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FUNMAN

09/27/19 11:08 PM

#449 RE: DS CPA #448

Thanks for all of those good thoughts.

FUNMAN

09/29/19 2:06 PM

#450 RE: DS CPA #448

Neptune Wellness Solutions has big upside, GMP says
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 BY NICK WADDELL

https://www.cantechletter.com/2019/09/neptune-wellness-solutions-has-big-upside-gmp-says/

repeating

Neptune Wellness SolutionsNeptune Wellness Solutions (Neptune Wellness Solutions Stock Quote, Chart, News TSX:NEPT) has a leg up on the competition when it comes to the wellness side of the cannabis and hemp industries.

That’s according to GMP Securities analyst Ryan Macdonell, who delivered a flash update to clients on Tuesday, maintaining his “Buy” recommendation and $9.00 target price for NEPT.

Laval, Quebec’s Neptune Wellness, an extraction and purification company, announced on Tuesday that it has established multiple new customer relationships in the US for whom Neptune will be providing hemp-derived finished products and bulk extracts processed from its extraction facility in North Carolina.

“While our U.S. facility is already generating sales from its tolling services and bulk hemp-derived extracts, we are pleased to have initiated these new customer relationships for finished product forms. Clearly, this is a step in the right direction to support our future growth strategy of expanding core customers and of supporting, consumer packaged goods companies and fragrance houses' expansions into the space,” said CEO Michael Cammarata, in a press release.

Neptune has not disclosed the names of the new partners at the moment but one is with a large, established nutraceutical company. Macdonell, who describes the new event as a positive for the stock, says that the announcement likely speaks to Neptune’s cross-selling with pre-existing nutraceutical clients.

“We expect that the unnamed, large nutraceutical company is an existing client that Neptune works with in its nutraceutical segment. Therefore, we believe today’s announcement is an example of the cross-selling opportunity of providing its nutraceutical clients with a path and platform for launching a line of hemp-derived CBD products. Furthermore, we anticipate that there could be additional clients from the
nutraceutical segment which could be waiting in the ranks and exploring hemp-derived CBD products,” Macdonell writes.

The analyst notes that Neptune currently generates about $24 million in revenue from its Nutraceutical segment —Neptune provide clients with turnkey solutions for functional ingredients like omega-3s. Thus, he sees Neptune’s expertise in white labelling along with its 15 years in the nutraceutical industry as giving it a competitive advantage in building a white label cannabis and hemp business.

Further, Macdonell argues that because larger nutraceutical players likely have rigorous evaluation processes to assess quality control practices of potential partners, Neptune’s pre-existing relationships could give it a head start in terms of the vetting process for quality control.

Finally, with the recent purchase of SugarLeaf Labs, a North Carolina hemp extraction company, Macdonell sees it likely that Neptune will leverage the platform to offer some of its existing nutraceutical clients white label solutions for CBD products as well, with the option of Neptune pursuing its own line of branded CBD products now on the table.

Neptune’s share price has been on a bit of a rollercoaster this year, not unlike the rest of the cannabis space, but the stock is still up 43 per cent year-to-date as of late day trading on Tuesday.

Macdonell’s $9.00 target represented a projected one-year return on investment of 81.8 per cent at the time of publication.

FUNMAN

10/04/19 9:54 PM

#464 RE: DS CPA #448

This is great for NEPT, but they won't see top and bottom line impacts until the year end financials during the spring. That's a long time to hold just to see the impact.

I intend to.


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


For the month of: October 2019

Commission File Number: 001-33526


NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS INC.

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)



545 Promenade du Centropolis

Suite 100

Laval, Québec

Canada H7T 0A3

(Address of Principal Executive Office)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F ? Form 40-F ?

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ?

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ?

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ? No ?

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A



INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statements on Form F-10 (File No. 333-229631) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 13, 2019 and Form S-8 (File No. 333-189884 and No. 333-182617) filed with the SEC on July 10, 2013 and July 10, 2012, respectively.


SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS INC.

