POWW AMMO Inc

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Purchasing our Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with all of the information included in this Form 10-K Report, before you decide to purchase shares of our Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock. We believe the risks and uncertainties described below are the most significant we face. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are unaware, or that we currently deem immaterial, also may become important factors that affect us. If any of the following risks occur, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

We have a limited operating history on which you can evaluate our company.

With the exception of GunBroker.com’s approximate 20 year history operating as a private company preceding the merger, we have a limited operating history on which you can evaluate our company. Although the corporate entity has existed since 1990, we have only operated as an ammunition manufacturer since March 2017. As a result, our business will be subject to many of the problems, expenses, delays, and risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise.

Our performance is influenced by a variety of economic, social, and political factors.

Our performance is influenced by a variety of economic, social, and political factors. General economic conditions and consumer spending patterns can negatively impact our operating results. Economic uncertainty, unfavorable employment levels, declines in consumer confidence, increases in consumer debt levels, increased commodity prices, and other economic factors may affect consumer spending on discretionary items and adversely affect the demand for our products. In times of economic uncertainty, consumers tend to defer expenditures for discretionary items, which affects demand for our products. Any substantial deterioration in general economic conditions that diminish consumer confidence or discretionary income could reduce our sales and adversely affect our operating results. Economic conditions also affect governmental political and budgetary policies. As a result, economic conditions also can have an adverse effect on the sale of our products to law enforcement, government, and military customers.

Political and other factors also can adversely affect our performance. Concerns about presidential, congressional, and state elections and legislature and policy shifts resulting from those elections can adversely affect the demand for our products. In addition, uncertainty surrounding the control of firearms, firearm products, and ammunition at the federal, state, and local level and heightened fears of terrorism and crime can adversely affect consumer demand for our products. Often, such concerns result in an increase in near-term consumer demand and subsequent softening of demand when such concerns subside. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may negatively impact operating results and cash flow.

Federal and state legislatures frequently consider legislation relating to the regulation of firearms, including amendment or repeal of existing legislation. Existing laws may also be affected by future judicial rulings and interpretations. If restrictive changes to legislation develop, we could find it difficult, expensive, or even impossible to comply with them, impeding new product development and distribution of existing products.

War, terrorism, other acts of violence or natural or manmade disasters, such as a global pandemic, may affect the markets in which the Company operates, the Company’s customers, the Company’s delivery of products and customer service, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, or financial condition.

The Company’s business and supply chain may be adversely affected by instability, disruption or destruction in a geographic region in which it operates, regardless of cause, including war, terrorism, riot, civil insurrection or social unrest, and natural or manmade disasters, including famine, food, fire, earthquake, storm or pandemic events and spread of disease (including the coronavirus commonly referred to as “COVID- 19”).

Such events may cause customers to suspend their decisions on using the Company’s products and services, make it impossible to access some of our inventory, and give rise to sudden significant changes in regional and global economic conditions and cycles that could interfere with purchases of goods or services and commitments to develop new products and services. These events also pose significant risks to the Company’s personnel and to physical facilities, transportation and operations, which could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial results.

Any significant disruption to communications and travel, including travel restrictions and other potential protective quarantine measures against a pandemic by governmental agencies, could make it difficult for the Company to deliver goods services to its customers. War, riots, or other disasters may increase the need for our products and demand by our government and military and may make it more difficult to provide our products to other customers. Further, travel restrictions and protective measures against COVID-19 could cause the Company to incur additional unexpected labor costs and expenses or could restrain the Company’s ability to retain the highly skilled personnel the Company needs for its operations. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s business, sales and results of operations will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

We believe COVID-19 has not negatively affected our operational results in a material manner, but it may at any time and without notice in the foreseeable future. As a result of COVID-19, at any time we may be subject to increased operating costs, supply interruptions, and difficulties in obtaining raw materials and components. COVID-19 has resulted in restrictions, postponements and cancelations of meetings, conferences, trade shows. The impact, extent and duration of the government imposed restrictions on travel and public gatherings as well as the overall effect of the COVID-19 virus is currently unknown.

We are engaged in legal proceedings that could cause us to incur unforeseen expenses and could occupy a significant amount of our management’s time and attention.

On September 24, 2019, the Company received notice that an individual who was former member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) who had been removed as a director by majority vote of the stockholders and who had voluntarily resigned as an employee filed a complaint against the Company, and certain individuals (the “Complaint”), with the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”). The Complaint alleges that the individual reported potential violations of SEC rules and regulations by management and that as a result of such reports, the individual experienced a hostile work environment; that the Company lacks sufficient internal controls, and that the individual was the victim of retaliation and constructive discharge after being removed as a director by majority vote of the stockholders. The claims were investigated by a Special Committee of the Board made up of independent directors represented by independent legal counsel. The Special Committee and independent legal counsel found the claims were unsubstantiated and there were no SEC violations in the various allegations in the Complaint. The matter is currently the subject of administrative investigation by the DOL via the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”). The Company filed a timely Position Statement with the DOL in October of 2019 in response to the Complaint. The Company disputes the allegations of wrongdoing and believes the matters raised in the Complaint are without merit.

