40-F 1 nept-40f_20210331.htm 40-F nept-40f_20210331.htm

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 40-F

 

 

(Check one)

Registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

or

 

Annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended: March 31, 2021

Commission File Number: 001-33526

 

 

NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Québec

2836

Not Applicable

(Province or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number (if applicable))

(I.R.S. Employer Identification

Number (if applicable))

 

545 Promenade du Centropolis

Suite 100

Laval, Québec,

Canada H7T 0A3

(450) 687-2262

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

CT Corporation System

28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005

(212) 894-8940

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Shares

NEPT

The Nasdaq Stock Market

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

 

For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:

 

☒  Annual Information Form

☒  Audited Annual Financial Statements

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:

 

Common Shares outstanding as of March 31, 2021: 165,622,944

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes              No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files).

 

 


 

 

Yes              No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 Emerging Growth Company  ☐     

 

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

 

 


 


 

 

INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION

 

Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. (the “Company” or “Neptune”) is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act on Form 40-F pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system (the “MJDS”) adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Company’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol “NEPT”.

 

In this annual report, references to “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” or “Neptune”, mean Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts in this annual report are in Canadian dollars and all references to “$” mean Canadian dollar and references to “U.S. dollars” or “US$” are to United States dollars.

 

AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

AND ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM

 

The following principal documents are filed as exhibits to, and incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report:

 

 

 

Document

Exhibit No.

Annual Information Form of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2021 (the “AIF”)

99.1

Audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and notes thereto as at and for the years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, together with the reports thereon of the independent registered public accounting firms

99.2

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2021 (the “2021 MD&A”)

99.3

 

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The information provided in the section entitled “Internal Controls over Financial Reporting” under the sub-heading “Disclosure Controls and Procedures (“DC&P”)” contained in the 2021 MD&A filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

 

The information provided in the section entitled “Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting” under the sub-heading “Internal Control over Financial Reporting (“ICFR”)” contained in the 2021 MD&A filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The disclosure provided under the heading “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Neptune Wellness Solutions Inc. - Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” contained in the Company’s audited annual financial statements filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

 


 

 

The information provided in the section entitled “Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (“ICFR”)” under the sub-heading “Changes to the Control Environment and Other Matters” contained in the 2021 MD&A filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

 

The Registrant’s board of directors has determined that it has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. Mr. Frank P. Rochon has been determined to be such audit committee financial expert and is independent, as that term is defined by the NASDAQ’s listing standards applicable to the Registrant. The Securities and Exchange Commission has indicated that the designation of Mr. Rochon as an audit committee financial expert does not make Mr. Rochon an “expert” for any purpose, impose any duties, obligations or liability on Mr. Rochon that are greater than those imposed on members of the audit committee and board of directors who do not carry this designation or affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics entitled “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees” that applies to all directors, officers and employees, including the Registrant’s CEO, CFO and principal accounting officer. The Registrant’s code of ethics is available on the Registrant’s Internet website: www.neptunecorp.com.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

The disclosure provided under “Report on Audit Committee—External Auditor Fees” in Exhibit 99.1, the Registrant’s Annual Information Form, is incorporated by reference herein.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The disclosure provided under “Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors—Responsibilities for Engaging External Auditors” in Schedule “A” of the AIF filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein. None of the services described above under “External Auditor Fees” were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

The disclosure provided under “Consolidated Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations” in the 2021 MD&A filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein. 

 

TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

 

The disclosure provided under “Consolidated Off Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations” in the 2021 MD&A filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein.


 


 

IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

The Registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Registrant’s audit committee is composed of the following directors: Mr. Frank P. Rochon, Mr. John M. Moretz, and Ms. Jane Pemberton. 

 

 

DIFFERENCES IN NASDAQ AND QUÉBEC CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS

 

NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5615(a)(3) permits a foreign private issuer to follow its home country practice in lieu of certain of the requirements of the Rule 5600 Series. A foreign private issuer that follows a home country practice in lieu of one or more provisions of the Rule 5600 Series is required to disclose in its annual report filed with the Commission, or on its website, each requirement of the Rule 5600 Series that it does not follow and describe the home country practice followed by the issuer in lieu of such NASDAQ corporate governance requirements. The Registrant does not follow NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5620(c), but instead follows its home country practice. The NASDAQ minimum quorum requirement under Rule 5620(c) for a meeting of shareholders is 33.33% of the outstanding shares of common voting stock. The Registrant’s quorum requirement, as set forth in the Registrant’s by-laws, is that a quorum for a meeting of the Registrant’s holders of common shares is the attendance, in person or by proxy, of the shareholders representing 10% of the Registrant’s common shares. The foregoing is consistent with the laws, customs and practices in Québec and the rules and policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information provided under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the AIF filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 40-F is incorporated by reference herein.

 

NOTICES PURSUANT TO REGULATION BTR

There were no notices required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR that the Company sent during the year ended March 31, 2021 concerning any equity security subject to a blackout period under Rule 101 of Regulation BTR.

  

UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

 

A. Undertaking

 

The Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities in relation to which the obligation to file this annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.

 

B. Consent to Service of Process

 

The Registrant has previously filed with the Commission a Form F-X in connection with the class of securities in relation to which the obligation to file this report arises.

 

Any change to the name or address of the agent for service of process of the Registrant shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by an amendment to the Form F-X referencing the file number of the relevant registration statement.

 

 

 


 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

 

Description

 

 

 

 

99.1

 

Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

99.2

 

Consolidated Financial Statements as at March 31, 2021 and 2020 and the fiscal years then ended, and the accompanying auditors’ reports

 

 

 

99.3

 

Management Discussion and Analysis of the Financial Situation and Operating Results for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

 

 

 

99.4

 

Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP

 

 

 

99.5

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

 

 

 

99.6

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications:

 

Certification of the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer

 

Certification of the Registrant’s Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

99.7

 

Section 1350 Certifications:

 

Certification of the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer

 

Certification of the Registrant’s Principal Financial Officer

 

 

 

101

 

Interactive Data File

 

 

 


 


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 

 

 

NEPTUNE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS INC.

 

 

 

 

July 15, 2021

 

By:

/s/ Michael Cammarata

 

 

 

Name: Michael Cammarata

 

 

 

Title: Principal Executive Officer