Date: October 4, 2019

By:

/s/ Mario Paradis

Name

Mario Paradis

Title:

VP & Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit

Description of Exhibit

99.1

Business acquisition report dated October 4, 2019.

99.2

Consent of KPMG LLP.

FORM 51-102F4

BUSINESS ACQUISITION REPORT

ITEM 1 - IDENTITY OF COMPANY

1.1

Name and Address of Company

Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc.

545, Promenade du Centropolis, Suite 100 Laval, Québec H7T 0A3

References to “Neptune” or the “Company” in this business acquisition report (this “Report”) refer to Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. and its subsidiaries or any one of them, unless the context requires otherwise.

1.2

Executive Officer

The following is the name and business telephone number of an executive officer of Neptune who is knowledgeable about the significant acquisition and this Report:

Mario Paradis

VP & Chief Financial Officer

(450) 687-2262

ITEM 2 - DETAILS OF ACQUISITION

2.1

Nature of Business Acquired

On July 24, 2019, Neptune completed, through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, its previously announced acquisition (the “SugarLeaf Acquisition”) of all of the assets of SugarLeaf Labs, LLC and Forest Remedies LLC (collectively, “SugarLeaf”). The SugarLeaf Acquisition was completed pursuant to an asset purchase agreement among Neptune and certain of its subsidiaries, SugarLeaf and Peter M. Galloway, SugarLeaf’s Chief Executive Officer (the “Acquisition Agreement”).

SugarLeaf is a registered North Carolina-based commercial hemp company providing extraction services and formulated products. Through SugarLeaf, Neptune established a U.S.-based hemp extract supply chain, gaining a 24,000 square foot facility located in the U.S. Southeast region. SugarLeaf's cold ethanol processing facility with a processing capacity of 1,500,000 kg uses hemp cultivated by licensed American growers consistent with federal and state regulations to yield high-quality full and broad-spectrum hemp extracts.


SugarLeaf also possesses established, solid relationships with local farmers and consumer product companies looking for high purity hemp extracts to add to their product lines. The existing management team at SugarLeaf consists of experienced operators who will continue to operate the North Carolina extraction facility.

SugarLeaf has highly efficient hemp extraction capabilities in an important cultivation region of the U.S., developed through years of experience in processing and extraction methods. The company has been at the center of an extensive community that supports hemp extract production and refining, and uses the most advanced extraction equipment available – from stainless centrifuges to high capacity filtering and purifying techniques. Additionally, SugarLeaf sources hemp material from local licensed hemp growers who use responsible growing practices, including organic and regenerative farming techniques. SugarLeaf uses non-GMO ethanol at extremely cold temperatures with advanced lab techniques that produce cannabinoid-rich extracts. SugarLeaf also provides private label services for finished packaged hemp oil goods and delivers premium, non-GMO consumer products with impactful health benefits, ranging from tinctures and topicals to liquid soft gel capsules and Evape products. By maintaining strong supplier relationships with farmers and consumer product companies, in addition to licenses and registrations with the relevant governmental bodies, SugarLeaf has solidified its place in the industry as a reliable, efficient and consumer-minded hemp processor. In leveraging SugarLeaf’s unique range of assets, Neptune will be able to play a broader role in the customer value chain and address a rapidly developing U.S. market.

For more information regarding the nature of the business of SugarLeaf, please refer to Neptune’s most recent annual information form (“AIF”) and management’s discussion and analysis, as well as the risk factors included therein, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

2.2

Acquisition Date

July 24, 2019.


2.3

Consideration


Upon closing of the SugarLeaf Acquisition, Neptune paid an initial consideration for SugarLeaf of $28.5 million (US$21.8 million) by way of a combination of $15.7 million (US$12 million) in cash and $12.8 million (US$9.8 million) in common shares of Neptune (“Common Shares”) or 1,587,301 Common Shares. Additionally, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement and as previously disclosed, by achieving certain annual adjusted EBITDA and other performance targets, earnouts could reach US$132 million as follows: (i) an additional US$6 million in Common Shares would be paid when certain production and revenue milestones are achieved, (ii) an additional US$16 million, 50% in cash and the remainder in Common Shares, would be paid should SugarLeaf's adjusted EBITDA exceed US$8 million for any rolling 12-month period beginning April 1, 2019, and (iii) additional amounts of up to US$110 million may be paid if certain performance-based conditions, based upon a percentage incremental adjusted EBITDA in 2021 and 2022 above a minimum growth level, are met. The earnout payments over the next three years are to be paid with a combination of cash or Common Shares, with at least 50% to be paid in cash.


