Form of the Purchase Agreement

EX-10.1 3 e5901_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

SPLASH BEVERAGE GROUP, INC.
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August ____, 2024, by and between Splash Beverage Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the investors set forth on the signature pages affixed hereto (each, an “Investor” and, collectively, the “Investors”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to sell and issue to the Investors an aggregate of up to $15,000,000 (the “Maximum Offering Amount”) of the Company’s convertible promissory notes in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (each, a “Promissory Note” or “Note” and collectively the “Promissory Notes” or “Notes”) which are convertible into the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with Investor’s purchase of the Notes, the Company will issue to the Investor a warrant (the “Investor Warrant”) to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock equal to 100% of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion (as of the date hereof) of the Note; and

 

WHEREAS, unless terminated earlier by the Company, the offering (the “Offering”) and sales of the Promissory Notes shall terminate on the earlier of the sale of the Maximum Offering Amount or September 30, 2024, but the Company may, in its sole discretion, extend this Offering to November 30, 2024;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms, conditions and other agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree to the sale and purchase of the Notes as set forth herein.

 

1.

Definitions.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the corresponding meanings provided below.

 

“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person (as defined below), (i) if such Person is an individual, the spouse, heirs, executors, or legal representatives of such individual, or any trusts for the benefit of such individual or such individual’s spouse and/or lineal descendants, or (ii) otherwise, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. As used in this definition, “control” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the sole and unilateral power to cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or other written instrument.

 

“Business Day” shall mean any day on which banks located in New York City are not required or authorized by law to remain closed.

 

“Closing” and “Closing Date” as defined in Section 2.3(a) hereof.

 

“Common Stock” as defined in the recitals above.

 

“Company’s Knowledge” means the actual knowledge of any executive officer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or director of the Company, or the knowledge of any fact or matter which any person would reasonably be expected to become aware of in the course of performing the duties and responsibilities as an executive officer or director of the Company.

 

 

“Conversion Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Promissory Notes.

 

“Investment Banker” shall mean Capital Securities.

 

“Liens” means any mortgage, lien, title claim, assignment, encumbrance, security interest, adverse claim, contract of sale, restriction on use or transfer or other defect of title of any kind.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning set forth in section 4.13 below

 

“Person” shall mean an individual, entity, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint-stock company, trust or unincorporated organization.

 

“Purchase Price” shall mean the face amount of the Promissory Notes being purchased by an Investor.

 

“Regulation D” as defined in Section 3.7 hereof.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Subsidiaries” and “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning as defined in Section 4.1(a).

 

“Transaction Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Promissory Notes and the Investor Warrant.

 

“Transaction Securities” shall mean the Promissory Notes, Conversion Shares, the Investor Warrant and the Warrant Shares.

 

“Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, charge, pledge, mortgage, encumbrance, hypothecation, security interest or other disposition, or to make or effect any of the above.

 

“Warrant Shares” shall mean the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Investor Warrant.

 

2.

Sale and Purchase of Promissory Notes.

 

2.1            Subscription for Promissory Notes by Investors. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on each of the respective Closing Dates (as hereinafter defined) each of the Investors shall severally, and not jointly, purchase, and the Company shall sell and issue to the Investors, the Promissory Notes, in the respective amounts set forth on the signature pages attached hereto in exchange for the Purchase Price. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Promissory Note, such Note shall have a term of five (5) years, bear an interest rate of 9.0% per annum and can be converted into Conversion Shares at a fixed conversion price of $0.35 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the Promissory Notes. In connection with Investor’s purchase of the Notes, the Company will issue to the Investor a warrant (the “Investor Warrant”) to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock equal to 100% of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note as of the date hereof. For example if the Investor purchases a Note in the principal amount of $350,000 the Investor will be issued an Investor Warrant to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock. A form of the Investor Warrant is attached hereto as Exhibit B. The exercise price of the Investor Warrant shall be $0.4375 subject to adjustment as provided in the Investor Warrant.

 

The Offering shall terminate on the earlier of i) the sale of the Maximum Offering Amount,

 

ii) the termination by the Company at its sole discretion, or iii) September 30, 2024; provided that the Company may in its discretion extend the offering through November 30, 2024.

 

 

2.2           Conversion and Exercise Limitation. Each Investor shall have the right to convert its Note to the Conversion Shares, or to exercise its Warrant to receive the Warrant Shares, or both, at any time and from time to time hereafter; provided, however, that the Investor may not sell either the Conversion Shares nor the Warrant shares unless and until (a) a registration statement registering such shares for sale shall have been filed and become effective; or (b) an exemption from such registration is available to the Investor; and further provided, that the Investor agrees that it shall not sell in any one day more than 10% of the daily trading volume of the Company’s stock on the NYSE American (or such other market on which the Company’s shares may be traded).

 

2.3

Closings.

 

(a)          Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall issue and sell to each Investor, and each Investor shall, severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company on each of the respective Closing Dates, a Promissory Note in the amount set

 

forth on the signature pages attached hereto, which will be reflected opposite such Investor’s name on Annex A (the “Closing”). The date of the Closing for each Investor is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

 

(b)          Rolling Closing. One or more closings shall occur on the date and time agreed to with each Investor purchasing a Note and shall occur remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures and wire transfers. Each Closing shall occur on the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement as first above written.

 

2.4.         Closing Deliveries. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to an Investor, against delivery by the Investor of the Purchase Price (as provided below) a Promissory Note in the principal amount equivalent to the Purchase Price and an Investor Warrant.

 

At the Closing, each Investor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company a copy of this Agreement duly signed by such Investor, a completed subscription agreement and investor questionnaire (the “Subscription Agreement”), substantially in the form attached herein as Exhibit C, and the Purchase Price set forth in its counterpart signature page annexed hereto by paying United States dollars in immediately available funds, to be sent to the Company pursuant to the wiring instruction attached herein as Exhibit D.

 

3.

Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgments of the Investors.

 

Each Investor, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company solely as to such Investor that:

 

3.1           Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Investor of the Transaction Documents to which such Investor is a party have been duly authorized and will each constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability, relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally.

 

3.2           Purchase Entirely for Own Account. The Transaction Securities to be received by such Investor hereunder will be acquired for such Investor’s own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act, and such Investor has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the Securities Act, without prejudice, however, to such Investor’s right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Transaction Securities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed a representation or warranty by such Investor to hold the Transaction Securities for any period of time. Such Investor is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act or an entity engaged in a business that would require it to be so registered.

 

 

3.3.          Investment Experience. Such Investor acknowledges that the purchase of the Transaction Securities is a highly speculative investment and that it can bear the economic risk and complete loss of its investment in the Transaction Securities and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment contemplated hereby.

 

3.4           Disclosure of Information. (a)Such Investor has had an opportunity to receive all information related to the Company and the Transaction Securities requested by it and to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company regarding the Company, its business and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Transaction Securities. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigation conducted by such Investor shall modify, amend or affect such Investor’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.

 

(b) The Investor has reviewed, among other Company information, the Risk Factors set forth in the Company’s most recent Form 10k, which are appended hereto as Schedule I.

 

3.5           Restricted Securities. Such Investor understands that the Transaction Securities are characterized as “restricted securities” under the U.S. federal securities laws since they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances.

 

3.6           Legends. The Investor understands that, except as provided below, certificates evidencing the Conversion Shares will bear the following or any similar legend:

 

(a)       “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH SHARES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, DELIVERED AFTER SALE, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED BY THE ISSUER WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION COVERING SUCH SHARES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

 

(b)          If required by the authorities of any state in connection with the issuance of sale of the Transaction Securities, the legend required by such state authority.

 

3.7           Accredited Investor. Each Investor is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D, as amended, under the Securities Act (“Regulation D”) and the information provided in the Investor Questionnaire is accurate and complete as of the Closing Date.

