As
submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24,
2020
Registration
No. 333-238883
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM
S-1
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
KRAIG BIOCRAFT LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Wyoming |
|
7372 |
|
83-0459707
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
|
(Primary
Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification Number) |
2723
South State St. Suite 150
Ann
Arbor, Michigan 48104
Tel.
(734) 619-8066
(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant’s principal executive offices)
Kim
Thompson, CEO
Kraig
Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.
2723
South State St., Suite 150, Ann Arbor, Michigan
48104
(734)
619-8066
(Name,
address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
code, of agent for service)
With a Copy to:
Louis
Taubman, Esq.
Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC
1450 Broadway, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(917) 512-0827 |
|
Barry
I. Grossman, Esq.
Sarah
E. Williams, Esq.
Ellenoff
Grossman & Schole LLP
1345
Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
(212)
370-1300
|
Approximate
date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this registration
statement.
If
any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box: [X]
If
this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.
[ ]
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.
[ ]
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer,
an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer |
[ ] |
Accelerated
filer |
[ ] |
Non-accelerated
filer |
[X] |
Smaller
reporting company |
[X] |
|
|
Emerging
growth company |
[ ] |
If an
emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant
has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided
pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act.
[ ]
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class
of
Securities to be
Registered
|
|
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) |
|
|
Amount of
Registration Fee(1) |
|
Units consisting of
shares of Class A Common Stock, no par value, and warrants to
purchase shares of Class A Common Stock, no par value |
|
$ |
11,500,000 |
(3) |
|
$ |
1,492.70 |
|
Class A Common Stock
included as part of the Units (2) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Warrants to purchase
Class A Common Stock included as part of the Units
(2)(4) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Class A Common Stock
underlying the Warrants(2) |
|
$ |
11,500,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,492.70 |
|
Representative’s
Warrants(4)(5) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Class A Common Stock
underlying Representative’s Warrants (5) |
|
$ |
1,012,000 |
|
|
|
131.36 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
24,012,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,116.76 |
(6) |
|
(1) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, based on an estimate
of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price. Includes
shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants to purchase shares
of Class A common stock that the underwriters have the option to
purchase to cover over-allotments, if any. |
|
|
|
|
(2) |
In
addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement includes an indeterminate number of
additional shares as may be issuable as a result of stock splits or
stock dividends which occur during this continuous
offering. |
|
|
|
|
(3) |
Equal to $10,000,000 of the Units to be offered by us plus the
underwriter’s option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the
total number of Units offered by us, or up to an additional
$1,500,000 of shares of Class A common stock and/or warrants to
purchase shares of Class A common stock at the public offering
price, less underwriting discounts, to cover over-allotments, if
any, within 45 days after the date of this prospectus. |
|
|
|
|
(4) |
No
separate registration fee is required pursuant to Rule 457(g) under
the Securities Act. |
|
|
|
|
(5) |
Upon the closing this offering, the Registrant will issue to Maxim
Group, LLC (“Maxim”) warrants to purchase a number of shares of
Class A common stock equal to 8% of the total number of securities
sold in this offering (the “Representative’s Warrants”). The
exercise price of the Representative’s Warrants is equal to 110% of
the offering price of the Class A common stock offered hereby. The
Representative’s Warrants are exercisable upon the 6-month
anniversary of the date of effectiveness of this Registration
Statement and will terminate 5-years after the date of
effectiveness of this Registration Statement. As estimated solely
for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to
Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act, the proposed
maximum aggregate offering price of the Representative’s Warrants
is $5.775, which is equal to 110% of $800,000 (8% of
$10,000,000). |
|
|
|
|
(6) |
$3,116.76 was previously paid. |
The
Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the
Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states
that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective
in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective
on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting
pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and
may be changed. We may not sell or accept an offer to buy these
securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary
prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not
soliciting any offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction
where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED August 24,
2020
KRAIG
BIOCRAFT LABORATORIES, INC.
1,904,762
Units1
Each
Unit Consisting of One Share of Class A Common Stock
One
Warrant to Purchase One Share
of Class A Common Stock
This is a firm commitment underwritten public offering by Kraig
Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., a Wyoming corporation (the “Company”)
of 1,904,762 units (the “Units”), based on an assumed initial
offering price of $5.25 per Unit, the midpoint of the anticipated
price range of the Units. We anticipate a public offering price
between $4.25 and $6.25 per Unit.
Each Unit consists of 1 share of our Class A common stock, no par
value (the “Common Stock”) and one warrant (a “Purchase Warrant”)
to purchase one share of our Common Stock at an exercise price of
$5.25 per share (100% of the price of each Unit sold in this
offering based on an assumed initial offering price of $5.25 per
Unit, the midpoint of the anticipated price range). The Units have
no stand-alone rights and will not be certificated or issued as
stand-alone securities. The shares of Common Stock and Purchase
Warrants comprising the Units are immediately separable and will be
issued separately in this offering. Each Purchase Warrant offered
hereby is immediately exercisable on the date of issuance and will
expire five years from the date of issuance. The public offering
price will be determined by us and Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), as
representatives of the underwriters, taking into consideration
several factors as described in “Underwriting – Determination of
Offering Price”, and will not be based upon the price of our Common
Stock on the OTCQB Marketplace (the “OTCQB”).
We are a voluntary reporting company
under Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our Common Stock is currently quoted
on the OTCQB under the symbol “KBLB.” As of August 20, 2020, the
last reported sales price for our Common Stock as quoted on the
OTCQB was $0.155 per share. There is no established trading market
for the Purchase Warrants. Quotes of stock trading prices on an
over-the-counter marketplace may not be indicative of the market
price on a national securities exchange. There is a limited public
trading market for our Common Stock. We have applied to list our
Common Stock and the Purchase Warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market
(“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “KBLB” and “KBLBW,” respectively. We
believe that upon the completion of the offering contemplated by
this prospectus, we will meet the standards for listing on the
Nasdaq Capital Market or other national exchange. We cannot
guarantee that we will be successful in listing our common stock or
our Purchase Warrants on Nasdaq or other national exchange, or, if
successful, that an active trading market for our Common Stock or
Purchase Warrants will develop or be sustained. If we are unable to
list our Common Stock on Nasdaq or other national exchange, the
Company will not consummate this offering.
The offering price of the Units will be determined between the
underwriters and us at the time of pricing, considering our
historical performance and capital structure, prevailing market
conditions, and overall assessment of our business, and may be at a
discount to the current market price. Therefore, the assumed public
offering price used throughout this prospectus may not be
indicative of the actual public offering price for our Common Stock
and the Purchase Warrants.
__________________________
Investing
in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should
purchase Units only if you can afford a complete loss of your
investment. You should carefully consider the risk factors
described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of
this prospectus and under similar headings in any amendments or
supplements before purchasing shares of our Common
Stock.
|
|
Price to
Public(3) |
|
|
Total
(No Exercise Of Over-
Allotment)
|
|
|
Total
(Full
Exercise of Over-Allotment)
|
|
Public Offering Price
Per Unit |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Underwriting Discounts
(1)(2) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Proceeds to the
Company (before expenses) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
(1)
We refer you to the section of this prospectus entitled
“Underwriting” for additional information regarding underwriter
compensation.
(2)
We estimate the total expenses payable by us, excluding the
underwriting discount, will be approximately $[●].
(3) Based on an assumed price to the public in this Offering of
$5.25 per Unit, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the
cover page of this prospectus.
We have granted the underwriters a
45-day option to purchase up to an additional 285,715 shares of
Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants to purchase 285,715 shares of
Common Stock from us at the assumed public offering price, less the
underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments, if any, within
forty-five (45) days from the date of this prospectus.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or
determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The
underwriters expect to deliver the shares of Common Stock and
Purchase Warrants to purchasers on or about [●], 2020, subject to
customary closing conditions, including that, upon the closing of
the offering, the Common Stock would qualify for listing on the
Nasdaq Capital Market or other national exchange.
Sole-Book
Running Manager
Maxim
Group LLC
The
date of this prospectus is August 24, 2020
1 Number of Units is based on an assumed price to the
public of $5.25 per Unit, the midpoint of the price range set forth
on the cover page of this prospectus, and no exercise of the
underwriter’s option to cover over-allotments.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
We are filing this Amendment No. 1 to our registration
statement on Form S-1, initially filed on June 2, 2020 (File No.
333-238883) (the
“Registration Statement”) pursuant to a comment we received
from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pursuant to such
comment, we removed reference to a fixed price for the Units. Until
the actual public offering price of the Units is determined by the
Company and the underwriters, we shall use a bona fide price range.
As a result, we use the midpoint of such price range to complete
certain tables and provide certain information in this Registration
Statement. In such instances, we may make a statement such as,
“Based on an assumed price to the public in this Offering of $5.25
per Unit, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover
page of this prospectus” or “at the assumed public offering price
of $5.25, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover
page of this prospectus.” The use of the word “assume” in these
instances is solely to disclose to the public that to make such
related calculations, we had to assume a specific price.
No
additional securities are being registered under this Amendment No.
1. All applicable registration fees were paid at the time of the
original filing of the Registration Statement.
Table
of Contents
About
this Prospectus
We
and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide any
information or to make any representations other than those
contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses
prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you.
We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to
the reliability of, any other information that others may give you.
This prospectus is an offer to sell only the Units offered hereby,
but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is
lawful to do so. We are not making an offer to sell these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not
qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to
make such offer or sale. The information contained in this
prospectus is current only as of the date on the front cover of the
prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects may have changed since that
date.
Persons
who come into possession of this prospectus and any applicable free
writing prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are
required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions
as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any
such free writing prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction. See
“Underwriting” for additional information on these
restrictions.
Industry
and Market Data
Unless
otherwise indicated, information in this prospectus concerning
economic conditions, our industry, our markets and our competitive
position is based on a variety of sources, including information
from third-party industry analysts and publications and our own
estimates and research. Some of the industry and market data
contained in this prospectus are based on third-party industry
publications. This information involves a number of assumptions,
estimates and limitations.
The
industry publications, surveys and forecasts and other public
information generally indicate or suggest that their information
has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. None of the
third-party industry publications used in this prospectus were
prepared on our behalf. The industry in which we operate is subject
to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of
factors, including those described in “Risk Factors” in this
prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ
materially from those expressed in these publications.
Trademarks
This
prospectus contains references to our trademarks and service marks
and to those belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience,
trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may
appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references
are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert,
to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, our rights or
the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade
names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’
trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship
with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by any other
companies.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This
summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this
prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you
should consider in making your investment decision. Before
investing in our Units, you should carefully read this entire
prospectus, including our financial statements and the related
notes and the information set forth under the headings “Risk
Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this
prospectus and our consolidated financial statements and the
accompanying notes included in this prospectus. Except as otherwise
indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references
in this prospectus to “Kraig.” “Kraig Labs,” “the Company,” “we,”
“us,” and “our” refer to Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. together
with its wholly-owned subsidiary Prodigy Textiles Co., Ltd., a
Vietnamese corporation (“Prodigy Textiles”).
Company
Overview
Kraig
Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., a Wyoming corporation, is a
corporation organized to develop high strength fibers using
recombinant DNA technology for commercial applications in technical
textile. We use genetically engineered silkworms that produce
spider silk to create our recombinant spider silk. Applications
include performance apparel, workwear, filtration, luxury fashion,
flexible composites, medical implants, and more. We believe that we
have been a leader in the research and development of commercially
scalable and cost effective spider silk for technical textile. Our
primary proprietary fiber technology includes natural and
engineered variants of spider silk produced in domesticated
mulberry silkworms. Our business brings twenty-first century
biotechnology to the historical silk industry, permitting us to
introduce materials with innovative properties and claims into an
established commercial ecosystem of silkworm rearing, silk spinning
and weaving, and manufacture of garments and other products that
can include our specialty fibers and textiles. Specialty fibers are
engineered for specific uses that require exceptional strength,
flexibility, heat resistance and/or chemical resistance. The
specialty fiber market is exemplified by two synthetic fiber
products that come from petroleum derivatives: (1) aramid fibers;
and (2) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. The
technical textile industry involves products for both industrial
and consumer products, such as filtration fabrics, medical textiles
(e.g., sutures and artificial ligaments), safety and
protective clothing and fabrics used in military and aerospace
applications (e.g., high-strength composite materials).
We
are using genetic engineering technologies to develop fibers with
greater strength, resiliency and flexibility for use in our target
markets, namely the specialty fiber and technical textile
industries. We believe that the genetically engineered
protein-based fibers we seek to produce have properties that are in
some ways superior to the materials currently available in the
marketplace. Production of our product in commercial quantities
holds what we believe to be potential life-saving ballistic
resistant material, which we believe is lighter, thinner, more
flexible, and tougher than steel. Other potential applications for
spider silk based recombinant fibers include use as structural
material and for any application in which light weight and high
strength are required. We believe that fibers made with recombinant
protein-based polymers will make significant inroads into the
specialty fiber and technical textile markets.
Through
our technologies, the introduction of the gene sequence based on
those found in native spider silk, results in a germline
transformation and is therefore self-perpetuating. This technology
is in essence a protein expression platform which has other
potential applications including diagnostics and pharmaceutical
production. Moreover, our technologies are “green” inasmuch as our
fibers and textiles do not require petroleum inputs and our
production processes are traditional and eco-friendly.
Our
management believes that access to financing has been the biggest
hurdle to the Company’s ability to expand and create products for
commercialization. Due to our limited financing opportunities, we
were unable to perform our operations in a manner that we believe
would have led to expedited growth and opportunities for our
products. Although we have made progress in the commercialization
of our spider silk technology, it has not been at the rate it could
have been with more financing. Management believes that the
proceeds from this offering will address our financing issues and
pave the way for expedited growth.
Products
Our
products exploit the unique characteristics of spider silk,
specifically dragline silk from Nephila clavipes (golden
orb-web spider) and variants thereof. Such fibers possess unique
mechanical properties in terms of strength, resilience and
flexibility. Through the use of genetic engineering, we believe
that we have produced a variety of unique transgenic silkworm
strains that produce recombinant spider silk. Our recombinant
spider silk fiber blends the silk proteins found in spider silk
with the native silkworm silk proteins. This approach allows for
the cost-effective and eco-responsible production of spider silk at
commercial production levels.
Monster
Silk®
Monster
Silk® was the first recombinant spider silk fiber product we
developed. Monster Silk incorporates the natural elasticity of
spider silk to make a silk fiber which is more flexible that
conventional silk fibers and textiles. We have produced sample
products using Monster Silk® including knit fabrics, gloves, and
shirts in collaboration with textile mills. We expect that Monster
Silk® will have market applications across the traditional textile
markets where its increased flexibility will provide increased
durability and comfort.
Dragon
SilkTM
Dragon
SilkTM is the next evolution in recombinant spider silk,
combining the elasticity of Monster Silk® with additional high
strength elements of native spider silk. Some samples of Dragon
SilkTM have demonstrated strength beyond that of native
spider silk. This combination of strength and elasticity results in
a silk fiber which is soft and flexible, yet tougher than leading
synthetic fiber available on the market. Based on inquires we have
received from end market leaders, we believe that Dragon
SilkTM- will have applications in performance apparel,
durable workwear, luxury goods and apparel, and
composites.
Other
Products
We
are continuing to develop new recombinant silks and other
protein-based fibers and materials using our genetic engineering
capabilities. We recently unveiled our first knock in knock out
spider silk material using our silkworm based production platform.
These new spider silk fibers offer increased silk purity. Due to
the biocompatible and biodegradable properties of silk, we expect
that the new materials developed using this higher purity process
will create opportunities for products in the medical industry,
including sutures, grafts, and implants.
Intellectual
Property
The
Company’s intellectual property blends licensed technologies with
in-house developments in spider silk polymers. As part of our
intellectual property portfolio, we have licensed the exclusive
right to commercialize certain patented spider silk gene sequences
in silkworm. Through our in-house research operations, we have
expanded on our intellectual property portfolio with six additional
provisional patent filings based on new discoveries, inventions,
and methodologies for the production of spider silk.
Under
a series of intellectual property and collaborative research
agreements (the “Notre Dame Agreements”) with the University of
Notre Dame (“Notre Dame”), we were issued and exercised our right
to exclusive commercial use for spider silk technologies developed
under that agreement. We have worked collaboratively with Notre
Dame to develop fibers with the mechanical characteristics of
spider silk. We are applying this proprietary genetic engineering
technology to domesticated silkworms, which to our knowledge, is
the only proven commercially scaled system for producing
silk.
In
2017, we opened a research and development facility to expand on
the work conducted at Notre Dame. Since opening this new facility,
we have expanded our intellectual property portfolio with six
additional provisional patent filings based on new discoveries and
inventions and made numerous advancements that have decreased the
development time for new technologies, none of which rely on the
patented materials produced with Notre Dame. We will continue to
utilize this in-house research facility to expand and strengthen
our patent portfolio while also maintaining and growing our trade
secret technologies approach to genetic engineering. We are
actively working to develop and patent new approaches to the
development of genetically engineering silkworms, underlying
construction techniques, and fundamental genetic sequences for
improved material performance.
The
Notre Dame Agreements will last for the duration of the patented
materials that we developed with Notre Dame. The new technologies
that we are developing in our internal research labs does not rely
on the Notre Dame patented materials and as a result will not be
impacted by an expiration of that agreement.
Strengths
We
have developed a method for the production of high-performance
bio-degradable, bio-compatible, and ecologically friendly
recombinant spider silk to replace the existing global
infrastructure for mundane silk manufacturing. This system of
operations utilizes genetically modified silkworms that have been
engineered to produce silks based on the proteins and physical
characteristics of native spider silk, a material that has been
prized for its physical and chemical properties. By adapting the
common silkworm and the production process for the manufacture of
traditional silk, we are able to leverage a global production model
which currently processes more than 150,000 metric tons of silk per
year.2 Our technology is a direct drop-in replacement
for traditional silk manufacturing, allowing any silk operation
employing our silkworm technology to immediately be converted
without any additional need for capital investment. We are
currently securing global patent protection for our technologies in
silk producing and silk consuming countries.
2
https://inserco.org/en/statistics
On
April 16, 2020, we announced the successful development of a new
technology platform, based on a non-CRISPR gene editing knock-in
knock-out technology. CRISPR is the most recent and efficient gene
editing technology3; CRISPR stands for “Clustered
regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.” This is our first
knock-in knock-out technology of essentially pure spider silk
transgenic. This new system is built on our eco-friendly and
cost-effective silkworm production system, which we believe is
significantly more advanced than any competing methods. Knock-in
knock-out technology allows for the targeting of specific locations
and genetic traits for modification, addition, and removal. This
new capability will accelerate new product developments, which
should allow us to bring products to market more quickly. This
capability also allows for genetic trait modifications that were
previously impractical, creating opportunities for products outside
of silk fibers and increased flexibility in production
location.
Strategies
Our
approach to disrupting the performance and technical textile market
is to adapt our existing infrastructure and capacity to produce our
high-performance silk with minimal capital investment. When we were
formed, this idea of utilizing the existing production systems and
capacity by simply modifying the input was fundamental. Our
proprietary recombinant spider silkworms are a direct drop-in
replacement for any commercial silk producing operations. Our
genetically engineered silks are produced using the same equipment
and processes that traditional silk uses. In designing our
technologies in this manner, we have minimized our need for
expansion capital, limiting our direct investment and contracting
with existing secondary fiber processors where the majority of
large scale equipment is needed. Through our subsidiary, Prodigy
Textiles in Vietnam, we have established the relationships
necessary to secure these contracted secondary services.
We
are actively pursuing relationships within target end markets to
secure product collaborations with key market channel leaders. Due
to the unique nature of our product, we received numerous
unsolicited requests from leading businesses across a range of
attractive end markets requesting materials for applications
development. This substantial demand for spider silk materials
across the broad spectrum of applications for high performance
fibers and textiles, combined with the limited initial production
capacity, has provided the opportunity to be selective in choosing
market channel partners best able to quickly bring our product to
market at scale. We are working under non-disclosure agreements to
secure these collaborative development agreements and to establish
limited channel exclusivity for firms we believe mirror our culture
of innovation. With recent advancements in our manufacturing
capacity, we expect to generate revenues from these relationships
in 2020.
Additionally,
we are currently focused on the expansion of our production
facilities in Vietnam. We are currently utilizing a mix of direct
staffing and contract labor to support its in-house production. We
are exploring a production expansion model utilizing contract
production consistent with the distributed model used for mundane
silk production. We will also consider technology licensing models
with companies, regions, or countries where its silkworms could be
produced under exclusive license.
Recent
Developments
From
2016 through 2018, we were contracted directly by the U.S. Army for
the development and delivery of next generation fibers. Due to
confidentiality agreements, we cannot publicly disclose the details
of our ongoing efforts to establish additional market channel
partnerships, joint ventures, and material transfer
agreements.
In
February, 2019, we signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding
(“MOU”) with Polartec LLC for the development of products for the
protective textile markets.
On
April 16, 2020, the Company announced that it successfully
developed a new technology platform, based on a non-CRISPR gene
editing knock-in knock-out technology. This is the first knock-in
knock-out technology essentially pure spider silk transgenic in the
Company’s history. The new technology, which is the result of over
ten years of effort, hits the target of one of the Company’s
primary technological goals and potentially opens the door for
large scale U.S. production. Other than the silkworm’s remaining
specifically desired native silk protein elements, we are now able
to produce nearly pure spider silk. Based on our internal studies,
the new technology has a purity rate that is about ten times
greater than Dragon Silk, a fiber that the Company developed with
its previous tools. Dragon Silk has already demonstrated to be
tougher than many fibers used in bullet proof vests and the Company
expects that the increased spider silk purity, created using this
new approach, will yield materials beyond those capabilities. This
new system utilizes the Company’s eco-friendly and cost-effective
silkworm production system, which we believe is significantly more
advanced than any of the competing methods. We have already begun
the validation process for the first of these new transgenics and
anticipate that U.S. production will be possible as early as 2022
or 2023.
3
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5131771/
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-genome-editing
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/genomicresearch/genomeediting
This
does not affect our current work of overseeing our production
facility to ramp up our production of Dragon SilkTM and
Monster Silk®, as these fibers are designed to address their own
markets.
In
August 2019, we received authorization to begin rearing genetically
enhanced silkworms at our production facility in Vietnam. We
received our investment registration certificate for the facility
in April 2018. In October 2019, the Company delivered the first
batch of these silkworms and began operations. These silkworms will
serve as the basis for the commercial expansion of our proprietary
silk technology. On November 4, 2019, we reported that we had
successfully completed rearing the first batch of its transgenic
silkworms at the Quang Nam production factory. Seasonal challenges
in late December 2019 slowed production operations, however, we
believe that we can resume expansion of the production of our
specialized silk in 2020, as soon as travel and work restrictions
for COVID-19 are lifted, since the seasonal challenges will have
also been alleviated. As of the date hereof, Vietnam does not have
any work restrictions impacting our facility. However, current U.S.
travel restrictions may prevent us from shipping the eggs we are
now producing in the U.S. to Vietnam; as soon as the eggs are
shipped, we can restart operations at the facility. We believe that
we will be able to target a capacity of 40 metric tons of our
recombinant spider silk fiber per annum from this factory once it
reaches maximum utilization. This capacity will allow us to address
initial demand for our products and materials for various
applications in the protective, performance, and luxury textile
markets.
In
light of the significant uncertainty regarding the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic, on March 19, 2020, we furloughed non-essential
staff consistent with leading health official recommendations in
order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This decision was
made in an abundance of caution and primarily impacted staff at our
fully owned subsidiary, Prodigy Textiles, in Vietnam and resulted
in the temporary closing of silk rearing operations at that
facility. We believe that this temporary suspension of rearing
operations will result in a delay of 4-6 months in the Company’s
production expansion schedule; however, due to the fact that U.S.
travel restrictions could be extended, the delay could be longer.
The Company supported its furloughed staff and paid their salaries
through June 30, 2020. During the duration of the furlough, the
Company CEO did not receive or accrue any pay. On July 1, 2020,
furloughed staff returned to work preparing the factory in Vietnam
to receive the next shipment of silkworm eggs, which is out of our
control. The global pandemic of COVID-19 continues to evolve
rapidly, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely,
including its potential effect on our plans and
timelines.
Reverse
Stock Split
On or
prior to the effective date of this registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part we will amend our articles of
incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our Common Stock
(the “Reverse Stock Split”).
At
our 2019 annual stockholders meeting, our stockholders approved a
reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding Common Stock by a
ratio of not less than one-for-ten and not more than one-for-forty
at any time prior to July 23, 2020, with the exact ratios to be set
at a whole number within this range, as determined by our board of
directors (the “Board”) in its sole discretion and approved and
adopted the articles of amendment to our articles of incorporation
to affect the same. Since we are still in the uplisting process
with Nasdaq, but past July 23, 2020, such stockholder approval
expired. However, on [ ], 2020 we obtained the written consent from
a majority of our stockholders to effect the Reverse Stock Split.at
a ratio of 1-for-[ ].
On August [ ], 2020, the Board established a ratio for the Reverse
Stock Split of the issued and outstanding shares of our Common
Stock of 1-for-[ ] and the Reverse Stock Split was effective at
12:01 a.m. on [______]. No fractional shares will be issued in the
Reverse Stock Split and any remaining share fractions will be
rounded up to the next whole share.
In
connection with the Reverse Stock Split, the issued and outstanding
shares of our Common Stock will be combined by the 1-for-[ ] ratio.
Also, all shares of our Common Stock subject to outstanding equity
awards and the exercise price of any such award (if applicable) and
the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the
2019 Employee Stock Option Plan, and all shares underlying
outstanding warrants, convertible notes, and other derivative
securities of the Company, including exercise prices and conversion
prices (if applicable) will be proportionately adjusted for the
Reverse Stock Split.
As
stated elsewhere in this registration statement, the lack of
sufficient financing has been our biggest hurdle to achieving the
rate of growth management estimates is possible with our product.
Without adequate funding, we are unable to expand operations and
accept opportunities for large scale production of our products,
and our progress toward commercialization has slowed. The funds
from this offering will allow us to accomplish these goals, which
management believes will increase shareholder value. As part of our
efforts to uplist our Common Stock, we are effecting the Reverse
Stock Split because we believe it is our best option to meet one of
the criteria to obtain an initial listing. Although we cannot
guarantee this outcome, a decrease in the number of issued and
outstanding shares of common stock often results in an increase in
the per share market price of common stock. We believe increasing
the trading price of our Common Stock will assist in our
capital-raising efforts by making our Common Stock more attractive
to a broader range of investors. We hope that the decrease in the
number of shares of our issued and outstanding Common Stock as a
consequence of the Reverse Stock Split, and the anticipated
increase in the price per share, will encourage greater interest in
our Common Stock by the financial community and the investing
public, help us attract and retain employees and other service
providers, help us raise additional capital through the sale of
stock in the future if needed, and possibly promote greater
liquidity for our stockholders with respect to those shares
presently held by them. (See, Risk Factors – “Our Reverse Stock
Split may not result in a proportional increase in the per share
price of our Common Stock”).
Decrease in Series A Preferred Stock Voting Power
In line with the Reverse Stock Split,
on August [ ], 2020, the sole holder of our Series A Preferred
Stock, Mr. Thompson, approved, via written consent, to reduce the
voting rights of the Series A preferred stock by a ratio of 1 for [
], consistent with the Reverse Stock Split (the “Reduced Voting
Power”), to be effective as of the date of the Reverse Stock Split.
