Risk Factors Dashboard
Once a year, publicly traded companies issue a comprehensive report of their business, called a 10-K. A component mandated in the 10-K is the ‘Risk Factors’ section, where companies disclose any major potential risks that they may face. This dashboard highlights all major changes and additions in new 10K reports, allowing investors to quickly identify new potential risks and opportunities.
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Risk Factors - WBSR
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Investment in our common stock involves a number of substantial risks. You should not invest in our stock unless you are able to bear the complete loss of your investment. In addition to the risks and investment considerations discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following factors should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business could be harmed. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and investors could lose all or a part of the money paid to buy our common stock.
Risks Relating to our Business
This is a very young Company.
The control of the company was changed on June 25, 2024. It is a startup company that has not yet started operations, and has not started to build its facilities. There is no history upon which an evaluation of its past performance and future prospects in the hospitality and entertainment industry can be made. Statistically, most startup companies fail.
The Company’s affiliated entities have no prior performance record.
Webstar Technology Group has new management in the market, the affiliates of Webstar Technology Group, such as Bear Village Asset Holdings – GA, LLC, (which will provide management services to Webstar Technology Group) do not have a track record of involvement in hospitality and entertainment that investors may assess. Even if an affiliate of Webstar Technology Group did have such prior experience, that experience would not be indicative of its future performance.
The Company has minimal operating capital, no significant assets and no revenue from operations.
The company currently has minimal operating capital and for the foreseeable future will be dependent upon its ability to finance its planned operations from the sale of securities or other financing alternatives. There can be no assurance that it will be able to successfully raise operating capital in this or other offerings of securities, or to raise enough funds to fully construct operational entertainment centers. There can be no assurance that we will successfully complete the development of new products in a timely fashion or that our current or future products will satisfy the needs of our target market. The failure to successfully raise operating capital could result in its inability to execute its business plan and potentially lead to bankruptcy, which would have a material adverse effect on the company and its investors.
The success of Webstar Technology Group business is dependent on purchasing large parcels of land at favorable prices.
Webstar Technology Group is a capital-intensive operation and requires the purchase of large parcels of land prior to construction. As of the date of this Offering Circular the company has a deposit on its Georgia property for the first of two facilities to be developed. The company does not know whether it will be able to obtain additional properties at acceptable purchase terms that are favorable. Finally, if this Offering does not raise enough capital to purchase the land and begin construction, the company will need to procure external financing for the purchase of the land and/or construction of the facility.
The Company may raise more capital and future fundraising rounds could result in dilution.
Webstar Technology Group may need to raise additional funds to finance its operations or fund its business plan. Even if the company manages to raise subsequent financing or borrowing rounds, the terms of those borrowing rounds might be more favorable to new investors or creditors than to existing investors such as you. New equity investors or lenders could have greater rights to our financial resources (such as liens over our assets) compared to existing shareholders. Additional financings could also dilute your ownership stake, potentially drastically. See “Dilution” and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations– Plan of Operation” for more information.
Success in the hospitality and entertainment industry is highly unpredictable and there is no guarantee the company’s content will be successful in the market.
The company’s success will depend on the popularity of its hospitality and entertainment facilities. Consumer tastes, trends and preferences frequently change and are notoriously difficult to predict. If the company fails to anticipate future consumer preferences in the hospitality and entertainment business, its business and financial performance will likely suffer. The hospitality and entertainment industries are fiercely competitive. The company may not be able to develop facilities that will become profitable. The company may also invest in facilities that end up losing money. Even if one of its facilities is successful, the company may lose money in others.
Changes in consumer financial condition, leisure tastes and preferences, particularly those affecting the popularity of family resorts, and other social and demographic trends could adversely affect its business. Significant periods of restricted travel or group gatherings, such as Covid-19 or similar circumstances, could result in situations where facilities usage is below historical levels would have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations and financial condition. If the company cannot attract patrons, retain its existing resident, its financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
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The pandemics could have material negative effects on Webstar Technology Groups’ planned operations, including facilities where large groups of people gather in close proximity.
