Maple Medi Pharma Inc. et al.

Maple Medi Pharma Inc. et al. (collectively, the "Debtors"), each of which owns or operates a pharmacy or owns the real estate on which a pharmacy is located, were placed in receivership on November 25 on application by 1951584 Ontario Inc. and CWB Maxium Financial Inc. ("CWB"), owed approximately $25.9 million on 19 promissory notes issued between 2015 and 2019. John Gerges, who is either a director, officer, or sole/significant shareholder of 19 of the 21 Debtors, is also a guarantor of a majority of the Debtors' promissory notes with CWB. In January 2020, CWB learned that Gerges had been charged with possession of a Schedule I substance. News reports indicated that the York Regional Police had recovered more than $500.0 thousand in opioid pills and an illegal handgun during their investigation of an alleged opioid trafficking ring. Since the criminal charges were laid against Gerges, CWB also became aware that certain of the Debtors were operating without any liability insurance. CWB's efforts to work with the Debtors with a view to consensually resolving the defaults have ultimately been unsuccessful and CWB has lost confidence in the Debtors' management. msi Spergel (GRIP) was appointed receiver. Counsel is Miller Thomson for the applicants, Weisz Fell Kour for certain of the Debtors, DLA Piper for certain of the other Debtors, and GSNH for the receiver