KELOWNA, British Columbia, April 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Compass Cannabis Clinic and Starbuds Canada (collectively the “Company”) is pleased to announce the strengthening of its board of directors (the “Board”) through the appointment of three new Board members. The Board has appointed Jeff Barber, Matthew Dober and Chris Grout to serve as new independent directors of the Company.



With these Board additions, the Company adds strategic depth at an important time as the Company looks to expand its international presence and build its brand globally. With retail and medical cannabis outlets operating in Canada and Australia, the Company looks to position itself as one of the largest global retail cannabis brands.

Jeff Barber’s public company experience includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of both DOJA Cannabis Company Limited and HIKU Cannabis Brands Ltd. prior to its sale to Canopy Growth Corp. for over $600 million in September 2018. Mr. Barber recently co-founded the private company Stately Cannabis Brands Ltd. Prior to entering the cannabis industry, Jeff accumulated extensive capital markets experience as a co-founder and managing partner of a boutique M&A advisory firm, an investment banker with both Canaccord Genuity and Raymond James and an economist at Deloitte. Jeff is a CFA charterholder and holds a masters degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Alberta.

"I'm happy to be joining the Compass and Starbuds Canada Board," says Mr. Barber. "Their team has a proven ability to adapt and execute that has garnered attention in the cannabis industry in Canada and beyond. I'm looking forward to providing insight as the Company continues to grow."

The Company has also added Matthew Dober and Chris Grout. Mr. Dober comes from a legal and entrepreneurial background with previous experience at Bennett Jones LLP in addition to starting his own law practice focusing on business development and private equity financing. Mr. Grout is a director with Argent Diversified Holdings, a private equity firm focusing on the acquisition of small cap, private companies. Grout is also a lead member of the Argent Board for Acquisition assessment and integration.

Those interested in learning more about Starbuds can do so at Starbuds.co

About Starbuds

Starbuds is a leading independent adult-use cannabis retailer poised to establish itself as one of the world’s largest international cannabis retail companies. The company intends to capture significant market share in jurisdictions that allow private retail. Starbuds is changing the way people think about cannabis with expertly curated product selection and a best-in-class, education-driven customer experience. Starbuds leadership team has extensive experience in both the medical and recreational cannabis industries and deep retail expertise. The company has first-mover advantage in the new adult-use cannabis industry in Canada and, specifically, in British Columbia.

For further information contact

Daniel Winer

Marketing Director

daniel.winer@starbuds.co

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “achieve”, “could”, “believe”, “plan”, “intend”, “objective”, “continuous”, “ongoing”, “estimate”, “outlook”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should” or similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes. Management of the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. Various material factors and assumptions are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking statements. Those material factors and assumptions are based on information currently available to the Company, including data from publicly available governmental sources as well as from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of the retail cannabis industry which the Company believes to be reasonable. However, although generally indicative of relative market positions, market shares and performance characteristics, such data is inherently imprecise. While the Company is not aware of any misstatement regarding any industry or government data presented herein, the retail cannabis industry involves risks and uncertainties and is subject to change based on various factors.

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the Company’s actual performance and results to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such statements to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise.