ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
In this report, unless the context requires otherwise, references to the "Company", "View Systems", "we", "us" and "our" are to View Systems, Inc.
CORPORATE HISTORY
View Systems was incorporated in Florida on January 25, 1989, as Beneficial Investment Group, Inc. and became active in September 1998 when we began development of our digital video product line and changed the company's name to View Systems, Inc. Starting in 1999 we expanded our business operations through a series of acquisitions of technologies we use in our digital video recorder technology products and in our concealed weapons technology.
On July 25, 2003, View Systems incorporated View Systems, Inc. as a wholly owned Nevada corporation for the sole purpose of changing the domicile of the company from Florida to Nevada. On July 31, 2003, articles of merger were filed with the states of Florida and Nevada to complete the domicile change. In 2016 we domiciled to Colorado.
OUR BUSINESS
View Systems, Inc. develops, produces and markets computer software and hardware systems for security and surveillance applications. In 1998 digital video recorder technology was our first developed product and we enhanced this product line by developing interfaces with other various technologies, such as facial recognition, access control cards and control devices such as magnetic locks, alarms and other common security devices.
We expanded our product line in 2002 to include a concealed weapons detection system we call ViewScan. We have penetrated four major market segments for this product: correctional facilities, judicial facilities, probation offices and federal facilities in the Mid-Atlantic States, the West Coast and the South. In 2003 we added a hazardous material first response wireless video transmitting system to our product line we refer to as Visual First Responder. The markets for these units are first responder units for agencies such as the National Guard, Coast Guard, Army, state law enforcement agencies, and fire departments. Both of these technologies were licensed from the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Engineering Laboratory ("INEL"). Until 2005 we assembled all of our products in-house, but we currently contract with third party manufacturers to manufacture some components of our products.
Historically, we have relied upon exclusive technology licensing agreements with federal departments to license and distribute the ViewScan technology. In anticipation of the expiration of federal licenses, we developed propriety components and made sufficient engineering design changes to the ViewScan product to lower production costs and to accommodate the price points required by competitive pressures. By redesigning the ViewScan, we offset the impact of the expiration of our license agreements and continued to capitalize on the competitive advantage we had in the markets we had entered.
Letter of Intent
In January 14, 2016 we entered into an agreement to acquire a company called YM Advantage, Inc. After considerable study the Board of Directors of View Systems decided that the acquisition was not in the best interests of the company. The experience and data gathered about the market that YM Advantage was attempting to be in led us to believe that the erectile dysfunction (ED) market was very profitable. Our board of directors has two doctors who investigated the ED market broadly. They determined it could be highly profitable to own a clinic that offered products to the ED market. We embarked on an effort that is establishing one clinic to test their suppositions. If successful, the company would then embark on a path that would establish multiple ED clinics.
On May 18, 2016 we filed an 8K dissolving our agreement to acquire YM Advantage.
Our plan is to maintain our current course of security business and simultaneously add this new additional ED business to our line of products.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We currently have one main product, namely the concealed weapons detection system. We no longer manufacture the "first responder" system for competition reasons. Our current principal products and services include:
ViewScan Concealed Weapons Detection System
ViewScan, which is also sold under the name "Secure Scan", is a walk-through concealed weapons detector, which uses data sensing technology to accurately pinpoint the location, size and number of concealed weapons. Today we no longer sell these units except for special orders paid in advance for an average retail price of approximately $9,500 with a one year extended warranty.
OUR REMAINING MARKET
A primary market for our ViewScan portal has been federal and state government courthouses, county and municipal buildings, and correctional facilities. We have installed our ViewScan weapons detection products in a variety of courthouse, federal government and correctional facility situations including the Security and Exchange Commission. Today we do service and service contracts.
MANUFACTURING
We no longer manufacture the View Scan product except for larger quantities which are specially ordered.
SALES AND DISTRIBUTION
Even though we get the occasional new order, we no longer solicit sales of View Scans but instead capitalize on the demand for parts and service. Until we a have our new and improved model in production we will service, fix and repair field operating units.
