UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 6, 2023
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| British Columbia | 000-56364 | 98-1508633 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
700 Tech Court Louisville, Colorado | 80027 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (720) 617-7303
Not applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of exchange on which registered |
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
On April 6, 2023, Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), issued a press release announcing the formation of a joint venture with AJNA BioSciences PBC (“AJNA”), and a subsidiary of British American Tobacco PLC (LSE: BATS and NYSE: BTI) (“BAT”). BAT holds a 20% equity interest in the joint venture in the form of preferred units following its US$10 million investment and has the right to participate in future equity issuances to maintain its pro rata equity position. The Company and AJNA each hold 40% of the joint venture’s voting common units.
The Company’s contribution to the joint venture is a license permitting the use certain proprietary hemp intellectual properties, including clinical and consumer data and BAT is contributing US$10 million as the JV’s initial investor. AJNA is contributing laboratory and regulatory services, clinical expertise and the provision of clinical services. The joint venture is expected to use the initial US$10 million investment for the clinical development of a novel hemp botanical Investigational New Drug application and to commence Phase I clinical development in 2023.
BT DE Investments, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of BAT, holds approximately $56.8 million (Canadian Dollar C$75.3 million) in convertible debenture convertible into 19.9% ownership of the Company’s Common Shares at a conversion price of C$2.00 per Common Share of the Company. AJNA, a botanical drug development company focused on mental health and neurological disorders, is partially owned and was co-founded by Joel Stanley, AJNA’s president and the former CEO and Chairman of the board of Company, together with certain other founding members of the Company.
A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| | (d) | Exhibits: |
| | | |
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.
| | | CHARLOTTE’S WEB HOLDINGS, INC. |
| | | | |
| Date: April 6, 2023 | | By: | /s/ Stephen Rogers |
| | | | Stephen Rogers |
| | | | Senior Vice President - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
| | | | |