 

3.8           No General Solicitation. Such Investor did not learn of the investment in the Transaction Securities as a result of any public advertising or general solicitation.

 

3.9           Brokers and Finders. Except the Investment Banker, the Investor is not aware of any involvement of any other broker and finder for this Transaction. No Investor will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Investor, for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of such Investor.

 

 

4.

Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

The Company represents, warrants and covenants to the Investors that:

 

4.1.

Organization; Execution, Delivery and Performance.

 

(a)           The Company and each of its Subsidiaries, if any, is a corporation or other entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or organized, with full power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease, use and operate its properties and to carry on its business as and where now owned, leased, used, operated and conducted. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership or use of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company owned and operated Subsidiaries as listed herein: Splash Beverage Group II, Inc., Copa Di Vino Wine Group, and Splash MEX SA de CV (individually the “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”).

 

(b)          (i) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform the Transaction Documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to issue the Transaction Securities, in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including without limitation, the issuance of the Transaction Securities) have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its Board of Directors, or its stockholders, is required, (iii) each of the Transaction Documents has been duly executed and delivered by the Company by its authorized representative, and such authorized representative is a true and official representative with authority to sign each such document and the other documents or certificates executed in connection herewith and bind the Company accordingly, and (iv) each of the Transaction Documents constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof by the Company will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights and general principles of equity that restrict the availability of equitable or legal remedies.

 

4.2.          Securities Duly Authorized. The Transaction Securities to be issued to each Investor pursuant to this Agreement, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes or Liens with respect to the issue thereof and shall not be subject to preemptive rights or other similar rights of stockholders of the Company. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investors party to this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Transaction Securities is exempt from registration under the Securities Act.

 

4.3          No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including without limitation, the issuance of the Transaction Securities) will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By- laws, each as amended to date or (ii) violate or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both could become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture, patent, patent license or instrument, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and regulations of any self-regulatory organizations to which the Company or its securities are subject) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation, By-laws or other organizational documents, each as amended to date. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default (and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both could put the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in default) under, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action that would give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except for possible defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any applicable state securities laws, the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court, governmental agency, regulatory agency, self-regulatory organization or stock market or any third party in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or to issue and sell the Transaction Securities in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

 

4.4.         Capitalization. As of December 31, 2023, the authorized capital stock of the Company consisted of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of July 10, 2024, there were 46,457,099 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. As of July 10, 2024 there were 8,744,088 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s outstanding options, 8,860,895 shares reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Company’s outstanding convertible debt, and 12,098,551 shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Company’s outstanding warrants.

 

4.5          Permits; Compliance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the “Company Permits”), and there is no action pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened regarding suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in conflict with, or in default or violation of, any of the Company Permits, except for any such conflicts, defaults or violations which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.7          Litigation. There is no action, suit, claim, proceeding, inquiry or investigation pending before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or their respective businesses, properties or assets or their officers or directors in their capacity as such, that may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.8           No General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any person participating on the Company’s behalf in the transactions contemplated hereby has conducted any “general solicitation,” as such term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, with respect to any of the Transaction Securities being offered hereby.

 

4.9           No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf, has directly or indirectly made any offers or sales in any security or solicited any offers to buy any security under circumstances that would require registration under the Securities Act of the issuance of the Transaction Securities to the Investors. The issuance of the Transaction Securities to the Investors will not be integrated with any other issuance of the Company’s securities (past, current or future) for purposes of any stockholder approval provisions applicable to the Company or the Securities Act.

 

4.10          Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property

 

Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

4.11         Financial Statements. Copies of financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Company in each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the related statements of income and retained earnings and stockholders’ equity for the years then ended (the “Financial Statements”) have been made available to Investor. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company represents that the Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Company for the periods indicated.

 

4.12         Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.

 

4.13         Material Adverse Effect. Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, from December 31, 2023 (the “Balance Sheet Date”) until the date of this Agreement, the Company has operated its business in the ordinary course in all material respects and there has not been, with respect to the business, and other than in the ordinary course of business, any:

 

(a)

event, occurrence or development that has had a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)           incurrence of any indebtedness for borrowed money in connection with the business in an aggregate amount exceeding $50,000, except unsecured current obligations and liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)           increase in the compensation of any employees, other than as provided for in any written agreements or in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)

adoption, termination, amendment or modification of any employee benefit plan;

 

(e)           adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar law; or

 

(f)           any agreement to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, financial condition or assets of the Company, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;  provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly or indirectly, arising out of or attributable to: (i) general economic or political conditions;  (ii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company operates; (iii) any changes in financial, banking or securities markets in general, including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index or any change in prevailing interest rates; (iv) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof; (v) any action required or permitted by this Agreement or any action taken (or omitted to be taken) with the written consent of or at the written request of the Investor; (vi) any matter of which the Investor is aware on the date hereof; (vii) any changes in applicable laws or accounting rules (including GAAP); (viii) any natural or man-made disaster or acts of God; or (ix) any failure by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions.

 

 

5.             Registration Rights (a) The Company agrees that, within eighteen (18) months after the Company has received the purchase price of the Convertible Promissory Note from the Investor, he Company will file with the SEC (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Warrant Shares and 50% of the Conversion Shares (the initial registration statement and any other registration statement that may be filed by the Company under this Section, the “Registration Statement”), and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective within such 18 month period.

 

(b) The Company further agrees that, within two (2) years after the Company has received the purchase price of the Convertible Promissory Note from the Investor, the Company will file with the SEC (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the remaining 50% of the Conversion Shares, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective within such 2 year period.

 

6.

Transfer Restrictions.

 

6.1.          Transfer or Resale. Each Investor understands that the sale or resale of all or any portion of the Transaction Securities have not been and is not being registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, and, prior to such registration, all or any portion of the Transaction Securities may not be transferred unless the Investor shall have delivered to the Company, at its own cost, a customary opinion of counsel that shall be in form, substance and scope reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that the Transaction Securities to be sold or transferred may be sold or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration.

 

6.2          Shareholder Registry. If an Investor provides the Company with a customary opinion of counsel, that shall be in form, substance and scope reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that a Transfer of such Transaction Securities may be made without registration under the Securities Act and such sale or transfer is effected, the Company shall permit the Transfer and promptly record the Transfer on its shareholder registry or, if the Company has a transfer agent, instruct its transfer agent to enter the Transfer in book-entry or issue one or more certificates in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Investor.

 

7.

Conditions to Closing of the Investors.

 

The obligation of each Investor hereunder to purchase the Notes at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the respective Closing Dates, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Investor’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Investor at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

 

7.1.          Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

7.2.          Consents. The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Promissory Notes and Transaction

 

Securities. In addition, the Company shall have delivered the consent of its Board of Directors for the Transactions and issuances of the Promissory Notes and Transaction Securities.

 

7.3.          Delivery by Company. The Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Investor (A) each of the other Transaction Documents such Investor is party to and (B) copies by mail, fax or e-mail of the Notes being purchased by such Investor(s) pursuant to this Agreement as is set forth on the signature page.

 

 

7.4.           No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of first execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall have occurred that reasonably would have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.5.         No Prohibition. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

7.6.          Other Documents. The Company shall have delivered to such Investor such other documents, instruments or certificates relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Investor or its counsel may reasonably request.

 

8.

Conditions to Closing of the Company.

 

The obligations of the Company to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with each Investor are subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of the conditions listed below.

 

8.1.          Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties made by such Investor in Section 3 shall be true and correct in all material respects at the time of such Closing as if made on and as of such date.

 

8.2.         Corporate Proceedings. All corporate and other proceedings required to be undertaken by such Investor in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall have occurred and all documents and instruments incident to such proceedings shall be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to the Company.