Accordingly, the Series A Preferred Stock now represents [ ] votes
(31.89 % of the voting power on all matters submitted to
a stockholder vote). Our Board and a majority of our stockholders
approved, via written consent, to amend our articles of
incorporation to reflect the Reduced Voting Power. As a result of
the Reduced Voting Power, we will no longer be considered a
“Controlled Company,” which Nasdaq Stock Market Rules define as any
company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election
of directors is held by an individual, a group or another
company.
Summary
of Risk Factors
Risks
Associated with Our Business
As an
OTCQB listed Company, we have limited resources with pressing
capital requirements as we attempt to ramp up production. We are
mindful of the challenges involved in achieving growth without
compromising our ability to manage our operating risks and comply
with rules and regulations. As we are commercializing a new
technology, no one is in a position to know all of the risks,
obstacles, and hurdles that the Company will face as it works to
commercialize its new technology. We are aware of numerous risks
associated with our business, including:
|
● |
Our
ability to continue as a going concern; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to generate significant revenues and to become
profitable; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to estimate future expenses; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to maintain an effective system of internal
controls; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to protect our intellectual property rights and to secure
additional rights domestically and internationally; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to successfully manage our growth domestically and
internationally; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to attract and retain the services of key
personnel; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
reliance on independent third-party collaborators to develop and
deliver products to market; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
reliance on key management personnel and future need for highly
skilled personnel; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to successfully develop sales and marketing for our
products; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Market
acceptance of pricing and performance for products we
develop; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to generate sustainable earnings and net operating
profits; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our
ability to adapt to regulatory and technology changes impacting our
industry; |
|
|
|
|
● |
The
potential for product liability claims regarding our products and
the use of genetically modified organisms (“GMO’s”) in our
production system; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Actions
taken or omitted to be taken by third parties including our
suppliers and competitors, as well as legislative, regulatory,
judicial and other governmental authorities; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Competition
in our industry; |
|
|
|
|
● |
The
loss of or failure to obtain any license or permit necessary or
desirable in the operation of our business; |
|
|
|
|
● |
The
availability of additional capital to support
development; |
|
|
|
|
● |
An
active, liquid, and orderly market for our common stock or Purchase
Warrants may not develop; |
|
|
|
|
● |
The
Purchase Warrants may not have any value; |
|
● |
Our production system is based upon living transgenic
organisms; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our business, operations and plans and timelines could be adversely
affected by the effects of health epidemics, including the recent
COVID-19 pandemic; |
|
|
|
|
● |
We
intend to effect the Reverse Stock Split of our outstanding Common
Stock immediately following the effective date but prior to the
closing of the offering; however, the Reverse Stock Split may not
increase our stock price sufficiently and we may not be able to
list our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other
exchange in which case this offering may not be completed;
and, |
|
|
|
|
● |
Certain
other risks and uncertainties set forth elsewhere in this
prospectus under the section titled “Risk Factors” |
Corporate
Information
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. is a Wyoming corporation. Our
Common Stock is quoted on the OTCQB under the ticker symbol “KBLB”.
On the effective date of the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part, we expect that trading on Nasdaq or other
national exchange will be under the same symbol. We also intend to
seek a listing for the Purchase Warrants on Nasdaq or other
national exchange under the symbol “KBLBW.”
As of August 20, 2020, there are
854,410,001 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Kim
Thompson, our founder and Chief Executive Officer, owns
approximately 24.7% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock. As
of August 20, 2020, there are 2 shares of super voting Series A
Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, all of which are owned by
Kim Thompson, which represent approximately 31.89% of all voting
rights of our capital stock (See, “Description of Securities” for
additional information about our securities).
Our
principal executive office and mailing address is 2723 South State
St., Suite 150, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104. Our telephone number is
(734) 619-8066. Our corporate website is
http://www.kraiglabs.com. The information contained on, or
that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is
not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and should not
be relied upon with respect to this offering.
The
Offering
The
following Summary contains general information about this offering.
The Summary is not intended to be complete. You should read the
full text and more specific details contained elsewhere in this
prospectus.
Securities
offered by us |
|
1,904,762 Units2, with each Unit consisting of one share
of our Common Stock and one Purchase Warrant to purchase one share
of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $5.25 per share. The
Units will not be certificated and the shares of Common Stock and
the Purchase Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued
separately in this offering.
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock offered by us |
|
1,904,762
shares of
Common Stock. |
|
|
|
Purchase
Warrants offered by us |
|
Purchase Warrants to purchase 1,904,762 shares of Common Stock,
each Purchase Warrant providing the right to purchase 1 share of
our Common stock. Each Purchase Warrant will have an exercise price
per share of $5.25 per share, the midpoint of the price range set
forth on the cover page of this prospectus, will be exercisable on
the original issuance date, and will expire on the fifth
anniversary of the original issuance date. Each holder of Purchase
Warrants will be prohibited from exercising its Purchase Warrant
for shares of our Common Stock if, as a result of such exercise,
the holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 4.99%
of the total number of shares of our Common Stock then issued and
outstanding. However, any holder may increase such percentage to
any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, provided that any
increase in such percentage shall not be effective until 61 days
after such notice to us. This prospectus also relates to the
offering of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Purchase Warrants. |
2 Based on an assumed initial offering price of $5.25
per Unit, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover
page of this prospectus.
Price
per Unit |
|
The purchase price will be between $4.25 and $6.25 per Unit; the
assumed public offering price of $5.25 per Unit that is disclosed
in this document is the midpoint of such range. The actual number
of Units we will offer will be determined based on the actual
public offering price. |
|
|
|
Over-Allotment
option to purchase additional share of our Common Stock and/or
Purchase Warrants |
|
We have granted to the underwriters
an option within 45-days of the date of this prospectus to purchase
up to 285,715 additional shares of Common Stock and/or Purchase
Warrants to purchase 285,715 shares of Common Stock at the assumed
public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus,
less the underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments, if any.
If the representative of the underwriters exercises the option in
full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable by
us will be $[●] and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will
be $[●].
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock outstanding prior to completion of this
offering(1) |
|
[ ]. |
|
|
|
Common
Stock outstanding immediately after this
offering(2) |
|
[ ] (or [ ] if the underwriters’ option to
purchase additional shares from us is exercised in full). |
|
|
|
Proposed
Nasdaq Listing of our Common Stock |
|
Our
Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB. In connection with
this offering, we have applied and expect to have our Common Stock
listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol
“KBLB”. |
|
|
|
Proposed
Nasdaq listing for Purchase Warrants |
|
There
is no established public trading market for the Purchase Warrants.
We intend to seek a listing for the Purchase Warrants on Nasdaq
under the symbol “KBLBW,” however we cannot assure you that we will
be successful listing the Purchase Warrants on Nasdaq or, if
successful, that an active trading market for the Purchase Warrants
will develop or be sustained. |
|
|
|
Use
of proceeds |
|
We
estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of 1,904,762 Units in
the offering will be approximately $10,000,000, or approximately
$11,500,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase
additional shares of Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants in full,
based on an assumed price to the public in this Offering of $5.25
per Unit, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover
page of this prospectus, in each case, after deducting the
underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses.
We
intend to use the net proceeds from the offering for (i) expansion
of our production operations capacity in Vietnam, including capital
equipment, facilities improvements and staffing; and (ii) working
capital and general business purposes.
The amount
and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous
factors, including the status of our acquisition and development
efforts, sales and marketing activities, and the amount of cash
generated or used by our operations. We may find it necessary or
advisable to use portions of the proceeds for other purposes, and
we will have broad discretion in the application of the net
proceeds.
|
|
|
|
Reverse
Stock Split |
|
On or
prior to the effective date of the registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part we will amend our articles of
incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split. At our 2019 annual
stockholders meeting, our stockholders approved the Reverse Stock
Split of a ratio of not less than one-for-ten and not more than
one-for-forty at any time prior to July 23, 2020, with the exact
ratios to be set at a whole number within this range, as determined
by our Board in its sole discretion and approved and adopted the
articles of amendment to our articles of incorporation to affect
the same. Since we are still in the uplisting process with Nasdaq,
but past July 23, 2020, such stockholder approval expired. However,
on August [ ], 2020 we obtained the written consent from
a majority of our stockholders to effect the Reverse Stock Split.at
a ratio of 1-for-[ ].
We
intend to effectuate the Reverse Stock Split immediately following
the effective date but prior to the closing of the
offering.
|
|
|
In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, the issued and
outstanding shares of our Common Stock will be combined by the
1-for-[ ] ratio. Also, all shares of our Common Stock subject to
outstanding equity awards and the exercise price of any such award
(if applicable) and the number of shares remaining available for
issuance under the 2019 Employee Stock Option Plan, and all shares
underlying outstanding warrants, convertible notes, and other
derivative securities of the Company, including exercise prices and
conversion prices (if applicable) will be proportionately adjusted
for the Reverse Stock Split. |
|
|
|
Risk
factors |
|
The
Units offered hereby involves a high degree of risk. You should
read “Risk Factors,” and other information included in this
prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding
to invest in our securities. |
(1) |
The
number of Common Stock to be outstanding before this offering is
based on 854,410,001 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
August 20, 2020, and excludes: |
|
● |
7,440,000
shares of
our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options
outstanding; |
|
● |
65,995,920
shares of
our Common Stock underlying any outstanding warrants;
and |
|
● |
0
shares of
our Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of notes and other
evidence of indebtedness. |
(2) |
The number of Common Stock to be
outstanding after this offering is based on 854,410,001 shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of August 20, 2020, and
excludes: |
|
● |
7,440,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of stock options outstanding; |
|
● |
65,995,920 shares of our Common Stock underlying
any outstanding warrants; and |
|
● |
0
shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of notes
and other evidence of indebtedness. |
Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus
assumes:
|
● |
that the assumed public offering
price is $5.25 per Unit, which is the mid-point of the estimated
offering price range described on the cover of this
prospectus; |
|
● |
no exercise of 65,995,920 outstanding
warrants; |
|
● |
no exercise of the Purchase Warrants
included in the Units; |
|
● |
no exercise of the Representative’s
Warrants; |
|
● |
no exercise of the Representative’s
option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock and/or
Purchase Warrants from us in this offering; and |
|
● |
no exercise of the 7,440,000 shares
of our Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options
outstanding. |
Summary of Financial
Data
The
summary of financial data set forth below should be read together
with our financial statements and the related notes to those
statements, as well as the section of this prospectus titled
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.” The statements of operations data for the
years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 have been derived from our
audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
We have derived the statement of operations data for the six months
ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and the balance sheet data as of June
30, 2020 from our unaudited financial statements appearing
elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not
necessarily indicative of the results that should be expected in
any future periods, and our results for any interim period are not
necessarily indicative of results that should be expected for any
full year.
|
|
Six Months ended
June 30, 2020 |
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2019 |
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2019 |
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2018 |
|
|
|
US$ |
|
|
US$ |
|
|
US$ |
|
|
US$ |
|
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
(audited) |
|
|
(audited) |
|
Statement of operation
data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
401,620 |
|
Gross profit |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
401,620 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
$ |
3,434,993 |
|
|
$ |
747,253 |
|
|
$ |
2,621,867 |
|
|
$ |
1,361,567 |
|
Operating income
(loss) |
|
$ |
(3,434,993 |
) |
|
$ |
(747,253 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,621,867 |
) |
|
$ |
(959,947 |
) |
Other non-operating income
(expense), net |
|
$ |
(185,143 |
) |
|
$ |
(132,990 |
) |
|
$ |
(287,983 |
) |
|
$ |
(209,030 |
) |
Provision for income
taxes |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(3,620,136 |
) |
|
$ |
(880,243 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,909,850 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,168,977 |
) |
Earnings (loss) per share,
basic |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Earnings (loss) per share,
diluted |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Weighted average shares
outstanding, basic |
|
|
844,468,378 |
|
|
|
828,912,974 |
|
|
|
835,587,422 |
|
|
|
816,874,442 |
|
Weighted average shares
outstanding, diluted |
|
|
844,468,378 |
|
|
|
828,912,974 |
|
|
|
835,587,422 |
|
|
|
816,874,442 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet
data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
$ |
63,182 |
|
|
$ |
674,228 |
|
|
$ |
156,769 |
|
|
$ |
20,555 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
586,152 |
|
|
$ |
1,276,033 |
|
|
$ |
750,850 |
|
|
$ |
71,383 |
|
Current liabilities |
|
$ |
6,436,073 |
|
|
$ |
4,696,189 |
|
|
$ |
5,584,383 |
|
|
$ |
4,530,606 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
6,899,755 |
|
|
$ |
5,343,298 |
|
|
$ |
6,138,908 |
|
|
$ |
4,530,606 |
|
Total equity (deficit) |
|
$ |
(6,313,603 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,067,265 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,388,058 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,459,223 |
) |
*
* Share amounts do not give effect to the Reverse Split.
RISK FACTORS
An
investment in our Units involves a high degree of risk. You should
carefully consider the following risk factors, together with the
other information contained in this prospectus, before you decide
to buy any Units. Any of the following risks could cause our
business, results of operations and financial condition to suffer
materially, causing the market price of our shares of Common Stock
to decline, in which event you may lose part or all of your
investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known
to us or that we currently do not deem material may also become
important factors that may materially and adversely affect our
business.
Risk
Related to Our Company
The report of the independent registered public accounting firm on
our 2019 and 2018 financial statements contains a going concern
qualification.
The
report of the independent registered public accounting firm
covering our financial statements for the years ended December 31,
2019 and December 31, 2018 stated that certain factors, including
that we have a working capital and shareholder deficit, raised
substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
Because we are not yet producing sufficient revenue to sustain our
operating costs, we are dependent upon raising capital to continue
our business. If we are unable to raise capital, our ability to
continue could remain an ongoing concern.
We may be unable to generate significant revenues and may never
become profitable.
We
generated $401,620, $0 and $0 in revenue for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2019 and the quarter ended June 30, 2020,
respectively, and do not currently have any recurring sources of
revenues, making it difficult to predict when we will be
profitable. We expect to incur significant research and development
costs for the foreseeable future. We may not be able to
successfully market fiber products we produce in the future that
will generate significant revenues. In addition, any revenues that
we may generate may be insufficient for us to become
profitable.
As a result of our limited operating history, we may not be able to
correctly estimate our future revenues, operating expenses, need
for investment capital, or stability of operations, which could
lead to cash shortfalls.
We
have a limited operating history from which to evaluate our
business. Our failure to develop additional transgenic silkworms
would have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue
operating. Accordingly, our prospects must be considered in light
of the risks, expenses, and difficulties frequently encountered by
companies at our stage of development. We may not be successful in
addressing such risks, and the failure to do so could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and
financial condition.
Because
of this limited operating history and because of the emerging
nature of our fiber product we are producing, our historical
financial data is of limited value in estimating future operating
expenses. Our budgeted operating expense levels are based in part
on our expectations concerning future revenues. However, our
ability to generate any revenues depends largely on the market
acceptance of the fibers we develop, which is difficult to forecast
accurately. The failure of our target markets to adopt our products
would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our
operating results may fluctuate as a result of a number of factors,
many of which are outside of our control. For these reasons,
comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not
be meaningful, and you should not rely on our past results as any
indication of our future performance. Our quarterly and annual
expenses are likely to increase substantially over the next several
years depending upon the level of fiber development activities. Our
operating results in future quarters may fall below expectations.
Any of these events could adversely impact our business prospects
and make it more difficult to raise additional equity capital at an
acceptable price per share.
We derived all of our revenue from a single large
customer.
Historically,
we have relied on one customer, the U.S. Army, for all of our
revenue and accounts receivable. The U.S. Army comprised 100% of
our revenue from 2016 to 2018. When our contract with the U.S. Army
expired, we did not have any other customers. As such, we did not
produce any revenue in 2019 and have been financing our operations
with an equity investment from a shareholder. Failure to secure
additional customers will adversely affect our ability to sustain
operations.
We may be unable to maintain an effective system of internal
controls and accurately report our financial results or prevent
fraud, which may cause our current and potential stockholders to
lose confidence in our financial reporting and adversely impact our
business and our ability to raise additional funds in the
future.
Effective
internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable
financial statements and effectively prevent fraud. We have no
internal audit function. As we noted in our annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, we reported that our
internal control over financial reporting was not effective for the
purposes for which it is intended because we had material
weaknesses, as described below; we also noted in our quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2020
that (i) there were no changes in our internal control over
financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the our internal control over
financial reporting, and (ii) our disclosure controls and
procedures were not effective to cause the information required to
be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the
Exchange Act to be recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods prescribed by SEC, and that such
information is accumulated and communicated to management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. Though we have taken some steps to address our material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting,
including education of management of disclosure requirements and
financial reporting controls, we still have not eliminated the
material weakness in our internal controls over financial
reporting. If we cannot provide reliable financial statements or
prevent fraud, our operating results and our reputation could be
harmed as a result, causing stockholders and/or prospective
investors to lose confidence in management and making it more
difficult for us to raise additional capital in the
future.
In
our “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting” that appeared in our annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2019, we reported that our internal control
over financial reporting was not effective for the purposes for
which it is intended based on a material weakness associated with
our lack of qualified resources to perform the internal audit
functions properly, no segregation of duties that results in
ineffective controls over financial reporting and lack of control
over related party transactions. As reported in our most recent we
are taking some remediation steps to help address our material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, but we
do not expect to remediate the weaknesses in our internal controls
over financial reporting until the time when we start to
commercialize a recombinant fiber (and, therefore, may have
sufficient cash flow for hiring personnel to handle our accounting
and reporting functions).
We currently do not have patent rights to the products we are
seeking to develop and we currently license some of the genetic
sequences and genetic engineering technology we need to develop our
products. If any third party challenges our claim to intellectual
property rights in the fiber products we are seeking to develop or
the intellectual property rights that we license, our business may
be materially harmed.
We do
not have utility or design patents to the fibers and products we
are seeking to develop. It is possible that the fiber products we
are seeking to develop could be imitated or directly manufactured
and sold by a competitor. In addition, some or all of our research,
development ideas and proposed products may be covered by patent
rights held by some other entity. In that event, we could incur
substantial liability, we could be subject to litigation and
claims, and our business would be materially adversely
affected.
In
addition to the Notre Dame Agreements, we also entered into
intellectual property licensing agreements with the University of
Wyoming and Sigma-Aldrich. Pursuant to these licensing agreements,
we have obtained certain exclusive rights to use intellectual
property and genetic sequences owned by these universities.
However, we have no guarantee of the viability of these
intellectual property rights or the rights that we have licensed do
not infringe on the legal rights of third parties. The intellectual
property rights that we have licensed could be challenged or voided
or we could realize that the licensed intellectual property is
worthless and without utility. We may also need to license
additional intellectual property from persons or entities in order
to successfully complete our research and development, and we
cannot be certain that we will be able to enter into a license
agreement with such persons or entities. If we cannot enter into
such license agreements, our operations will be adversely affected
and our prospects negatively affected.
We
have no assurance of the future grant of patents for technologies
we hope to develop. If we are unable to secure intellectual
property protection rights for new technologies developed, our
business would be materially harmed.
We may not successfully manage any growth that we may
experience.
Our
future success will depend upon not only product development, but
also on the expansion of our operations and the effective
management of any such growth, which will place a significant
strain on our management and on our administrative, operational,
and financial resources. To manage any such growth, we must expand
our facilities, augment our operational, financial and management
systems, and hire and train additional qualified personnel. If we
are unable to manage our growth effectively, our business would be
harmed as our growth could be adversely affected by such
mismanagement.
Our development of recombinant silk products and development
programs depends upon third-parties.
As we
bring our product to market we will need to develop new relations
and collaborations with wholesalers, retailers, silk spinners,
weavers, and freight handlers and end product developers. We expect
to depend upon independent collaborations with textile producers,
to conduct development of applications for our transgenic silkworm
and recombinant silk polymers, such as recombinant spider silk. We
expect that these collaborators would perform services under
agreements with us. Such agreements are often standard-form
agreements typically not subject to extensive negotiation. These
collaborators would not be our employees, and in general we would
not control the amount or timing of resources that they devoted to
our product development programs. These future collaborators may
not assign as great a priority to our programs or pursue them as
diligently as we would if we were undertaking such programs
ourselves. If outside collaborators fail to devote sufficient time
and resources to product developments programs using our transgenic
silkworm technologies, or if their performance is substandard, our
introduction of protein based fiber products will be delayed or may
not result at all. These future collaborators may also have
relationships with other commercial entities, some of whom may
compete with us.
If conflicts arise with our collaborators, they may act in their
self-interests, which may be adverse to our
interests.
Conflicts
may arise in collaborations we have entered into or may enter into
due to one or more of the following:
● |
disputes
with respect to payments that we believe are due under a
collaboration agreement; |
|
|
● |
disagreements
with respect to ownership of intellectual property
rights; |
|
|
● |
unwillingness
on the part of a collaborator to keep us informed regarding the
progress of its development and commercialization activities, or to
permit public disclosure of these activities; |
|
|
● |
delay
of a collaborator’s development or commercialization efforts with
respect to our product development; or |
|
|
● |
termination
or non-renewal of the collaboration. |
In
addition, in our collaborations, we may be required to agree not to
conduct independently, or with any third party, any research or
developments that are competitive with the research conducted under
our collaborations. Our collaborations may have the effect of
limiting the areas of research or product commercialization that we
may pursue, either alone or with others. Our collaborators,
however, may be able to develop, either alone or with others,
products in related fields that are competitive with the products
or potential products that are the subject of these
collaborations.
If we lose the services of key management personnel, we may not be
able to execute our business strategy
effectively.
Our
future success depends in a large part upon the continued service
of Kim Thompson, who is our founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, President, and sole director. Mr. Thompson is
critical to our overall management as well as the development of
our technology, our culture and our strategic direction. While Mr.
Thompson does not possess formal training in the field of
scientific research and development, his core ideas and inventions
serve as the basis for our technologies and products. We do not
maintain a key-person life insurance policy on Mr. Thompson. The
loss of Mr. Thompson would materially harm our business.
As our business grows, we will need to hire highly skilled
personnel and, if we are unable to hire, retain, or motivate
additional qualified personnel, we may not be able to grow
effectively.
Our
performance will be largely dependent on the talents and efforts of
highly skilled individuals. Our future success depends on our
continuing ability to identify, hire, develop, motivate, and retain
highly skilled personnel for all areas of our company. Competition
in our industry for qualified employees remains intense as the
skills we require in our employees are highly specialized. We
compete with companies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industries that seek to retain scientists with genetic engineering
experience and expertise. We expect that over the longer term we
will continue to face stiff competition and may not be able to
successfully recruit or retain such personnel. Attracting and
retaining qualified personnel will be critical to our
success.
If we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or
enter into agreements with third parties to sell and market
products we may develop, we may not be able to generate product
revenue.
We do
not currently have an organization for the sales, marketing and
distribution of any fiber products that we expect to develop. In
order to market any products that may be developed, we must build
our sales, marketing, managerial and other non-technical
capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform
these services. In addition, we have no experience in developing,
training or managing a sales force and will incur substantial
additional expenses in doing so. The cost of establishing and
maintaining a sales force may exceed its cost effectiveness.
Furthermore, we will compete with many companies that currently
have extensive and well-funded marketing and sales operations. Our
marketing and sales efforts may be unable to compete successfully
against these companies. If we are unable to establish adequate
sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, whether
independently or with third parties, we may not be able to generate
product revenue and may not become profitable.
We may be unable to meet or sustain pricing or material performance
requirements.
We
are not aware of any other company that has established a
commercially viable and cost-effective production system for
recombinant spider silks. If we are unable to match or sustain the
pricing requirement for our target markets or maintain material
performance expectations, it may have a material adverse impact on
our business.
We have limited intellectual property protection in foreign
markets, which could affect our ability to grow our markets and
increase our revenue.
The
intellectual property that we licensed from Notre Dame, University
of Wyoming and Sigma-Aldrich is covered by a series of U.S. patents
and U.S. patent applications with limited or no international
patent protection. Foreign competitors could be using the same
technology that we have licensed, which would affect our ability to
expand our markets beyond the United States. We are aware that
international laboratories and potential competitors are using the
“piggyback” gene splicing technology for the genetic modification
of silkworm. Such limited foreign intellectual property could
affect our ability to introduce fiber products in international
markets or effectively compete in such markets.
We may fail to foresee challenges with international
operations.
The
Company and its current management have no history or experience in
establishing and developing international business units and
production facilities. Our future success will depend heavily upon
on our ability to oversee production operations at facilities and
locations outside of the United States and management’s day-to-day
oversight. Unforeseen challenges in sustaining efficient
operations, decreases in product quality, language and cultural
difference, or theft of intellectual property from these satellite
production facilities, or other yet undiscovered challenges could
have an adverse material effect on us.
The patents underlying our license agreements could expire or be
invalidated prior to our commercializing our specialty fibers,
which would result in the loss of our competitive edge and could
negatively impact our revenues and results of
operations.
The
patent rights that we license could expire or be invalidated before
we are ready to market or commercialize any fiber product, or while
we are still in research and development phases of proposed
products, in which event the patents would be worthless and would
not protect us from potential competitors who would then have low
barriers to entry and who would be in a position to compete more
effectively with us.
Our management has no previous experience in developing, producing,
marketing, or selling recombinant fiber which may have a negative
effect on our ability to develop or sell our
products.
Since,
to our knowledge, commercialization of spider silk on a large scale
has yet to be accomplished, we are not aware of any candidates with
specific experience in this field. There may be numerous hurdles
and obstacles that we are not currently able to foresee.
Our
current management has limited experience in developing, marketing
and selling recombinant fiber and the other products that we intend
to develop and market. Additionally, our current management has no
formal training in the business of scientific research and
development, which may be critical to our success. The inexperience
of our management and lack of experienced workforce may negatively
affect our ability to succeed in developing, marketing and/or
distributing our proposed products.
We may be unprepared for technological changes in our industry,
which could result in our products being obsolete or replaced by
better technology.
The
industry in which we participate is subject to rapid business and
technological changes. The business, technology, marketing, legal
and regulatory changes that could occur may have a material adverse
impact on us. New inventions and product innovations may make our
proposed products obsolete. Potential customers may prefer existing
materials to our new technology. New materials may come to market
that outperform our technologies. Other researchers may develop and
patent technologies which make our line of research obsolete. We
may not have the financial or technical ability to keep up with our
competitors.
Our business is based on scientific research which has not
demonstrated commercial viability and makes our business highly
risky.
We
are engaging in research and development of new recombinant silk
fibers. Due to the speculative nature of this scientific research,
our chances of success are uncertain and we cannot guarantee that
we will succeed in developing new fibers that deliver performance
results to meet customer requirements or obtain commercial
acceptance. An investment in us, therefore, is highly speculative
and risky.
The fibers we develop could expose us to product liability claims,
which could have a negative impact on our results of
operations.
The
fibers we are seeking to develop may subject us to product
liability claims if widely used, including but not limited to
design defect, environmental hazards, quality control, and
durability of product. This potential liability is increased by
virtue of the fact that our products in development may be used as
protective and safety materials. The fibers and end products we are
developing are based on a GMO and are subject to public opinion,
risks, and concerns regarding GMOs. There is tremendous potential
liability to any person who is injured by, or while using, one of
our products. As a manufacturer, we may be strictly liable for any
damage caused by our products. This liability might not be covered
by insurance, or may exceed any coverage that we may
obtain.
If we experience product recalls, we may incur significant and
unexpected costs and damage to our reputation and, therefore, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, or results of operations.