MAJOR CUSTOMERS
New Jersey, Maryland and about 20 other states plus a variety of international concerns IE: Bangladesh
COMPETITION
The markets for our products are extremely competitive. Competitors include a broad range of companies that develop and market products for the identification and video surveillance markets. In the weapons detection market, we compete with Ranger Security Scanners, Inc. and Garrett Electronics, Inc. in the United States, and an Italian company, CEIA SpA, which has the most sophisticated electromagnetic induction product. CIEA apparently believes we have good ideas as they have copied various methods and enhancements from our products.
TRADEMARK, LICENSES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Certain features of our products and documentation are proprietary, and we rely on a combination of patent, contract, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and other measures to protect our proprietary information. We limit access to, and distribution of, our software, documentation and other proprietary information. As part of our confidentiality procedures, we generally enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and mutual non-disclosure agreements with our manufacturing representatives, dealers and systems integrators. Notwithstanding such actions, a court considering these provisions may determine not to enforce such provisions or only partially enforce such provisions.
The ViewScan concealed weapons detection technology involves sensing technology and data acquisition/analysis software subsystems that have patents pending or issued to the U.S. Department of Energy. We have not renewed our license, with the INEL to commercialize, manufacture and market the concealed weapons detection technology. View Systems has not filed for patents and has found that the expense and difficulty of patenting this product would be financially prohibitive.
Governmental ownership of the patents is advantageous to us; however, the costs have outweighed the benefits. We have not received improvements, the promised funding or active support from our government licensors. We have, however, paid money and spent time to advance the technologies.
Because the software and firmware (software imbedded in hardware) are in a state of continuous development, we have not filed applications to register the copyrights for these items. However, under law, copyright vests upon creation of our software and firmware. Registration is not a prerequisite for the acquisition of copyright rights. We take steps to insure that notices are placed on these items to indicate that they are copyright protected. The copyright protection for our software extends for the 20-year statutory period from the date of first "publication," distribution of copies to the general public, or from the date of creation, whichever occurs first.
We have also obtained licenses for certain software from third parties for incorporation into our products.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
We outsource improvements or changes when requested by customers and warranted financially.
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
We are not subject to government approval or regulation in the manufacture of our products or the components in our products. However, our products are subject to certain government restrictions on sales to "unfriendly" countries and countries designated as adversarial, which may limit our sales to the international market. In addition, our resellers and end users may be subject to numerous regulations that stem from surveillance activities. We also benefit from the recent "made in America" trade laws where non-United States manufactures must secure waivers in order to sell security and surveillance products to United States domestic end-users.
Cost and effect of compliance with environmental laws
The Company has not determined any recognizable cost related to compliance with environmental laws.
EMPLOYEES
As of the date of this Annual Report, we approximately four persons, including two customer service engineers and two office personnel, which includes a doctor. Two persons are part-time and we also contract with two independent contractors who devote a majority of their work to a variety of our projects. Our employees are not presently covered by any collective bargaining agreement. Our relations with our employees are good, and we have not experienced any work stoppages by our employees.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described below because they could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects and could negatively affect the market price of our common stock. Also, you should be aware that the risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not yet know of, or that we currently believe are immaterial, may also impair our business operations and financial results. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed by any of these risks. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
In assessing these risks you should also refer to the other information contained in or incorporated by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED HISTORICAL LOSSES AND A SUBSTANTIAL ACCUMULATED DEFICIT. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO REVERSE THIS TREND, WE WILL LIKELY BE FORCED TO CEASE OPERATIONS.
