UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

OFFERING CIRCULAR

This Post-Qualification Offering Circular Amendment No. 3 amends the offering circular of World Tree USA, LLC qualified on September 30, 2019 to: (i) Disclose Vanderbilt Securities, LLC as the Company’s lead selling agent; and (ii) Extend the termination date of the offering to August 31, 2020, and (iii) Change the name of the Units in this Offering to Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units; and (iv) Update information in the section titled “Income Tax and ERISA Considerations”

Form 1-A: Tier 2

1910 South Stapley Dr., Suite 221

Mesa, Arizona 85204

(888) 693-TREE (8733)

www.worldtree.info

MAXIMUM OF 7,000,000 SERIES A 2020 ECO-TREE UNITS / $10,000,000

OFFERING PRICE: $1.25 PER UNIT FOR FIRST 2,000,000 UNITS

$1.50 PER UNIT FOR REMAINING 5,000,000 UNITS

SEE “DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS” ON PAGE 74 

⁽¹⁾ The Company has engaged Vanderbilt Securities LLC (the “Placement Agent” or “VS”), and will pay 5% of the amount of subscriptions sold by VS and/or Selected Dealers approved by VS and accepted by the Company.  In addition, the Company will pay VS an additional 1% of the gross proceeds of subscriptions as a marketing allowance and shall issue 2,000 Units to VS for each $250,000 raised in this Offering as additional compensation.  See “Plan of Distribution.”  

An Issuer may raise an aggregate of up to $50 million in a 12-month period pursuant to Tier II of Regulation A of the Securities Act.

*See “Plan of Distribution” for details regarding the compensation payable to the Placement Agent and its Selected Dealers in connection with this offering.

125 Froehlich Farm Boulevard

Woodbury, NY 11797

Tel. No. 631-845-5100

www.vanderbiltfinancialgroup.com

SUBSCRIPTION PROCEDURES

The minimum purchase that can be made by any subscriber is Two Thousand (2,000) Units. Any qualified offeree who decides to purchase should deliver to Vanderbilt Securities LLC. the following items:

The Placement Agent and the Company have opened a segregated escrow account at Signature Bank (the “Escrow Agent”) to hold funds tendered by investors  through the Placement Agent and its Selected Dealers and, as the $50,000 offering minimum has already been met, will hold a series of closings on a rolling monthly basis at which time the funds will be released from escrow to the Company and investors will be issued Units . The offering will terminate at the earlier of:   (1) the date at which the maximum offering amount has been sold, (2) August 31 , 2020, which may be extended by the mutual agreement of the Placement Agent and the Company, or (3) the date at which the offering is earlier terminated by either the Company or the Placement Agent.  The Company may undertake one or more closings on a monthly rolling basis .  At the time of each closing, funds tendered by investors will be released from escrow and made available to the Company.  As a result of the minimum offering contingency having been fulfilled prior to the engagement of the Placement Agent, the continuation of the offering is being conducted on a “best-efforts” basis only.  There can be no assurance that any funds will be raised in this Offering or funds sufficient to permit the Company to complete its business plan and remain a viable operating entity.  (See “Risk Factors”.)  In addition, the Company has engaged Boston Private Bank as a separate escrow agent to hold funds tendered by investors through the WeFunder crowdfunding platform.

Subscriptions may be rejected for failure to conform to the requirements of the Offering, insufficient documentation, over subscription of the Offering or such other reasons as the Company and/or the Placement Agent in their sole discretion may determine.

All funds received from subscribers will be deposited in an escrow account for the benefit of subscribers held at Signature Bank, entitled “Signature Bank as Escrow Agent for World Tree USA, LLC,” to be held by Signature Bank until released at each monthly closing.

If you desire to submit payment by electronic funds transfer (bank wire), the wire instructions are as follows:

AN INVESTMENT IN THE UNITS IS SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE THE SECTION TITLED “RISK FACTORS” FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PURCHASE OF THE UNITS. THERE IS NO PUBLIC MARKET FOR ANY OF THE COMPANY’S UNITS AND NO SUCH MARKET IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FOLLOWING THE PLACEMENT OF THE UNITS. SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER WILL APPLY. YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO BEAR THE ECONOMIC RISK OF YOUR INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME AND BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND A TOTAL LOSS OF YOUR INVESTMENT.

NEITHER THE UNITS NOR THE OFFERING OF THE UNITS HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) OR UNDER ANY STATE OR OTHER SECURITIES LAW, AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR OR APPROVED OR ENDORSED THE TERMS OR MERITS OF THE UNITS OR THIS OFFERING. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

JURISDICTIONAL LEGENDS

FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL STATES: THE PRESENCE OF A LEGEND FOR ANY GIVEN STATE REFLECTS ONLY THAT A LEGEND MAY BE REQUIRED BY THAT STATE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO MEAN AN OFFER OR SALE MAY BE MADE IN A PARTICULAR STATE. IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OFFERS OR SALES MAY BE LAWFULLY MADE IN ANY GIVEN STATE, YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED TO CONTACT THE COMPANY. THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS (COMMONLY CALLED “BLUE SKY” LAWS).

THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING THE COMPANY OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR, AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE REPLIED UPON.

PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE NOT TO CONSTRUE THE CONTENTS OF THIS OFFERING CIRCULAR, OR OF ANY PRIOR OR SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR AFFILIATES, AS INVESTMENT, LEGAL, FINANCIAL OR TAX ADVICE.

BEFORE INVESTING IN THIS OFFERING, PLEASE REVIEW ALL DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY, ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF THE COMPANY’S MANAGEMENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ANSWERED AND CONSULT YOUR OWN COUNSEL, ACCOUNTANT AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS AS TO LEGAL, TAX AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS CONCERNING THIS INVESTMENT.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEFINITIONS

Defined terms are capitalized herein (but may not be capitalized in this Section). The singular form of any term defined below shall include the plural form and the plural form shall include the singular. In addition to the below defined terms, throughout this Offering Circular, the terms “we”, “our”, “us” and similar pronouns refer to the Company.

Whenever they appear capitalized in this Offering Circular, the following terms shall have the meanings as set forth below unless the context clearly requires a different interpretation:

Affiliate means the Company and any other entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company.

Company shall refer to World Tree USA, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company.

Crop Contracting Agreement refers to agreements between the Manager and Farmers whereby Farmers grow ES Trees supplied by the Company.

Eco-Tree Program is the name of the program, as described in the Section of this Offering Circular titled “Description of Business”. The Eco-Tree Program was previously called the Carbon Offset Program.

Empress Splendor Trees shall refer to the Empress Splendor tree of the genus Paulownia, which is reported in the Guinness Book of World Records to be the fastest growing hardwood tree in the world.

Empress Lumber, Empress Splendor Lumber or ES Lumber refers to the lumber harvested from the ES Trees.

ES Startlings shall mean young ES Trees which are propagated in a sterile, laboratory environment and grown into small plants (up to 10 cm tall) before shipping to Farmers.

ES Trees shall refer to Empress Splendor trees.

Farmer shall mean an entity with which the Manager contracts to grow ES Trees.

Gross Profits shall mean income received from the Harvest of ES Trees underlying the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) in this Offering, minus Harvest Costs, if any.

Harvest shall have the meaning set forth on page 1 of this Offering Circular.

Harvest Costs shall mean all costs associated with processing standing ES Trees into finished dimensional ES Lumber. Harvest Costs include but are not limited to the costs associated with logging, residual processing, scaling, transporting, milling, drying, planing, grading, sorting, storage and packaging.

Impact Certificate shall mean a paper certificate issued by the Company to Investors to show the total anticipated impact of their investment and the entire investment for that season measured by carbon sequestration, soil restoration and number of Farmers supported.

Investor shall mean a Person who is contemplating the purchase of Units. Also see Unit Holder.

Lands shall mean land belonging to a Farmer on which land such Farmer agrees with the Manager to grow ES Trees.

Manager shall mean World Tree Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation.

Offering Circular shall mean this Offering Circular, its Exhibit(s) and any supplements or addenda.

Net Profits shall be equivalent to the Company’s share of Gross Profits. Net Profits will be shared only with the Unit Holders who invested in that particular crop of ES Trees harvested. (For clarity, all Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units relate to one particular crop of ES Trees, and no other series or sub-series of Units shall have any rights with respect to such set of ES Trees.)

Non-U.S. Person shall mean a Person who is not a U.S. citizen, not a legal U.S. resident, and not living in the U.S.

Offering, when capitalized, shall mean the offer for sale of Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) in exchange for an interest in Net Profits from a Harvest anticipated to occur no later than 2032.

Operating Agreement shall mean the Company’s amended operating agreement, which is attached to this Offering Circular as Exhibit 3.

Person means an individual, a partnership, a domestic or foreign limited liability company, a trust, an estate, an association, a corporation, or any other legal entity.

Project shall mean contracting with certain Farmers to grow a certain number of ES Trees determined by the proceeds of this Offering, growing and harvesting the ES Trees, and sharing the profits received by the Company with the Unit Holders, Farmers, and the Manager.

Section, when capitalized, refers to sections of this Offering Circular.

Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units shall refer to the units for sale in this Offering. The Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units were formerly named Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units.

Subscription Agreement shall refer to the Subscription Agreement set forth in Exhibit 4 to this Offering Circular.

Units shall refer to Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units).

Unit Holder shall mean an Investor in this Offering whose subscription for Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units is accepted by the Company.

WTT or World Tree Technologies refers to World Tree Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation, also the “Manager.”

SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING

RISK FACTORS

An investment in the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this prospectus before investing in the Units. Any or all of these risks or other as yet unidentified risks may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and/or the return to the Investors. The purchase of Units is suitable only for Investors who are aware of the risks in the agricultural industry, particularly pertaining to lumber crops, who have the ability and willingness to accept the risk of loss of their invested capital and who have no immediate need for liquidity. There is no assurance of any return on an Investor’s investment.

The Company advises that prospective Investors should consult with their own independent professional legal, tax, investment and financial advisors before purchasing Units in order to determine the appropriateness of this investment in relation to their financial and investment objectives and in relation to the tax consequences of any such investment.

There is no established market for the Units and none is expected to develop. Therefore, it may be difficult or impossible for a Unit Holder to sell any of the Units. The Subscription Price per Unit was determined arbitrarily by the Company. The Offering should be considered highly speculative due to the proposed nature of the Company’s business and the fact that the Company was only recently formed and has a limited history of business operations.

The novel coronavirus could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows or liquidity.

