EDXC Endexx Corporation (PK)

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other documents incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Moreover, the risks so described are not the only risks we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently perceive as immaterial may ultimately prove more significant than expected and impair our business operations. Any of these risks could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects. The quoted price of the Common Stock could decline due to any of these risks and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

We have a limited operating history on which to judge our new business prospects and management. We commenced operations in the hemp-derived product industry in 2014 in the same year as the 2014 Farm Bill became law and four years prior to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Accordingly, we have only a limited operating history upon which to have to base an evaluation of our business and prospects. Operating results for future periods are subject to numerous uncertainties and we cannot assure you that we will achieve or sustain profitability. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks encountered by companies in the early stage of development, particularly companies in new and rapid evolving markets. We cannot assure you that we will successfully address any of these risks.

We have incurred significant net losses and cannot assure you that we will achieve or maintain profitable operations. Our net losses were $9,163,000 for the year ended September 30, 2020 and $8,276,000 for the year ended September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2020, we had a stockholders’ deficit of $11,654,000. The increase in net losses was the result of the sum of certain positive results in the 2020 fiscal year compared to the 2019 fiscal year (nominally increased revenues, enhanced by a $422,000 decrease in cost of revenues, a $378,000 decrease in inventory impairment, a $342,000 decrease in professional fees-related party, a $1,480,000 decrease in combined financing costs, interest expenses, and default penalties, and a $2,510,000 non-cash gain in fair value of derivative liability) offset by certain negative results between the years (a $200,000 increase in advertising and promotion expenses, a $100,000 increase in payroll expenses, a $70,000 increase in professional fees, a $255,000 increase in general and administrative expenses, and a net 428,000 loss on acquisition and unrealized loss on investments). We may continue to incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, and delays, and other unknown events.

Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will achieve sustainable operating profits as we continue to expand our product line and otherwise implement our growth initiatives. Any failure to achieve and maintain profitability would have a materially adverse effect on our ability to implement our business plan, our results and operations, and our financial condition, and could cause the value of our Common Stock to decline, resulting in a significant or complete loss of your investment.

Our independent registered public accounting firm’s reports for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 have raised substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a “going concern.” Our independent registered public accounting firm indicated in its reports on our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. A “going concern” opinion indicates that the financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and 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 if we do not continue as a going concern. Therefore, you should not rely on our consolidated balance sheet as an indication of the amount of proceeds that would be available to satisfy claims of creditors, and potentially be available for distribution to stockholders, in the event of liquidation. The presence of the going concern note to our financial statements may have an adverse impact on the relationships we are developing and plan to develop with third parties as we continue the commercialization of our products and could make it challenging and difficult for us to raise additional financing, all of which could have a material adverse impact on our business and prospects and result in a significant or complete loss of your investment.

Our ability to grow and compete in the future will be adversely affected if adequate capital is not available to us or not available on terms favorable to us. We have limited capital resources. To date, we have financed our operations through a mix of equity and debt investments by investors, and we expect to continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Our ability to continue our normal and planned operations, to grow our business, and to compete in our industry will depend on the availability of adequate capital.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain additional funding from those or other sources when or in the amounts needed, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we raise capital through the sale of equity, or securities convertible into equity, it would result in dilution to our then-existing stockholders, which could be significant depending on the price at which we may be able to sell our securities. If we raise additional capital through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, we would likely become subject to further covenants restricting our business activities, and holders of debt instruments may have rights and privileges senior to those of our then-existing stockholders. In addition, servicing the interest and principal repayment obligations under debt facilities could divert funds that would otherwise be available to support development of new programs and marketing to current and potential new clients. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we could be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate development of new products or future marketing efforts, or reduce or discontinue our operations. Any of these events could significantly harm our business, financial condition, and prospects.

The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. In January 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” This worldwide outbreak has resulted in the implementation of significant governmental measures, including lockdowns, closures, quarantines, and travel bans intended to control the spread of the virus. Companies are also taking precautions, such as requiring employees to work remotely, imposing travel restrictions, and temporarily closing businesses and facilities. These restrictions, and future prevention and mitigation measures, have had an adverse impact on global economic conditions and have had an adverse impact on consumer confidence and spending on certain products and services, which could materially adversely affect the supply of, as well as the demand for, our products. Uncertainties regarding the economic impact of COVID-19 are likely to result in sustained market turmoil, which could also negatively impact our business, financial condition, and cash flow. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, many of the governmental restrictions are in the process of being lessened or lifted, which actions we expect should have a positive impact on consumer confidence and spending and a related positive impact on our business and, thereafter, our financial condition and cash flow.

Our co-packers source raw materials used in our products from suppliers located in the United States. The impact of COVID-19 on these suppliers, or any of our other suppliers, distributors, and resellers, or transportation or logistics providers, has negatively affected the price (through increases) and the availability of our ingredients and/or packaging materials (through longer lead times) and has accordingly negatively impacted our supply chain. As these disruptions caused by COVID-19 have continued for an extended period of time, our ability to meet the demands of our consumers has been and may be further materially impacted. To date, we have not experienced any reduction in the available supply of our products. Additionally, many of our employees, including members of our management team, have been working remotely as a result of the closure of our offices and warehouses in compliance with local and state regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If our operations or productivity continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and government-mandated closures, those occurrences will continue to impact our business, financial condition, and cash flow, all in a negative manner. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will further impact our business will depend on future developments and, given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our business at this time. However, we expect that, during our current fiscal year, the adverse impact of COVID-19 on our business will slowly abate, as the positivity rate in tests for COVID-19 continues to decrease along with the new infection and mortality rates and the number of people becoming vaccinated continues to increase.

Nevertheless, the extent of the effect of COVID-19 on our operational and financial performance will continue to depend on future developments of the outbreak, which remain uncertain and difficult to predict, considering the rapidly evolving landscape, including the spread of the new Delta variant of COVID-19. As a result, it is not currently possible to ascertain the short- and medium-term impact of COVID-19 on our business. However, as the pandemic has continued for a prolonged period, it has had a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flow and may have contributed to the volatility in the quoted price of our Common Stock on the OTCM.

The 2018 Farm Bill passed in December 2018, along with undeveloped shared state-federal regulations over hemp cultivation and production that may impact our business. The 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the 2018 Farm Bill, state agriculture departments must consult with the state’s governor and chief law enforcement officer to devise a plan that must be submitted to the Secretary of the USDA. A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence once the Secretary of the USDA approves the state’s plan. In states opting not to devise a hemp regulatory program, the USDA will need to construct a regulatory program under which hemp cultivators in those states must apply for licenses and comply with a federally-run program. The details and scopes of each state’s plans are not known as of the date of this Registration Statement and may contain varying regulations that may impact our business. Even if a state creates a plan in conjunction with its governor and chief law enforcement officer, the Secretary of the USDA must approve it. There can be guarantee that any state plan will be approved. Review times may be extensive. There may be amendments and the ultimate plans, if approved by states and the USDA, may materially limit our business depending upon the scope of the regulations.

Laws and regulations affecting our industry to be developed under the 2018 Farm Bill are in development. As a result of the 2018 Farm Bill’s recent passage, there will be constant evolution of laws and regulations affecting the hemp industry could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state, and federal hemp laws and regulations may be broad in scope and subject to changing interpretations. These changes may require us to incur substantial costs associated with legal and compliance fees and ultimately require us to alter our business plan. Furthermore, violations of these laws, or alleged violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, and it is possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business.

The possible FDA regulation of hemp and industrial hemp-derived products, and the possible registration of facilities where hemp is grown and hemp-derived products are produced, if implemented, could negatively affect the cannabis industry generally, which could directly affect our financial condition. The 2018 Farm Bill established that hemp containing less than 0.3% THC was no longer under the CSA. Previously, the FDA had not approved cannabis, industrial hemp, or CBD derived from cannabis or industrial hemp as a safe and effective drug for any indication. The FDA considered hemp and hemp-derived CBD as illegal Schedule I drugs. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not, and do not intend to file an investigational new drug (“IND”) application with the FDA, concerning any of our products that may contain cannabis, industrial hemp, or CBD derived from industrial hemp. Further, the FDA concluded that products containing hemp or CBD derived from hemp are excluded from the dietary supplement definition of the FD&C Act. However, as a result of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, at some indeterminate future time, the FDA may choose to change its position concerning products containing hemp, or CBD derived from hemp, and may choose to enact regulations that are applicable to such products, including, but not limited to, the growth, cultivation, harvesting, and processing of hemp; regulations covering the physical facilities where hemp is grown; and possible testing to determine efficacy and safety of hemp-derived CBD. In such event, our products could be subject to regulation. However, we do not know what impact would be on the hemp industry in general, and what costs, requirements, and possible prohibitions may be enforced in the future. If we are unable to comply with the conditions and possible costs of such regulations and/or registrations, we may be unable to continue to operate our business.

The FDA limits companies’ ability to discuss the medical benefits of hemp-derived products. Under FDA rules, it is illegal for companies to make “health claims” or any claim that a product has a specific medical benefit without first getting FDA approval for such claim. The FDA has not recognized any medical benefits resulting from the consumption of hemp-derived products, which means that no companies are legally permitted to advertise any health claims related to hemp-derived products. Because of the perception among many consumers that hemp-derived CBD is a health/medicinal product, our inability to make health claims about the hemp-derived materials in our products may limit our ability to market and sell the products to consumers, which would negatively impact our revenues and profits.

The FDA has recently called into question the legality of products containing hemp-derived ingredients sold as dietary supplements. In November 2019, the FDA issued warning letters to 15 companies for selling products that contain CBD in ways that violate the FD&C Act and stated therein that products containing CBD cannot be sold as dietary supplements. In a series of letters in 2016 and 2017, the FDA stated that, “based on available evidence, FDA has concluded that cannabidiol products are excluded from the dietary supplement definition (the “IND Preclusion”) under Section 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) of the FD&C Act.” Under that provision, if a substance (such as CBD) has been authorized for investigation as a new drug for which substantial clinical investigations have been instituted and for which the existence of such investigations has been made public, the products containing that substance are excluded from the Section 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) definition of a dietary supplement. There is an exception to the IND Preclusion if the substance was “marketed as” a dietary supplement or as a conventional food before substantial clinical investigations were instituted pursuant to an authorization for investigation of a new drug and made public, as further discussed below; however, based on available evidence, the FDA concluded that this is not the case for cannabidiol, as it has not concluded that CBD is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) among qualified experts for its use in human or animal food. The FDA has not instituted any rulemaking procedures or provided an opportunity for public comment in arriving at its conclusion regarding CBD in dietary supplements.

The IND preclusion language from Section 201(ff) of the FD&C Act includes several requirements that must be met for a certain ingredient to be precluded from the definition of a dietary supplement. First, the ingredient must have been authorized by FDA for investigation as a new drug. Next, substantial clinical investigations must have been instituted. These substantial clinical investigations must also be made public. Lastly, all of the above must have occurred prior to the marketing of the ingredient as a dietary supplement or food. That is, all of these conditions must be met before the article can be precluded from the definition of a dietary supplement under Section 201(ff)(3)(B)(ii) of the FD&C Act.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a “dietary supplement” is a product that is intended to supplement the diet. A dietary supplement contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances) or their components; is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; and is identified on the front label of the product as being a dietary supplement. None of our products is a dietary supplement.