The impact of COVID-19 on companies is well documented. Vaccines have been administered by the states. Webstar Technology Group operates facilities which include restaurants, gathering points and opportunities for large groups of people can gather in close proximity. In the event of another pandemic the Federal Government and local states may institute restrictions which could affect the Company’s operations.
Webstar Technology Group Resorts will implement strict cleaning and sanitizing procedures across each resort. The vaccine distribution program currently ranges from 50% to 80% based on the state. Future variations or mutations of COVID-19 or other pandemic diseases could cause new social restrictions which could affect Webstar Technology Groups’ operations.
Webstar Technology Group operates in a highly competitive market.
Webstar Technology Group plans to operate in a highly competitive market and faces intense competition. Competitors will include Disney, Six Flags, Dollywood, Great Wolf Lodge and other multi-activity resorts. Many of the company’s current and potential competitors have greater resources, longer histories, more customers, and greater brand recognition. Competitors may secure better terms from vendors, adopt more aggressive pricing and devote more resources to technology, infrastructure, fulfillment, and marketing.
Further, Webstar Technology Groups’ properties will compete on a local and regional level with restaurants and other business, dining and social clubs. The number and variety of competitors in this business will vary based on the location and setting of each facility. Some facilities may be situated in intensely competitive areas characterized by numerous resorts and family attractions. In addition, in most regions, the competitive landscape is in constant flux as new resorts and other family venues open or expand their amenities. As a result of these characteristics, the supply in a given region may exceed the demand for such facilities, and any increase in the number or quality of resorts and family venues, or the products and services they provide, in such region could significantly impact the ability of the company’s properties to attract and retain members, which could harm their business and results of operations.
Competition in the “alternative venues for recreational pursuits” industry could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business and results of operations.
Webstar Technology Group properties compete on a local and regional level with alternative venues for recreational pursuits. The company’s results of operations could be affected by the availability of, and demand for, alternative venues for recreational pursuits, such as multi-use facilities and other town center venues.
Customer complaints or litigation on behalf of our customers or employees may adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
The company’s business may be adversely affected by legal or governmental proceedings brought by or on behalf of their residents, customers or employees. Regardless of whether any claims against the company are valid or whether they are liable, claims may be expensive to defend and may divert time and money away from operations and hurt our financial performance. A judgment significantly in excess of their insurance coverage or not covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on the company’s business, results of operations or financial condition. Also, adverse publicity resulting from these allegations may materially affect the company.
The Company’s insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover all possible losses that it could suffer and its insurance costs may increase.
The company has not yet acquired insurance. It may not be able to acquire insurance policies that cover all types of losses and liabilities. Additionally, once the company acquires insurance, there can be no assurance that its insurance will be sufficient to cover the full extent of all of its losses or liabilities for which it is insured. Further, insurance policies expire annually and the company cannot guarantee that it will be able to renew insurance policies on favorable terms, or at all. In addition, if it, or other leisure facilities, sustain significant losses or make significant insurance claims, then its ability to obtain future insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates could be materially adversely affected. If the company’s insurance coverage is not adequate, or it becomes subject to damages that cannot by law be insured against, such as punitive damages or certain intentional misconduct by their employees, this could adversely affect the company’s financial condition or results of operations.
The Company may not be able to operate its facilities, or obtain and maintain licenses and permits necessary for such operation, in compliance with laws, regulations and other requirements, which could adversely affect its business, results of operations or financial condition.
Each facility is subject to licensing and regulation by alcoholic beverage control, amusement, health, sanitation, safety, building code and fire agencies in the state, county and/or municipality in which the facility is located.
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Each facility is required to obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages on the premises from a state authority and, in certain locations, county and municipal authorities. Typically, licenses must be renewed annually and may be revoked or suspended for cause at any time. In some states, the loss of a license for cause with respect to one facility may lead to the loss of licenses at all facilities in that state and could make it more difficult to obtain additional licenses in that state. Alcoholic beverage control regulations relate to numerous aspects of the daily operations of each facility, including minimum age of patrons and employees, hours of operation, advertising, wholesale purchasing, inventory control and handling and storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages. The failure to receive or retain a liquor license, or any other required permit or license, in a particular location, or to continue to qualify for, or renew licenses, could have a material adverse effect on operations and the company’s ability to obtain such a license or permit in other locations.