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus (which causes the disease now known as COVID-19), was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally. Government efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus through lockdowns of cities, business closures, restrictions on travel and emergency quarantines, among others, and responses by businesses and individuals to reduce the risk of exposure to infection, including reduced travel, cancellation of meetings and events, and implementation of work-at-home policies, among others, have caused significant disruptions to the global economy and normal business operations across a growing list of sectors and countries. The foregoing are likely to adversely affect business confidence and consumer sentiments, and have been, and may continue to be, accompanied by significant volatility in financial and commodity markets. The spread of the coronavirus also may have broader macro-economic implications, including reduced levels of economic growth and possibly a global recession, the effects of which could be felt well beyond the time the spread of infection is contained.

In terms of the impact on us and the agro-forestry business in North and Central America, after the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in the United States in March 2020, many American jurisdictions were “locked down” to control the spread of the disease. While our business has not suffered ill-effects due to the COVID-19 crisis, the crisis is ongoing, and may have significant and not yet-understood impacts on our business.

We currently are unable to predict the full effect of COVID-19 and responses thereto on our business and operations, and on our results of operations, financial condition, cash flow and liquidity, as these depend on rapidly evolving developments, which are highly uncertain and will be a function of factors beyond our control, such as the availability of workers to plant and care for trees, the implementation of effective measures to prevent and contain further outbreaks, the development of effective medical solutions, the timing and scope of governmental restrictions on mobility and other activities, financial and other market reactions to the foregoing, and reactions and responses of the populace both in affected regions and regions yet to be affected. While we expect we will suffer adverse effects, the more severe the outbreak and the longer it lasts, the more likely it is that the effects on us and our business will be materially adverse.

Investment Risk

No Regulatory Review

Neither the Units nor the Offering of the Units has been registered under the Securities Act or under any state or other securities law, and neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or other regulatory authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Offering Circular or approved or endorsed the terms or merits of the Units or this offering.

Highly Speculative

The purchase of Units is highly speculative. A potential Investor should invest in the Units only if he is able to bear the risk of the entire loss of his investment and has no need for immediate liquidity. An investment in the Units should not constitute a major portion of an Investor’s investment portfolio.

Limited Voting Rights

Unit Holders have rights only to a portion of the net proceeds of a particular harvest of ES Trees. Unit Holders have no right to vote on any matters affecting the business of the Company. Unit Holders have no right to take part in the control or management of the Company and exclusive authority and responsibility for controlling and managing the Company rests with the Manager. Thus, Investors must rely on the good faith, experience, ability and judgment of the management team, and this investment is not appropriate for those unwilling to do so.

Limit on Amount Available to Repay Unit Holders

There is no guarantee that the ES Trees will survive to maturity, or that the Harvest will be profitable enough to net any profit to the Unit Holders. In the event the Harvest is not profitable investors may lose their entire investment.

No Tax Advice

Investors in this Offering will acquire their Units without any representations from the Company regarding tax implications of the transaction. Each prospective Investor should consult his own independent legal counsel and other tax advisors regarding the tax implications of an investment in the Units.

Lack of Marketability of Units / Restrictive Legend

There is currently no market through which the Units may be sold, and purchasers may not be able to resell Units purchased. Furthermore, the Company does not currently intend to make, or arrange for the creation of a market for the purposes of trading the Units and does not currently intend to seek a listing of the Units on any stock exchange or similar trading market.

Unit Holders may not be able to liquidate their investment on a timely basis, if at all, and Units may not be readily accepted as collateral for a loan. Investment should only be considered by those Investors who are able to make a long-term investment and bear the economic risk of a complete loss of the investment and who otherwise meet our Investor Suitability Requirements.

Issuer Risk

Reliance on Ability and Judgment of Management

The success of the Company will, to a large extent, depend on the good faith, experience, ability and judgment of the management team and their consultants and advisors to make appropriate decisions with respect to the operations of the Company. If the Company loses the services of one or more of its management team, the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company may be materially adversely affected.

Our auditor has raised questions about our ability to survive as a going concern

In the audited financial statements attached to this Offering Circular, our auditor has noted that the Company has incurred losses since inception, does not have any revenue generating operations and requires additional capital to fund operations, and that these factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

As further noted by our auditor, the Company has significant commercial and economic dependence on WTT, a related party, and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in the next twelve months is dependent upon its ability to obtain capital financing from investors sufficient to meet current and future obligations. No assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in these efforts.

Net Worth of the Company

The Company has only nominal capitalization and no assets except as disclosed in the financial statements as set forth in this Offering Circular. As a result, recourse against the Company for any reason may be limited. Pursuant to the Engagement Agreement with the Placement Agent, the Company has agreed to procure a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy which will likely include exclusions from coverage and limits of liability.

Distributions

There are many factors that will affect the operations and financial performance of the Company and therefore the ability of the Company to make distributions (and the timing of the commencement of any distributions and actual amounts distributed, if any), including working capital requirements of the Company. The Company has complete discretion with respect to the amount and timing of distributions, if any. The recovery of a Unit Holder’s initial investment is at risk and the anticipated return on such investment is based on many performance assumptions described in this Offering Circular.

Deployment of ES Startlings

A return for Unit Holders on their investment is dependent on the Company being able to arrange Crop Contracting Contracts with Farmers to plant the ES Startlings. In the event the Company fails to have all the ES Startlings acquired by the Company planted, there will be an adverse effect upon Unit Holders’ returns on investment.

Farmers Care of the ES Trees

The Farmers contracted by the Manager must properly care for the ES Trees from their planting as ES Startlings through their growth cycle to maturity. Farmers must properly water, prune and care for the ES Trees. Failure to do so could result in some or all a Farmer’s ES Trees either dying or failing to mature to expected height and diameter, thereby reducing the amount of ES Lumber that may be harvested from a Farmer’s ES Trees.

Monitoring of Farmers

Neither the Company nor the Manager will not be continuously on the Farmer’s land monitoring their activities during the growth cycle of the ES Trees. Should a Farmer fail to properly care for its ES Trees or default under the terms of its Crop Contracting Agreement, by the time the Company learns of such circumstances it may be too late for the Company to take corrective steps or instruct the Farmer to take corrective steps to save the Farmer’s crop of ES Trees.

Default by Farmer

If a Farmer defaults under the terms of a Crop Contracting Agreement, the Company may be unable to obtain access to that Farmer’s ES Trees to care for them or harvest them, notwithstanding the fact that the Crop Contracting Agreement states the Company has the right to access the Farmer’s ES Trees.

Reliance on Company

Prospective Investors, in assessing the risks and rewards of this investment, should appreciate that they will, in large part, be relying on the good faith and expertise of Wendy Burton and the Manager of the Company. Prospective Investors will have to rely on the discretion and ability of the Company in choosing which Farmers to contract with to grow the ES Trees, in monitoring and supervising the Farmers in growing the ES Trees, and in creating a market for the ES Lumber. The Company does not currently maintain key person life insurance for Wendy Burton. The Company is planning to obtain such insurance in the future. If the Company loses the services of Wendy Burton, the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company may be materially adversely affected.

Company Has Not Always Registered its Security Interest in the ES Trees

The Company via the Manager has the right, but not the obligation, to register its interest in the ES Trees. The Company has not registered such security interests, or timely registered such security interests. In the event the title to any of the property for which such unregistered security interests exists, is further encumbered by a subsequent security holder, without notice of the Company’s claim, the Company may lose the right to some or all of the ES Trees on such property.

Investors may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under the Operating Agreement, Subscription Agreement or other documents, which could result in less favorable outcomes to the plaintiff(s) in any such action. 

Our documents provide that the parties to all legal proceedings (except for legal proceedings brought under the U.S. federal securities laws), concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreement, Operating Agreement and any documents included within the Offering Circular, agree to waive their right to a trial by jury.

If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) bring a claim against us in connection with matters arising under the Subscription Agreement, Operating Agreement or other documents, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us. If a lawsuit is brought against us under the Subscription Agreement, Operating Agreement or other documents contained in the Offering Circular, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have had, including results that could be less favorable to the plaintiff(s) in any such action. 

If the jury trial waiver provisions are not permitted by applicable law, an action might nevertheless proceed with a jury trial.

Industry Risk

Natural Disturbances

The ES Startlings and resulting ES Trees will be subject to natural disturbances such as drought, insects, pests, disease, fire, flood, climate change, soil contamination and excess precipitation. The occurrence of any one or all of these factors with respect to a Farmer’s ES Trees could cause an investor to lose some or all of their investment.

Return on investment is dependent on multiple factors beyond the control of the Company.

A return on a Unit Holder’s investment is dependent on the aggregate of board feet of ES Lumber that the Company is able to sell from the Harvest, and the price per board foot for which it can sell the ES Lumber produced from the Harvest, both of which are subject to numerous external factors beyond the control of the Company. In the event the Company is unable to produce a sufficient amount of ES Lumber, and/or sell such ES Lumber to sell at a profit, investors may lose some or all of their investment.

No Market for ES Lumber in North America

The market for ES Lumber in North America is unestablished. If the Company is unable to develop the market, or if the market does not expand on its own, or if the Company is unable to sell to the Asian market, the Company may not be able to sell its ES Lumber for a profit, or at all, which may result in a loss of some or all of a Unit Holder’s investment.

World Events

Events in the global financial markets over the past 9 years have had a profound impact on the global economy. Virtually all economic sectors are impacted by these market conditions. Some of the key impacts of the current market turmoil include: sharp contractions in the credit markets resulting in a widening of credit risk spreads and higher costs of funding; a deterioration in the credit ratings of a number of large financial institutions; devaluations and high volatility in global equity, commodity, foreign exchange and precious metals markets and a corresponding lack of market liquidity; and a slowdown in economic activity that is affecting major global economies. These events could have a significant impact on the Company’s business and its assets and cause an investor to lose some or all of their investment.

DILUTION

The Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) are not subject to dilution. Dilution occurs when a company issues new stock which results in a decrease of an existing stockholder’s ownership percentage of that company. Typically, when the number of shares outstanding increases, each existing stockholder owns a smaller, or diluted, percentage of the company.

Each Unit in this offering represents a percentage of profits from a fixed number of trees to be planted during the 2020 planting season. When a new Unit is issued a corresponding number of trees will be planted, and once the planting is completed no new Units will be sold. Therefore, when a new Unit is issued the assets represented by the Units are increased such that existing Units are not diluted by the new issuance.

The Company is structured as follows:

The only instance where a Unitholder would experience dilution is if the Company issued additional units of a particular series and did not plant additional ES Trees corresponding to the units issued. The Company does not anticipate any circumstance where this would happen. For instance, in 2018, the Company issued units in lieu of cash compensation to a third-party vendor for services and the Company planted the corresponding number of ES Trees for such units issued to said vendor.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

World Tree USA, LLC is offering a maximum of 7,000,000 Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) on a “best efforts” basis.