We believe that CBD has been marketed as a dietary supplement prior to commencement and public notice of any substantial clinical investigations instituted on CBD, as the investigations that were publicized were not substantial and they were limited in number and preliminary in nature, thereby rendering the IND Preclusion inapplicable.

U.S. federal and foreign regulation and enforcement may adversely affect the implementation of cannabis laws and regulations and may negatively impact our revenue, or we may be found to be violating the CSA or other federal, state, or foreign laws. Even though we do not cultivate, process, market, or distribute cannabis or any products that contain cannabis, some of our customers do engage in such activities. Cannabis, though not strictly defined in the 2018 Farm Bill, is a Schedule I controlled substance and is illegal under federal law. Even in those states where the use of cannabis has been legalized, its use remains a violation of federal law. A Schedule I controlled substance is defined as a substance that has no currently accepted medical use in the United Stated, a lack of safety for use under medical supervision and a high potential for abuse. The Department of Justice defines Schedule I controlled substances as “the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.”

At present, numerous states and the District of Columbia allow their citizens to use medical cannabis. Additionally, many states have approved legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use. The laws of these states relative to cannabis are in conflict with the CSA, which makes cannabis use and possession illegal on a national level. If the federal government decides to enforce the CSA with respect to cannabis, persons that are charged with distributing, possessing with intent to distribute, or growing cannabis could be subject to fines and imprisonment. Any such change in the federal government’s enforcement of current federal laws could cause significant financial damage to us.

Cannabis and cannabis products remain illegal under federal law. Cannabis and CBD containing in excess of 0.3% THC are Schedule I controlled substances and are illegal under federal law, specifically the CSA. Even in those states in which the use of marijuana has been legalized, its use remains a violation of federal law. CBD and cannabinoids derived from industrial hemp are not distinguishable. Although our hemp-derived products contain less than 0.3% THC, if there were mistakes in processing or mislabeling and THC in excess of 0.3% were found in our products, we could be subject to enforcement and prosecution, which would have a negative impact on our business and operation.

Variations in state and local regulation, and enforcement in states that have legalized cannabis, may restrict cannabis-related activities, which may negatively impact our revenues and prospective profits. Individual state laws do not always conform to the federal standard or to other states’ laws. States that have decriminalized cannabis have created legal regimes, structures, and rules related to the use, cultivation, manufacture, distribution, transportation, and sale of medical cannabis and related products. These legal regimes often require companies to apply for and be awarded a license in order to operate a cannabis business operation. Although our products contain less than 0.3% THC, if there were mistakes in processing or mislabeling and THC in excess of 0.3% was found in our products, we could be found to be in violation of these states laws and regulations for not obtaining required licenses.

State laws and regulations are also still in flux as states figure out how best to regulate new products. State laws may change in unexpected ways that could result in our partners losing their licenses, being forced to change their products or services, or raise prices, all of which could impact our revenues and prospective profits.

Laws regarding the transportation of cannabis may change, which may negatively impact our business. Transportation of cannabis is governed by both state and federal law. The interaction between these two legal regimes creates legal and practice difficulties in getting products to market. Changes in state law related to the transportation of cannabis may significantly impact our ability to get products to market or may raise the cost of doing so, which would impact our revenue and potential profits. Although federal law now allows the transportation of products derived exclusively from industrial hemp, both state and federal law make it illegal to transport cannabis products across state lines. Any accidental or intentional transportation of cannabis in our products across state lines could, therefore, result in significant consequences including loss of a state issued license or permit, financial penalties, seizure of our products, and prosecution for the illegal transportation of a Schedule I substance. These consequences may impact our revenues, potential profits, or ability to continue operating in this line of business.

The approach in the enforcement of cannabis laws may be subject to change, which creates uncertainty for our business. As a result of the conflicting views between state legislatures and the federal government regarding cannabis, investments in, and the operations of, cannabis businesses in the United States are subject to inconsistent laws and regulations. Laws and regulations affecting the cannabis industry are constantly changing, which could detrimentally affect our operations. Local, state, and federal cannabis laws and regulations are broad in scope and subject to evolving interpretations, which could require us to incur substantial costs associated with compliance or alter our business plan. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in material adverse effect on our operations. It is also possible that regulations may be enacted in the future that will be directly applicable to our business. Since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, there has been little other legislation passed at the federal level pertaining to the cultivation, transportation, and sale of CBD products. Conversely, numerous laws and guidance have passed on the state and local levels, providing for non-standardized legal standing throughout the US. These ever-changing regulations could even affect federal tax policies that may make it difficult to claim tax deductions on our returns. In light of these changes and to the best of our knowledge, we are in compliance with all existing regulations.

We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated, could have on our business.

Because our business is dependent upon continued market acceptance by consumers, any negative trends will adversely affect our business operations. We are substantially dependent on continued market acceptance and proliferation of consumers of hemp and hemp-derived products. We believe that, as hemp and hemp-derived products become more accepted as a result of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the stigma associated with hemp and hemp-derived products will diminish and, as a result, consumer demand will continue to grow. While we believe that the market and opportunity in the hemp space continues to grow, we cannot predict the future growth rate and size of the market. Any negative outlook on the hemp industry will adversely affect our business operations.

We face intense competition and many of our competitors have greater resources that may enable them to compete more effectively. We are involved in a highly competitive industry where we may compete with numerous other companies who offer alternative methods or approaches, who may have far greater resources, more experience, and personnel perhaps more qualified than we. Our competitors may devote their resources to developing and marketing products that will directly compete with our product lines. Due to this competition, there is no assurance that we will not encounter difficulties in obtaining revenues and market share or in the positioning of our products and services. There are no assurances that competition in our respective industries will not lead to reduced prices for our products. If we are unable to successfully compete with existing companies and new entrants to the hemp market, this will have a negative impact on our business and financial condition.

