price at which a common share and warrants are sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.0001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant will be $0.0001 per common share. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until all of the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. This offering also relates to the common shares issuable upon exercise of any pre-funded warrants sold in this offering. Each pre-funded warrant is being sold together with two warrants to purchase one of our common shares each. For each pre-funded warrant we sell, the number of common shares we are offering will be decreased on a one-for-one basis. Because we will issue two warrants for each common share and for each pre-funded warrant to purchase one common share sold in this offering, the number of warrants sold in this offering will not change as a result of a change in the mix of the common shares and pre-funded warrants sold.
The common shares, pre-funded warrants and the warrants comprising the units are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering. The warrants included in the units are exercisable immediately and have an exercise price equal to $1.10 per common share. The warrants will not be listed for trading and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The units will not be issued or certificated. Purchasers will receive only common shares, pre-funded warrants and warrants. The common shares and/or pre-funded warrants and warrants may be transferred separately, immediately upon issuance. The offering also includes the common shares issuable from time to time upon exercise of the warrants.
Our common shares are presently quoted on Nasdaq under the symbol “VS”. We do not intend to apply for any listing of the warrants or pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a market to develop for the warrants or pre-funded warrants.
We have engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC, or the placement agent, to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering. The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities we are offering and the placement agent is not required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number of securities or dollar amount. We have agreed to pay to the placement agent the placement agent fees set forth in the table below, which assumes that we sell all of the securities offered by this prospectus. There is no minimum number of securities or minimum aggregate amount of proceeds that is a condition for this offering to close. We may sell fewer than all of the securities offered hereby, which may significantly reduce the amount of proceeds received by us, and investors in this offering will not receive a refund if we do not sell all of the securities offered hereby. In addition, we have not specified a minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds and we have not established an escrow account in connection with this offering. Because there is no escrow account and no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds, investors could be in a position where they have invested in us, but we have not raised sufficient proceeds in this offering to adequately fund the intended uses of the proceeds as described in this prospectus. We will bear all costs associated with the offering. See “Plan of Distribution” on page 49 of this prospectus for more information regarding these arrangements.
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and a “foreign private issuer” under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer.”
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.
|
|
Per Unit(2)
|
|
Total
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
$
|
2,100,000
|
Placement agent fees(1)
|
|
$
|
0.07
|
|
$
|
147,000
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us(3)
|
|
$
|
0.93
|
|
$
|
1,953,000
|
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We anticipate that delivery of the securities against payment will be made on or about December 9, 2022 subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
____________________
Roth Capital Partners
The date of this prospectus is December 6, 2022.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
When used in this prospectus, including the documents that we have incorporated by reference, in future filings with the SEC or in press releases or other written or oral communications, statements that are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters, are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). In particular, statements pertaining to our trends, liquidity and capital resources, among others, contain forward-looking statements. You can also identify forward-looking statements by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the following:
• our prospects, including our future business, revenues, expenses, net income, earnings per share, gross margins, profitability, cash flows, cash position, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, backlog of orders and revenue, our targeted growth rate, our goals for future revenues and earnings, and our expectations about realizing the revenues in our backlog and in our sales pipeline;
• the potential impact of COVID-19 on our business and results of operations;
• the effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations of current and future economic, business, market and regulatory conditions, including the current economic and market conditions and their effects on our customers and their capital spending and ability to finance purchases of our products, services, technologies and systems;
• the effects of fluctuations in sales on our business, revenues, expenses, net income, earnings per share, margins, profitability, cash flows, capital expenditures, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations;
• our products, services, technologies and systems, including their quality and performance in absolute terms and as compared to competitive alternatives, their benefits to our customers and their ability to meet our customers’ requirements, and our ability to successfully develop and market new products, services, technologies and systems;
• our markets, including our market position and our market share;
• our ability to successfully develop, operate, grow and diversify our operations and businesses;
• our business plans, strategies, goals and objectives, and our ability to successfully achieve them;
• the sufficiency of our capital resources, including our cash and cash equivalents, funds generated from operations, availability of borrowings under our credit and financing arrangements and other capital resources, to meet our future working capital, capital expenditure, lease and debt service and business growth needs;
• the value of our assets and businesses, including the revenues, profits and cash flows they are capable of delivering in the future;
• the effects on our business operations, financial results, and prospects of business acquisitions, combinations, sales, alliances, ventures and other similar business transactions and relationships;
• industry trends and customer preferences and the demand for our products, services, technologies and systems; and
• the nature and intensity of our competition, and our ability to successfully compete in our markets.
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These statements are necessarily subjective, are based upon our current plans, intentions, objectives, goals, strategies, beliefs, projections and expectations, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements described in or implied by such statements. Actual results may differ materially from expected results described in our forward-looking statements, including with respect to correct measurement and identification of factors affecting our business or the extent of their likely impact, the accuracy and completeness of the publicly-available information with respect to the factors upon which our business strategy is based, or the success of our business. Furthermore, industry forecasts are likely to be inaccurate, especially over long periods of time.
Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times by which, our performance or results may be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and management’s belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause actual results, our performance or achievements, or industry results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in this prospectus as well as other risks and factors identified from time to time in our SEC filings.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our securities. We urge you to read this entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein carefully, including the financial statements and notes to those financial statements incorporated by reference herein and therein. Please read the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” for more information about important risks that you should consider before investing in our securities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to reinvent the way our customers interact with consumers through live events, games, apps and streaming content.
Our Company
We offer a proprietary business-to-business software platform called eXtreme Engagement Online (“XEO”) that allows live event producers, professional sports franchises, video game publishers and developers and professional sports franchises, as well as other interactive media content creators, the ability to offer in-game prizing and rewards based on the completion of in-content challenges alongside other user engagement tools. The prizes or rewards offered are specific to each player or viewer based on a variety of user- and content-based characteristics, including age, location, game played and challenge undertaken. Our platform facilitates several types of single player prize challenges that includes a wide range of prize types, including coupons, sweepstakes-style prizes, consumer packaged goods (“CPG”) and downloadable content (“DLC”).
With the acquisition of Xcite Interactive Inc. (“Xcite Interactive”) in June of 2021, we acquired a number of key pieces of technology and relationships that we believe will benefit our engagement and rewards business. First, we gained an industry-leading live events fan engagement business that partners with over 50 professional sports franchises across the National Football League (“NFL”), the National Basketball Association (“NBA”), the National Hockey League (“NHL”) and others to drive in-stadium audience engagement using interactive gaming functions like trivia, polling, and casual games that can be played alongside the live experience. Our three largest customers in 2022 year-to-date include the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, and the San Antonio Rodeo. We also acquired a growing software licensing business that takes the in-venue fan engagement tools and methods developed by Xcite and its team over decades and customizes those tools in a scalable way to allow teams and content partners of all sizes to engage with fans in-venue and at home in measurable, effective ways at a fraction of the cost of a large professional game operations staff.
We license our XEO software platform to teams, leagues, and other content creators to provide a recurring revenue stream that supplements our professional services and advertising revenues. In addition to providing improved consumer engagement with games and features like trivia and polling, the XEO platform provides improved analytics and flexibility for our content partners through the real-time action board. The action board provides content partners with actionable insights during the game, and it also gives operators tools to adjust the run of show, reacting in real time to events that are happening on the field or in-venue, giving a more urgent, contextual feel to the content and making fan’s interactivity feel more authentic and personal. This real-time engagement technology, coupled with improved analytics about player behavior, allows for both an improved audience experience and also improved advertising efficiency.
We are able to provide our customers an opportunity for improved fan engagement, not only reaching out to those fans who are in the stadium, but also to those watching at home on television or streaming the game on a computer or mobile device. With XEO, fans can follow the game, interact with other fans through a chat function, and compete for prizes and rewards offered by the team itself or by one of the team’s sponsors or branding partners. This engagement and rewards model can extend beyond professional sports to viewers of college sports, the Olympics, awards shows, reality TV, or even streaming content on platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Twitch. By driving second screen engagement, content providers, such as sports teams, are able to maintain the consumer’s attention during lengthy commercials, timeouts and breaks in play.
We believe our platform provides real benefits for three key target groups: content providers, brands and agencies, and fans/players. By providing interactivity and in-content rewards, content providers see more frequent sessions and longer session times from their users and viewers. Consumer brands offering sponsorships and
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in-content prizes or rewards within our interactive experiences see improved brand recall and brand affinity, as well as prolonged and increased interest from players and consumers who view their goods as a positive “win” within their viewing experience rather than as a distraction from the content they are watching as is typically the case with traditional in-content advertising. Players, viewers, and consumers who interact alongside their favorite content, especially players who play for real-world rewards, show an increased desire to interact with such content, which increases the value of the content as a supplier of prizing opportunities, of the brands that offer the prizes, and of the experience itself as an interactive and desirable challenge for players and viewers.
We monetize prizes and sponsorships in a number of ways including Cost Per Click (“CPC”), Cost Per Action (“CPA”), and sponsorship revenues that can be charged to the brand. In those cases, we either are paid to place images within our interactive elements, or as a function of an end user interacting with the brand (CPC), or as a function of the user accepting the reward or in some way transacting with the brand (CPA). We share a certain percentage of the gross receipts we receive from such brand customers with the content partners who are the owners of the media in which the prizes or rewards are offered. Our current agreements with the owners or marketers of consumer brands provide that we are paid a fee to place their ads in content, the amount of which is based either on the number of ads placed or upon the performance of those ads relative to the brand’s goals.