The price per Unit is $1.25 per Unit for the first 2,000,000 Units sold. The remaining 5,000,000 Units will be sold at $1.50 per Unit. The minimum number of Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units that an Investor may purchase is 2,000 Units.

The Company will pay to VS, as consideration for its services as Placement Agent, the following compensation:

The Offering will terminate at the earliest of:   (1) the date at which the maximum offering amount has been sold, (2) August 31, 2020, the Termination Date of the Offering, which may be extended by mutual agreement by the Placement Agent and the Company (the “Extended Termination Date”), or (3) the date at which the Offering is earlier terminated by either the Company or the Placement Agent. 

The Company and the Placement Agent contemplate closings on a monthly basis through and including the Termination Date or the Extended Termination Date. Investor funds shall be deposited in a segregated escrow account bearing the title, “Signature Bank as Escrow Agent for World Tree USA, LLC” to be held by Signature Bank until released at each monthly closing.  Once released, the net proceeds will be made available to the Company.

The Company is offering its securities in all states, except North Dakota. 

No Selling Unit Holders

No securities are being sold for the account of security holders; all net proceeds of this Offering will go to the Company.

The Online Platform

The Company has engaged WeFunder, LLC to host this Offering on its online platform. This offering launched on WeFunder’s platform on October 15, 2019. Additionally, the Company is considering listing its Offering on other crowdfunding platforms and third-party platforms, with the consent of the Placement Agent during the pendency of this Offering.

Process of Subscribing

Investors will be required to complete and sign a subscription agreement in order to invest. The subscription agreement includes a representation by the investor to the effect that, if you are not an “accredited investor” as defined under securities law, you are investing an amount that does not exceed the greater of 10% of your annual income or 10% of your net worth (excluding your principal residence). By signing the subscription agreement, the investor is agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Operating Agreement, as amended, bearing the effective date of April 24, 2019.

Indemnification

The Company and the Placement Agent (for itself and its Selected Dealers), as well as their respective indemnified persons, have entered into certain indemnification and hold harmless agreements with respect to the allocation of liability for losses, claims, damages, or liabilities that may result from breaches of contract, representations, negligence, or violations of federal and state securities laws, rules, and regulations.  The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) takes the position, however, that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and unenforceable. 

ESTIMATED USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table sets forth the net proceeds available to the Company, assuming the sale of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively, of the Units offered for sale in this Offering:

NOTE:

USE OF PROCEEDS

The table below sets forth the uses of proceeds assuming the sale of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively, of the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) offered for sale in this Offering. Use of proceeds is determined primarily by the number of trees to be planted, as indicated by the cost per tree.

There is no assurance that the Company will raise the full $10,000,000.

NOTES:

The Company intends to acquire ES Startlings with the proceeds of this Offering, and contract (via the Manager) with Farmers located in select agricultural zones in North America, Central America and other areas at their discretion to plant, manage and care for the ES Startlings to the point where the resulting ES Trees can be harvested and sold as lumber by the Company. It is anticipated this will occur within 8-12 years of the planting of the ES Startlings.

Recognizing that the Company may not have other sources of revenue until Harvest, a portion of the proceeds of this Offering will be used to cover ongoing operating costs of the Company over the anticipated 8-12-year period from planting until Harvest occurs.

ES Startlings acquired with the proceeds of this Offering are expected to be harvested within 8 to 12 years from planting. The Gross Profits, if any, from the Harvest of the crop of ES Trees underlying the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units in this Offering will be distributed 50% to the Farmers and 50% to the Company. The Company will then redeem the Units and distribute 50% of the Net Profits to the Unit Holders of the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units on a pro rata basis, and 50% to the Manager.

Detailed information regarding the distribution of cash to Unit Holders, and the allocation of profits and losses to Unit Holders are contained in the Company’s Operating Agreement (Exhibit 3 to this Offering Circular).

The intention is that the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units be redeemed no later than December 31, 2032.

The Company reserves the right to issue additional Units within the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units to meet the Company’s objectives. Issuance of subsequent Eco-Tree Units will not have a diluting effect on existing Unit Holders because each series of units only share revenue and direct expenses from the Harvest of the ES Trees underlying that series of units.

Reallocation

The Company intends to utilize the funds raised in this Offering as stated. The Company will reallocate funds only for sound business reasons.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Structure

World Tree USA, LLC was formed as a limited liability company under the laws of Nevada, USA on June 3, 2015. The Company was originally formed with the name World Tree COP 2015, LLC. On September 19, 2016, the company amended its Articles of Organization to change the name to World Tree COP USA, LLC. On April 24, 2019, the Company amended its Articles of Organization to change the name of the company to World Tree USA, LLC. The Company’s address is 1910 South Stapley Dr., Suite 221, Mesa, AZ 85204.

Related Parties

World Tree Technologies, Inc. is the Manager, and was incorporated under the laws of Nevada, USA on January 16, 2002. Wendy Burton owns approximately 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of World Tree Technologies, Inc.

Other World Tree Programs

The Eco-Tree Program was previously called the Carbon Offset Program. The Company changed the name of the program due to confusion from both investors and farmers as to the nature of its business.

The Eco-Tree Program was initially launched in Canada, by a related entity, World Tree COP, Inc. World Tree COP Inc. was incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada on December 20, 2016 to raise capital as part of the Eco-Tree Program in different years and/or geographical regions than the Company. World Tree COP, Inc. has raised capital annually since 2015, has a total of 1,085 acres planted to date on behalf of its investors.

While these entities share management with the Company, they remain independent entities. As of the date of this Offering Circular, World Tree COP Inc. and the Company share plantation locations in order to maximize diversification of plantations, reduce risk for each company and minimize costs.

Our Business

The Company is committed to engaging in operations and business activities in order to achieve the following goals:

The Company will carry on the business of the Eco-Tree Program for the benefit of its Investors and engage in such other operations and business activities as may be necessary or appropriate for those purposes.

Overview of the Eco-Tree Program

The Eco-Tree Program provides Investors the opportunity to participate in a timber investment while creating direct environmental benefits relating to soil restoration and reversing climate change. The Eco-Tree Program leverages the fast growth rate of the Empress Splendor Tree to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of Agroforestry.

Empress Splendor (Paulownia) is a fast-growing hardwood tree that produces a lightweight hardwood with a very high strength/weight ratio. Grown in plantation and permaculture settings, its high growth rate, carbon sequestration and soil enhancing properties make it an ideal eco-timber. We believe the high demand in Asia, combined with the largely unexplored North American market, represent a significant timber marketing opportunity, especially considering recent consumer shifts to sustainable products.

Lumber properties include:

Market highlights include:

Carbon emissions are widely recognized as one of the most significant factors in global warming. Planting trees through both Agroforestry and Afforestation helps to mitigate global warming through carbon drawdown and provides other environmental benefits¹.

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¹ http://www.drawdown.org/solutions/land-use/afforestation

² http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/ja/ja_schoeneberger002.pdf

The Eco-Tree model is based upon the growth of Empress Splendor trees for the purpose of carbon drawdown, while deriving profits from the harvest of the Empress Splendor trees grown in the program. The rapid growth rate of the ES Trees makes them particularly attractive for timber production, as they can reach hardwood maturity in ten years or less (as compared with 20-50 years for other hardwood trees). In addition, the Empress Splendor tree uses a form of photosynthesis called C4 which makes it a particularly powerful conduit for carbon drawdown.

The Manager contracts with Farmers in diverse geographic locations to grow Empress Splendor trees on behalf of the Company. The Company intends to build on its current base of Farmers in North and Central America, continuing to work with Farmers in diverse locations to mitigate risk.

The Empress Splendor Trees mature in approximately eight to twelve years, at which point they can be harvested and sold for lumber. The Gross Profits, if any, from the Harvest of the ES Trees will be distributed 50% to the Farmers and 50% to the Company to be shared with Investors, pro-rata.

Company Ownership Interests and Distribution of Profits

Objectives for Planting, Harvesting and Cash Flow:

More specifically, ES Startlings acquired, planted and cared for with the proceeds of this Offering are planned to be planted in 2020 and harvested no earlier than 2028, but no later than 2032. No Investors in this Offering will have any rights to future harvests, or any harvests other than the harvest of their respective crop.

Ownership of Trees

Unit Holders will not own individual ES Trees but instead will be acquiring the right to share pro-rata in any future Net Profits of the Company resulting from the Harvest and sale of the ES Trees underlying such Unit Holder’s Units.

The Company contracts with the Manager who in turn contracts with the Farmer on behalf of the Company to oversee the planting, care and management of the ES Trees. Stands of trees are kept separate and distinct for each Unit series (e.g. Eco-Tree 2018, Eco-Tree 2020).

The Manager uses a database called PipeDrive to record all the crop information. The geo-location of the trees is recorded in the Company’s database. The Company confirms the location in Google Earth and adds location information to PipeDrive. Geo-location is accurate within 8 meters.

THE EMPRESS SPLENDOR TREE

Attributes of Empress Splendor Trees

Empress Splendor Trees are a member of the genus Paulownia, which is reported in the Guinness Book of World Records to be the fastest growing hardwood tree in the world. Characteristics of the tree include:

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² (See http://www.permaship.org/Home/permaculture-concepts/paulownia-overview; or http://toadgully.com.au/files/Indices%20of%20Paulownia%20Growth%20Characteristics.pdf)

³ http://toadgully.com.au/files/Data02.pdf

⁴ See http://www.permaship.org/Home/permaculture-concepts/paulownia-overview.

⁵ See http://www.permaship.org/Home/permaculture-concepts/paulownia-overview.

Empress Splendor Startlings

Empress Splendor Trees are grown from startlings. The Manager owns eighteen different genotypes of ES Startlings which are used exclusively for the Eco-Tree Programs. These genotypes have been researched over 20 years and have been selected for the timber quality, growth speed, and favorable carbon sequestration as compared with other trees. The ES Startlings are propagated in a sterile, laboratory environment and tissue cultures are shipped to nurseries to grow into small plants (up to 10 cm tall) before shipping to Farmers. The variety of ES Trees are chosen based on the temperature/rainfall/soil profile of where the ES Trees are planted.

The Manager works with localized nurseries in different regions to grow the ES Trees. This deliberate strategy of logistic diversification reduces risks and dependences. Additionally, working with localized nurseries reduces costs.

Growing Zones and Planting Requirements

The Company plants Empress Splendor Trees in diverse geographical areas to mitigate risks associated with weather and disease.

The Manager has researched and tested various conditions to figure out the optimal growing conditions that will produce high quality lumber. ES Trees are planted a minimum of 20 feet apart and plantation locations are assessed on the basis of season temperatures, rainfall, elevation, soil type and the topography of the land.