The claims made to the DOL in the Complaint, and such other litigation or claims that may be made against the Company or its officers or directors, from time to time, could negatively affect our business, operations or financial position. As we grow, we will likely see a rise in the number of litigation matters against us. These matters may include employment and labor claims, product liability, and other claims related to our products, as well as consumer and securities class actions, each of which are typically expensive to defend. Litigation disputes could cause us to incur unforeseen expenses and otherwise occupy a significant amount of our management’s time and attention, any of which could negatively affect our business operations and financial position.

We may not be able to utilize our net operating loss carry forwards.

At March 31, 2021, we had Federal net operating loss carry forwards (“NOLs”) for income tax purposes of approximately $31.6 million which will begin to expire in 2036. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) signed into law on March 27, 2020 provided that NOLs generated in a taxable year beginning in 2018, 2019, or 2020, may now be carried back five years and forward indefinitely. In addition, the 80% taxable income limitation is temporarily removed, allowing NOLs to fully offset net taxable income. However, we do not know if or when we will have any earnings and capital gains against which we could apply these carry forwards. Furthermore, if there were a sufficient change in the ownership of our Common Stock, our ability to use our federal NOLs could be limited under Internal Revenue Code Section 382. State NOLs are subject to similar limitations in many cases. As a result, our substantial NOLs may not have any value to us.

An inability to expand our E-commerce business could reduce our future growth.

Consumers are increasingly purchasing products online. We operate direct-to-consumer e-commerce stores to maintain an online presence with our end users. The future success of our online operations depends on our ability to use our marketing resources to communicate with existing and potential customers. We face competitive pressure to offer promotional discounts, which could impact our gross margin and increase our marketing expenses. We are limited, however, in our ability to fully respond to competitor price discounting because we cannot market our products at prices that may produce adverse relationships with our customers that operate brick and mortar locations as they may perceive themselves to be at a disadvantage based on lower e-commerce pricing to end consumers. There is no assurance that we will be able to successfully expand our e-commerce business to respond to shifting consumer traffic patterns and direct-to-consumer buying trends.

In addition, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer operations are subject to numerous risks, including implementing and maintaining appropriate technology to support business strategies; reliance on third-party computer hardware/software and service providers; data breaches; violations of state, federal or international laws, including those relating to online privacy; credit card fraud; telecommunication failures; electronic break-ins and similar disruptions; and disruption of Internet service. Our inability to adequately respond to these risks and uncertainties or to successfully maintain and expand our direct-to-consumer business may have an adverse impact on our business and operating results.

The GunBroker.com auction website facilitates the lawful sale of firearms, ammunition and accessories between listing sellers and interested buyers and includes the direct transactional involvement of FFLs regulated by the ATF. A change in applicable federal or state law that prohibited GunBroker.com from providing its facilitative auction platform services would have a direct substantial financial impact on the operations and adverse effect on the continuity of operations.

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, we may lose a competitive advantage or incur substantial litigation costs to protect our rights.

Our future success depends upon our proprietary technology. Our protective measures, including patent and trade secret protection, may prove inadequate to protect our proprietary rights. The right to stop others from misusing our trademarks, service marks, and patents in commerce depends to some extent on our ability to show evidence of enforcement of our rights against such misuse in commerce. Our efforts to stop improper use, if insufficient, may lead to loss of trademark and service mark rights, brand loyalty, and notoriety among our customers and prospective customers. The scope of any patent that we have or may obtain may not prevent others from developing and selling competing products. The validity and breadth of claims covered in technology patents involve complex legal and factual questions, and the resolution of such claims may be highly uncertain, and expensive. In addition, our patents may be held invalid upon challenge, or others may claim rights in or ownership of our patents.

We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which could cause us to incur litigation costs and divert management attention from our business.

Any intellectual property infringement claims against us, with or without merit, could be costly and time-consuming to defend and divert our management’s attention from our business. If our products were found to infringe a third party’s proprietary rights, we could be required to enter into costly royalty or licensing agreements to be able to sell our products. Royalty and licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

Breaches of our information systems could adversely affect our reputation, disrupt our operations, and result in increased costs and loss sales.

There have been an increasing number of cyber security incidents affecting companies around the world, which have caused operational failures or compromised sensitive corporate data. Although we do not believe our systems are at a greater risk of cyber security incidents than other similar organizations, such cyber security incidents may result in the loss or compromise of customer, financial, or operational data; disruption of billing, collections, or normal operating activities; disruption of electronic monitoring and control of operational systems; and delays in financial reporting and other management functions. Possible impacts associated with a cyber security incident may include among others, remediation costs related to lost, stolen, or compromised data; repairs to data processing systems; increased cyber security protection costs; reputational damage; and adverse effects on our compliance with applicable privacy and other laws and regulations.