Our revenues have principally come from software licensing and professional services provided to professional sports franchises, as well as from fan engagement events like rodeos, boxing matches, concerts, and other live events including the Olympics, Women’s World Cup, the X Games, and other global sporting events.
Our technology facilitates advertising that is part of the entertainment itself — part of the narrative, not as a distraction. By creating an environment that makes brands part of a desired experience — winning prizes or rewards — we empower content providers and brands to engage consumers more effectively and for more extended periods of time.
Our Products and Services
We provide the following products and services to our partners and customers:
• Professional Services: Integration, Customization, and Production. Our patented platform can be integrated into games and interactive media through a number of Software Development Kits (SDKs), including SDKs for iOS, Android, Unity, C++ and others. We also work with partners such as HP to develop bespoke instances of our rewards platform, as we did with their OMEN Rewards system available inside OMEN Command Center in every HP OMEN and Pavilion gaming desktop and laptop. We also offer professional design, development and platform integration services to content partners who seek a more bespoke solution. A majority of our professional sports team partners use some degree of customization in the application of our engagement platform. We also offer live-event production services, helping support the implantation of our platforms, including the production of creative assets to create a more seamless fan experience for a team or venue.
• XEO Platforms. Our engagement technology platform is used to power fan engagement at live-event and other entertainment focused properties, including partnering with multiple professional sports franchises to drive in-stadium audience engagement. In addition to providing improved consumer engagement, our XEO platform provides increased transparency and flexibility through the real time action board. The action board reduces data to information in which the content provider can act on during the live event. In addition, it allows for audience segmentation and targeted advertising technology further improving advertising efficiency.
• Click Play Win Product. Click Play Win is an advertising tool that allows content creators, marketers, agencies, and other advertisers to increase customer acquisition and loyalty through a combination of games and rewards. Our customers use Click Play Win to create interactive advertisements that offer coupons and rewards. The product is compatible with a number of digital platforms and can be integrated into customers’ existing advertising campaigns. Click Play Win is designed to increase customer transactions and also increase the collection of zero-party data, which is first-party data that is consensually provided by consumers directly to advertisers. Consumers are incented to provide their data
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inside Click Play Win as they register to play games for prizes and rewards that may include coupons, real-world goods and services, sweepstakes entries, and digital goods including downloadable content for games, digital collectibles, and web3 products.
• White-Label Rewards Platforms. Our technology can be easily integrated into mobile apps to track any behavior that a content, publishing, or health and fitness program partner may want to incentivize. We can also white label and/or license technologies like our stand-alone mobile app to enable partners to create an entire rewards ecosystem where activities in one application earn rewards or discounts from another part of the same company. For example, we can assist a partner in creating a mobile app that would allow a consumer to earn movie tickets to a comic book movie for purchasing or reading the online comic, or a consumer to earn discounts on in-stadium concessions or on team apparel for playing a sports trivia game or for watching games live on his or her mobile device. We work with content partners to create entire in-house rewards programs for their users that promote cross-sales within a company, or new channels for the sale of licensed goods, or new opportunities for event or brand sponsors. Our systems and applications can be white labeled and sold as a rewards platform for those partners looking to increase engagement and stickiness with their customers.
• Advertising services. In connection with the placement or licensing of our engagement and rewards platforms, we market our services to brand partners to place their products, discounts or coupons into Versus-enabled content so that users, viewers and players can earn those rewards for their in-game or in-app behavior. When providing those services, we typically charge the brand only when a player attempts to win one of the brand’s proffered prizes. However, in certain cases may also charge on a CPC, CPE or a CPA model.
Corporate History and Structure
Versus Systems Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of British Columbia, was formed by way of an amalgamation under the name McAdam Resources, Inc. in the Province of Ontario on December 1, 1988 and subsequently extra-provincially registered in British Columbia on February 2, 1989. We changed our name to Boulder Mining Corporation on May 9, 1995 in Ontario and on September 25, 1996 in British Columbia. We continued into British Columbia on January 2, 2007 and concurrently changed our name to Opal Energy Corp. We changed our name to Versus Systems Inc. on June 30, 2016, and concurrently ceased or divested our mining related business and began operating our current software platform business.
In June 2021, we completed the acquisition of multimedia, production, and interactive gaming company Xcite Interactive, a provider of online audience engagement through its owned and operated XEO technology platform. We now provide products and services to multiple professional sports franchises across MLB, the NHL, the NBA and the NFL to drive in-stadium audience engagement as well as a software licensing business to drive audience engagement.
We operate through our majority-owned subsidiary, Versus LLC, a Nevada limited liability company that was organized on August 21, 2013, and through our wholly owned subsidiary, Xcite Interactive Inc, a Delaware company that was reorganized as such on April 1, 2019.
Our principal executive offices in Canada are located at 1558 Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6G 3J4 Canada, and our telephone number at that address is (604) 639-4457. Our principal executive offices in the United States are located at 6701 Center Drive West, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90045, and our telephone number at that address is (424) 226-8588. Our website address is www.versussystems.com. The information on or accessed through our website is not incorporated in this prospectus. The SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issues that file electronically with the SEC.
Over 2019, 2020, and 2021, we principally developed and operated a business-to-business software platform that allows video game publishers and developers, as well as other interactive media content creators, to offer in-game prizing and rewards based on the completion of in-content challenges. We spent approximately $6.5 million during those years to develop the system, and $20.5 million to operate the system and for general working capital needs. We are continuing to develop and operate this system and have similar- expenditures in progress similar in size to those in prior years. We operate principally in the United States of America where we develop and operate our software platform. We operate our corporate finance and treasury functions in Canada.
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The following chart reflects our organizational structure (including the jurisdiction of formation or incorporation of the various entities):
Name of Subsidiary
|
|
Country of Incorporation
|
|
Proportion of Ownership Interest
|
Versus Systems (Holdco), Inc.
|
|
United States of America
|
|
81.9
|
%
|
Versus Systems UK, Ltd
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
81.9
|
%
|
Versus, LLC
|
|
United States of America
|
|
81.9
|
%
|
Xcite Interactive, Inc.
|
|
United States of America
|
|
100
|
%
|
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer
Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in their periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for its securities and the prices of its securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We do not intend to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with certain other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which it has a total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of its common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter; and (ii) the date on which it has issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Foreign Private Issuer
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act and, as such, we are permitted to follow the corporate governance practices of our home country, Canada, in lieu of the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq applicable to U.S. domestic companies. We intend to continue to follow our home country’s corporate governance practices as long as we remain a foreign private issuer. As a result, our shareholders may not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of U.S. domestic companies that are subject to Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. As a foreign private issuer, we are also subject to reduced disclosure requirements and are exempt from certain provisions of the U.S. securities rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers such as the rules regulating solicitation of proxies and certain insider reporting and short-swing profit rules.
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Risks Associated with Our Business
Our ability to execute our business strategy is subject to numerous risks, as more fully described in the section captioned “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. You should read these risks before you invest in our securities. In particular, risks associated with our business include, but are not limited to, the following:
• We have a relatively limited operating history and limited revenues to date and thus are subject to risks of business development and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
• We are a holding company and depend upon our subsidiaries for our cash flows.
• Future acquisitions or strategic investments could disrupt our business and harm our business, results of operations or financial condition.
• We will require additional funding for our growth plans, and such funding may result in a dilution of your investment.
• We may not have sufficient capital to fund our ongoing operations, effectively pursue our strategy or sustain our growth initiatives.
• Changes in our relationships with our most significant customers, including the loss or reduction in business, could have an adverse impact on us.
• Our operations are significantly dependent on changes in public and customer tastes and discretionary spending patterns. Our inability to successfully anticipate customer preferences or to gain popularity for games may negatively impact our profitability.
• If we fail to keep up with industry trends or technological developments, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
• If we cannot continue to develop, acquire, market and offer new products and services or enhancements to existing products and services that meet customer requirements, our operating results could suffer.
• We make significant investments in new products and services that may not achieve expected returns.
• If we fail to retain existing users or add new users, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected
• Our insurance coverage may not adequately protect us against all future risks, which may adversely affect our business and prospects.
• Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.
• Public health epidemics or outbreaks, such as COVID-19, could materially and adversely impact our business.
• Our business may be harmed if our licensing partners, or other third parties with whom we do business, act in ways that put our brand at risk.
• If we fail to keep our existing users highly engaged, to acquire new users, to successfully implement an award-prizes model for our user community, our business, profitability and prospects may be adversely affected.
• Our failure to protect our intellectual property rights may undermine our competitive position.
• Our business is highly dependent on the proper functioning and improvement of our information technology systems and infrastructure. Our business and operating results may be harmed by service disruptions, or by our failure to timely and effectively scale up and adjust our existing technology and infrastructure.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a number of risks. Before deciding to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 included in our Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 14, 2022, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the information and documents incorporated by reference herein, and in any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with an offering. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common shares to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The risks described in the documents referenced above are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business.