Our products and services are new, and our industry is rapidly evolving. Due consideration must be given to our prospects in light of the risks, uncertainties, and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of development, particularly companies in the rapidly evolving legal hemp industry. To be successful in this industry, we must, among other things:

We cannot guarantee that we will succeed in achieving any or all of these goals, and our failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

Some of our products and services are new and are only in early stages of commercialization. We are not certain that these products and services will function as anticipated or be desirable to its intended market. Also, some of our products may have limited functionalities, which may limit their appeal to consumers and put us at a competitive disadvantage. If our current or future products and services fail to function properly or if we do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, we could lose customers or could be subject to claims that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.

As is typical in a new and rapidly evolving industry, demand, and market acceptance for recently introduced products and services are subject to a high level of uncertainty and risk. Because our market is new and evolving, it is difficult to predict with any certainty the size of this market and its growth rate, if any. We cannot guarantee that a market for our products and services will develop or that a demand for our products and services will emerge or be sustainable. If the market fails to develop, develops more slowly than expected, or becomes saturated with competitors, our business, financial condition, and operating results would be materially adversely affected.

Federal intellectual property laws may limit our ability to protect our trademarks, names, logos, and other intellectual property. U.S. trademark law makes it unlawful to trademark any product that cannot legally be sold across state lines. Because the sale and transportation of cannabis and cannabis products is still prohibited under federal law, this may limit our ability to secure trademark protection for our products. We applied for trademark protection with the understanding that our products are derived from industrial hemp and other legal sources; however, because of the current state of cannabis law, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may reject our current or future applications. This would negatively impact our ability to protect our intellectual property, which could negatively impact our revenues and prospective profits.

If we fail to protect our intellectual property, our business could be adversely affected. Our viability will depend, in part, on our ability to develop and maintain the proprietary aspects of our intellectual property to distinguish our products from our competitors’ products. We rely on trade secrets and confidentiality provisions to establish and protect our intellectual property, including our proprietary formulas and manufacturing techniques. We may not be able to enforce some of our intellectual property rights because cannabis is illegal under federal law.

Any infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property or proprietary formulations could damage its value and limit our ability to compete. We may have to engage in litigation to protect the rights to our intellectual property, which could result in significant litigation costs and require a significant amount of our time. In addition, our ability to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights may be limited in certain countries outside the United States, which could make it easier for competitors to capture market position in such countries by utilizing technologies that are similar to those developed or licensed by us.

Competitors may also harm our sales by designing products that mirror our products or processes without infringing on our intellectual property rights. If we do not obtain sufficient protection for our intellectual property, or if we are unable to effectively enforce our intellectual property rights, our competitiveness could be impaired, which would limit our growth and future revenue.

We may also find it necessary to bring infringement or other actions against third parties to seek to protect our intellectual property rights. Litigation of this nature, even if successful, is often expensive and time-consuming to prosecute and there can be no assurance that we will have the financial or other resources to enforce our rights or be able to enforce our rights or prevent other parties from developing similar products or processes or designing around our intellectual property.

Although we believe that our products and processes do not and will not infringe upon the patents or violate the proprietary rights of others, it is possible such infringement or violation has occurred or may occur, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We are not aware of any infringement by us of any person’s or entity’s intellectual property rights. In the event that products we sell or processes we employ are deemed to infringe upon the patents or proprietary rights of others, we could be required to modify our products or processes or obtain a license for the manufacture and/or sale of such products or processes or cease selling such products or employing such processes. In such event, there can be no assurance that we would be able to do so in a timely manner, upon acceptable terms and conditions, or at all, and the failure to do any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect upon our business.

There can be no assurance that we will have the financial or other resources necessary to enforce or defend a patent infringement or proprietary rights violation action. If our products or processes are deemed to infringe or likely to infringe upon the patents or proprietary rights of others, we could be subject to injunctive relief and, under certain circumstances, become liable for damages, which could also have a material adverse effect on our business and our financial condition.

Tax laws related to cannabis may impact our ability to generate revenue or potential profits. Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits cannabis businesses from deducting their ordinary and necessary business expenses, forcing us to pay higher effective federal tax rates compared to similar companies in other industries. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we believe that Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code will not apply to us. However, if we inadvertently produce or sell products that are considered cannabis, or are deemed to engage in a cannabis business despite the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we may be subject to Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which would prohibit us from deducting our ordinary and necessary business expenses. In such instance, our business may be less profitable than it could otherwise be.

State tax laws are also changing. Even though state taxes are already high, many local jurisdictions are imposing heavy additional taxes either as a disincentive for cannabis companies to operate there or in order to cash in on the growing number of cannabis companies paying taxes. It is unknown how states will treat companies engaging in the hemp-derived product industry from a tax perspective. High taxes could overwhelm our partner companies causing them to go out of business or raise prices for their services, which in turn may impact our revenues and profits by forcing us to find different partners in more tax friendly areas or pay higher prices.