Soil: Ideal conditions for planting are a free draining, sandy loam soil with direct sunlight. ES Trees do not grow well in bottomland or wet soil and it is recommended that the water table be deeper than 5 feet⁶. The ES Trees may require fertilizer depending on the local soil and climate.

Temperature: In North America, the recommended growing zones are 7-11 (see map below⁷). To see substantial growth, summer temperatures of 70°F (21°C) and above for at least 5-6 months are optimal. ES Trees can withstand a low temperature of 0°F (-17°C) to -10°F (-23°C) for a short period of time and high temperatures up to 120°F (49°C). The trunks can be wrapped to help protect the tree.

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⁶ (http://toadgully.com.au/paulownia-information)

⁷ http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

Irrigation: ES Trees may require irrigation in the first few years while they establish their root system. Irrigation requirements depend on the area of planting and are assessed before a Farmer is accepted into the Eco-Tree program. The Company is focusing its efforts on finding Farmers in zones with enough rainfall through the year to reduce irrigation demands. Farmers in drier areas (e.g. Texas) are expected to irrigate and Farmer-specific irrigation expectations are written into their contract.

Elevation: In areas closer to the equator, higher elevations (3000 feet and higher) are required to ensure the seasonal changes required for optimal wood growth.

Pruning: To produce high quality lumber, ES Trees must be pruned regularly (at least annually) in the second, third and possibly fourth years.

Carbon Drawdown and Other Environmental Benefits

World Tree grows Empress trees in plantation and permaculture settings and harvests the trees in 8-12 years from planting. The trees regenerate after harvest, providing a long-term source of lumber without replanting.

Environmentally beneficial properties include:

Plantation based timber is widely recognized as a solution for reversing climate change and protecting forests⁸. The fast growth rate is fueled by extremely efficient carbon sequestration using C3/C4 Photosynthesis⁹.  

Scientific research and field data on carbon uptake in the ES Tree is sparse. In 2005, World Tree commissioned a study of the carbon sequestration of the ES Trees from Environment Resources Trust that showed carbon uptake of up to 103 metric tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year¹⁰. Because this study was over a decade old, World Tree hired another third-party research group, NatureBank, to study the carbon uptake of the ES Tree. The report from NatureBank (available at https://worldtree.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/World-Tree-Ecosystem-Services-Valuation-external-Nov-2019.pdf ) puts carbon sequestration rates from Empress Trees in the range of 38-90 metric tons of carbon per year. These estimates compare favorably with other more commonly known trees which sequester between 2.2 and 9.5 metric tons per year.¹¹

Due to the ES Trees’ ability to sequester carbon dioxide, it is a particularly well-suited vehicle for offsetting the carbon that Unit Holders generate during the normal course of their lifetime.

The environmental benefits extend to the soil¹². The large leaves absorb nitrogen from the air¹³, providing a natural fertilizer to the soil. Empress tree plantations will revitalize and regenerate impoverished land, allowing farmers to grow new crops in soils that have been depleted from over-farming.

World Tree produces Empress trees using methods that put the environment first. Many of our Farmers intercrop their ES Trees with other plants (especially coffee plants) and are encouraged to use organic farming practices. The Empress tree is gaining support in the permaculture community¹⁴ as a tree that grows well with other plants and restores the soil.

Unit Holders will receive a non-transferable Impact Certificate issued by the Company. The Impact Certificate will show the total anticipated impact of their investment and the entire investment for that season measured by carbon sequestration, soil restoration and number of Farmers supported.

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⁸ http://www.drawdown.org/solutions/land-use/afforestation

⁹ http://worldtree.eco/files/PaulowniaDissertation.pdf

¹⁰ http://worldtree.eco/files/ERT-Carbon-Sequestration-Projection.pdf 

¹¹ http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40562.pdf

¹² http://cdn.worldtree.eco/wp-content/uploads/20190417182049/agroforestry_gem_treeoflifejournal.pdf

¹³ http://designerecosystems.com/2014/09/10/best-nitrogen-fixing-tall-trees-for-temperate-climate/

¹⁴ Paulownia and Permaculture: http://www.ourochreway.com/permaculture-plants-for-the-homestead-paulownia/; Carbon Farming and intercropping: http://permaculturemag.org/2016/06/carbon-farming/; Permaculture, inter-cropping and soil regeneration: http://www.permaship.org/Home/permaculture-concepts/paulownia-overview

Invasive Properties and Other Environmental Concerns

Paulownia is native to China and is considered an introduced species in North America¹⁵. However, the oldest fossils of Paulownia leaves have been found in Washington State, USA^16. Dated at around 40,000 years before present, the leaves were positively identified by Dr. Charles J. Smily as Paulownia. He asserts that the tree became extinct in North America due to glaciation in the later ice ages. The tree was re-introduced to North America around 200 years ago by the Chinese.

There are many varieties of Paulownia, only one of which is considered invasive. Paulownia tomentosa is on the U.S. Government’s invasive species list¹⁷ although this is disputed by the American Paulownia Association¹⁸. The Company will not under any circumstance plant this variety of Paulownia. All other varieties of Paulownia are not invasive. The Company intends to grow primarily Paulownia fortunei, especially in the warmer climates, and is running trials with other varieties for cold tolerance.

The Rainforest Alliance is internationally recognized as a certification program for sustainable forestry and best practices for tree planting and agroforestry. It has chosen Paulownia as an ecologically sound tree for the purposes of reforestation and carbon sequestration¹⁹.

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¹⁵ http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=pato2

¹⁶ Smiley, Charles J. (February 1961). "A Record of Paulownia in the Tertiary of North America". American Journal of Botany. 48 (2): 175–179. doi:10.2307/2439100. JSTOR 2439100

¹⁷ http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/printree.shtml

¹⁸ http://worldtree.eco/files/Paulownia_noninvasive_APA.pdf

¹⁹ http://worldtree.eco/files/rainforest_alliance_.pdf

EMPRESS SPLENDOR LUMBER

About Empress Splendor Lumber

Characteristics of harvested ES Lumber include:

Blonde timber with a long straight grain, which air dries quickly with low shrinkage and does not easily warp, crack or deform.

Empress wood is about 2/3 the weight of the lightest commercial wood grown in the United States.

Technical Specifications

Density:

Density @10% moisture content: 14.37 – 18.75 lbs./cuft

Density @ oven dried: 17.11 lbs./cuft

Chemical Composition:

Alpha-Cellulose content: 40.72%; 38.50%-41.46%

Pentosan: 24.78%; 20.56%-25.35%

Lignin content: 20.87%; 21.24%-24.28%

Leaves: ursolic acid, C30H4803; matteucinol, C18H1805 Xylem: Paulownium, C20H18O7@CH3OH; d-Sesamin

Bark: syringin, C17H24O9@H2O; Catapinoside

Bending & Compression Properties:

Modulus of rupture (mor): 5420-5740 psi

Modulus of elasticity (moe) x 10 to 6th: 0.735-0.758 psi Compression parallel to grain: 2800-3560 psi

Compression perpendicular to grain: 300-440 psi

Shear parallel to grain: 800-1150 psi

BTU (British thermal unit)

7600-8400 per pound

Hardness:

Janka Hardness Scale: 260-290

Shrinkage Coefficient (%)

Specific gravity: 0.251 - 0.274 (23 to 30% of the density of water) Specific gravity @ 10% MC: 0.265

Radial: 1.1 - 2.7

Tangential: 2.1 – 4.9

Green to Oven Dry: 5.9

Moisture Absorption:

(92% Relative Humidity @ 20 degrees C)

1-day; 2-day; maximum

12%; 15%; 19%

RETURN ON HARVEST: YIELD AND SELLING PRICE

Revenue from the Harvest is based on two factors:

The volume of ES Lumber produced is determined by the number of trees on the Land, the height, diameter and taper class of the trees. The volume is specifically calculated according to industry log scaling standards. The measured trees are scaled using the Doyle log scale²⁰. The Doyle scale calculates log volume based on board feet of usable lumber in the tree.

The Doyle scale is used in the southern US. This scale actually underestimates the volume of wood in comparison to some other log scales. The Doyle log scale estimates the volume of wood per tree to be 300bf, compared with the Scribner Rule²¹ which calculates a yield of 324 bf and the International Rule²² anticipates a yield of 369 bf. Note that we log from private land and do not pay stumpage.

Based on 110 trees per harvested acre, the anticipated yield is:

A well-managed plantation will produce 33,000 board feet of ES Lumber per acre. A plantation that is destroyed would not produce any board feet of ES Lumber. Investors will receive returns based on all the plantations harvested as part of the 2020 crop.

The second factor affecting return is the selling price of the lumber. In the current market, ES Lumber sells for between $3 and $14 USD per board foot depending on the quality of the ES Lumber. It is predictable that different plantations and different Farmers will produce ES Lumber of varying quality.

The Company’s research on pricing and the market is described in more detail below.

Related to price is the cost of the Harvest. It is common practice in forestry for the buyer to pay the cost of Harvest. However, better overall profits can be gained if the Company pays for its own Harvest and mills and dries the timber before sale. Recent experience suggests an average cost to Harvest of $2 per board foot. For more information on this see below.

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²⁰ Yield is based on the Doyle Rule (http://americanstavecompany.com/boardfootcalc.html) which is the most conservative of the log yield calculators.

²¹ http://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/scribner-decimal-rule.php

²² http://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/scribner-decimal-rule.php

Table: Calculation of return per acre

The table below shows potential returns based on the overall survival of the ES Trees at 75% and a blended pricing spread of $3 to $14. The table shows the revenues and expenses relating to the Harvest only. The costs of growing and maintaining the ES Trees are covered by the investment capital, as described in the Section titled “Use of Funds.”

Effect of Tree Survival on Yield

In the return per acre calculations above, the Company has assumed a 75% survival rate of the ES Trees. The Company anticipates that over an average 10-year cycle that some ES Trees, and in some cases entire plantations, will not survive. Losses may be due to weather, disease, lack of due care by Farmers or breach of contract by the Farmer. The Company plants ES Trees in a variety of locations in order to spread the impact of these risks.

The trees are most vulnerable in the first two years. The Manager will replace trees lost by the Farmer in the first two years of planting. The Manager has on order with its nurseries enough trees for 30 replacement trees per acre.  In the event that the replacement trees are not necessary, the Manager will cancel the replacement order and the unused funds will be used for other purposes. Farmers must report losses which are verified by the Farmer support team. Losses of more than 20% (or 22 trees per acre) are red flagged for investigation and recommendations before replacement trees are sent.

In cases where a Farmer is unable or unwilling to care for the trees, the Manager has the right to take over and manage the plantation pursuant to the terms of the Crop Contracting Agreement. However, if the trees are too small or too weak, the expense of managing the trees may outweigh the benefits and the trees will be written off as losses.