The proceeds of this offering will provide us only limited working capital and our inability to generate sufficient cash flows, raise additional capital when required, and actively manage our liquidity may impair our ability to execute our business plan, result in our reducing or eliminating product development and commercialization efforts and ultimately may cause you to lose a significant portion or all of your investment in our common shares.
As of November 30, 2022, we have approximately $482,000 in cash. Assuming that we receive net proceeds of approximately $1,678,000 from this offering, we expect to be able to continue to operate only for approximately six to eight weeks. As this offering is being made on a best efforts basis and there is no minimum number of units or minimum aggregate amount of proceeds that is a condition for this offering to close, the net proceeds we receive from this offering may be significantly less than such amount, which would reduce the time period that we expect to be able to continue to operate. As a result, we expect to need to raise additional capital through equity or debt financing early in the first quarter of 2023. We intend to seek equity and/or debt financing in an amount of at least $10 million that will enable us to continue to meet our capital needs for the next 12 months, but cannot give any assurance as to whether, when, in what amounts or on what terms we will obtain it.
To the extent possible, we will attempt to (i) continually monitor our sales prospects, (ii) continually aim to reduce costs and (iii) advance our technology and product offerings. However, because these above factors are not fully within our control, we may not be able to accurately predict our necessary cash expenditures or obtain financing in a timely manner to cover any shortfalls. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows or obtain adequate financing, we may be prevented from executing our business plan on a timely basis or at all. In addition, we may be forced to reduce our sales and marketing efforts or forego attractive business opportunities, or to shut down our operations entirely. Our ability to obtain additional funding will determine our ability to continue as a going concern. Failure to secure additional financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms would have a material adverse effect on our financial performance, results of operations and stock price and could require us to curtail or cease operations, sell off our assets, seek protection from our creditors through bankruptcy proceedings, or otherwise revise our business plan or strategy. Furthermore, additional equity financing may be dilutive to the holders of our common shares, and debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants and may require that we relinquish valuable rights. Our inability to raise additional capital could cause you to lose a significant portion or all of your investment in our common shares.
This is a reasonable best efforts offering, in which no minimum number or dollar amount of securities is required to be sold, and we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our business plans.
The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the securities in this offering. The placement agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the securities. There is no required minimum number of securities that must be sold as a condition to completion of this offering, and there can be no assurance that the offering contemplated hereby will ultimately be consummated. Even if we sell securities offered hereby, because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to the closing of this offering, the actual offering amount is not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amount set forth above. We may sell fewer than all of the securities offered hereby, which may significantly reduce the amount of proceeds received by us. Thus, we may not raise the amount of capital we believe is required for our operations in the short-term and may need to raise additional funds, which may not be available or available on terms acceptable to us.
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If you purchase the common shares or pre-funded warrants, you will experience immediate dilution as a result of this offering.
Since the price per share of our common shares being offered is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common shares, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the common shares you purchase in this offering or the common shares underlying the pre-funded warrants you purchase in this offering. After giving effect to the sale by us of (i) an aggregate of 2,100,000 of our common shares at the public offering price of $1.00 per common share and pre-funded warrants at the public offering price of $0.9999 per pre-funded warrant, if you purchase common shares or pre-funded warrants in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of approximately $0.76 per share in the net tangible book value of the common shares. See the section entitled “Dilution” in this prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase common shares and/or pre-funded warrants in this offering.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares that could result in further dilution to the investor purchasing our common shares in this offering or result in downward pressure on the price of our common shares. We may sell our common shares or other securities in any other offering at prices that are higher or lower than the prices paid by the investor in this offering, and the investor purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. Moreover, to the extent that we issue options or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, our common shares in the future and those options, warrants or other securities are exercised, converted or exchanged, stockholders may experience further dilution.
The trading price of our common shares has been, and is likely to continue to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Our share price is volatile. During the period from January 1, 2022 to December 6, 2022, the closing price of our common shares ranged from a high of $36.45 per share to a low of $1.49 per share. The stock market in general has experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your common shares at or above the public offering price and you may lose some or all of your investment.
There is no public market for the pre-funded warrants or the warrants being offered in this offering.
There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants or the warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the pre-funded warrants or the warrants on any securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants and the warrants will be limited.
Holders of the pre-funded warrants and the warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as common shareholders until such holders exercise their pre-funded warrants or warrants and acquire our common shares, except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants or the warrants.
Until holders of the pre-funded warrants or the warrants acquire our common shares upon exercise of such warrants, holders of the pre-funded warrants and the warrants will have no rights with respect to our common shares underlying such pre-funded warrants or warrants. Upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants or the warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common shareholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the proceeds we receive from the sale our securities pursuant to this prospectus and might not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.
Our management will have broad discretion to use the net proceeds from the offering, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. Except as described in any prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you, the net proceeds received by us from our sale of the securities described in this prospectus will be added to our general
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funds and will be used as described under “Use of Proceeds” herein. Our management might not apply the net proceeds from offerings of our securities in ways that increase the value of your investment and might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of such net proceeds. You may not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use such proceeds.
If we fail to maintain compliance with the minimum listing requirements, our common shares will be subject to delisting. Our ability to publicly or privately sell equity securities and the liquidity of our common shares could be adversely affected if our common shares are delisted.
The Nasdaq continued listing standards require, among other things, that the minimum price of a listed company’s stock be at or above $1.00. If the minimum bid price is below $1.00 for a period of more than 30 consecutive trading days, the listed company will fail to be in compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules and, if it does not regain compliance within the grace period, will be subject to delisting. The bid price of our common shares has recently closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement and on July 14, 2022 we received a notification of noncompliance from Nasdaq. On November 9, 2022, we effected a one-for-15 reverse stock split, and on November 23, 2022, we received a notice from Nasdaq informing us that we regained compliance with Nasdaq’s listing rules, and that the matter is now closed.
Although we have regained compliance, there can be no assurance that we will remain in compliance in the future. If we do not maintain compliance in the future, our common shares could be subject to delisting, which could adversely affect our ability to consummate a strategic transaction and raise additional financing through the public or private sale of equity securities, and would significantly affect the ability of investors to trade our securities and negatively affect the value and liquidity of our common shares. Delisting could also have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees and the loss of institutional investor interest.
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Certain Adjustments. Subject to certain exemptions outlined in the warrants, if prior to the trading day immediately following the consummation of our first bona fide public offering of common shares and/or Common Share Equivalents (as defined in the warrants) we sell, enter into an agreement to sell, or grant any option to purchase, or sell, enter into an agreement to sell, or grant any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issue (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any common shares or Common Share Equivalents at an effective price per share less than the exercise price of the warrants then in effect, the exercise price of the warrants shall be reduced to equal the effective price per share in such dilutive issuance; provided, however, that the exercise price shall not be reduced to an amount less than 20% of the closing price of our common shares on the trading day immediately preceding the date of this prospectus (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends and the like). The exercise price and the number of common shares purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants are also subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of other specific events, including stock dividends, stock splits, combinations and reclassifications of our common shares.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the warrants may be transferred at the option of the holders upon surrender of the warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Fundamental Transactions. If, at any time while the warrants are outstanding, (1) we consolidate or merge with or into another corporation and we are not the surviving corporation, (2) we sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, (3) any purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by us or another individual or entity) is completed pursuant to which holders of our common shares are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their common shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of our outstanding common shares, (4) we effect any reclassification or recapitalization of our common shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which our common shares are converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (5) we consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination with another person or entity whereby such other person or entity acquires more than 50% of our outstanding common shares, each a “Fundamental Transaction,” then upon any subsequent exercise of the warrants, the holder thereof will have the right to receive the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of the number of warrant shares then issuable upon exercise of the warrant, and any additional consideration payable as part of the Fundamental Transaction. Additionally, as more fully described in the warrant, in the event of certain Fundamental Transactions, the holders of the warrants will be entitled to receive consideration in an amount equal to the Black Scholes value of the warrants on the date of consummation of such transaction.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our common shares, the holder of a warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common shares, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the warrant.
Beneficial Ownership Limitation. A holder’s exercise shall be limited to 4.99% of our outstanding common shares (or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of any warrants, 9.99%) of the number of the common shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of common shares issuable upon exercise. The holder, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the beneficial ownership limitation provided that the beneficial ownership limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of the common shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of common shares upon exercise of the warrant held by the holder. Any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
Governing Law. The warrants are governed by New York law.
Pre-funded Warrants to be issued in this Offering
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the pre-funded warrants offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the form of the pre-funded warrant, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part of. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions set forth in the form of pre-funded warrant.
Exercisability. The pre-funded warrants will be issued in certificated form, are exercisable immediately upon issuance and may be exercised at any time until the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full at an exercise price equal to $0.0001 per common share. The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in
whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of our common shares purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below). Unless otherwise specified in the pre-funded warrant, the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the pre-funded warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of our common shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise (or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of any pre-funded warrants, 9.99%), as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants.
Cashless Exercise. The holder may, at any time and in its sole discretion, exercise the pre-funded warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the net number of common shares determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant.