The company may be subject to “dram shop” statutes in states where its facilities may be located. These statutes generally provide a person injured by an intoxicated person the right to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to the intoxicated individual. Recent litigation against restaurant chains has resulted in significant judgments and settlements under dram shop statutes. Because these cases often seek punitive damages, which may not be covered by insurance, such litigation could have an adverse impact on the company’s business, results of operations or financial condition. The spread of the coronavirus, which has caused a broad impact globally, including restrictions on travel and quarantine policies put into place by businesses and governments, may have a material economic effect on our business.
As a result of operating certain entertainment games and attractions, including skill-based games that offer redemption prizes, the company is subject to amusement licensing and regulation by the states, counties and municipalities in which its facilities are to be located. These laws and regulations can vary significantly by state, county, and municipality and, in some jurisdictions, may require the company to modify their business operations or alter the mix of redemption games and simulators that they offer.
Moreover, as more states and local communities implement legalized gambling, the laws and corresponding enabling regulations may also be applicable to the company’s redemption games and regulators may create new licensing requirements, taxes or fees, or restrictions on the various types of redemption games the company offers. Furthermore, other states, counties and municipalities may make changes to existing laws to further regulate legalized gaming and illegal gambling. Adoption of these laws, or adverse interpretation of existing laws, could cause the company to modify its plans for its facilities and if the company creates facilities in these jurisdictions it may be required to alter the mix of games, modify certain games, limit the number of tickets that may be won by a customer from a redemption game, change the mix of prizes that the company may offer or terminate the use of specific games, any of which could adversely affect the company’s operations. If the company fails to comply with such laws and regulations, the company may be subject to various sanctions and/or penalties and fines or may be required to cease operations until it achieves compliance, which could have an adverse effect on the company’s business and financial results.
The Company has concentrated its investments in family entertainment, real estate and facilities, which are subject to numerous risks, including the risk that the values of their investments may decline if there is a prolonged downturn in real estate values.
The company’s operations will consist almost entirely of family resorts properties, approximately 30-60 acres in size, that encompass a large amount of real estate holdings. Accordingly, the company is subject to the risks associated with holding real estate investments. A prolonged decline in the popularity of resorts could adversely affect the value of its real estate holdings and could make it difficult to sell facilities or businesses.
The company’s real estate holdings will be subject to risks typically associated with investments in real estate. The investment returns available from equity investments in real estate depend in large part on the amount of income earned, expenses incurred and capital appreciation generated by the related properties. In addition, a variety of other factors affect income from properties and real estate values, including governmental regulations, real estate, insurance, zoning, tax and eminent domain laws, interest rate levels and the availability of financing. For example, new or existing real estate zoning or tax laws can make it more expensive and time-consuming to expand, modify or renovate older properties. Under eminent domain laws, governments can take real property. Sometimes this taking is for less compensation than the owner believes the property is worth. Any of these factors could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any of these events could seriously harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
The Company works with national hospitality, hotel and local service providers to create an experience for families. Business risks associated with these providers can affect the company’s operations.
The company’s operations include partnerships with Wyndham Resorts and Choice Hotels to manage and operate the hotel and timeshare operations. The company also plans to partner with local service partners who provide activities based on the resort surroundings. Issues or business risks associated with each of these partner companies could affect the operation of one or more of the company’s resorts.
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The illiquidity of real estate may make it difficult for the company to dispose of one or more of our properties or negatively affect its ability to profitably sell such properties and access liquidity.
The company may from time to time decide to dispose of one or more of its real estate assets. Because real estate holdings generally, are relatively illiquid, the company may not be able to dispose of one or more real estate assets on a timely basis. In some circumstances, sales may result in investment losses which could adversely affect the company’s financial condition. The illiquidity of its real estate assets could mean that it continues to operate a facility that management has identified for disposition. Failure to dispose of a real estate asset in a timely fashion, or at all, could adversely affect the company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company’s development and growth strategy depend on its ability to fund, develop and open new entertainment venues and operate them profitably.