We may not be able to obtain the necessary permits and authorizations to operate our business in the future. We may not be able to obtain or maintain the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, or accreditations for our business, or may only be able to do so at great cost. In addition, we may not be able to comply fully with the wide variety of laws and regulations applicable to the cannabis and hemp-derived product industries. Failure to comply with or to obtain the necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, or accreditations could result in restrictions on our ability to operate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Changes in the regulations governing cannabis outside of the United States may adversely impact our prospects. Our growth strategy with respect to international expansion of the new business lines continues to evolve as regulations governing the cannabis and hemp-derived product industries in foreign jurisdictions become more fully developed. Interpretation of these laws, rules, and regulations and their application is ongoing. Amendments to current laws, regulations, and guidelines, more stringent implementation, or enforcement thereof, enactment of new laws, the adoption of new regulations, or other unanticipated events, including changes in political regimes and attitudes toward cannabis and hemp-derived products are beyond our control and could material adverse effect on our international growth prospects.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to expand our operations into legal jurisdictions outside of the United States, and any such expansion will be subject to risks. There can be no assurance that any market for cannabis products to be offered by us will develop in any jurisdiction outside of the United States. Laws, regulations, and perceptions pertaining to cannabis and hemp-derived products vary widely internationally, and the scope or pace of legalization of cannabis and hemp-derived products cannot be predicted or assured. If and when additional legal markets for cannabis and hemp-derived products develop, our pursuit of such markets may expose it to new or unexpected risks or significantly increase its exposure to one or more existing risk factors, including economic instability, changes in laws and regulations, and the effects of competition. These factors may limit our capability to successfully expand our operations into such jurisdictions and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We will become subject to further laws and regulations as we expand internationally. In addition to initiating business operations in Jamaica, we plan on expanding our business internationally. If and as this international expansion occurs, we will become subject to the laws and regulations of (as well as international treaties among) the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate or import or export products or materials. In addition, we may avail ourselves of proposed legislative changes in certain jurisdictions to expand our product portfolio, which expansion may include business and regulatory compliance risks as yet undetermined. Failure by us to comply with the current or evolving regulatory framework in any jurisdiction could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. There is the possibility that any such international jurisdiction could determine that we were not or is not compliant with applicable local regulations. If our historical or current sales or operations were found to be in violation of such international regulations, we may be subject to enforcement actions in such jurisdictions including, but not limited to civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations or asset seizures and the denial of regulatory applications, each of such circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Reliance on third-party suppliers, service providers, manufacturers, and distributors may result in disruption to our business lines’ supply chains. Suppliers, service providers, and distributors of our products may elect, at any time, to breach or otherwise cease to participate in supply, service, or distribution agreements, or other relationships, on which the operations of our business rely. The loss of suppliers, service providers, manufacturers, or distributors would have a material adverse effect on the business and operational results of our business.

Industrial hemp is vulnerable to specific agricultural risks that could have a material adverse effect on the availability of hemp to be purchased by us for use in our products. Our suppliers may grow their industrial hemp outdoors. As such, the risks inherent in engaging in outdoor agricultural businesses apply. Agricultural production by its nature contains elements of risk and uncertainty that may adversely affect our business and operations, including but not limited to the following: (i) any future climate change with a potential shift in weather patterns leading to droughts and associated crop losses; (ii) potential insect, fungal, and weed infestations resulting in crop failure and reduced yields; (iii) wild and domestic animals damaging the crops; and (iv) crop raiding, sabotage, or vandalism, all of which could affect the availability of hemp that we can purchase for use in our products. If hemp is not readily available, our business and financial condition would be materially adversely effected.

Loss of key contracts with our suppliers, renegotiation of such agreements on less favorable terms or other actions these third parties may take could harm our business. Most of our agreements with suppliers of our industrial hemp, including our key supplier contract, may be subject to cancellation or non-renewal. The loss of these agreements, or the renegotiation of these agreements on less favorable economic or other terms, could limit our ability to procure raw material to manufacture our products. This could negatively affect our ability to meet consumer demand for our products. Upon expiration or termination of these agreements, our competitors may be able to secure industrial hemp from our existing suppliers which will put us at a competitive disadvantage in the market.

We have a limited number of supply sources and depend solely on United States-based suppliers, which may subject us to additional risks. We believe that our continued success will depend upon the availability of raw materials that permit us to meet labeling claims and quality control standards. The supply of our industrial hemp is subject to the same risks normally associated with agricultural production, such as climactic conditions, insect infestations, and availability of manual labor or equipment for harvesting. Any significant delay in or disruption of the supply of raw materials could substantially increase the cost of such materials, could require product reformulations, the qualification of new suppliers, and repackaging and could result in a substantial reduction or termination by us of our sales of certain products, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon us. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the disruption of our supply sources will not have a material adverse effect on us.

We also exclusively obtain our raw product from United States’ suppliers. Therefore, our business is subject to the risks generally associated with a lack of geographic diversity in our suppliers poses, including the potential for enforcement activity, natural disasters affecting key geographic locations where our ingredients are grown, and possible challenges with exporting our products abroad.

The market for industrial hemp and hemp-derived products in the United States is relatively new and is subject to risks associated with an emerging industry. This industry and market may not continue to exist or grow as anticipated or we may ultimately be unable to succeed in this industry or market. The hemp and hemp-derived product industry in the United States is highly speculative and is a relatively new industry that appears to be rapidly expanding but ultimately may not be successful. We face inherent challenges associated with being in a new market, including establishing reliable agricultural supply chains and processing and manufacturing to compete with producers in other countries where industrial hemp cultivation has already been established. Therefore, we are subject to all of the business risks associated with a new business in a niche market, including risks of unforeseen capital requirements, failure of widespread market acceptance of hemp products, failure to establish business relationships, and competitive disadvantages as against larger and more established competitors.

Laws governing our access to banking services are uncertain and are in a state of flux. Since the commerce in cannabis is illegal under federal law, most federally chartered banks will not accept funds for deposit from businesses involved with cannabis. Consequently, businesses involved in the cannabis industry often have difficulty finding a bank willing to accept their business. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we expect the banking industry will be more open to doing business with compliant hemp business. However, banks may still refuse to open bank accounts, make loans, or initiate currency transactions with us. Additionally, major credit card processors also may be hesitant to do business with us and, as a result, we may be forced to find less reputable credit card processing solutions abroad, or pay higher transaction fees.