We
may be subject to product recalls, withdrawals, or seizures if any
of our products are believed to cause injury. A recall, withdrawal,
or seizure of any of our products could materially and adversely
affect consumer confidence in our brands and lead to decreased
demand for our products. In addition, a recall, withdrawal, or
seizure of any of our products would require significant management
attention, would likely result in substantial and unexpected
expenditures and could materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Ethical, legal and social concerns about synthetic biologically
engineered products and processes could limit or prevent the use of
products or processes using our technologies, limit consumer
acceptance and limit our revenues.
Our
technologies involve the use of genetically engineered (“GE”)
products or technologies. Public perception about the safety and
environmental hazards of, and ethical concerns over, GE products
and processes could influence public acceptance of our and our
collaborators’ technologies, products and processes.
The
subject of GMOs has received negative publicity, which has aroused
public debate. This adverse publicity has led to, and could
continue to lead to, greater regulation and trade restrictions on
imports of genetically altered products. Further, there is a risk
that products produced using our technologies could cause adverse
health effects or other adverse events, which could also lead to
negative publicity.
There
is also an active and vocal group of opponents to GMOs who wish to
ban or restrict the technology and who, at a minimum, hope to sway
consumer perceptions and acceptance of this technology. Their
efforts include regulatory legal challenges and labeling campaigns
for genetically modified products, as well as application of
pressure to consumer retail outlets seeking a commitment not to
carry genetically modified products. Further, these groups have a
history of bringing legal action against companies attempting to
bring new biotechnology products to market. We may be subject to
future litigation brought by one or more of these organizations in
their attempt to block the development or sale of our products. In
addition, animal rights groups and various other organizations and
individuals have attempted to stop genetic engineering activities
by pressing for legislation and additional regulation in these
areas. We may not be able to overcome the negative consumer
perceptions and potential legal hurdles that these organizations
seek to instill or assert against our products, and our business
could be harmed.
If we
are not able to overcome the ethical, legal and social concerns
relating to genetic engineering, products and processes using our
technologies may not be accepted. These concerns could result in
increased expenses, regulatory scrutiny, delays or other
impediments to our programs or the public acceptance and
commercialization of products and processes dependent on our
technologies or inventions. Our ability to develop and
commercialize products, or processes using our technologies could
be limited by public attitudes and governmental
regulation.
Inadvertent releases or unintended consequences of releases of
synthetic biology technologies by us or others could lead to
adverse effects on our business and results of
operations.
The
genetically engineered technologies that we develop may have
significantly enhanced strength and elasticity characteristics
compared to those found in native silkworms. While we produce these
technologies only for use in a controlled industrial environment,
the release of such technologies into uncontrolled environments
could have unintended consequences. Any adverse effect resulting
from such a release, by us or others, could have a material adverse
effect on the public acceptance of our products and our business
and financial condition. Such a release could result in enhanced
regulatory activity and we could have exposure to liability for any
resulting harm.
Potential future regulations limiting our ability to sell or
produce genetically engineered products could harm our
business.
We
expect to develop biologic products using GMOs. Products derived
from GMOs may in some instances be subject to bans or additional
regulation by federal, state, local and foreign government
agencies. These agencies may not allow us or our collaborators and
licensees to produce and market products derived from GMOs in a
timely manner or under technically or commercially feasible
conditions.
Further,
we and our current and future collaborators and licensees are
subject to regulations in the other countries in which we operate
outside of the U.S., which may have different rules and regulations
depending on the jurisdiction. Different countries have different
rules regarding which products qualify as GMO. If any of these
countries expand the definition of GMO and increase the regulatory
burden on GMO products, our business could be harmed.
Other
changes in regulatory requirements, laws and policies, or evolving
interpretations of existing regulatory requirements, laws and
policies, may result in increased compliance costs, delays, capital
expenditures and other financial obligations that could adversely
affect our business or financial results.
Our operations would be negatively affected by any dispute with our
collaborating universities or by labor unrest (such as disputes,
strikes or lockouts) between such universities and their academic
staff.
We
have signed intellectual property, sponsored research and
collaborative research agreements with one or more universities.
The continued cooperation of these universities, as well as the
cooperation of other institutions and or universities is essential
for the success of the Company. In the event of a material dispute
with one or more of the universities, such a dispute could create a
cessation of operations for a period of time that could be
detrimental to our operations and survival. Additionally, a
material dispute between any such university and its employees
could create a cessation of operations for a period of time that
could be detrimental to our product development.
Our competitors are larger with greater financial resources than we
have and we may face increased competition due to the low barriers
of entry to our industry.
We
compete directly with numerous other companies with similar product
lines and/or distribution that have extensive capital, resources,
market share, and brand recognition. There are few barriers to
entry on the industry in which we compete, namely the textile,
specialty fabric and technical textile industries. This creates the
strong possibility of new competitors emerging, and of others
succeeding in developing the same or similar fibers that we are
trying to develop. The effects of this increased competition may be
materially adverse to us and our stockholders.
We may face various governmental regulations, which could increase
our costs and lower our future
profitability.
We
face various governmental regulations regarding import/export,
taxes, transgenics and biological research. Transgenic product
manufacture and distribution, environmental regulation and
packaging requirements may be adverse to our operations, research
and development, revenues, and potential profit. We are especially
at risk from governmental restriction and regulations related to
the development of materials by use of transgenic organisms and
GMOs. Federal and state regulations impose strict regulation on the
use, storage, and transportation of such transgenic organisms. Such
rules impose severe penalties on us for any breach of regulations,
for any spill, release, or contamination caused while the
substances are under our direct or indirect ownership or control.
We are not aware of any such breach of governmental regulation, or
of any spill, release, or contamination, however, if such a
release, or other regulatory breach does occur in the future, the
resulting clean-up costs, and/or fines and penalties, would cause a
material negative effect on the Company and our financial
future.
We
face additional challenges associated with operating in overseas
locations, which have additional governmental regulations and
restrictions. Those regulations are subject to change and
interpretation relating to GMO’s. Such changes could limit our
ability to sell or produce GMO products. We cannot be assured that
what is allowed today will be allowable in the future.
We may face unforeseen challenges with the import and export of our
products.
The
success of our operations depends on our ability to ship the silk
fibers and yarns produced by GMO’s. There is no guarantee that the
existing authorizations and interpretations of rules will remain in
effect. Increasing restrictions on the shipping of products with
GMO’s or importation of GMO’s may materially impact our
business.
Our international operations will be subject to the laws of the
jurisdictions in which we operate.
A
significant portion of our business operations will occur in
Vietnam. We will be generally subject to laws and regulations
applicable to foreign investment in Vietnam. The Vietnamese legal
system is based, at least in part, on written statutes. However,
since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the
Vietnamese legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the
interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always
uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules
involves uncertainties.
We
cannot predict the effect of future developments in the legal
systems of developing countries, including the promulgation of new
laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement
thereof, the preemption of local regulations by national laws, or
the overturn of local government’s decisions by the superior
government. These uncertainties may limit legal protections
available to us.
We may be adversely affected by economic and political conditions
in the countries where we operate.
We
operate in Vietnam. Economic and political changes in these
countries, such as inflation rates, recession, foreign ownership
restrictions, restrictions on transfer of funds into or out of a
country and similar factors may adversely affect results of
operations.
While
it is our understanding that the economy in Vietnam has grown
significantly in the past 20 years, the growth has been uneven,
both geographically and among various economic sectors. The
government of Vietnam has implemented various measures to encourage
or control economic growth and guide the allocation of resources.
Some of these measures benefit the overall Vietnamese economy, but
may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial
condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by
government control over capital investments, land use or changes in
tax regulations that are applicable to us.
The
Vietnamese economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to
a more market-oriented economy4. Although in recent
years the Vietnamese government has implemented measures
emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform,
the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the
establishment of sound corporate governance in business
enterprises, a substantial portion of the productive assets in
Vietnam are still owned by the Vietnamese government. The continued
control of these assets and other aspects of the national economy
by Vietnam government could materially and adversely affect our
business. The Vietnamese government also exercises significant
control over Vietnamese economic growth through the allocation of
resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated
obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential
treatment to particular industries or companies. Efforts by the
Vietnamese government to slow the pace of growth of the Vietnamese
economy could negatively affect our business.
Our business, operations and plans and timelines have been
adversely affected by the effects of health epidemics, including
the recent COVID-19 pandemic, on the manufacturing, production and
other business activities performed by us or by third parties with
whom we conduct business, including our suppliers, target end
market potential collaboration partners, and
others.
4
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/missing-middle-political-economy-economic-restructuring-vietnam
Our
business could be further adversely affected by health epidemics
wherever we have business operations. In addition, health epidemics
could cause significant disruption in the operations of third-party
manufacturers, CROs and other third parties upon whom we rely. For
example, in December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus,
SARS-CoV-2, causing a disease referred to as COVID-19, was reported
to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, COVID-19 has spread
to multiple countries worldwide, including the United States. Our
headquarters is located in Michigan and our manufacturers are
located in Vietnam. This spread resulted in the Company furloughing
all non-essential personnel and pausing its production operations.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19
outbreak a pandemic, and the U.S. government imposed travel
restrictions on travel between the United States, Europe and
certain other countries. Further, the President of the United
States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency and
invoked powers under the Stafford Act, the legislation that directs
federal emergency disaster response, and under the Defense
Production Act, the legislation that facilitates the production of
goods and services necessary for national security and for other
purposes. We have implemented work-from-home policies for all
employees. The effects of the executive order and our
work-from-home policies may negatively impact productivity, disrupt
our business and delay our timelines, the magnitude of which will
depend, in part, on the length and severity of the restrictions and
other limitations on our ability to conduct our business in the
ordinary course. These and similar, and perhaps more severe,
disruptions in our operations could negatively impact our business,
operating results and financial condition.
Quarantines,
shelter-in-place and similar government orders, or the expectation
that such orders, shutdowns or other restrictions could occur,
whether related to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, could
impact personnel at third-party manufacturing facilities in the
United States and other countries, or the availability or cost of
materials, which could disrupt our supply chain or end markets. For
example, we may face shortages in mulberry feed for our silkworms
as a result shifting agricultural priorities, or a drop in demand
for our finished materials as a result of an economic downturn. In
addition, closures of transportation carriers and modal hubs could
materially impact our development and any future commercialization
timelines.
If
our relationships with our suppliers or other vendors are
terminated or scaled back as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or
other health epidemics, we may not be able to enter into
arrangements with alternative suppliers or vendors or do so on
commercially reasonable terms or in a timely manner. Switching or
adding additional suppliers or vendors involves substantial cost
and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a
natural transition period when a new supplier or vendor commences
work. As a result, delays occur, which could adversely impact our
ability to meet our desired clinical development and any future
commercialization timelines. Although we carefully manage our
relationships with our suppliers and vendors, there can be no
assurance that we will not encounter challenges or delays in the
future or that these delays or challenges will not have an adverse
impact on our business, financial condition and prospects. See
“—Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties.”
The
spread of COVID-19, which has caused a broad impact globally, may
materially affect us economically. While the potential economic
impact brought by, and the duration of, COVID-19 may be difficult
to assess or predict, a widespread pandemic could result in
significant disruption of global financial markets, reducing our
ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively
affect our liquidity. In addition, a recession or market correction
resulting from the spread of COVID-19 could materially affect our
business and the value of our common stock.
We
expect the temporary closing of our facility in Vietnam to result
in a 4-6 months delay in our production expansion schedule,
although given the uncertainty of the situation, it could be
longer. As of the date hereof, Vietnam does not have any work
restrictions impacting our facility. However, current U.S. travel
restrictions may prevent us from shipping the eggs we are now
producing in the U.S. to Vietnam; as soon as the eggs are shipped,
we can restart operations at the facility. However, the global
pandemic of COVID-19 continues to evolve rapidly and therefore we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to ship our eggs to Vietnam
in a timely manner, if at all or that we will not have to close the
facility again in the future. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19
pandemic or a similar health epidemic is highly uncertain and
subject to change. We do not yet know the full extent of potential
delays or impacts on our business, our clinical trials, healthcare
systems or the global economy as a whole. However, these effects
could have a material impact on our operations, and we will
continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. See,
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations – Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak.”
Our production system is based upon living transgenic
organisms.
Our
production system is based on transgenic silkworms. Therefore,
anything affecting the lifecycle of those silkworms, including but
not limited to disease, climate, or nutrition could have
significant negative effects on our production or our products.
Such negative effects to our production could materially adversely
affect our operations and ability to receive revenue in the
future.
Risks
Related to This Offering and Our Common Stock
Our sole Director owns a significant percentage of our outstanding
voting securities which could reduce the ability of minority
stockholders to effect certain corporate
actions.
Collectively,
due to the voting rights features of the Series A Preferred Stock
(which is owned solely by our chief executive officer), our
officers and directors own an aggregate of 222,768,160 shares of
our capital stock, or approximately 49.65% of our outstanding
voting securities. As a result, currently, and after this offering,
they will possess significant influence and can elect a majority of
our Board and authorize or prevent proposed significant corporate
transactions without the votes of any other stockholders. They are
expected to have significant influence over a decision to enter
into any corporate transaction and have the ability to prevent any
transaction that requires the approval of stockholders, regardless
of whether or not our other stockholders believe that such
transaction is in our best interests. Such concentration of voting
power could have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a
change of control or other business combination, which could, in
turn, have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common
Stock or prevent our shareholders from realizing a premium over the
then-prevailing market price for their Common Stock.
Our management will have broad discretion as to the use of proceeds
from this offering, and we may not use the proceeds
effectively.
Our
management will have broad discretion in the application of the net
proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways
that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value
of our Common Stock. You will not have the opportunity, as part of
your investment decision, to assess whether these proceeds are
being used appropriately. Our failure to apply these funds
effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business
and cause the price of our common stock to decline.
Our Reverse Stock Split may not result in a proportional increase
in the per share price of our Common Stock.
The
effect of the Reverse Stock Split on the market price for our
Common Stock cannot be accurately predicted. In particular, we
cannot assure you that the prices for shares of the common stock
after the Reverse Stock Split will increase proportionately to
prices for shares of our Common Stock immediately before the
Reverse Stock Split. The market price of our common stock may also
be affected by other factors which may be unrelated to the Reverse
Stock Split or the number of shares issued and
outstanding.
Furthermore,
even if the market price of our Common Stock does rise following
the Reverse Stock Split, we cannot assure you that the market price
of our Common Stock immediately after the proposed Reverse Stock
Split will be maintained for any period of time. Moreover, because
some investors may view the Reverse Stock Split negatively, we
cannot assure you that the Reverse Stock Split will not adversely
impact the market price of our common stock. There is also the
possibility that liquidity may be adversely affected by the reduced
number of shares which would be issued and outstanding when the
Reverse Stock Split is effected, particularly if the price per
share of our Common Stock begins a declining trend after the
Reverse Stock Split is effected. Accordingly, our total market
capitalization after the Reverse Stock Split may be lower than the
market capitalization before the Reverse Stock Split.
Investors in this offering will experience immediate and
substantial dilution in net tangible book value.
The public offering price will be substantially higher than the net
tangible book value per share of our outstanding shares of our
Common Stock. As a result, investors in this offering will incur
immediate dilution of $[ ] per share, based on the
assumed public offering price of $5.25 per Unit (the midpoint of
the range indicated on the front cover of this prospectus).
Investors in this offering will pay a price per share that
substantially exceeds the book value of our assets after
subtracting our liabilities. See “Dilution” for a more complete
description of how the value of your investment will be diluted
upon the completion of this offering.
We may need to raise additional capital by sales of our securities,
which may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock and
your rights in us may be reduced.
We
expect to continue to incur product development and selling,
general and administrative costs, and in order to satisfy our
funding requirements, we will need to continue to raise additional
capital above and beyond the anticipated proceeds of this offering.
The sale or the proposed sale of substantial amounts of our Common
Stock or other securities in the public markets may adversely
affect the market price of our Common Stock and our stock price may
decline substantially. Our stockholders may experience substantial
dilution and a reduction in the price that they are able to obtain
upon sale of their shares. Also, new equity securities issued may
have greater rights, preferences or privileges than our existing
Common Stock. Furthermore, additional capital may not be available in
sufficient amounts or on reasonable terms, if at all, and our
ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by
potential worsening global economic conditions and the recent
disruptions to and volatility in the credit and financial markets
in the United States and worldwide resulting from the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic.
We do not intend to pay dividends.
We
have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our securities.
We currently intend to retain our earnings for funding growth and,
therefore, do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable
future.
An active, liquid, and orderly market for our common stock or
Purchase Warrants may not develop.
Our Common Stock is expected to trade on Nasdaq or other national
exchange as of the effective date of the registration statement of
which this prospectus forms a part and we intend to seek a listing
on Nasdaq or other national exchange for our Purchase Warrants. An
active trading market for our Common Stock or Purchase Warrants may
never develop or be sustained. If an active market for our Common
Stock or Purchase Warrants does not continue to develop or is not
sustained, it may be difficult for investors to sell shares of our
Common Stock or Purchase Warrants without depressing the market
price and investors may not be able to sell the shares of our
Common Stock or Purchase Warrants at all. An inactive market may
also impair our ability to raise capital by selling our Common
Stock or Purchase Warrants and may impair our ability to acquire
other businesses, applications, or technologies using our Common
Stock or Purchase Warrants as consideration, which, in turn, could
materially adversely affect our business.
While we are seeking to list our Common Stock and Purchase Warrants
on Nasdaq, there is no assurance that either of such securities
will be listed on Nasdaq or any stock exchange.
While
we are seeking to list our Common Stock and Purchase Warrants on
Nasdaq, we cannot ensure that either of such securities will be
accepted for listing on Nasdaq or with regard to the Purchase
Warrants, any exchange. Should our Purchase Warrants be rejected
for listing on Nasdaq, we will seek to have our Purchase Warrants
quoted on the OTC Markets, in which event the trading price of our
Purchase Warrants could suffer, the trading market for our Purchase
Warrants may be less liquid, and our Purchase Warrant price may be
subject to increased volatility. If we fail to have our Purchase
Warrants quoted on the OTC Markets, there will be no public market
for our Purchase Warrants.
The Purchase Warrants may not have any value.
Each
Purchase Warrant will have an exercise price equal to the per share
public offering of our Units and will expire on the fifth
anniversary of the date they first become exercisable. In the event
our Common Stock price does not exceed the exercise price of the
Purchase Warrants during the period when the warrants are
exercisable, the Purchase Warrants may not have any
value.
The market price of our Common Stock may be volatile and may be
affected by market conditions beyond our control, and you may not
be able to sell our Common Stock.
Publicly
traded companies generally have experienced extreme price and
volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or
disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies.
Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market
price of our securities, regardless of our actual operating
performance.
The
market for our Common Stock is characterized by significant price
volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that
our share price will continue to be more volatile than a seasoned
issuer for the indefinite future. The volatility in our share price
is attributable to a number of factors. First, our shares of Common
Stock are sporadically and thinly traded. As a consequence of this
lack of liquidity, the trading of relatively small quantities of
shares by our stockholders may disproportionately influence the
price of those shares in either direction. The price for our shares
Common Stock could, for example, decline precipitously in the event
that a large number of shares of our Common Stock are sold on the
market without commensurate demand, as compared to a seasoned
issuer which could better absorb those sales without adverse impact
on its share price. Second, we are a speculative or “risky”
investment due to our limited operating history and lack of revenue
to date, and uncertainty of future market acceptance for our
potential products. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more
risk-averse investors may, under the fear of losing all or most of
their investment in the event of negative news or lack of progress,
be more inclined to sell their shares on the market more quickly
and at greater discounts than would be the case with the stock of a
seasoned issuer. Many of these factors are beyond our control and
may decrease the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of
our operating performance. We cannot make any predictions or
projections as to what the prevailing market price for our Common
Stock will be at any time, including as to whether our Common Stock
will sustain its current market price, or as to what effect the
sale of shares or the availability of Common Stock for sale at any
time will have on the prevailing market price.
The
market price of our Common Stock is subject to significant
fluctuations in response to, among other factors:
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the
significant downward pressure on our Common Stock price caused by
the sale of a significant number of shares could cause our Common
Stock price to decline, thus allowing short sellers of our Common
Stock an opportunity to take advantage of any decrease in the value
of our Common Stock; |
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the
presence and action of short sellers in our Common
Stock; |
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market
acceptance of our existing products, as well as products in
development; |
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the
timing of regulatory approvals; |
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our
ability or the ability of third-party distributors to sell, market,
and distribute our products; |
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our
ability or the ability of our contract manufacturers to manufacture
our products efficiently; |
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changes
in our financial performance or a change in financial estimates or
recommendations by securities analysts; |
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our
ability to raise additional funds to complete development of our
pharmaceutical product candidates; |
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announcements
of innovations or new products or services by us or our
competitors; |
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the
emergence of new competitors or success of our existing
competitors; |
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operating
and market price performance of other companies that investors deem
comparable; |
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sales
or purchases of our Common Stock by insiders; |
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commencement
of, or involvement in, litigation; |
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changes
in governmental regulations; and |
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general
economic conditions and slow or negative growth of related
markets. |
In
addition, if the market for stock in our industry, or the stock
market in general, experiences a loss of investor confidence, the
market price of our common stock could decline for reasons
unrelated to our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
If
any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause the price of our Common
Stock to fall and may expose us to lawsuits that, even if
unsuccessful, could be costly to defend and distract our Board and
management.
We are currently subject to penny stock regulations and
restrictions and if we continue to be subject to such regulations
and restrictions you may have difficulty selling shares of our
Common Stock.
The
Commission has adopted regulations which generally define so-called
“penny stocks” as an equity security that has a market price of
less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00
per share, subject to certain exemptions. Our Common Stock is a
“penny stock”, and we are subject to Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange
Act, or the Penny Stock Rule. This rule imposes additional sales
practice requirements on broker-dealers that sell such securities
to persons other than established customers and “accredited
investors” (generally, individuals with a net worth in excess of
$1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000
together with their spouses). For transactions covered by Rule
15g-9, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability
determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written
consent to the transaction prior to sale. As a result, this rule
affects the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and
affects the ability of purchasers to sell any of our securities in
the secondary market.
For
any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules
require delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a
disclosure schedule prepared by the Commission relating to the
penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about
sales commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the
registered representative and current quotations for the
securities. Finally, monthly statements are required to be sent
disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the
account and information on the limited market in penny
stock.
After
giving effect to this offering and the Reverse Stock Split and our
listing on Nasdaq or other national exchange, our Common Stock will
not be a “penny stock”. There can be no assurance that our shares
of Common Stock will continue to not be a “penny stock” because of
its price or qualification for exemption from the Penny Stock Rule.
In any event, even if our Common Stock were exempt from the Penny
Stock Rule, we would remain subject to Section 15(b)(6) of the
Exchange Act, which gives the Commission the authority to restrict
any person from participating in a distribution of penny stock if
the Commission finds that such a restriction would be in the public
interest.
In
addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted similar rules
that may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our
Common Stock. FINRA rules require that in recommending an
investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable
grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for such
customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities
to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make
reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s
financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other
information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes
that there is a high probability that speculative low priced
securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The
FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to
recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which may
limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse
effect on the market for our shares.
Risk
Factors Related to Uplisting on the Nasdaq Capital Market or
Another National Exchange
Our ability to uplist our Common Stock to the Nasdaq Capital Market
or another national exchange is contingent on our meeting
applicable initial listing criteria.
We
have applied for our Common Stock to be listed on the Nasdaq
Capital Market or another national securities exchange. Each
exchange requires companies desiring to list their common stock to
meet certain listing criteria including total number of
stockholders; minimum stock price, total value of public float, and
in some cases total stockholders’ equity and market capitalization.
Our failure to meet such applicable listing criteria would prevent
us from listing our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or
another national exchange. In the event we are unable to uplist our
Common Stock, our Common Stock will continue to be quoted on the
OTCQB, which is generally considered less liquid and more volatile
than a national securities exchange. Our failure to uplist our
Common Stock could make it more difficult for you to trade our
Common Stock, could prevent our common stock trading on a frequent
and liquid basis and could result in the value of our Common Stock
being less than it would be if we were able to uplist.
If the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange does not
list our securities for quotation, it could limit investors’
ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to
additional trading restrictions.
We
have applied for our Common Stock to be listed on the Nasdaq
Capital Market, or another national securities exchange. After
giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet, on a pro forma
basis, the Nasdaq Capital Market’s minimum initial listing
standards, which generally only mandate that we meet certain
requirements relating to stockholders’ equity, market
capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares, bid
price and distribution requirements. We cannot guarantee that we
will be able to meet those initial listing requirements. If the
Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange does not list
our common stock for trading on its exchange, we could face
significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a
limited availability of market quotations for our
securities; |
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reduced
liquidity with respect to our securities; |
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a
determination that our shares of or Common Stock are “penny stock,”
which will require brokers desiring to recommend our shares of
Common Stock to their clients to adhere to more stringent rules,
possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the
secondary trading market for our shares of common
stock; |
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a
limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our Company;
and |
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a
decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain
additional financing in the future. |
The
National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a
federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating
the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered
securities.” If our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital
Market or another national exchange, such securities will be
covered securities. Although the states are preempted from
regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does
allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion
of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then
the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a
particular case. Further, if we were no longer listed on the Nasdaq
Capital Market or another national exchange, our securities would
not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in
each state in which we offer our securities.
If our application to uplist is approved, our failure to meet the
continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market or
another national exchange could result in a delisting of our Common
Stock.
If
our application to list our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital
Market or another national exchange is approved, and thereafter we
fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq
Capital Market or another national exchange, such as the corporate
governance requirements or the minimum closing bid price
requirement, the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange
may take steps to delist our common stock. Such a delisting would
likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and
would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when
you wish to do so. In the event of a delisting, we anticipate that
we would take actions to restore our compliance with the Nasdaq
Capital Market or another national exchange’s listing requirements,
but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us
would allow our Common Stock to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital
Market or another national exchange, stabilize our market price,
improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock
from dropping below the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national
exchange ’s minimum bid price requirement, or prevent future
non-compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national
exchange ’s listing requirements.
We will continue to incur significant increased costs as a result
of operating as a public company, and our management will be
required to devote substantial time to new compliance requirements
as a result of our planned efforts to uplist our Common Stock to
the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national
exchange.
We
will continue to incur significant increased costs as a result of
operating as a public company, and our management will be required
to devote substantial time to new compliance requirements if our
uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange
is successful. As a public company, we will continue to incur
significant legal, accounting and other expenses. For example, if
our uplisting application to the Nasdaq Capital Market or another
national exchange is successful, we will be subject to mandatory
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, which require, among
other things, that we continue to file with the SEC annual,
quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and
financial condition, that we were not required to file as a
voluntary reporting company (though we did file such reports with
the SEC on a voluntary basis). We have incurred and will continue
to incur costs associated with the preparation and filing of these
SEC reports. Furthermore, if our planned uplisting to the Nasdaq
Capital Market or another national exchange is successful, we will
be subject to mandatory new corporate governance and other
compliance requirements. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as
well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Nasdaq
Capital Market or another national exchange have imposed various
other requirements on public companies. Stockholder activism, the
current political environment and the current high level of
government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to
substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may
lead to additional compliance costs and impact (in ways we cannot
currently anticipate) the way we operate our business. Our
management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial
amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these
rules and regulations have and will continue to increase our legal
and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more
time-consuming and costly.
In
addition, if and when we cease to be a smaller reporting company
and become subject to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we
will be required to furnish an attestation report on internal
control over financial reporting issued by our independent
registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with
Section 404 within the prescribed time period, we will continue to
be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal
control over financial reporting, which is both costly and
challenging. In this regard, we will need to dedicate substantially
greater internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants
and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy
of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to
improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing
that controls are functioning as documented and implement a
continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control
over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that
our independent registered public accounting firm, when required,
will not be able to conclude within the prescribed timeframe that
our internal control over financial reporting is effective as
required by Section 404. This could result in an adverse reaction
in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the
reliability of our financial statements.