A failure of our information technology systems, or an interruption in their operation due to internal or external factors including cyber-attacks, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our operations depend on our ability to protect our information systems, computer equipment, and information databases from systems failures. We rely on our information technology systems generally to manage the day-to-day operations of our business, operate elements of our manufacturing facility, manage relationships with our customers, fulfill customer orders, and maintain our financial and accounting records. Failure of our information technology systems could be caused by internal or external events, such as incursions by intruders or hackers, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, failures in hardware or software, or power or telecommunication fluctuations or failures. The failure of our information technology systems to perform as anticipated for any reason or any significant breach of security could disrupt our business and result in numerous adverse consequences, including reduced effectiveness and efficiency of operations, increased costs, or loss of important information, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Any technology and information security processes and disaster recovery plans we use to mitigate our risk to these vulnerabilities may not be adequate to ensure that our operations will not be disrupted should such an event occur.

Risks Related to Our Products and Our Dependence on Third Parties

Our success depends upon our ability to introduce new products that match customer preferences.

Our success depends upon our ability to introduce new products that match consumer preferences. Our efforts to introduce new products into the market may not be successful, and any new products that we introduce may not result in customer or market acceptance. We develop new products that we believe will match consumer preferences. The development of a new product is a lengthy and costly process and may not result in a successful product. Failure to develop new products that are attractive to consumers could decrease our sales, operating margins, and market share and could adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

We depend on the sale of our ammunition products.

We manufacture ammunition and ammunition casings for sale to a wide variety of consumers, including gun enthusiasts, collectors, hunters, sportsmen, competitive shooters, individuals desiring home and personal protection, manufacturers, law enforcement and security agencies and officers in the United States and throughout the world. The sale of ammunition and ammunition components is influenced by the sale and usage of firearms. Sales of firearms are influenced by a variety of economic, social, and political factors, which may result in volatile sales. Ammunition sales represented a substantial amount of our net sales for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. If ammunition sales decline, our financial results could be adversely impacted and the stock price of our Common Stock could decline.

Our manufacturing facilities are critical to our success.

On January 5, 2021, we announced entering into a term sheet with the City of Manitowoc, Wisconsin to acquire in excess of 35 acres in Manitowoc Industrial Park for the purpose of constructing an estimated $12 million, 160,000 square foot, expanded loaded ammunition and brass casing manufacturing plant, to be operational by the summer of 2022. On April 8, 2021, we acquired the 35 acres via a wholly-owned subsidiary formed for that purpose, Firelight Group I, LLC and broke ground on the construction on June 21, 2021. The land is located in a Tax Increment Finance District and the acquisition was, in part, funded through Tax Incremental Financing (“TIF”) via a Development Agreement entered into between Firelight Group I, LLC and the City of Manitowoc. The Development Agreement provides for an estimated Total Incentive of $1.7 million. The Development Agreement included an initial $750,000 TIF Payment provided to Firelight by the City of Manitowoc via TID 21 in which the Manitowoc Industrial Park and subject parcel is located.

Our manufacturing facilities are critical to our success, as we currently produce all of our products at these facilities. The facilities also house our principal research, development, engineering, and design functions.

Any event that causes a disruption of the operation of these facilities for even a relatively short period of time would adversely affect our ability to produce and ship our products and to provide service to our customers. We make certain changes in our manufacturing operations from time to time to enhance the facilities and associated equipment and systems and to introduce certain efficiencies in manufacturing and other processes to produce our products in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. We anticipate that we will continue to incur significant capital and other expenditures with respect to these facilities and our plans to construct a new $12 million manufacturing plant, but we may not be successful in continuing to improve efficiencies.

Shortages of components and materials may delay or reduce our sales and increase our costs, thereby harming our results of operations.

The inability to obtain sufficient quantities of raw materials and components, including casings, primers, gun powder, projectiles, and brass necessary for the production of our products could result in reduced or delayed sales or lost orders. Any delay in or loss of sales or orders could adversely impact our operating results. Many of the materials used in the production of our products are available only from a limited number of suppliers. We do not have long-term supply contracts with any suppliers. As a result, we could be subject to increased costs, supply interruptions, and difficulties in obtaining raw materials and components.

Our reliance on third-party suppliers for various raw materials and components for our products exposes us to volatility in the availability, quality, and price of these raw materials and components. Our orders with certain of our suppliers may represent a very small portion of their total orders. As a result, they may not give priority to our business, leading to potential delays in or cancellation of our orders. A disruption in deliveries from our third-party suppliers, capacity constraints, production disruptions, price increases, or decreased availability of raw materials or commodities could have an adverse effect on our ability to meet our commitments to customers or increase our operating costs. Quality issues experienced by third party suppliers can also adversely affect the quality and effectiveness of our products and result in liability and reputational harm.

We rely on third-party suppliers for most of our manufacturing equipment.

We also rely on third-party suppliers for most of the manufacturing equipment necessary to produce our products. The failure of suppliers to supply manufacturing equipment in a timely manner or on commercially reasonable terms could delay our plans to expand our business and otherwise disrupt our production schedules and increase our manufacturing costs. Our orders with certain of our suppliers may represent a very small portion of their total orders. As a result, they may not give priority to our business, leading to potential delays in or cancellation of our orders. If any single-source supplier were to fail to supply our needs on a timely basis or cease providing us with manufacturing equipment or components, we would be required to locate and contract with substitute suppliers. We may have difficulty identifying a substitute supplier in a timely manner and on commercially reasonable terms. If this were to occur, our business would be harmed.