 

8.3.          Investor Deliveries. The Company will have received the deliveries of the Investors set forth in Section 2.4.

 

9.

Miscellaneous.

 

9.1.         Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications provided in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time when hand delivered, delivered by express courier, or sent by facsimile (with receipt confirmed by the sender’s transmitting device), or sent by email (with confirmation of receipt), in accordance with the contact information provided below or such other contact information as the parties may have duly provided by notice.

 

The Company:

 

Splash Beverage Group, Inc. 1314 E. Las Olas Blvd, Suite 221 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301   Attention: Julius Ivancsits, CFO   Email: ***@***

With a copy to:      Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP 1185 Avenue of the Americans, 31st Floor New York, New York 10036 Telephone: 212 ###-###-#### Facsimile: 212 ###-###-#### Attention: Darrin Ocasio, Esq. Email: ***@***

 

The Investor:

 

As per the contact information provided on the signature pages hereof.

 

With a copy to:                        Boylan Code, LLP

145 Culver Road, Suite 100

Rochester, New York 14620

Telephone: 585 ###-###-####

Attn: Alan S. Lockwood, Esq.

Email: ***@***

 

 

9.2.          Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

 

9.3.

Reserved.

 

9.4.          Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter contained herein.

 

9.5.          Underlying Shares. The Company agrees at all times as long as the Promissory Notes may be converted or the Warrant may be exercised, to keep reserved from the authorized and unissued Common Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as may be issuable upon conversion of the Promissory Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

9.6.          Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.

 

9.7.          Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and assigns. Neither the Company nor any Investor shall assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the provisions of Section 6.1 hereof, any Investor may, without the consent of the Company or any other Investor, assign its rights hereunder to any person that purchases Transaction Securities in a private transaction from an Investor or to any of its Affiliates.

 

9.8           Binding Effect; Benefits. This Agreement and all the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns; nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any persons other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

9.10.        Amendment; Waivers. All modifications, amendments or waivers to this Agreement shall require the written consent of both the Company and the holders of the Promissory Notes.

 

9.12.        Applicable Law; Disputes. This Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to its principles regarding conflicts of law. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by any of the Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in Monroe County, New York (the “New York Courts”). Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such New York Courts, or such New York Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement or the Notes and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby. If any party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or the Notes, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

 

9.13.         Further Assurances. Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.14.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile or email, which shall be deemed an original.

 

9.15.         Independent Nature of Investors. The obligations of each Investor under this Agreement or other transaction document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under this Agreement or any other transaction document. Each Investor shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder. The decision of each Investor to purchase the Transaction Securities pursuant to this Agreement has been made by such Investor independently of any other Investor and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company which may have been made or given by any other Investor or by any agent or employee of any other Investor, and no Investor or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Investor (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any other transaction document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any other transaction document, each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other transaction documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other

 

Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. Each Investor has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Investors and the Company have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	SPLASH BEVERAGE GROUP INC.
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

INVESTORS:

 

The Investors executing the Signature Page in the form attached hereto as Annex A and delivering the same to the Company or its agents shall be deemed to have executed this Agreement and agreed to the terms hereof.

 

 

Securities Purchase Agreement Investor
Counterpart Signature Page

 

The undersigned, desiring to: (i) enter into this Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of July ____, 2024 (the “Agreement”), with the undersigned, SPLASH BEVERAGE GROUP, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in or substantially in the form furnished to the undersigned and (ii) purchase the Convertible Promissory Notes as set forth below, hereby agrees to purchase such Notes from the Company as of the Closing and further agrees to join the Agreement as a party thereto, with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereto, and to be bound in all respects by the terms and conditions thereof. The undersigned specifically acknowledges having read the representations in the Agreement section entitled “Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgments of the Investors,” and hereby represents that the statements contained therein are complete and accurate with respect to the undersigned as an Investor.

 

The Subscription Amount: $________________________

 

   Name of Investor: _________________________________

 

If an entity:
By:
Name:
Title:
Address:
Email:
Phone Number:
Signature:
If an Individual:
By:
Name:
Address:
Email:
Phone Number:
Signature:

  

If Joint Individual:

 

Print Name: ____________________Signature: ______________________________

 

 

SCHEDULE I

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in the company’s securities involves significant risks, including the risks described below. You should carefully consider the risks described below in addition to the remainder of the Memorandum before purchasing the Shares. The risks highlighted here are not the only ones that the Company faces. For example, additional risks presently unknown to us or that we currently consider immaterial or unlikely to occur could also impair our operations. If any of the risks or uncertainties described below or any such additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected, and you might lose all or part of your investment.

 

Our future operating results may vary substantially from anticipated results due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. The following discussion highlights some of these factors and the possible impact of these factors on future results of operations. You should carefully consider these factors before making an investment decision. If any of the following factors actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed. In that case, the price of our common stock could decline in the future, and you could experience losses on your investment in our common stock.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The information in this discussion may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our capital needs, business strategy and expectations. Any statements that are not of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue”, the negative of the terms or other comparable terminology. Actual events or results may differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should consider various factors, including the risks included from time to time in other reports or registration statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements. The Company disclaim any obligation to publicly update these statements or disclose any difference between actual results and those reflected in these statements.

 

Business Overview

 

Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (the “Company”, “Splash”) seeks to identify, acquire, and build early stage or under-valued beverage brands that have strong growth potential within its distribution system. Splash’s distribution system is comprehensive in the US and is now expanding to select attractive international markets. Through its division Qplash, Splash’s distribution reach includes e-commerce access to both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) customers. Qplash markets well known beverage brands to customers throughout the US that prefer delivery direct to their office, facilities; and or homes.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements (as that term is defined in Item 303 of Regulation S-K) that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of our consolidated 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, liabilities, revenue, and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

 

Revenue

 

The Company faces challenges in revenue recognition due to the complexities of the beverage industry’s competitive landscape and diverse distribution channels. Determining the timing of revenue recognition involves assessing factors such as control transfer, returns, allowances, trade promotions, and distributor sell-through data. Historical analysis, market trends assessment, and contractual term evaluations inform revenue recognition judgments. However, inherent uncertainties persist, underscoring the critical nature of revenue recognition as it significantly impacts financial statements and performance evaluation.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The allowance for doubtful accounts is established based on historical experience, current economic conditions, and specific customer collection issues. Management evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable on an ongoing basis and adjusts the allowance as necessary. Changes in economic conditions or customer creditworthiness could result in adjustments to the allowance for doubtful accounts, impacting our reported financial results.

 

Inventory Valuation

 

We value inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Estimating the net realizable value of inventory involves significant judgment, particularly when market conditions change rapidly or when excess or obsolete inventory exists. Management regularly assesses inventory quantities on hand, future demand forecasts, and market conditions to determine whether write-downs to inventory are necessary.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

We measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measurements involve significant judgment and estimation, particularly when observable inputs are limited or not available. Management utilizes valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow models, market comparables, and third-party appraisals to determine fair values.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

New Risk Factors

 

No new risk factors noted since our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 was filed with the SEC.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

The Company granted 75,000 shares in April to one of the Board directors under the 2020 plan

 

Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Financial Condition

 

 The Company is subject to all the same risks that all companies in its business, and all companies in the economy, are exposed to. These include risks relating to economic downturns, political and economic events and technological developments (such as hacking and the ability to prevent hacking). Additionally, early-stage companies are inherently more risky than more developed companies. The risk factors summarized below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

An occurrence of an uncontrollable event such as the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect our operations and our ability to raise capital.

 

 The occurrence of an uncontrollable event such as the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect our operations. A pandemic typically results in social distancing, travel bans and quarantine, and this may limit access to our facilities, customers, management, support staff and professional advisors. This event may also limit our ability to raise capital which as noted above could trigger certain rescission rights which could result in the Company’s incurring additional debt and preferred holders who may take preference over other common holders. These factors, in turn, may not only impact our operations, financial condition and demand for our products but our overall ability to react timely to mitigate the impact of this event. Also, it may hamper our efforts to comply with our filing obligations with the Commission.