Our Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB, which may not be
indicative of the price at which our stock may trade upon listing
on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national
exchange.
Our
Common Stock is quoted on the OTCQB. The OTCQB is a significantly
more limited market than the Nasdaq Capital Market or another
national exchange. Although we intend to list our Common Stock on
the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange in
connection with this offering, an adequate trading market for the
securities may not develop or be sustained after this rights
offering. In addition, if our shares are approved for listing on
the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange, the per
share trading prices may differ significantly to trading prices
previously quoted while on the OTCQB. There can be no assurance
that the Company’s share price will demonstrate the same trading
characteristics of historical price and volume on the Nasdaq
Capital Market that were demonstrated while listed on the OTCQB.
Accordingly, after listing, we could fail to satisfy the continued
listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market or another
national exchange, such as the minimum closing bid price
requirement. The Nasdaq Capital Market or another national exchange
could take steps to delist our Common Stock. Such a delisting would
likely have a negative effect on the price of our Common Stock and
would impair your ability to sell or purchase our Common
Stock.
In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and
volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the
market prices of equity securities of many companies, including
very recently in connection with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,
which has resulted in decreased stock prices for many companies
notwithstanding the lack of a fundamental change in their
underlying business models or prospects. These fluctuations have
often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating
performance of those companies. Broad market and industry factors,
including potentially worsening economic conditions and other
adverse effects or developments relating to the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, political, regulatory and other market conditions, may
negatively affect the market price of shares of our common stock,
regardless of our actual operating performance. The market price of
shares of our common stock may decline below the initial public
offering price, and you may lose some or all of your
investment.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
prospectus contains forward-looking statements about our industry
and us that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Our actual
results could differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of
historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements
regarding our future results of operations and financial condition,
business strategy and plans, and objectives of management for
future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases,
you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as
“anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potentially,” “predict,”
“project,” “should,” “will” or the negative of these terms or other
similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements
largely on our current expectations and projections about future
events and financial trends that we believe may affect our
financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and
financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a
number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
including risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and
elsewhere in this prospectus and should not be relied
upon.
The
forward-looking statements in this prospectus include statements
about:
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Our
ability to continue as a going concern; |
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Our
ability to generate significant revenues and to become
profitable; |
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Our
ability to estimate future expenses; |
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The
effect of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; |
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Our
ability to maintain an effective system of internal
controls; |
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Our
ability to protect our intellectual property rights and to secure
additional rights domestically and internationally; |
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Our
ability to successfully manage our growth domestically and
internationally; |
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Our
ability to retain the services of key personnel; |
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Our
reliance on independent third-party collaborators to develop and
deliver products to market; |
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Our
reliance on key management personnel and future need for highly
skilled personnel; |
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Our
ability to successfully develop sales and marketing for our
products; |
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Market
acceptance of pricing and performance for products we
develop; |
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Our
ability to generate sustainable earnings and net operating
profits; |
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Our
ability to adapt to regulatory and technology changes impacting our
industry; |
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The
potential for product liability claims regarding our products and
the use of GMO’s in our production system; |
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Actions
taken or omitted to be taken by third parties including our
suppliers and competitors, as well as legislative, regulatory,
judicial and other governmental authorities; |
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Competition
in our industry; |
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The
loss of or failure to obtain any license or permit necessary or
desirable in the operation of our business; |
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|
|
● |
The
availability of additional capital to support
development; |
|
|
|
|
● |
Our production system is based upon living transgenic
organisms; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
Certain
other risks and uncertainties set forth elsewhere in this
prospectus under the section titled “Risk Factors”. |
These
risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this prospectus may
include additional factors that could harm our business and
financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive
and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time
to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all
risk factors nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our
business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained
in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements. Given these
uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
Although
we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements, which speak only
as of their dates. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for
any reason after the date of this prospectus or to conform these
statements to actual results or to changes in our
expectations.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We
estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of 1,904,762 Units at
the assumed public offering price of $5.25 per Unit, the midpoint
of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus,
will be approximately $10,000,000 or approximately $11,500,000 if
the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional
shares of Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants in full, in each
case after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and
estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We
intend to use the net proceeds from the offering for expansion of
our production operations in (i) Vietnam including capital
equipment, facilities improvements, and staffing, and, (ii) working
capital and general business purposes. The amounts and timing of
these expenditures may vary significantly depending on a number of
factors, including the amount of cash generated by our operations,
competitive developments, and the rate of growth, if any, of our
business. We may find it necessary or advisable to use portions of
the proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion
in the application of the net proceeds. In addition, while we have
not entered into any agreements, commitments or understandings
relating to any significant transaction as of the date of this
prospectus, we may use a portion of the net proceeds to pursue
acquisitions, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions. If
we obtain additional financing through the issuance of debt or
convertible debt securities, then we may use the net proceeds of
this offering to repay any such indebtedness.
Use of Proceeds |
|
|
|
|
|
Production Operations
Expansion |
|
$ |
4,520,000 |
|
Research and Product Development |
|
$ |
770,000 |
|
Working Capital |
|
$ |
2,300,000 |
|
Corporate Operations |
|
$ |
462,000 |
|
Accrued Expenses |
|
$ |
204,600 |
|
Debt Repayment |
|
$ |
726,000 |
|
Offering Expenses |
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
Although
we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with
our cash and cash equivalents, and anticipated cash flows from
operating activities will be sufficient to meet our anticipated
working capital requirements and capital expenditures in the
ordinary course of business for the next 12 months, we cannot
guarantee that this will be the case. We cannot specify with
certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be
received upon the closing of this offering.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We
have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital
stock, and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on
our capital stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to
retain all available funds and any future earnings to support
operations and to finance the growth and development of our
business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at
the discretion of our Board, subject to applicable laws and will
depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations,
financial condition, contractual restrictions and capital
requirements. Our future ability to pay cash dividends on our
capital stock may also be limited by the terms of any debt
instruments or preferred securities issued in the
future.
CAPITALIZATION
The
following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30,
2020:
● |
on an
actual basis (column 1); |
|
|
● |
on
a pro forma basis, to give effect to the issuance of two shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A preferred
stock; (See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”)
(column 2); |
● |
on
a pro forma as-adjusted basis to give effect to the proposed
Reverse Stock Split of the outstanding common stock at a 1-for-[__]
ratio, the sale of 1,904,762 Units by us in this offering at the
assumed public offering price of $5.25, the midpoint of the price
range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after
deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering
expenses payable by us (column 3). |
You
should read this capitalization table in conjunction with “Use of
Proceeds,” “Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data,”
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements
and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this
prospectus.
As of
June 30, 2020
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
Actual
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
Pro
Forma
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
Pro
Forma
As
Adjusted
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
US$ |
|
|
|
US$ |
|
|
|
US$
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
|
54,710 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock Class A,
No Par Value |
|
|
16,757,079 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock Class B,
No Par Value Stock |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred Stock Series
A, No Par Value Stock |
|
|
5,217,800 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
issuable |
|
|
22,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital |
|
|
5,107,560 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statutory
reserves |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed
capital |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained
earnings/(Losses) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other
comprehensive loss |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Stockholders’
Deficit |
|
|
(6,313,603 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
capitalization |
|
|
20,845,546 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
The as adjusted number of shares to
be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is
based on shares outstanding as of August 20, 2020. The as adjusted
information discussed above is illustrative only and will be
further adjusted based on the actual public offering price and
other terms of this offering to be determined by the Company and
the underwriters. |
DILUTION
If
you invest in our Common Stock, your interest will be diluted
immediately to the extent of the difference between the public
offering price per share of common stock that is part of the Unit
you will pay in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book
value per share of our Common Stock immediately after this
offering.
As of June 30, 2020, our as-adjusted
net tangible book value was approximately $(6,313,603), or
$(0.0074764) per share of Common Stock. Our as-adjusted net
tangible book value per share set forth below represents our total
tangible assets, less total liabilities, divided by 844,468,378 the
number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding on June 30, 2020
after giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split.
After
giving effect to the Reverse Stock Split and the sale of 1,904,762
Units in this offering at the assumed public offering price of
$5.25 per Unit, the midpoint of the estimated initial public
offering price range set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus, after deducting the underwriter discounts and estimated
offering expenses payable by us, the as adjusted net tangible book
value as of June 30, 2020 would have been approximately $4,079,053,
or $0.17722 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net
tangible book value to existing stockholders of $0.456 per share.
The public offering price per share will significantly exceed the
net tangible book value per share. Accordingly, new investors who
purchase shares of Common Stock in this offering will suffer an
immediate dilution of their investment of $5.076 per share. We
determine dilution by subtracting the net tangible book value per
share after the offering from the amount of cash that a new
investor paid for a share of Common Stock.
The
following table illustrates this per share dilution to the new
investors, after giving effect to the Reverse Stock
Split:
Assumed Public offering price per
Unit |
|
$ |
5.25 |
|
Net tangible book value per share as of June 30,
2020 |
|
|
0.0074764 |
|
Increase in net tangible book value per share
attributable to the offering |
|
|
[ ] |
|
As-adjusted net tangible book value
per share as of after giving effect to the offering |
|
|
[ ] |
|
Dilution per share to new
investors |
|
$ |
[ ] |
|
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price
of $5.25 per Unit (the midpoint of the estimated initial public
offering price range set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus) per share would increase (decrease) our pro forma net
tangible book value after this offering by approximately $2
million, or approximately $[ ] per share, and increase
(decrease) the dilution per share to new investors by approximately
$[ ] per share, after deducting underwriting discounts
and estimated offering fees and expenses payable by us, and
assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on
the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. We may also
increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An
increase (decrease) of 100,000 shares in the number of shares
offered by us would increase (decrease) our pro forma net tangible
book value after this offering by approximately $0.5 million, or
$[ ] per share, and increase (decrease) the dilution per
share to new investors by approximately $[ ] per share,
after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering fees
and expenses payable by us, and assuming that the public offering
price remains the same. The pro forma information discussed above
is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual
public offering price and other terms of this offering determined
at pricing.
If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional
shares of Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants in full, our pro
forma net tangible book value per share after this offering would
be $[ ] per share. This amount represents an immediate
increase in net tangible book value of $[ ] per share to
our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible
book value of $[ ] per share to new investors purchasing
shares of our common stock in this offering.
The
following charts illustrate our pro forma proportionate ownership,
upon completion of this offering by present stockholders and
investors in this offering, compared to the relative amounts paid
by each. The charts reflect payment by present stockholders as of
the date the consideration was received and by investors in this
offering at the public offering price. The charts further assume no
changes in net tangible book value other than those resulting from
the offering.
|
|
Shares
Purchased |
|
|
Total
Consideration |
|
|
Average
Price |
|
|
|
Amount
(#) |
|
|
Percent
(%) |
|
|
Amount
($) |
|
|
Percent
(%) |
|
|
Per
Share ($) |
|
Existing
stockholders |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% |
|
$ |
|
|
New
investors |
|
|
1,904,762 |
|
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% |
|
$ |
5.25 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
$ |
|
|
(1) |
The number of Common Stock to be
outstanding after this offering is based on 854,410,001 shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of August, 20, 2020, and
excludes: |
|
● |
7,440,000 shares of our Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of stock options
outstanding; |
|
● |
1,904,762 shares of our Common Stock
underlying the Purchase Warrants; |
|
● |
138,528 shares of our Common Stock
underlying the Representative’s Warrants; |
|
● |
65,995,920 shares of our Common Stock
underlying any outstanding warrants; and |
|
● |
0 shares of our Common Stock issuable
upon the conversion of notes and other evidence of
indebtedness. |
The table below assumes the underwriters’ exercise their
over-allotment option, solely into shares of Common Stock, in
full:
|
|
Shares
Purchased |
|
|
Total
Consideration |
|
|
Average
Price |
|
|
|
Amount
(#) |
|
|
Percent
(%) |
|
|
Amount
($) |
|
|
Percent
(%) |
|
|
Per
Share ($) |
|
Existing
stockholders |
|
|
[ ] |
(1) |
|
|
[ ] |
% |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
|
% |
|
$ |
|
|
New
investors |
|
|
2,190,476
|
|
|
|
[ ] |
% |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
[ ] |
% |
|
$ |
5.25 |
|
Total |
|
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
$ |
|
|
(1) |
The number of Common Stock to be
outstanding after this offering is based on 854,410,001 shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of August 20, 2020, and
excludes: |
|
● |
7,440,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of stock options outstanding; |
|
● |
1,904,762 shares of our Common Stock underlying
the Purchase Warrants; |
|
● |
138,528 shares of our Common Stock underlying the
Representative’s Warrants; |
|
● |
65,995,920 shares of our Common Stock underlying any
outstanding warrants; and |
|
● |
0 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of notes and other evidence of indebtedness. |
MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDENDS ON OUR
COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market
Information
Our Common Stock is quoted under the symbol “KBLB” on the OTCQB.
You should be aware that over-the-counter market quotations may
reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or
commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
On the effective date of the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part, we expect that trading on Nasdaq or other
national exchange will be under the same symbol. The high and low
bid quotations for our shares of our common stock for each full
quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years and the
first fiscal quarter of our current fiscal year are (prices set
forth below represent inter-dealer quotations, without retail
markup, markdown or commission and may not be reflective of actual
transactions):
The
prices set forth below are NOT adjusted for the effect of the
Reverse Stock Split.
|
|
High |
|
|
Low |
|
Fiscal 2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended March 31,
2018 |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
Quarter ended June 30, 2018 |
|
$ |
0.071 |
|
|
$ |
0.0292 |
|
Quarter ended September 30, 2018 |
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
Quarter ended December 31, 2018 |
|
$ |
0.0691 |
|
|
$ |
0.0428 |
|
Fiscal 2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended March 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
Quarter ended June 30, 2019 |
|
$ |
0.481 |
|
|
$ |
0.0629 |
|
Quarter ended September 30 2019 |
|
$ |
0.49 |
|
|
$ |
0.19 |
|
Quarter ended December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
0.23 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
Fiscal 2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended March 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
0.299 |
|
|
$ |
0.1055 |
|
Quarter ended June 30, 2020 |
|
$ |
0.2999
|
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
July 1, 2020 to August 20, 2020 |
|
$ |
0.2031 |
|
|
$ |
0.126 |
|
As of August 20, 2020, the last
reported sale price of our Common Stock on the OTCQB was $0.155 per
share.
Holders
As of August 20, 2020, we had 32 holders of record of our Common
Stock and 1 holder of our Series A Preferred Stock. The holders of
Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record
on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Following his
agreement to reduce the voting power of the Series A Preferred
Stock, which will not take effect until the Reverse Stock Split is
effective, and on a post-Reverse Stock Split basis, the holder of
Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to [ ] votes for
each share held of record on all matters upon which the Company’s
stockholders may vote. Holders of the Common Stock have no
preemptive rights and no right to convert their Common Stock into
any other securities; each share of Series A Preferred Stock is
convertible into one share of Common Stock at the holder’s option.
There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to
the Common Stock.
Dividends
We
have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our capital stock,
and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our
capital stock in the foreseeable future. We currently anticipate
that we will retain future earnings to support reinvestments in our
business and/or to repay outstanding debt from time to time. Any
payment of cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion
of our Board and will depend upon, among other things, future
operating earnings and cash flows, future capital requirements,
contractual restrictions (including those contained in the
agreements and instruments governing our debt and the certificates
of designation of our convertible preferred stock) and general
business conditions.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation
Plans
The following table discloses information as of the date of this
prospectus, with respect to compensation plans (including
individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity
securities are authorized for issuance, aggregated as
follows:
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
Plan
category |
|
Number of
securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights |
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights |
|
|
Number of
securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a)) |
|
|
|
(a) |
|
|
(b) |
|
|
(c) |
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by security holders |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by security holders |
|
|
27,440,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
69,449,360 |
|
Total |
|
|
27,440,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
69,449,360 |
|
2019
Employee Stock Option Plan
Effective
December 9, 2019, we adopted the 2019 Employee Stock Option Plan
(“Plan”), with 80,000,000 shares issuable pursuant to the Plan.
Beginning on January 1, 2020 and continuing on each January
1st that the Plan is in place, an additional number of
shares equal to the lesser of: (i) 2% of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding (fully-diluted) on the immediately
preceding December 31 and (ii) such lower number of shares as may
be determined by the Board or committee, shall be added to the
number of shares issuable under the Plan. As of the date of this
prospectus, 27,440,000 options have been issued pursuant to the
Plan and 69,449,360 shares remain issuable pursuant to the Plan,
based on the terms of the Plan as set forth above.
Eligibility. The
Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options to our
employees and any parent and subsidiary corporations’ employees and
for the grant of nonqualified share options, restricted shares,
restricted share units, share appreciation rights, share bonuses
and performance awards to our employees, directors and consultants
and our parent and subsidiary corporations employees and
consultants.
Administration. The
Plan is administered by the Board or by a committee of not fewer
than 2 members, each of whom is an outside Director and all of whom
are disinterested, designated by the Board to administer the Plan.
The plan administrator determines the terms of all
awards.
Types
of Awards. The Plan allows for the grant of nonqualified stock
options, incentive stock options, restricted share options,
restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, stock bonuses
and performance awards.
Award
Agreements. All awards under the Plan are evidenced by an award
agreement which shall set forth the number of shares subject to the
award and the terms and conditions of the award, which shall be
consistent with the Plan.
Term
of Awards. The term of awards granted under the Plan is ten
years.
Vesting
Schedule and Price. The plan administrator has the sole
discretion in setting the vesting period and, if applicable,
exercise schedule of an award, determining that an award may not
vest for a specified period after it is granted and accelerating
the vesting period of an award. The plan administrator determines
the exercise or purchase price of each award, to the extent
applicable.
Transferability. Unless
the plan administrator provides otherwise, the Plan does not allow
for the transfer of awards other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. Unless otherwise permitted by the plan
administrator, options may be exercised during the lifetime of the
optionee only by the optionee or the optionee’s guardian or legal
representative.
Adjustments. In
the event the Board or committee determines that any dividend or
distribution, recapitalization, stock split, reorganization,
merger, consolidate, split-up, spin-off, or other similar corporate
transact or event affects the shares subject to the Plan such that
an adjustment is determined by the Board or committee to be
appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits
intended to be made under the Plan, appropriate adjustments will be
made to the share maximums and exercise prices, as
applicable.
Governing
Law and Compliance with Law. The Plan and awards granted under
it are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
Wyoming. Shares will not be issued under an award unless the
issuance is permitted by applicable law.
Amendment
and Termination. The Plan terminates ten years from the date it
was approved, unless it is terminated earlier by our Board. The
Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the
plan, including, without limitation, any amendment, alternation,
suspension, discontinuation, or termination that would impart the
rights of any participant, or any other holder or beneficiary of
any award thertofore granted, without the consent of any share
owner, participant, other holder or beneficiary of an award, or
other person, unless required by applicable law.
BUSINESS
Overview
Kraig
Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. is a corporation that was incorporated
under the laws of Wyoming on April 25, 2006. The inventor of our
technology concept, Kim Thompson, is the founder of Kraig Biocraft
Laboratories, Inc. and serves as our Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and is currently our sole director. We develop
high strength fibers using recombinant DNA technology for
commercial and defensive applications in both the specialty fiber
and technical textile industries. We use genetically engineered
silkworms that produce spider silk to create our recombinant spider
silk. Our proprietary fibers include natural and engineered
variants of spider silk produced in domesticated mulberry
silkworms. Our business brings twenty-first century biotechnology
to the historical silk industry, permitting us to introduce
materials with innovative properties and claims into an established
commercial ecosystem of silkworm rearing, silk spinning and
weaving, and the manufacturing of garments and other products that
can include our specialty fibers and textiles.
We
believe our genetic engineering capabilities will allow us to
develop specialized spider silk fibers with greater strength,
resiliency and flexibility than traditional silks. Target markets
for these materials are expected to be in traditional textiles and
technical textile industries, including performance textiles and
specialty fibers. Moreover, our technologies are “green” since
fibers and textiles do not require petroleum inputs and our
production processes are traditional and eco-friendly.
One
key market for our products is the technical textile market for
specialty fibers. Specialty fibers are engineered for specific uses
that require exceptional strength, flexibility, heat resistance
and/or chemical resistance. The specialty fiber market is currently
dominated by two synthetic fiber products that come from petroleum
derivatives: (i) aramid fibers, and (ii) ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene fibers. The technical textile industry involves
products for both industrial and consumer products, such as
filtration fabrics, medical textiles (e.g., sutures and
artificial ligaments), safety and protective clothing and fabrics
used in military and aerospace applications (e.g.,
high-strength composite materials). Our recombinant spider silk
fibers offer a tougher material which is a biodegradable and
sustainable alternative to those existing synthetic petroleum
derivative fibers.
The
Products
To
date, our focus has been on understanding and exploiting the unique
characteristics of spider silk, specifically dragline silk from
Nephila clavipes (golden orb-web spider) and variants
thereof. Such fibers possess unique mechanical properties in terms
of strength, resilience and flexibility. Natural spider silk and
other high strength natural proteins are made of repeating blocks
of simple amino-acids. Through the process of genetic engineering
we customize these proteins to generate materials with tailored
physical properties.
We
are currently in the process of scaling up production of our two
leading products, Monster Silk® and Dragon SilkTM
at our production facility located in Vietnam.
Monster
Silk®
Monster
Silk® was the first recombinant spider silk fiber product that we
developed. Monster Silk incorporates the natural elasticity of
spider silk to make a silk fiber which is more flexible that
conventional silk fibers and textiles. We have produced sample
products using Monster Silk® including knit fabrics, gloves, and
shirts in collaboration with textile mills. We expect that Monster
Silk® will have market applications across the traditional textile
markets where its increased flexibility will provide increased
durability and comfort.
Dragon
SilkTM
Dragon
SilkTM is the next evolution in recombinant spider silk,
combining the elasticity of Monster Silk® with additional high
strength elements of native spider silk. Some samples of Dragon
SilkTM have demonstrated strength beyond that of native
spider silk. This combination of strength and elasticity result in
a silk fiber which is soft and flexibly, yet tougher than any
synthetic fiber available on the market. Based on inquires we have
received from end market leader, we believe that Dragon
SilkTM- will have applications in performance apparel,
durable workwear, luxury goods and apparel, and
composites.
We
are establishing relationships with key market leaders in several
end markets and are working to establish exclusive development and
sales agreements. For example, we have signed a non-binding,
memorandum of understanding with Polartec, LLC (“Polartec”), a
leader in high performance non-woven fabrics to develop
applications for defensive and protective textiles. Polartec
announced a commitment to using 100% biodegradable and recycled
materials throughout its product line, and we believe that our
engineered “green” silk can contribute to Polartec’s announced goal
of fully recycled and biodegradable fleece, knits, fills, and
fabric. We are currently in discussions with other end market
product manufactures to secure sales and development agreements and
hope to begin delivering product and generating revenue in
2020.
On
April 16, 2020, we announced that we successfully developed a new
technology platform, based on a non-CRISPR gene editing knock-in
knock-out technology. This is the first knock-in knock-out
technology essentially pure spider silk transgenic in our history.
The new technology, which is the result of over ten years of
effort, hits the target of one of our primary technological goals
and what we believe opens the door for large scale U.S. production.
Other than the silkworm’s remaining specifically desired native
silk protein elements, we are now able to produce nearly pure
spider silk. Based on our internal studies, the new technology has
a purity rate that is about ten times greater than Dragon Silk, a
fiber that we developed with our previous tools. Based on our
internal testing, Dragon Silk has demonstrated to be tougher than
many fibers used in bullet proof vests and we expect that the
increased spider silk purity, created using this new approach, will
yield materials beyond those capabilities. This new system utilizes
our eco-friendly and cost-effective silkworm production system,
which we believe is more advanced than any of the competing
methods. We have already begun the validation process for the first
of these new transgenics and anticipate that U.S. production will
be possible as early as 2022 or 2023.
Our
Technology
Our
technology builds upon the unique advantages of the domesticated
silkworm. The silkworm is an efficient commercial and industrial
producer of protein based polymers, and forty percent (40%) of the
caterpillars’ weight is devoted to the silk glands. The silk glands
produce large amounts of an insoluble protein called fibroin, which
the silkworm spins into a composite protein thread
(silk).
We
use our genetic engineering technology to create proprietary
recombinant silk polymers from the silkworms. On September 29,
2010, we, along with our collaborators at Notre Dame created
approximately twenty different strains of transgenic silkworm which
produce recombinant silk polymers. In April 2011, we entered into a
licensing agreement with Sigma-Aldrich which provides us the use of
Sigma-Aldrich’s zinc finger technology to accelerate and enhance
our product development. In October of 2017, with the support of
funding from the U.S. Army, we transitioned our research operations
out of Notre Dame and into our own research and development
headquarters.
Our
transgenic silkworms are created by inserting the genes expressing
spider silk with either natural or engineered amino acid sequences
into the embryos of the silkworm. The spider silk sequence is
introduced to the embryo of the silkworm and incorporated into the
silkworm genome using state of the art molecular biology
approaches. The spider sequence is created on a circular loop of
DNA called a plasmid. We developed a method to alter the plasmid
DNA to more readily allow the mixing and matching of various spider
DNA genes. In this way, we can combine different spider genetic
cassettes to create a fiber with the desired physical and
mechanical properties more rapidly than through conventional
methods.
In
addition to this ability to easily mix and match DNA construction,
we have also adapted new approaches to accelerate the rate we
generate new transgenic silkworms. Our initial approaches limited
us to process silkworm eggs at a rate of roughly 50-200 a day,
however, we have developed a new approach which allows us to
process thousands of eggs a day. Utilizing both visual and
non-visual genetic markers, we have successfully developed methods
to speed up the screening of potentially transgenic silkworms,
which allows for rapid screening of transgenic eggs. The eggs
expressing the new spider silk constructs are propagated while the
eggs without the visual marker are discarded, greatly increasing
the efficiency of our screen for transgenic eggs. This new approach
has been highly effective in increasing the rate of development for
new transgenics. We have employed this new procedure and have filed
provisional patent applications to protect its use.
We
utilize the latest advancements in molecular biology and genetic
engineering to deliver targeted gene incorporations. The new
constructs are designed to integrate in the silkworm genome
directly where the native silkworm silk is created. First made
public in April 2020, this new capability allows for the full knock
out and knock in replacement of the native silkworm heavy chain
silk protein. We believe that this increased expression and
incorporation of the spider protein into the silkworm cocoon
leading to increased performance and open the door for additional
opportunities beyond fibers and textiles.
Comparison
of the Properties of Spider Silk and Steel
|
|
Material
Toughness (1) |
|
Tensile
Strength (2) |
|
Weight
(3) |
|
Dragline spider
silk |
|
120,000-160,000 |
|
1,100-2,900 |
|
|
1.18-1.36 |
|
Aramid
Fibers |
|
30,000-50,000 |
|
2,600-4,100 |
|
|
1.44 |
|
Steel |
|
2,000-6,000 |
|
300-2,000 |
|
|
7.84 |
|
1 |
Measured
by the energy required to break a continuous filament, expressed in
joules per kilogram (J/kg). A .357 caliber bullet has approximately
925 joules of kinetic energy at impact. |
2 |
Tensile
strength refers to the greatest longitudinal stress the fiber can
bear, measured by force over area in units of newtons per square
meter. The measurement here is in millions of pascals. |
3 |
In
grams per cubic centimeter of material. |
This
comparison table was the result of research performed by Randolph
Lewis, Ph.D. at the University of Wyoming. Such work was summarized
in an article entitled “Spider Silk: Ancient Ideas for New
Biomaterials” which was published in Chemicals Review, volume
106, issue 9, pages 3672–3774. The measurements in joules in the
table above are a conversion from Dr. Lewis’ measurements in
newtons/meter squared.