On July 18, 2019, the Company completed a private placement of 9,415,910 Common Shares with both existing and new institutional investors resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately US$41.4 million ($53.9 million) (the “Private Placement”). A portion of the net proceeds from the Private Placement was used by the Company to fund the initial cash consideration for the SugarLeaf Acquisition.

Unless otherwise noted, all dollar ($) amounts in this Report are in Canadian dollars.

2.4

Effect on Financial Position

Neptune presently does not have any current plans or proposals for material changes to the respective activities of Neptune or SugarLeaf that would have a significant effect on Neptune’s financial performance or financial position.


See the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements of Neptune and the accompanying notes thereto included in Schedule C hereto, for information on the effect of the SugarLeaf Acquisition on the financial position of the Company.


2.5

Prior Valuations

To the knowledge of Neptune, there has been no valuation opinion obtained within the last 12 months by Neptune or SugarLeaf required by securities legislation of a Canadian exchange or market to support the consideration paid by Neptune for the SugarLeaf Acquisition.

2.6

Parties to Transaction

The SugarLeaf Acquisition was not a transaction with an informed person, associate or affiliate of Neptune (as such terms are defined in National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations).

2.7

Date of Report

October 4, 2019.


ITEM 3 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION


The following financial statements, together with the notes thereto, are included as schedules to this Report:


1.

The audited combined financial statements of SugarLeaf for the year ended December 31, 2018, together with the independent auditor’s report thereon, with unaudited comparative information for the year ended December 31, 2017, are included as Schedule A hereto.


2.

The unaudited combined interim financial statements of SugarLeaf for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, are included as Schedule B hereto.

3.

The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements of Neptune that give effect to the acquisition of SugarLeaf are included as Schedule C hereto, and consist of the following:

a.

the unaudited pro forma interim consolidated statement of financial position as at June 30, 2019;


b.

the unaudited pro forma interim consolidated statement of loss for the three months ended June 30, 2019; and


c.

the unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of loss for the year ended March 31, 2019.


Cautionary Note Regarding Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements

This Report contains the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Company comprised of the pro forma consolidated statement of financial position as at June 30, 2019 and the pro forma consolidated statements of loss for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and the year ended March 31, 2019.

Such unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements have been prepared using certain of the Company’s and SugarLeaf’s respective historical consolidated financial statements as more particularly described in the notes to such unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements. In preparing such unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements, the Company has not independently verified the financial statements of SugarLeaf that were used to prepare the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements. The historical unaudited consolidated financial information has been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements to give effect to events that are: (i) directly attributable to the pro forma events, for which there are firm commitments and for which the complete financial effects are objectively determinable; and (ii) with respect to the unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of comprehensive loss, expected to have a continuing impact on the combined company’s results. As such, the impact from merger-related expenses is not included in the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statement of comprehensive loss. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements do not reflect any cost savings from operational efficiencies or synergies that could result from the acquisition or for liabilities that may result from integration planning. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements are presented for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect what the combined company’s financial condition and results of operations would have been had the acquisition occurred on the dates indicated.


The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of the operations of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors. The pro forma adjustments are based on preliminary estimates of the fair value of the consideration paid and the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, currently available information and certain assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable in the circumstances, as described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements.

