Unfavourable Publicity or Consumer Perception and Changing Consumer Preferences
The Company believes the cannabis industry is highly dependent upon consumer perception regarding the safety, efficacy and quality of the cannabis produced. Consumer perception of the Company’s products can be significantly influenced by scientific research or findings, regulatory investigations, litigation, media attention and other publicity regarding the consumption of cannabis products. There can be no assurance that future scientific research, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other research findings or publicity will be favorable to the cannabis market or any particular product, or consistent with earlier publicity. Future research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity that are perceived as less favorable than, or that question, earlier research reports, findings or publicity could have a material adverse effect on the demand for the Company’s products and the business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects of the Company. The Company’s dependence upon consumer perceptions means that adverse scientific research reports, findings, regulatory proceedings, litigation, media attention or other publicity, whether or not accurate or with merit, could have a material adverse effect on the Company, the demand for the Company’s products, and the business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects of the Company. Further, adverse publicity reports or other media attention regarding the safety, efficacy and quality of cannabis in general, or the Company’s products specifically, or associating the consumption of cannabis with illness or other negative effects or events, could have such a material adverse effect. Such adverse publicity reports or other media attention could arise even if the adverse effects associated with such products resulted from consumers’ failure to consume such products appropriately or as directed.
In addition, the patterns of cannabis consumption in Canada and elsewhere in the world may shift over time due to a variety of factors, including changes in demographics, social trends, public health polices and other leisure or consumption behaviors. If consumer preferences were to move away from HEXO’s products or cannabis products in general, or HEXO is unable to anticipate and respond effectively to shifts in consumer behaviors, HEXO’s revenue may decline and its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected.
Supply and Price Fluctuations
In response to the initial surge in demand for cannabis as a result of the legalization of adult cannabis use in Canada, licensed producers, including HEXO, and others licenced to produce cannabis under the Cannabis Act, may not be able to produce enough cannabis to meetadult-use demand. This may result in lower than expected sales and revenues and increased competition for sales and sources of supply. In the future, cannabis producers in Canada may produce more cannabis than is needed to satisfy the collective demand of the Canadianadult-use and medical markets, and they may be unable to export that oversupply into other markets where cannabis use is fully legal under all federal and state or provincial laws. As a result, the available supply of cannabis could exceed demand, resulting in a significant decline in the market price for cannabis. If such supply or price fluctuations were to occur, HEXO’s revenue and profitability may fluctuate materially and its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected.
Dependence on Suppliers and Skilled Labour
HEXO’s ability to compete and grow will be dependent on having access, at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner, to skilled labor, equipment, parts and components. No assurances can be given that HEXO will be successful in maintaining its required supply of skilled labor, equipment, parts and components. It is also possible that the final costs of the major equipment contemplated by HEXO’s capital expenditure program may be significantly greater than anticipated by its management, and may be greater than funds available to HEXO, in which circumstance HEXO may curtail, or extend the timeframes for completing, its capital expenditure plans.
Reliance on Third Party Distributors and Other Service or Logistics Providers
HEXO relies on third-party distributors and other service or logistics providers, including pharmaceutical distributors and other courier services, and may in the future rely on other third parties, to distribute its products or provide other services. The Company recently entered into a contract with Metro Supply Chain Group Inc. pursuant to which Metro Supply Chain Group Inc. will provide the Company with certain distribution ande-commerce services in support of the Company’s contract to manage a warehouse and distribution center for
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