We
believe that the genetically engineered protein-based fibers we
currently produce have properties that are superior to the
materials currently available in the marketplace, including but not
limited to, aramid fibers, ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene, and steel. For example, as noted above, the ability
of spider silk to absorb in excess of 100,000 joules of kinetic
energy per kilogram makes it a potentially ideal material for
structural blast protection.
Production
of this material in commercial quantities holds the potential of a
life-saving ballistic resistant material, which is lighter,
thinner, more flexible, and tougher than steel. However, the
Company does not currently have any life-saving ballistic products
and could be some time before we are able to produce such a product
from the material. Other applications for spider silk based
recombinant fibers include use as structural material and for any
application in which light weight and high strength are required.
We believe that fibers made with recombinant protein-based polymers
will make significant inroads into the specialty fiber and
technical textile markets. Our interactions with manufacturers of
high performance textiles, including Polartec and other leaders in
performance textiles, convince us that there is an eager commercial
market for our innovative, sustainable, and differentiated
technology and products.
Manufacturing
Our
spider silk technology is designed for easy plug and play
incorporation into the existing silk production model. We
manufacture and plan to continue to manufacture our proprietary
spider silk fibers using traditional silkworm production practices
(sericulture).
Over
several years, we sought a license for an Enterprise Registration
Certificate (“ERC”) in order to begin operations in Quang Nam
Province, Vietnam, an important region for sericulture. In May
2018, we announced that we were granted an ERC, and thereafter
formed a subsidiary, Prodigy Textiles, Co., Ltd. (“Prodigy
Textiles”) to implement our Vietnam business. In June 2018, we
announced that we had entered collaborative agreements with several
silk farming cooperatives in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, and that
these cooperatives had begun planting mulberry, the key production
input for our technology; in July 2018, we celebrated the grand
opening of Prodigy Textiles’ facility in Quang Nam province. In
December 2018, we made the first shipment of our specialized
silkworm to Vietnam to conduct trial rearing and to demonstrate
their safety. In October 2019, we delivered the first batch of
production silkworms and began operations. These silkworms will
serve as the basis for the commercial expansion of our proprietary
silk technology. On November 4, 2019, we reported that we
successfully completed rearing the first batch of its transgenic
silkworms at the Quang Nam production factory. Seasonal challenges
in late December 2019 slowed production operations, however, the
Company expects to resume expansion of the production of its
specialized silk through 2020, so long as Vietnam does not impose
any restrictions again due to Covid-19 or other reasons and so long
as U.S. travel restrictions do not prevent us from shipping eggs to
Vietnam, which is out of our control.
We
contract local farmer and farming cooperatives to provide fresh
mulberry for our operations. Prodigy Textiles has hired local
workers with experience in sericulture production to care for and
raise our silkworms through the five instars, or stages, of the
silkworm life cycle, including the final instar when the mature
caterpillars produce a cocoon comprised of pure silk. These cocoons
are then reeled to our specifications to form the final recombinant
spider silk threads such as Dragon SilkTM and Monster
Silk®.
By
utilizing existing production methodology in traditional silk
regions to produce our high performance materials, we leverage
historical knowledge, available labor and existing capital
infrastructure for production, spinning, and weaving of our
recombinant spider silk materials. This approach reduces the risk
to our manufacturing operations and decreases our need for upfront
capital expenditure.
We
believe that we will be able to target a capacity of 40 metric tons
of recombinant spider silk fiber per annum from this factory once
it reaches maximum utilization. This capacity will allow us to
address our anticipated initial demand for applications in the
protective, performance, and luxury textile markets from Polartec
and other companies with whom we have a relationship, but which we
cannot disclose due to non-disclosure agreements.
Our
long-term goal for Prodigy Textiles is to create a research center
for development of our specialized silk, to contract with local
farming cooperatives to grow upwards of 2,500 hectares of mulberry
(which would allow for production of up to 250 metric tons of our
high strength silk per year), and to serve as our principal
manufacturing center.
In addition, in light of the significant uncertainty regarding the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 19, 2020, we furloughed
non-essential staff consistent with leading health official
recommendations in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This decision was made in an abundance of caution and will
primarily impact staff at our fully owned subsidiary, Prodigy
Textiles, in Vietnam and will result in the temporary closing of
silk rearing operations at that facility. On July 1, 2020 Prodigy
Textiles staff returned to the factory to clean, sterilize, and
prepare the facility for restarting operations. Silk production
operations will resume as soon as the next shipment of silkworms
eggs can be delivered from the Company’s U.S. headquarters, which
is out of our control and we cannot estimate when that will occur.
The global pandemic of COVID-19 continues to evolve rapidly, and we
will continue to monitor the situation closely, including its
potential effect on our plans and timelines. See, “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations – Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak.”
The
Market
We
are focusing our work on the creation of new fibers with innovative
properties including fibers with potential high performance and
technical fiber applications for the technical textiles market,
including protective textiles. The protective textiles market is
currently dominated by two classes of product: (i) aramid fibers,
and (ii) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. These
existing products serve the need for materials with high strength,
resilience, but are unable to delivery flexibility. Because these
synthetic performance fibers are stronger and tougher than steel,
they are used in a wide variety of military, industrial, and
consumer applications.
The
military and police are among the users of protective textiles for
its ballistic protection. The materials are also used for
industrial applications requiring superior strength and toughness,
e.g., critical cables and abrasion/impact resistant components.
Performance fibers are also employed in safety equipment, high
strength composite materials for the aero-space industry and for
ballistic protection by the defense industry.
The
global market for technical textiles was estimated at greater than
$234 billion in 2017 and projected to reach nearly $335 billion by
2025.
These
are industrial materials which have become essential products for
both industrial and consumer applications. The market for technical
textiles can be defined as consisting of:
● |
Medical
textiles; |
● |
Geotextiles; |
● |
Textiles
used in Defense and Military; |
● |
Safe
and Protective Clothing; |
● |
Filtration
Textiles; |
● |
Textiles
used in Transportation; |
● |
Textiles
used in Buildings; |
● |
Composites
with Textile Structure; and, |
● |
Functional
and Sportive Textiles. |
We
believe that the superior mechanical characteristics of the next
generation of protein-based polymers (in other words, genetically
engineered silk fibers), will open up new applications for the
technology. The materials which we are working to produce are many
times tougher and stronger than steel.
We
are actively pursuing relationships within target end markets to
secure product collaborations with key market channel leaders. Due
to the unique nature of our product, we received numerous
unsolicited requests from leading businesses across a range of
attractive end markets requesting materials for applications
development. This substantial demand for spider silk materials
across the broad spectrum of applications for high performance
fibers and textiles, combined with the limited initial production
capacity, has provided the opportunity to be selective in choosing
market channel partners best able to quickly bring our product to
market at scale. We are working under non-disclosure agreements to
secure these collaborative development agreements and to establish
limited channel exclusivity for firms we believe mirror our culture
of innovation. With recent advancements in our manufacturing
capacity, we expect to generate revenues from these relationships
in 2020.
Research
and Development
In
2007, we entered into the first series of the Notre Dame Agreements
to develop new transgenic silkworms. On September 29, 2010, we
announced that we had achieved our longstanding goal of producing
new silk fibers composed of recombinant proteins. In 2016, we
received a contract from the U.S. Army to deliver the first samples
of its recombinant spider silk materials. In 2017, this contract
was expanded to include research into the development of stronger
silk materials. As a result of that contract, the Company brought
its research operations in-house, opening its own research
laboratories and expanding its scientific staff. This transition to
in-house operations has led to a series of new technical
breakthroughs and is believed to have accelerated the pace of new
development. We intend to turn its technology to the development
and production of high performance polymers.
During
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we have spent
approximately 12,450 hours and 13,160 hours, respectively, on
research and development activities, which consisted primarily of
laboratory research on genetic engineering by our in-house research
operations.
As of
the date of this Registration Statement, our research and
development efforts remain focused on growing our internal
capabilities, but we may consider renewing funding of the
collaborative research and development of high strength polymers
with Notre Dame or other joint development opportunities; we have
not had any formal discussions regarding any such
collaborations.
We
have initiated commercial scale production of our recombinant
materials including Monster Silk® and Dragon SilkTM.
Additionally, we plan to accelerate both our microbiology and
selective breeding programs, as well as providing more resources
for their material testing protocols in 2020.
Our
Intellectual Property Approach
Our
intellectual property strategy utilizes a blended approach of
licensed technologies and in-house developments. As part of our
intellectual property portfolio, we have licensed the exclusive
right to use certain patented spider silk gene sequences in
silkworm. Under the exclusive license agreement with the University
of Wyoming (the “Exclusive Licensing Agreement”), we have obtained
certain exclusive rights to use numerous genetic sequences which
are the subject of U.S. patents.
Under
the Notre Dame Agreements, we were issued and exercised our right
to exclusive commercial use for spider silk technologies developed
under that agreement. We have worked collaboratively with the
university to develop fibers with the mechanical characteristics of
spider silk. We are applying this proprietary genetic engineering
technology to domesticated silkworms, which to our knowledge, is
the only proven commercially scaled system for producing
silk.
In
2017, we opened a research and development facility to expand on
the work conducted at Notre Dame. Since opening this new facility,
we have expanded our intellectual property portfolio with six
additional provisional patent filings based on new discoveries and
inventions and made numerous advancements that have decreased the
development time for new technologies, none of which rely on the
patented material from our collaboration with Notre Dame. We will
continue to utilize this in-house research facility to expand and
strengthen its patent portfolio while also maintaining and growing
its trade secret technologies approach to genetic advancement. We
are actively working to develop and patent new approaches to the
development of genetically engineering silkworms, underlying
construction techniques, and fundamental genetic sequences for
improved material performance.
The
Notre Dame Agreements will last for the duration of the patented
materials that we developed with Notre Dame. The new technologies
that we are developing in our internal research labs does not rely
on the Notre Dame patented materials and as a result will not be
impacted by an expiration of those agreements.
The
introduction of the gene sequence, in the manner employed by us,
results in a germline transformation and is therefore
self-perpetuating.
License
Agreements/Intellectual Property
We
have obtained certain rights to use a number of university created,
and patented, spider silk proteins, gene sequences and
methodologies.
As
part of the Notre Dame Agreements, we exercised our option for the
exclusive commercial rights to technologies derived from a family
of patent applications filed in various jurisdictions worldwide. As
of the date of this Registration Statement, two patents have been
issued, number 10-1926286 in South Korea and number 2011314072 in
Australia. These locations are not currently silk producing
locations, however, we believe protecting our technologies in these
locations will be beneficial to our future operations.
In
addition to the patents related to licensed technologies from Notre
Dame listed above, we have filed six provisional patent
applications based on technologies developed and discovered as a
result of its independent research operations.
Table
of Patent Applications and Status
Title |
|
Country |
|
Application
No. |
|
Filing
Date |
|
Patent
No. |
|
Patent
Date |
|
Status* |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Methods of Use Thereof |
|
United
States of America |
|
16/221267 |
|
14-Dec-2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
Published |
Transgenic
Silkworms Capable of Producing Chimeric Spider Silk Polypeptides
and Fibers |
|
United
States of America |
|
16/246318 |
|
11-Jan-2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
Published |
Transgenic
Silkworms Capable of Producing Chimeric Spider Silk Polypeptides
and Fibers |
|
United
States of America |
|
16/275159 |
|
13-Feb-2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
Published |
A
chimeric spider silk polypeptide, composite fiber comprising the
polypeptide and method of making a chimeric spider silk
fiber |
|
Vietnam |
|
1-2013-01306 |
|
25-Apr-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Under
Exam |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Australia |
|
2011314072 |
|
26-Apr-2013 |
|
2011314072 |
|
13-Jul-2017 |
|
Granted |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Australia |
|
2019201497 |
|
05-Mar-2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Brazil |
|
BR112013007247-4 |
|
27-Mar-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Under
Exam |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Canada |
|
2812791 |
|
28-Sep-2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
Under
Exam |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
China
(People’s Republic) |
|
201180057127.1 |
|
28-May-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
China
(People’s Republic) |
|
201710335250.4 |
|
12-May-2017 |
|
|
|
|
|
Published |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
China
(People’s Republic) |
|
2018110261070.8 |
|
04-Sep-2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
European
Patent Convention |
|
11833071.1 |
|
26-Apr-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Under
Exam |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
India |
|
3574/DELNP/2013 |
|
22-Apr-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Under
Exam |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Japan |
|
2013-530432 |
|
26-Mar-2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses Thereof |
|
Japan |
|
2019-142869 |
|
02-Aug-2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Korea,
Republic of |
|
10-2017-7005086 |
|
22-Feb-2017 |
|
10-1926286 |
|
30-Nov-2018 |
|
Granted |
Chimeric
Spider Silk and Uses thereof |
|
Korea,
Republic of |
|
10-2018-7034773 |
|
30-Nov-2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
Under
Exam |
Method
of producing auto-assembling high molecular weight
proteins |
|
United
States of America |
|
Provisional |
|
23-May-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Transgenic
Silkworm Capable of Sustaining Non-Mulberry Diet |
|
United
States of America |
|
Provisional |
|
23-May-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Non-invasive
genetic screening method for Bombyx Mori and other molting
caterpillars |
|
United
States of America |
|
Provisional |
|
23-May-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Method
for creating high molecular weight proteins using auto-assembly in
Bombyx Mori |
|
United
States of America |
|
Provisional |
|
23-May-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Method
of producing non-native proteins in Bombyx Mori |
|
United
States of America |
|
Provisional |
|
23-May-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
Method
for the genetic removal and replacement of heavy chain fibroin of
Bombyx Mori
|
|
United
States of America |
|
Provisional |
|
19-Feb-20 |
|
|
|
|
|
Pending |
* The
terms in this column have the following meanings:
Published:
Pending patent applications that have been published by a
corresponding state Patent Office (e.g., the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office) or international patent authority (e.g., the
World Intellectual Property Association).
Pending:
Patent applications that have been submitted to a corresponding
state Patent Office for examination but that have not been issued
or abandoned.
Under
Exam: Pending patent applications currently being examined by a
corresponding state Patent Office.
Granted:
Patent applications that have been allowed by a corresponding state
Patent Office and that have passed through the registration
process; a granted patent application is synonymous with a “patent”
and is conferred the associated patent rights for the given
jurisdiction.
In
addition to patent protection for intellectual property developed
by the Company and through its collaborative research agreements,
the Company has developed specialized skills and knowledge in the
field of selective breeding, performance selection, and husbandry.
This information is considered to be trade secrets and will play a
critical role in the development of unique strains of new
transgenic with diverse mechanical properties. These operations and
knowledge held as trade secrets provide an additional layer of
security and protection for the products and technologies we seek
to develop.
In
2014, the following six trademarks were issued to the Company; the
Company shall use these trademarks for product branding in the
future:
Marks |
|
Monster
SilkTM |
SpiderpillarTM |
SpilkTM |
Monster
WormTM |
Spider
WormTM |
Spider
MothTM |
Notre
Dame Agreements
As
discussed above, in 2007 we entered into the first series of Notre
Dame Agreements. We provide financial support to ongoing research
and development of transgenic silkworms and the creation of
recombinant silk fibers. In exchange, we have an option to obtain
the exclusive global commercialization rights to the technology
developed pursuant to the research effort.
Following
the first agreement, we entered into successive intellectual
property and collaborative research agreements with Notre Dame to
provide different levels of financial support. The trend has been
for an increase in financial support for the research and
development in nearly every successive agreement. In June 2012, we
entered into an Intellectual Property / Collaborative Research
Agreement with Notre Dame (“2012 Notre Dame Research Agreement”).
On March 4, 2015, we entered into a new Intellectual Property /
Collaborative Research Agreement with Notre Dame extending the
agreement through March 2016 (“2015 Notre Dame Research
Agreement”). Under the 2015 Notre Dame Research agreement, the
Company provided approximately $534,000 in financial support. On
September 20, 2015, the 2015 Notre Dame Research Agreement was
amended to increase the total funding by approximately $179,000; in
February 2016, the 2015 Notre Dame Research Agreement was extended
to July 31, 2016 and in August 2016, the 2015 Notre Dame Research
Agreement was extended to December 31, 2016. In May 2017, the 2015
Notre Dame Research Agreement was amended to increase the total
funding by approximately $189,000 and the duration of the 2015
Notre Dame Research Agreement was extended to September 30, 2017.
With the funding we received from the U.S. Army, we were able to
conduct our research and development in-house, at less cost, and
therefore we did not extend the 2015 Notre Dame Research Agreement
after September 30, 2017, but in the future we may consider forming
new collaborative research agreements.
In
2011, we exercised our option to obtain the global
commercialization rights to the technology developed under the
Notre Dame Agreements, which resulted in a separate license
agreement with Notre Dame (the “2011 Notre Dame Agreement”).
Pursuant to the 2011 Notre Dame Agreement, Notre Dame filed an
international patent application and numerous national patent
applications on technology relating to the creation and use of
recombinant spider silks and we received exclusive and
non-exclusive rights to certain spider silk technologies including
commercial rights with the right to sublicense such intellectual
property. The 2011 Notre Dame Agreement obligates us to reimburse
Notre Dame for costs associated with the filing, prosecuting and
maintaining of such patents and patent applications. In exchange
for the rights to commercialization, Notre Dame has received
2,200,000 shares of our Common Stock and we have agreed to pay
Notre Dame royalties equal to 2% of our gross sales of the licensed
products and 10% of any sublicensing fees received by the Company
on licensed technology. We have also agreed to pay to Notre Dame
$50,000 a year, which will be reduced from the total amount of
royalties paid in the same year. The $50,000 payment to Notre Dame
is not owed for any year in which the Company is sponsoring
research within Notre Dame.
Exclusive
License Agreement with the University of Wyoming
In
May 2006, we entered into a license agreement with the University
of Wyoming, pursuant to which we have licensed the right to
commercialize the production by silkworms of certain synthetic and
natural spider silk proteins and the genetic sequencing for such
spider silk proteins. These spider silk proteins and genetic
sequencing are covered by patents held by the University of
Wyoming. Our license allows us only to use silkworms to produce the
licensed proteins and genetic sequencing. We have the right to
sublicense the intellectual property that we license from the
University of Wyoming. Our license agreement with the University of
Wyoming required that we pay licensing and research fees to the
university in exchange for an exclusive license in our field of use
for certain university-developed intellectual property including
patented spider silk gene sequences. Pursuant to the agreement, we
issued 17,500,000 shares of our Common Stock to the University
Foundation. Our license agreement with the University of Wyoming
was to continue until the later of (i) expiration of the
last-to-expire patent we license from the University of Wyoming
under this license agreement in such country or (ii) ten years from
the date of first commercial sale of a licensed product in such
country. There are no royalties payable to the University of
Wyoming under the terms of our agreement with them. We anticipate
making arrangements with the University of Wyoming to address any
accrued or unpaid fees which may exist.
Cooperative
Agreement in Vietnam
On
December 30, 2015, we entered into a cooperative agreement with a
provincial government office in Vietnam for the research and pilot
production of hybrid silkworms. In April 2018, we received our
investment registration certificate for our facility in Vietnam. On
May 1, 2018, we were issued our ERC so that we can begin our
operations in Vietnam. We have established a subsidiary in Vietnam
where we will develop and produce hybrid silkworms. Management
believes the ERC puts the Company on a path to scale at a much
greater level by harnessing existing silk production infrastructure
with the capacity to match the existing demand for their spider
silk materials.
Other
Agreements
On October 15, 2013, we entered into an intellectual property
agreement with a scientific researcher relating to the development
of new recombinant silk fibers. Under the terms of that agreement,
the scientific researcher transferred his rights of intellectual
property, inventions and trade secrets which the researcher
develops relating to recombinant silk to us. Upon signing, the
researcher received 8,000,000 common stock purchase warrants from
the Company, exercisable 24 months from the date of the agreement.
As per the terms of the agreement, the researcher received an
additional 10,000,000 warrants after creating a new recombinant
silk fiber for us that met specified performance characteristics
and another 8,000,000 warrants for performing the contract in good
faith. The warrants described above all contain a cashless exercise
provision and are exercisable on the 24-month anniversary of the
date on which they were issuable under the agreement.
Governmental
Regulations
We
are subject to U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations,
as well as Vietnam central, provisional, and district laws and
regulations. These laws and regulations govern, among other things,
labor relations, the labeling and safety of the products we sell,
the methods we use to sell these products and/or the production of
the products we sell. We believe that we are in material compliance
with all such applicable laws and regulations, although no
assurance can be provided that this will remain true in the
future.
Environment
We
seek to comply with all applicable statutory and administrative
requirements concerning environmental quality. Expenditures for
compliance with federal state and local environmental laws have not
had, and are not expected to have, a material effect on our capital
expenditures, results of operations or competitive
position.
While
being environmentally conscious is the objective of all producers
in this industry, the fermentation process used by our competitors
produces high levels of carbon dioxide. CO2 is a
greenhouse gas and is argued to be the leading cause of global
warming. In stark contrast, Kraig Labs’ mulberry trees and the silk
from silkworms have proven to be effective at sequestering carbon
dioxide and are renewable resources. Mulberry trees are also very
low maintenance, while still providing essential global green-cover
and significantly help in reducing soil erosion in
areas.
In
addition to climate impacts of the fermentation approach, solvents
typically used to wet-spin fibers can have significant
environmental impacts. DMSO, a common wet-spinning solvent, can be
absorbed directly through human skin, carrying with it potentially
dangerous side effects. This is another reason we pride ourselves
on the use of silkworms, which do not require the use of DMSO, to
produce our products.
Competition
We
compete directly with numerous other companies which seek to
develop similar product lines and/or distribution that have
extensive capital, resources, market share, and brand
recognition.
There
are presently three primary competitors that we face in our
industry, Bolt Threads, Inc., Spiber Inc. and AMSilk, all of which
have significantly greater financial resources than us.
Additionally, there are few barriers to entry in our industry,
which creates the strong possibility of new competitors emerging,
and of others succeeding in developing the same or similar fibers
for application that we are trying to develop. The effects of this
increased competition may be materially adverse to us and our
stockholders. As this is an emergent industry there is no one yet
producing at commercial scale or having captured a significant
portion of the market demand. We believe that our technology offers
more cost-effective methods with lower environmental impact than
technologies used by our identified competitors, however, new
technologies could be developed that remove this
advantage.
Bolt
Threads, Inc., Spiber Inc. and AMSilk have raised and spent
significant capital in pursuit of the same results that we have
achieved, but through different and more complex means. The Company
believes that its competitors will continue to overspend while
struggling to deliver the results that we have been able to achieve
utilizing the existing global infrastructure.
Based
on our research and internal assessments, the following chart
illustrates why we believe we have a competitive advantage over our
three main, known competitors:

Property
Our
principal executive office is located at 2723 South State St.,
Suite 150, Ann Arbor, Michigan. We pay an annual rent of $2,508 for
conference facilities, mail, fax, and reception services located at
this location.
On
May 9, 2019, we signed a 5-year property lease for 4,560.57 square
meters of space in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at a current
rent of approximately $45,150 in each of year one and two and with
a 5% increase per year for years three through five.
On
January 23, 2017, we signed an 8-year property lease with the Kim
Thompson, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
President, sole director, and controlling shareholder, for land in
Texas where the Company grows its mulberry. We pay a monthly rent
of $960.
On
September 5, 2019, we signed a new two-year lease for a 5,000
square foot property in Lansing, MI that commenced on October 1,
2019 and ends on September 30, 2021, for its research and
development headquarters. We pay an annual rent of $42,000 for year
one of the lease and will pay $44,800 for year two of the
lease.
Employees
We
currently employ 10 people at its U.S. facilities, 9 full-time and
1 part-time. We employ 5 full time personnel at our Vietnamese
subsidiary. We plan to hire more persons on as-needed
basis.
Legal
Proceedings
There
is no material litigation, arbitration, governmental proceeding or
any other legal proceeding currently pending or known to be
contemplated against us or any members of our management team in
their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management
team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 10 years
preceding the date of this prospectus. We may however be involved,
from time to time, in claims and lawsuits incidental to the conduct
of our business in the ordinary course. We carry insurance coverage
in such amounts as we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances and that may or may not cover any or all of our
liabilities in respect of these matters. We do not believe that the
ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse
impact on our consolidated financial position, cash flows or
results of operations, but cannot guarantee same.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF
FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You
should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial
condition and results of operations in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included
elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including those set
forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, since such statements speak only as of
the date they were made. Forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to
differ materially from the events or results described in the
forward-looking statements, including any forward-looking
statements contained in this prospectus. The events described in
forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a
different extent or at a different time than described in the
forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation, except to
the extent required by federal securities laws, to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this
prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events,
or otherwise.
The following section reflects management’s views on the financial
condition as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of
operations and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2019 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. This
section is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in
conjunction with, the Company’s audited consolidated financial
statements and related notes to the consolidated financial
statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
Kraig
Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. is a corporation organized under the
laws of Wyoming on April 25, 2006. We were organized to develop
high strength fibers using recombinant DNA technology for
commercial applications in technical textile. We use genetically
engineered silkworms that produce spider silk to create our
recombinant spider silk. Applications include performance apparel,
workwear, filtration, luxury fashion, flexible composites, medical
implants, and more. We believe that we have been a leader in the
research and development of commercially scalable and cost
effective spider silk for technical textile. Our primary
proprietary fiber technology includes natural and engineered
variants of spider silk produced in domesticated mulberry
silkworms. Our business brings twenty-first century biotechnology
to the historical silk industry, permitting us to introduce
materials with innovative properties and claims into an established
commercial ecosystem of silkworm rearing, silk spinning and
weaving, and manufacture of garments and other products that can
include our specialty fibers and textiles. Specialty fibers are
engineered for specific uses that require exceptional strength,
flexibility, heat resistance and/or chemical resistance. The
specialty fiber market is exemplified by two synthetic fiber
products that come from petroleum derivatives: (1) aramid fibers;
and (2) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. The
technical textile industry involves products for both industrial
and consumer products, such as filtration fabrics, medical textiles
(e.g., sutures and artificial ligaments), safety and
protective clothing and fabrics used in military and aerospace
applications (e.g., high-strength composite materials).
We
are using genetic engineering technologies to develop fibers with
greater strength, resiliency and flexibility for use in our target
markets, namely the specialty fiber and technical textile
industries.
The
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to our
financial statements as of December 31, 2019 includes an
explanatory paragraph stating that our net loss from operations and net
capital deficiency at December 31, 2019 raise substantial
doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might
result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
In August 2019, we received authorization to begin rearing
genetically enhanced silkworms at our production facility in
Vietnam. We received our investment registration certificate for
the facility in April 2018. In October 2019, we delivered the first
batch of these silkworms and began operations. These silkworms will
serve as the basis for the commercial expansion of our proprietary
silk technology. On November 4, 2019, we reported that we had
successfully completed rearing the first batch of its transgenic
silkworms at the Quang Nam production factory. Seasonal challenges
in late December 2019 slowed production operations, however, we
believe that we can resume expansion of the production of our
specialized silk in 2020, as soon as travel and work restrictions
for COVID-19 are lifted, since the seasonal challenges will have
also been alleviated. Travel and shipping restrictions may prevent
us from shipping the eggs we are now producing in the U.S. to
Vietnam; as soon as the eggs are shipped, we can restart operations
at the facility (See, “Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak” below). We
believe that we will be able to target a capacity of 40 metric tons
of our recombinant spider silk fiber per annum from this factory
once it reaches maximum utilization. This capacity will allow us to
address initial demand for our products and materials for various
applications in the protective, performance, and luxury textile
markets.
