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VANCOUVER, March 13, 2019 /CNW/ - EMPOWER CLINICS
INC. (CSE: EPW) (Frankfurt 8EC) ("Empower" or the "Company"), a growth
oriented and diversified medical cannabis company, is pleased to provide an update on recent corporate activities after
announcing proposed acquisitions and partnerships intended to re-shape the profile of the Company going forward.
The Company has reached a number of important milestones over the past eight weeks as it continues its path forward, striving
to become a global health and wellness company, serving the needs of patients through its network of physician-staffed health and
pain management clinics and CBD extraction operations.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Intention to Launch CBD Extraction Facility The Company intends to open a fully functioning hemp-based CBD
extraction facility in greater Portland, Oregon in Q2 2019, with the first extraction system
expected to have the capacity to produce 6,000 kilograms of extracted product per year. Empower has entered into a non-binding
term sheet with Aibeida LifeTech Ltd. ("Aibeida"), whereby Aibeida has agreed to: sell and license specialized
extraction equipment to Empower; provide facility build-out and set-up services; complete licensing and permitting
requirements; perform equipment set-up, testing and activation; and provide ongoing facility management and maintenance for the
first Empower CBD extraction facility. Aibeida's director and Chief Scientist, Dr. Shuang Xie,
PhD, will oversee and manage the Empower CBD extraction facility, which is expected to provide Empower with vertical
integration into the CBD supply chain, producing isolates, distillates and crude oil that have shown successful third party
test results in Aibeida's initial test facility.
- Proposed Acquisition of Sun Valley Clinics Empower has entered into a non-binding term sheet to acquire the business
of Sun Valley Certification Clinics Holdings LLC ("Sun Valley"), including its
interests in certain affiliates, by way of a share or asset acquisition, subject to due diligence and customary closing
conditions. Sun Valley operates a network of professional medical cannabis and pain management
practices, with five clinics in Arizona, one clinic in Las
Vegas, a tele-medicine platform serving California, and a fully developed franchise
business model for the domestic cannabis industry. The current Sun Valley clinic locations are
as follows:
4218 W Dunlap Ave, Phoenix, AZ
12801 W Bell Rd #145, Surprise, AZ
4015 E Bell Rd #130, Phoenix, AZ
2011 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ
7074 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ
2550 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV
- Focus on CBD Product Sales Empower has commenced selling its proprietary line of CBD-based products called
SOLLIEVO, through its network of company-owned clinics in the United States. Empower's patient
base and customers are expected to benefit from access to high margin derivative products, including CBD lotion, tinctures,
spectrum oils, capsules, lozenges, patches, e-drinks, topical lotions, gel caps, hemp extract drops and pet elixir hemp extract
drops. Patients and customers will be able to access Empower's home delivery and e-commerce platform.
- CBD Market Demand The passing in the United States of the US$867 billion Agriculture Improvement Act (the "Farm Bill") has legalized hemp and hemp-based
products. This has created an opportunity for the production and sale of a variety of CBD-based products that can provide
genuine help and effective relief to millions of people suffering from a variety of qualifying conditions. Recent reports and
studies indicate the approval of the Farm Bill could create a US$20 billion industry by 2022.
- Increased Patient Access With a rapidly expanding company-owned clinic network and significant expansion
opportunity assuming the successful acquisition of the Sun Valley franchise model, Empower
anticipates it will grow its total patient list substantially in the years ahead. This is expected to provide greater
opportunity for treatment analysis using artificial intelligence (AI).
- Market Leading Technology Empower utilizes a market-leading patient electronic management and POS system that
is HIPAA compliant and provides insight to patient care. The Company supports remote patients using its tele-medicine portal,
enabling patients who are unable to come to a location to benefit from a doctor consultation.
"We have made considerable progress over the past eight weeks as we work to diversify and expand the Company's profile," said
Steven McAuley, CEO of Empower. "We continue to move aggressively toward establishing a
diversified and vertically integrated CBD-focused company that has an expanding network of physician-staffed medical clinics
offering support to our many thousands of patients. I would like to thank the existing team, our board, advisors and shareholders
for all their support during this transition phase."
Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer
The Company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mathew Lee as Chief Financial
Officer ("CFO") of the Company, effective as of March 11, 2019. Mr. Lee is a Chartered
Professional Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of British Columbia
and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. He brings a
breadth of financial experience in both public and private company operations across various sectors, including mineral
resources, cannabis and financial services.
Along with the appointment of Mr. Lee, Empower has engaged Invictus Accounting Group LLP ("Invictus") to support its
public financial reporting and compliance needs. Invictus is a Vancouver, B.C. based advisory
firm with expertise in accounting services, corporate finance, controllership, due diligence, ERP, financial reporting, internal
controls compliance and tax compliance.
"We are very pleased to have Mathew Lee join our leadership team and to bring aboard the
diversified financial and accounting support of Invictus," said Mr. McAuley.
ABOUT EMPOWER
Empower is a leading owner/operator of a network of physician-staffed clinics focused on helping patients improve and protect
their health through innovative uses of medical cannabis. It is expected that Empower's proprietary product line "Sollievo" will
offer patients a variety of delivery methods of doctor recommended cannabidiol (CBD) based product options in its clinics, online
and at major retailers. With over 120,000 patients, an expanding clinic footprint, a focus on new technologies, including
tele-medicine, and an expanded product development strategy, Empower is undertaking new growth initiatives to be positioned as a
vertically integrated, diverse, market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Steven McAuley
Chief Executive Officer
DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward
looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of
this news release. Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as "plans",
"continues", "expects", "projects", "intends", "believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and
other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this
news release include statements regarding: the proposed acquisition of Sun Valley; the Company's
intention to open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility, the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders as a result of
the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; the terms of the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; the expected location of the
proposed CBD extraction facility; the effectiveness of the extraction technology; the size of the leased facility; the expected
benefits for Empower's patient base and customers; access to Empower's home delivery and e-commerce platform; the benefits of CBD
based products; the effect of the approval of the Farm Bill; the growth of the Company's patient list and that the Company will
be positioned to be a market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond. Such statements are
only projections, are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements,
including that: the proposed acquisitions and partnerships, including the Sun Valley and Aibeida
transactions, may not be completed on the terms expected or at all; that the Company may not open a hemp-based CBD extraction
facility; that the hemp-based CBD extraction facility may not be fully operation by Q2 2019 if at all; that legislative changes
may have an adverse effect on the Company's business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate
financing to pursue its business plan; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; failure to
obtain any necessary approvals in connection with the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; and other factors beyond the
Company's control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or,
if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is
under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in
this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable
laws.
SOURCE Empower Clinics Inc.
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