A key element of the company’s growth strategy is to develop and open family entertainment venues. The company has identified a number of locations for potential future entertainment venues and is still the process of identifying more locations and analyzing the locations. The company’s ability to fund, develop and open these venues on a timely and cost-effective basis, or at all, is dependent on a number of factors, many of which are beyond its control, including but not limited to our ability to:
● | Find quality locations. |
● | Reach acceptable agreements regarding the lease or purchase of locations, and comply with our commitments under our lease agreements during the development and construction phases. |
● | Comply with applicable zoning, licensing, land use and environmental regulations. |
● | Raise or have available an adequate amount of cash or currently available financing and mortgage terms for construction and opening costs. |
● | Obtain, for acceptable cost, required permits and approvals, including liquor licenses; and |
● | Efficiently manage the amount of time and money used to build and open each new venue. |
If the company succeeds in opening family entertainment facilities on a timely and cost-effective basis, the company may nonetheless be unable to attract enough real estate buyers, visitors or customers to these new venues because potential customers may be unfamiliar with its venue or concept, entertainment and other resort options might not appeal to them and the company may face competition from other resorts and leisure venues or governmental regulations at the federal and state levels may restrict travel or group gatherings.
The Company’s development and construction of its Georgia facility depends on its ability to obtain favorable construction and mortgage financing.
The company intends to secure both construction and mortgage financing to fund up to 70% of its Georgia resort and plans to use this debt financings to development and construct subsequent facilities. There is no guarantee that the company will be able to obtain financing on favorable terms. In the event that the company is unable to obtain such financing it may limit the company’s ability to effectuate its plans and will increase the costs and expenses of the company, thereby negatively impacting its financial prospects.
Webstar Technology Group depends on a small management team and may need to hire more people to be successful.
The success of Webstar Technology Group will greatly depend on the skills, connections and experiences of the executives, Rick Haynes and Lance Lehr. Webstar Technology Group has not entered into employment agreements with the aforementioned executives. There is no guarantee that the executives will agree to terms and execute employment agreements that are favorable to the company. Should any of them discontinue working for Webstar Technology Group, there is no assurance that the company will continue. Further, there is no assurance that the company will be able to identify, hire and retain the right people for the various key positions.
The Company will require a general manager, who has not yet been hired.
Webstar Technology Group is currently performing an executive search for the general manager and operator of Webstar Technology Group. There is no way to be certain that the general manager of Webstar Technology Group, once appointed, will be able to execute the same vision as Webstar Technology Group itself. If an appropriate person is not identified and hired, the company will not succeed and since its performance will depend on that person’s performance, it is possible that other Webstar Technology Group subsidiaries will be more successful than the company.
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Webstar Technology Group may not be able to protect all of its intellectual property.
Webstar Technology Group, will be using the intellectual property of its parent, including the following trademarks that will be filed: Webstar Technology Group, Webstar Technology Group Family Resorts and Come See the Bear. The profitability of Webstar Technology Group may depend in part on Webstar Technology Group’ ability, to effectively protect its intellectual property and the ability of Webstar Technology Group and, in the future, each of the other subsidiaries to operate without inadvertently infringing on the proprietary rights of others. Any litigation protecting the Webstar Technology Groups’ intellectual property and defending its original content could have a material adverse effect on the business, operating results and financial condition regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
Webstar Technology Group has not yet entered into any master licensing agreements with third party suppliers and Webstar Technology Group has not yet been made a sublicense to the relevant master licensing agreements.
Webstar Technology Group intends to use Wyndham Hotel and Resorts as the operating facilities of all of its subsidiaries. At the current time negotiations are taking place but a final master licensing agreement has not been entered into at this time.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
Our auditors have indicated that our lack of revenues, historical operating losses, cash used in operations, negative working capital and accumulated deficit raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we are unable to generate significant revenue or secure financing, we may be required to cease or curtail our operations.
Risks Related to Certain Conflicts of Interest
The interests of Webstar Technology Group, Bear Village Asset Holdings – GA, LLC and the company’s other affiliates may conflict with your interests.