Certain Adjustments. The exercise price and the number of common shares purchasable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specific events, including stock dividends, stock splits, combinations and reclassifications of our common shares.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the pre-funded warrants may be transferred at the option of the holders upon surrender of the pre-funded warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
Fundamental Transactions. If, at any time while the pre-funded warrants are outstanding, (1) we consolidate or merge with or into another corporation and we are not the surviving corporation, (2) we sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, (3) any purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by us or another individual or entity) is completed pursuant to which holders of our common shares are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their common shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of our outstanding common shares, (4) we effect any reclassification or recapitalization of our common shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which our common shares are converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (5) we consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination with another person or entity whereby such other person or entity acquires more than 50% of our outstanding common shares, each a “Fundamental Transaction,” then upon any subsequent exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the holder thereof will have the right to receive the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of the number of warrant shares then issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrant, and any additional consideration payable as part of the Fundamental Transaction.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our common shares, the holder of a pre-funded warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common shares, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the pre-funded warrant.
Beneficial Ownership Limitation. A holder’s exercise shall be limited to 4.99% of our outstanding common shares (or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of any pre-funded warrants, 9.99%) of the number of the common shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of common shares issuable upon exercise. The holder, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the beneficial ownership limitation provided that the beneficial ownership limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of the common shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of common shares upon exercise of the pre-funded warrant held by the holder. Any increase in the beneficial ownership limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
Governing Law. The pre-funded warrants are governed by New York law.
Placement Agent Warrants to be issued in this Offering
We have agreed to issue warrants to the placement agent, upon the closing of this offering, which entitle it to purchase up to 3.5% of the total number of securities sold to investors pursuant to this prospectus (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The exercise price of these warrants is $1.25. The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable immediately upon issuance, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the five-year period
commencing from the commencement of sales of this offering. The terms of the Placement Agent Warrants are substantially similar to the warrants being issued as part of this offering. The Placement Agent Warrants and the common shares underlying the Placement Agent Warrants are being registered hereby.
Other Outstanding Warrants
At December 1, 2022, we had outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 858,031 common shares with an exercise price range from $7.80 per share to $112.50 per share. These warrants have expiration dates ranging from January 20, 2026 to January 18, 2028.
Number of Share Purchase Warrants
|
|
Exercise Price (USD$)
|
|
Expiry Date
|
112,489
|
|
$
|
112.50
|
|
January 20, 2026
|
331,042
|
|
$
|
28.80
|
|
February 28, 2027
|
414,500
|
|
$
|
7.80
|
|
January 18, 2028
|
858,031
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the terms of such warrants, the exercise price of such warrants is subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, combinations or the like of our common shares.
Options
Pursuant to our 2017 Stock Option Plan, we may grant stock options to our officers, directors, employees and Pursuant to our 2017 Stock Option Plan, we may grant stock options to our officers, directors, employees and consultants. Our 2017 Stock Option Plan is a rolling stock option plan whereby we can issue a number of options to purchase up to 15% of our issued and outstanding common shares. Options have a maximum term of ten years and vesting is determined by our board of directors.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we granted stock options to purchase 64,015 common shares and we recorded share-based compensation of $2,145,928 relating to stock options that vested during the year. As of September 30, 2022, we had outstanding stock options under our 2017 Stock Option Plan to purchase an aggregate of 227,770 common shares with a weighted average exercise price of $37.13 per share.
Listing
Our common shares are listed on Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VS.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The U.S. transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Computershare, Inc., located at 8742 Lucent Boulevard, Suite 300, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80129. The telephone number of Computershare, Inc. at such address is (303) 262-0705.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Key Provisions of our Notice of Articles and Articles and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia)
The following is a summary of certain key provisions of our notice of articles and articles and certain related sections of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”). This is only a summary and is not intended to be exhaustive. For further information please refer to the full version of our notice of articles and to our articles attached as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2022.
Stated Objects or Purposes
Our articles do not contain stated objects or purposes and do not place any limitations on the business that we may carry on.
Directors
Power to vote on matters in which a director is materially interested. Under the BCBCA a director who has a material interest in a contract or transaction, whether made or proposed, that is material to us, must disclose such interest to us, subject to certain exceptions such as if the contract or transaction: (i) is an arrangement by way of security granted by us for money loaned to, or obligations undertaken by, the director for our benefit or for one of our affiliates’ benefit; (ii) relates to an indemnity or insurance permitted under the BCBCA; (iii) relates to the remuneration of the director in his or her capacity as director, officer, employee or agent of our company or of one of our affiliates; (iv) relates to a loan to our company while the director is the guarantor of some or all of the loan; or (v) is with a corporation that is affiliated to us while the director is also a director or senior officer of that corporation or an affiliate of that corporation.
A director who holds such disclosable interest in respect of any material contract or transaction into which we have entered or propose to enter may be required to absent himself or herself from the meeting while discussions and voting with respect to the matter are taking place. Directors are also required to comply with certain other relevant provisions of the BCBCA regarding conflicts of interest.
Directors’ power to determine the remuneration of directors. The remuneration of our directors is determined by our directors subject to our articles. The remuneration may be in addition to any salary or other remuneration paid to any of our employees (including executive officers) who are also directors.
Number of shares required to be owned by a director. Neither our articles nor the BCBCA provide that a director is required to hold any of our shares as a qualification for holding his or her office. Our board of directors has discretion to prescribe minimum share ownership requirements for directors.
Shareholder Meetings
Subject to applicable stock exchange requirements, we must hold a general meeting of our shareholders at least once every year at a time and place determined by our board of directors, provided that the meeting must not be held later than 15 months after the preceding annual general meeting. A meeting of our shareholders may be held anywhere in or outside British Columbia.
A notice to convene a meeting, specifying the date, time and location of the meeting, and, where a meeting is to consider special business, the general nature of the special business must be sent to each shareholder entitled to attend the meeting and to each director not less than 21 days prior to the meeting for so long as we are a public company. The accidental omission to send notice of any meeting of shareholders to, or the non-receipt of any notice by, any person entitled to notice does not invalidate any proceedings at that meeting.
Subject to the special rights and restrictions attached to the shares or any class or series of shares, the quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of shareholders is two shareholders, or one or more proxyholder(s) representing two shareholders, or one member and a proxyholder representing another shareholder. If there is only one shareholder, the quorum is one person present and being, or representing by proxy, such shareholder. If a quorum is not present within one-half hour of the time set for the holding of a meeting of shareholders, the meeting stands adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place, unless the meeting is a general meeting that was requisitioned by shareholders, in which case the meeting is dissolved.
Shareholder Proposals and Advance Notice Procedures
Under the BCBCA, qualified shareholders holding at least one percent (1%) of our issued voting shares or whose shares have a fair market value in excess of CAD$2,000 may make proposals for matters to be considered at the annual general meeting of shareholders. Such proposals must be sent to us in advance of any proposed meeting by delivering a timely written notice in proper form to our registered office in accordance with the requirements of the BCBCA. The notice must include information on the business the shareholder intends to bring before the meeting in the prescribed form. To be a qualified shareholder, a shareholder must currently be and have been a registered or beneficial owner of at least one share of the company for at least two years before the date of signing the proposal.
We have included certain advance notice provisions with respect to the election of our directors in our articles. The advance notice provisions are intended to: (i) facilitate orderly and efficient annual general meetings or, where the need arises, special meetings; (ii) ensure that all shareholders receive adequate notice of board nominations and sufficient information with respect to all nominees; and (iii) allow shareholders to register an informed vote. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the advance notice provisions will be eligible for election as directors at any annual meeting of shareholders, or at any special meeting of shareholders if one of the purposes for which the special meeting was called was the election of directors.
Under the advance notice provisions, a shareholder wishing to nominate a director would be required to provide us notice, in the prescribed form, within the prescribed time periods. These time periods include, (i) in the case of an annual meeting of shareholders (including annual and special meetings), not less than 30 days prior to the date of the annual meeting of shareholders; provided, that if the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting of shareholders, or the Notice Date, is less than 40 days before the meeting date, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the Notice Date; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting (which is not also an annual meeting) of shareholders called for any purpose which includes electing directors, not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the Notice Date.
These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next shareholder meeting the nomination of certain persons for director that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
Under the BCBCA, a company may indemnify: (i) a current or former director or officer of that company; (ii) a current or former director or officer of another corporation if, at the time such individual held such office, the corporation was an affiliate of the company, or if such individual held such office at the company’s request; or (iii) an individual who, at the request of the company, held, or holds, an equivalent position in another entity, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in respect of any legal proceeding or investigative action (whether current, threatened, pending or completed) in which he or she is involved because of that person’s position as an indemnifiable person, unless: (i) the individual did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of such company or the other entity, as the case may be; or (ii) in the case of a proceeding other than a civil proceeding, the individual did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the individual’s conduct was lawful. A company cannot indemnify an indemnifiable person if it is prohibited from doing so under its articles or by applicable law. A company may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an indemnifiable person in respect of that proceeding
only if the indemnifiable person has provided an undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses was prohibited, the indemnifiable person will repay any amounts advanced. Subject to the aforementioned prohibitions on indemnification, a company must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an indemnifiable person in respect of such eligible proceeding if such indemnifiable person has not been reimbursed for such expenses, and was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of such eligible proceeding or was substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of such eligible proceeding. On application from us or from an indemnifiable person, a court may make any order the court considers appropriate in respect of an eligible proceeding, including the indemnification of penalties imposed or expenses incurred in any such proceedings and the enforcement of an indemnification agreement. As permitted by the BCBCA, our articles require us to indemnify our directors, former directors or alternate directors (and such individual’s respective heirs and legal representatives) and permit us to indemnify any person to the extent permitted by the BCBCA.
