VILLAGE FARMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
(In thousands of United States dollars, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted)
10 | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES |
On July 5, 2018, the Company entered into a Shareholder Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Pure Sunfarms, whereby, as of March 31, 2020, the Company had contributed $9,959 (CA$13,000) in the form of a demand loan to Pure Sunfarms. As of March 31, 2020, the loan amount bears simple interest at the rate of 5.2% per annum, calculated semi-annually. Interest will accrue and be payable upon demand. The balance of the loan, including interest, was $10,039 as of March 31, 2020.
On February 13, 2019, the Company announced that Pure Sunfarms had entered into a credit agreement with Bank of Montreal, as agent and lead lender, and Farm Credit Canada, as lender, in respect of a CA$20 million securednon-revolver term loan (the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility, which matures on February 7, 2022, is secured by the Delta 3 facility, and contains customary financial and restrictive covenants. The Company is not a party to the Credit Facility but has provided a limited guarantee in the amount of CA$10 million in connection with the Credit Facility (note 16).
As of March 31, 2020, the Company had $199 due from its joint venture, Pure Sunfarms, primarily for consulting services and the reimbursement of expenses which occurred in the quarter. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $4,610 due from Pure Sunfarms, primarily relating to an equity contribution of CA$5,940 (US$4,494) to Pure Sunfarms made by the Company, on November 19, 2019 when Emerald failed to make a required escrow equity payment to Pure Sunfarms on November 1, 2019. Emerald disputed the Company’s additional November equity contribution, as well as the cancellation of 5.94 million common shares of Pure Sunfarms that related to the failure to pay the CA$5,940 equity contribution. In an effort to narrow the issues in dispute and accelerate the resolution of this shareholder dispute, which occurred on March 2, 2020 with the Settlement Agreement, Village Farms unwound its November equity contribution in January with Pure Sunfarms providing Village Farms with a CA$5,940 refund.
On March 25, 2019, the Company entered into a Grid Loan Agreement (the “Grid Loan”) with VF Hemp. The Grid Loan has a maturity date of March 25, 2022, and bears simple interest at the rate of 8% per annum, calculated monthly. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 the Grid Loan balance was $10,946 and $10,865, respectively.
One of the Company’s employees is related to a member of the Company’s executive management team and received approximately $28 in salary and benefits during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Summary of amounts due from the joint ventures, including interest and included in the interim statements of financial position:
| | | | | | | | |
| | March 31, 2020 | | | December 31, 2019 | |
Pure Sunfarms | | $ | 10,238 | | | $ | 15,418 | |
VF Hemp | | | 10,946 | | | | 10,865 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 21,184 | | | $ | 26,283 | |
| | | | | | | | |
A provision for income taxes is recognized based on management’s best estimate of the weighted average annual income tax rate expected for the full financial year. The estimated average annual rate used for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was 24%, and 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
The recovery for income taxes was $1,012 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to provision for income taxes of ($4,436) for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The income tax provision for March 31, 2019 includes deferred tax liabilities arising from the contribution of the Delta 2 assets to Pure Sunfarms.
12 | SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION |
Segment reporting is prepared on the same basis that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker, manages the business, makes operating decisions and assesses performance. Management has determined that the Company operates in three segments. The Company’s three segments include the Produce business, the Energy business and the Company’s cannabis and hemp segment. The Produce business produces, markets, and sells the product group which consists of premium quality tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers. The Energy business produces power that it sells per a long-term contract to its one customer. For segment information regarding the Company’s cannabis and hemp segment refer to Note 7 – Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures.
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