The company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws and Florida law provide company management with broad powers and authority that could result in one or more conflicts of interest between your interests and those of the officers and directors of Webstar Technology Group, Bear Village Asset Holdings – GA, LLC, and the company’s other affiliates. This risk is increased by the affiliated entities being controlled by Webstar Technology Group and all our officers and directors currently have an interest in Webstar Technology Group, through ownership, as an officer or director in Webstar Technology Group contractually or any combination thereof. Potential conflicts of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
● | Webstar Technology Group and the company’s other affiliates will not be required to disgorge any profits or fees or other compensation they may receive from any other business they own separate from the company, and you will not be entitled to receive or share in any of the profits, return, fees or compensation from any other business owned and operated by the management and their affiliates for their own benefit. |
● | The Company may engage Webstar Technology Group, or other companies affiliated with Webstar Technology Group to perform services, and determination for the terms of those services will not be conducted at arms’ length negotiations; and |
● | The Company’s officers and directors are not required to devote all of their time and efforts to the affairs of the company. |
Risks Related to Our Stock
The officers of Webstar Technology Group control the Company, and the Company does currently have two independent directors.
The Founders are currently the company’s controlling shareholders. Moreover, they are the company’s executive officers and directors, through their ownership in Webstar Technology Group. This could lead to unintentional subjectivity in matters of corporate governance, especially in matters of compensation and related party transactions. The company does not benefit from the advantages of having independent directors, including bringing an outside perspective on strategy and control, adding new skills and knowledge that may not be available within Webstar Technology Group, and having extra checks and balances to prevent fraud and produce reliable financial reports.
There is little to no current market for Webstar Technology Groups’ shares.
There is little to no formal marketplace for the resale of our securities. Shares of the company’s Common Stock may eventually be traded to the extent any demand and/or trading platform(s) exists. However, there is no guarantee there will be demand for the shares, or a trading platform that allows you to sell them. Investors should assume that they may not be able to liquidate their investment or pledge their shares as collateral for some time.
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An active trading market for our common stock may not develop and you may not be able to resell your shares.
There has been a limited public market for shares of our common stock. In the absence of an active trading market for our common stock, investors may not be able to sell their common stock at or above the purchase price or at the time that they would like to sell or at all. Our stock is currently trading on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. We do not know the extent to which investor interest will lead to the development and maintenance of an active trading market for our common stock. A limited trading volume will adversely impact your ability to sell our shares. A limited trading volumn will adversely impact your ability to sell our shares.
The OTCQB, as with other public markets, has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations. As a result, the market price of shares of our common stock may be similarly volatile, and holders of shares of our common stock may from time to time experience a decrease in the value of their shares, including decreases unrelated to our operating performance or prospects. The price of shares of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors, including those listed in this “Risk Factors” section of this report. No assurance can be given that the market price of shares of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future or that common stockholders will be able to sell their shares when desired on favorable terms, or at all.
Our Common Stock price is likely to be highly volatile because of several factors, including a limited public float.
We anticipate that the market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile in the future. You may not be able to resell shares of our common stock following periods of volatility because of the market’s adverse reaction to volatility. You may not be able to resell shares of our Common Stock following periods of volatility because of the market’s adverse reaction to volatility.
Other factors that could cause such volatility may include, among other things:
Any of these factors could have a significant and adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. In addition, the stock market in general has at times experienced extreme volatility and rapid decline that has often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.
Because our officers and board of directors will make all management decisions, you should only purchase our securities if you are comfortable entrusting our directors to make all decisions.
Our board of directors will have the sole right to make all decisions with respect to our management. Investors will not have an opportunity to evaluate the specific projects that will be financed with future operating income. You should not purchase our securities unless you are willing to entrust all aspects of our management to our officers and directors.
We need to raise additional capital. If we are unable to raise necessary additional capital, our business may fail, or our operating results and our stock price may be materially adversely affected.
If we borrow more money, we will have to pay interest and may also have to agree to restrictions that limit our operating flexibility. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing, we may have to curtail our operations and our business would fail.
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Our issuance of additional common stock in exchange for the purchase of assets, services or to repay debt would dilute your proportionate ownership and voting rights and could have a negative impact on the market price of our Common Stock.
It is possible that we may issue additional shares of common stock in exchange for debt or for cash under circumstances we may deem appropriate at the time. Any such new issuances may cause a decrease in the quoted price of our common stock.