We have incurred losses for the past two fiscal years, which consist of a net loss of $$418,799 for 2015 and a net loss of $190,619 for 2016. In addition, we had an accumulated deficit of $29,367,990 at December 31, 2015 as compared with $29,558,609 at December 31, 2016. Further, we do not expect positive cash flow from operations in the near term. There is no assurance that actual cash requirements will not exceed our estimates. In particular, additional capital will be required for future periods for: (i) new product development expenses; (ii) potential marketing costs and professional fees; or (iii) we encounter greater costs associated with general and administrative expenses or offering costs. As a result, we are unable to predict whether we will achieve profitability in the future, or at all.
The uncertainty and factors described throughout this section may impede our ability to economically develop, produce, and market our products effectively. As a result, we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flows from operating activities in the future.
WE HAVE A WORKING CAPITAL DEFICIT AND SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS. SINCE WE WILL CONTINUE TO INCUR LOSSES UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT REVENUES TO OFFSET OUR EXPENSES, INVESTORS MAY BE UNABLE TO SELL OUR SHARES AT A PROFIT OR AT ALL.
We had a net loss of $190,619 for fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and net cash used in operations of $17,933 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. Because we have not yet achieved or acquired sufficient operating capital and given these financial results along with our expected cash requirements in 2016, additional capital investment will be necessary to develop and sustain our operations.
OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM HAS RAISED DOUBT OVER OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN.
The independent registered public accounting firm's report accompanying our December 31, 2015 and 2016 audited financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements have been prepared "assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern." Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on raising additional capital to fund our operations and ultimately on generating future profitable operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise sufficient additional capital or eventually have positive cash flow from operations to address all of our cash flow needs. If we are not able to find alternative sources of cash or generate positive cash flow from operations, our business and shareholders will be materially and adversely affected
We have incurred substantial operating and net losses, as well as negative operating cash flow and do not have financing commitments in place to meet expected cash requirements for the next twelve months. Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $190,619 and our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $418,799. Our accumulated deficit was $29,558,609 at December 31, 2016. We are unable to fund our day-to-day operations through revenues alone, and management believes we will incur operating losses for the near future while we expand our sales channels. While we have expanded our product line and expect to establish new sales channels, we may be unable to increase revenues to the point that we attain and are able to maintain profitability. We have had to rely on private financing to cover cash shortfalls. As a result, we continue to have significant working capital and stockholders' deficits including a substantial accumulated deficit at December 31, 2016. In recognition of such, our independent registered public accounting firms have included an explanatory paragraph in their respective reports on our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2016 that expressed substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL EXTERNAL CAPITAL AND IF WE ARE UNABLE TO RAISE SUFFICIENT CAPITAL TO FUND OUR PLANS, WE MAY BE FORCED TO DELAY OR CEASE OPERATIONS.
Based on our current growth plan we believe we may require approximately $350,000 in additional financing within the next twelve months to develop our sales channels. Furthermore, if the cost of our development, production and marketing programs are greater than anticipated, we may have to seek additional funds through public or private share offerings or arrangements with corporate partners. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to raise these required funds, or on terms satisfactory to us. Our success will depend upon our ability to access equity capital markets and borrow on terms that are financially advantageous to us. However, we may not be able to obtain additional funds on acceptable terms. If we fail to obtain funds on acceptable terms, then we might be forced to delay or abandon some or all of our business plans or may not have sufficient working capital to develop products, finance acquisitions, or pursue business opportunities. If we borrow funds, then we could be forced to use a large portion of our cash reserves, if any, to repay principal and interest on those loans. If we issue our securities for capital, then the interests of investors and stockholders will be diluted. We are attempting to raise at least $600,000 through an offering of securities.
WE ARE CURRENTLY DEPENDENT ON THE EFFORTS OF RESELLERS FOR OUR CONTINUED GROWTH AND MUST EXPAND OUR SALES CHANNELS TO INCREASE OUR REVENUES AND FURTHER DEVELOP OUR BUSINESS PLANS. OUR FUTURE GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY MAY DEPEND UPON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR MARKETING EXPENDITURES IN RECRUITING NEW CUSTOMERS.