A related company, World Tree COP Inc. (in Canada) is currently reporting approximately 25% losses for trees in its 2015 program (to be harvested in 2025). Losses were primarily due to the unreliable quality of the tree stock. Trees were supplied from an Australian vendor who sent roots that were of variable sizes. Some of the roots were extremely small and these trees had poor performance in the field. The Company and the Manager no longer work with this supplier.

The Company planted trees in 2017 and 2018 on behalf of its 2016 Series A members. The Company shares plantation sites with World Tree COP Inc., and the two companies planted a combined total of 59,712 ES Trees at 44 plantation locations. An additional 11,200 ES Trees are in contract to be planted at 11 shared plantation locations in 2020. Survival of these trees for the 2016 Series A is currently estimated at 49%. Issues were due to two factors: first, a delivery of the ES Startlings suffered considerable stress due to being too long in transit; and second, two of the Farmers were unwilling to do the necessary land management and weed control. After inspecting both farms the Manager recommended discontinuation of the program at these sites.

The Company planted trees in 2019 on behalf of its 2018 Series A members. The Company shares plantation sites with World Tree COP, Inc. and the two companies planted a combined total of 109,905 ES Trees at 45 plantation locations. An additional 34,261 ES Trees are in contract to be planted at 11 shared plantation locations in 2020. Survival of the trees planted for the 2018 Series is currently averaged at 82% survival, although it is too early to tell long-term survival as these trees were only planted recently.

The Company uses 75% survival rate as a baseline target in running its programs. We feel this rate is reasonable in light of the higher survival rates observed by our Farmers. Additionally, we feel even better results are possible given recent improvements in tree stock and supply chain .

Table: Survival and its impact on returns

Survival (or in other words, board feet produced per acre) will also impact yields and hence returns. The below table shows potential profits per acre contingent on survival, based on a blended pricing model of between $3 and $14 per board foot.

For example:

The first revenue line ($25,575) from 3,300 BF/acre at 10% survival is calculated as follows:

Revenue is calculated by:

25% of the BF/acre (25% of 3,300 is 825) x $3.00/BF = $2,475

+ 50% of the BF/acre (50% of 3,300 is 1,650) x $7.00/BF = $11,550

+ 25% of the BF/acre (25% of 3,300 is 825) x $14.00/BF = $11,550

Total Projected Revenue of 3,300 BF = $25,575

Additional example:

The final revenue line ($255,750) from 33,000 BF/acre at 100% survival is calculated as follows:

Revenue is calculated by:

25% of the BF/acre (25% of 33,000 is 8250) x $3.00/BF = $24,750

+ 50% of the BF/acre (50% of 33,000 is 16,500) x $7.00/BF = $115,500

+ 25% of the BF/acre (25% of 33,000 is 8250) x $14.00/BF = $115,500

Total Projected Revenue of 33,000 BF = $255,750

Harvesting the Lumber

The Company’s Manager, World Tree Technologies, Inc., harvested three (3) Empress Splendor plantations in Georgia and South Carolina between December 2018 and February 2019. This experience allowed the Company to develop detailed models of harvest costs, yields and anticipated revenues.

The costs of harvesting and lumber processing including warehousing, range from $1.50 to $2.20 per board foot. Before logging and saw-milling, all the costs of the operation are examined in a very detailed financial pro forma. The process starts with a timber cruise to determine the volume and grade of the lumber that can be cut from the trees. Many factors such as the location of plantation, distance to dry kilns, hauling cost, and availability of labor, among other factors, will impact the final costs. Third-party Harvest costs include:

Each individual plantation is harvested to optimize yield and minimize costs.

Pictures from the harvest of former President Jimmy Carter’s Empress Splendor plantation in Plains, Georgia, managed by World Tree Technologies, Inc.

Lumber Pricing

The prices used in our timber value assessment are derived from our lumber sales table. Our pricing table (shown below) is based on current prices across the globe.

The current market for ES Lumber in North America is unestablished, due to the fact that this timber is rare and relatively unknown. By contrast, the market is well established in Asia.

Our three grades are as follows:

We anticipate that our horticultural methods will produce a higher-grade tree that has fewer knots and is much taller due to the correct spacing, coppicing and pruning methodologies.

Research on Pricing

In 2017, the Manager purchased Empress Lumber from a US supplier, with prices ranging from $5.50 USD to $8.50 USD per board foot for air-dried, rough sawn ES Lumber. Kiln dried finished ES Lumber would be a higher price. The Company also approached the US Paulownia Association, the largest association of Paulownia lumber producers in North America and was unable to find quality lumber for less than $7.00 USD per board foot.

Australian company Paulownia Timber²³ prices a 50 mm X 100 mm clear rough sawn board at USD $10.25 (AUD $14.30) per board foot. For the same board that has been dried and planed, the price increases to USD $13.05 (AUD $18.20).

Factors that affect board foot pricing include the use of the lumber and the grade. Grading relates to the number of defects in the wood. The width of the lumber also highly influences the price, with broad pieces (e.g. for musical instruments) bringing in significantly higher prices. Finally, the price is affected by whether the lumber is being sold on the stump or harvested and processed.

The prices of Chinese wood that can be viewed online are generally misleading. As part of its recent research into the current market, the Company approached a Chinese supplier and was quoted $6.50 per board foot (more than six times greater than the price advertised online).

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²³ http://www.paulowniatimber.com.au/prices.php

THE MARKET FOR EMPRESS SPLENDOR LUMBER

The Market

The average North American consumes the equivalent of a 100-foot tree every year and the United Nations predicts that demand for wood will increase by 40% by 2030 and double by 2050²⁴.

Statistics show a trend toward timber shortages and increased prices²⁵. The industry predicts a surge in lumber prices in North America as supply struggles to keep up with demand. Exports to China are forecast to increase steadily to the end of the decade and beyond, as their supply gap widens.

Rapid growth in Asian economies such as China is one of the principal drivers of demand. ES Lumber has long been prized in Asia and is associated with wealth and prestige. In fact, the emblem of the tree has been the Prime Minister’s seal in Japan since the thirteenth century.

In the future, industrial wood is likely to come from plantation-based timber as governments introduce environmental policies restricting the amount of old growth forests that can be used for wood production.

Empress Lumber is used for windows, doors, crown moldings, cabinets, furniture, spindles, surf boards, coffins and veneers. To date, the challenge has been that the North American market has only been developed as a “spot” market – that is, small quantities of wood have been sold into specific applications, not into large, repeatable market applications.

The Company’s Manager has previously brokered ES Lumber by working with small Paulownia plantation growers in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland and several other states. The lumber was sold by our Manager for profit to retailers of surfboards, furniture, crown molding, doors, siding for the exterior of buildings, coffins and aircraft wing struts.

Additionally, our Manager contracted with Fender Guitars in 2010 to supply ES Lumber for the building of Telecaster and Stratocaster Guitars. Fender was pleased with the results of their prototypes and requested thousands of board feet to build more guitars and speaker boxes. Unfortunately, due to limited availability of ES Lumber, our Manager was unable to fulfill the demand at the time, though a relationship was created and has been maintained since.

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²⁴ Nasdaq Blog, Investment U

²⁵ Report from the Logging and Sawmilling journal 2014 and Wood Markets Monthly International Report March 2014

The Company believes with the establishment of the Eco-Tree Program that increasing amounts of ES Lumber will become available in the near future, making the ES Lumber potentially attractive on a commercial scale.

The Manager is actively growing the market, promoting the properties of ES Lumber and working with timber merchants who are looking for sustainable hardwood alternatives. Recent conversations include manufacturers of guitars, tiny homes, picture frames, window blinds, trailers, trade show supplies and sailboats. Conversations with prospective buyers have been positive and supportive, even though there has not been enough ES Lumber available to establish a robust presence in any of the markets explored.

From December 2018 through February 2019, our Manager harvested three plantations of mature Empress Splendor Trees in order to develop a test supply of ES Lumber. This ES Lumber is currently stored in our Manager’s warehouse located in Plains, Georgia.

Demand for Sustainably Grown Lumber

There is a continued high demand for hardwood, however it is challenging to find sources of hardwood timber that have not been taken from old growth forests²⁶. The removal of hardwood trees from old growth forests (e.g. rain forests) is detrimental to the environment and has received a great deal of negative press.

The Company believes large companies in the lumber industry are looking for better hardwood solutions that will give them an edge over their competition. Lumber suppliers like Home Depot have reported they will focus on putting environmentally friendly timbers in their stores. The Eco-Tree Program is poised to fully exploit these trends in the lumber market, while providing an environmentally respectful plantation-based timber.

If a restriction on old growth timber is implemented, the major lumber companies will be looking for an alternative. The Company will have acquired inside the Eco-Tree Program an extensive co-op of Farmers growing ES Trees in preparation of meeting the demand that is forecasted to arrive.

Another serious concern in today’s lumber industry is the issue of transportation costs that are drastically rising, causing some mills to close as the cost of business in remote regions is no longer profitable. Further benefits to the timber markets is that ES Trees are 40% lighter than other hardwoods, so transportation costs will be considerably lower.

The Company intends to focus on attracting a large ‘top ten’ lumber producer to align with the Company’s vision which will give it an edge in being a global supplier of a plantation hardwood timber. In the growing green economy where people are demanding action on global warming and climate change, it is highly desirable to be viewed as a company that is making a difference.

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²⁶ An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance and thereby exhibits unique ecological features and might be classified as a climax community.

Current Market Segments

Furniture

The global furniture market size in 2017 was USD 540 billion and is predicted to rise to $750 billion by 2024. Wooden furniture accounts for an impressive 65% of this market share²⁷.

According to Technavio analysts, concerns about global warming are driving a boom in eco-furniture with customers prepared to pay premium prices for earth-friendly wooden furniture²⁸.

“The increasing adoption of eco-friendly furniture is one of the major trends being witnessed in the global wooden furniture market. Increasing concerns regarding global warming have led to the adoption of eco-friendly furniture… Though eco-friendly furniture is associated with premium prices, the demand for such furniture is increasing.”

“The growth of the real estate industry contributes to an increase in the number of office spaces, commercial complexes, and residential buildings. This leads to a high global demand for wooden furniture. The global increase in the number of single-person and two-person households has contributed to the increased number of home constructions. There exists a specifically high demand for portable and compact furniture.” - Technavio market report

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²⁷ http://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/furniture-market; http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/wood-furniture-dominates-global-market-60-percent-share

²⁸ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180608005809/en/Global-Wooden-Furniture-Market-2018-2022-Growth-Analysis

Window blinds and shutters

Empress wood is a popular choice for window blinds and shutters due to its high strength to weight ratio and its resistance to rot or warping. As with furniture, sales of window blinds are anticipated to increase over the next decade in parallel with the growth of the housing market. The market, currently US $1788.7 million, is expected to reach US $2451.7 million by 2027²⁹.