Ownership and Exchange Controls
There is no limitation imposed by Canadian law or by our articles on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote our common shares, other than discussed below.
Competition Act
Limitations on the ability to acquire and hold our common shares may be imposed by the Competition Act (Canada). This legislation permits the Commissioner of Competition, or Commissioner, to review any acquisition or establishment, directly or indirectly, including through the acquisition of shares, of control over or of a significant interest in us. This legislation grants the Commissioner jurisdiction, for up to one year after the acquisition has been substantially completed, to challenge this type of acquisition by seeking a remedial order, including an order to prohibit the acquisition or require divestitures, from the Canadian Competition Tribunal, which may be granted where the Competition Tribunal finds that the acquisition substantially prevents or lessens, or is likely to substantially prevent or lessen, competition.
This legislation also requires any person or persons who intend to acquire more than 20% of our voting shares or, if such person or persons already own more than 20% of our voting shares prior to the acquisition, more than 50% of our voting shares, to file a notification with the Canadian Competition Bureau if certain financial thresholds are exceeded. Where a notification is required, unless an exemption is available, the legislation prohibits completion of the acquisition until the expiration of the applicable statutory waiting period, unless the Commissioner either waives or terminates such waiting period or issues an advance ruling certificate. The Commissioner’s review of a notifiable transaction for substantive competition law considerations may take longer than the statutory waiting period.
Investment Canada Act
The Investment Canada Act requires each “non Canadian” (as defined in the Investment Canada Act) who acquires “control” of an existing “Canadian business,” to file a notification in prescribed form with the responsible federal government department or departments not later than 30 days after closing, provided the acquisition of control is not a reviewable transaction under the Investment Canada Act. Subject to certain exemptions, a transaction that is reviewable under the Investment Canada Act may not be implemented until an application for review has been filed and the responsible Minister of the federal cabinet has determined that the investment is likely to be of “net benefit to Canada” taking into account certain factors set out in the Investment Canada Act. Under the Investment Canada Act, an investment in our common shares by a non-Canadian who is a World Trade Organization member country investor that is not a state-owned enterprise, including a United States investor would be reviewable only if it were an investment to acquire control of us pursuant to the Investment Canada Act and our enterprise value (as determined pursuant to the Investment Canada Act and its regulations) was equal to or greater than $1.141 billion (as of January 1, 2022). The enterprise value threshold for “trade agreement investors” that are not state-owned enterprises is $1.711 billion (as of January 1, 2022).
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. HOLDERS
Subject to the limitations and qualifications stated herein, this discussion sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition by U.S. Holders (as defined below) of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering, the exercise, disposition and lapse of warrants acquired pursuant to this offering, the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares received upon exercise of such warrants (“the “Warrant Shares”), the ownership, exercise and disposition of pre-funded warrants acquired pursuant to this offering, and the common shares received upon the exercise of such pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrant Shares”). The term “securities” as used in this discussion includes the common shares, pre-funded warrants, warrants, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares, as applicable.
The discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect and all subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary applies only to U.S. Holders and does not address tax consequences to a non-U.S. Holder (as defined below) investing in securities.
This discussion of a U.S. Holder’s tax consequences addresses only those persons that hold securities as capital assets and does not address the tax consequences to any special class of holders, including without limitation, holders (directly, indirectly or constructively) of 10% or more of our equity (based on value or voting power), dealers in securities or currencies, banks, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, financial institutions, broker-dealers, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, traders in securities that elect the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, persons that hold securities that are a hedge or that are hedged against currency or interest rate risks or that are part of a straddle, conversion or “integrated” transaction, persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to the common shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement, U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States, partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Holders that acquire securities in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for services and U.S. Holders whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar. This discussion does not address the effect of the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, U.S. federal estate and gift tax, alternative minimum tax, the 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on net investment income or any state, local or non-U.S. tax laws applicable to a holder of securities. This discussion does not take into account the individual facts and circumstances of any particular U.S. Holder that may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such U.S. Holder, including specific tax consequences to a U.S. Holder under an applicable tax treaty. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income tax advice with respect to any particular U.S. Holder. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. state and local, U.S. federal estate and gift, alternative minimum, and non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the securities.
This discussion also does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to U.S. Holders who are: (a) persons that have been, are, or will be a resident or deemed to be a resident in Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada); (b) persons that use or hold, will use or hold, or that are or will be deemed to use or hold securities in connection with carrying on a business in Canada; (c) persons whose securities constitute “taxable Canadian property” under the Income Tax Act (Canada); or (e) persons that have a permanent establishment in Canada for the purposes of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention.
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of securities acquired pursuant to this offering that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (b) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (d) a trust (i) if a court within the United States can exercise primary supervision over its administration, and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of that trust, or (ii) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. The term “non-U.S. Holder” means any beneficial owner of securities acquired pursuant to this offering that is not a U.S. Holder, a partnership (or an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or a person holding securities through such an entity or arrangement.
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If a partnership or an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds securities, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in partnerships that hold securities should consult their own tax advisors. You are urged to consult your own independent tax advisor regarding the specific U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of securities.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Acquisition of a Common Share or Pre-Funded Warrant Unit
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the acquisition by a U.S. Holder of a common share unit (consisting of one common share and one warrant) or a pre-funded warrant unit (consisting of one pre-funded warrant and one warrant), as the case may be, should be treated as the acquisition of one common share or one pre-funded warrant, as applicable, and one warrant. The purchase price for each common share unit or pre-funded warrant unit, as the case may be, will be allocated between these components in proportion to each component’s relative fair market value at the time the unit is purchased by the U.S. Holder. This allocation of the purchase price for each unit will establish a U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the common share or pre-funded warrant, as applicable, and the warrant that comprise each unit.
For this purpose, the Company will allocate $0.9998 of the purchase price for each unit to the common share or pre-funded warrant, as applicable, and $0.0001 of the purchase price for each unit to each of the two warrants. However, the IRS will not be bound by such allocation of the purchase price for the units, and therefore, the IRS or a U.S. court may not respect the allocation set forth above. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the allocation of the purchase price for the units.
Although it is not entirely free from doubt, a pre-funded warrant should be treated as a separate class of common shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a U.S. Holder of pre-funded warrants and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of common shares except as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant and, upon exercise, the holding period of a pre-funded warrant should carry over to the Pre-Funded Warrant Shares received. Similarly, the tax basis of the pre-funded warrant should carry over to the Pre-Funded Warrant Shares received upon exercise, increased by the exercise price of US$0.0001 per share. However, such characterization is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may treat the pre-funded warrants as warrants to acquire common shares. If so, the amount and character of a U.S. Holder’s gain with respect to an investment in pre-funded warrants could change, and a U.S. Holder may not be entitled to make the QEF election or mark-to-market election described below to mitigate PFIC consequences in the event the Company is classified as a PFIC. Accordingly, each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with the acquisition of a pre-funded warrant pursuant to this offering (including potential alternative characterizations). The balance of this discussion generally assumes that the characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Exercise and Disposition of Warrants
The following discussion is subject in its entirety to the rules described below under the heading “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.”
Exercise of Warrants
A U.S. Holder should not recognize gain or loss on the exercise of a warrant and related receipt of a common share (unless cash is received in lieu of the issuance of a fractional common share). A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Warrant Share received on the exercise of a warrant should be equal to the sum of (a) such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such warrant plus (b) the exercise price paid by such U.S. Holder on the exercise of such warrant. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common share received on the exercise of a warrant should begin on the date that such warrant is exercised by such U.S. Holder. If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Warrant Share for PFIC purposes will begin on the date on which such U.S. Holder acquired its warrant.
Disposition of Warrants
A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of a warrant in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between (a) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received and (b) such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrant sold or otherwise disposed of. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, any such gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss, which will be long-term capital gain or loss if the warrant is held for more than one year. Deductions for capital losses are subject to complex limitations under the Code.
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Expiration of Warrants Without Exercise
Upon the lapse or expiration of a warrant, a U.S. Holder will recognize a loss in an amount equal to such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrant. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss and will be long-term capital loss if the warrant is held for more than one year. Deductions for capital losses are subject to complex limitations under the Code.
Certain Adjustments to the Warrants
Under Section 305 of the Code, an adjustment to the number of common shares that will be issued on the exercise of the warrants, or an adjustment to the exercise price of the warrants, may be treated as a constructive distribution to a U.S. Holder of the warrants if, and to the extent that, such adjustment has the effect of increasing such U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in the “earnings and profits” or the Company’s assets, depending on the circumstances of such adjustment (for example, if such adjustment is to compensate for a distribution of cash or other property to the shareholders). Adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of preventing dilution of the interest of the holders of the warrants generally should not be considered to result in a constructive distribution. Any such constructive distribution would be taxable whether or not there is an actual distribution of cash or other property. (See more detailed discussion of the rules applicable to distributions made by the Company at “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Acquisition, Ownership, and Disposition of Common Shares, Pre-Funded Warrants, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares — Cash Dividends and Other Distributions” below).