 

If we are unable to continue as a going concern, our securities will have little or no value.

 

Although our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 were prepared under the assumption that we would continue our operations as a going concern, the report of our independent registered public accounting firm that accompanies our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 contains a going concern qualification in which such firm expressed concern about our ability to continue as a going concern, based on the financial statements at that time. Specifically, we have experienced recurring losses and we have had a working capital and stockholders’ equity deficits. Continued operations and our ability to continue as a going concern may be dependent on our ability to obtain additional financing in the near future and thereafter, and there are no assurances that such financing will be available to us at all or will be available in sufficient amounts or on reasonable terms. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we are unable to generate additional funds in the future through sales of our products, financings or from other sources or transactions, we will exhaust our resources and will be unable to continue operations. If we cannot continue as a going concern, our shareholders would likely lose most or all of their investment in us.

 

We will need significant additional capital, which we may be unable to obtain.

 

If we are unable to raise additional capital and/or obtain financing sufficient to meet current and future obligations, we may not be able to continue as a going concern.

 

We have experienced recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operating activities and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant operating losses in the future.

 

We have experienced recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operating activities. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses related to our ongoing operations and generate operating losses for the foreseeable future. The size of our losses will depend, in part, on the rate of future expenditures and our ability to generate revenues.

 

We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays, and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our financial condition. Our prior losses and expected future losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our financial condition. If our products do not achieve sufficient market acceptance and our revenues do not increase significantly, we may never become profitable. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of our company and could impair our ability to raise capital, expand our business, diversify our product offerings or continue our operations. A decline in the value of our company could cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

 

 

If we are not able to successfully execute on our future operating plans, our financial condition and results of operation may be materially adversely affected, and we may not be able to continue as a going concern.

 

It is important that we meet our sales goals and increase sales going forward as our operating plan already reflects prior significant cost containment measures and may make it difficult to achieve top-line growth if further significant reductions become necessary. If we do not meet our sales goals, our available cash and working capital will decrease and our financial condition will be negatively impacted.

 

Demand for our products may be adversely affected by changes in consumer preferences or any inability on our part to innovate, market or distribute our products effectively, and any significant reduction in demand could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations..

 

Our beverage portfolio is comprised of a number of unique brands with reputations and consumer imagery that have been built over time. Our investments in marketing as well as our strong commitment to product quality are intended to have a favorable impact on brand image and consumer preferences. Unfavorable publicity, or allegations of quality issues, even if false or unfounded, could tarnish our reputation and brand image and may cause consumers to choose other products. In addition, if we do not adequately anticipate and react to changing demographics, consumer and economic trends, health concerns and product preferences, our financial results could be adversely affected.

 

Volatility in the price or availability of the inputs we depend on, including raw materials, packaging, energy and labor, could adversely impact our financial results.

 

 Our financial results could be adversely impacted by changes in the cost or availability of raw materials and packaging. Continued growth would require us to hire, retain and develop a highly skilled workforce and talented management team. Any unplanned turnover or our failure to develop an adequate succession plan for current positions could erode our competitiveness. In addition, our financial results could be adversely affected by increased costs due to increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover or increased employee benefit costs.

 

Changes in government regulation or failure to comply with existing regulations could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 Our business and properties are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those governing the production, packaging, quality, labeling and distribution of beverage products. In addition, various governmental agencies have enacted or are considering additional taxes on soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. Changes in existing laws or regulations could require material expenses and negatively affect our financial results through lower sales or higher costs.

 

We compete in an industry that is brand-conscious, so brand name recognition and acceptance of our products are critical to our success.

 

Our business is dependent upon awareness and market acceptance of our products and brands by our target market, trendy, young consumers looking for a distinctive tonality in their beverage choices. In addition, our business depends on acceptance by our independent distributors and retailers of our brands as beverage brands that have the potential to provide incremental sales growth. If we are not successful in the revitalization and growth of our brand and product offerings, we may not achieve and maintain satisfactory levels of acceptance by independent distributors and retail consumers.

 

Our brands and brand images are keys to our business and any inability to maintain a positive brand image could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Our success depends on our ability to maintain brand image for our existing products and effectively build up brand image for new products and brand extensions. We cannot predict whether our advertising, marketing and promotional programs will have the desired impact on our products’ branding and on consumer preferences. In addition, negative public relations and product quality issues, whether real or imagined, could tarnish our reputation and image of the affected brands and could cause consumers to choose other products. Our brand image can also be adversely affected by unfavorable reports, studies and articles, litigation, or regulatory or other governmental action, whether involving our products or those of our competitors.

 

 

Competition from traditional and large, well-financed non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage manufacturers may adversely affect our distribution relationships and may hinder development of our existing markets, as well as prevent us from expanding our markets.

 

The beverage industry is highly competitive. We compete with other beverage companies not only for consumer acceptance but also for shelf space in retail outlets and for marketing focus by our distributors, all of whom also distribute other beverage brands. Our products compete with all non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic, most of which are marketed by companies with substantially greater financial resources than ours. Some of these competitors are placing severe pressure on independent distributors not to carry competitive brands such as ours. We also compete with regional beverage producers and “private label” hydration suppliers.

 

Our direct competitors in the sparkling beverage category include traditional large beverage companies and distributors, and regional premium soft drink companies. These national and international competitors have advantages such as lower production costs, larger marketing budgets, greater financial and other resources and more developed and extensive distribution networks than ours. We may not be able to grow our volumes or maintains our selling prices, whether in existing markets or as we enter new markets.

 

Increased competitor consolidations, market-place competition, particularly among branded beverage products, and competitive product and pricing pressures could impact our earnings, market share and volume growth. If, due to such pressure or other competitive threats, we are unable to sufficiently maintain or develop our distribution channels, we may be unable to achieve our current revenue and financial targets. Competition, particularly from companies with greater financial and marketing resources than ours, could have a material adverse effect on our existing markets, as well as on our ability to expand the market for our products.

 

We compete in an industry characterized by rapid changes in consumer preferences and public perception, so our ability to continue developing new products to satisfy our consumers’ changing preferences will determine our long-term success.

 

Failure to introduce new brands, products or product extensions into the marketplace as current ones mature and to meet our consumers’ changing preferences could prevent us from gaining market share and achieving long-term profitability. Product lifecycles can vary and consumers’ preferences and loyalties change over time. Although we try to anticipate these shifts and innovate new products to introduce to our consumers, we may not succeed. Customer preferences also are affected by factors other than taste, such as health and nutrition considerations and obesity concerns, shifting consumer needs, changes in consumer lifestyles, increased consumer information and competitive product and pricing pressures. Sales of our products may be adversely affected by the negative publicity associated with these issues. In addition, there may be a decreased demand for our product as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. If we do not adequately anticipate or adjust to respond to these and other changes in customer preferences, we may not be able to maintain and grow our brand image and our sales may be adversely affected.

 

Legislative or regulatory changes that affect our products, including new taxes, could reduce demand for products or increase our costs.

 

Taxes imposed on the sale of certain of our products by federal, state and local governments in the United States, or other countries in which we operate could cause consumers to shift away from purchasing our beverages. Several municipalities in the United States have implemented or are considering implementing taxes on the sale of certain “sugared” beverages, including non-diet soft drinks, fruit drinks, teas and flavored waters to help fund various initiatives. These taxes could materially affect our business and financial results.

 

 

Our reliance on distributors, retailers and brokers could affect our ability to efficiently and profitably distribute and market our products, maintain our existing markets and expand our business into other geographic markets.