We are in the process of developing and expanding our sales channels, but we expect overall sales to remain down as we develop these sales channels. We are actively recruiting additional resellers and dealers and have hired in-house sales personnel for regional and national sales. We must continue to find other methods of distribution to increase our sales. If we are unsuccessful in developing sales channels we may have to abandon our business plan.
Moreover, our future growth and profitability will depend in large part upon the effectiveness and efficiency of our marketing expenditures, including our ability to: (i) create greater awareness of our ViewScan products and brand name; (ii) identify the most effective and efficient level of spending in each market, media and specific media vehicle; (iii) determine the appropriate message and media mix for advertising, marketing and promotional expenditures; (iv) effectively manage marketing costs, including creative and media expense in order to generate and maintain acceptable costs; (v) generate leads for sales, including obtaining lists of businesses in a cost-effective manner; and (vi) drive traffic to our website.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY IN OUR MARKET BECAUSE WE HAVE A SMALL MARKET SHARE AND COMPETE WITH LARGE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES.
We estimate that we have less than a 1% market share of the surveillance and weapons detection market. We compete with many companies that have greater brand name recognition and significantly greater financial, technical, marketing, and managerial resources. The position of these competitors in the market may prevent us from capturing more market share. We intend to remain competitive by increasing our existing business through marketing efforts, selectively acquiring complementary technologies or businesses and services, increasing our efficiency, and reducing costs.
WE MUST SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCE NEW OR ENHANCED PRODUCTS AND MANAGE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCING SEVERAL PRODUCT LINES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE OPERATE IN A MARKET WHICH IS SUBJECT TO RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL AND OTHER CHANGES AND INCREASING COMPETITION COULD LEAD TO PRICING PRESSURES, REDUCED OPERATING MARGINS, LOSS OF MARKET SHARE AND INCREASED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
Our future success depends on our ability to continue to improve our existing products. For example, our short-term success will depend on the continued acceptance of the ViewScan portal product line. We cannot be certain that we will be successful at producing multiple product lines and we may find that the cost of production of multiple product lines inhibits our ability to maintain or improve our gross profit margins. In addition, the failure of our products to gain or maintain market acceptance or our failure to successfully manage our cost of production could adversely affect our financial condition.
The markets for our ViewScan product is highly competitive and we expect increased competition in the future that could adversely affect our revenue and market share. Larger established companies with high brand recognition may develop products and services that are competitive with our core products and services. These competitors may be able to devote greater resources than us to the development, promotion and sale of their products and services and respond more quickly than we can to new technologies or changes. We may not be able to compete effectively with current or future competitors, especially those with significantly greater resources or more established customer bases, which may materially adversely affect our sales and our business.
PROTECTION OF OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS LIMITED AND ANY MISUSE OF OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BY OTHERS COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS, REPUTATION AND COMPETITIVE POSITION.
Our trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, trade dress and designs are valuable and integral to our success and competitive position. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately protect our proprietary rights through reliance on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures, contractual provisions and technical measures from outside influences.
Protection of trade secrets and other intellectual property rights in the markets in which we operate and compete is highly uncertain and may involve complex legal questions. We cannot completely prevent the unauthorized use or infringement of our intellectual property rights, as such prevention is inherently difficult.
We also expect that the more successful we are, the more likely that competitors will try to illegally use our proprietary information and develop products that are similar to ours, which may infringe on our proprietary rights. In addition, we could potentially lose future trade secret protection for our source code if any unauthorized disclosure of such code occurs. The loss of future trade secret protection could make it easier for third parties to compete with our products by copying functionality. Any changes in, or unexpected interpretations of, the trade secret and other intellectual property laws in any country in which we operate may compromise our ability to enforce our trade secret and intellectual property rights. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our confidential information and trade secret protection. If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights or if third parties independently develop or gain access to our or similar technologies, our business, service revenue, reputation and competitive position could be materially adversely affected.