On April 16, 2020, we announced that we successfully developed a
new technology platform, based on a non-CRISPR gene editing
knock-in knock-out technology. CRISPR is the most recent and
efficient gene editing technology3
CRISPR stands for “Clustered regularly interspaced short
palindromic repeats.” This is our first knock-in knock-out
technology of essentially pure spider silk transgenic. This new
system is built on our eco-friendly and cost-effective silkworm
production system, which we believe is significantly more advanced
than any competing methods. Knock-in knock-out technology allows
for the targeting of specific locations and genetic traits for
modification, addition, and removal. This new capability will
accelerate new product developments, which should allow us to bring
products to market more quickly. This capability also allows for
genetic trait modifications that were previously impractical,
creating opportunities for products outside of silk fibers and
increased flexibility in production location. Based on our internal
studies, the new technology has a purity rate that is significantly
greater than Dragon Silk, a fiber that we developed with our
previous tools. Samples of Dragon Silk has already demonstrated to
be tougher than many fibers used in bullet proof vests and we
expect that the increased spider silk purity, created using this
new approach, will yield materials beyond those capabilities. This
new system utilizes our eco-friendly and cost-effective silkworm
production system, which we believe is significantly more advanced
than any of the competing methods. We have already begun the
validation process for the first of these new transgenics and
anticipate that U.S. production will be possible as early as 2022
or 2023.
This does not affect our current work of overseeing our production
facility to ramp up our production of Dragon
SilkTM and Monster Silk®, as these fibers are
designed to address their own markets.
Plan
of Operations
During
the next twelve months, we expect to take the following steps in
connection with the further development of our business and the
implementation of our plan of operations:
● |
We
plan to accelerate both our microbiology and selective breeding
programs as well as provide more resources for our material testing
protocols. We spent approximately $123,050 over the last 12 months
on research and development of high strength polymers. In 2019, we
directed our research and development efforts on growing our
internal capabilities; we plan to continue to dedicate our efforts
in 2020 to grow our internal research and development
programs. |
|
|
● |
We
expect to spend approximately $13,700 on collaborative research and
development of high strength polymers and spider silk protein at
the University of Wyoming over the next twelve months. This level
of research spending at the university is also a requirement of our
licensing agreement with the university. |
|
|
● |
We
plan to continue the expansion of our production operations at our
Quang Nam, Vietnam factory in accordance with our investment and
enterprise registration certificates, including the planting of
additional mulberry fields in collaboration with local farming
cooperatives and the hiring of additional direct staff for our
factory as needed. |
● |
We
will consider buying an established revenue producing company in a
compatible business, in order to broaden our financial base and
facilitate the commercialization of our products; as of the date
hereof, we have not had any formal discussion or entered into any
definitive agreements regarding any such purchase. |
|
|
● |
We
will also actively consider pursuing collaborative research
opportunities with both private and university laboratories in
areas of research which overlap the company’s existing research and
development. One such potential area for collaborative research
which the company is considering is protein expression platforms.
If our financing allows, management will give strong consideration
to increasing the breadth of our research to include protein
expression platform technologies. |
|
|
● |
We
plan to actively pursue collaborative research and product testing
opportunities with companies in the biotechnology, materials,
textile and other industries. |
|
|
● |
We
plan to actively pursue collaborative commercialization, marketing
and manufacturing opportunities with companies in the textile and
material sectors for the fibers we developed and for any new
polymers that we create in the remainder of 2020 and going
forward. |
|
|
● |
We
plan to actively pursue the development of commercial scale
production of our recombinant materials including Monster
Silk® and Dragon
SilkTM. |
|
|
● |
As
soon as travel and work restrictions related to the COVID-19
pandemic are lifted, including those that restrict the shipping of
eggs from the U.S. to Vietnam, we plan resume production operations
at our factory in Vietnam and expect to continue to expand our
monthly production volumes to address demand for
materials. |
|
|
● |
We
have initiated and plan to accelerate our efforts for large scale
U.S. production. This work will include the research and production
of a new transgenic tailored specifically domestic
production. |
Limited
Operating History
We
have not previously demonstrated that we will be able to expand our
business through an increased investment in our research and
development efforts. We cannot guarantee that the research and
development efforts described in this filing will be successful.
Our business is subject to risks inherent in growing an enterprise,
including limited capital resources, risks inherent in the research
and development process and possible rejection of our products in
development.
If
financing is not available on satisfactory terms, we may be unable
to continue our research and development and other operations.
Equity financing will result in dilution to existing
stockholders.
3
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5131771/
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-genome-editing
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/genomicresearch/genomeediting
Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak
On
January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the
coronavirus outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International
Concern” and on March 10, 2020, declared it to be a pandemic.
Actions taken around the world to help mitigate the spread of the
coronavirus include restrictions on travel, and quarantines in
certain areas, and forced closures for certain types of public
places and businesses. The coronavirus and actions taken to
mitigate it have had and are expected to continue to have an
adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many
countries, including the geographical area in which the Company
operates. While the closures and limitations on movement,
domestically and internationally, are expected to be temporary, if
the outbreak continues on its current trajectory the duration of
the supply chain disruption could reduce the availability, or
result in delays, of materials or supplies to and from the Company,
which in turn could materially interrupt the Company’s business
operations. Given the speed and frequency of the continuously
evolving developments with respect to this pandemic, the Company
cannot reasonably estimate the magnitude of the impact to its
consolidated results of operations. The Company’s manufacturing
facilities support business that have been deemed essential by
their respective state governments and remain operational. We have
taken every precaution possible to ensure the safety of our
employees.
On March 19, 2020, we furloughed non-essential staff consistent
with leading health official recommendations in order to help
prevent the spread of COVID-19. This decision was made in an
abundance of caution and will primarily impact staff at our fully
owned subsidiary, Prodigy Textiles, in Vietnam and will result in
the temporary closing of silk rearing operations at that facility.
As of the date hereof, Vietnam does not have any work restrictions
impacting our facility. However, current U.S. travel restrictions
may prevent us from shipping the eggs we are now producing in the
U.S. to Vietnam; as soon as the eggs are shipped, we can restart
operations at the facility. We believe that this temporary
suspension of rearing operations will result in a delay of 4-6
months in the Company’s production expansion schedule, however, due
to the fact that U.S. travel restrictions could be extended, the
delay could be longer. The Company supported its furloughed staff
through June 30, 2020. During the duration of the furlough, Kim
Thompson, our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
President, and sole director did not receive or accrue any pay.
On July 1, 2020, furloughed
staff returned to work preparing the factory in Vietnam to receive
the next shipment of silkworm eggs. The global pandemic of COVID-19
continues to evolve rapidly, and we will continue to monitor the
situation closely, including its potential effect on our plans and
timelines.
Additionally, it is reasonably possible that estimates made in the
financial statements have been, or will be, materially and
adversely impacted in the near term as a result of these
conditions, including losses on inventory; impairment losses
related to goodwill and other long-lived assets and current
obligations.
Results of Operations for the Six months ended June 30, 2020
compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
Our revenue, operating expenses, and net loss from operations for
the six month period ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the six
month period ended June 30, 2019, were as follows – some balances
on the prior period’s combined financial statements have been
reclassified to conform to the current period presentation:
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Change
Increase
|
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
(Decrease) |
|
NET
REVENUES |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.00 |
% |
OPERATING EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and
Administrative |
|
|
3,141,059 |
|
|
|
240,153 |
|
|
|
2,900,906 |
|
|
|
1207.94 |
% |
Professional Fees |
|
|
50,474 |
|
|
|
188,228 |
|
|
|
(137,754 |
) |
|
|
-73.18 |
% |
Officer’s Salary |
|
|
199,415 |
|
|
|
266,205 |
|
|
|
(66,790 |
) |
|
|
-25.09 |
% |
Rent - Related Party |
|
|
6,263 |
|
|
|
9,426 |
|
|
|
(3,163 |
) |
|
|
-33.56 |
% |
Research and Development |
|
|
37,782 |
|
|
|
43,241 |
|
|
|
(5,459 |
) |
|
|
-12.62 |
% |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
3,434,993 |
|
|
|
747,253 |
|
|
|
2,687,740 |
|
|
|
359.68 |
% |
Loss from
operations |
|
|
(3,434,993 |
) |
|
|
(747,253 |
) |
|
|
(2,687,740 |
) |
|
|
359.68 |
% |
Interest expense |
|
|
(185,143 |
) |
|
|
(137,615 |
) |
|
|
(47,528 |
) |
|
|
34.54 |
% |
Interest income |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4,625 |
|
|
|
(4,625 |
) |
|
|
100.00 |
% |
Net Loss |
|
$ |
(3,620,136 |
) |
|
$ |
(880,243 |
) |
|
|
(2,739,893 |
) |
|
|
311.27 |
% |
Net Revenues: During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we
realized $0 of revenues from our business. During the six months
ended June 30, 2019, we realized $0 of revenues from our business.
The change in revenues between the quarter ended June 30, 2020 and
2019 was $0 or 0%.
Cost of Revenues: Costs of revenues for the six months ended
June 30, 2020 were $0, as compared to $0 for the six months ended
June 30, 2019, a change of $0 or 0%.
Gross Profit: During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we
realized a gross profit of $0, as compared to $0 for the six months
ended June 30, 2019, a change of $0 or 0%.
Research and development expenses: During the six months
ended June 30, 2020, we incurred $37,782 of research and
development expenses. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, we
incurred $43,241 of research and development expenses, a decrease
of $5,459 or 12.62% compared with the same period in 2019. This
decrease was due to a reduction in research spend.
Professional Fees: During the six months ended June 30,
2020, we incurred $50,474 of professional expenses, which decreased
by $137,754 or 73.18% from $188,228 for the six months ended June
30, 2019. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in
professional fees associated with valuation services for the
Company’s stock.
Officers Salary: During the six months ended June 30, 2020,
officers’ salary expenses decreased to $199,415 or 25.09% from
$266,205 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.
General and Administrative Expense: General and
administrative expenses increased by $2,900,906 or 1,207.94% to
$3,141,059 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $240,153 for
the six months ended June 30, 2019. Our general and administrative
expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2020 consisted of other
general and administrative expenses (which includes expenses such
as auto, business development, SEC filings, investor relations,
general office, warrants issued for services) of $3,023,867, travel
of $14 and office salary of $117,178 for a total of $3,131,829. Our
general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June
30, 2019 consisted of consulting fees of $5,787 and other general
and administrative expenses (which includes expenses such as Auto,
Business Development, SEC Filing, Investor Relations, General
Office) of $126,149, Travel of $14,765 and office salary of
$93,452, for a total of $240,153. The primary reason for this
increase June 30, 2020 was primarily due to an increase in the
expense associated with the issuance of warrants for services.
Rent – Related Party: During the six months ended June 30,
2020, rent- related party expense decreased to $6,263 or 33.56%
from $9,426 for the six months ended June 30, 2019. The
rent-related party expense was attributable to the signing on
January 23, 2017 the Company signed an eight year property lease
with the Company’s President.
Interest Expense: Interest expense increase by $47,528 to
$185,143 for the six month period ended June 30, 2020 from $137,615
for the six month period ended June 30, 2019. The increase was
primarily due to interest on certain Company loans.
Interest Income: Interest income decreased by $4,625 to $0
for the six month period ended June 30, 2020 from $4,625 for the
six month period ended June 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily
due to interest on bank accounts.
Net Loss: Net loss increased by $2,739,893, or 311.27 %, to
a net loss of $3,620,136 for the six month period ended June 30,
2020 from a net loss of $880,243 for the six month period ended
June 30, 2019. This increase in net loss was primarily attributable
to both increases in general and administrative expenses and a
decrease in revenues.
Results
of Operations for the Years ended December 31, 2019 and
2018.
Our revenue,
operating expenses, and net loss from operations for the years
ended December 31, 2019 as compared to the year ended December 31,
2018, are included in the table below. Some balances on the prior
period’s combined financial statements have been reclassified to
conform to the current period presentation:
|
|
Year
Ended |
|
|
Increase |
|
|
|
|
|
|
December
31 |
|
|
(Decrease) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 |
|
|
2018 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
NET
REVENUES |
|
|
-$ |
|
|
$ |
401,620 |
|
|
|
(401,620 |
) |
|
|
-100.00 |
% |
OPERATING
EXPENSES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and
Administrative |
|
|
1,413,982 |
|
|
|
515,875 |
|
|
|
898,107 |
|
|
|
174.09 |
% |
Professional
Fees |
|
|
342,845 |
|
|
|
157,976 |
|
|
|
184,869 |
|
|
|
117.02 |
% |
Officer’s Salary |
|
|
627,197 |
|
|
|
528,127 |
|
|
|
99,070 |
|
|
|
18.76 |
% |
Rent - Related
Party |
|
|
14,793 |
|
|
|
11,520 |
|
|
|
3,273 |
|
|
|
28.41 |
% |
Research and
Development |
|
|
223,050 |
|
|
|
148,069 |
|
|
|
74,981 |
|
|
|
50.64 |
% |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
2,621,867 |
|
|
|
1,361,567 |
|
|
|
1,260,300 |
|
|
|
92.56 |
% |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(2,621,867 |
) |
|
|
(959,947 |
) |
|
|
(1,661,920 |
) |
|
|
173.13 |
% |
Gain on forgiveness
of debt |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
19,924 |
|
|
|
(19,924 |
) |
|
|
100.00 |
% |
Interest expense |
|
|
(294,352 |
) |
|
|
(228,954 |
) |
|
|
(65,398 |
) |
|
|
28.56 |
% |
Interest Income |
|
|
6,369 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,369 |
|
|
|
100.00 |
% |
Net Loss |
|
$ |
(2,909,850 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,168,977 |
) |
|
|
(1,740,873 |
) |
|
|
148.93 |
% |
Net Revenues: During the year ended December 31, 2019, we
realized $0 of revenues from our business. During the year ended
December 31, 2018, we realized $401,620 of revenues from our
business. The change in revenues between the years ended December
31, 2019 and 2018 was $401,620 or 100%. This decrease was related
to loss of our only customer, the U.S. Army, whose contract
concluded in 2018. In 2020, the Company expects to have its
commercial production facility operational, allowing for the
production and sale of products to the technical textile
markets.
Research and development expenses: During year ended
December 31, 2019 we incurred $223,050 research and development
expenses. During year ended December 31, 2018 we incurred $148,069
of research and development expenses, an increase of $74,981 or
50.64% compared with the same period in 2018. The research and
development expenses are attributable to the research and
development with the Notre Dame University; the increase was due to
the timing of research related activity and costs by insources the
Company’s research operations.
Professional Fees: During year ended December 31, 2019, we
incurred $342,845 professional expenses, which increased by
$184,869 or 117.02% from $157,976 for the year ended December 31,
2018. The increase in professional fees expense was attributable to
increased expenses related to investor relations services during
year ended December 31, 2019.
Officers Salary: During year ended December 31, 2010,
officers’ salary expenses increased to $627,197 or 18.76% compared
to $528,127 for year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due
to an increase in the salaries of our executive officers.
General and Administrative Expense: General and
administrative expenses increased by $898,107 or 174.09% to
$1,413,982 for year ended December 31, 2019 from $515,875 for year
ended December 31, 2018. Our general and administrative expenses
for year ended December 31, 2019 consisted of consulting fees of
$5,787 and other general and administrative expenses (which
includes expenses such as Auto, Business Development, filings with
the Commission, Investor Relations, General Office, warrant
Compensation) of $1,123,787, Travel of $40,734, office salary of
$243,674 for a total of $1,413,982. Our general and administrative
expenses for year ended December 31, 2018 consisted of consulting
fees of $26,538 and other general and administrative expenses
(which includes expenses such as Auto, Business Development,
filings with the Commission, Investor Relations, General Office,
warrant Compensation) of $325,897, Travel of $19,141, office salary
of $144,299 for a total of $515,875. The primary reason for the
increase in comparing year ended December 31, 2019 to the
corresponding period for 2018 was mainly due to general business
expenses and warrants issuances for services.
Rent – Related Party: During the year ended December 31
2019, rent-related party expense increased to $14,793 or 28.41%
compared to $11,520 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The
increase in rent-related party expense was attributable to the
additional month of rent recorded in 2019 due to the implementation
of ASC 842 and the amortization of rent expenses over the term of
the lease.
Gain on Forgiveness of Debt: Gain on forgiveness of debt
decreased by $19,924 to $0 for the year ended December 31, 2019
compared to $19,924 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The
increase was primarily due to the issuance of stock as payment for
consulting services.
Interest Expense: Interest expense increased to $294,352, or
28.56% for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $228,954
for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily
due to interest on the related party loans and accounts payable and
accrued expenses to the related parties.
Interest Income: Interest income increased by $6,369 to
$6,369 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $0 for the year
ended December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to interest
on bank accounts.
Net Loss: Net loss increased by $1,740,873, or 148.92%, to a
net loss of $2,909,850 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from a
net loss of $1,168,977 for the year ended December 31, 2018. This
increase in net loss was driven primarily by increased in research
and development, warrant compensation, and professional fees.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Our financial statements have been presented on the basis that we
have a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets
and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
As presented in the financial statements, we incurred a net loss of
$2,909,850 during the year ended December 31, 2019, and losses are
expected to continue in the near term. Since our inception, the
accumulated deficit is $29,797,906 at December 31, 2019. Refer to
Note 2 for our discussion of stockholder deficit. During the six
months ended June 30, 2020, and losses are expected to continue in
the near term. The accumulated deficit is $33,418,042 at June 30,
2020. Refer to Note 2 of our unaudited financial statements for our
discussion of stockholder deficit. We have been funding our
operations through private loans and the sale of common stock in
private placement transactions. Refer to Note 5 and Note 7 in the
financial statements for our discussion of notes payable and shares
issued, respectively. Our cash resources are insufficient to meet
our planned business objectives without additional financing. These
and other factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements
do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future
effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the
amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the
possible inability of our company to continue as a going
concern.
Management anticipates that significant additional expenditures
will be necessary to develop and expand our business before
significant positive operating cash flows can be achieved. Our
ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our
ability to raise additional capital and to ultimately achieve
sustainable revenues and profitable operations. At December 31,
2019 and June 30, 2020, we had $125,024 and $54,710, respectively
of cash on hand. In addition to our cash on hand, we are regularly
financed through debt issuance to our Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, director and our principal shareholder.
With our current cash on hand and such additional funding, the
Company is able to sustain its operations for at least the next
90-120 days. These funds are insufficient to complete our business
plan and as a consequence, we will need to seek additional funds,
primarily through the issuance of debt or equity securities for
cash to operate our business. No assurance can be given that any
future financing will be available or, if available, that it will
be on terms that are satisfactory to us. Even if we are able to
obtain additional financing, it may contain undue restrictions on
our operations, in the case of debt financing or cause substantial
dilution for our stockholders, in the case of equity financing.
Management has undertaken steps as part of a plan to improve
operations with the goal of sustaining our operations for the next
twelve months and beyond. These steps include (a) raising
additional capital and/or obtaining financing; (b) controlling
overhead and expenses; and (c) executing material sales or research
contracts. There can be no assurance that we can successfully
accomplish these steps and it is uncertain that the Company will
achieve a profitable level of operations and obtain additional
financing. There can be no assurance that any additional financing
will be available to the Company on satisfactory terms and
conditions, if at all. As of the date of this Report, we have not
entered into any formal agreements regarding the above.
In the event we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may
elect or be required to seek protection from its creditors by
filing a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or may be subject to an
involuntary petition in bankruptcy. To date, management has not
considered this alternative, nor does management view it as a
likely occurrence.
Assets and Liabilities for December 31, 2019 and 2018 (Audited)
and June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)
|
|
June 30, 2020 |
|
|
December 31, 2019 |
|
|
December 31, 2018 |
|
Cash |
|
$ |
54,710 |
|
|
$ |
125,024 |
|
|
$ |
13,697 |
|
Accounts receivable |
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
$ |
8,472 |
|
|
$ |
31,745 |
|
|
$ |
6,858 |
|
Total current assets |
|
$ |
63,182 |
|
|
$ |
156,769 |
|
|
$ |
20,555 |
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
586,152 |
|
|
$ |
750,850 |
|
|
$ |
71,383 |
|
Total current
liabilities |
|
$ |
6,436,073 |
|
|
$ |
5,584,383 |
|
|
$ |
4,530,606 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
6,899,755 |
|
|
$ |
6,138,908 |
|
|
$ |
4,530,606 |
|
At June 30, 2020, we had a working capital deficit of $6,372,891
compared to a working capital deficit of $5,427,614 at December 31,
2019. Current liabilities increased to $6,436,073 at June 30, 2020
from $5,584,383 at December 31, 2019, primarily as a result of
accounts payable, note payable and accrued compensation.
At December 31, 2019, we had a working capital deficit of
$5,427,614, compared to a working capital deficit of $4,510,051 at
December 31, 2018. Current liabilities increased to $5,584,383 at
December 31, 2019 from $4,530,606 at December 31, 2018, primarily
as a result of primarily as a result of accounts payable and
accrued compensation.
For the six months ended June 30, 2020, net cash used in operations
of $697,909 was the result of a net loss of $3,620,136 offset by
offset by depreciation expense of $13,118, options issuance to
related parties of $2,655,124, imputed interest on related party
loans of $21,972, decrease in prepaid expenses of $23,273 and a
decrease in operating lease right of use of $57,993, an increase of
accrued expenses and other payables-related party of $277,050,
decrease in accounts payable of $72,448 and a decrease in operating
lease liabilities of $53,855. For the six months ended June 30,
2019, net cash used in operations of $455,469 was the result of a
net loss of $880,243 offset by offset by depreciation expense of
$13,403, warrants cancellation of $19,915, imputed interest on
related party loans of $10,457, increase in prepaid expenses of
$28,387 and decrease in operating lease right of use of $30,433, an
increase of accrued expenses and other payables-related party of
$373,469, an increase in accounts payable of $73,420 and a decrease
in operating lease liabilities of $28,106.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, net cash used in operations
of $1,087,881 was the result of a net loss of $2,909,850 offset by
depreciation expense of $30,781, warrant cancellation of $19,915,
options issued to related parties of $696,934, imputed interest on
related party loans of $22,337, increase in prepaid expenses of
$24,887, a decrease in operating lease right of use of $86,326, an
increase of accrued expenses and other payables-related party of
$795,633, an increase in accounts payable of $314,369 and a
decrease in operating lease liabilities of $79,609. For the year
ended December 31, 2018, net cash used in operations of $235,005
was the result of a net loss of $1,168,977 offset by depreciation
expense of $26,632, gain on forgiveness of debt of $19,924, imputed
interest on related party loans of $11,909, warrants issued to
consultants of $72,575, decrease in accounts receivable of $25,872,
and an increase in other receivable of $2,394, an increase of
accrued expenses and other payables-related party of $682,976, an
increase in accounts payable of $136,326.
Net cash used in our investing activities were $0 and $0 for the
six months ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively. Our
investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 are
attributable to purchases of fixed assets.
Net cash used in our investing activities were $100,792 and $11,448
for the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018,
respectively. Our investing activities for the years ended December
31, 2019 and 2018 are attributable to purchases of fixed assets.
Our financing activities resulted in a cash inflow of $627,595 for
the six months ended June 30, 2020, which is represented by $30,000
loan repayment, $550,000 proceeds from a stockholder note payable,
$17,495 contributed capital from a stockholder and $90,100 proceeds
from the SBA Paycheck Protection Loan. Our financing activities
resulted in a cash inflow of $1,116,000 for the six months ended
June 30, 2019, which is represented by $1,000,000 proceeds from
issuance of common stock, $4,000 loan repayment and $120,000
proceeds from shareholder note payable.
Our financing activities resulted in a cash inflow of $1,300,000
for the year ended December 31, 2019, which is represented by
$1,000,000 proceeds from the issuance of common stock, $20,000 loan
repayment and $320,000 proceeds from a shareholder note payable.
Our financing activities resulted in cash inflow of $242,000 for
the year ended December 31, 2018, which is represented by
shareholder loan payable.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our financial statements and related public financial information
are based on the application of accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). GAAP requires the use of
estimates, assumptions, judgments and subjective interpretations of
accounting principles that have an impact on the assets,
liabilities, and revenue and expense amounts reported. These
estimates can also affect supplemental information contained in our
external disclosures including information regarding contingencies,
risk and financial condition. We believe our use of estimates and
underlying accounting assumptions adhere to GAAP and are
consistently and conservatively applied. We base our estimates on
historical experience and on various other assumptions that we
believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results
may differ materially from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions. We continue to monitor significant
estimates made during the preparation of our financial
statements.
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 of our
financial statements. While all these significant accounting
policies impact its financial condition and results of operations,
we view certain of these policies as critical. Policies determined
to be critical are those policies that have the most significant
impact on our financial statements and require management to use a
greater degree of judgment and estimates. Actual results may differ
from those estimates. Our management believes that given current
facts and circumstances, it is unlikely that applying any other
reasonable judgments or estimate methodologies would cause a
material effect on our results of operations, financial position or
liquidity for the periods presented in this Registration
Statement.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” Topic 842,
which amends the guidance in former ASC Topic 840, Leases.
The new standard increases transparency and comparability most
significantly by requiring the recognition by lessees of
right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities on the balance
sheet for all leases longer than 12 months. Under the standard,
disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of
financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty
of cash flows arising from leases. For lessees, leases will be
classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting
the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income
statement. We adopted the new lease guidance effective January 1,
2019 using the modified retrospective transition approach, applying
the new standard to all of its leases existing at the date of
initial application which is the effective date of adoption.
Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the
disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided
for dates and periods before January 1, 2019. We elected the
package of practical expedients which permits us to not reassess
(1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain
leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing
leases, and (3) any initial direct costs for any existing leases as
of the effective date. We did not elect the hindsight practical
expedient which permits entities to use hindsight in determining
the lease term and assessing impairment. The adoption of the lease
standard did not change our previously reported consolidated
statements of operations and did not result in a cumulative
catch-up adjustment to opening equity. As a result, the Company has
recorded Right-to-use assets and corresponding Lease obligations as
more fully discussed in Note 4.
All other newly issued accounting pronouncements but not yet
effective have been deemed either immaterial or not applicable
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or
other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons,
also known as “special purpose entities” (SPEs).
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Below is a list of our executive officers and sole director as of
the date of this Registration Statement.
NAME |
|
AGE |
|
POSITION |
|
DATE
APPOINTED |
Kim
Thompson |
|
58 |
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Sole
Director |
|
April
25, 2006 |
Jonathan
R. Rice |
|
40 |
|
Chief
Operating Officer |
|
January
20, 2015 |
Anurag
Gupta* |
|
55 |
|
Director
– Elect |
|
Tobe
appointed prior to effectiveness |
Julie
R. Bishop* |
|
40 |
|
Director
– Elect |
|
Tobe
appointed prior to effectiveness |
Greg
Scheessele* |
|
59 |
|
Director
– Elect |
|
Tobe
appointed prior to effectiveness |
Kenneth
Le |
|
55 |
|
President
of Prodigy Textiles |
|
July
2019 |
* These individuals have indicated his/her consent to occupy such
position upon closing of this offering and such persons are
collectively referred to herein as the “Director Nominees”
The
following summarizes the occupation and business experience during
the past five years for our officers, current director and Director
Nominees.
