Certain statements in this annual report on Form 10-K contain or may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements were based on various factors and were derived utilizing numerous assumptions and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to consummate a merger or business combination, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, U.S. and global competition, and other factors. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond our control. You should consider the areas of risk described in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made herein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Readers should carefully review this annual report in its entirety, including but not limited to our financial statements and the notes thereto. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the Federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events. For any forward-looking statements contained in any document, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Item 1. Business
Overview
We intend to provide capital directly to borrowers seeking financing for commercial real estate properties either for refinancing or acquisitions. These loans will encompass originating performing commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we intend to operate our business so that we do not become subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act). Accordingly, we do not plan to primarily engage in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and we do not plan to acquire investment securities (such as the above-referenced commercial mortgage-backed securities) having a value exceeding 40% of the value of the Companys total assets.
We expect to offer financing across a broad-spectrum of asset backed and commercial real asset type collateral at all points within an assets capital property type such as office, retail, industrial, multi-family, and hospitality. Alpha Investment will coordinate its lending initiatives with outside commercial real estate loan brokers, which have access to commercial real estate owners seeking financing or refinancing opportunities, and with loan origination firms that have Borrowers seeking loans. This will enable ALPC to broaden its access to new Borrowers and to develop and implement financing solutions for these other lenders, mortgage bankers, borrowers, and owners. In the event the Company uses 3rd party loan origination services and underwriters, the Company will cover these costs in accordance with industry standard fees.
Furthermore, Omega Commercial Finance Corporation, a publicly-held Wyoming corporation (Omega) can introduce financing transactions to the Company to develop and implement a Borrowers customized financing solutions. As a publicly-held financial services holding company Omega is the owner of an umbrella of diversified financial service related companies. As a holding company, Omega does not directly produce goods or services; rather Omega accomplishes these goals, seeks to generate revenue and realize shareholder value by acting as an umbrella holding company to a portfolio of various operating commercial real estate and capital market subsidiaries companies.
Alpha Investments capital resources have been limited to date, which has restricted its business activities to organizational matters, as well as planning implementation of its proposed business. Alpha Investments ability to implement that plan will be subject to raising significant capital, primarily from the proceeds of the Direct Offering.
Corporate History
We were incorporated in the State of Delaware on February 22, 2013, to develop, create, manufacture and market, toys for small children which would be designed to attach to car seats and amuse and entertain children during a drive, without distracting the attention of the driver. The Company, however, encountered significant constraints in raising sufficient capital to fully implement its business plan.
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On March 17, 2017, Omega purchased 35,550,000 outstanding shares of the Companys common stock in the Control Share Sale from Malcolm Hargrave (35,000,000 shares), DTH International Corporation (500,000 shares) and Lisa Foster (50,000 shares) for aggregate consideration of $295,000. The Control Share Sale was consummated in a private transaction pursuant to a common stock purchase agreement entered between Omega and Mr. Hargrave, acting individually and on behalf of the other selling stockholders. Upon completion of the Control Share Sale, a
Change in Control
of the Company took place and in connection therewith, Mr. Hargrave resigned as our sole director and officer and Omega, as the new majority stockholder of the Company, elected Timothy R. Fussell, Ph.D. as President, Chairman of the Board and a director and Todd C. Buxton, Omegas Chief Executive Officer, as Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman of the Board and a director.
In addition to the foregoing, new management elected to focus the shift in the Companys business focus to real estate and other commercial lending, which they believed offered better opportunities for shareholder growth. In connection therewith, on March 30, 2017, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State changing our name from
Gogo Baby, Inc.
to
Alpha Investment Inc.
to better reflect our new business plan. The name change and a corresponding change in the Companys OTC markets trading symbol from GGBY to ALPC received approval from FINRA and became effective as of April 19, 2017.
Plan of Operations
Our core objective will be to achieve advantageous yields and consistent interest income on short and medium term loans (
Loans
) by:
furnishing capital to our affiliated lenders to make Loans through their correspondent platforms primarily to borrowers such as commercial real estate developers and speculators, business owners, landlords and owners of core assets when traditional financing is unavailable to such borrowers for acquisitions, refinancing of commercial property loans and other asset backed transactions; and
making Loans directly to small businesses in the commercial real estate and other asset-backed markets.
Either directly or in conjunction with our affiliated lenders, we plan to consult on various financing programs with an emphasis on Loans secured by commercial real estate, including office buildings, multi-family residences, shopping centers, industrial, and hotels, as well as asset backed Loans secured by account receivables from established companies. Loans may consist of senior debt loans, mezzanine or subordinated loans, preferred equity and other equity participation financing structures, and in the case of specialty financing, for the factoring of receivables secured by a Uniform Commercial Code security interest.
We intend to follow a
conservative lending
profile for the Loans we fund. Our strategy is to seek low leveraged first lien senior debt mortgage loans and high debt service structured financing programs, as opposed to riskier, less secure, mezzanine or equity positions.