The House of Representatives approved the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act in September 2019 and its provisions were included in the HEROES Act relief bill that it approved in May 2020. Those provisions are designed to protect banks that service the cannabis industry from being penalized by federal regulators as well as to protect ancillary business that work with the cannabis industry from being charged with money laundering and other financial crimes. However, whether the provisions of this bill will be introduced again and ultimately passed is unknown and, even if it is passed, it may not result in a more open banking climate. Our inability to open and maintain bank accounts would make it difficult for us to operate our business, increase our operating costs, and pose additional operational, logistical, and security challenges and could result in our inability to implement our business plan. Similarly, many of our suppliers, partners, and customers are involved in cannabis and/or hemp businesses and further restriction to their ability to access banking services may make it difficult for them to purchase our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Banking regulations in our business are costly and time consuming, which may negatively impact our business. In assessing the prospective risk of providing services to hemp-related business, financial institutions may conduct customer due diligence that includes: (i) verifying with the appropriate state authorities whether the business is duly licensed and registered; (ii) reviewing the license application (and related documentation) submitted by the business for obtaining a state license to operate its cannabis-related or hemp-related businesses; (iii) requesting from state licensing and enforcement authorities available information about the business and related parties; (iv) developing an understanding of the normal and expected activity for the business, including the types of products to be sold; (v) ongoing monitoring of publicly available sources for adverse information about the business and related parties; (vi) ongoing monitoring for suspicious activity, including for any of the red flags described in this guidance; and (vii) refreshing information obtained as part of customer due diligence on a periodic basis and commensurate with the risk. With respect to information regarding state licensure obtained in connection with such customer due diligence, a financial institution may reasonably rely on the accuracy of information provided by state licensing authorities, where states make such information available. These regulatory reviews may be time consuming and costly.

Due to our involvement in the hemp industry, we may have a difficult time obtaining the various insurances that are desired to operate our business, which may expose us to additional risk and financial liability. Insurance that is otherwise readily available, such as general liability and product liability, may be more difficult for us to obtain and has been more expensive, because of our involvement in the hemp industry. There are no guarantees that we will be able to find such insurance in the future, or that the cost will be affordable to us. If we are forced to go without such insurance, it may prevent us from entering into certain business sectors, may inhibit our growth, and may expose us to additional risk and financial liability.

We are dependent on the popularity of consumer acceptance of our product lines and service offerings. Our ability to generate revenue and be successful in the implementation of our business plan is dependent on consumer acceptance and demand of our product lines and service offerings. Acceptance of our products and services will depend on several factors, including availability, cost, ease of use, familiarity of use, convenience, effectiveness, safety, and reliability. If customers do not accept our products, or if we fail to meet customers’ needs and expectations adequately, our ability to continue generating revenues could be reduced. Due to the changing consumer preferences, it is also difficult to forecast demand for hemp-derived products. There is a high risk that hemp-derived products’ ultimate popularity will decline, leading to lower revenues.

A drop in the retail price of hemp-derived products may negatively impact our business. The demand for our products depends in part on the price of commercially grown hemp. Fluctuations in economic, market, and agricultural conditions that impact the prices of commercially grown hemp, such as increases in the supply of such hemp and the decrease in the price of products using commercially grown hemp, could cause the demand for hemp-derived products to decline, which would have a negative impact on our business.

We could suffer reputational and financial damage in the event of injury from our products or product recalls. As a manufacturer and distributor of products intended for human consumption or use, we are subject to product liability claims if the use of our products by others is alleged to have resulted in harm or injury. Our products consist of hemp-derived oils, creams, lotions, extracts, and other ingredients that are not subject to pre-market regulatory approval in the United States or internationally, as well as snacks and health, but not dietary, supplements. Previously unknown adverse reactions resulting from human consumption or use of these ingredients could occur, which would likely result in product liability claims against us, and which would increase our costs and adversely affect our reputation and harm our business. We may be held liable if any illness or injury caused by any product we develop, manufacture, or distribute, if any such product is found to be unsuitable for use. In addition to any reputational damage we would suffer, we cannot guarantee that our product liability insurance or that of any of our suppliers would fully cover potential liabilities. In the event of litigation, any adverse judgments against us would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, including our cash balances, and results of operations.

The presence of THC in our hemp-derived products may cause adverse consequences to users of such products that will expose us to the risk of liability and other consequences. Our products are made from industrial hemp, which contains THC, though typically at a low level. As a result of the variability of agricultural products, certain of our products contain varying levels of THC. THC is an illegal or controlled substance in many jurisdictions. Whether or not ingestion of THC (at low levels or otherwise) is permitted in a particular jurisdiction, there may be adverse consequences to end users who test positive for THC attributed to use of our products through unintentional presence in its products of THC, even if only in trace amounts. In addition, certain metabolic processes in the body may negatively affect the results of drug tests. Positive tests may adversely affect the end user’s reputation, ability to obtain or retain employment, and participation in certain athletic or other activities. A claim or regulatory action against us based on such positive test results could materially adversely affect our reputation, potentially expose us to material liability, and potentially require us to recall our products.

Our future success depends on our key executive officers and our ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel. Our future success largely depends upon the continued services of our executive officers and management team. If one or more of our executive officers are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them readily, if at all. Additionally, we may incur additional expenses to recruit and retain new executive officers. If any of our executive officers joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose some or all of our customers. Finally, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance on any of our executive officers. Because of these factors, the loss of the services of any of these key persons could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and thereby an investment in our stock.