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²⁹ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/window-blinds-market.asp

³⁰ http://www.supearth.com/sup/en/

Other common applications  

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³¹ http://www.dezeen.com/2015/12/23/casa-golf-luciano-kruk-costa-esmeralda-argentina-board-marked-concrete-house/

Award-winning Design

This beautiful home, completely finished in Empress Splendor wood, won the G-mark Japan good design award 2018 in the personal residence category and was short-listed for the 2018 World Architecture Awards³².

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³² http://www.designboom.com/architecture/hinge-house-mio-tachibana-architects-tokyo-11-24-2018/

Potential market segments

There are various competitor materials which ES Lumber could potentially replace.

Balsa: The most obvious competitor to Empress Splendor Lumber, balsa, is a very lightweight hardwood and a $200 million+ industry. It’s light weight and high insulating properties make it a commercially attractive material in the aerospace industry ($77 million per year). It is also used for wind turbines. However, balsa absorbs moisture and is susceptible to rotting.

Empress Lumber is almost as light as balsa, yet significantly stronger. It is also highly water resistant and stable. For these reasons, ES Lumber would be superior to balsa in almost every application.

Bamboo: In the early 1990s, the bamboo industry was non-existent. Today it is a $60 billion-dollar industry with products ranging from clothing to plywood. Bamboo plywood is marketed as a sustainable alternative to other wood products - yet bamboo in reality is a fiber and not a timber. Processing is costly, time-consuming and dependent on a range of chemicals, glues and processes which are not necessarily good for the environment.

Empress Splendor is an attractive alternative to bamboo in plywood and other products for manufacturers looking to reduce costs and environmental impacts.

Plastic: Plastic gained popularity initially because it is a light, strong and durable material. However, the environmental cost has been devastating, and companies and consumers are demanding more sustainable alternatives. For example, World Tree was approached by The Walt Disney Company to explore making wooden benches to replace their plastic benches.

Short, medium and long-term market approaches

The Company, in collaboration with the Manager, is actively growing the market, promoting the properties of ES Lumber and working with timber merchants who are looking for sustainable hardwood alternatives. Recent conversations include manufacturers of guitars, tiny homes, picture frames, window blinds, trailers and sailboats. Conversations have begun with larger potential buyers in Asia.

The Manager contracts with farmers having mature Empress Splendor trees to harvest and sell the trees in order to develop the market. Additionally, the Manager currently has over 100,000 board feet of ES Lumber stored in its warehouse that is available for sale.

Short term:

Focus on boutique market products (i.e., musical instruments, surfboards, furniture) through relationships with retailers. Lumber will be taken to trade shows, featured in magazines and highlighted at specialized events. This will allow us to demonstrate the uses and market for the lumber across a wide variety of applications.

Medium term:

Establish connections with larger lumber suppliers with an interest in tapping into the sustainable lumber market. Use in larger runs of doors, window blinds and veneers. Engage in research projects demonstrating the superior qualities of Empress when compared to other materials (e.g. bamboo, balsa and plastics).

Long term:

Establish Empress Lumber as a superior product to bamboo, balsa and/or plastic for producing a light, strong, and environmentally enriching building material for aerospace applications, boats, furniture, plywood and cross-laminated timber.

Previous ES Lumber Market Experience

In December 2018, the Manager harvested an ES Tree plantation in Plains, Georgia, belonging to former president Jimmy Carter. In January and February of 2019, the Manager harvested two additional plantations in South Carolina. Harvesting was fully under the Manager’s control, from initial survey of the trees, through to logging, bucking, clean-up, drying and saw milling. The resulting lumber is being stored in a warehouse in Georgia and is currently available for sale .  

The Manager has previously been supplied with small orders of ES Lumber from independent small Paulownia plantation growers in Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland and several other states. This ES Lumber was sold by the Manager for profit to retailers of surfboards, furniture, crown molding, doors, siding for the exterior of buildings, coffins and aircraft wing struts.

The Manager contracted with Fender Guitars in 2010 to supply ES Lumber for the building of Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars. Fender was pleased with the results of their prototypes and requested thousands of board feet to build more guitars and speaker boxes. Unfortunately, due to the limited availability of ES Lumber at that time, the Manager was unable to fulfill the demand from Fender. In light of the Manager’s recent harvests and resulting stock of ES Lumber, the Manager is currently re-negotiating the sale of its lumber to Fender and negotiating with other buyers.

The Company believes that with the establishment of its Eco-Tree Program increasing amounts of ES Lumber will become available in the near future, making the lumber potentially attractive on a commercial scale.

The Company plans to have established a viable ES Lumber market before the first harvest inside of the Eco-Tree Program, which is anticipated in 2025. The Manager has created and is actively building a database of retailers who wish to buy ES Lumber. The Manager intends to use these ongoing relationships with retailers to leverage the Manager’s negotiations with lumber wholesalers to demonstrate the value of and demand for ES Lumber.

While marketing efforts are already underway the Company plans to ramp up marketing as the ES Trees mature.

TREES AND FARMERS

Propagation and Planting

In 2017, the Manager and the Company reviewed all its propagation, shipping and delivery protocols. The majority of the trees planted were ‘bare roots’ ordered directly from World Tree Technologies, Inc. (our Manager) and shipped from Toad Gully suppliers in Australia. This was in keeping with previous planting methodologies.

ES Trees were delivered from Australia to the United States and Costa Rica. The Company experienced several issues with this process:

The Company and the Manager decided to pursue alternative propagation methods to achieve the following goals:

Dr. Cathy Key at the Propagation facility in Kelowna, BC.

Our Manager, World Tree Technologies, Inc., acquired the exclusive propagation rights to eighteen (18) premium timber genotypes, many of which have been researched and monitored for 20+ years. In addition, our Manager acquired propagation rights to the two genotypes used by the Toad Gully nursery. This total of twenty (20) genotypes provides considerable quality, genetic diversity and the ability to plant in a variety of climate zones.

World Tree Technologies, Inc. is propagating these varieties through a laboratory facility in Kelowna, BC, Canada. This facility has the ability to propagate hundreds of thousands of ES Trees in relatively short timeframes.

The Manager hired two nurseries in Costa Rica to grow out the ES Trees. This means that we no longer need to import trees to Costa Rica. This reduces our costs considerably and provides more flexibility for the Farmers in Costa Rica.

The Manager has hired a nursery in the United States called the Southern Growers to grow out the ES Trees for U.S. Farmers.

Canadian Famers will be supplied directly from the Kelowna lab and/or a nursery on Vancouver Island, BC.

The Manager has hired a nursery and propagation facility in Guatemala to grow out the ES Trees in that region.

Each of these changes have increased quality and decreased costs.

Trees waiting to be shipped to farmers, at the nursery in Alabama.

FARMERS

The Manager, World Tree Technologies, Inc., has developed extensive relationships with Farmers across the United States, Canada, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Currently, the Manager is working with almost 150 Farmers, managing over 2,000 acres on behalf of the Company and World Tree COP Inc. The map below shows plantation locations (excluding Guatemala).

The Company’s anticipated planting areas for the ES Trees underlying the Series A 2020 Eco-Tree Units (formerly the Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units) are Southern United States, Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala. Currently, the Manager has over 100 farmers contracted in the United States. Over the next three months the Company will be reviewing land locations, meeting interested farmers and signing contracts. The Company will also be marketing to farmers in various publications and events from September 2019 onwards.

The Company has had verbal commitments in Costa Rica for 85,000 trees and is currently negotiating contracts and reviewing target planting areas. Additionally, the Company has hired an agronomist in 2019 in Costa Rica to assist in expanding its farmer outreach in Costa Rica.

Due to the success of the program in Costa Rica, the Company has expanded its planting to other parts of Central America. In 2019, the Manager contracted 25,000 trees in Guatemala via a partnership with a Guatemalan group, LuYS. In 2019, 4,910 of the 25,000 trees were planted and the remainder will be planted in May 2020. LuYS is managing farmer recruitment and support and has a propagation facility in Quetzaltenango.

In 2019, the Manager contracted and planted 7,000 trees in Mexico.

Farmers are selected using the following criteria:

In the United States and Canada, Lands must not be more than 2,200 feet above sea level. In Guatemala, the Lands should be at least 3,000 feet above sea level. These different requirements relate to day length and seasonal temperature variation.

Each Farmer must be able to enter into a Crop Contracting Agreement with the Manager for at least 10 years.

The full Crop Contracting Agreement is available for inspection upon request. The following are the key terms of the Crop Contracting Agreement:

The Manager has the resources and expertise to train the Farmers on how to grow the ES Trees. This includes pruning instructions and a grower’s guide for each year. The Manager calls the Farmers at least twice per year to review the health of their ES Trees and has dedicated staff to answer emails and calls from Farmers.

The Farmer website, grower’s guide and pruning instructions are translated into Spanish for the benefit of the Farmers in Central America.

The Manager visits the Farmers annually until the Manager is satisfied with the health and status of the ES Trees and the ability of the Farmer to follow the guidelines and protocols set forth in the Crop Contracting Agreement.

United States

The southern United States is an ideal location for growing ES Trees. Currently the Company has ES Trees planted in various states including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. Additionally, there are other Farmers in the U.S. engaged in small trial programs. The Manager has visited all plantation locations.

The Manager currently has 48 US farmers in its database who are contracted with the Manager to plant ES Trees as part of the Company’s Eco-Tree Program in 2020. The Company uses focused, targeted marketing to farmers in ideal growing regions to stimulate interest in the Eco-Tree Program.

The Company has engaged in sophisticated GIS mapping of the whole region, connecting with the USDA climate and soils database for the most current data³³. This has allowed the Company to target very specific areas, right down to the farm boundary, and get the addresses of the ideal farmers.

The Company has experienced a significant upswing of interest from farmers in the Southern United States. We attribute this to positive word-of-mouth, targeted advertising and a more hands-on approach to visiting and meeting prospective farmers.

Farmers with trees, three months after planting in Kentucky.

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³³ http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/?cid=nrcs142p2_053627

Canada

In 2017, the Company planted its first trees in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. The ES Trees have performed extremely well and have attracted considerable local interest. The Company now has three (3) Farmers in British Columbia and is interested in expanding its presence in this region.

Central America

The Empress Splendor tree intercrops extremely well with coffee plants, the primary crop of many Central American countries.

The Manager explored various parts of Costa Rica and identified excellent growing conditions in the mountains of central Costa Rica, especially in the coffee-growing areas. ES Trees provide additional benefits for coffee farmers who need shade for their coffee plants. The ES Trees, due to their fast growth and deep root system, provide cover for the coffee plants without competing with them for nutrition.