Many times when a company decides to pursue new opportunities, they find that the barriers of entry are often high or unattainable. Typically, this is due to a lack of capital and the proper advisory services and solutions necessary for these companies to achieve their business potential. We have determined to address that need by focusing our business efforts primarily for the purpose of underwriting or investing in Loans and/or specialty financing programs backed or secured by real estate or other types of related assets or equity interests.
Regardless of the type of Loan, our focus is will be earning rates of return that exceed the commensurate level of risk associated with each Loan and specialty financing program. We plan to use our and our affiliated lenders third-party relationships with seasoned providers to independently assess the value, volatility, and adequacy of the collateral for each Loan we fund, whether through our affiliated lenders or directly, to assure that all Loans made are appropriately collateralized. As part of our assurance procedures, a third party independent asset loan manager will assess the ease of repossessing and disposing of collateral for each loan. We also will ensure that underlying Loans will be adequately insured. We plan to use only third-party credit and risk assessment firms that utilize standard securitization underwriting protocols and criteria in the credit and risk assessment process, prior to final approval of any Loan.
The Company has the authority to provide our affiliated lenders with capital to or directly fund or invest in a wide variety of Loans, securities, and other real estate related investments, domestic or foreign, of all kinds and descriptions, whether publicly traded or privately placed, including but not limited to common and preferred stocks, bonds and other debt securities, direct ownership interests in real estate, interests in real estate investment funds, Loans of all kind (including the Loans herein), accounts receivable, notes, convertible securities, limited partnership interests, limited liability company interests, mutual fund shares, options, warrants, derivatives, currencies, monetary instruments and cash and cash equivalents. We will not trade in commodities or financial futures.
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Business Objectives and Strategy
Our core business objective is to achieve advantageous and consistent rates of return from short and medium term Loans to borrowers when traditional financing is unavailable to such borrowers for acquisitions, refinancing of commercial property loans and other asset backed transactions. We plan to focus on various alternative commercial real estate financings with an emphasis on Loans secured by commercial real estate and also seek to invest in financing of core real estate assets that include office buildings, multi-family residences, shopping centers, and hospitality, plus ground up entitled land developments. The Loans may consist of senior debt loans, mezzanine or subordinated loans, preferred equity and other equity participation financing structures. We intend to follow a
conservative lending
profile for the Loans we fund, which means low loan to value and high debt service cover ratios. Our strategy is to seek Loans that are first lien, senior debt mortgage loans and specialty financing programs, as opposed to riskier, yet much more profitable, and less secure mezzanine or equity positions.
With respect to asset backed Loans, we plan to fund, either through our affiliated lenders or directly, accounts receivable based lines of credit better known as factoring. Factoring assists small to medium sized business owners in resolving their short term working capital needs. This service will be supported by a back-office underwriting, due diligence, sales, marketing, servicing, training, and collections provider working either directly with us or with our affiliated lenders. We plan to utilize state of the art software that will allow us to facilitate and organize a seamless stream of completed transactions. Further, we plan to leverage our assets at a multiple of up to 6(x) times that will maximize our capital. We believe that this will position us to create capitalization models that offer us high yielding short term Loans as the result of the ability of this financing product to garner high returns and turnover of the deployed capital that is secured by receivables due from established companies such as a Wall Mart, GM and Best Buy,
Use of Loan Servicers
In carrying out our business strategy, we will likely utilize third-party firms that specialize in Loan origination and servicing (
Servicers
), either directly or through our affiliated lenders. We intend to perform due diligence on each Servicer which we, directly or indirectly, plan use in the origination and servicing of Loans, in order to evaluate the firms experience and expertise in originating and servicing Loans that satisfy our lending and investment criteria.
Use of Other Third-Party Service Providers
We, either directly or through our affiliated lenders, will utilize other third parties to provide various ancillary services, such as such as evaluation and feasibility services, closing and escrow services and fund administration services.
Sale of Participations; Co-Investments and Participations
In the discretion of management, we may sell participation rights in the Loans we originate to other entities.
We may from time to time co-invest and or syndicate participation interest in loans as the administrative agent or buying a participation interest. We plan to only employ this strategy with seasoned well-established organizations in the CRE lending industry such as private trusts, real estate financing institutions, mutual funds, pension funds, investment houses, or hedge funds of fund. We believe that this will afford the Company with an additional opportunity to participate in well-structured transactions with organizations with proven track records involving originating, underwriting, and servicing.
The Commercial Real Estate Lending Product
Operationally, management believes the market for commercial mortgage loans will offer opportunities for the deployment of capital we raise. The commercial real estate (CRE) markets have suffered greatly in recent years beginning with the 2008 U.S. financial market crisis, which resulted in a steep and prolonged recession. However, as the lending markets have steadily recovered along with market leaders such as large banks Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Capital One, believe CRE lending landscape has now stabilized in select Centralized Business Districts known as
CBDs
and afford extremely attractive opportunities for deploying capital. Thus, we will focus on positioning the Company to seize this opportunity within this market. We believe that our proposed business model is comparable to that currently being used by some of the top-level commercial real estate lender industry professionals. However, to compete and succeed within this industry, we, plan to work with our correspondent lenders in developing a proprietary pricing and lending model for the commercial real estate finance debt and equity market. If we are able to do so, as to which no assurance can be given, we believe that we will have a strategic advantage to compete in the market.