 

Our ability to maintain and expand our existing markets for our products, and to establish markets in new geographic distribution areas, is dependent on our ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with reliable distributors, retailers and brokers strategically positioned to serve those areas. Most of our distributors, retailers and brokers sell and distribute competing products, including non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, and our products may represent a small portion of their businesses. The success of this network will depend on the performance of the distributors, retailers and brokers of this network. There is a risk that the mentioned entities may not adequately perform their functions within the network by, without limitation, failing to distribute to sufficient retailers or positioning our products in localities that may not be receptive to our product. Our ability to incentivize and motivate distributors to manage and sell our products is affected by competition from other beverage companies who have greater resources than we do. To the extent that our distributors, retailers and brokers are distracted from selling our products or do not employ sufficient efforts in managing and selling our products, including re-stocking the retail shelves with our products, our sales and results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, such third-parties’ financial position or market share may deteriorate, which could adversely affect our distribution, marketing and sales activities.

 

Our ability to maintain and expand our distribution network and attract additional distributors, retailers and brokers will depend on a number of factors, some of which are outside our control. Some of these factors include:

 

	●		the level of demand for our brands and products in a particular distribution area;
	●		our ability to price our products at levels competitive with those of competing products; and
	●		our ability to deliver products in the quantity and at the time ordered by distributors, retailers and brokers.

 

We may not be able to successfully manage all or any of these factors in any of our current or prospective geographic areas of distribution. Our inability to achieve success with regards to any of these factors in a geographic distribution area will have a material adverse effect on our relationships in that particular geographic area, thus limiting our ability to maintain or expand our market, which will likely adversely affect our revenues and financial results.

 

It is difficult to predict the timing and amount of our sales because our distributors are not required to place minimum orders with us.

 

Our independent distributors and national accounts are not required to place minimum monthly or annual orders for our products. In order to reduce their inventory costs, independent distributors typically order products from us on a “just in time” basis in quantities and at such times based on the demand for the products in a particular distribution area. Accordingly, we cannot predict the timing or quantity of purchases by any of our independent distributors or whether any of our distributors will continue to purchase products from us in the same frequencies and volumes as they may have done in the past. Additionally, our larger distributors and national partners may make orders that are larger than we have historically been required to fill. Shortages in inventory levels, supply of raw materials or other key supplies could negatively affect us.

 

If we do not adequately manage our inventory levels, our operating results could be adversely affected.

 

We need to maintain adequate inventory levels to be able to deliver products to distributors on a timely basis. Our inventory supply depends on our ability to correctly estimate demand for our products. Our ability to estimate demand for our products is imprecise, particularly for new products, seasonal promotions and new markets. If we materially underestimate demand for our products or are unable to maintain sufficient inventory of raw materials, we might not be able to satisfy demand on a short-term basis. If we overestimate distributor or retailer demand for our products, we may end up with too much inventory, resulting in higher storage costs, increased trade spend and the risk of inventory spoilage. If we fail to manage our inventory to meet demand, we could damage our relationships with our distributors and retailers and could delay or lose sales opportunities, which would unfavorably impact our future sales and adversely affect our operating results. In addition, if the inventory of our products held by our distributors and retailers is too high, they will not place orders for additional products, which would also unfavorably impact our sales and adversely affect our operating results.

 

 

If we fail to maintain relationships with our independent contract manufacturers, our business could be harmed.

 

We do not manufacture our products but instead outsource the manufacturing process to third-party bottlers and independent contract manufacturers (co-packers). We do not own the plants or the majority of the equipment required to manufacture and package our beverage products, and we do not anticipate bringing the manufacturing process in-house in the future. Our ability to maintain effective relationships with contract manufacturers and other third parties for the production and delivery of our beverage products in a particular geographic distribution area is important to the success of our operations within each distribution area. We may not be able to maintain our relationships with current contract manufacturers or establish satisfactory relationships with new or replacement contract manufacturers, whether in existing or new geographic distribution areas. The failure to establish and maintain effective relationships with contract manufacturers for a distribution area could increase our manufacturing costs and thereby materially reduce gross profits from the sale of our products in that area. Poor relations with any of our contract manufacturers could adversely affect the amount and timing of product delivered to our distributors for resale, which would in turn adversely affect our revenues and financial condition. In addition, our agreements with our contract manufacturers are terminable at any time, and any such termination could disrupt our ability to deliver products to our customers.

 

Increases in costs or shortages of raw materials could harm our business and financial results.

 

The principal raw materials we use include glass bottles, aluminum cans, labels and cardboard cartons, aluminum closures, flavorings, sucrose/inverted pure cane sugar and sucralose. In addition, certain of our contract manufacturing arrangements allow such contract manufacturers to increase their charges to us based on their own cost increases. These manufacturing and ingredient costs are subject to fluctuation. Substantial increases in the prices of our ingredients, raw materials and packaging materials, to the extent that they cannot be recouped through increases in the prices of finished beverage products, would increase our operating costs and could reduce our profitability. If our supply of these raw materials is impaired or if prices increase significantly, it could affect the affordability of our products and reduce sales.

 

If we are unable to secure sufficient ingredients or raw materials including glass, sugar, and other key supplies, we might not be able to satisfy demand on a short-term basis. Moreover, in the past there have been industry-wide shortages of certain concentrates, supplements and sweeteners and these shortages could occur again from time to time in the future, which could interfere with and delay production of our products and could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.

 

The volatility of energy and increased regulations may have an adverse impact on our gross margin.

 

Over the past few years, volatility in the global oil markets has resulted in variable fuel prices, which many shipping companies have passed on to their customers by way of higher base pricing and increased fuel surcharges. If fuel prices increase, we expect to experience higher shipping rates and fuel surcharges, as well as energy surcharges on our raw materials. It is hard to predict what will happen in the fuel markets in 2020 and beyond. Due to the price sensitivity of our products, we may not be able to pass such increases on to our customers.

 

Disruption within our supply chain, contract manufacturing or distribution channels could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our ability, through our suppliers, business partners, contract manufacturers, independent distributors and retailers, to make, move and sell products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to our suppliers or to manufacturing or distribution capabilities due to weather, natural disaster, fire or explosion, terrorism, pandemics such as influenza and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), labor strikes or other reasons, could impair the manufacture, distribution and sale of our products. Many of these events are outside of our control. Failure to take adequate steps to protect against or mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

We rely upon our ongoing relationships with our key flavor suppliers. If we are unable to source our flavors on acceptable terms from our key suppliers, we could suffer disruptions in our business.

 

We currently purchase our flavor concentrate from various flavor concentrate suppliers, and continually develop other sources of flavor concentrate for each of our products. Generally, flavor suppliers hold the proprietary rights to their flavor specific ingredients. Although we have the exclusive rights to flavor concentrates developed with our current flavor concentrate suppliers, while we have the rights to the ingredients for our products, we do not have the list of ingredients for our flavor extracts and concentrates. Consequently, we may be unable to obtain these exact flavors or concentrates from alternative suppliers on short notice. If we have to replace a flavor supplier, we could experience disruptions in our ability to deliver products to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

If we are unable to attract and retain key personnel, our efficiency and operations would be adversely affected; in addition, management turnover causes uncertainties and could harm our business.

 

Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees in such areas as finance, sales, marketing and product development. We compete to hire new employees, and, in some cases, must train them and develop their skills and competencies. We may not be able to provide our employees with competitive salaries, and our operating results could be adversely affected by increased costs due to increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover or increased employee benefit costs.

 

Recently, we have experienced significant changes in our key personnel, especially on our finance team, and more could occur in the future. Changes to operations, policies and procedures, which can often occur with the appointment of new personnel, can create uncertainty, may negatively impact our ability to execute quickly and effectively, and may ultimately be unsuccessful. In addition, management transition periods are often difficult as the new employees gain detailed knowledge of our operations, and friction can result from changes in strategy and management style. Management turnover inherently causes some loss of institutional knowledge, which can negatively affect strategy and execution. Until we integrate new personnel, and unless they are able to succeed in their positions, we may be unable to successfully manage and grow our business, and our financial condition and profitability may suffer.

