12/15/2020

December 15, 2020 – Ottawa – KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (“KWESST” or “the Company”) today announced it has extended until January  15, 2021 its option to acquire a proprietary non-lethal munitions technology system referred to as the Low Energy Cartridge technology (“LEC Technology”).

The owner of the LEC Technology is DEFSEC Corporation (“DEFSEC”), an Ottawa-based based private company owned by David Luxton the Executive Chairman of KWESST. KWESST entered into a letter of intent with DEFSEC on June 6, 2020 to acquire the LEC Technology. The parties continue to cooperate and are working toward a definitive agreement.

The LEC Technology is a proprietary non-lethal cartridge-based ordnance system with wide application in the rapidly growing market of soldier and law enforcement training, maintenance of public order, personal defence, and high-action gaming. “The market has long required a safer, lower-cost reliable alternative to existing solutions,” said Jeff MacLeod, KWESST Founder and CEO. “We see the LEC Technology as a strong fit with KWESST’s other smart ordnance technologies, like our Shot Counter system. Together, the LEC Technology and Shot Counter have the potential to anchor the build-out of a significant business unit specialized in smart ordnance systems, with a vast global market.” 

The contemplated transaction would benefit from the deep combined experience of Jeff MacLeod and David Luxton in the specialty ordnance business. Mr. MacLeod is a highly knowledgeable defence industry executive with over 20 years’ experience in the field of small arms and advanced soldier systems. Prior to establishing KWESST, he was the General Manager of Colt Canada, the primary supplier of small arms to the Canadian military. David Luxton was the founder in 1990 of Simunition Inc., a business that develops and sells simulated munitions for realistic close quarters combat training for military and law enforcement around the world. He sold the business to a large military contractor and from 2015 – 2018 was the Executive Chairman of United Tactical Systems LLC, a U.S. company that develops and sells products for the global less-lethal market.

The purchase price for the LEC Technology shall be satisfied by the issuance to DEFSEC of 1,000,000 shares of KWESST and 500,000 share purchase warrants of KWESST at a price of $0.70 per share. The warrants shall vest as to 25% on the first anniversary of the closing of the LEC Technology acquisition and 25% on each of the subsequent three anniversaries of the completion of the LEC Technology acquisition. DEFSEC shall also be entitled to a 7% royalty on annual sales of the LEC Technology, net of taxes, duties, customs brokerage fees, shipping and handling costs, customer credits, discounts and returns, up to a cumulative maximum of $10 million. The other terms and conditions of the letter of intent between DEFSEC and KWESST are detailed on pages 16 and 17 of the Company’s Filing Statement dated September 28, 2020 which can be found at www.sedar.com. The acquisition of the LEC technology by KWESST remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company has granted to each of its three independent directors 250,000 stock options pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan. The stock options will vest over a two-year period and may be exercised at a closing price of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on December 15, 2020. The options will be outstanding for a period of five years from the date of grant. The Company has finalized the shares for debt described in its November 25, 2020 news release.

About KWESST

KWESST develops and commercializes high-value ultra-miniaturized technology applications that make a critical difference to the safety and operational effectiveness of personnel in the defence and security industries.  The company’s current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include: its signature TASCSTM (Tactical and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users’ smart devices and weapons; the autonomous GreyGhost^TM soldier-portable micro drone missile system that defends against small hostile drones including swarms using high-speed kinetic impact; a Ground Laser Defence system to counter the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel; and, the Phantom^TM  electronic battlefield decoy system to mask the electromagnetic signature of friendly forces with decoy signatures at false locations to deceive and confuse adversaries.  All systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems including  Frontline, Edge, Killswitch  and ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) among others. KWESST also has developmental “smart ordnance” projects including its “Shot Counter” system, which records the number and type of rounds fired, for optimized firearms maintenance and performance. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with representative offices in Washington, DC, London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE.

Contact:  Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com

For more information, please visit https://www.kwesst.com/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing for the commencement of trading and the plans and operations of KWESST after giving effect to the Qualifying Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. KWESST disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.