THE CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-DISCLOSURE AND OTHER AGREEMENTS WE USE TO PROTECT OUR PRODUCTS, TRADE SECRETS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION MAY PROVE UNENFORCEABLE OR INADEQUATE.
We protect our products, trade secrets and proprietary information, in part, by requiring all of our employees and consultants to enter into agreements providing for the maintenance of confidentiality. We also enter into non-disclosure agreements with our technical consultants to protect our confidential and proprietary information. We cannot assure you that our confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and other third parties will not be breached, that we will be able to effectively enforce these agreements, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that our trade secrets and other proprietary information will not be disclosed or will otherwise be protected.
WE HAVE NOT REGISTERED COPYRIGHTS FOR OUR VIEWSCAN PRODUCTS, WHICH MAY LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE THEM.
We have not registered our copyrights in all of our materials, website information, designs or other copyrightable works. The United States Copyright Act automatically protects all of our copyrightable works, but without registration we cannot enforce those copyrights against infringers or seek certain statutory remedies for any such infringement. Preventing others from copying our products, written materials and other copyrightable works is important to our overall success in the marketplace. In the event we decide to enforce any of our copyrights against infringers, we will first be required to register the relevant copyrights, and we cannot be sure that all of the material for which we seek copyright registration would be registrable in whole or in part, or that once registered, we would be successful in bringing a copyright claim against any such infringers.
THE SUCCESS OF OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS UPON THE CONTINUING CONTRIBUTION OF OUR KEY PERSONNEL, INCLUDING MR. GUNTHER THAN, OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WHOSE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR BUSINESS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE IN THE EVENT WE LOSE HIS SERVICES.
We are dependent on the services of Gunther Than, our Chief Executive Officer, and a member of our Board and our other executive officers and members of our senior management team. For example, the loss of Mr. Than could damage customer relations and could restrict our ability to raise additional working capital if and when needed. There can be no assurance that Mr. Than will continue in his present capacity for any particular period of time. Other than non-compete provisions of limited duration included in employment agreements that we may or will have with certain executives, we do not generally seek non-compete agreements with key personnel, and they may leave and subsequently compete against us. The loss of service of any of our senior management team, particularly those who are not party to employment agreements with us, or our failure to attract and retain other qualified and experienced personnel on acceptable terms, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE SKILLED EMPLOYEES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN AND GROW OUR BUSINESS.
Our success to date has largely depended on, and will continue to depend on, the skills, efforts and motivations of our executive team and employees, who generally have significant experience with our Company. Our success also depends largely on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified presons. We may experience difficulties in locating and hiring qualified personnel and in retaining such personnel once hired, which may materially and adversely affect our business.
OUR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO EXERCISE SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE OVER MATTERS REQUIRING STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.
As of the date of this Annual Report, we have 326,705,526 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and 5,589,647 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Currently, our directors and executive officers collectively hold approximately 19% of the voting power of our common and 91% of the preferred stock entitled to vote on any matter brought to a vote of the stockholders. Including the effects of Gunther Than's, our Chief Executive Officer's voting preferred stock, our directors and officers have the power to vote approximately 32.22% of common shares (based on the assumed effects of conversion of all of Mr. Than's preferred stock) as of the date of this Annual Report. Pursuant to Colorado law and our bylaws, the holders of a majority of our voting stock may authorize or take corporate action with only a notice provided to our stockholders. A stockholder vote may not be made available to our minority stockholders, and in any event, a stockholder vote would be controlled by the majority stockholders.
OUR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
Some of our officers and directors serve only part time and can become subject to conflicts of interest. Some devote part of their working time to other business endeavors, including consulting relationships with other entities, and have responsibilities to these other entities. Such conflicts include deciding how much time to devote to our affairs, as well as what business opportunities should be presented to us. Because of these relationships, our officers and directors could be subject to conflicts of interest. Currently, we have no policy in place to address such conflicts of interest.
COLORADO LAW AND OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION MAY PROTECT OUR DIRECTORS FROM CERTAIN TYPES OF LAWSUITS.