 

Further, to the extent we experience additional management turnover, our operations, financial condition and employee morale could be negatively impacted. In addition, competition for top management is high and it may take months to find a candidate that meets our requirements. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified management personnel, our business could suffer. Moreover, our operations could be negatively affected if employees are quarantined as the result of exposure to a contagious illness such as COVID-19.

 

If we lose the services of our Chief Executive Officer, our operations could be disrupted and our business could be harmed.

 

Our business plan relies significantly on the continued services of Robert Nistico, our Chief Executive Officer. If we were to lose the services of Mr. Nistico, our ability to execute our business plan could be materially impaired. We are not aware of any facts or circumstances that suggest he might leave us. 

 

If we fail to protect our trademarks and trade secrets, we may be unable to successfully market our products and compete effectively.

 

We rely on a combination of trademark and trade secrecy laws, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property rights. Failure to protect our intellectual property could harm our brand and our reputation, and adversely affect our ability to compete effectively. Further, enforcing or defending our intellectual property rights, including our trademarks, copyrights, licenses and trade secrets, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. We regard our intellectual property, particularly our trademarks and trade secrets to be of considerable value and importance to our business and our success, and we actively pursue the registration of our trademarks in the United States and internationally. However, the steps taken by us to protect these proprietary rights may not be adequate and may not prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating our trademarks, trade secrets or similar proprietary rights. In addition, other parties may seek to assert infringement claims against us, and we may have to pursue litigation against other parties to assert our rights. Any such claim or litigation could be costly. In addition, any event that would jeopardize our proprietary rights or any claims of infringement by third parties could have a material adverse effect on our ability to market or sell our brands, profitably exploit our products or recoup our associated research and development costs.

 

 

As part of the licensing strategy of our brands, we enter into licensing agreements under which we grant our licensing partners certain rights to use our trademarks and other designs. Although our agreements require that the use of our trademarks and designs is subject to our control and approval, any breach of these provisions, or any other action by any of our licensing partners that is harmful to our brands, goodwill and overall image, could have a material adverse impact on our business.

 

If we encounter product recalls or other product quality issues, our business may suffer.

 

Product quality issues, real or imagined, or allegations of product contamination, even when false or unfounded, could tarnish our image and could cause consumers to choose other products. In addition, because of changing government regulations or implementation thereof, or allegations of product contamination, we may be required from time to time to recall products entirely or from specific markets. Product recalls could affect our profitability and could negatively affect brand image.

 

Our business is subject to many regulations and noncompliance is costly.

 

The production, marketing and sale of our beverages, including contents, labels, caps and containers, are subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, provincial, state and local health agencies. If a regulatory authority finds that a current or future product or production batch or “run” is not in compliance with any of these regulations, we may be fined, or production may be stopped, which would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, any adverse publicity associated with any noncompliance may damage our reputation and our ability to successfully market our products. Furthermore, the rules and regulations are subject to change from time to time and while we closely monitor developments in this area, we cannot anticipate whether changes in these rules and regulations will impact our business adversely. Additional or revised regulatory requirements, whether labeling, environmental, tax or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Litigation or legal proceedings could expose us to significant liabilities and damage our reputation.

 

We may become party to litigation claims and legal proceedings. Litigation involves significant risks, uncertainties and costs, including distraction of management attention away from our business operations. We evaluate litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Based on these assessments and estimates, we establish reserves and disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as appropriate. These assessments and estimates are based on the information available to management at the time and involve a significant amount of management judgment. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from those envisioned by our current assessments and estimates. Our policies and procedures require strict compliance by our employees and agents with all U.S. and local laws and regulations applicable to our business operations, including those prohibiting improper payments to government officials. Nonetheless, our policies and procedures may not ensure full compliance by our employees and agents with all applicable legal requirements. Improper conduct by our employees or agents could damage our reputation or lead to litigation or legal proceedings that could result in civil or criminal penalties, including substantial monetary fines, as well as disgorgement of profits.

 

We are subject to risks inherent in sales of products in international markets.

 

Our operations outside of the United States, contribute to our revenue and profitability, and we believe that developing and emerging markets could present future growth opportunities for us. However, there can be no assurance that existing or new products that we manufacture, distribute or sell will be accepted or be successful in any particular foreign market, due to local or global competition, product price, cultural differences, consumer preferences or otherwise. There are many factors that could adversely affect demand for our products in foreign markets, including our inability to attract and maintain key distributors in these markets; volatility in the economic growth of certain of these markets; changes in economic, political or social conditions, the status and renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement, imposition of new or increased labeling, product or production requirements, or other legal restrictions; restrictions on the import or export of our products or ingredients or substances used in our products; inflationary currency, devaluation or fluctuation; increased costs of doing business due to compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations. If we are unable to effectively operate or manage the risks associated with operating in international markets, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.

  

 

Climate change may negatively affect our business.

 

There is growing concern that a gradual increase in global average temperatures may cause an adverse change in weather patterns around the globe resulting in an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters. While warmer weather has historically been associated with increased sales of our products, changing weather patterns could have a negative impact on agricultural productivity, which may limit availability or increase the cost of certain key ingredients. Also, increased frequency or duration of extreme weather conditions may disrupt the productivity of our facilities, the operation of our supply chain or impact demand for our products. In addition, the increasing concern over climate change may result in more regional, federal and global legal and regulatory requirements and could result in increased production, transportation and raw material costs. As a result, the effects of climate change could have a long-term adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

  

Our business and operations would be adversely impacted in the event of a failure or interruption of our information technology infrastructure or as a result of a cybersecurity attack.

 

The proper functioning of our own information technology (IT) infrastructure is critical to the efficient operation and management of our business. We may not have the necessary financial resources to update and maintain our IT infrastructure, and any failure or interruption of our IT system could adversely impact our operations. In addition, our IT is vulnerable to cyberattacks, computer viruses, worms and other malicious software programs, physical and electronic break-ins, sabotage and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems. We believe that we have adopted appropriate measures to mitigate potential risks to our technology infrastructure and our operations from these IT-related and other potential disruptions. However, given the unpredictability of the timing, nature and scope of any such IT failures or disruptions, we could potentially be subject to downtimes, transactional errors, processing inefficiencies, operational delays, other detrimental impacts on our operations or ability to provide products to our customers, the compromising of confidential or personal information, destruction or corruption of data, security breaches, other manipulation or improper use of our systems and networks, financial losses from remedial actions, loss of business or potential liability, and/or damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows, competitive position, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our results of operations may fluctuate from quarter to quarter for many reasons, including seasonality.

 

Our sales are seasonal and we experience fluctuations in quarterly results as a result of many factors. We historically have generated a greater percentage of our revenues during the warm weather months of April through September. Timing of customer purchases will vary each year and sales can be expected to shift from one quarter to another. As a result, management believes that period-to-period comparisons of results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as any indication of future performance or results expected for the fiscal year.

 

Changes in our effective tax rate may impact our results of operations.

 

We are subject to taxes in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. Tax rates in these jurisdictions may be subject to significant change due to economic and/or political conditions. A number of other factors may also impact our future effective tax rate including:

 

	●		the jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed;
	●		the resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various tax authorities;

 

	●		changes in valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;
	●		increases in expenses not deductible for tax purposes, including write-offs of acquired intangibles and impairment of goodwill in connection with acquisitions;

 

	●		changes in availability of tax credits, tax holidays, and tax deductions;
	●		changes in share-based compensation; and

 

●

changes in tax laws or the interpretation of such tax laws and changes in generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

In December 2017, the President signed into law legislation that significantly revised the Internal Revenue Code. The recently enacted federal income tax law, among other things, contained significant changes to corporate taxation, including reduction of the corporate tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21% beginning in 2018, limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of adjusted earnings, limitation of the deduction for net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income and elimination of net operating loss carrybacks, one time taxation of offshore earnings at reduced rates regardless of whether they are repatriated, immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and modifying or repealing many business deductions and credits (including reducing the business tax credit for certain clinical testing expenses incurred in the testing of certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions).