Our common stock is a “penny stock” under SEC rules. It may be more difficult to resell securities classified as “penny stock.”
Our common stock is a “penny stock” under applicable SEC rules (generally defined as non-exchange traded stock with a per-share price below $5.00). Unless we maintain a per-share price above $5.00, these rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that recommend the purchase or sale of penny stocks to persons other than those who qualify as “established customers” or “accredited investors.” For example, broker-dealers must determine the appropriateness for non-qualifying persons of investments in penny stocks. Broker-dealers must also provide, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, disclose the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, furnish monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account, provide 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.
However, investors who have signed arbitration agreements may have to pursue their claims through arbitration. These requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity, if any, in the secondary market for a security that becomes subject to the penny stock rules. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such requirements may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our securities, which could severely limit the market price and liquidity of our securities. These requirements may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our Common Stock and may affect your ability to resell our Common Stock.
Many brokerage firms will discourage or refrain from recommending investments in penny stocks. Most institutional investors will not invest in penny stocks. In addition, many individual investors will not invest in penny stocks due, among other reasons, to the increased financial risk generally associated with these investments. For these reasons, penny stocks may have a limited market and, consequently, limited liquidity. We can give no assurance that our Common Stock will not remain classified as a “penny stock” in the future.
Common stock eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market.
From time to time, certain of our stockholders may be eligible to sell all or some of their shares of Common Stock by means of ordinary brokerage transactions in the open market pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. In general, pursuant to Rule 144, non-affiliate stockholders may sell freely after six months, subject only to the current public information requirement. Affiliates may sell after six months, subject to the Rule 144 volume, manner of sale (for equity securities), current public information, and notice requirements. There are 158,271,000 shares of our common stock outstanding as of the date of this report. 85,466,340 of these shares are tradable without restriction. Given the lack of a trading history of our common stock, resale of even a small number of shares of our common stock may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Given the lack of a trading history of our Common Stock, resale of even a small number of shares of our Common Stock may adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
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We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
As an emerging growth company, our auditor is not required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls.
Our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting while we are an emerging growth company. This means that the effectiveness of our financial operations may differ from our peer companies in that they may be required to obtain independent registered public accounting firm attestations as to the effectiveness of their internal controls over financial reporting and we are not. While our management will be required to attest to internal control over financial reporting and we will be required to detail changes to our internal controls on a quarterly basis, we cannot provide assurance that the independent registered public accounting firm’s review process in assessing the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, if obtained, would not find one or more material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. Further, once we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will be subject to independent registered public accounting firm attestation regarding the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Even if management finds such controls to be effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may decline to attest to the effectiveness of such internal controls and issue a qualified report.
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We believe we will be considered a smaller reporting company and will be exempt from certain disclosure requirements, which could make our common stock less attractive to potential investors.
Effective on September 10, 2018, Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act defines a “smaller reporting company” as an issuer that is not an investment company, an asset-backed issuer, or a majority-owned subsidiary of a parent that is not a smaller reporting company and that:
As a smaller reporting company, we will not be required and may not include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section in our proxy statements; we will provide only two years of financial statements; and we need not provide the table of selected financial data. We also will have other “scaled” disclosure requirements that are less comprehensive than issuers that are not smaller reporting companies which could make our common stock less attractive to potential investors, which could make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell their shares. We also will have other “scaled” disclosure requirements that are less comprehensive than issuers that are not smaller reporting companies which could make our Common Stock less attractive to potential investors, which could make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell their shares.
It may not be possible to have adequate internal controls.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 404”) requires our management to report on the operating effectiveness of our Internal Controls over financial reporting for the year ending December 31 following the year in which the Company’s registration statement was declared effective, which was 2020. We must establish an ongoing program to perform the system and process evaluation, and testing necessary to comply with these requirements. At this time, we have not yet fully been able to truly test and expand a system of controls; therefore, it may not be possible to have adequate internal controls until such a system is put into place.