Our continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel will also be critical to our success because we will need to hire and retain additional personnel as our business grows. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly qualified personnel. We face significant competition for skilled personnel in our industries. In particular, if the hemp industry continues to grow, demand for personnel may become more competitive. This competition may make it more difficult and expensive to attract, hire, and retain qualified managers and employees. Because of these factors, we may not be able to manage or grow our business effectively, which could adversely affect our financial condition or business. As a result, the value of your investment could be significantly reduced or completely lost.

We may not be able to manage our growth or improve our operational, financial, and management information systems effectively, which would impair our results of operations. In the near term, we intend to expand the scope of our operations activities significantly, including the launch of our new brand Blesswell, in conjunction with the Khode LLC Joint Venture, expanding our existing sales and distribution channels, along with the future launch of Go Green Global’s operations in Jamaica, re-branding of Kushwear’s product line-up, and developing and launching CBDLB’s line-up of beverages. If we are successful in executing our business plan, we will experience growth in our business that could place a significant strain on our business operations, finances, management, and other resources. The factors that may place strain on our resources include, but are not limited to, the following:

Additionally, our strategy envisions a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources. Our ability to manage growth effectively will require us to substantially expand the capabilities of our administrative and operational resources and to attract, train, manage, and retain qualified management and other personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in recruiting and retaining new employees or retaining existing employees.

We cannot provide assurances that our management will be able to manage this growth effectively. Our failure to successfully manage growth could result in our sales not increasing commensurately with capital investments or otherwise materially adversely affecting our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

If we are unable to continually innovate and increase efficiencies, our ability to attract new customers may be adversely affected. In the area of innovation, we must be able to develop new technologies and products that appeal to our customers. This depends, in part, on the technological and creative skills of our personnel and on our ability to protect our intellectual property rights. We may not be successful in the development, introduction, marketing, and sourcing of new technologies or innovations, that satisfy customer needs, achieve market acceptance, or generate satisfactory financial returns.

If we incur substantial liability from litigation, complaints, or enforcement actions, our financial condition could suffer. Our participation in the hemp-derived product industry may lead to litigation, formal or informal complaints, enforcement actions, and inquiries by various federal, state, or local governmental authorities against us. Litigation, complaints, and enforcement actions could consume considerable amounts of financial and other corporate resources, which could have a negative impact on our sales, revenue, profitability, and growth prospects. We have not been, and are not currently, subject to any material litigation, complaint, or enforcement action regarding cannabis or hemp (or otherwise) brought by any federal, state, or local governmental authority.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

The market price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly, which could negatively affect us and the holders of our Common Stock. The trading price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. For instance, if our financial results are below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, the market price of our Common Stock could decrease, perhaps significantly. Other factors that may affect the market price of our Common Stock include:

Statements of, or changes in, opinions, ratings, or earnings estimates made by brokerage firms or industry analysts relating to the markets in which we operate or expect to operate could have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock. In addition, the stock market as a whole, as well as our particular market segment, has from time to time experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations, which may affect the market price for the securities of many companies, and which often have appeared unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. Any of these factors could negatively affect our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares of Common Stock at the time and price they desire.

We may issue additional shares of Common Stock or preferred stock in the future, which could cause significant dilution to all stockholders. We are authorized to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 505,157,952 shares of Common Stock and 4,878,048.8 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series H Stock”) are currently issued and outstanding as of January 9, 2023. The number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding excludes the shares of Common Stock underlying the shares of Series H Stock and shares underlying common stock purchase warrants. We expect to seek additional financing in order to provide working capital to our business or may issue additional shares of Common Stock as compensation. Our Board has the power to issue any or all of such authorized but unissued shares of our Common Stock at any price and, in respect of the preferred stock, at any price and with any attributes, our Board considers sufficient, without stockholder approval. The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock in the future will reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of current stockholders and may negatively impact the market price of our Common Stock.

We may issue additional securities with rights superior to those of our Common Stock, which could materially limit the ownership rights of our stockholders. We may offer additional debt or equity securities in private and/or public offerings in order to raise working capital or to refinance our debt. Our Board has the right to determine the terms and rights of any debt securities and preferred stock without obtaining the approval of our stockholders. It is possible that any debt securities or preferred stock that we sell would have terms and rights superior to those of our Common Stock and may be convertible into shares of our Common Stock. Any sale of securities could adversely affect the interests or voting rights of the holders of our Common Stock, result in substantial dilution to existing stockholders, or adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.

Quotation on the OTCM’s Pink^® Open Market may be volatile and sporadic. Currently, our Common Stock is quoted on the OTCM’s Pink Open Market. Trading in stock quoted on over-the-counter markets is often thin and characterized by wide fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors that may have little to do with our operations or business prospects. This volatility could depress or inflate the market price of our Common Stock for reasons unrelated to operating performance. Moreover, the OTCM is not a stock exchange, and trading of securities on this market is often more sporadic than the trading of securities listed on a national securities exchange, i.e., the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, or The Nasdaq Stock Market.

The Holders of our Series H Stock control more than half of our voting securities; they can exert significant control over our business and affairs and have actual or potential interests that may depart from those of investors. The holders of our Series H Preferred Stock control in excess of 50% of our total voting power. As a result, they will have significant influence and control over all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, irrespective of how our other stockholders may vote, including the following actions:

This concentration of ownership by itself may have the effect of impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover, or other business consolidation, or discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer for our Common Stock, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock price.

We will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules and the NYSE rules and, as a result, will qualify for, and will rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to the stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements. Because the holders of our Series H Preferred Stock control in excess of 50% of our total voting power, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Nasdaq rules and the NYSE rules. Under these rules, a listed company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group, or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain of the exchange’s corporate governance requirements. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, or the Nasdaq Stock Market and there cannot be any assurance that it ever will be listed on a national securities exchange. If our Common Stock qualifies to be listed on a national securities exchange and if we choose to initiate the listing process, we will then determine whether we characterize ourselves as a “controlled company” for corporate governance requirements. As a company, whose Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTCM’s Pink Open Market, we are not required to abide by the corporate governance rules of a national securities exchange and accordingly, do not have a fully independent series of board committees. Thus, as a consequence of our reliance on certain exemptions from the Nasdaq standards provided to “controlled companies,” you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of a national securities exchange.