5
Key Operational Highlights CRE Loans
●
The overall core property commercial real estate (
CRE
) lending market is vast and global pushing well above a trillion dollars so we believe there are significant business opportunities that will afford the Company continued growth.
●
We expect that our lending model will allow for smaller increments of loans designed for quicker closings to permit investors to monitor development of the ongoing balance sheet and enable us to more rapidly achieve milestones.
●
Trepp.com a CMBS research firm, estimates the current size of the CMBS loan market at approximately $680 billion with $10.0 billion of underlying mortgages maturing in the near term.
●
We plan to retain or use seasoned commercial real estate securitization in-house and independent specialists retained by our affiliated lenders to coordinate our loan underwriting model centered on mitigating loan-loss risks and to perform all other related and required third party due diligence.
●
Since the securitization industry has standardized the underwriting criteria, we anticipate that it will allow for each third - party service provider we use to integrate and exchange information effectively and efficiently.
●
We believe that we will have low cost and prudent leverage available to us to fund loans originated or made either through our affiliated lenders or directly.
●
We intend to utilize our own internal industry knowledge as well as our affiliated lenders
significant loan origination, structuring, and closing experience to serve our needs to generate revenues.
●
Our strategy has been developed with the input of experienced industry veterans.
The Commercial Real Estate Market Forecast
·
Capital Markets: The next three years will likely see cap rates flat at best or rising, which we expect will outstrip property income growth. The economys performance over the period will determine whether commercial real estate values continue to rise mildly, remain relatively flat or decline mildly or moderately.
·
Office: U.S. office market growth should continue in 2018, but at a slower pace, due to higher completions and the tight labor markets impact on tenant demand.
·
Occupier: Labor remains the primary challenge facing corporations. Even as they lower their space requirements, many occupiers are reinventing or adapting their workplace standards to meet employee demand for amenity-focused, flexible, technology-driven work environments.
·
Industrial & Logistics: Although we are well along in the economic cycle, in the e-commerce/omnichannel cycle we are not, so demand for high-quality, well-located industrial real estate should not wane anytime soon. In most markets, a lack of quality space options is challenging those seeking to expand their supply chains.
·
Retail: Changing demographics, consumer expectations and omnichannel retailing will continue to reshape retail and its real estate environment in 2018. The consumer trend toward off-price and discount retail will continue, with mid-range retailers seeking new ways to limit share losses to lower-priced players.
·
Multifamily: Developers are poised to register the second-highest annual completions count of this cycle in 2018, down by 9.2% from 2017s cycle peak. Because apartment starts began to slow in 2017, the multifamily market will get a reprieve from new supply by late 2018 and throughout 2019.
·
Hotel: Forecasts for continued U.S. economic expansion portend a favorable year ahead for the U.S. lodging industry, with forecasts of income and employment growthcoupled with slowing supply growth promising increased demand for hotels.
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·
Data Centers: The U.S. wholesale data center market continues to thrive, with sustained record-setting absorption levels for the past three years. Transformation and flexibility are the key themes in the multi-tenant data center space in 2018.
·
Life Sciences: The greater health care needs of an aging population and quickening advancement in software and computing power have prompted strong biotech employment growth, with demand surges in most major markets and double-digit rent growth in some. But with the unsustainable rise in health care costs, the industry is under pressure to identify new, more effective, less costly solutions.
·
Medical Office: The direction of health care policy and payment mechanisms may remain uncertain, but rapid growth in the older population will remain a significant tailwind for medical-office demand in the years ahead.
·
Seniors Housing: The seniors housing market improved modestly in 2017 and is set to improve further in 2018, largely due to lower construction levels. For the most part, the traditional segments of seniors housingindependent living, assisted living, memory care and nursing careare not yet benefiting from baby boomer demand.
Loan Production Strategy
We have access to a database of top commercial real estate mortgage bankers nationwide through organizations such as Strategic Alliance Mortgage, LLC (
SAM
), which is a company comprised of the top independently owned commercial real estate investment banking firms located throughout the United States. Through SAM. firms utilizes their shared national knowledge to execute superior capital market solutions for developers, commercial real estate investors, investment management firms, asset management firms, real estate investment trusts and private real estate equity firms with the goal of utilizing their production networks. We have focused on firms that have experienced loan origination back office staff to ensure our CRE Loan services will be appropriately and professionally being marketed. Also, management has a proprietary database of 50 to 100 mortgage bankers to market their CRE Loan products to and generate Loan production internally for consistent deal flow. In addition, we believe that as our operations expand, we always have the opportunity to establish and retain an in-house sales team.)