 

Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of the new federal tax law remains uncertain and our business and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the newly enacted federal tax law. The impact of this tax reform on holders of our common stock is also uncertain and could be adverse. We urge shareholders to consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to this legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in or holding our common stock.

 

Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results.

 

The United States generally accepted accounting principles and related pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide variety of matters that are relevant to our business, such as, but not limited to, stock-based compensation, trade spend and promotions, and income taxes are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by our management. Changes to these rules or their interpretation or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments by our management could significantly change our reported results.

 

If we are unable to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, our stock price and investor confidence could be materially and adversely affected.

 

We are required to maintain both disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting that are effective. Because of their inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting, however well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the controls will prevent or detect misstatements. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, there is only the reasonable assurance that our controls will succeed in achieving their goals under all potential future conditions. The failure of controls by design deficiencies or absence of adequate controls could result in a material adverse effect on our business and financial results, which could also negatively impact our stock price and investor confidence.

 

We are dependent on a distiller in Mexico, to provide us with our finished SALT tequila product. Failure to obtain satisfactory performance from them or a loss of their services could cause us to lose sales, incur additional costs, and lose credibility in the marketplace.

 

We depend on a distiller in Mexico, a company in Jalisco, for the production, bottling, labeling, capping and packaging of our finished vodka product. We do not have a written agreement with our distiller in Mexico obligating it to produce our product. The termination of our relationship with our distiller in Mexico distiller or an adverse change in the terms of its services could have a negative impact on our business. If our distiller in Mexico increases its prices, we may not have alternative sources of supply at comparable prices and may not be able to raise the prices of our products to cover all, or even a portion, of the increased costs. In addition, if our distiller in Mexico fails to perform satisfactorily, fails to handle increased orders, or the loss of the services of our distiller in Mexico, along with delays in shipments of products, could cause us to fail to meet orders, lose sales, incur additional costs, and/or expose us to product quality issues. In turn, this could cause us to lose credibility in the marketplace and damage our relationships with our customers and consumers, ultimately leading to a decline in our business and results of operations.

 

 

Regulatory decisions and changes in the legal, regulatory and tax environment where our tequila is produced and where we operate could limit our business activities or increase our operating costs and reduce our margins.

 

Our business is subject to extensive regulation regarding production, distribution, marketing, advertising and labeling of beverage alcohol products in the U.S. and in Mexico, where our tequila is produced. We are required to comply with these regulations and maintain various permits and licenses. We are also required to conduct business only with holders of licenses to import, warehouse, transport, distribute, and sell spirits. We cannot assure you that these and other governmental regulations, applicable to our industry, will not change or become more stringent. Moreover, because these laws and regulations are subject to interpretation, we may not be able to predict when, and to what extent, liability may arise. Additionally, due to increasing public concern over alcohol-related societal problems, including driving while intoxicated, underage drinking, alcoholism and health consequences from the abuse of alcohol, various levels of government may seek to impose additional restrictions or limits on advertising or other marketing activities promoting beverage alcohol products. Failure to comply with any of the current or future regulations and requirements relating to our industry and products, could result in monetary penalties, suspension or even revocation of our licenses and permits. Costs of compliance with changes in regulations could be significant and could harm our business, as we may find it necessary to raise our prices in order to maintain profit margins, which could lower the demand for our products and reduce our sales and profit potential.

 

In addition, the distribution of beverage alcohol products is subject to extensive taxation both in the United States and internationally (and, in the United States, at both the federal and state government levels), and beverage alcohol products themselves are the subject of national import and excise duties in most countries around the world. An increase in taxation or in import or excise duties could also significantly harm our sales revenue and margins, both through the reduction of overall consumption and by encouraging consumers to switch to lower-taxed categories of beverage alcohol.

 

We face substantial competition in the alcoholic beverage industry and we may not be able to effectively compete.

 

Consolidation among spirits producers, distributors, wholesalers, or retailers could create a more challenging competitive landscape for our products. Consolidation at any level could hinder the distribution and sale of our products as a result of reduced attention and resources allocated to our brands, both during and after transition periods, because our brands might represent a smaller portion of the new business portfolio. Expansion into new product categories by other suppliers, or innovation by new entrants into the market, could increase competition in our product categories. Changes to our route-to-consumer models or partners in important markets could result in temporary or longer-term sales disruption, higher implementation-related or fixed costs, and could negatively affect other business relationships we might have with that partner. Distribution network disruption or fluctuations in our product inventory levels with distributors, wholesalers, or retailers could negatively affect our results for a particular period.

 

Our business operations may be adversely affected by social, political and economic conditions affecting market risks and the demand for and pricing of our tequila products. These risks include:

 

●Unfavorable economic conditions and related low consumer confidence, high unemployment, weak credit or capital markets, sovereign debt defaults, sequestrations, austerity measures, higher interest rates, political instability, higher inflation, deflation, lower returns on pension assets, or lower discount rates for pension obligations;

 

●Changes in laws, regulations, or policies – especially those that affect the production, importation, marketing, sale, or consumption of our beverage alcohol products;

 

●Tax rate changes (including excise, sales, tariffs, duties, corporate, individual income, dividends, capital gains), or changes in related reserves, changes in tax rules or accounting standards, and the unpredictability and suddenness with which they can occur;

 

●Dependence upon the continued growth of brand names;

 

●Changes in consumer preferences, consumption, or purchase patterns – particularly away from vodka, and our ability to anticipate and react to them; bar, restaurant, travel, or other on premise declines;

 

 

●Unfavorable consumer reaction to our products, package changes, product reformulations, or other product innovation;

 

●Decline in the social acceptability of beverage alcohol products in our markets;

 

●Production facility or supply chain disruption;

 

●Imprecision in supply/demand forecasting;

 

●Higher costs, lower quality, or unavailability of energy, input materials, labor, or finished goods;

 

●Route-to-consumer changes that affect the timing of our sales, temporarily disrupt the marketing or sale of our products, or result in higher implementation-related or fixed costs;

 

●Inventory fluctuations in our products by distributors, wholesalers, or retailers;
Competitors’ consolidation or other competitive activities, such as pricing actions (including price reductions, promotions, discounting, couponing, or free goods), marketing, category expansion, product introductions, or entry or expansion in our geographic markets;

 

●Insufficient protection of our intellectual property rights;

 

●Product recalls or other product liability claims; product counterfeiting, tampering, or product quality issues;

 

●Significant legal disputes and proceedings; government investigations (particularly of industry or company business, trade or marketing practices);

 

●Failure or breach of key information technology systems;

 

●Negative publicity related to our company, brands, marketing, personnel, operations, business performance or prospects; and

 

●Business disruption, decline, or costs related to organizational changes, reductions in workforce, or other cost-cutting measures, or our failure to attract or retain key executive or employee talent.

 

Uncertainty in the financial markets and other adverse changes in general economic or political conditions in any of the major countries in which we do business could adversely affect our industry, business and results of operations.

 

Global economic uncertainties, including foreign currency exchange rates, affect businesses such as ours in a number of ways, making it difficult to accurately forecast and plan our future business activities. There can be no assurance that economic improvements will occur, or that they would be sustainable, or that they would enhance conditions in markets relevant to us.

 

Our limited operating history makes it difficult to forecast our future results, making any investment in us highly speculative.