We are not subject to the rules of a national securities exchange requiring the adoption of certain corporate governance measures and, as a result, our stockholders do not have the same protections. Separately from the “controlled company” analysis of the previous risk factor, we are not subject to the rules of a national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, or The Nasdaq Stock Market. National securities exchanges generally require more rigorous measures relating to corporate governance that are designed to enhance the integrity of corporate management. The requirements of the OTCM’s Pink^® Open Market afford our stockholders fewer corporate governance protections than those of a national securities exchange. Until we comply with such greater corporate governance measures, even though such compliance is not required by the OTCM for quotations of shares of our Common Stock on the OTCM’s Pink Open Market, our stockholders will have fewer protections, such as those related to director independence, stockholder approval rights, and governance measures that are designed to provide oversight of a corporation’s management by its board of directors.

A decline in the price of our Common Stock could affect our ability to raise working capital, which could adversely impact our ability to continue our operations. A prolonged decline in the price of our Common Stock could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our Common Stock and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. We may attempt to acquire a significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned operations through the sale of equity securities; thus, a decline in the price of our Common Stock could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because the decline may adversely affect investors’ desire to invest in our securities. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all of our planned operations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products or services and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations. We also might not be able to meet our financial obligations if we cannot raise enough funds through the sale of our Common Stock and we may be forced to reduce or discontinue operations.

Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock in the near future, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless and until they sell them. We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the near future. The declaration, payment, and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our Board, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations, cash flow, and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as our Board considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and, if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. Unless our Board determines to pay dividends, our stockholders will be required to look to appreciation of our Common Stock to realize a gain on their investment. There can be no assurance that this appreciation will occur.

If we are unable to establish appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, possibly subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanctions, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our Common Stock. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively to prevent fraud. We maintain a system of internal controls over financial reporting, which is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our Board, 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 (“GAAP”).

Because our class of Common Stock is now registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, we will have significant requirements for enhanced financial reporting and internal controls. We are required to document and test our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. The process of designing and implementing effective internal controls is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and economic and regulatory environments, and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations as a public company.

We cannot assure you that we will, in the future, identify areas requiring improvement in our internal control over financial reporting. We cannot assure you that the measures we will take to remediate any areas in need of improvement will be successful or that we will implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future as we continue to grow. If we are unable to establish appropriate internal financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, result in the restatement of our financial statements, harm our operating results, subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanction, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, and have a negative effect on the market price for shares of our Common Stock.

We lack sufficient internal controls over financial reporting and implementing acceptable internal controls will be difficult with a limited number of management personnel, which will make it difficult to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our future reports filed and submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported as and when required. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we currently lack certain internal controls over our financial reporting. We have a limited number of management personnel, which may make it difficult to implement such controls at this time. The lack of such controls makes it difficult to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports to be filed and submitted under the Exchange Act (now that our class of Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) thereof) will be recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, as and when required.

The reasons we believe that our disclosure controls and procedures are not fully effective are because:

We cannot assure you that we will be able to develop and implement the necessary internal controls over financial reporting. The absence of such internal controls may inhibit investors from purchasing our shares and may make it more difficult for us to raise debt or equity financing.

Our Common Stock is categorized as “penny stock,” which may make it more difficult for investors to sell their shares of Common Stock due to suitability requirements. Our Common Stock is categorized as “penny stock.” The Commission adopted Rule 15g-9, which generally defines “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) of less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. The price of our Common Stock is significantly less than $5.00 per share and we did not qualify for any of the other exceptions; therefore, our Common Stock is considered “penny stock.” This designation imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors.” The term “accredited investor” refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 jointly with his or her spouse. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer buying our securities, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the Commission that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability and/or willingness of broker-dealers to trade our securities, either directly or on behalf of their clients, may discourage potential investor’s from purchasing our securities, or may adversely affect the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) has adopted sales practice requirements that may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our Common Stock, which could depress the price of our Common Stock. In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that 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. Thus, the FINRA requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which could limit your ability to buy and sell our Common Stock, have an adverse effect on the market for our shares, and thereby depress our price per share of Common Stock.

The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers, and employees under Nevada law and the existence of indemnification rights for our obligations to our directors, officers, and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers, and employees. Our Articles of Incorporation contain a provision limiting the personal liability of our directors and officers to our stockholders and to us for damages for the breach of a fiduciary duty as a director or officer except with respect to (i) acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of the law or (ii) the payment of dividends in violation of Nevada law. We also previously entered into employment agreements with each of our officers pursuant to which we have contractual indemnification obligations. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in us incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and the resulting costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties, and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit our stockholders and us.

Anti-takeover effects of certain provisions of Nevada state law hinder a potential takeover of us. Nevada has a business combination law that prohibits certain business combinations between Nevada corporations and “interested stockholders” for three years after an “interested stockholder” first becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination in advance. For purposes of Nevada law, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (i) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation or (ii) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the three previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of the term “business combination” is sufficiently broad to cover virtually any kind of transaction that would allow a potential acquirer to use the corporation’s assets to finance the acquisition or otherwise to benefit its own interests rather than the interests of the corporation and its other stockholders.

The potential effect of Nevada’s business combination law is to discourage parties interested in taking control of us from doing so if these parties cannot obtain the approval of our Board. Both of these provisions could limit the price investors would be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Common Stock.