Nevada law provides that our officers and directors will not be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for all but certain types of conduct as officers and directors. Our Bylaws permit us broad indemnification powers to all persons against all damages incurred in connection with our business to the fullest extent provided or allowed by law. The exculpation provisions may have the effect of preventing stockholders from recovering damages against our officers and directors caused by their negligence, poor judgment or other circumstances. The indemnification provisions may require us to use our limited assets to defend our officers and directors against claims, including claims arising out of their negligence, poor judgment, or other circumstances
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FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE INTERNAL CONTROLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 404 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN OUR REPORTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
Pursuant to proposals related to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, beginning with our Annual Report on Amendment No. 2 to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, we have been required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, then our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our stock could drop significantly.
To maintain compliance with Section 404 of the Act, we engage in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging and requires management to dedicate scarce internal resources and to retain outside consultants.
During the course of our testing, we may identify deficiencies which we may not be able to remediate in time for securities disclosure reporting deadlines. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal controls, particularly those related to revenue recognition, are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to helping prevent financial fraud.
THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT ACTIVE TRADING MARKET FOR OUR SHARES, AND IF AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET DOES NOT DEVELOP, PURCHASERS OF OUR SHARES MAY BE UNABLE TO SELL THEM PUBLICLY.
There is no significant active trading market for our shares, and we do not know if an active trading market will develop. An active market will not develop unless broker-dealers develop interest in trading our shares, and we may be unable to generate interest in our shares among broker-dealers until we generate meaningful revenues and profits from operations. Until that time occurs, if it does at all, purchasers of our shares may be unable to sell them publicly. In the absence of an active trading market:
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Investors may have difficulty buying and selling our shares or obtaining market quotations;
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Market visibility for our common stock may be limited; and
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Moreover, the market price for our shares is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, including the following: (i) actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results and revisions to our expected results; (ii) changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts; (iii) conditions in the market for our products; (iv) changes in the economic performance or market valuations of companies specializing in the defense industries; (v) announcements by us or our competitors of new services, strategic relationships, joint ventures or capital commitments; (vi) addition or departure of key personnel; (vii) litigation related to any intellectual property; and (viii) sales or perceived potential sales of our shares.
In addition, the securities market has from time to time, and to an even greater degree since the last quarter of 2007, experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also have a material adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares. Furthermore, in the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a public company's securities, shareholders have frequently instituted securities class action litigation against that company. Litigation of this kind could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management's attention and resources.
OUR COMMON STOCK IS CONSIDERED TO BE "PENNY STOCK."
Our common stock is considered to be a "penny stock" because it meets one or more of the definitions in Rules 15g-2 through 15g-6 promulgated under Section 15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These include but are not limited to, the following: (i) the stock trades at a price less than $5.00 per share; (ii) it is not traded on a "recognized" national exchange; (iii) it is not quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market, or even if quoted, has a price less than $5.00 per share; or (iv) is issued by a company with net tangible assets less than $2.0 million, if in business more than a continuous three years, or with average revenues of less than $6.0 million for the past three years. The principal result or effect of being designated a "penny stock" is that securities broker-dealers cannot recommend the stock but must trade it on an unsolicited basis.
The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in "penny stocks." Penny stocks generally are equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on the NASDAQ system, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system). Penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC, which specifies information about penny stocks and the nature and significance of risks of the penny stock market. A broker-dealer must also provide the customer with bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer, and sales person in the transaction, and monthly account statements indicating the market value of each penny stock held in the customer's account. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those 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 trading activity in the secondary market for stock that becomes subject to those penny stock rules. If a trading market for our common stock develops, our common stock will probably become subject to the penny stock rules, and shareholders may have difficulty in selling their shares.
BROKER-DEALER REQUIREMENTS MAY AFFECT TRADING AND LIQUIDITY.