Kim Thompson. Mr. Kim Thompson was a founder of the
California law firm of Ching & Thompson which was founded in
1997 where he focused primarily on commercial litigation. He has
been a partner in the Illinois law firm of McJessy, Ching &
Thompson since 2004 where he also emphasizes commercial and civil
rights litigation. Mr. Thompson received his bachelor’s degree in
applied economics from James Madison College, Michigan State
University, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of
Michigan. He is the named inventor or co-inventor on a number of
provisional patent applications including inventions relating to
biotechnology and mechanics. Mr. Thompson is the inventor of the
technology concept that lead to the formation of the Company. We
believe that Mr. Thompson is well suited to serve as our director
because of his knowledge of biotechnology, legal expertise,
education and background in economics.
Jonanthan R. Rice. Mr. Jonathan R. Rice worked at Ultra
Electronics, Adaptive Materials Inc., a Michigan company (“UEA”)
from 2002 through 2015. At the time he left UEA, Mr. Rice worked as
the Director of Advanced Technologies, where he was responsible for
new products development and commercialization. He was also the
Corporate Facility Security Officer for UEA from2006 through 2015,
where Mr. Rice ensured UEA’s compliance with federal regulations
under the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual and
completed its annual security audit. During 2004 through 2007 while
working as an Engineering Manager at UEA, Mr. Rice, among other
things, led the design and development of multiple fuel cell and
power management systems, established a team to identify and
eliminate production and performance limitation, authored technical
progress and final reports for customers and provided training to
military personnel on use of fuel cell systems. From 2002 through
2005, Mr. Rice also served as UEA’s Production Manager in charge of
developing manufacturing process and techniques and sourcing the
production equipment for UEA’s products. Mr. Rice graduated from
Michigan Technological University in 2002 with a degree of
Bachelors of Science Chemical Engineering. Mr. Rice received his
Masters of Business Administration at Michigan State University in
2016.
Anurag Gupta. Mr. Anurag Gupta is a C-Suite executive with
nearly 30 years of experience in US based global corporations. He
has extensive expertise in leading businesses internationally in
both start-up and established business environments. Mr. Gupta
currently serves on the Board of Directors of Southern Graphics
Systems (SGSCo), a PE backed global company providing packaging and
marketing production services to the CPG, retail and printer space.
He is also an Executive Advisor to the company. Additionally, Mr.
Gupta serves on the Board of Directors of Roseburg Forest Products,
Inc., a multi-billion dollar leading manufacturer and marketer of
wood products in USA, Canada and Japan, and is Chairman of its
Strategy & Risk Committee. Mr. Gupta is also an investor and
Director on the Board of Drive My Way, Inc., a post-revenue
start-up company in digital recruiting marketplace, powered by a
proprietary, patent-protected platform that is revolutionizing
truck driver recruiting in USA. Mr. Gupta’s previous corporate
roles include serving as CEO of Global Data Services at TBG, AG
from December 2016 to December 2017, a Private Equity firm where he
helped Acquire DTN business from Schneider Electric. As Executive
Vice President of CMS Division at IHS Markit from April 2013 to
December 2016 (NASDAQ listed: INFO), an over $25 billion market
capitalization company, Mr. Gupta led multiple global business
lines along with corporate strategy, M&A and product
development for the company. During his tenure, the company
acquired over 25 businesses across multiple industry verticals. As
President of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at
BrightPoint, Inc from December 2009 to October 2012 (NASDAQ listed:
CELL) and later at Ingram Micro from October 2012 to March 2013
(NYSE listed: IM), Mr. Gupta was responsible for running a business
of $2.7 billion in revenue across 30 countries in EMEA. He was also
the head of Investor Relations at BrightPoint, Inc. from April 2003
to November 2009 where he was the recipient of the Stevie Business
Award for the Best Investor Relations Program. As CEO of Teamcall
Ltd., a Motorola Joint Venture Company which Mr. Gupta helped
create in the mid-1990s, he pioneered the launch of Mobile
technology and business in India. Mr. Gupta has participated 3
times in ringing the opening bell at NASDAQ and once in the closing
bell at NYSE. Mr. Gupta graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned his
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering in 1987 and his Masters in
Electrical Engineering in 1990 from the University of Toledo, Ohio,
USA where his Master’s Thesis was funded by NASA Lewis Research
Center. He earned his Masters of Business Administration in 1994
from the Stuart School of Business, at Illinois Institute of
Technology, Chicago, USA. Mr. Gupta provides the board with
significant expertise in business finance and management of growing
global operation as well as a strong history of board and committee
service
Julie R. Bishop. Ms. Julie R. Bishop is a licensed C.P.A.
that brings extensive leadership experience and expertise in
finance and accounting. Ms. Bishop is currently the Vice President
of Global Accounting and Reporting at Verizon Media, the media and
technology business unit of Verizon, a publicly traded telecom
company. Prior to that role, Ms. Bishop was the Senior Manager and
then Director of Global Accounting and then Senior Director, Global
Accounting at Yahoo Inc., a publicly traded media and technology
company purchased by Verizon in 2017. Ms. Bishop has been serving
at Verizon Media (formerly Yahoo Inc.) since 2011. Ms. Bishop
served as Accounting Manager at HD Waterworks, a distribution
company and business unit of HD Supply, from 2009 to 2011. In
addition, Ms. Bishop served as an auditor of publicly traded
companies from 2002 to 2009 at Ernst & Young, LLP. Ms. Bishop
also serves on the board of a private entity. Ms. Bishop received
Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Accounting from Southern Illinois
University of Edwardsville in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Ms.
Bishop provides the board with significant expertise in accounting
and finance, particularly in global publicly traded companies,
which she developed over her long career working in publicly traded
companies and auditing at a leading global audit firm. She also
brings the board valuable management and leadership expertise,
critical perspective on strategic planning and risk management, and
additional insights into the technology industry.
Greg Scheessele. Mr. Gregory (Greg) Scheessele has
thirty-seven years of global manufacturing business leadership
experience. He is the CEO of his own advisory firm, Gerette, LLC.
Prior to launching Gerette, LLC in 2018, Mr. Sheessele led the
NAFTA and South American business units of TMD Friction Holdings
GmbH as the Executive Vice President, TMD Americas (“TMD”). Prior
to joining TMD in 2005, Mr. Scheessele was the Group Vice
President, Global Operations with Pall Corporation where he worked
over twelve years in various global operations executive positions
at Pall Corporation and Gelman Sciences (Pall acquisition). Mr.
Scheessele developed his engineering and manufacturing management
skills while working for General Motors – Powertrain Division for
ten years. Mr. Scheessele has served as a Board Director or Trustee
for various automotive component, engineering, technology firms and
non-profit organizations for the past twelve years. Mr. Scheessele
currently is a director or trustee for an educational non-profit in
the Detroit Metro area and a privately held manufacturing company
in Wisconsin. Mr. Scheessele has more than 13 years of experience
serving as a director for both non-profit and for profit
organizations. He has served in roles as an inside director and
independent director and has more than 4 years of experience on
compensation and finance committees. Mr. Scheessele graduated from
Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science – Mechanical
Engineering. Mr. Scheessele also earned a Master of Science –
Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Mr. Scheessele provides the board with significant expertise in
international manufacturing operations and management oversight as
well as a strong history of service on board committees.
Kenneth Le. Mr. Le was appointed as our Director of
government relations and the President of Prodigy Textiles in July
2019. In light of his position with our subsidiary and the duties
associated with such position, we believe Mr. Le meets the
definition of “executive officer” as such term is defined in the
Exchange Act. Kenneth Le has over 25 years of successful
international business experience specializing in entrepreneurial
enterprises. In January 2009, Mr. Le was appointed to Dot VN, Inc.
Strategic Advisory Board and will assist in strategic planning for
future growth and development of key projects of the domain name
registration and business e-commerce solutions company in Vietnam.
As current managing partner of Pacific Bay Ventures, Mr. Le is
working on a joint venture developing 1,550 hectares as a mixed use
residential industrial park in conjunction with Dat Quang Chu Lai
Industrial Park, JSP in Tam An city in Chu Lai province, Vietnam’s
first international open economic trade zone. He is Managing
Director of Minh Nhat Company and developing Da Deh Lake, an
eco-resort of over 500 hectares in a surrounded lake in the Lam
Dong province, the third and the largest plateau province on the
Central Highlands three hours outside of Ho Chi Minh City in
Vietnam. Mr. Le has extensive high-level business contacts in
Southeast Asia, many of which he has helped bring together acting
as international liaison.
Term of Office
Our directors are appointed for a one-year term to hold office
until the next annual general meeting of our stockholders or until
removed from office in accordance with our bylaws. Our officers are
appointed by our Board and hold office until removed by the Board.
Mr. Thompson is employed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company pursuant to a five year employment
contract.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of the Company’s knowledge, none of the following
events occurred during the past ten years that are material to an
evaluation of the ability or integrity of any of our executive
officers, directors, Director Nominees or promoters:
(1) A petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any state
insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent
or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or
property of such person, or any partnership in which he was a
general partner at or within two years before the time of such
filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was
an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such
filing;
(2) Convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a
pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other
minor offenses);
(3) Subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent
jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from, or
otherwise limiting, the following activities:
(i) Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker,
commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker,
leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of
any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter,
broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person,
director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and
loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing
any conduct or practice in connection with such activity;
(ii) Engaging in any type of business practice; or
(iii) Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or
sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any
violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal
commodities laws;
(4) Subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority
barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the
right of such person to engage in any activity described y such
activity;
(5) Found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or
by the Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities
law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the
Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or
vacated;
(6) Found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or
by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any
Federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or
finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;
(7) Subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or
administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged
violation of:
(i) Any Federal or State securities or commodities law or
regulation; or
(ii) Any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or
insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or
permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil
money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or
removal or prohibition order; or
(iii) Any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud
in connection with any business entity; or
(8) Subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory
organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act
(15 U.S. C 78c(a)(26)), any registered entity (as defined in
Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C.
1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or
organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or
persons associated with a member.
Director Independence and Board Committees
We are not currently required under the Securities and Exchange Act
to maintain any committees of our Board.
Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our Board be
independent within one year of our initial public offering. An
“independent director” is defined generally as a person other than
an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any
other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the
Company’s Board, would interfere with the director’s exercise of
independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a
director. Our Board has determined that Messrs. Gupta and
Scheessele and Ms. Bishop are “independent directors” as defined in
the Nasdaq listing standard and applicable SEC rules.
Pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules we will establish three standing
committees - an audit committee in compliance with Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, a compensation committee and a
nominating and governance committee, each comprised of independent
directors. Under Nasdaq listing rule 5615(b)(1), a company listing
in connection with its initial public offering is permitted to
phase in its compliance with the independent committee
requirements. We do not intend to rely on the phase-in schedules
set forth in Nasdaq listing rule 5615(b)(3).
Audit Committee. Upon the effectiveness of the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish
an audit committee of the Board. Under the Nasdaq listing standards and
applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three
members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent,
subject to certain phase-in provisions. Messrs. Gupta and
Scheessele and Ms. Bishop meet the independent director standard
under Nasdaq listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the
Exchange Act. Ms. Bishop will serve as chairman of our audit
committee. Each member of the audit committee is financially
literate and our Board has determined that Ms. Bishop qualifies as
an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC
rules.
We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the
purpose and principal functions of the audit committee,
including:
|
● |
appoint, compensate, and oversee the work of any
registered public accounting firm employed by us; |
|
|
|
|
● |
resolve any disagreements between management and
the auditor regarding financial reporting; |
|
|
|
|
● |
pre-approve all auditing and non-audit
services; |
|
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|
● |
retain independent counsel, accountants, or
others to advise the audit committee or assist in the conduct of an
investigation; |
|
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|
● |
seek
any information it requires from employees-all of whom are directed
to cooperate with the audit committee’s requests-or external
parties; |
|
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|
● |
meet
with our officers, external auditors, or outside counsel, as
necessary; and |
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|
● |
oversee that management has established and
maintained processes to assure our compliance with all applicable
laws, regulations and corporate policy. |
Compensation Committee. Upon the effectiveness of the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we
will establish a compensation committee of the Board. Messrs. Gupta and Scheessele and
Ms. Bishop will serve as
members of our compensation committee. Under the Nasdaq listing
standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at
least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must
be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions.
Messrs. Gupta and Scheessele and Ms. Bishop meet the independent director standard
under Nasdaq listing standards applicable to members of the
compensation committee
We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail
the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee,
including:
|
● |
discharge the responsibilities of the Board
relating to compensation of the our directors, executive officers
and key employees; |
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|
● |
assist the Board in establishing appropriate
incentive compensation and equity-based plans and to administer
such plans; |
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|
● |
oversee the annual process of evaluation of the
performance of our management; and |
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|
● |
perform such other duties and responsibilities as
enumerated in and consistent with compensation committee’s
charter. |
The charter will permit the committee to retain or receive advice
from a compensation consultant and will outline certain
requirements to ensure the consultants independence or certain
circumstances under which the consultant need not be independent.
However, as of the date hereof, the Company has not retained such a
consultant.
Nominating and Governance Committee. Upon the effectiveness
of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a
part, we will establish a nominating and governance committee of
the Board that will be comprised of independent directors. Messrs.
Gupta and Scheessele and Ms. Bishop will serve as members of our
nominating and governance. We will adopt a nominating and
governance committee charter, which will detail the purpose and
responsibilities of the nominating and governance committee,
including:
|
● |
assist the Board by identifying qualified
candidates for director nominees, and to recommend to the board of
directors the director nominees for the next annual meeting of
stockholders; |
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|
● |
lead
the Board in its annual review of its performance; |
|
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|
● |
recommend to the board director nominees for each
committee of the Board; and |
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|
● |
develop and recommend to the Board corporate
governance guidelines applicable to us. |
Meetings of the Board of Directors
During its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Board did not
meet on any occasion, but rather transacted business by unanimous
written consent seven times.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships by between or among the members
of the Board or other executive officers of the Company.
Indemnification
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and
restated bylaws include provisions limiting the liability of
directors and officers and indemnifying them under certain
circumstances. See “Indemnification of Directors and Officers” for
further information. We intend to secure directors’ and officers’
liability insurance following the completion of this offering.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or
persons controlling the Company pursuant to Wyoming law, we are
informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The
following summary compensation table sets forth all compensation
awarded to, earned by, or paid to the named executive officer
during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 in all capacities
for the accounts of our executive, including the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
On March 19, 2020, the Mr. Thompson agreed to suspend payment or
accrual of his salary until such time as the Company’s employees
whom were furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic return to
work.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Name and principal position |
|
Year |
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus ($) |
|
|
Stock Awards ($) |
|
|
Option Awards ($) |
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
|
|
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) |
|
|
All Other Compensation ($) |
|
|
Total ($) |
|
Kim Thompson
President, CEO, CFO and Director |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
354,791 |
(1) |
|
$ |
70,958 |
(2) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
52,798 |
(3) |
|
$ |
478,547 |
|
|
|
|
2018 |
|
|
$ |
334,708 |
(4) |
|
$ |
66,942 |
(5) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
55,934 |
(6) |
|
$ |
457,584 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan R. Rice
COO |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
150,774 |
(7) |
|
$ |
24,000 |
(8) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
13,295 |
(9) |
|
$ |
188,069 |
|
|
|
|
2018 |
|
|
$ |
125,398 |
(10) |
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
15,324 |
(11) |
|
$ |
142,285 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth Le President of Prodigy
Textiles(12) |
|
|
2019 |
|
|
$ |
27,692 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
237,748 |
(12)(13) |
|
$ |
265,440 |
|
|
|
|
2018 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
|
$ |
0 |
|
(1) |
This
represents the annual salary payable to Mr. Thompson pursuant to
the then current terms of his employment agreement. However, in
light of the Company’s cash position, Mr. Thompson agreed to defer
all such annual compensation until such time as our cash position
improves. See the section, “Employment Agreements” below for
additional information regarding the payback terms of the deferred
compensation. |
(2) |
This
represents the annual bonus payable to Mr. Thompson pursuant to the
then current terms of his employment agreement. However, in light
of the Company’s cash position, Mr. Thompson agreed to defer this
bonus until such time as our cash position improves. See the
section, “Employment Agreements” below for additional information
regarding the payback terms of all of Mr. Thompson’s deferred
compensation. |
(3) |
This
amount includes: $49,833 in medical insurance and medical
reimbursement we agreed to cover for Mr. Thompson pursuant to his
employment agreement and $2,965 in reimbursement for office and
travel related expenses. However, in light of the Company’s cash
position, Mr. Thompson agreed to defer all such reimbursement until
such time as our cash position improves. See the section,
“Employment Agreements” below for additional information regarding
the payback terms of these funds, which we deem “accounts payable –
related party.” |
(4) |
This
represents the annual salary payable to Mr. Thompson pursuant to
the then current terms of his employment agreement. However, in
light of the Company’s cash position, Mr. Thompson agreed to defer
all such annual compensation until such time as our cash position
improves. See the section, “Employment Agreements” below for
additional information regarding the payback terms of the deferred
compensation. |
(5) |
This
represents the annual bonus payable to Mr. Thompson pursuant to the
then current terms of his employment agreement. However, in light
of the Company’s cash position, Mr. Thompson agreed to defer this
bonus until such time as our cash position improves. See the
section, “Employment Agreements” below for additional information
regarding the payback terms of all of Mr. Thompson’s deferred
compensation. |
(6) |
This
amount includes: $48,565 in medical insurance and medical
reimbursement we agreed to cover for Mr. Thompson pursuant to his
employment agreement and $7,161 in reimbursement for office and
travel related expenses. However, in light of the Company’s cash
position, Mr. Thompson agreed to defer all such reimbursement until
such time as our cash position improves. See the section,
“Employment Agreements” below for additional information about
regarding the payback terms of these funds, which we deem “accounts
payable – related party.” |
(7) |
This
represents the annual salary paid to Mr. Rice pursuant to the then
current terms of his employment agreement. In 2019, Mr. Rice’s
annual base salary was $150,774. However, in light of the Company’s
cash position, the Company has deferred the payment of $23,076 of
the $150,774. See the section, “Employment Agreements” below for
additional information regarding the payback terms of all of Mr.
Rice’s deferred compensation. In addition to his annual base salary
Mr. Rice was reimbursed for $12,274 in medical insurance premiums
and $1,020 in phone service expenses, pursuant to his employment
agreement recorded and reported under “all other
compensation”. |
(8) |
This
represents the annual bonus payable to Mr. Rice pursuant to the
then current terms of his employment agreement. However, in light
of the Company’s cash position, the Company has deferred the
payment of $20,000 of the $24,000. See the section, “Employment
Agreements” below for additional information regarding the payback
terms of all of Mr. Rice’s deferred compensation. |
(9) |
In
2019, Mr. Rice received $12,274 in medical insurance and medical
reimbursement and $1,020 in phone service expenses and travel
related, pursuant to his employment agreement. |
(10) |
This
represents the annual salary that was paid to Mr. Rice pursuant to
the then current terms of his employment agreement. In 2018, Mr.
Rice’s annual base salary was $140,000, which includes $125,398 in
wages and $15,324 in other expenses payable to Mr. Rice pursuant to
the then current terms of his employment agreement, the latter of
which are included in the “all other compensation”
column. |
(11) |
This
amount represents “all other compensation” payable to Mr. Rice
pursuant to the then current terms of his employment agreement,
including $14,284 in medical insurance and $1,040 in phone service
expenses. |
(12) |
On
July 3, 2019, the Board appointed Mr. Kenneth Le as the Company’s
Director of government relations and President of Prodigy Textiles.
Mr. Le’s employment agreement has a term of one year and can be
terminated by either the Company or Mr. Le at any time. Under the
employment agreement, Mr. Le is entitled to annual cash
compensation of $60,000. In addition, Mr. Le was issued two
three-year warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at
an exercise price of $0.2299 per share, which are exercisable as of
August 2021 and August 2022, respectively. |
(13) |
This
amount represents the value of the warrants granted to Mr. Le in
2019. |
Employment Agreements
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
On November 10, 2010, the Company entered into an employment
agreement with Kim Thompson, its President, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and sole director, effective
January 1, 2011 through the December 31, 2015. The agreement was
for a term of five years at an annual salary of $210,000 in 2011,
with a 6% annual increase thereafter. For the year ended December
31, 2015, the annual salary was $281,027, but in light of the
Company’s cash position, Mr. Thompson deferred such compensation.
On January 1, 2016, the agreement was renewed with the same terms
for another 5 years with an annual salary of $297,889 for the year
ended December 31, 2016, but in light of the Company’s cash
position, Mr. Thompson deferred such compensation. On January 1,
2017, the agreement renewed with the same terms for another 5
years, but with an annual salary of $315,764 for the year ended
December 31, 2017, but in light of the Company’s cash position, Mr.
Thompson deferred such compensation. On January 1, 2018, the
agreement renewed again with the same terms for another 5 years,
but with an annual salary of $334,708 for the year ended December
31, 2018, but in light of the Company’s cash position, Mr. Thompson
deferred such compensation. On January 1, 2019, the agreement
renewed again with the same terms for another 5 years, but with an
annual salary of $354,791 for the year ended December 31, 2019. On
January 1, 2020, the agreement renewed again with the same terms
for another 5 years, but with an annual salary of $376,078 for the
year ended December 31, 2020. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31,
2019, the accrued salary balance is $2,616,686 and $2,535,203,
respectively. See, “Certain Relationships And Related Transactions,
And Director Independence - Accrued Salaries and Officer Loans –
Mr. Thompson, CEO/President.”
Base pay will be increased each January 1st, for the subsequent
twelve month periods by 6%. Mr. Thompson will also be entitled to
life, disability, health and dental insurance as well as an annual
bonus in an amount equal to 20% of the base salary. In light of the
Company cash position, Mr. Thompson declined the life and
disability insurance.
The agreement also calls for the retention of the executive as a
consultant following the termination of employment with
compensation during such consultancy based upon the Company
reaching certain milestones:
Upon the expiration or termination of this agreement for any
reason, or by either party, Company agrees that it will employ
Executive as a consultant for a period of four (4) years and at a
rate of $4,500 per month.
(a) |
In
the event that Company achieves gross sales of five million dollars
($5,000,000) or more, or one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more
in net income, in any year during the term of this agreement, or
upon the Company’s achieving an average market capitalization over
a 240 consecutive calendar day period, in excess of $70,000,000
during the term of this agreement, then the consulting period will
be for five (5) years and the consulting rate will be increased to
$5,500 per month. |
(b) |
In
the event that Company achieves gross sales of ten million dollars
($10,000,000) or more, or two million dollars ($2,000,000) or more
in net income, in any year during the term of this agreement, or
upon the Company’s achieving an average market capitalization over
a 240 consecutive calendar day period, in excess of $90,000,000
during the term of this agreement, then the consulting period will
be for six (6) years and the consulting rate will be increased to
$7,500 per month. |
Chief Operating Officer
On January 20, 2015, the Company entered into an at-will employment
agreement with Mr. Jonathan R. Rice, its Chief Operating Officer
(the “2015 COO Employment Agreement”). Although the 2015 COO
Employment Agreement has been superseded (as described below), on
January 23, 2015, Mr. Rice was issued a three-year warrant to
purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company at an
exercise price of $0.001 per share pursuant to the COO Employment
Agreement and on May 28, 2015, the Company issued a three-year
warrant to purchase 3,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company
at an exercise price of $0.001 per share. The 3,000,000 share
warrant fully vested on October 28, 2016. For the twelve months
ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded $121,448 for the
warrants issued to Mr. Rice.
On January 14, 2016, the Company entered into a new at-will
employment agreement with Mr. Rice (the “2016 COO Employment
Agreement”). The 2016 COO Employment Agreement had a term of one
year and can be terminated by either the Company or Mr. Rice at any
time. Under the 2016 COO Employment Agreement, Mr. Rice is entitled
to an annual cash compensation of $140,000, which includes salary,
health insurance, 401K retirement plan contributions, and other
benefits. In addition, on March 30, 2016, Mr. Rice was issued a
three-year warrant to purchase 6,000,000 shares of common stock of
the Company at an exercise price of $0.001 per share pursuant to
the 2016 COO Employment Agreement. Additionally, on August 4, 2016,
the Company approved a performance retention bonus to Mr. Rice of
$20,000 which was payable on March 31, 2018, but which has not yet
been paid. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the
Company recorded $0 for the warrants issued to related party.
The Company extended the 2016 COO Employment Agreement to a term
ending on January 31, 2019. On March 15, 2019, the Company signed
an extension of its at-will employment agreement with its COO,
extending the term to January 31, 2020. On May 19, 2020, the
Company signed an extension of its at-will employment agreement
with its COO, extending the term to January 31, 2021. The COO
Employment Agreement can be terminated by either the Company or Mr.
Rice at any time. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018,
the Company recorded $0 for the warrants issued to related
party.
On August 4, 2016, the Company issued an accommodation to Mr. Rice
awarding him a bonus of $20,000 payable on March, 31, 2018. In
light of the Company’s cash position, this bonus has been
deferred.
On January 9, 2018, the Company extended the expiration date of the
January 2015 Warrant from January 19, 2018 to January 31, 2020. On
January 10, 2020, the Company extended the expiration date of the
January 2015 Warrant from January 31, 2020 to January 10, 2025.
On April 26, 2019, the Company signed an agreement to increase Mr.
Rice’s base salary by $20,000 per year and issue a one-time $20,000
bonus. The salary increase and the bonus is accrued and to be paid
in full earlier by the direction of the Board or upon the earlier
of:
|
● |
The
Company maintaining $6,000,000 or more in working
capital; |
|
● |
Upon
the transfer of ownership of more than 50% of the Corporation’s
voting share or an assignment for the benefit of creditors or
bankruptcy; or, |
|
● |
Upon
the fifth year anniversary of the salary increase and the bonus
issuance. |
On October 21, 2019, the Company signed another agreement to
increase Mr. Rice’s base salary by another $20,000 per year
(effective August 15, 2019). Such salary increase is accrued and to
be paid on the same terms as set forth above regarding the April
2019 increase.
Over the years, in light of our cash position, certain amounts of
Mr. Rice’s annual compensation have been deferred. As a result of
these deferments, we accrued a total of $82,902 and $64,352 in
deferred compensation payable to Mr. Rice as of June 30, 2020 and
December 31, 2019, respectively. See, “Certain Relationships And
Related Transactions, And Director Independence - Accrued Salaries
and Officer Loans – Mr. Rice, COO.”
Compensation of Directors
Directors are permitted to receive fixed fees and other
compensation for their services as directors. The Board has the
authority to fix the compensation of directors. No amounts have
been paid to, or accrued to, directors in such capacity.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of our Common Stock and Series A Preferred
Stock as of the date of this Registration Statement by (a) each
stockholder who is known to us to own beneficially 5% or more of
our outstanding Common Stock, (b) directors, (c) our executive
officers, and (d) all executive officers and directors as a group.
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the
SEC, and generally means that person has beneficial ownership of a
security if he or she possesses sole or shared voting or investment
power of that security and includes options, warrants and other
securities convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock,
provided that such securities are currently exercisable or
convertible or exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the
date hereof. Each director or officer, as the case may be, has
furnished us with information with respect to their beneficial
ownership. Except as otherwise indicated, all persons listed below
have (i) sole voting power and investment power with respect to
their Common Stock, except to the extent that authority is shared
by spouses under applicable law, and (ii) record and beneficial
ownership with respect to their Common Stock.
