Noya Holdings Inc. and Noya Cannabis Inc. apply for creditor protection
- Noya Holdings Inc. and Noya Cannabis Inc. have applied for creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), with BDO Canada Limited acting as the monitor.
- Health Canada and cannabis excise licences held by Noya Cannabis Inc. and related companies are to be preserved and maintained during the stay period, allowing NCI to continue selling cannabis inventory and renewing licences.
- The applicants are insolvent, unable to meet their liabilities, and have determined that a CCAA proceeding is necessary to restructure their operations and complete a sale process.
- Noya's known creditors include secured creditors Lending Stream Inc., Terrascend Corp (Gage Growth Corp), and 1955185 Ontario Inc., as well as unsecured creditors like the Canada Revenue Agency, Pure Sun Farms, High Tide, Kiaro Brands, Ignite International Brands (Canada) Ltd., and others, with total debts owed amounting to nearly $10.3 million in secured credit and $2.7 million in unsecured credit.
Noya Holdings Inc. and Noya Cannabis Inc. have applied for creditor protection in an initial order posted on November 6, 2024. Noya’s monitor in the case is BDO Canada Limited.
As part of the cannabis company’s CCAA filing, the court has ordered that all relevant Health Canada and cannabis excise licences held by Noya Cannabis Inc. (NCI) and related companies shall be preserved and maintained during the pendency of the stay period. This included NCI’s ability to sell cannabis inventory, as well as any applicable licence renewals.
The balance of the relief sought by the applicants will be heard in a comeback hearing by the court on November 15, 2024. According to documents online, the applicants’ are insolvent and cannot meet their liabilities as they become due. They have determined that a CCAA proceeding is required to complete a sale process and otherwise address their current challenges by restructuring their operations.
Noya’s known list of creditors shows nearly $10.3 million owed in secured credit and $2.7 million owed to unsecured creditors. Secured creditors are Lending Stream Inc., Terrascend Corp (Gage Growth Corp), and 1955185 Ontario Inc. Unsecured creditors include the Canada Revenue Agency, Health Canada, Pure Sun Farms, High Tide, Kiaro Brands, Ignite International Brands (Canada) Ltd., HiFyre, and many others.
Noya Holdings Inc. (NHI) is the parent company of NCI and 2675383 Ontario Limited (267). First licensed in 2017, NCI holds a cannabis cultivation and processing licence, and 267 holds a micro-cultivation cannabis licence. Both are located in Ontario. The applicants currently employ 18 employees.
Lending Stream Inc. is the applicants’ senior secured creditor. As of August 31, 2024, NHI was indebted to Lending Stream pursuant to a convertible debenture in the approximate amount of nearly $1.9 million. According to records, the owner of Lending Stream is the brother of the applicant’s owner. 1955185 Ontario Inc. is another secured creditor that provided loans to NHI. As of September 30, 2024, 195 had loaned approximately $3.8 million to NHI. The numbered company is owned or controlled by the parents or relatives of the owner of the applicants.
The applicants are also facing various contingent claims in excess of $5 million, including from Pure Sunfarms Corp., Ignite International Brands (Canada) LTD, and 10805696 Canada Inc. o/a Mauve & Herbes. These claims, say documents filed online, are mostly related to contractual disputes and are unsecured.
Noya and its related companies (the applicants) are up-to-date with payments to the Canada Revenue Agency with respect to employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan deductions but owe excise tax remittances and HST remittances.