Our revenue depends primarily on sales by various retailers and distributors, some of which account for a significant portion of our sales.

Our loaded ammunition and munition components revenue depends on our sales through various leading national and regional retailers, local specialty firearms stores, and online merchants. The U.S. retail industry serving the outdoor recreation market has become relatively concentrated. Our sales could become increasingly dependent on purchases by several large retail customers. Consolidation in the retail industry could also adversely affect our business. If our sales were to become increasingly dependent on business with several large retailers, we could be adversely affected by the loss or a significant decline in sales to one or more of these customers. In addition, our dependence on a smaller group of retailers could result in their increased bargaining position and pressures on the prices we charge.

The loss of any one or more of our large or “Big Box” retail customers or significant or numerous cancellations, reductions, delays in purchases or changes in business practices by our large or “Big Box” retail customers could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

These sales channels involve a number of special risks, including the following:

We have one customer that accounted for approximately 17% of our revenues for the years ended March 31, 2021 in comparison to two customers that accounted for approximately 32%, of our revenues for the year ended March 31, 2020. Although we intend to expand our customer base, our revenue would likely decline if we lost any major customers or if one of these sizable customers were to significantly reduce its orders for any reason. Because our sales are made by means of standard purchase orders rather than long-term contracts, we cannot assure you that our customers will continue to purchase our products at current levels, or at all.

In addition, periods of sluggish economies and consumer uncertainty regarding future economic prospects in our key markets can have an adverse effect on the financial health of our customers, which may in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

We extend credit to our customers for periods of varying duration based on an assessment of the customer’s financial condition, generally without requiring collateral, which increases our exposure to the risk of uncollectable receivables. In addition, we face increased risk of order reduction or cancellation when dealing with financially ailing retailers or retailers struggling with economic uncertainty. We may reduce our level of business with customers and distributors experiencing financial difficulties and may not be able to replace that business with other customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Our gross margins depend upon our sales mix.

Our gross margin is higher when our sales mix is skewed toward our higher-margin proprietary product lines versus a lower contribution from mid-market ammunition that we also manufacture. If our actual sales mix results in a lower overall percentage from our proprietary lines, our gross margins will be reduced, affecting our results of operations.

We face intense competition that could result in our losing or failing to gain market share and suffering reduced sales.

We operate in intensely competitive markets that are characterized by price erosion and competition from major domestic and international companies. Competition in the markets in which we operate is based on a number of factors, including price, quality, product innovation, performance, reliability, styling, product features, and warranties, and sales and marketing programs. This intense competition could result in pricing pressures, lower sales, reduced margins, and lower market share.

Our competitors include Federal Premium Ammunition, Remington Arms, the Winchester Ammunition Division of Olin Corporation, and various smaller manufacturers and importers, including Black Hills Ammunition, CBC Group, Fiocchi Ammunition, Hornady, PMC, Rio Ammunition, and Wolf. Most of our competitors have greater market recognition, larger customer bases, long-term government contracts, and substantially greater financial, technical, marketing, distribution, and other resources than we possess and that afford them competitive advantages. As a result, they may be able to devote greater resources to the promotion and sale of products, to invest more funds in intellectual property and product development, to negotiate lower prices for raw materials and components, to deliver competitive products at lower prices, and to introduce new products and respond to consumer requirements more quickly than we can.

Our competitors could introduce products with superior features at lower prices than our products and could also bundle existing or new products with other more established products to compete with us. Certain of our competitors may be willing to reduce prices and accept lower profit margins to compete with us. Our competitors could also gain market share by acquiring or forming strategic alliances with other competitors.

Finally, we may face additional sources of competition in the future because new distribution methods offered by the Internet and electronic commerce have removed many of the barriers to entry historically faced by start-up companies. Retailers also demand that suppliers reduce their prices on products, which could lead to lower margins. Any of the foregoing effects could cause our sales to decline, which would harm our financial position and results of operations.

Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, both within and outside our control. These factors include the following:

Because we believe technological and functional distinctions among competing products in our markets are perceived by many end-user consumers to be relatively modest, effectiveness in marketing and manufacturing are particularly important competitive factors in our business.

Seasonality and weather conditions may cause our operating results to vary from quarter to quarter.

Because many of our products are used for seasonal outdoor sporting activities, our operating results may be significantly impacted by unseasonable weather conditions. Accordingly, our operating results could suffer when weather patterns do not conform to seasonal norms.

Shipments of ammunition for hunting are highest during the months of June through September to meet consumer demand for the fall hunting season and holidays. The seasonality of our sales may change in the future. The hunting for our 2022 fiscal year season may be affected by travel restrictions and other limitations imposed as a result of COVID-19 that are unpredictable. Seasonal variations in our operating results may reduce our cash on hand, increase our inventory levels, and extend our accounts receivable collection periods. This in turn may cause us to increase our debt levels and interest expense to fund our working capital requirements.

We manufacture and sell products that create exposure to potential product liability, warranty liability, or personal injury claims and litigation.