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Acquisition, Ownership, and Disposition of Common Shares, Pre-Funded Warrants, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares
The following discussion is subject in its entirety to the rules described below under the heading “Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.”
Cash Dividends and Other Distributions
As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy” above, we currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund business development and growth, and we do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. However, to the extent there are any distributions (including constructive distributions) made with respect to a common share, pre-funded warrant, Warrant Share or Pre-Funded Warrant Share, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income (including the amount of Canadian taxes withheld, if any) as dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (computed using U.S. federal income tax principles). A dividend generally will be taxed to a U.S. Holder at ordinary income tax rates if the Company is a PFIC for the tax year of such distribution or the preceding tax year. To the extent that a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated “earnings and profits,” such distribution will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in such securities and, thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of such securities (see “Sale or Disposition” below). There can be no assurance that we will maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax accounting principles. U.S. Holders should therefore assume that any distribution with respect to the securities will constitute ordinary dividend income. Dividends paid on such securities generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally allowed to U.S. corporations.
Dividends paid to a non-corporate U.S. Holder by a “qualified foreign corporation” may be subject to reduced rates of taxation if certain holding period and other requirements are met. A qualified foreign corporation generally includes a foreign corporation (other than a foreign corporation that is a PFIC in the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year) if (i) its securities are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or (ii) it is eligible for benefits under a comprehensive U.S. income tax treaty that includes an exchange of information program and which the U.S. Treasury Department has determined is satisfactory for these purposes. Our common shares (which would include Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares) are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, the Nasdaq. However, the warrants and pre-funded warrants are not readily tradable on an established securities market. However, the Company may also be eligible for the benefits of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention. Accordingly, subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, we expect that a non-corporate U.S. Holder should qualify for the reduced rate on dividends so long as the applicable holding period requirements are met. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in light of their particular circumstances.
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Non-corporate U.S. Holders will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividends received from us if we are a PFIC in the taxable year in which such dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year.
A U.S. Holder who pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian taxes with respect to dividends paid on our securities (or with respect to any constructive dividend on the warrants) may be entitled to receive, at the election of such U.S. Holder, either a deduction or a foreign tax credit for such Canadian taxes paid. Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability that such U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” taxable income bears to such U.S. Holder’s worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, a U.S. Holder’s various items of income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.” In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific categories of income. Dividends paid by us generally will constitute “foreign source” income and generally will be categorized as “passive category income.” However, if 50% or more of our equity (based on voting power or value) is treated as held by U.S. persons, we will be treated as a “United States-owned foreign corporation,” in which case dividends may be treated for foreign tax credit limitation purposes as “foreign source” income to the extent attributable to our non-U.S. source earnings and profits and as “U.S. source” income to the extent attributable to our U.S. source earnings and profits. Because the foreign tax credit rules are complex, each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
Sale or Disposition
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the taxable sale or exchange of its common shares, pre-funded warrants, Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrant Shares in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar amount realized on such sale or exchange (determined in the case of securities sold or exchanged for currencies other than U.S. dollars by reference to the spot exchange rate in effect on the date of the sale or exchange or, if the securities sold or exchanged are traded on an established securities market and the U.S. Holder is a cash basis taxpayer or an electing accrual basis taxpayer, the spot exchange rate in effect on the settlement date) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the securities sold or otherwise disposed of determined in U.S. dollars.
Assuming we are not a PFIC and have not been treated as a PFIC during your holding period for our securities, such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term gain or loss if the applicable securities have been held for more than one year. Under current law, long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders generally are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Capital gain or loss, if any, recognized by a U.S. Holder generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Consequently, a U.S. Holder may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any Canadian tax imposed on the disposition of a security unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against tax due on other income treated as derived from foreign sources. U.S. Holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the U.S. foreign tax credit in their particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
Status as a PFIC
The rules governing PFICs can have adverse tax effects on U.S. Holders. We generally will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if, for any taxable year, either: (1) 75% or more of our gross income consists of certain types of passive income, or (2) the average value (determined on a quarterly basis), of our assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income is 50% or more of the value of all of our assets.
For purposes of the PFIC provisions, “gross income” generally means sales revenues less cost of goods sold, plus income from investments and from incidental or outside operations or sources. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than certain rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business), annuities and gains from assets that produce passive income. If a non-U.S. corporation owns at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the non-U.S. corporation is treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and as receiving directly its proportionate share of the other corporation’s income.
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Additionally, if we are classified as a PFIC in any taxable year with respect to which a U.S. Holder owns securities, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder in all succeeding taxable years, regardless of whether we continue to meet the tests described above, unless the U.S. Holder makes the “deemed sale election” described below.
We do not believe that we are currently a PFIC, and we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC in the foreseeable future. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the determination of whether we are a PFIC is made annually and depends on the particular facts and circumstances (such as the valuation of our assets, including goodwill and other intangible assets) and also may be affected by the application of the PFIC rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. The fair market value of our assets is expected to depend, in part, upon (a) the market price of our common shares, which is likely to fluctuate, and (b) the composition of our income and assets, which will be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend any cash that is raised in any financing transaction, including this offering. In light of the foregoing, no assurance can be provided that we are not currently a PFIC or that we will not become a PFIC in any future taxable year. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding our potential PFIC status.
Under proposed Treasury Regulations, if the Company is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds warrants, such warrant is considered to be PFIC stock subject to the PFIC default rules described below. Under the rules described below, the holding period for the Warrant Shares will begin on the date a U.S. Holder acquires the related warrant. This will impact the availability of the QEF election and mark-to-market election with respect to the Warrant Shares. Thus, a U.S. Holder will have to account for the Warrant Shares, common shares and pre-funded warrants under the PFIC rules and the applicable elections differently. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own financial advisor, legal counsel, or accountant regarding the application of the PFIC rules to the warrants and the ability to make a QEF election or mark-to-market election with respect to such warrants.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of a Shareholder of a PFIC
If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder owns securities, the U.S. Holder, absent certain elections (including the mark-to-market and QEF elections described below), generally will be subject to adverse rules (regardless of whether we continue to be classified as a PFIC) with respect to (i) any “excess distributions” (generally, any distributions received by the U.S. Holder on its securities in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by the U.S. Holder in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for its securities) and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition, including a pledge, of its securities.
Under these adverse rules (a) the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period, (b) the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income, (c) the amount allocated to each other taxable year during the U.S. Holder’s holding period in which we were classified as a PFIC (i) will be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable category of taxpayer for that year and (ii) will be subject to an interest charge at a statutory rate with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year, and (d) loss recognized on the disposition of the securities will not be deductible.
If we are classified as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder generally will be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of stock or shares owned by us in any direct or indirect subsidiaries that are also PFICs and will be subject to similar adverse rules with respect to any distributions we receive from, and dispositions we make of, the stock or shares of such subsidiaries. You are urged to consult your tax advisors about the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
If we are classified as a PFIC and then cease to be so classified, a U.S. Holder may make an election (a “deemed sale election”) to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having sold such U.S. Holder’s common shares, pre-funded warrants, Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrant Shares on the last day our taxable year during which we were a PFIC. A U.S. Holder that makes a deemed sale election with respect to such securities would then cease to be treated as owning stock in a PFIC by reason of ownership of our common shares, pre-funded warrants, Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrant Shares. However, gain recognized as a result of making the deemed sale election would be subject to the adverse rules described above and loss would not be recognized. No such election, however, may be made with respect to the warrants.
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PFIC “Mark-to-Market” Election
In certain circumstances, a U.S. Holder can avoid certain of the adverse rules described above by making a mark-to-market election with respect to its common shares, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares, provided that such shares are “marketable.” The common shares, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares generally will be marketable if they are “regularly traded” on certain U.S. stock exchanges or on a foreign stock exchange that meets certain conditions. For these purposes, the common shares, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares will be considered regularly traded during any calendar year during which they are traded, other than in de minimis quantities, on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter. Any trades that have as their principal purpose meeting this requirement will be disregarded. Our common shares (which includes Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares) are listed on the Nasdaq, which is a qualified exchange for these purposes. Consequently, if our common shares, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares remain listed on the Nasdaq and are regularly traded, and you are a holder of common shares, Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrant Shares, we expect the mark-to-market election would be available to you if we are a PFIC. There can be no assurance that the shares will be “regularly traded” in subsequent calendar quarters. You should consult your own tax advisor as to the whether a mark-to-market election is available or advisable with respect to the common shares, the Warrant Shares and the Pre-Funded Warrant Shares. A mark-to-market election will likely not be available with respect to the warrants and may not be available with respect to the pre-funded warrants.
Any mark-to-market election made by a U.S. Holder for the common shares or pre-funded warrants will also apply to such U.S. Holder’s Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares. As a result, if a mark-to-market election has been made by a U.S. Holder with respect to its common shares, any Warrant Shares received will automatically be marked-to-market in the year of exercise. Because, under the proposed Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder’s holding period for Warrant Shares includes the period during which such U.S. Holder held the warrants, a U.S. Holder will be treated as making a mark-to-market Election with respect to its Warrant Shares after the beginning of such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Warrant Shares unless the Warrant Shares are acquired in the same tax year as the year in which the U.S. Holder acquired its securities. Consequently, the default PFIC rules described above generally will apply to the mark-to-market gain realized in the tax year in which Warrant Shares are received. However, the general mark-to-market rules will apply to subsequent tax years.