Key Operational Highlights Asset-Backed Financing
Our asset-backed lending operations will be based on the premise that business does not always go as planned; therefore we will work with clients to get them realigned financially with viable solutions for optimum profitability. Key among the services provided through this division, is a line of factoring products.
Our main product will be advance factoring, which enables clients to turn accounts receivable into cash-on-hand with secured working capital loans. Accounts receivable, inventory or other assets such as real estate, equipment and intellectual property will secure the factoring divisions working capital Loans. Advance rates are determined based on analysis of appropriate metrics for each collateral class (e.g. accounts receivable dilution, assessed value of tangible assets).
Competition
A number of much larger proven commercial real estate lenders such as JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman, Apollo Commercial Real Estate, and RAIT currently have established operations with large balance sheets and back office staff. However, we are a non-banking institution and are not regulated like the larger banks or typical CMBS lender in that we are not pigeon holed into immediately securitizing our assets. Rather we elect to use the standardized securitization underwriting characteristics to originate loans, consequently to mitigate liquidly-risk (i.e. recapitalization) with the ability to hold these loans on the un-tainted balance sheet in order to garner stable income to yield strong growth and market share. However, as most of these lenders have far longer operating histories and significantly larger financial resources than we do, there can be no assurance given that we can effectively compete.
Employees
We currently have no employees other than our executive officers. As noted above, we intend to rely on third parties retained by us and our affiliated lenders and third parties retained by them for services in areas such as loan origination and production, credit analysis, underwriting, due diligence, and loan servicing. As our operations grow, we may elect to bring certain, if not all of these services in house.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks Related to Our Business
We have a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of our prospects can be made.
Alpha Investment was incorporated on February 22, 2013 under the name GoGo Baby, Inc. to develop, create, manufacture and market, toys for small children which would be designed to attach to car seats and amuse and entertain children during a drive, without distracting the attention of the driver. The Company, however, encountered significant constraints in raising sufficient capital to fully implement such business plan. The Company only shifted its business focus to commercial estate and other asset-based lending activities upon completion of the Control Share Acquisition on March 17, 2017. To date, the Company has realized only minimal revenues therefrom and has no operating history in its present line of business upon which an evaluation of our future prospects can be made. Based upon current plans, we expect to incur operating losses in future periods as we incur expenses associated with the implementation of our new business plan. Further, we cannot guarantee that we will be successful in realizing revenues from our new line of business or in achieving or sustaining positive cash flow at any time in the future. Any such failure could result in the possible closure of our business or force us to seek additional capital through loans or additional sales of our equity securities to continue business operations, which would dilute the value of any Shares you purchase.
We have a history of losses and we require additional capital to execute our business plan.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not yet achieved profitable operations. We will require additional funds through the receipt of conventional sources of capital or through future sales of our Shares, until such time as our revenues are sufficient to meet our cost structure, and ultimately achieve profitable operations. These actions will result in dilution of the ownership interests of existing stockholders and may further dilute our book value, and that dilution may be material.
The audit report we received with respect to our year-end 2017 consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph referencing our conclusion that substantial doubt exists as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
The Companys present revenues are insufficient to meet operating expenses. The financial statement of the Company have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred cumulative net losses of $649,380 since its inception and requires capital for its contemplated operational and marketing activities to take place. The Company's ability to raise additional capital through the future issuances of common stock is unknown. Securing additional financing, the successful development of the Company's contemplated plan of operations, and its transition, ultimately, to the attainment of profitable operations are necessary for the Company to continue operations. The ability to successfully resolve these factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Any loans we make, whether through our affiliated lenders correspondent platforms or directly, may be highly illiquid therefore we may not be able to liquidate such investments in a timely manner.
Any loans we make, whether through our affiliated lenders correspondent platforms or directly, may be highly illiquid with no established market, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to liquidate such investments in a timely manner. Although loans and other investments we seek to make may generate current income, the return of capital and the realization of gains, if any, from such investments generally will occur only upon the partial or complete realization or disposition of such loan or investment.
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Any Loans that are believed to fall under our commercial real estate propriety lending model can fail at any time if the following criteria is not properly vetted by ALPC. This covers the following four areas of our lending risk:
·
Conservative Lending Platform
. These conservative lending parameters often referred to as A Paper inherently contain the least amount of risk in that it undergoes very conservative underwriting and offers the lowest rates of returns.
·
Alt-A Loans
. These loans offer a bit more leeway than A Paper loans such as slightly higher loan amounts compared to the value of the property and garner slightly higher interest rates from the borrower as compared to the A Paper Loans.
·
Bridge Loans
. Commercial bridge loans are a flexible loan arrangement intended to provide short term financing until an exit strategy, such as a refinance or sale can be executed. These loans also garner higher interest rates.
·
Hard Money Loans
. A hard money loan is primarily secured and underwritten by the commercial real estate asset itself and not primarily as much on the borrower. These types of loans bring in higher rates than most other lending categories.
Loans made by us may become uncollectible and large amounts of uncollectible debt may materially affect our performance.