Our products are used in activities and situations that involve risk of personal injury and death. Our products expose us to potential product liability, warranty liability, and personal injury claims and litigation relating to the use or misuse of our products, including allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product or activities associated with the product, negligence, and strict liability. If successful, any such claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Defects in our products may result in a loss of sales, recall expenses, delay in market acceptance, and damage to our reputation and increased warranty costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Although we maintain product liability insurance in amounts that we believe are reasonable, we may not be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms, if at all, in the future and product liability claims may exceed the amount of insurance coverage or may not be covered by our insurance policies. In addition, our reputation may be adversely affected by such claims, whether or not successful, including potential negative publicity about our products.

Our business is highly dependent upon our brand recognition and reputation, and the failure to maintain or enhance our brand recognition or reputation would likely have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our brand recognition and reputation are critical aspects of our business. We believe that maintaining and further enhancing our brands, particularly our STREAK VISUAL AMMUNITION™ brands, and our reputation are critical to retaining existing customers and attracting new customers. We also believe that the importance of our brand recognition and reputation will continue to increase as competition in our markets continues to develop.

We anticipate that our advertising, marketing, and promotional efforts will increase in the foreseeable future as we continue to seek to enhance our brands and consumer demand for our products. Historically, we have relied on print and electronic media advertising to increase consumer awareness of our brands to increase purchasing intent and conversation. We anticipate that we will increasingly rely on other forms of media advertising, including social media and e-marketing. Our future growth and profitability will depend in large part upon the effectiveness and efficiency of our advertising, promotion, public relations, and marketing programs. These brand promotion activities may not yield increased revenue and the efficacy of these activities will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to do the following:

In addition, certain of our current or future products may benefit from endorsements and support from particular sportsmen, athletes, or other celebrities, and those products and brands may become personally associated with those individuals. As a result, sales of the endorsed products could be materially and adversely affected if any of those individuals’ images, reputations, or popularity were to be negatively impacted.

Increases in the pricing of one or more of our marketing and advertising channels could increase our marketing and advertising expenses or cause us to choose less expensive but possibly less effective marketing and advertising channels. If we implement new marketing and advertising strategies, we may incur significantly higher costs than our current channels, which in turn could adversely affect our operating results. Implementing new marketing and advertising strategies also could increase the risk of devoting significant capital and other resources to endeavors that do not prove to be cost effective. We also may incur marketing and advertising expenses significantly in advance of the time we anticipate recognizing revenue associated with such expenses and our marketing and advertising expenditures may not generate sufficient levels of brand awareness and conversation or result in increased revenue. Even if our marketing and advertising expenses result in increased sales, the increase might not offset our related expenditures. If we are unable to maintain our marketing and advertising channels on cost-effective terms or replace or supplement existing marketing and advertising channels with similarly or more effective channels, our marketing and advertising expenses could increase substantially, our customer base could be adversely affected, and our business, operating results, financial condition, and reputation could suffer.

A significant portion of our revenue is contingent on an exclusive license agreement with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

A significant portion of our revenue is attributable to the sale of our STREAK VISUAL AMMUNITION^™. The manufacturing of our STREAK product relies, in part, on a patent that is held by ULL. We have an exclusive license to use the licensed technology, derivative and related technology worldwide. We may renew this license agreement for successive four-year periods provided we are in compliance with the agreement. If we breach the license agreement, the licensor may terminate the agreement and if we fail to renew the license, we may be unable to use the technology, which, in either case, could significantly harm our results of operations.

Regulatory Risks

We are subject to extensive regulation and could incur fines, penalties and other costs and liabilities under such requirements.

Like many other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products, we are required to comply with a wide variety of laws, rules, and regulations, including those relating to labor, employment, the environment, the export and import of our products, and taxation. These laws, rules, and regulations currently impose significant compliance requirements on our business, and more restrictive laws, rules and regulations may be adopted in the future.

Our operations are subject to a variety of laws and regulations relating to environmental protection, including those governing the discharge, treatment, storage, transportation, remediation, and disposal of certain materials and wastes, and restoration of damages to the environment, and health and safety matters. We could incur substantial costs, including remediation costs, resource restoration costs, fines, penalties, and third-party property damage or personal injury claims as a result of liabilities under or violations of such laws and regulations or the permits required thereunder. While environmental laws and regulations have not had a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition, the ultimate cost of environmental liabilities is difficult to accurately predict and we could incur material additional costs as a result of requirements or obligations imposed or liabilities identified in the future.