The coffee farmers have high quality soil, well managed plantations and a year-round staff that work the Lands.

Wendy Burton with Mariana Alfaro, our Costa Rica Manager, with a 12-month-old tree.

The Manager has active Farmers in 30 separate locations in Costa Rica and a regional manager (from its Farmer support team) in Costa Rica that oversees the Farmers and ES Trees. Additionally, a senior member of the Management team visits the Farmers every year.

One issue for some, but not all, Costa Rican Farmers have been leaf-cutter ants. The Manager hired a local expert to review this situation and has developed a new set of procedures and guides for the Farmers on how to deal with this situation if it develops.

The Manager is working with three nurseries in Costa Rica to propagate and supply ES Trees in this region. In addition, the Manager is working with a local businessman, Carlos Monteros, to reach and support larger scale plantation owners. Mr. Monteros, through his company, is providing planting, care and support to those Farmers for a cost to the Manager of eighteen cents ($0.18) per tree and a share in the gross profits upon Harvest.

All the Company’s growers’ guides, manuals and website material have been translated into Spanish.

Guatemala

Due to the success of the program in Costa Rica, the Company is expanding its planting to other parts of Central America. In 2019, the Manager will plant between 25,000 and 50,000 trees in Guatemala via a partnership with a Guatemalan group, LuYs. LuYs is managing farmer recruitment and support and has a propagation facility in Quetzaltenango. The Manager will be visiting the Guatemalan planting sites and facility in June 2019.

Mexico

In 2019, the Manager contracted and planted 7,000 ES Trees in Mexico.

OBJECTIVES

Short Term Objectives

The short-term objective of the Company is to raise up to $10,000,000 pursuant to this Offering, which will be used by the Company to acquire ES Startlings, pay for the ongoing expenses of managing the Eco-Tree Program, harvesting the ES Trees and brokering the ES Lumber for the benefit of the Company, its Manager and its Investors.

Long Term Objectives

The following are the major events that are expected to occur with respect to the business of the Company:

Insufficient Funds

The proceeds of the Offering may not be sufficient to accomplish all the Company’s proposed objectives, and there is no assurance that alternative financing will be available.

Material Agreements

The Company is managed by World Tree Technologies, Inc., pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Operating Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 3 to this Offering Circular.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the accompanying audited financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Offering Circular. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectation, whose actual outcomes involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those stated in or implied by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”, and elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

Executive Overview and Outlook

World Tree USA, LLC was organized as a limited liability company in Nevada in June 2015. World Tree USA, LLC seeks to restore the Earth’s natural ecology, creating a legacy for future generations in a way that is environmentally and economically sustainable. To this end, the Company is focused on promoting, planting and harvesting the Empress Splendor tree through its Eco-Tree Program.

The Company follows a closely defined business strategy to develop and increase global geographic diversification to reduce the Company’s exposure to business and other risks.

2019/2020 Eco-Tree Program

In 2019, the Company raised a total of $2,384,776 in exchange for the issuance of 918,888 Series A 2018 COP Units and 1,258,937 Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units.

Additionally, in 2019, the Company issued 27,968 Series A 2018 COP Units and 27,450 Series A 2019 Eco-Tree Units in lieu of paying cash for services rendered.

In October 2019, the Company launched its first Regulation A offering (this Offering) on the WeFunder platform.

2018 Eco-Tree Program (formerly called Carbon Offset Program)

In 2018, the Company raised a total of $174,294 in exchange for the issuance of 225,296 Series A 2018 COP Units.

Additionally, the Company issued 15,000 Series A 2018 COP Units in lieu of paying cash for services rendered.

In September 2018, the Company launched its first Regulation Crowdfunding offering on the WeFunder platform. The Company closed its Regulation Crowdfunding offering on April 3, 2019, raising a total of $993,628 from 414 investors.

Results of Operations

To date, the Company has not had any revenues. The Company expects to harvest its first plantation inside of the Eco-Tree Program in 2025.

The following table shows the results of operations for the year ended 2019 compared to the year ended 2018.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were $1,204,586 for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $78,374 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in operating expenses of $1,126,212 is primarily attributed to an increase in management and other general and administrative fees. The increase in operating expense is due to the up-front costs of tree propagation, planting and support for the acres of trees planted. Additionally, the Company had an increase in sales and marketing expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table summarizes total current assets, liabilities and working capital at December 31, 2019, compared to December 31, 2018:

At December 31, 2019, we had a working capital surplus of $808,390 as compared to working capital of $135,916 at December 31, 2018, an increase of $672,474. The increase in working capital is primarily attributable to the sale of Series A membership units.

Summary Cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

The Company expects to continue raising proceeds from issuance of future stock offerings to maintain sufficient capital on-hand to fund operations on an ongoing basis. In addition, the Company remains focused on working with institutional investors to raise additional funds.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was ($1,164,708) for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to net cash used in operating activities of ($49,721) for the year ended December 31, 2018. Operating activities are heavily concentrated in the first few years and the expected return on these activities will be realized upon sale of the lumber produced by the Harvest.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was ($576,807) compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $15,804 during the same period in fiscal year 2018. Net cash used in investing activities was primarily comprised of deposits and purchase of biological assets.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

For the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash provided by financing activities was $2,384,776 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $174,294 during the same period in fiscal year 2018.

The funds provided by financing activities in 2019 was primarily comprised of proceeds of sale of membership units less costs to sell.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet financing.

Going Concern Consideration

Our independent auditors included an explanatory paragraph in their report on the accompanying financial statements regarding concerns about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our financial statements contain additional note disclosures describing the circumstances that lead to this disclosure by our independent auditors. 

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Biological Assets

Biological assets consist of trees managed for future timber sales. Biological Assets contains the assumption that the fair value of biological assets can be measured reliably. This assumption can be rebutted at the early stage of an asset’s life and when fair value is not reliably determined. The trees have had little biological transformation since the initial costs were incurred and therefore cost approximates fair value. The cost of trees consists of the purchase price plus costs incurred to bring the trees to the current location and condition. Costs relating to ongoing management of the trees are expensed as farmer support costs as they are incurred.

The trees are recognized as biological assets when they are received the Company’s farmers. As at December 31, 2019 and 2018, 50,341 and 14,000 trees represented a cost of $144,180 and $39,742, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019, current and future tree plantings are summarized below:

Provisions and Contingent Liability Provisions

Provisions and contingent liability provisions are recognized when there is a present legal or constructive obligation arising as a result of a past event for which it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and where a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. Timing or exact amount of the outflow may still be uncertain. Provisions are measured at the estimated expenditure required to settle the present obligation, based on the most reliable evidence available, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the present obligation. Provisions are discounted to their present values, where the time value of money is material.

Where it is not probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required, or the amount cannot be estimated reliably, the obligation is disclosed as a contingent liability, unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is remote. Possible obligations whose existence will only be confirmed by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more future events are also disclosed as contingent liabilities unless the possibility of outflow of resources is remote.

Deferred Offering Costs

Costs associated with the offering of shares are capitalized as other assets. Upon successful issuance, these costs will reduce additional-paid-in capital, or if unsuccessful, recognized as general and administrative expense.

Income Taxes

The Company is taxed as a Partnership. Under these provisions, the Company does not pay federal corporate income taxes on its taxable income. Instead, the Unitholders are liable for individual federal and state income taxes on their respective shares of the Company’s taxable income. The Company will pay state income taxes at reduced rates. The Company is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for all periods since inception. The Company currently is not under examination by any tax authority.

Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak

The Company’s primary business is long-term in nature, as the trees planted in any year will not be harvested for 8 to 10 years, and our initial harvest will not happen for at least 5 to 8 years.   Therefore, we have not seen any material impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our results of operations or financial condition.

However, we currently are unable to predict the full effect of COVID-19 and responses thereto on our business and operations, and on our results of operations, financial condition, cash flow and liquidity, as these depend on rapidly evolving developments, which are highly uncertain and will be a function of factors beyond our control, such as the available of workers to plant and care for trees, the implementation of effective measures to prevent and contain further outbreaks, the development of effective medical solutions, the timing and scope of governmental restrictions on mobility and other activities, financial and other market reactions to the foregoing, and reactions and responses of the populace both in affected regions and regions yet to be affected. While we expect we will suffer adverse effects, the more severe the outbreak and the longer it lasts, the more likely it is that the effects on us and our business will be materially adverse. 

The following summarizes the current effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations:

The Company is working with its long-time business partners and workforce through crisis planning, effective communication and co-operation to identify and minimize negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on the effects the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business and operations, see Risk Factors.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

* The Company is managed by World Tree Technologies, Inc., (the “Manager”). Each of the Manager’s Directors and Officers perform services for the issuer consistent with the titles and positions listed in the above table.

** Dr. Catherine Key and Leslie Bolton are husband and wife.

*** Wendy Burton and Angela Nauta are siblings.

Wendy Burton

Wendy Burton, the Founder and Chairman of World Tree Technologies, Inc. has over 24 years of experience with the Empress Splendor tree. Wendy is a self-professed tree-hugging entrepreneur who cares deeply for our Planet Earth. She has been the motivating force behind the regeneration of our climate’s condition, and the protection of our old growth forests through the planting of Empress Splendor trees since she founded World Tree.

Wendy founded World Tree Technologies, Inc. in 2002, and during the first 5 years of operations, Ms. Burton traveled to Brazil, Paraguay, Australia, New Zealand and various locations in the US in order to expand her knowledge in how to successfully grow and manage the Empress Splendor tree. Wendy has met and worked with many of the experts in the field, including agronomist Alex Jay, who is now an advisor to World Tree.

While visiting Brazil, she witnessed first-hand the destruction of the Amazon rainforest which reinforced her decision to move to a plantation-based timber in an effort to stop the destruction of the rainforest and old growth timber on a global scale.

Wendy’s expertise in this field includes hands-on experience, having manually planted over 6,000 trees in Arizona. She also had acquired a property in Georgia with a total of 841 acres of two-year-old Empress Splendor trees. She managed, grew, pruned, fertilized and cared for them developing many of World Tree’s best growing practices throughout the process.

Having a strong background in the initial planning and planting of the trees’ growth cycle Wendy took it upon herself to further develop her education. Wendy then acquired a lease option purchase of 47 acres in Georgia of 10-year-old Empress Splendor trees where she gained the valuable experience of harvesting a full plantation, on-site milling, kiln-drying and sale of the lumber. Shortly thereafter, she landed her first contract with Fender guitars, who were amazed with the quality of the wood, and they began development on a line of telecaster and Stratocaster guitars.