Title of
Class |
|
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial |
|
|
Percent of
Class (1) |
|
|
Percent of All
Voting Classes
|
|
Class A Common Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kim Thompson |
|
|
209,468,162 |
(2) |
|
|
24.52 |
% |
|
|
16.70 |
% |
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan R. Rice |
|
|
11,000,000 |
(3) |
|
|
1.29 |
% |
|
|
0.88 |
% |
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anurag Gupta |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julie R. Bishop |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Scheessele |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth Le |
|
|
2,300,000 |
(4) |
|
|
0.27 |
% |
|
|
0.18 |
% |
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All executive officers and directors as a group
(5 Persons) |
|
|
222,768,160
|
|
|
|
26.07 |
% |
|
|
17.76 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series A Preferred Stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kim Thompson |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
31.89 |
% |
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jonathan R. Rice |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anurag Gupta |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julie R. Bishop |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greg Scheessele |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth Le |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2723 South State St Suite 150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All executive officers and directors as a group
(5 Persons) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
100 |
% |
|
|
31.89 |
% |
(1) The percent of class is based on 854,410,001 shares of our
Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date hereof.
(2) Such shares include 209,468,160 shares of Common Stock that are
owned by Mr. Thompson, and 2 shares of Common Stock that may be
issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock that are
owned by Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson owns one warrant to purchase
20,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.115,
but he cannot receive such shares within the next 60 days because
the earliest the warrants are exercisable is February 2025.
(3) Mr. Rice owns 8 other warrants to purchase a total of
12,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price ranging from
$0.115 to $0.2299, but he cannot receive such shares within the
next 60 days because the earliest the warrants are exercisable is
February 2021.
(4) Mr. Le owns two three-year warrants to purchase a total of
2,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.2299
per share, but he cannot receive such shares within the next 60
days because the earliest the warrants are exercisable is August
2021.
Change in Control
As of the date of this Registration Statement, there were no
arrangements which may result in a change in control of the
Company.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Except as disclosed herein, no director, executive officer,
shareholder holding at least 5% of shares of our common stock, or
any family member thereof, had any material interest, direct or
indirect, in any transaction, or proposed transaction since January
1, 2018, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds
the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total
assets at the year-end for the last two completed fiscal years.
Related Party Transactions
Accrued Salaries and Officer Loans
Mr. Thompson, CEO, CFO, and President
Mr. Thompson agreed to defer a significant portion of the
compensation and other payments, as set forth below, owed to him.
Mr. Thompson has also agreed not to collect or accrue any salary
while the Company has employees furloughed over concerns regarding
the current global pandemic.
|
● |
Annual Compensation: As of June 30, 2020,
Kim Thompson, our CEO accrued $2,616,686 of unpaid salary, which
represents a portion of the annual compensation owed to him
pursuant to the terms of his employment agreements during such time
period. As of June 30, 2020, there was $1,281,509 in accrued
interest (collectively with the unpaid salary, the “Accrued CEO
Salary”). |
|
● |
Company Loans: Mr. Thompson has loaned the
Company an aggregate of $1,552,000 and has been repaid $160,000,
leaving a balance of $1,392,000 (including interest, the CEO
Loans”). As of June 30, 2020, there was $58,855 in loan
interest. |
|
● |
Royalty Payments: Mr. Thompson was
entitled to certain royalties as compensation for the transfer of
intellectual property he owned to the Company. As of June 30, 2020,
there was $65,292 in royalty payments payable to Mr. Thompson
(“Royalty Payments”). |
|
● |
As of
June 30, 2020, there was $319,005 included in accounts payable and
accrued expense payable to Mr. Thompson (“APAE,” together with
Accrued CEO Salary, CEO Loans and Royalty Payments, the “CEO
Deferred Payments”). |
Mr. Thompson also agreed to the following repayment schedule of the
CEO Deferred Payments:
|
· |
$500,000 will be paid on the 3-month anniversary
of the effective date of this registration statement; |
|
· |
50%
of the remaining balance will be paid on the 12-month anniversary
of the effective date of this registration statement;
and, |
|
· |
The
remainder will be paid on the 18-month anniversary of the effective
date of this registration statement. |
Mr. Rice, COO
As previously stated, in light of our cash position, Mr. Rice
agreed to defer a portion of the compensation owed to him. Between
December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2020, Mr. Rice accrued a total of
$82,902 in unpaid salary (“Accrued COO Salary”).
In consideration of the Company’s current and potential future cash
position, the Company and Mr. Rice entered into an agreement in
November 2019 regarding how the Company shall repay such salary.
Pursuant to such agreement, the Company shall repay Mr. Rice in
full either by the direction of the Board or upon the earlier
of:
|
● |
The
Company maintaining $6,000,000 or more in working
capital; |
|
● |
Upon
the transfer of ownership of more than 50% of the Corporation’s
voting share or an assignment for the benefit of creditors or
bankruptcy; or, |
|
● |
Upon
the fifth-year anniversary of the salary increase and the bonus
issuance. |
Property Leases
On January 23, 2017, the Company signed an 8-year property lease
with the Company’s CEO, CFO, President and controlling shareholder
for land in Texas. The Company pays $960 per month starting on
February 1, 2017 and uses this facility to grow mulberry for its
U.S. silk operations.
The Company is not a subsidiary of any company.
Related Party Policy
Our current Code of Ethics requires the CEO and CFO to avoid,
wherever possible, actual
conflicts of interest in personal and professional relationships;
however, we have not yet adopted a formal policy for the
review, approval or ratification of related party transactions.
Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed,
approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy. A conflict
of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has
interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work
objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise
if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper
personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
We also require each of our directors and executive officers to
annually complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that
elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related
party transaction impairs the independence of a director or
presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee
or officer.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a new
code of ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all
conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions
approved by our Board (or the appropriate committee of our board)
or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our code
of ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any
financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any
indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company. A
form of the code of ethics that we plan to adopt prior to the
consummation of this offering is filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter
that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will
be responsible for reviewing and approving related party
transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit
committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be
required in order to approve a related party transaction. A
majority of the members of the entire audit committee will
constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written
consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be
required to approve a related party transaction. A form of the
audit committee charter that we plan to adopt prior to the
consummation of this offering is filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We also
require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a
directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information
about related party transactions.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
General
Our original articles of incorporation authorized 60,000,000 shares
of Class A common stock, 25,000,000 shares of Class B common stock
with no par value per share and 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock with no par value per share on a pre-reverse split basis. On
March 18, 2009, we amended our articles of incorporation to provide
for unlimited authorized shares, no par value, of Class A common
stock and Class B common stock, and preferred stock. In December
2013, we further amended our articles of incorporation to designate
Series A of the Company’s preferred stock, no par value; there are
two shares of Series A preferred stock authorized. There are no
provisions in our charter or by-laws that would delay, defer or
prevent a change in our control. As of the date hereof, we have
854,410,001 shares of Class A common stock, 0 shares of Class B
common stock and 2 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
The Class B common stock is not listed on the OTCQB or any other
market and we are not seeking to have it listed on Nasdaq or
another national exchange.
On or prior to the effective date of the registration statement of
which this prospectus forms a part, we will amend our articles of
incorporation to effect the Reverse Stock Split. At our 2019 annual
stockholder meeting, our stockholders approved a reverse stock
split of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock by a
ratio of not less than one-for-ten and not more than one-for-forty
at any time prior to July 23, 2020, with the exact ratios to be set
at a whole number within this range, as determined by our Board in
its sole discretion and approved and adopted the articles of
amendment to our articles of incorporation to affect the same. As
we continue the uplisting process with Nasdaq, but are past July
23, 2020, such stockholder approval expired. However, on August
[ ], 2020 we obtained the written consent from a
majority of our stockholders to effect the Reverse Stock Split.at a
ratio of 1-for-[ ]
In line with the Reverse Stock Split,
on August [ ] 2020, the sole holder of our Series A
Preferred Stock, Mr. Thompson, approved, via written consent, to
reduce the voting rights of the Series A preferred stock by a ratio
of 1 for [ ], consistent with the Reverse Stock Split
(the “Reduced Voting Power”), to be effective as of the date of the
Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, the Series A Preferred Stock now
represents [ ] votes (31.89 %
of the voting power on all matters submitted to a stockholder
vote). Our Board and a majority of our stockholders approved, via
written consent, amending our articles of incorporation to reflect
the Reduced Voting Power. On or prior to the effective date of the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we
will amend our articles of incorporation to effect the Reduced
Voting Power.
The Reverse Stock Split will not impact the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock.
Common Stock
As of August 20, 2020, 854,410,001 shares of Class A common stock
were issued and outstanding and held by 32 stockholders of record,
and we had no shares of Class B common stock issued and
outstanding. Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote
for each share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote;
Class B common stock does not have any voting rights.
Holders of Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
Holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock voting for the
election of directors can elect all of the directors. Holders of
our common stock representing a majority of the voting power of our
capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote,
represented in person or by proxy, are necessary to constitute a
quorum at any meeting of our stockholders. A vote by the holders of
a majority of our outstanding shares is required to effectuate
certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger
or an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation.
Although there are no provisions in our charter or by-laws that may
delay, defer or prevent a change in control, we are authorized,
without stockholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock
that may contain rights or restrictions that could have this
effect.
Holders of both classes of common stock are entitled to share in
all dividends that the Board, in its discretion, declares from
legally available funds. In the event of liquidation, dissolution
or winding up, each outstanding share entitles its holder to
participate pro rata in all assets that remain after payment of
liabilities and after providing for each class of stock, if any,
having preference over the common stock. Holders of both classes of
our common stock have no pre-emptive rights, no conversion rights
and there are no redemption provisions applicable to our common
stock.
Preferred Stock
Our Board has the authority, without further action by the
stockholders, to issue from time to time the preferred stock in one
or more series for such consideration and with such relative
rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions that the Board may
determine. The preferences, powers, rights and restrictions of
different series of preferred stock may differ with respect to
dividend rates, amounts payable on liquidation, voting rights,
conversion rights, redemption provisions, sinking fund provisions
and purchase funds and other matters. The issuance of preferred
stock could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of
the holders of common stock.
Effective December 17, 2013, the Company amended its Articles of
Incorporation to designate Series A of the Company’s preferred
stock, no par value. Under the amendment, there are two shares of
Series A preferred stock authorized. The holders of Series A
preferred stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of
the Company’s common stock on all matters upon which the Company’s
stockholders may vote.
Each share of Series A preferred
stock is entitled to 200,000,000 votes on all such matters on a
pre-reverse basis. Each share of Series A preferred stock is
convertible into one share of the Company’s common stock at the
holder’s option. On December 19, 2013, the Company issued two
shares of Series A preferred stock to Kim Thompson, the Company’s
founder, CEO, CFO, President, and sole director.
The shares of Series A preferred stock were issued to Mr. Thompson
in exchange for an agreement to extend to October, 30, 2014 the
date on which the Company would pay certain debts owed to Mr.
Thompson. As part of the transaction, Mr. Thompson also agreed to
forgive $30,000 which the Company owed to him as compensation. In
connection with the transaction, the Company incurred a loss on
settlement of debt of $5,187,800.
Dividends
Since inception we have not paid any cash dividends on our capital
stock. We currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in
the foreseeable future on our common stock, when issued pursuant to
this offering. Although we intend to retain our earnings, if any,
to finance the exploration and growth of our business, our Board
will have the discretion to declare and pay dividends in the
future. Payment of dividends in the future will depend upon our
earnings, capital requirements, and other factors, which our Board
may deem relevant.
Certain Anti-Takeover Effects
Certain provisions of Wyoming law may have an anti-takeover effect
and may delay or prevent a tender offer or other acquisition
transaction that a shareholder might consider to be in his or her
best interest. The summary of the provisions of Wyoming law set
forth below does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to Wyoming law.
The issuance of shares of preferred stock, the issuance of rights
to purchase such shares, and the imposition of certain other
adverse effects on any party contemplating a takeover could be used
to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For instance,
the issuance of the preferred stock, if the option to acquire such
shares is exercised, would impede a business combination by the
voting rights that would enable a holder to block such a
transaction. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance
of other preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of
holders of our common stock.
Under Wyoming law, a director, in determining what he reasonably
believes to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, does not need to consider only the interests of the
corporation’s stockholders in any takeover matter but may also, in
his discretion, may consider any of the following:
|
(i) |
The
interests of the corporation’s employees, suppliers, creditors and
customers; |
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
The
economy of the state and nation; |
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
The
impact of any action upon the communities in or near which the
corporation’s facilities or operations are located; |
|
|
|
|
(iv) |
The
long-term interests of the corporation and its stockholders,
including the possibility that those interests may be best served
by the continued independence of the corporation; and |
|
|
|
|
(v) |
Any
other factors relevant to promoting or preserving public or
community interests. |
The outstanding Series A Preferred Stock can deter a takeover.
Because our Board is not required to make any determination on
matters affecting potential takeovers solely based on its judgment
as to the best interests of our stockholders, our board of
directors could act in a manner that would discourage an
acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority,
of our stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or
in which such stockholders might receive a premium for their stock
over the then market price of such stock. Our Board of directors
presently does not intend to seek stockholder approval prior to the
issuance of currently authorized stock, unless otherwise required
by law or applicable stock exchange rules.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our Common Stock is Olde Monmouth Stock
Transfer Co., Inc.
Listing
Our Common stock is quoted on the OTCQB under the trading symbol
KBLB”. We have applied to have our Common Stock listed on the
Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “KBLB” and our Purchase
Warrants listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol
“KBLBW”.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters
See the section of this prospectus entitled “Management —
Indemnification”.
Penny Stock Regulation
The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define “penny
stock” to be any equity security that has a market price of
less than Five Dollars ($5.00) per share or an exercise price of
less than Five Dollars ($5.00) per share. Such securities are
subject to rules that impose additional sales practice requirements
on broker-dealers who sell them. For transactions covered by these
rules, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability
determination for the purchaser of such securities and have
received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior
to the purchase. Additionally, for any transaction involving a
penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require the delivery, prior
to the transaction, of a disclosure schedule prepared by the SEC
relating to the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must
disclose the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the
registered representative, current quotations for the securities
and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market-maker, the
broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s
presumed control over the market. Finally, among other
requirements, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent
price information for the penny stock held in the account and
information on the limited market in penny stocks. As our Common
Stock immediately following this Offering may be subject to such
penny stock rules, purchasers in this Offering will in all
likelihood find it more difficult to sell their Common Stock shares
in the secondary market.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES THAT WE ARE
OFFERING
We are offering 1,904,762 Units in this offering at an assumed
initial offering price of $5.25 per Unit. Each Unit consisting of
one share of our Common Stock together with one Purchase Warrants
to purchase one share of our Common Stock. The shares of Common
Stock accompanying Purchase Warrants will be issued separately. We
are also registering the shares of Common Stock issuable from time
to time upon exercise of the Purchase Warrants offered hereby.
Common Stock
The material terms and provisions of our Common Stock and each
other class of our securities that qualifies or limits our Common
Stock are described in the section entitled “Description of
Securities” in this prospectus.
Purchase Warrants to be Issued in this Offering
The following summary of
certain terms and provisions of the Purchase Warrants offered
hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its
entirety by, the provisions of the warrant agent agreement between
us and Olde Monmouth, as warrant agent, and the form of Purchase
Warrant, both of which are filed as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part. Prospective investors
should carefully review the terms and provisions set forth in the
warrant agent agreement, including the annexes thereto, and form of
Purchase Warrant.
Form. Pursuant to a
warrant agent agreement between us and Olde Monmouth, as warrant
agent, the Purchase Warrants will be issued in book-entry form and
shall initially be represented only by one or more global warrants
deposited with the warrant agent, as custodian on behalf of The
Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by
DTC.
Exercisability. The Purchase Warrants are exercisable at any
time after their original issuance and at any time up to the date
that is five years after their original issuance. The Purchase
Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in
whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise
notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the
issuance of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Purchase
Warrants under the Securities Act is effective and available for
the issuance of such shares, or an exemption from registration
under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such
shares, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the
number of shares of Common Stock purchased upon such exercise. If a
registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock underlying the Purchase Warrants under the Securities
Act is not effective or available and an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act is not available for the
issuance of such shares, the holder may, in its sole discretion,
elect to exercise the Purchase Warrant through a cashless exercise,
in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net
number of shares of Common Stock determined according to the
formula set forth in the Purchase Warrant. No fractional shares of
Common Stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a
Purchase Warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the
holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied
by the exercise price.
Exercise Limitation. A holder will not have the right to
exercise any portion of the Purchase Warrant if the holder
(together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of
4.99% (or, upon election of the holder, 9.99%) of the number of
shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving
effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined
in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Warrants. However, any
holder may increase or decrease such percentage, provided that any
increase will not be effective until the 61st day after
such election.
Exercise Price. The Purchase Warrants will have an exercise
price of $5.25 per share, which is 100% of the assumed public
offering price and which is the midpoint of the price range set
forth on the cover page of this prospectus. The exercise price is
subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock
dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations,
reclassifications or similar events affecting our Common Stock and
also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or
other property to our stockholders.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the Purchase
Warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned
without our consent.
Exchange Listing. There is no established trading market for
the Purchase Warrants. We intend to seek a listing for the Purchase
Warrants on Nasdaq or other national exchange under the symbol
“KBLBW,” however we cannot assure you that we will be successful
listing the Purchase Warrants on Nasdaq or other national exchange
or, if successful, that an active trading market for the Purchase
Warrants will develop or be sustained.
Fundamental Transactions. If a fundamental transaction as
defined in the Purchase Warrant occurs, then the successor entity
will succeed to, and be substituted for us, and may exercise every
right and power that we may exercise and will assume all of our
obligations under the Purchase Warrants with the same effect as if
such successor entity had been named in the Purchase Warrant
itself. If holders of our Common Stock are given a choice as to the
securities, cash or property to be received in a fundamental
transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to
the consideration it receives upon any exercise of the Purchase
Warrant following such fundamental transaction.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the
Purchase Warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of shares
of our Common Stock, the holder of a Purchase Warrant does not have
the rights or privileges of a holder of our Common Stock, including
any voting rights, until the holder exercises the Purchase
Warrant.
SHARES
ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Prior to this offering, only a limited public market for our Common
Stock existed on the OTCQB. Future sales of substantial amounts of
our Common Stock in the public market, including shares issued upon
exercise of outstanding warrants, or the anticipation of such
sales, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our
Common Stock from time to time and could impair our ability to
raise equity capital in the future.
Upon the closing of this offering, we will have [ ]
shares of our Common Stock outstanding (assuming no exercise of the
underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock
and/or Purchase Warrants). All of the shares sold in this offering
will be freely tradable unless purchased by our “affiliates,” as
that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or the Securities Act.
Lock-Up
For further details on the lock-up agreements, see the section
entitled “Underwriting – Lock Up Agreements.”
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as in effect on
the date of this prospectus, any person who is not our affiliate at
any time during the preceding three months, and who has
beneficially owned their shares for at least six months, including
the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our
affiliates, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares
of our Common Stock provided current public information about us is
available, and, after owning such shares for at least one year,
including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of
our affiliates, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of
shares of our Common Stock without restriction.
A person who is our affiliate or who was our affiliate at any time
during the preceding three months, and who has beneficially owned
restricted securities for at least
six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other
than one of our affiliates, is entitled to sell within any
three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the
greater of:
|
● |
1% of
the number of shares of our Common Stock then outstanding, which
will equal approximately 8,544,100 shares, or |
|
● |
the
average weekly trading volume of our Common Stock during the four
calendar weeks preceding the filing of a Notice of Proposed Sale of
Securities pursuant to Rule 144 with respect to the
sale. |
Sales
under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale
provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of
current public information about us.
Rule
701
In
general, under Rule of the Securities Act, any of our employees,
directors, consultants or advisors who purchased shares from us in
connection with a qualified compensatory stock or option plan or
other written agreement and in compliance with Rule 701, is
eligible to resell those shares 90 days after the effective date of
the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in
reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with the various
restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule
144.
CERTAIN
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax
considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition
of our Common Stock. This summary does not provide a complete
analysis of all potential tax considerations. The information
provided below is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations
promulgated thereunder and administrative rulings and judicial
decisions, all as currently in effect. These authorities may change
at any time, possibly on a retroactive basis, or the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service (the “IRS”), might interpret the existing
authorities differently. In either case, the tax considerations of
purchasing, owning or disposing of Common Stock could differ from
those described below.
This discussion is addressed only to U.S. holders (defined below)
which hold our shares of Common Stock as a “capital asset” within
the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held
for investment). This discussion does not address all of the U.S.
federal income tax considerations that might be relevant to a
beneficial owner in light of such beneficial owner’s particular
circumstances or to beneficial owners subject to special treatment
under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including:
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● |
a
broker, dealer or trader in securities, currencies, commodities, or
notional principal contracts; |
|
● |
a
bank, financial institution or insurance company; |
|
● |
a
regulated investment company, a real estate investment trust or
grantor trust; |
|
● |
a
tax-exempt entity or organization, including an individual
retirement account or Roth IRA as defined in Section 408 or 408A of
the Code, respectively; |
|
● |
a
person holding the Common Stock as part of a hedging, integrated,
or conversion transaction or a straddle, or a person deemed to sell
Common Stock under the constructive sale provisions of the
Code; |
|
● |
a
trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of
tax accounting for securities; |
|
● |
an
entity that is treated as a partnership or other pass-through
entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
|
● |
a
person who is a partner or investor in a partnership or other
pass-through entity that holds the Common Stock; |
|
● |
a
U.S. person whose “functional currency” is not the U.S.
dollar; |
|
● |
a
controlled foreign corporation or passive foreign investment
company; |
|
● |
a
qualified foreign pension fund or an entity that is wholly owned by
one or more qualified foreign pension funds; or |
|
● |
a
U.S. expatriate. |
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial
owner of a share of Common Stock that is, for U.S. federal income
tax purposes:
|
● |
an
individual who is a citizen or resident of the United
States; |
|
● |
a
corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S.
federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia; |
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● |
an
estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income
taxation regardless of its source; or |
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● |
a
trust if (1) it is subject to the primary supervision of a court
within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2)
it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury
regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is a
beneficial owner of a share of Common Stock that is (i) a foreign
corporation, (ii) a nonresident alien individual, or (iii) a
foreign estate or trust that in each case is not subject to U.S.
federal income tax on a net-income basis on income or gain from a
share of Common Stock.
If a partnership holds shares of Common Stock, the tax treatment of
a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and
the activities of the partnership. A partnership holding shares of
Common Stock or a partner therein should consult its own tax
advisors as to the tax consequences of holding and disposing of
shares of Common Stock.
You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the
application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular
situation, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of our Common Stock arising under the
U.S. federal estate or gift tax rules or under the laws of any U.S.
state or local or any non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction or
under any applicable tax treaty.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders
of Common Stock
Dividends on our Common Stock
We do not expect to declare or pay any distributions on our Common
Stock in the foreseeable future. If we do make any distributions on
shares of our Common Stock, however, such distributions will be
includible in the gross income of a U.S. holder as ordinary
dividend income to the extent paid out of current or accumulated
earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Any portion of a distribution in excess of current or
accumulated earnings and profits would be treated as a return of
the holder’s tax basis in its Common Stock and then as gain from
the sale or exchange of the Common Stock. Under current law, if
certain requirements are met, a preferential U.S. federal income
tax rate will apply to any dividends paid to a holder of Common
Stock who is a U.S. individual.
Distributions to U.S. holders that are corporate stockholders,
constituting dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes, may
qualify for the dividends received deduction, or DRD, which is
generally available to corporate stockholders. No assurance can be
given that we will have sufficient earnings and profits (as
determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) to cause any
distributions to be eligible for a DRD. In addition, a DRD is
available only if certain holding periods and other taxable income
requirements are satisfied.
Sale of Common Stock
A U.S. holder of Common Stock will generally recognize gain or loss
on the taxable sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of such
stock in an amount equal to the difference between such U.S.
holder’s amount realized on the sale and its adjusted tax basis in
the Common Stock sold. A U.S. holder’s amount realized should equal
the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property
received in consideration of its stock. The gain or loss should be
capital gain or loss and should be long-term capital gain or loss
if the Common Stock is held for more than one year at the time of
disposition. The deductibility of capital losses for U.S. federal
income tax purposes is subject to limitations under the Code. Under
current law, long-term capital gain recognized by an individual
U.S. holder is generally eligible for a preferential U.S. federal
income tax rate.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements generally will apply to payments
of dividends on shares of Common Stock and to the proceeds of a
sale of Common Stock unless a U.S. holder is an exempt recipient,
such as a corporation. Backup withholding will apply to those
payments if a U.S. holder fails to provide its correct taxpayer
identification number and certification of exempt status, or fails
to report in full dividend income. Any amounts withheld under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit
against U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required
information is timely furnished to the IRS.
UNDERWRITING
Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager and as
representative of the underwriters of this offering (the
“Representative”). Subject to the terms and conditions of an
underwriting agreement between us and the Representative, we have
agreed to sell to each underwriter named below, and each
underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, at the
public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on
the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of our
Common Stock and corresponding Purchase Warrants listed next to its
name in the following table on a firm commitment basis:
Underwriter |
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock |
|
|
Number of Purchase Warrants |
|
Maxim Group LLC |
|
|
1,904,476 |
|
|
|
1,904,476 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The underwriters are committed to purchase all the shares of our
Common Stock and corresponding Purchase Warrants offered by this
prospectus if they purchase any shares of our Common Stock and
corresponding Purchase Warrants. The underwriting agreement also
provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments
of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may
be terminated. The underwriters are not obligated to purchase the
shares of our Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants covered by the
underwriters’ over-allotment option described below. The
underwriters are offering the shares of our Common Stock and
corresponding Purchase Warrants, subject to prior sale, when, as
and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal
matters by their counsel, and other conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of
officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve
the right to withdraw, cancel, or modify offers to the public and
to reject orders in whole or in part.
Over-Allotment Option
We have granted to the underwriters
an option, exercisable no later than 45 calendar days after the
date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 285,715
shares of our Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants to purchase
285,715 shares of our Common Stock at the assumed public
offering price
listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting
discounts. The underwriters may exercise this option only to cover
over-allotments, if any, made in connection with this offering and
may exercise this option to purchase additional shares of Common
Stock and/or Purchase Warrants. To the extent the option is
exercised and the conditions of the underwriting agreement are
satisfied, we will be obligated to sell to the underwriters, and
the underwriters will be obligated to purchase, these additional
shares of our Common Stock and/or Purchase Warrants.
Discounts and Commissions
We have agreed to provide the underwriters with an underwriting
discount equal to eight percent (8.0%) of the public offering price
for all securities sold in this offering.
The Representative has advised us that the underwriters propose to
offer the shares of Common Stock and corresponding Purchase
Warrants directly to the public at the public offering price set
forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the
Representative may offer some of the shares of Common Stock and
corresponding Purchase Warrants to other securities dealers at such
price less a concession of up to $[●] per share of Common Stock and
corresponding Purchase Warrant. After the offering to the public,
the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the
Representative without changing the Company’s proceeds from the
underwriters’ purchase of the shares of Common Stock and
corresponding Purchase Warrants.
The
following table summarizes the public offering price, underwriting
discounts, and proceeds before estimated offering fees and expenses
to us assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the
underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our Common
Stock and/or Purchase Warrants. The underwriting discounts are
equal to the public offering price per share and related Purchase
Warrants less the amount per share the underwriters pay us for the
shares of our common stock and Purchase Warrants.