The loans made by may be highly illiquid and involve substantial risks. Many, and possibly all, of the loans will not be personally guaranteed. We will attempt to use information to help eliminate uncollectible debt resulting from bankruptcy, but no assurance can be made that we will be able to do so. If our debt portfolio contains a large portion of uncollectible debt, our performance may be negatively affected. In addition, if any borrower defaults on a loan, we may be required to expend monies in connection with foreclosure proceedings and other remedial actions which could adversely affect our performance. Certain loans may be affected negatively by economic, political, interest rate and other risks, any of which could result in an adverse change in the value of the asset that is used as collateral for the loan.
We intend to use leverage as part of our investment strategy which may substantially increase our risk of loss.
We have anticipated that certain loans will be originated or purchased using leverage available to us, thus increasing both net returns as well as risk. Although the use of leverage as part of our investment strategy may enhance returns and increase the number of investments that can be made, it may also substantially increase our risk of loss.
Our investment strategy is dependent upon servicers to originate and administer loans; failure of our or our affiliated lenders servicers to originate loans in sufficient quantity and quality may cause us to fail to effectively implement our investment strategy.
We will be largely dependent upon servicers (i.e., third-party firms that specialize in loan origination and servicing) to originate and administer loans in our portfolio. Should our and our affiliated lenders servicers fail to originate the loans in sufficient quantity and quality, we will be unable to effectively implement our investment strategy. Should such servicers fail to properly administer and service loans, including monitoring borrowers compliance with the terms of the relevant loan documents, collecting and forwarding loan payments to us, and adequately pursuing and protecting our rights under the loan documents, any such failure could have a material adverse effect on us and our investment operations. In addition, should any servicer default on its guaranty, if any, of a borrowers obligation to repay a loan, such default could significantly harm our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
In addition to servicers, we and our affiliated lenders may retain mortgage brokers to introduce loans to us that satisfy our investment criteria, and pay commissions to such mortgage brokers based on the value of such loans. Some of these mortgage brokers may be deemed to be affiliates of management. We believe that all commissions payable to such persons or other affiliates of management will be reasonable and consistent with industry standards.
We may appraise loans at a value that is materially different from the value ultimately realized.
We intend to make and value loans, in part, on the basis of information and data gathered from independent appraisal professionals. Although we expect to evaluate all such information and data and may seek independent corroboration when appropriate and reasonably available, we are not in a position to confirm the completeness, genuineness or accuracy of such information and data, and in some cases, complete and accurate information may not be available. It is possible that the appraised value of a loan may differ materially from the actual value ultimately realized by us with respect to such loan.
Our loan portfolio may be concentrated which could lead to increased risk.
It is possible that the portfolio of loans we make or any loan portfolio we may acquire will likely be concentrated in a limited number of loan investments. Thus, our stockholders may have limited diversification. In addition, if we make an investment in a single transaction with the intent of refinancing or selling a portion of the investment, there is a risk that we will be unable to successfully complete such a financing or sale. This could lead to increased risk as a result of having an unintended long-term investment and reduced diversification.
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We intend to make collateralized real estate loans which will subject us to various risks associated with the real estate industry.
We intend to make loans collateralized by real estate. Therefore, an investment in us may be subject to certain risks associated with the real estate industry in general. These risks include, without limitation: possible declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; overbuilding; extended vacancies of properties; increases in competition, property taxes and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws; costs resulting from the clean-up of, and liability to third parties for damages resulting from, environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; uninsured damages from floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters; limitations on and variations in rents; and changes in interest rates. To the extent that our investments, or the assets of underlying or collateralizing our investments, are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, we may be subject to the foregoing risks to a greater extent.
If third parties default or enter bankruptcy, we could suffer losses.
We may engage in transactions in securities and financial instruments that involve counterparties. Under certain conditions, we could suffer losses if counterparty to a transaction were to default or if the market for certain securities and/or financial instruments were to become illiquid. In addition, we could suffer losses if there were a default or bankruptcy by certain other third parties, including brokerage firms and banks with which we do business, or to which securities have been entrusted for custodial purposes.
We may make loans or purchase investments in foreign countries which may lead to additional risks not inherent to domestic lending.
We may make loans or purchase investments in foreign countries, some of which may prove to be unstable. As with any investment in a foreign country, there exists the risk of adverse political developments, including nationalization, acts of war or terrorism, and confiscation without fair compensation. Furthermore, any fluctuation in currency exchange rates will affect the value of investments in foreign securities or other assets and any restrictions imposed to prevent capital flight may make it difficult or impossible to exchange or repatriate foreign currency. In addition, laws and regulations of foreign countries may impose restrictions or approvals that would not exist in the United States and may require financing and structuring alternatives that differ significantly from those customarily used in the United States. Foreign countries also may impose taxes on us. We will analyze risks in the applicable foreign countries before making such investments, but no assurance can be given that a political or economic climate, or particular legal or regulatory risks, might not adversely affect our investments.
We currently rely on our executive officers and the loss of either of their services could have an adverse effect on the Company.