Our compliance with applicable provisions of Section 404 will require that we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant management time on compliance-related issues as we implement additional corporate governance practices and comply with reporting requirements. Moreover, if we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 applicable to us in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identifies deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
We do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. To date, we have paid no cash dividends on our shares of common stock and we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. To date, we have paid no cash dividends on our shares of Common Stock and we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to provide funds for operations of our business. Therefore, any return investors in our common stock may have will be in the form of appreciation, if any, in the market value of their shares of common stock. Therefore, any return investors in our Common Stock may have will be in the form of appreciation, if any, in the market value of their shares of Common Stock. See “Dividend Policy.”
We may, in the future, issue additional shares of common stock, which would reduce investors’ percent of ownership and may dilute our share value.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation as amended authorize the issuance of 300,000,000 shares of common stock. As of the date of this report, we had 158,271,000 shares of common stock outstanding. The future issuance of common stock may result in substantial dilution in the percentage of our common stock held by our then existing stockholders. We may value any common stock issued in the future on an arbitrary basis. The issuance of common stock for future services or acquisitions or other corporate actions may have the effect of diluting the value of the shares held by our investors, and might have an adverse effect on any trading market for our common stock.
Anti-takeover effects of certain provisions of Wyoming state law hinder a potential takeover of our company.
Though not now, we may be or in the future we may become subject to Wyoming’s control share law. A corporation is subject to Wyoming’s control share law if it has more than 200 stockholders, at least 100 of whom are stockholders of record and residents of Wyoming, and it does business in Wyoming or through an affiliated corporation. The law focuses on the acquisition of a “controlling interest” which means the ownership of outstanding voting shares sufficient, but for the control share law, to enable the acquiring person to exercise the following proportions of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors: (i) one-fifth or more but less than one-third, (ii) one-third or more but less than a majority, or (iii) a majority or more. The ability to exercise such voting power may be direct or indirect, as well as individual or in association with others.
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The effect of the control share law is that the acquiring person, and those acting in association with it, obtains only such voting rights in the control shares as are conferred by a resolution of the stockholders of the corporation, approved at a special or annual meeting of stockholders. The control share law contemplates that voting rights will be considered only once by the other stockholders. Thus, there is no authority to strip voting rights from the control shares of an acquiring person once those rights have been approved. If the stockholders do not grant voting rights to the control shares acquired by an acquiring person, those shares do not become permanent non-voting shares. The acquiring person is free to sell its shares to others. If the buyers of those shares themselves do not acquire a controlling interest, their shares do not become governed by the control share law.
If control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has acquired control shares with a majority or more of the voting power, any stockholder of record, other than an acquiring person, who has not voted in favor of approval of voting rights is entitled to demand fair value for such stockholder’s shares.
Wyoming’s control share law may have the effect of discouraging takeovers of the corporation.
In addition to the control share law, Wyoming has a business combination law which prohibits certain business combinations between Wyoming corporations and “interested stockholders” for three years after the “interested stockholder” first becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination in advance. For purposes of Wyoming 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 effect of Wyoming’s business combination law is to potentially discourage parties interested in taking control of our company from doing so if it cannot obtain the approval of our board of directors.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
We have developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality,
We design and assess our program based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework Special Publication 800-53, 800-61, rev 2 (“NIST CSF). This does not imply that we meet any particular technical standards, specifications, or requirements. We use the NIST CSF as a guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.
We have implemented a number of security measures designed to protect its systems and data, including firewalls, antivirus and malware detection tools, patches, log monitors, routine back-ups, system audits, system hardening, penetration testing and privileged access session management. In addition, we have continued its efforts to migrate its platforms to cloud-based computing, which is designed to further strengthen its security posture.
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Our cybersecurity risk management program includes the following:
● | risk assessments designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems, information, products, services, and our broader enterprise IT environment; |
● | a security team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our security controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents; |
● | the use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test, or otherwise assist with aspects of our security controls; |
● | cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, incident response personnel, and senior management; and |
● | a cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents. |
There can be no assurance that our cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including our policies, controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting our systems and information.
Our Board considers cybersecurity risks as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated to the Audit Committee oversight of cybersecurity and other information technology risks.
Ongoing Risks
We have not experienced any material cybersecurity incidents. We have not identified risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected us, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition.
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