As a manufacturer and distributor of consumer products, we are subject to the Consumer Products Safety Act, which empowers the Consumer Products Safety Commission to exclude from the market products that are found to be unsafe or hazardous. Under certain circumstances, the Consumer Products Safety Commission could require us to repurchase or recall one or more of our products. In addition, laws regulating certain consumer products exist in some cities and states, and in other countries in which we sell our products, and more restrictive laws and regulations may be adopted in the future. Any repurchase or recall of our products could be costly to us and could damage our reputation. If we were required to remove, or we voluntarily removed, our products from the market, our reputation could be tarnished, and we could have large quantities of finished products that we are unable to sell. We are also subject to the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or the ATF. If we fail to comply with ATF rules and regulations, the ATF may limit our growth or business activities, levy fines against or revoke our license to do business. Our business, and the business of all producers and marketers of ammunition and firearms, is also subject to numerous federal, state, local, and foreign laws, regulations, and protocols. Applicable laws have the following effects:

Also, the export of our products is controlled by International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR, and Export Administration Regulations, or EAR. The ITAR implements the provisions of the Arms Export Control Act and is enforced by the U.S. Department of State. The EAR implements the provisions of the Export Administration Act and is enforced by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Among their many provisions, the ITAR and the EAR require a license application for the export of many of our products. In addition, the ITAR requires congressional approval for any firearms export application with a total value of $1 million or higher. Further, because our manufacturing process includes certain toxic, flammable and explosive chemicals, we are subject to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, as administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which require that we take additional reporting and security measures related to our manufacturing process.

Several states currently have laws in effect that are similar to, and, in certain cases, more restrictive than, these federal laws. Compliance with all of these regulations is costly and time-consuming. Any violation of any of these regulations could cause us to incur fines and penalties, may also to restrictions on our ability to manufacture and sell our products and services and to import or export the products we sell and may cause our business to be harmed.

Changes in government policies and firearms legislation could adversely affect our financial results.

The sale, purchase, ownership, and use of firearms are subject to numerous and varied federal, state, and local governmental regulations. Federal laws governing firearms include the National Firearms Act, the Federal Firearms Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and the Gun Control Act of 1968. These laws generally govern the manufacture, import, export, sale, and possession of firearms and ammunition. We hold all necessary licenses to legally sell ammunition in the United States.

Currently, the federal legislature and several state legislatures are considering additional legislation relating to the regulation of firearms and ammunition. These proposed bills are extremely varied. If enacted, such legislation could effectively ban or severely limit the sale of affected firearms and ammunition. In addition, if such restrictions are enacted and are incongruent, we could find it difficult, expensive, or even practically impossible to comply with them, which could impede new product development and the distribution of existing products. We cannot assure you that the regulation of our business activities will not become more restrictive in the future and that any such restriction will not have a material adverse effect on our business.

Any adverse change to the interpretations of the Second Amendment (Right to Bear Arms) could impact our ability to conduct business by restricting the ownership and use of firearms in the United States.

Risks Related to our Common Stock

Our shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market; however, if we fail to comply with Nasdaq’s rules for continued listing or other requirements, our shares may be delisted.

Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “POWW.” If we fail to comply with Nasdaq’s rules for continued listing, including, without limitation, minimum market capitalization and other requirements, Nasdaq may take steps to delist our shares. Failure to maintain our Nasdaq listing would make it more difficult for shareholders to sell our Common Stock and more difficult to obtain accurate price quotations on our Common Stock. The delisting of our shares could have an adverse effect on the price of our Common Stock. Our ability to issue additional securities for financing or other purposes, or otherwise to arrange for any financing we may need in the future, may also be materially and adversely affected if our Common Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange.

The exercise of warrants, and issuance of incentive stock grants may have a dilutive effective on our stock, and negatively impact the price of our Common Stock.

As of June 25, 2021, we had 3,422,677 warrants outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $2.33. As of June 25, 2021, there were no options outstanding and 3,534,170 shares of Common Stock are reserved for future issuance under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan. We plan to adopt a new Incentive Stock Plan designed to assist us in attracting, motivating, retaining, and rewarding high-quality executives, directors, officers, employees, and individual consultants by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in our company to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and our stockholders and providing such persons with performance incentives to expand their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value under the plan. We will be able to grant stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, bonus stocks, and performance awards under the plan.

To the extent that any of the outstanding warrants and future options are exercised, dilution to the interests of our stockholders may occur. For the life of such warrants and options, the holders will have the opportunity to profit from a rise in the price of the Common Stock with a resulting dilution in the interest of the other holders of Common Stock. The existence of such warrants and options may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.

Our management has concluded that we have material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting and that our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective. If we fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent financial fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting.

As a public company, we are required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 404”). Section 404 requires us to include management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the fiscal year in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. This report must also include disclosure of any material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting that we have identified.

During the audit of our financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2021, our management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Due to the size of the Company and available resources, there are limited personnel to assist with the accounting and financial reporting function, which results in: (i) a lack of segregation of duties and (ii) controls that may not be adequately designed or operating effectively. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. These material weaknesses, if not remediated, create an increased risk of misstatement of the Company’s financial results, which, if material, may require future restatement thereof. A failure to implement improved internal controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation or execution, could cause future delays in our reporting obligations and could have a negative effect on us and the trading price of our Common Stock. If these weaknesses and inadequate disclosure controls and procedures continue, investors could lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and other disclosures.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, we could be subject to regulatory action or other litigation and our operating results could be harmed.

General Risk Factors

Our operating results may experience significant fluctuations.

Many factors can contribute to significant fluctuations in our results of operations. These factors include the following:

As a result of these and other factors, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations may not be meaningful in the short term, and our performance in a particular period may not be indicative of our performance in any future period.