 

We have a limited operating history, and our historical financial and operating information is of limited value in predicting our future operating results. We may not accurately forecast customer behavior and recognize or respond to emerging trends, changing preferences or competitive factors facing us, and, therefore, we may fail to make accurate financial forecasts. Our current and future expense levels are based largely on our investment plans and estimates of future revenue. As a result, we may be unable to adjust our spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall, which could then force us to curtail or cease our business operations.

 

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

An investment in the Securities is speculative and there can be no assurance of any return on any such investment.

 

An investment in the Securities is speculative and there is no assurance that investors will obtain any return on their investment. Investors will be subject to substantial risks involved in an investment in the Company, including the risk of losing their entire investment.

 

The offering price and other terms of the Securities has been determined by the Company and may not be indicative of the Company’s actual value or the value of the Shares.

 

The offering price per Shares and the terms of the Warrants have been determined by the Company and may not be indicative of the Company’s actual value or the value of such securities. Such terms bear no relationship to the assets, book value, net worth or any other recognized criteria of the Company’s value or the value of such securities.

 

Future sales of common stock, or the perception of such future sales, by some of our existing stockholders could cause our stock price to decline.

 

The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market or the perception that these sales may occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell shares in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.

 

No governmental entity has evaluated the Securities.

 

No federal or state commission, department or agency has made any evaluation, finding, recommendation or endorsement with respect to the Shares, Investor Warrants or Warrant Shares.

 

Additional stock offerings in the future may dilute then-existing shareholders’ percentage ownership of the Company.

 

Given our plans and expectations that we will need additional capital and personnel, we anticipate that we will need to issue additional shares of common stock or securities convertible or exercisable for shares of common stock, including convertible preferred stock, convertible notes, stock options or warrants. The issuance of additional securities in the future will dilute the percentage ownership of then current stockholders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company may conduct other offerings concurrent with this offering.

 

Our Board of Directors may issue and fix the terms of shares of our Preferred Stock without stockholder approval, which could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our Common Stock or any change in control of our Company.

 

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock, with no par value per share, with such designation rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our Common Stock. In the event of such issuances, the preferred stock could be used, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our company.

 

We do not expect to pay dividends and investors should not buy our Common Stock expecting to receive dividends.

 

 We do not anticipate that we will declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, you will only realize an economic gain on your investment in our common stock if the price appreciates. You should not purchase our common stock expecting to receive cash dividends. Since we do not pay dividends, and if we are not successful in establishing an orderly trading market for our shares, then you may not have any manner to liquidate or receive any payment on your investment. Therefore, our failure to pay dividends may cause you to not see any return on your investment even if we are successful in our business operations. In addition, because we do not pay dividends we may have trouble raising additional funds which could affect our ability to expand our business operations.

 

 

We will have broad discretion on how we use the proceeds we receive in this Offering.

 

Our management will have broad discretion on how to use any proceeds we receive from this Offering and may use the proceeds in ways that differ from the proposed uses discussed in this Memorandum. Our stockholders may not agree with our decision on how to use such proceeds. If we fail to spend the proceeds effectively, our business and financial condition could be harmed.

 

The “best efforts” nature of the offering means that the Company may not be able to raise the funds it expects to raise which would have material adverse impact on the Company’s prospects.

 

The Shares are being offered hereby on an all or none basis until the minimum Offering Amount is raised, if at all, and then on a “best efforts, minimum/maximum” basis and not on a “firm commitment” basis. As a result, in the event the Company is not able to raise the minimum offering amount, it will not consummate the Offering. There can be no assurance that the minimum offering amount will be raised, in which event the Company will require additional financing which it may not be able to obtain on satisfactory terms.

 

If the Company only raises the minimum amount its ability to raise funds in the future may be materially adversely affected and an investor’s investment may be lost.

 

If only the minimum amount is raised the Company will only have enough cash to operate for approximately 12 months. The Company’s ability to obtain additional financing thereafter may have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s ability to remain in business and your investment may be lost.

 

Investor Funds Will Not Accrue Interest While In Escrow Prior To Closing.

 

All funds delivered in connection with subscriptions for the Shares will be held in a non-interest bearing escrow account maintained by Rochester Wealth Management and Capital Securities until the closing of the Offering, if any. If we are unable to sell and receive payments for the Minimum Offering Amount prior to the Termination Date, investor subscriptions will be returned without interest or deduction. Investors in the Offering hereby may not have the use of such funds or receive interest thereon pending the completion of the Offering.

 

The Company may increase the Maximum Offering Amount in its sole discretion.

 

The Company will have the right to increase the Maximum Offering Amount to any amount up to $2,000,000 in its sole discretion, which may result in greater dilution to investors in this Offering.

 

Our common stock could be further diluted as the result of the issuance of additional Common Shares, convertible securities, warrants or options.

 

Our issuance of additional common stock, convertible securities, options and warrants could affect the rights of our stockholders, result in a reduction in the overall percentage holdings of our stockholders, could put downward pressure on the market price of our common stock, could result in adjustments to conversion and exercise prices of outstanding notes and warrants, and could obligate us to issue additional Common Stock to certain of our stockholders.

 

Common Shares eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market.

 

 From time to time, certain of our stockholders may be eligible to sell all or some of their Common Shares by means of ordinary brokerage transactions in the open market pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. In general, pursuant to Rule 144, non-affiliate stockholders may sell freely after six months subject only to the current public information requirement. Affiliates may sell after six months subject to the Rule 144 volume, manner of sale (for equity securities), and current public information and notice requirements.

 

 

If we are not able to achieve our objectives for our business, the value of an investment in our company could be negatively affected.

 

In order to be successful, we believe that we must, among other things:

 

	●		increase the sales volume and gross margins for our products;
	●		maintain efficiencies in operations;
	●		manage our operating expenses to sufficiently support operating activities;
	●		maintain fixed costs at or near current levels; and
	●		avoid significant increases in variable costs relating to production, marketing and distribution.

 

We may not be able to meet these objectives, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We have incurred significant operating expenses in the past and may do so again in the future and, as a result, will need to increase revenues in order to improve our results of operations. Our ability to increase sales will depend primarily on success in expanding our current markets, improving our distribution base, entering into DTR arrangements with national accounts, and introducing new brands, products or product extensions to the market. Our ability to successfully enter new distribution areas and obtain national accounts will, in turn, depend on various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the continued demand for our brands and products in target markets, the ability to price our products at competitive levels, the ability to establish and maintain relationships with distributors in each geographic area of distribution and the ability in the future to create, develop and successfully introduce one or more new brands, products, and product extensions.

 

Any future equity or debt issuances by us may have dilutive or adverse effects on our existing shareholders.

 

From time to time, we may issue additional shares of common stock or convertible securities. The issuance of these securities could dilute our shareholders’ ownership in our company and may include terms that give new investors rights that are superior to those of our current shareholders. Moreover, any issuances by us of equity securities may be at or below the prevailing market price of our common stock and in any event may have a dilutive impact on our shareholders’ ownership interest, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

 

You should consult your independent tax advisor regarding any tax matters arising with respect to the Securities.

 

All prospective purchasers of the Securities are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Securities.

 

AS A RESULT OF THESE FACTORS, THE OFFERING IS ONLY SUITABLE FOR THOSE INVESTORS WHO ARE WILLING TO RELY ON OUR MANAGEMENT AND WHO CAN AFFORD TO LOSE THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITES.

 

The foregoing list of risk factors does not purport to be a complete enumeration or explanation of the risks involved in an investment in the Common Shares. Investors should read this entire Memorandum and consult with their own advisors before deciding to purchase Common Shares.

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE

 

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF INVESTOR WARRANT

 

 

EXHIBIT C

ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE

 

 

EXHIBIT D
WIRING INSTRUCTION

 

33