Contractual interests in legal recoveries

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contractual interests in legal recoveries

Note 9 - Contractual interests in legal recoveries

Interest in Electrum Partners, LLC legal recovery

Electrum was the plaintiff in that certain legal action captioned Electrum Partners, LLC, Plaintiff, and Aurora Cannabis Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia (“Litigation”). On October 23, 2018, Mentor entered into a Joint Prosecution Agreement among Mentor, Mentor’s corporate legal counsel, Electrum, and Electrum’s legal counsel.

On October 30, 2018, Mentor entered into a secured Recovery Purchase Agreement (“Recovery Agreement”) with Electrum, under which Mentor purchased a portion of Electrum’s potential recovery in the Litigation. Mentor agreed to pay $100,000 of costs incurred in the Litigation, in consideration for ten percent (10%) of anything of value received by Electrum as a result of the Litigation (“Recovery”) in addition to repayment of its initial investment. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, Mentor has invested an additional $96,666 and $96,666, respectively, in capital for payment of legal retainers and fees in consideration for an additional nine percent (9%) of the Recovery. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Recovery Agreement investment is reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at cost of $196,666 and $196,666, respectively. This investment was subject to loss should Electrum not prevail in the Litigation.

Note 9 - Contractual interests in legal recoveries (continued)

On October 31, 2018, Mentor also entered into a secured Capital Agreement with Electrum under which Mentor invested an additional $100,000 of capital in Electrum. Due to the coronavirus and the resulting delay in the trial date of the Litigation, on November 1, 2021 the parties amended the October 31, 2018 Capital Agreement for the purpose of extending the payment to the earlier of November 1, 2023, or the final resolution of the Litigation and increasing the monthly payment payable by Electrum to $834. In consideration for Mentor’s investment, Electrum shall pay to Mentor, on the payment date, the sum of (i) $100,000, (ii) ten percent of the Recovery, and (iii) 0.083334% of the Recovery for each full month from October 31, 2018 to the payment date for each full month that the monthly payment is not paid to Mentor in full. The payment date under the amended October 31, 2018 Capital Agreement is the earlier of November 1, 2023, or the final resolution of the Litigation. Payment is secured by all assets of Electrum. This investment is included at cost of $100,000 in Contractual interests in legal recoveries on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

On January 28, 2019, Mentor entered into a second secured Capital Agreement with Electrum. On November 1, 2021, the parties also amended the January 28, 2019 Capital Agreement to extend the payment date to the earlier of November 1, 2023, or the final resolution of the Litigation and increased the monthly payment payable by Electrum to $834. Under the amended second Capital Agreement, Mentor invested an additional $100,000 of capital in Electrum. In consideration for Mentor’s investment, Electrum shall pay to Mentor on the payment date the sum of (i) $100,000, (ii) ten percent (10%) of the Recovery, and (iii) the greater of (A) 0.083334% of the Recovery for each full month from January 28, 2019 until the payment date if the Recovery occurs prior to the payment date, and (B) the monthly payment for each full month from January 28, 2019 until the payment date. The payment date is the earlier of November 1, 2023, and the final resolution of the Litigation. This investment is included at its $100,000 cost as part of the Contractual interests in legal recoveries on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. In addition, the second Capital Agreement provides that Mentor may, at any time up to and including 90 days following the payment date, elect to convert its 6,198 membership interests in Electrum into a cash payment of $194,028 plus an additional 19.4% of the Recovery.

On or about September 14, 2022, Electrum and Aurora Cannabis, Inc. settled the Litigation claims and Electrum received CAD $800,000, or approximately USD $584,000, in settlement funds from Aurora Cannabis, Inc. (“Settlement Funds”), which have been placed in escrow. Pursuant to an escrow agreement entered into by and between Electrum, Mentor, and the escrow agent, Mentor was to be paid amounts due and owing to it under the Capital Agreements and Recovery Purchase Agreements from the Settlement Funds before any remaining amounts are to be distributed to Electrum. To date, such payment has not been received. On or about September 20, 2022, the escrow agent resigned and Electrum has refused to agree to a successor escrow agent in accordance with the terms of the escrow agreement.

Subsequent to quarter end, on October 21, 2022, the Company filed suit against the escrow agent, Electrum, and Does 1 through 10, seeking declaratory relief from the California Superior Court in the County of San Mateo that the escrow agent shall either distribute the Settlement Funds or transfer the Settlement Funds to the successor escrow agent, all in accordance with the escrow agreement. See Note 20.

Company management estimates that collection from the Settlement Funds is more likely than not, and no impairment has been recorded at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

The Company’s interest in the Electrum Partners, LLC legal recovery, carried at cost, at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 is summarized as follows:

	September 30, 2022		December 31, 2021
October 30, 2018 Recovery Purchase Agreement	$	196,666	$	196,666
October 31, 2018 secured Capital Agreement		100,000		100,000
January 28, 2019 secured Capital Agreement		100,000		100,000
Total Invested	$	396,666	$	396,666