We may not be able to secure additional financing on favorable terms, or at all, to meet our future capital needs.

In the future, we may require additional capital to fund the planned expansion of our business and to respond to business opportunities, challenges, potential acquisitions, or unforeseen circumstances. We could encounter unforeseen difficulties that may deplete our capital resources rapidly, which could require us to seek additional financing in the near future. The timing and amount of any additional financing that is required to continue the expansion of our business and the marketing of our products will depend on our ability to improve our operating results and other factors. We may not be able to secure additional debt or equity financing on a timely basis or on favorable terms, or at all. Such financing could result in substantial dilution of the equity interests of existing stockholders. If we are unable to secure any necessary additional financing, we may need to delay expansion plans, conserve cash, and reduce operating expenses. There is no assurance that any additional financing will be sufficient, that the financing will be available on terms favorable to us or to existing stockholders and at such times as required, or that we will be able to obtain the additional financing required for the continued operation and growth of our business. Any debt financing obtained by us in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities, or other securities convertible into equity, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution in their percentage ownership of our company, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of holders of our Common Stock. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to grow or support our business and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited.

Our charter documents and Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us and discourage a takeover.

Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and Delaware law contain certain provisions that may have the effect of deterring or discouraging, among other things, a non-negotiated tender or exchange offer for shares of Common Stock, a proxy contest for control of our company, the assumption of control of our company by a holder of a large block of Common Stock, and the removal of the management of our company. Such provisions also may have the effect of deterring or discouraging a transaction which might otherwise be beneficial to stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation also may authorize our board of directors, without stockholder approval, to issue one or more series of preferred stock, which could have voting and conversion rights that adversely affect or dilute the voting power of the holders of Common Stock. Delaware law also imposes conditions on certain business combination transactions with “interested stockholders.” Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to fill vacancies or newly created directorships. A majority of the directors then in office may elect a successor to fill any vacancies or newly created directorships. Such provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Common Stock and impede the ability of the stockholders to replace management.

The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers, and employees under Delaware law and the existence of indemnification rights to our directors, officers, and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers, and employees. We also may have entered into contractual indemnification obligations under employment agreements with our executive officers. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in our incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit our company and our stockholders.

Our certification of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for actions or proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could discourage claims or limit stockholders’ ability to make a claim against the Company, our directors, officers, and employees.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation states that unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) an action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers, or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers, or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

These exclusive forum provisions do not apply to claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The exclusive forum provision may discourage claims or limit stockholders’ ability to submit claims in a judicial forum that they find favorable and may create additional costs as a result. If a court were to determine the exclusive forum provision to be inapplicable and unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs in conjunction with our efforts to resolve the dispute in an alternative jurisdiction, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

Risks Related to our Series A Preferred Stock

The Series A Preferred Stock ranks junior to all of our indebtedness and other liabilities.

In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, the Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive any of our assets remaining only after all of our indebtedness and other liabilities have been paid. The rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock to participate in the distribution of our assets will rank junior to the prior claims of our current and future creditors and any future series or class of preferred stock we may issue that ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Also, the Series A Preferred Stock effectively ranks junior to all existing and future indebtedness and to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our existing subsidiaries and any future subsidiaries. Our existing subsidiaries are, and future subsidiaries would be, separate legal entities and have no legal obligation to pay any amounts to us in respect of dividends due on the Series A Preferred Stock. If we are forced to liquidate our assets to pay our creditors, we may not have sufficient assets to pay amounts due on any or all of the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding. We have incurred and may in the future incur substantial amounts of debt and other obligations that will rank senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. At March 31, 2021, our total liabilities equaled approximately $19.1 million.

Certain of our existing or future debt instruments may restrict the authorization, payment or setting apart of dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock. Also, future offerings of debt or senior equity securities may adversely affect the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock. If we decide to issue debt or senior equity securities in the future, it is possible that these securities will be governed by an indenture or other instruments containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of the Series A Preferred Stock and may result in dilution to owners of the Series A Preferred Stock. We and, indirectly, our shareholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will bear the risk of our future offerings, which may reduce the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock and will dilute the value of their holdings in us.

The trading market for the Series A preferred stock may not provide investors with adequate liquidity.

The Series A Preferred Stock has only been listed since May 21, 2021 and does not have an established trading market. The Series A Preferred Stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “POWWP.” We cannot assure you that an active after-market for the Series A Preferred Stock will develop or be sustained or that holders of the Series A Preferred Stock will be able to sell their shares at favorable prices or at all. The difference between bid and ask prices in any secondary market for the Series A Preferred Stock could be substantial. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or trading markets for, the Series A Preferred Stock, and holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may be required to bear the financial risks of an investment in the Series A Preferred Stock for an indefinite period of time.

We may issue additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and additional series of preferred stock that rank on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend rights, rights upon liquidation or voting rights.