Until we further build up our management infrastructure, our success depends in large part upon the services of our officers, Todd C. Buxton, our CEO and Timothy R. Fussell, Ph.D., our President. The loss of either of their services would currently have a material adverse effect on Alpha Investment. We are not party to an employment agreement with our either of our executive officers and do not anticipate having key man insurance in place on them in the foreseeable future. Moreover, our CEO also serves as CEO of Omega. While we do not believe that such position will materially interfere with his duties at Alpha Investment or pose any conflict of interest, there can be no assurance given in this regard.
If we are unable to attract and retain additional personnel in the commercial lending field, our ability to compete will be harmed.
Attracting and retaining qualified personnel in the commercial lending field will be critical to our success, and competition for qualified personnel is intense. We may not be able to attract and retain such personnel on acceptable terms given the competition for such personnel. The inability to attract and retain qualified personnel could harm our business and our ability to compete.
We will face significant competition and if we are unable to effectively compete, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects may be seriously harmed.
The commercial lending field is highly competitive and we will face significant competition from other lenders, including banks, insurance companies and other lenders, many of which have significantly longer operating histories and financial resources than does Alpha Investment. We believe that we will be able to effectively compete based on our ability to leverage on the industry experience, platforms and resources of Omega and its affiliates, in order to expedite and facilitate our ability to underwrite and structure complex financing transactions and enable Alpha Investment to develop and implement customized creative capital solutions for other lenders, mortgage bankers, borrowers, and owners. However, there can be no assurance given that we can successfully do so and if we are unable to effectively compete, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects may be seriously harmed.
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If the investor in the $2,500,000 Private Offering exercises its right to cause the Company to repurchase the Shares subscribed for, our financial condition may be harmed.
On September 20, 2017, we consummated the sale of 166,667 Shares to a single accredited investor for $2,500,000 or $15.00 per Share in the $2,500,000 Private Offering. At closing, the aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000 were deposited in the escrow account of the Escrow Agent, purchasers counsel.
Pursuant to the terms of the $2,500,000 Private Offering, the purchaser has the right, exercisable through through April 2018 with the most recent extension, to cause the company to repurchase the Shares at the purchase price paid. If the purchaser exercises that right, the proceeds from the $2,500,000 Private Offering will not be released to the Company and accordingly our financial condition and business operations may be harmed.
Risks Related to the Companys Relationship with its Directors, Officers and Principal Stockholder
The Company does not have a policy that expressly prohibits its directors, officers and principal stockholders or their respective affiliates from engaging in their own commercial real estate lines of credit and or in business activities common with those conducted by the Company.
The Company does not have a policy that expressly prohibits its directors, officers, principal stockholders or their respective affiliates from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by the Company. The Companys code of business conduct and ethics contains a conflict of interest policy that prohibits its directors and executive officers, or whoever provides services to the Company, from engaging in any transaction that involves an actual conflict of interest with the Company,
provided
,
however
, that once the Company adds independent directors to its board, any such conflict may by a majority vote of independent directors.
ALPC, as a company, has limited experience in commercial lending and accordingly, will be dependent in significant part on its principal stockholder, Omega and its affiliates to generate loans through their net work of commercial real estate professionals.
ALPC, as a company, has limited experience in commercial lending and accordingly, will be dependent in significant part on its principal stockholder, Omega and its affiliates to generate loan referrals for their correspondent platforms. In addition, Omega If Omega and its affiliates are not able to do so, if their business is harmed for any reason or if there is an adverse development in the relationship between Alpha Investment and the lender financing program, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects may be seriously harmed
There are various conflicts of interest in the Companys relationships involving its directors and officers, which could result in decisions that are not in the best interest of the Companys stockholders. The ability of the directors and its officers and employees to engage in other business activities may reduce the time the director and officers spend managing the Companys business.
The Company is subject to conflicts of interest arising out of its relationship with directors and officers. The Company has and may enter commercial real estate lines of credit with its directors and officers. The Company has invested in and may in the future invest in, or acquire, certain investments through CRE lines of credit with its directors and officers. In addition, our Chief Executive Officer occupies a similar position with Omega, our principal stockholder. There can be no assurance that any procedural protections will be sufficient to assure that these transactions will be made on terms that will be at least as favorable to the Company as those that would have been obtained in an arms length transaction.
The Company currently has a total of $8,600,000 outstanding in unsecured commercial real estate lines of credit executed with Partners South Holdings LLC and Partners South Corporation, both of which are owned by the Chairman of the Company.
The Company currently has a total of $8,600,000 outstanding in unsecured commercial real estate lines of credit executed with Partners South Holdings LLC and Partners South Corporation, both of which are owned by the Chairman of the Company. The occurrence of a default under any of the lines of credit would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including, among other matters, an adverse effect on our ability to raise additional capital in the Direct Offering contemplated hereby.
The Company's business may be adversely affected if its reputation, the reputation of its directors, officers or principal stockholder or the reputation of counterparties with whom the Company associates, is harmed.