A U.S. Holder that makes a mark-to-market election must include in gross income, as ordinary income, for each taxable year that we are a PFIC an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s common shares, pre-funded warrants, and any Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrant Shares at the close of the taxable year over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such securities. An electing U.S. Holder may also claim an ordinary loss deduction for the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common shares, pre-funded warrants and any Warrant Shares or Pre-Funded Warrant Shares over the fair market value of such securities at the close of the taxable year, but this deduction is allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains previously included in income. A U.S. Holder that makes a mark-to-market election generally will adjust such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common shares, pre-funded warrants, Warrant Shares and Pre-Funded Warrant Shares to reflect the amount included in gross income or allowed as a deduction because of such mark-to-market election. Gains from an actual sale or other disposition of such securities in a year in which we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income, and any losses incurred on a sale or other disposition of such securities will be treated as ordinary losses to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains previously included in income.
If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which a U.S. Holder owns securities but before a mark-to-market election is made, the adverse PFIC rules described above will apply to any mark-to-market gain recognized in the year the election is made. Otherwise, a mark-to-market election will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years. The election cannot be revoked without the consent of the IRS, unless the securities cease to be marketable, in which case the election is automatically terminated.
A U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 to a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the availability of, and procedure for making, a mark-to-market election.
A mark-to-market election is not permitted for the shares of any of our subsidiaries that are also classified as PFICs. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of, and the procedure for making, a mark-to-market election.
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PFIC “QEF” Election
In some cases, a shareholder of a PFIC can avoid the interest charge and the other adverse PFIC consequences described above by obtaining certain information from such PFIC and by making a QEF election to be taxed currently on its share of the PFIC’s undistributed income. We do not, however, expect to provide the information regarding our income that would be necessary in order for a U.S. Holder to make a QEF election with respect to securities if we are classified as a PFIC.
PFIC Information Reporting Requirements
If we are a PFIC in any year, a U.S. Holder of securities in such year will be required to file an annual information return on IRS Form 8621 regarding distributions received on such securities and any gain realized on disposition of such securities. In addition, if we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to file an annual information return with the IRS (also on IRS Form 8621, which PFIC shareholders are required to file with their U.S. federal income tax or information return) relating to their ownership of securities. This new filing requirement is in addition to the pre-existing reporting requirements described above that apply to a U.S. Holder’s interest in a PFIC (which this requirement does not affect).
NO ASSURANCE CAN BE GIVEN THAT WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY A PFIC OR THAT WE WILL NOT BECOME A PFIC IN THE FUTURE. U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE OPERATION OF THE PFIC RULES AND RELATED REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING THE ADVISABILITY OF MAKING ANY ELECTION THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE.
Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding
Under U.S. federal income tax law and applicable Treasury Regulations, certain categories of U.S. Holders must file information returns with respect to their investment in, or involvement in, a non-U.S. corporation. For example, U.S. return disclosure obligations (and related penalties) are imposed on U.S. Holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets in excess of certain threshold amounts. The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, any stock or security issued by a non-U.S. person, any financial instrument or contract held for investment that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person, and any interest in a non-U.S. entity. U.S. Holders may be subject to these reporting requirements unless such U.S. Holder’s securities are held in an account at certain financial institutions. Penalties for failure to file certain of these information returns are substantial.
Payments made within the United States or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman of (a) distributions on the securities, and (b) proceeds arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of securities generally may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, currently at the rate of 24%, if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish such U.S. Holder’s correct U.S. taxpayer identification number (generally on IRS Form W-9), (b) furnishes an incorrect U.S. taxpayer identification number, (c) is notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly report items subject to backup withholding, or (d) fails to certify, under penalty of perjury, that such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S. taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified such U.S. Holder that it is subject to backup withholding. However, certain exempt persons generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding rules. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S. Holder furnishes required information to the IRS in a timely manner. The information reporting and backup withholding rules may apply even if, under the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention, payments may be exempt from the dividend withholding tax rules or otherwise eligible for a reduced withholding rate. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the information reporting and backup withholding rules.
THE ABOVE DISCUSSION DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE OF IMPORTANCE TO A PARTICULAR INVESTOR. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES.
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CANADIAN TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR NON-CANADIAN HOLDERS
The following summary describes, as of the date hereof, the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable to a purchaser who acquires, as a beneficial owner, a unit consisting of one common share and one warrant or a unit consisting of one pre-funded warrant and one warrant, as the case may be, pursuant to this offering and who, at all relevant times, for the purposes of the application of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Income Tax Regulations (Canada) (collectively, the “Canadian Tax Act”), (1) is not, and is not deemed to be, resident in Canada, (2) deals at arm’s length with the Company, (3) is not affiliated with the Company, (4) does not use or hold, and is not deemed to use or hold, common shares or warrants in a business carried on in Canada, (5) holds the common shares and warrants as capital property, and (6) has not entered into, with respect to the common shares or warrants, a “derivative forward agreement” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act) (a “Non-Canadian Holder”). Special rules, which are not discussed in this summary, may apply to a Non-Canadian Holder that is an insurer carrying on an insurance business in Canada and elsewhere or an “authorized foreign bank” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act). For the purposes of this summary, unless otherwise indicated, references to common shares include common shares acquired pursuant to this offering and common shares acquired on the exercise of a warrant or pre-funded warrant acquired pursuant to this offering, and references to warrants include warrants and pre-funded warrants acquired pursuant to this offering.
This summary is based on the current provisions of the Canadian Tax Act, and an understanding of the current administrative policies of the Canada Revenue Agency (the “CRA”) published in writing prior to the date hereof. This summary takes into account all specific proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act and the Canada-United States Tax Convention (1980), as amended (the “Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty”) publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof (the “Proposed Amendments”) and assumes that all Proposed Amendments will be enacted in the form proposed. However, no assurances can be given that the Proposed Amendments will be enacted as proposed, or at all. This summary does not otherwise take into account or anticipate any changes in law or administrative policy or assessing practice whether by legislative, regulatory, administrative or judicial action nor does it take into account tax legislation or considerations of any province, territory or foreign jurisdiction, which may differ from those discussed herein.
This summary is of a general nature only and is not, and is not intended to be, legal or tax advice to any particular purchaser. This summary is not exhaustive of all Canadian federal income tax considerations. Accordingly, you should consult your own tax advisor with respect to your particular circumstances.
Generally, for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act, all amounts relating to the acquisition, holding, or disposition of the common shares or the acquisition, exercise, or disposition of the warrants must be converted into Canadian dollars based on the exchange rates as determined in accordance with the Canadian Tax Act. The amount of any dividends required to be included in the income of, and capital gains or capital losses realized by, a Non-Canadian Holder may be affected by fluctuations in the Canadian exchange rate.
Allocation of Cost
Non-Canadian Holders will be required to allocate on a reasonable basis their cost of each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant between the common share and the warrant or unit consisting of one pre-funded warrant and one warrant between the pre-funded warrant and the warrant, as the case may be, in order to determine their respective costs for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act. For its purposes, the Company intends to allocate $0.9998 of each unit consisting of one common share and two warrants, each to purchase one common share, to the common share, and $0.0001 to each warrant, and $0.9998 of each unit consisting of one pre-funded warrant and two warrants, each to purchase one common share, to the pre-funded warrant, and $0.0001 to each warrant. Although the Company believes that its allocation is reasonable, it is not binding on the CRA or a Non-Canadian Holder and the CRA may not agree with such allocation.
The adjusted cost base to a Non-Canadian Holder of each common share comprising a part of a unit consisting of one common share and one warrant acquired pursuant to this offering will be determined by averaging the cost of such common share with the adjusted cost base to such Non-Canadian Holder of all other common shares in the capital stock of the Company, if any, held by the Non-Canadian Holder as capital property immediately prior to the acquisition.
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Exercise of Warrants
The exercise of a warrant acquired pursuant to this offering to acquire a common share will be deemed not to constitute a disposition of property for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act and consequently no gain or loss will be realized by a Non-Canadian Holder upon such an exercise. When a warrant is exercised, the Non-Canadian Holder’s cost of the common share acquired thereby will be the aggregate of the Non-Canadian Holder’s adjusted cost base of such warrant and the exercise price paid for the common share. The Non-Canadian Holder’s adjusted cost base of the common share so acquired will be determined by averaging such cost with the adjusted cost base (determined immediately before the acquisition of the common share) to the Non-Canadian Holder of all common shares in the capital stock of the Company, if any, held by the Non-Canadian Holder as capital property immediately prior to the acquisition.
Dividends
Dividends paid or credited on the common shares or deemed to be paid or credited on the common shares to a Non-Canadian Holder will be subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 25%, subject to any reduction in the rate of withholding tax to which the Non-Canadian Holder is entitled under any applicable income tax convention between Canada and the country in which the Non-Canadian Holder is resident. For example, under the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty, where dividends on the common shares are considered to be paid to or derived by a Non-Canadian Holder that is a beneficial owner of the dividends and is a U.S. resident for the purposes of, and is entitled to benefits of, the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty, the applicable rate of Canadian withholding tax is generally reduced to 15%.