As a result of these factors, the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments, and the differences may be material.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Report may contain certain “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” under applicable securities laws. Statements in this Report that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unknown factors that could cause the actual results of Neptune to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements labeled with the terms “believes”, “belief”, “expects”, “intends”, “projects”,

“anticipates”, “will”, “should”, or “plans” to be uncertain and forward-looking. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking information in this Report includes, but is not limited to, information or statements about Neptune’s outlook, business plans, the expected results or benefits from the SugarLeaf Acquisition, including, but not limited to, its expected extraction capacity and expansion opportunities,the expected quality of extracts and range of products, Neptune’s expected strategic positioning, potential market opportunities and the anticipated growth in the consumer market, the anticipated consideration owed to SugarLeaf as part of the SugarLeaf Acquisition and the assumption by Neptune’s management that the SugarLeaf plant will operate in accordance with its current business plans and without unforeseen delays or issues

The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information” section contained in Neptune’s latest AIF, which also forms part of Neptune’s latest annual report on Form 40-F, and which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml and on the Investor section of Neptune’s website at www.neptunecorp.com. All forward-looking statements in this Report are made as of the date of this Report. Neptune does not undertake to update any such forward- looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in Neptune public securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities commissions. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained in the AIF under “Risk Factors”.

SCHEDULE A – AUDITED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SUGARLEAF

See attached.

Combined Financial Statements of (In US dollars)

SUGARLEAF LABS LLC AND FOREST REMEDIES LLC

(collectively known as SugarLeaf Labs LLC.) For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

FUNMAN

10/09/19 3:53 PM

#470 RE: DS CPA #448

I agree with most of what you said. CGC isn't the only big guy to have internal extraction capabilities. Most have it to some degree, with one technology or another.

The extraction companies don't need the giants because there will be more of the small to midsize players who won't ever make any extraction investment.

Any company with a cannabis dream, private or public, needs the essential services NEPT and other extractors provide.

In Canada there are more than 60 brands of non-alcoholic beverages in more than 200 facilities nationwide.

In America there are a few thousand more.

So whether it is an edible or beverage, there are thousands of potential companies ready to try their hand with cannabis products. No one wants to be left off the train.

FUNMAN

10/09/19 3:57 PM

#471 RE: DS CPA #448

Neptune - Our team of experts will be at @SupplySide next week. Make sure to come and discover our specialty ingredients and hemp-based products. #SSWExpo #SSEexpo #hemp





This should be one heck of an expo:

https://west.supplysideshow.com/en/home.html


Bringing together more than 17,000 ingredient buyers & suppliers.

FUNMAN

10/10/19 9:29 AM

#472 RE: DS CPA #448

NICE Conclusion about extractors! Here's Why Oct. 17 Is the Marijuana Industry's Most Important Day of the Year

In one week, the proverbial green flag will wave on the next stage of the legalization process in Canada.

By: Sean Williams
Oct 10, 2019 at 6:06AM

https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/10/10/heres-why-oct-17-is-the-marijuana-industrys-most-i.aspx

It hasn't taken too long for the legal marijuana industry to transform itself into a big-money business. There's no doubt that tens of billions of dollars' worth of illicit pot sales are ongoing behind the scenes globally, but the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada last year, along with 33 U.S. states, to some varied degree, led to $10.9 billion in legal weed sales worldwide in 2018. By the end of the upcoming decade, we could be talking about $50 billion, $100 billion, or even $200 billion in annual worldwide legal sales.

Although Canada isn't expected to be anywhere near the largest cannabis market in the world, it is the only industrialized country to have legalized adult-use marijuana so far. Therefore, it's sort of the blueprint/guinea pig by which other countries will likely learn from and/or emulate. And next week, on Thursday, Oct. 17, Canada will be setting an example for the world to see, once more.

October 17 is the big day for the cannabis industry
One week from today, regulations concerning the production, processing, distribution, and sale of derivative cannabis products will officially go into effect. Derivatives are nondried-flower pot products, such as edibles, vapes, nonalcoholic infused beverages, concentrates, and topicals.

