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AERWINS Technologies (AWIN)
OTHER OTC:AWIN
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Risk Overview Q1, 2024
Risk Distribution
43% Finance & Corporate
17% Production
11% Macro & Political
10% Legal & Regulatory
10% Ability to Sell
9% Tech & Innovation
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
AERWINS Technologies Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q1, 2024
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 30 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 30 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
70
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
70
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Mar 2024
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Mar 2024
Number of Risk Changed
0
-18
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 3
0
-18
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of AERWINS Technologies in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 70
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 30/70 (43%)Below Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights12 | 17.1%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
Nasdaq may delist the Company's securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors' ability to make transactions in our securities and subject the Company to additional trading restrictions.Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
A large number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes may be sold in the market, which may depress the market price of our common stock and substantially dilute stockholders' voting power.Lind Global is obligated to convert at least an aggregate of $1,750,000 of the principal amount of the Closing Notes at an exercise price of $18.176 per share resulting in the issuance of a total of 96,281 shares of common stock, subject to the limitation that the holder may not convert those securities to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% of our outstanding common stock immediately after conversion. However, this limitation does not prevent the holder from selling shares of our common stock and then receive additional shares of our common stock through a subsequent conversion. In this way, Lind Global could acquire and sell more than 4.99% of the outstanding common stock in a relatively short time frame while never holding more than 4.99% at one time. Further since the exercise price under the Convertible Notes is based on market prices of our common stock during the ten trading days prior to each conversion, declines in the market price of our common stock down to the conversion floor price ($18.176 per share) result in, subject to the floor price, higher conversion rates and consequently higher rates of dilution to stockholders for each dollar of principal of a Convertible Debenture being converted during such declines. As of January 22, 2024 there were 626,890 shares of common stock outstanding and 396,244 shares of common stock owned by non-affiliates. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public markets could depress the market price of our common stock, cause substantial dilution to stockholders' voting power and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. If all 96,281 shares of common stock that could potentially be issued underlying the Convertible Notes that Lind Global is obligated to convert are issued, the percentage of our common stock held by the existing non-affiliate stockholders would be reduced from approximately 63.2% to approximately 54.8%. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock by the holders or others would have on the market price of our common stock.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
The Company's stockholders may experience dilution in the future.The percentage of shares of the Company's common stock owned by current stockholders may be diluted in the future because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or otherwise, including, without limitation, equity awards that the Company may grant to its directors, officers and employees, exercise of the Company's warrants. Such issuances may have a dilutive effect on the Company's earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of the Company's common stock.
We have no committed source of financing. Wherever possible, we may attempt to use non-cash consideration to satisfy obligations or obtain financing. Our board of directors has authority, without action or vote of the stockholders, to issue all or part of the authorized but unissued. In addition, if a trading market develops for our common stock, we may attempt to raise capital by selling shares of our common stock, possibly at a discount to market. These actions would result in dilution of the ownership interests of existing stockholders and may further dilute the common stock book value, and that dilution may be material.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or they publish negative reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business, our market, and our competitors. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares or publish negative views on us or our shares, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5
As an "emerging growth company" under the JOBS Act, we are permitted to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements.We qualify as an "emerging growth company" under the JOBS Act. As a result, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:
- have an auditor report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;- comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors' report providing additional information about the audit and the consolidated financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis); - submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as "say-on-pay" and "say-on-frequency"; and - disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer's compensation to median employee compensation.
In addition, Section 102 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our consolidated financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of: (i) the end of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenue is $1.235 billion or more; (ii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; and (iii) the end of the fiscal year during which the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering (which closed on August 13, 2021) occurs.