The Company may be harmed by reputational issues and adverse publicity associated with the Company, or its directors, officers or principal stockholder. Issues could include real or perceived legal or regulatory violations or could be the result of a failure in performance, risk-management, governance, technology or operations, or claims related to employee misconduct, conflict of interests, ethical issues or failure to protect private information, among others. Similarly, market rumors and actual or perceived association with counterparties whose own reputation is under question could harm the Company's business. Such reputational issues may depress the market price of the Company's capital stock or have a negative effect on the Company's ability to attract counterparties for its transactions, or otherwise adversely affect the Company.
11
Risks Related to Our Status as a Public Company
We are and will continue to be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that require us to incur audit fees and legal fees in connection with the preparation of such reports. These additional costs could reduce or eliminate our ability to earn a profit.
We are required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In order to comply with these requirements, our independent registered public accounting firm is required to review our financial statements on a quarterly basis and audit our financial statements on an annual basis. Moreover, our legal counsel has to review and assist in the preparation of such reports. The future costs charged by these professionals for such services cannot be accurately predicted at this time because factors such as the number and type of transactions that we engage in and the complexity of our reports cannot be determined at this time and will have a major effect on the amount of time to be spent by our auditors and attorneys. However, the incurrence of such costs will obviously be an expense to our operations and thus have a negative effect on our ability to meet our overhead requirements and earn a profit. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our Shares, if a market ever develops, could drop significantly.
Our internal controls may be inadequate, which could cause our financial reporting to be unreliable and lead to misinformation being disseminated to the public and we have identified material weaknesses in our internal controls and concluded that our internal controls are not effective.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. As defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the principal executive and principal financial officer and effected by the board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
●
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
●
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and/or directors of the Company; and
●
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
We do not have a sufficient number of employees to segregate responsibilities and may be unable to afford increasing our staff or engaging outside consultants or professionals to overcome our lack of employees. Effective internal controls, are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our common stock, if a market ever develops, could drop significantly.
Based on the most recent evaluation of our internal controls as of December 31, 2017, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level in that:
●
We do not have written documentation of our internal control policies and procedures. Written documentation of key internal controls over financial reporting is a requirement of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Management evaluated the impact of our failure to have written documentation of our internal controls and procedures on our assessment of our disclosure controls and procedures and has concluded that the control deficiency that resulted represented a material weakness.
●
We do not have sufficient segregation of duties within accounting functions, which is a basic internal control. Due to our size and nature, segregation of all conflicting duties may not always be possible and may not be economically feasible. However, to the extent possible, the initiation of transactions, the custody of assets and the recording of transactions should be performed by separate individuals. Our Chief Executive Officer evaluated the impact of our failure to have segregation of duties on our assessment of our disclosure controls and procedures and has concluded that the control deficiency that resulted represented a material weakness.
12
We rely on outside consultants and accountants to ensure compliance with US GAAP and SEC disclosure requirements
.
The Jobs Act has reduced the information that the Company is
required to disclose.
Under the Jobs Act, the information that the Company will be required to disclose has been reduced in a number of ways.
As a company that had gross revenues of less than $1 billion during the Companys last fiscal year, the Company is an
emerging growth company
, as defined in the Jobs Act (an
EGC
). The Company will retain that status until the earliest of (a) the last day of the fiscal year which the Company has total annual gross revenues of $1,000,000,000 (as indexed for inflation in the manner set forth in the Jobs Act) or more; (b) the last day of the fiscal year of following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of the common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (c) the date on which the Company has, during the previous three year period, issued more than $1,000,000,000 in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which the Company is deemed to be a
large accelerated filer
,
as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto. As an EGC, the Company is relieved from the following:
●
The Company is excluded from Section 404(b) of Sarbanes-Oxley Act (
Sarbanes-Oxley
), which otherwise would have required the Companys auditors to attest to and report on the Companys internal control over financial reporting. The Jobs Act also amended Section 103(a)(3) of Sarbanes-Oxley to provide that (i) any new rules that may be adopted by the PCAOB requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or changes to the auditors report to include auditor discussion and analysis (each of which is currently under consideration by the PCAOB) shall not apply to an audit of an EGC; and (ii) any other future rules adopted by the PCAOB will not apply to the Company
s audits unless the SEC determines otherwise.
●
The Jobs Act amended Section 7(a) of the Securities Act to provide that the Company need not present more than two years of audited financial statements in an initial public offering registration statement and in any other registration statement, need not present selected financial data pursuant to Item 301 of Regulation S-K for any period prior to the earliest audited period presented in connection with such initial public offering. In addition, the Company is not required to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standard until such date as a private company (i.e., a company that is not an
issuer
as defined by Section 2(a) of Sarbanes-Oxley) is required to comply with such new or revised accounting standard. Corresponding changes have been made to the Exchange Act, which relates to periodic reporting requirements, which would be applicable if the Company were required to comply with them.