When the Cannabis Act was signed into law, only certain marijuana products were given the green light when recreational pot sales began on Oct. 17, 2018. This included dried cannabis flower, cannabis oil, and sublingual sprays. The reason these other derivatives weren't given immediate clearance likely had to do with some combination of giving the industry and regulators time to work out the kinks in a legal industry with no precedent. No doubt it also made the Cannabis Act easier to pass in Parliament if only a limited number of products were immediately available come October 2018.

However, this all changes on Oct. 17. With the exception of alcoholic beverages containing cannabis, which remain illegal, the spectrum of products available for sale will be huge in our neighbor to the north.

More importantly, margins for marijuana stocks should see a healthy boost. That's because dried cannabis flower has shown a penchant in select recreationally legal U.S. states to be oversupplied and commoditized. Meanwhile, derivatives are unlikely to face any sort of oversupply or pricing pressures, making for considerably juicier margins across the board.

The biggest day of the year for marijuana could still be spoiled
The table would appear to be set for Canadian pot stocks to succeed in a big way. But things aren't as cut-and-dried as it might seem.

To begin with, the official legalization of derivatives doesn't mean that these products are going to be appearing in dispensaries on the same day. In fact, regulatory agency Health Canada has cautioned that it's going to take two months, until mid-December, before edibles, vapes, beverages, and so on, begin showing up in dispensaries for purchase. Similar to the launch of recreational weed products a year ago, it takes time to build up inventory in physical retail locations and online.

But that's not the biggest concern. The greater worry for the cannabis industry should be the persistent supply issues throughout the country. Since day one of legalization nearly a year ago, the supply of dried cannabis flower and oils has been constrained. A considerable cultivation and sales license backlog at Health Canada, coupled with the slow approval process for dispensary licenses in select provinces, has been responsible for a good chunk of these supply problems. While fixes have been implemented, it's going to take time to make a dent in Canada's supply issues. By the time derivatives are supposed to be making their way to dispensaries, these supply constraints will still exist. Translation: Wall Street and investors are probably too optimistic regarding early-stage derivative sales in Canada.

It's also worth noting that vape-related health concerns from the U.S. could spill over into the Canadian market and push vape sales lower. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified 1,080 confirmed or probable instances of vape-related lung illnesses as of Oct. 1, which have led to 18 deaths. With no certainty as to what's causing these mystery illnesses and deaths, it's quite possible vape sales could struggle out of the gate.

The one industry seeing green, regardless of early-stage derivative concerns
There's no question that derivative cannabis products are the future of the marijuana industry. These are products that speak to a younger generation of users and, as noted, will generate considerably better margins than dried cannabis flower. But there's also an increasing likelihood that initial sales could disappoint given the myriad of challenges described above.

However, one industry is set to thrive even if supply issues and vape-related health concerns persist.

Extraction-service providers, such as Neptune Wellness Solutions (NASDAQ:NEPT), Valens GroWorks (OTC:VGWCF), and MediPharm Labs (OTC:MEDIF), are predominantly insulated from these concerns given that their revenue doesn't come from individual product sales, but rather fee-based services provided by intermediate-term contracts. That means Neptune Wellness, Valens GroWorks, and MediPharm Labs can count on predictable cash flow each and every quarter.

For instance, even though Neptune Wellness is focusing its extraction efforts on the U.S. via its recent acquisition of SugarLeaf, its subsidiary offers 200,000 kilos of extraction capacity annually in Canada. In June Neptune signed the largest aggregate extraction deal to date with The Green Organic Dutchman totaling 230,000 kilos over a three-year period.

Likewise, we've witnessed Valens GroWorks and MediPharm Labs nab big-time deals. In June, Valens upped its extraction agreement size with Tilray to 60,000 kilos annually, while also snagging an 80,000 kilo-in-aggregate two-year extraction deal with HEXO in April. Meanwhile, MediPharm has an 18-month extraction-services deal in place with Cronos Group worth $30 million that could be doubled to $60 million over 24 months.

Cannabis may be a volatile industry, but extraction-service providers are looking to be one of the safest ways to play this rapid growth and the eventual rise of derivatives.