Until such time, however, we cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the price of our securities may be more volatile.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6
The company may redeem unexpired public warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous for the Company's warrant holders.The company will have the ability to redeem outstanding public warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of the Company's common stock equals or exceeds $1,800 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. If and when the public warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right if there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of the Company's common stock underlying such warrants. Redemption of the outstanding public warrants could force you to: (i) exercise your warrants and pay the related exercise price at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so; (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants; or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding public warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7
Our securities holders may face significant restrictions on the resale of our securities due to state "Blue Sky" laws.Each state has its own securities laws, often called "blue sky" laws, which (i) limit sales of securities to a state's residents unless the securities are registered in that state or qualify for an exemption from registration, and (ii) govern the reporting requirements for broker-dealers doing business directly or indirectly in the state. Before a security is sold in a state, there must be a registration in place to cover the transaction, or the transaction must be exempt from registration. The applicable broker must be registered in that state. We do not know whether our common stock will be registered or exempt from registration under the laws of any state. There may be significant state blue sky law restrictions on the ability of investors to sell, and on purchasers to buy, our common stock. You should therefore consider the resale market for our common stock to be limited, as you may be unable to resell your common stock without the significant expense of state registration or qualification.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8
Substantial future sales of shares of our common stock could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.The market price of shares of our common stock could decline as a result of substantial sales of our common stock, particularly sales by Lind Global, our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders, a large number of shares of our common stock becoming available for sale or the perception in the market that holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9
The market price of our common stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.The trading price of our common stock is likely to be volatile. The stock market recently has experienced extreme volatility. This volatility often has been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. You may not be able to resell your shares of common stock at an attractive price due to a number of factors such as those listed in this Risk Factors section and the following:
- results of operations that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors; - results of operations that vary from those of the Company's competitors; - changes in expectations as to the Company's future financial performance, including financial estimates and investment recommendations by securities analysts and investors; - declines in the market prices of stocks generally; - strategic actions by the Company or its competitors; - announcements by the Company or its competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, joint ventures, other strategic relationships or capital commitments; - announcements of estimates by third parties of actual or anticipated changes in the size of the Company's customer base or the level of customer engagement; - any significant change in the Company's management; - changes in general economic or market conditions or trends in the Company's industry or markets; - changes in business or regulatory conditions, including new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to the Company's business; - additional shares of the Company's securities being sold or issued into the market by the Company or any of the existing stockholders or the anticipation of such sales, including if the Company issues shares to satisfy conversions under the Convertible Notes, exercises of Warrants or restricted stock unit related tax obligations or if existing stockholders sell shares into the market when applicable "lock-up" periods end; - investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with the Company's common stock relative to other investment alternatives; - the public's response to press releases or other public announcements by the Company or third parties, including the Company's filings with the SEC; - litigation involving the Company, the Company's industry, or both, or investigations by regulators into the Company's operations or those of the Company's competitors; - guidance, if any, that the Company provides to the public, any changes in this guidance or the Company's failure to meet this guidance; - the development and sustainability of an active trading market for the Company's common stock; - actions by institutional or activist stockholders; - developments in new legislation and pending lawsuits or regulatory actions, including interim or final rulings by judicial or regulatory bodies; - changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations or principles; and - other events or factors, including those resulting from pandemics, natural disasters, war, acts of terrorism or responses to these events.
These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Company's common stock, regardless of the Company's actual operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of the Company's common stock is low.
In the past, following periods of market volatility, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation. If the Company was involved in securities litigation, it could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of executive management from the Company's business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 10
Our common stock may be subject to the "penny stock" rules in the future. It may be more difficult to resell securities classified as "penny stock."Our common stock may be subject to "penny stock" rules (generally defined as non-exchange traded stock with a per-share price below $5.00) in the future. While our common stock is not currently considered "penny stock" since it is listed on Nasdaq, if we are unable to maintain that listing and our common stock is no longer listed on Nasdaq, unless we maintain a per-share price above $5.00, our common stock will become "penny stock." 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.
Legal remedies available to an investor in "penny stocks" may include the following:
- If a "penny stock" is sold to the investor in violation of the requirements listed above, or other federal or states securities laws, the investor may be able to cancel the purchase and receive a refund of the investment. - If a "penny stock" is sold to the investor in a fraudulent manner, the investor may be able to sue the persons and firms that committed the fraud for damages.
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 at what time, if ever, our common stock will not be classified as a "penny stock" in the future.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 11
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.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:
- had a public float of less than $250 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of shares of its voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates by the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average of the bid and asked prices of common equity, in the principal market for the common equity; or - in the case of an initial registration statement under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act for shares of its common equity, had a public float of less than $250 million as of a date within 30 days of the date of the filing of the registration statement, computed by multiplying the aggregate worldwide number of such shares held by non-affiliates before the registration plus, in the case of a Securities Act registration statement, the number of such shares included in the registration statement by the estimated public offering price of the shares; or - in the case of an issuer whose public float as calculated under paragraph (1) or (2) of this definition was zero or whose public float was less than $700 million, had annual revenues of less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year for which audited financial statements are available.
As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to, 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.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 12
Anti-takeover provisions contained in our Amended Charter and Amended Bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt.The Company's Amended Charter and Amended Bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions include:
- no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates; - the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death, or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors; - the ability of our board of directors to determine whether to issue shares of our preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer; - limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers; - providing that a special meeting of the stockholders may only be called by a majority of the board of directors; - providing that directors may be removed prior to the expiration of their terms by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 2/3 of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote; and - advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders' meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer's own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company.
These provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of the Company or changes in our board of directors and management.
Any provision of our Amended Charter or Amended Bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our security holders to receive a premium for their securities and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our securities.