Dispositions of Common Shares and Warrants
A Non-Canadian Holder will not be subject to tax under the Canadian Tax Act on any capital gain realized on a disposition or deemed disposition of a common share or warrant (as applicable), nor will capital losses arising therefrom be recognized under the Canadian Tax Act, unless the common share or warrant (as applicable) is “taxable Canadian property” to the Non-Canadian Holder for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act and the Non-Canadian Holder is not entitled to relief under an applicable income tax convention between Canada and the country in which the Non-Canadian Holder is resident.
Generally, a common share or warrant (as applicable) will not constitute “taxable Canadian property” to a Non-Canadian Holder at a particular time provided that the common shares are listed at that time on a “designated stock exchange” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), which currently includes the Nasdaq, unless at any particular time during the 60-month period that ends at that time: (i) one or any combination of (a) the Non-Canadian Holder, (b) persons with whom the Non-Canadian Holder does not deal at arm’s length (for the purposes of the Canadian Tax Act), and (c) partnerships in which the Non-Canadian Holder or a person described in (b) holds a membership interest directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships, has owned 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company; and (ii) more than 50% of the fair market value of the common shares was derived, directly or indirectly, from one or any combination of (a) real or immoveable property situated in Canada, (b) “Canadian resource properties” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), (c) “timber resource properties” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), or (d) options in respect of, or interests in, or for civil law rights in, any of the foregoing property, whether or not such property exists. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in certain circumstances set out in the Canadian Tax Act, common shares or warrants could be deemed to be “taxable Canadian property.” Non-Canadian Holders whose common shares or warrants may constitute “taxable Canadian property” should consult their own tax advisors.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Roth Capital Partners, LLC, which we refer to herein as the placement agent, has agreed to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering subject to the terms and conditions of the placement agency agreement dated December 6, 2022. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities offered by this prospectus, nor is it required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but it has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of all of the securities offered hereby. The Placement Agent does not guarantee that it will be able to raise new capital in any prospective offering. The Placement Agent may engage sub-agents or selected dealers to assist with the offering.
We will enter into a securities purchase agreement directly with investors, at such investor’s option, in connection with this offering and may not sell the entire amount of securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. Investors who do not enter into a securities purchase agreement shall rely solely on this prospectus in connection with the purchase of our securities in this offering.
We will deliver the securities being issued to the investors upon receipt of investor funds for the purchase of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus. We expect to deliver the common shares, pre-funded warrants and warrants being offered pursuant to this prospectus on or about December 9, 2022 subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. There is no minimum number of securities or amount of proceeds that is a condition to closing of this offering.
Fees and Expenses
The following table shows the per unit and total Placement Agent fees we will pay in connection with the sale of the securities in this offering.
|
|
Per Unit(2)
|
|
Total
|
Public offering price
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
$
|
2,100,000
|
Placement agent fees(1)
|
|
$
|
0.07
|
|
$
|
147,000
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
|
|
$
|
0.93
|
|
$
|
1,953,000
|
We have agreed to pay to the placement agent a cash fee equal to seven percent (7.0%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this offering. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to closing in this offering, the actual aggregate cash placement fee, if any, is not presently determinable and may be substantially less than the maximum amount set forth above.
We have also agreed to pay the placement agent’s expenses relating to this offering, including the placement agent’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under the placement agency agreement (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of the placement agent’s outside legal counsel up to $125,000 in the aggregate, unless we have agreed in advance to reimburse such costs and expenses in excess of $125,000). We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the total placement agent fees, will be approximately $150,000.
Placement Agent Warrants
We have agreed to issue Placement Agent Warrants to the placement agent, upon the closing of this offering, which entitle it to purchase a number of common shares equal to 3.5% of the total number of securities sold to investors pursuant to this prospectus. The Placement Agent Warrants will have an exercise price of $1.25. The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable immediately upon issuance, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the five-year period commencing from the commencement of sales of this offering. The terms of the Placement Agent Warrants are substantially similar to the warrants being issued as part of this offering. The Placement Agent Warrants and the common shares underlying the Placement Agent Warrants are being registered hereby. The form of the Placement Agent Warrant is included as an exhibit to this registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
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Lock-Up Agreements
Pursuant to “lock-up” agreements, we, our executive officers and directors, and certain holders of more than 10% of our voting securities, have agreed, without the prior written consent of the placement agent not to directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of any of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the transfer or disposition by any person at any time in the future of) our common shares, enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of our common shares, make any demand for or exercise any right or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any common shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common shares or any other securities of our company or publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, subject to customary exceptions, for a period of, in the case of our company, 50 days, and in the case of our executive officers and directors, and certain holders of more than 10% of our voting securities, 90 days, from the closing of the offering.
Regulation M
The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(ii) of the Securities Act. and any commissions received by it and any profit realized on the resale of the shares sold by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As an underwriter, the placement agent would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 4 l 5(a)(4) under the Securities Act and Rule I 06-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of securities by the placement agent acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent:
• may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and
• may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent and specified other persons against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and to contribute to payments the placement agent may be required to make in respect thereof.
Determination of Offering Price
The public offering price per unit and the exercise prices and other terms of the warrants and pre-funded warrants were negotiated between us and the investors, in consultation with the placement agent based on the trading of our common shares prior to this offering, among other things. Other factors considered in determining the public offering prices of the securities we are offering and the exercise prices and other terms of the warrants and pre-funded warrants include the history and prospects of our company, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as were deemed relevant.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The U.S. transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is Computershare, Inc., located at 8742 Lucent Boulevard, Suite 300, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80129. The telephone number of Computershare, Inc. at such address is (303) 262-0705.
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Nasdaq Listing
Our common shares are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VS”. There is no established public trading market for the warrants or pre-funded warrants, and we do not expect such markets to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for a listing of the warrants or pre-funded warrants on any national securities exchange or any other trading system.
Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Securities
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the placement agents or selling group members. The placement agent may agree to allocate a number of securities to the placement agent and selling group members for sale to its online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the placement agent and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Other Relationships
The placement agent and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates for which they may in the future receive customary fees. The placement agent acted as the placement agent in connection with our previous offering consummated in July 2022, for which it has received customary fees and expenses.
Offer restrictions outside the United States
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the placement agent that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of our common shares and certain other matters of Canadian law will be passed upon for us by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia. Certain matters of U.S. federal law will be passed upon for us by Pryor Cashman LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the placement agent by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York with respect to U.S. law.
EXPERTS
Our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 incorporated by reference into this prospectus have been so included in reliance upon the report of Ramirez Jimenez International CPAs, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of the said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 incorporated by reference into this prospectus have been so included in reliance upon the report of Davidson & Company LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of the said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
EXPENSES
The following table sets forth the expenses expected to be incurred by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Securities registered hereby, all of which expenses, except for the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, are estimates:
Description
|
|
Amount
|
SEC Filing Fee
|
|
$
|
1,789.94
|
FINRA Filing Fee
|
|
|
2,936.39
|
Printing Expenses
|
|
|
30,000.00
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
50,000.00
|
Legal Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
60,000.00
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
5,273.67
|
Total
|
|
$
|
150,000.00
|
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia. Some of our directors and officers, and some of the experts named in this prospectus, are residents of Canada or otherwise reside outside of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets, and all or a substantial portion of our assets, are located outside of the United States. We have appointed an agent for service of process in the United States, but it may be difficult for shareholders who reside in the United States to effect service within the United States upon those directors, officers and experts who are not residents of the United States. It may also be difficult for shareholders who reside in the United States to realize in the United States upon judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon our civil liability and the civil liability of our directors, officers and experts under the United States federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that U.S. investors will be able to enforce against us, members of our board of directors, officers or certain experts named herein who are residents of Canada or other countries outside the United States, any judgments in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the federal securities laws.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.
The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at 6701 Center Drive West, Suite 480, Los Angeles, CA 90045, Attention: Secretary or telephoning us at (310) 242-0228.
We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the SEC’s website referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.versussystems.com. You may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we have filed with the SEC into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and is deemed to be a part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
• Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on August 23, 2022, and by Amendment No. 2 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F/A for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on September 9, 2022;
• Our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on April 4, 2022, May 17, 2022, July 15, 2022, July 18, 2022, August 15, 2022, September 21, 2022; October 6, 2022; November 8, 2022; and November 14, 2022;
• The description of our common shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed with the SEC on March 24, 2022 and any amendments thereto filed to update the description.
The documents incorporated herein by reference contain meaningful and material information relating to us, and you should review all information contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference.
Any statement contained in a document 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 modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not constitute a part of this prospectus, except as so modified or superseded. 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 such a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purposes 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.
Documents that we incorporate by reference are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits, unless we have specifically incorporated by reference an exhibit in this prospectus. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at:
Versus Systems Inc.
Attention: Corporate Secretary
6701 Center Drive West, Suite 480
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 242-0228
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete, and in each instance you are referred to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or incorporated herein, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto.
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Up to 2,100,000 Units, Each Unit Consisting of One Common Share
or One Pre-Funded Warrant to Purchase One Common Share
and Two Warrants to Purchase One Common Share
(and common shares underlying such pre-funded warrants and warrants)
VERSUS SYSTEMS INC.
Roth Capital Partners
_________________
PROSPECTUS
_________________
December 6, 2022