We are allowed to issue additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and additional series of preferred stock that would rank junior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividend payments and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs pursuant to our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations relating to the Series A Preferred Stock without any vote of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock. The issuance of additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock and additional series of preferred stock that have been authorized pursuant to our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations could have the effect of reducing the amounts available to the Series A Preferred Stock upon our liquidation or dissolution or the winding up of our affairs. It also may reduce dividend payments on the Series A Preferred Stock if we do not have sufficient funds to pay dividends on all Series A Preferred Stock outstanding and other classes or series of stock with greater or equal priority with respect to dividends.

Also, although holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to limited voting rights, as described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of the Series A Preferred Stock—Voting Rights,” with respect to the circumstances under which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Series A Preferred Stock votes separately as a class along with all other series of our preferred stock that we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable. As a result, the voting rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock may be significantly diluted, and the holders of such other series of preferred stock that we may issue may be able to control or significantly influence the outcome of any vote.

Future issuances and sales of senior or pari passu preferred stock, or the perception that such issuances and sales could occur, may cause prevailing market prices for the Series A Preferred Stock and our Common Stock to decline and may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital in the financial markets at times and prices favorable to us.

Market interest rates may materially and adversely affect the value of the Series A Preferred Stock.

One of the factors that influences the price of the Series A Preferred Stock is the dividend yield on the Series A Preferred Stock (as a percentage of the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates, which are currently at low levels relative to historical rates, may lead prospective purchasers of the Series A Preferred Stock to expect a higher dividend yield (and higher interest rates would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for dividend payments). Thus, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock to materially decrease.

We may not be able to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock if we have insufficient cash to make dividend payments.

Our ability to pay cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock requires us to have either net profits or positive net assets (total assets less total liabilities) over our capital, to be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business. Further, notwithstanding these factors, we may not have sufficient cash to pay dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock. Our ability to pay dividends may be impaired if any of the risks described in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference herein, were to occur. Also, payment of our dividends depends upon our financial condition and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure you that our businesses will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to make distributions on our Common Stock, if any, and preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred Stock to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs.

Dividends or other payments with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock may be subject to withholding taxes in circumstances where we are not obliged to make gross up payments, and this could result in holders receiving less than expected in such circumstances.

In the event of certain changes to current tax law that require tax to be withheld from dividends or other payments on the Series A Preferred Stock, we are not required to make gross up payments in respect of such taxes. This would result in holders of Series A Preferred Stock receiving less than expected and could materially adversely affect the return on your investment.

Our Series A Preferred Stock has not been rated.

We have not sought to obtain a rating for the Series A Preferred Stock. No assurance can be given, however, that one or more rating agencies might not independently determine to issue such a rating or that such a rating, if issued, would not adversely affect the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock. Also, we may elect in the future to obtain a rating for the Series A Preferred Stock, which could adversely affect the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock. Ratings only reflect the views of the rating agency or agencies issuing the ratings and such ratings could be revised downward, placed on a watch list or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency if in its judgment circumstances so warrant. Any such downward revision, placing on a watch list or withdrawal of a rating could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock.

We may redeem the Series A Preferred Stock.

On or after May 18, 2026, we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time. Also, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below under “Description of the Series A Preferred Stock - Redemption”), we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, within 120 days after the first date on which such Change of Control occurred. We may have an incentive to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock voluntarily if market conditions allow us to issue other preferred stock or debt securities at a rate that is lower than the dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock. If we redeem the Series A Preferred Stock, then from and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights as a holder of those shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, payable upon redemption.

The market price of the Series A Preferred Stock could be substantially affected by various factors.

The market price of the Series A Preferred Stock depends on many factors, which may change from time to time, including:

As a result of these and other factors, holders of the Series A Preferred Stock may experience a decrease, which could be substantial and rapid, in the market price of the Series A Preferred Stock, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects.

A holder of Series A Preferred Stock has extremely limited voting rights.

The voting rights for a holder of Series A Preferred Stock are limited. Our shares of Common Stock are the only class of our securities that carry full voting rights. Voting rights for holders of the Series A Preferred Stock exist primarily with respect to the ability to elect, voting together with the holders of any other series of our preferred stock having similar voting rights, two additional directors to our board of directors, subject to limitations described in this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of the Series A Preferred Stock—Voting Rights,” in the event that dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears for four or more consecutive or non-consecutive quarterly dividend periods, and with respect to voting on amendments to our certificate of incorporation or certificate of designations relating to the Series A Preferred Stock that materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock or authorize, increase or create additional classes or series of our capital stock that are senior to the Series A Preferred Stock. Other than the limited circumstances described in the prospectus and except to the extent required by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights. Please see the section in this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of the Series A Preferred Stock—Voting Rights.”

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible, and investors will not realize a corresponding upside if the price of the Common Stock increases.

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into the Common Stock and earns dividends at a fixed rate. Accordingly, an increase in market price of our Common Stock will not necessarily result in an increase in the market price of our Series A Preferred Stock. The market value of the Series A Preferred Stock may depend more on dividend and interest rates for other preferred stock, commercial paper and other investment alternatives and our actual and perceived ability to pay dividends on, and in the event of dissolution satisfy the liquidation preference with respect to, the Series A Preferred Stock.