●
As long as the Company is an EGC, the Company may comply with Item 402 of Regulation S-K, which requires extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosure regarding executive compensation, by disclosing the more limited information required of a
smaller reporting company
.
●
In the event that the Company registers its common stock under the Exchange Act as it intends to do, the Jobs Act will also exempt the Company from the following additional compensation-related disclosure provisions that were imposed on U.S. public companies pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act: (i) the advisory vote on executive compensation required by Section 14A(a) of the Exchange Act; (ii) the requirements of Section 14A(b) of the Exchange Act relating to shareholder advisory votes on
golden parachute
compensation; (iii) the requirements of Section 14(i) of the Exchange Act as to disclosure relating to the relationship between executive compensation and our financial performance; and (iv) the requirement of Section 953(b)(1)of the Dodd-Frank Act, which requires disclosure as to the relationship between the compensation of the Companys chief executive officer and median employee pay.
Our status as an emerging growth company under the Jobs Act may make it more difficult to raise capital as and when we need it.
Because of the exemptions from various reporting requirements provided to us as an
emerging growth company
and because we will have an extended transition period for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards, we may be less attractive to investors and it may be difficult for us to raise additional capital as and when we need it. Investors may be unable to compare our business with other companies in our industry if they believe that our financial accounting is not as transparent as other companies in our industry. If we are unable to raise additional capital as and when we need it, our business, results or operations, financial condition and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Related to Our Shares and this Offering
We do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock at any time in the foreseeable future. The future payment of dividends directly depends upon our future earnings, capital requirements, financial requirements and other factors that our board of directors will consider. Since we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock, return on your investment, if any, will depend solely on an increase, if any, in the market value of our common stock.
13
The future issuance of equity or of debt securities that are convertible into equity will dilute our Share capital.
We may choose to raise additional capital in the future, depending on market conditions, strategic considerations and operational requirements. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the issuance of Shares or other securities convertible into Shares, our stockholders will be diluted. Future issuances of our common stock or other equity securities, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through future offerings of Shares or equity securities. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of common stock or the availability of common stock for future sales will have on the trading price of our common stock.
The ability of Omega, our principal stockholder, to effectively control our business may limit or eliminate minority stockholders ability to influence corporate affairs.
Omega, our principal stockholder, owns, approximately 88.2% of our issued and outstanding common stock. Accordingly, they will be able to effectively control the election of directors, as well as all other matters requiring stockholder approval. The interests of Omega may differ from the interests of other stockholders with respect to the issuance of Shares, business transactions with other companies, selection of other directors and other business decisions. The minority stockholders have no way of overriding decisions made by Omega. This level of control may also have an adverse impact on the market value of our Shares because Omega may institute or undertake transactions, policies or programs that result in losses may not take any steps to increase our visibility in the financial community and
/
or may sell sufficient numbers of Shares to significantly decrease our price per Share.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for indemnification of officers and directors at our expense and limit their liability that may result in a major cost to us and hurt the interests of our stockholders because corporate resources may be expended for the benefit of officers and/or directors.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for the indemnification of our officers and directors. We have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification for liabilities arising under federal securities laws is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and is therefore, unenforceable.
A liquid trading market for our Shares may not develop and be sustained.
Our Shares are quoted on the OTCPink tier of the over-the counter market operated by OTC Markets Group under the symbol
ALPC
. However, the trading market for our Shares has been extremely limited, there have only been minimal and sporadic public quotations for our Shares and there are no recent closing quotations for our Shares. A liquid trading market for our Shares may never develop or be sustained following the Direct Offering. If a liquid market for our common stock does not develop, or if developed, is not sustained, it may be difficult for you to sell Shares you purchase in the Direct Offering without depressing the market price for the Shares or at all. In addition, quotation of our securities on the OTCPink may limit the liquidity and price of our securities more than if our securities were quoted or listed on the OTCQX or OTCQB tiers of the over-the-counter market, the Nasdaq Stock Market or other national securities exchange. Further, institutional and other investors may have investment guidelines that restrict or prohibit investing in securities traded on the OTCPink tier of the over-the counter market. These factors may have an adverse impact on the trading and price of our common stock, if a liquid market develops and is sustained.
The market price for our common stock, assuming a liquid trading market develops and is sustained, may be particularly volatile given our status as a relatively unknown company with a small and thinly traded public float, limited operating history and lack of profits which could lead to wide fluctuations in our Share price. You may be unable to sell your Shares at or above your purchase price, which may result in substantial losses to you.
The market for our common stock, assuming a liquid trading market develops and is sustained may be 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, as noted above, our common stock is 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 could, for example, decline precipitously in the event that a large number 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. Secondly, we are a speculative or
risky
investment due to our limited operating history and lack of profits to date, and uncertainty of future market acceptance for our potential products and services. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more risk-adverse 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 their current market prices, or as to what effect that the sale of Shares or the availability of common stock for sale at any time will have on the prevailing market price.
14
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock, assuming a liquid market develops and is sustained, will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no or few securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our Shares would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our target studies and operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.