Through Wendy’s unflappable efforts she became an integral figure throughout the industry and was affectionately deemed the name, “Treelady” from her clients and colleagues. The story of the Empress Splendor began to spread, and eventually caught attention of Morley Safer of ‘60 Minutes’¹⁰. His company, The American Environmental Review, did a short documentary on World Tree. Both Wendy and the Empress Splendor tree were also featured on Oprah (as an audience member) and Connie Selleca’s ‘Family and Home’. Many celebrities of note have since acquired trees for their own properties including Oprah, Maria Shriver, Dolly Parton, and Wayne Newton. In 2018 Wendy initiated the very first “Presidential Harvest”, having connected with President Jimmy Carter and reaching an agreement to harvest his Empress Splendor plantation in Plains, Georgia. She has since acquired World Tree’s first lumber warehouse and along with her support team has begun the marketing and sale of Empress Splendor lumber.

The Treelady has spent much of her professional career in marketing and sales producing outstanding results with proven leadership skills. Prior to the inception of World Tree, Wendy was the Vice President of Corporate Communications for National Scientific Inc.¹¹ and was solely in charge of investor relations and press releases. Wendy’s dynamic vision and unassuming charisma were instrumental in the company’s unprecedented performance during her tenure. Prior to National Scientific, Wendy served at both Intercell Corporation and Halo Gaming Corp., each of which saw positive performance throughout her employment. She has been responsible for producing successful results working in the investor relations field, which has included IPOs, private placements and seed capital ventures.

Wendy is an advocate and dedicated spokeswoman for the change we all want to see in the world. She is Canadian born, but lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for 17 years when she first started World Tree. She is the proud mother of two grown children, Curtis and Nicholas (both of whom currently work for World Tree) and Grandmother (“Nani”) to two wonderful boys who are excited to grow up planting trees in order to save the world - just like the Treelady.

Dr. Catherine Key

Dr. Catherine Key has been the source-person in creating the Eco-Tree Program. She is responsible for the creation of the business structure, legal framework, marketing and presentation materials. Dr. Key works in direct partnership with Wendy Burton and oversees the Farmer support team, management team, investment team, legal counsel and accounting.

Dr. Key has presented World Tree to Canadian and US audiences on the stage of conferences that in include the Social Finance Forum and Sustainatopia, as well as investment groups in cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

With a PhD in Anthropology, specializing in the economics of cooperation, Dr. Key brings a diverse skillset to the table. She has over 17 years’ experience in business development, marketing and sales and has worked with organizations that include Telus, McGill University, Johnson and Johnson, University of Illinois and the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Key started her professional life as a lecturer in Anthropology at University College London (UCL). Her research was regularly published, and she was one of the first scientists to visit South Africa at the end of Apartheid in 1992. During her ten years at UCL she created and pioneered the use of online educational software. This resulted in her being head-hunted by a Canadian company to help them oversee the roll-out of their multi-million-dollar operation.

Dr. Key moved to Canada in 2001 and ended up starting her own, award-winning software business selling an e-commerce platform called “Conference Company”. Starting from almost nothing, this grew into a successful company, with a global customer base. Dr. Key was highly involved with every level of operations including sales, marketing, customer support, budgeting and relationship building.

In 2013 Dr. Key sold her software business to become advisor to companies committed to making a significant environmental, community and financial impact. Under her guidance and leadership, the Company created the Eco-Tree Program.

Dr. Key has a declared commitment to making a real difference for people and the planet. For seven years she led programs for one of the largest organizations in the personal and professional development industry, Landmark Worldwide.

Douglas Willmore

Douglas (Doug) Willmore has had an accomplished and diverse career in both the public and private sectors. He recently completed almost five very successful years as the City Manager of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Prior to Rancho Palos Verdes, Doug was chosen to lead the turnaround at the City of Bell, CA after the disastrous City Council and administrative scandal that left the City on the verge of bankruptcy. After almost three years at the helm, the City of Bell had fully recovered financially – going from a $200K general fund balance to a $22.5M fund balance with city debt being cut in half – upon Doug’s leaving.

Prior to that, Doug was the Chief Administrative Officer of Salt Lake County, UT for a little over 6 years. He managed more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $800M. He presented more than $585M in bond offers to Wall Street rating agencies in his time at Salt Lake County. He also led the County during the financial downturn of 2008. Doug increased innovation, efficiency, and collaboration to be able to reduce the annual budget by more than $75M while also increasing service levels and accelerating construction of more than 9 new large public buildings to support the local construction community during the financial downturn.

In the private sector, as the Chief Executive Officer and one of three major shareholders, Doug led the growth and turnaround of a research pathology laboratory from 21 employees and $1.2M in revenue upon joining the company in 1988 to 120 employees and $22.2M in revenue upon the company’s sale in December of 2002. He managed the successful sale of Reference Pathology Services in December 2002 to Ameripath, Inc. for $33.5M. He also worked for USAID in Central America for three years earlier in his career and was a sought-after consultant in breakthrough performance to Fortune 100 companies. He has a BS in Public Administration from George Mason University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.

Deborah Cullen

Deborah Cullen is an accomplished finance executive with over 30 years’ experience in producing leading outcomes in finance, budgets, accounting, and systems.

Deborah has extensive experience leading and revamping the finance departments within organizations with annual budgets of up to $500 million. She worked for more than 25 years as a finance executive with the US Postal Service (USPS). In her time at USPS, she worked on projects as diverse as: creating a business model for a new $5B business; and, implementing a new financial system for an entire region.

After USPS, she joined STAMPS.com, an internet startup, and was the principal liaison to the USPS. Deborah has also been a senior audit manager for Mayer Hoffman McCann and audited organizations ranging in size from $10M - $150M.

Deborah was also the Finance Director for the City of El Segundo, CA for almost 10 years until 2015. At El Segundo, she oversaw and managed a budget of more than $225M annually. Most recently, she was the Finance Director for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA until October 2019 when she joined World Tree as the CFO. In Rancho Palos Verdes, she completely rebuilt the finance team; restructured the entire accounting and budgeting processes; and, oversaw the migration from an old outdated financial accounting system to a new cloud-based system.

Angela Nauta

Angela Nauta has been involved with World Tree since its early beginnings in 2002. Throughout the company’s progression, she was a driving force behind World Tree’s environmental evolution and was instrumental in the development of its flagship product; the Eco-Tree Program. As World Tree’s Chief Investment Officer, she has presented the program to audiences across Canada and the US and through her knowledge has built strong relationships with exempt market dealers, financial advisors and crowdfunding platforms along the way.

Angela owns a 69-acre farm and in 2016 became a farmer inside if the Eco-Tree Program, managing a plantation of 1,400 Empress trees. Through her own experience of handling Empress Splendor trees, Angela has been a consistent support to our farmers and our Farmer Support team inside of World Tree. She has worked with many farmers in locations all over the world from Vancouver Island, Southern United States, and as far as Costa Rica.

Angela is a board member of the American Paulownia Association, a membership-based association focused on the best methodologies and procedures for the growth of Paulownia.

Angela’s background includes a certification in clinical therapy and she previously worked as a conflict resolutions support worker, mediator and consultant. Angela’s way with people is what truly makes her special to the World Tree team. She has provided education, knowledge and training to the World Tree staff while managing the Investor Support Team. Her versatility has enabled her to support several departments through client communications, shareholder conversations, farmer support, sales and more.

Angela also specializes in investments outside of World Tree as a financial advocate and coach with expertise in exempt markets, lending and real estate investing. Her other businesses include Lewauta Landholdings Inc. and Hearthstone Enterprises Inc. Her love for people, her passion, and her genuine concern for the environment are what endear her to our investors and client base.

Angela is Wendy’s sister. She currently resides on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada and is the proud Mother of four wonderful grown children and “Nana” to three beautiful granddaughters.

Leslie Bolton (Madhu)

Madhu Bolton has over 30 years’ experience in design, marketing, communications and technology. He has been responsible for all of World Tree Technologies’ marketing for the last four years including the website, brochures, grower’s guides and promotional materials.

With a track record that spans over four decades, Madhu began his career as a typographic designer working for some of the world’s top advertising agencies in London, England. For over 10 years he worked on World Series accounts including Rolex, Remy Martin, General Motors, Time-Life Books and Readers Digest.

In 1981, Madhu moved to the United States where he served as Creative Director for the SYDA Foundation, an international organization that promotes the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. During his tenure at SYDA he was responsible for the early adoption of desktop publishing and the transition of their magazine production from outsourced to in-house, a bold move that reduced production costs by over 50%.

In 1993, Madhu founded his first company, Bolton Associates, where he created a direct-to-digital manuscript processing system for the State University of New York Press. SUNY Press was the first University Press in the United States to adopt this approach, cutting publishing costs by over 30%.

During that time, he also began working on the newly created World Wide Web and became one of the first professional website developers in the world.

Returning to London in 1997, he founded Eyecue Solutions. In association with the Royal London Society for the Blind, Eyecue created ‘Vita’ the world’s first online teaching and learning system that was fully accessible to the blind. In 2000, Vita won the prestigious National Information Society Millennium Award for Excellence in Design, presented at the House of Lords in London. The Vita project and another online learning project with University College London brought Madhu to the attention of Canadian company, Education Online. They hired Madhu and his partner Dr. Cathy Key to consult for them, resulting in a move to Canada in 2001.

Since 2001, Madhu has helped found and create several online software companies. He developed an online application called ‘Conference Manager’ that is used by universities to manage academic conferences. He was the interface designer and creative director for MyArtChannel where, together with a team of 25 developers, he created a social platform for artists to share and sell their work. After these decades of experience in building and marketing companies, in 2013 Madhu formed Melting Point Media, which provides business and marketing consulting to green businesses. It was in this context that Madhu was introduced to World Tree and collaborated in the creation of the Eco-Tree Program. He was so convinced by the merits of the program that he has become a permanent member of the World Tree management team.

Legal Proceedings Disclaimer

To the best of our knowledge, none of our management team (including the Manager, and the Manager’s officers, directors, and significant employees), during the past five years, has been involved in any legal proceeding of the type required to be disclosed under applicable SEC rules, including:

(1) A petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing; or

(2) Such person was convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses).

(a) The following table shows the annual compensation of each of the three highest paid persons who were executive officers or directors during the issuer’s last completed fiscal year.

____________ 

¹ Salaries are paid by the Manager, World Tree Technologies, Inc.

² Salaries are paid by World Tree COP Inc., a related party.

³ One million (1,000,000) common shares of World Tree Technologies, Inc., issued at $0.0001 per share (par value).

(b) The issuer has 3 persons acting in the role of director. The aggregate annual compensation of these directors as a group for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 was $302,075.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

The table below discloses all beneficial owners of more than 10% of any class of the Company’s voting securities.