Section 15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 15g-2 promulgated thereunder by the SEC require broker-dealers dealing in penny stocks to provide potential investors with a document disclosing the risks of penny stocks and to obtain a manually signed and dated written receipt of the document before effecting any transaction in a penny stock for the investor's account. Potential investors in our common stock are urged to obtain and read such disclosure carefully before purchasing any shares that are deemed to be "penny stocks." Moreover, Rule 15g-9 requires broker-dealers in penny stocks to approve the account of any investor for transactions in such stocks before selling any penny stock to that investor. This procedure requires the broker-dealer to (i) obtain from the investor information concerning his or her financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives; (ii) reasonably determine, based on that information, that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for the investor and that the investor has sufficient knowledge and experience as to be reasonably capable of evaluating the risks of penny stock transactions; (iii) provide the investor with a written statement setting forth the basis on which the broker-dealer made the determination in (ii) above; and (iv) receive a signed and dated copy of such statement from the investor, confirming that it accurately reflects the investor's financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives. Compliance with these requirements may make it more difficult for holders of our common stock to resell their shares to third parties or to otherwise dispose of them in the market or otherwise.
OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE VOLATILE, WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASES THE RISK THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SELL YOUR SHARES AT OR ABOVE THE PRICE THAT YOU MAY PAY FOR THE SHARES.
Because of the limited trading market for our common stock, and because of the possible price volatility, you may not be able to sell your shares of common stock when you desire to do so. The inability to sell your shares in a rapidly declining market may substantially increase your risk of loss because of such illiquidity and because the price for our common stock may suffer greater declines because of its price volatility.
The market price of our common stock may be higher or lower than the price you may pay for your shares. Certain factors, some of which are beyond our control, that may cause our share price to fluctuate significantly include, but are not limited to, the following:
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variations in our quarterly operating results;
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loss of a key relationship or failure to complete significant transactions;
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additions or departures of key personnel; and
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fluctuations in stock market price and volume.
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Additionally, in recent years the stock market in general, and the over-the-counter markets in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. In some cases, these fluctuations are unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the underlying company. These market and industry factors may materially and adversely affect our stock price, regardless of our operating performance.
In the past, class action litigation often has been brought against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of those companies' common stock. If we become involved in this type of litigation in the future, it could result in substantial costs and diversion of management attention and resources, which could have a further negative effect on your investment in our stock.
WE HAVE NOT PAID, AND DO NOT INTEND TO PAY, CASH DIVIDENDS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business. Dividend payments in the future may also be limited by other loan agreements or covenants contained in other securities which we may issue. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital and legal requirements and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
SALES OF OUR COMMON STOCK RELYING UPON RULE 144 MAY DEPRESS PRICES IN THE MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK BY A MATERIAL AMOUNT.
As of the date of this Annual Report, all of our common stock held by non-affiliates that was issued before December 31, 2015 and was either issued in a registered offer for sale or exchange or has been issued and outstanding beyond applicable holding periods imposed by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Thus, with 100% of our common stock issued prior to December 31, 2013 to non-affiliates being freely tradeable, there is a significant risk that sales under Rule 144 or under any other exemption from the Securities Act, if available, or pursuant to registration of shares of Common Stock of present stockholders, may have a depressive effect upon the price of our common stock in the over-the-counter market, especially in situations where a large volume of shares is offered for sale at the same time.
Securities saleable pursuant to the Rule 144 exemption from registration may only be resold, however, if all of the requirements of Rule 144 have been met, including, but not limited to, the requirement that the issuer of the securities have made available all required public information. However, there is no limit on the amount of restricted securities that may be sold by a non-affiliate (i.e., a stockholder who has not been an officer, director or control person for at least 90 consecutive days) after the restricted securities have been held by the owner for a period of at least six months and the other requirements of Rule 144 have been satisfied. Presently shares of restricted Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Company may be sold, subject to compliance with Rule 144, six months after issuance, provided that our Exchange Act registration remains in effect and we are current in our disclosure reporting obligations.