Accounting & Financial Operations5 | 7.1%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
Because there are no current plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your shares of the Company's common stock at a price greater than what you paid for it.Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
If we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, the price of our securities may be adversely affected.We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer concluded that during the period ended December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were not effective at the reasonable assurance level. Management has determined that a material weakness exists due to our late filing of certain reports required to be filed by us with the SEC. Consequently, our internal control over financial reporting has weaknesses and conditions that could require correction or remediation, the disclosure of which may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock. We are required to establish and maintain appropriate internal control over financial reporting. Failure to establish those controls, or any failure of those controls once established, could adversely affect our public disclosures regarding our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, management's assessment of internal control over financial reporting may identify additional weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or other matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or disclosure of management's assessment of our internal control over financial reporting may have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3
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 audit 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 and cease to be a smaller reporting company (as described below), 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.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 4
Our actual operating results may differ significantly from our guidance and projections.From time to time, we may provide forward looking estimates regarding our future performance that represent management's estimates as of a point in time. These forward-looking statements are based on projections prepared by our management.
Projections are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control and are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions and conditions, some of which will change. The principal reason that we provide forward looking information is to provide a basis for our management to discuss its business outlook with stakeholders. Forward looking statements are necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions of its forward-looking statements will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, our forward-looking statements are only an estimate of what management believes is realizable as of the date of release. Actual results will vary from our forward-looking statements and the variations may be material. In particular, we no longer expect to achieve the projected revenues from A.L.I.'s businesses we expected when we completed the Business Combination with Aerwins, Inc. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged not to rely upon, or otherwise consider, our guidance or projections in making investment decisions.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 5
AERWINS, Inc. has incurred net losses in the past and may do so in the future, and in the future, the Company may also incur, net losses.For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had net losses from continuing operations of $9,516,032 and $2,470, respectively, and had net operating cash outflows of $6,577,441 and $16,865,274, respectively. We expect our expenses to increase in future periods as we continue to develop our planned MAV. We also expect to incur substantial costs and expenses as a result of being a public company. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate net profits or positive operating cash flows in the future. Our ability to achieve profitability depends in large part on, among other factors, our ability to complete development and commercialization of our planned MAV. If we are unable to generate adequate revenues or effectively manage our expenses, we may continue to incur significant losses in the future and may not be able to achieve or subsequently maintain profitability.
Debt & Financing6 | 8.6%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
We will need additional capital, and we cannot be sure that additional financing will be available.Debt & Financing - Risk 2
The execution of our business plans requires a significant amount of capital. In addition, our future capital needs may require us to sell additional equity or debt securities that may dilute the equity interests of our shareholders or introduce covenants that may restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends.We will need significant capital to, among other things, complete the design, development and manufacturing of the MAV and roll out new products and solutions. We may also need significant capital to maintain our existing property and equipment. Our expected sources of capital include both equity and debt financing. However, financing might not be available to us in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, or at all.
Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our business plan is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business plans. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities, substantially change our current corporate structure, or even curtail or discontinue our operations.
In addition, our future capital needs and other business concerns could require us to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity or equity-linked securities could dilute the equity interests of our shareholders. Additional indebtedness would increase our debt-service obligations and may be accompanied by covenants that would restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
An Event of Default under a Convertible Notes has occurred and could lead to increased amounts payable under the Convertible Notes and an acceleration of the Convertible Notes will materially and adversely affect our operations.The A.L.I. Bankruptcy constitutes an event of default pursuant to the Convertible Notes. Pursuant to the terms of the January Note Amendments and the SPA Amendment, if we complete this offering and make the Mandatory Prepayment no later than April 15, as provided for in the January Note Amendments, Lind Global has agreed to forbear enforcement of its rights due to the event of default. If, however, we are unable to fulfill these obligations, Lind Global may, at its option, (1) demand payment of an amount equal to 120% of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes and (2) exercise all other rights and remedies available to it under the Convertible Notes and the Transaction Documents; provided, however, that (x) upon the occurrence of the event of default described above, Lind Global, in its sole and absolute discretion (without the obligation to provide notice of such event of default), may: (a) from time-to-time demand that all or a portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes be converted into shares of the Company's common stock at the lower of (i) the then-current Conversion Price (that price being $18.176 per share (the "Floor Price")) and (ii) eighty-percent (80%) of the average of the three (3) lowest daily volume weighted average prices ("VWAPs") during the 20 trading days prior to the delivery by Lind Global of the applicable notice of conversion or (b) exercise or otherwise enforce any one or more of Lind Global's rights, powers, privileges, remedies and interests under the Convertible Notes, the Transaction Documents or applicable law. Consequently, if we are unable to complete the Public Offering and fulfill our other obligations under the January Note Amendments and the SPA Amendment, our costs related to the Convertible Notes could substantially increase and we may not have the funds required to repay Lind Global the accelerated amounts due under the Convertible Notes, which could lead Lind Global to take action against the Company such as commencing litigation which could have material adverse effects on our business and prospects.
Debt & Financing - Risk 4
Our substantial indebtedness could have important adverse consequences and adversely affect our financial condition.We have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had total liabilities of $19,547,304 and $9,870,442, respectively. In addition, A.L.I.'s December 27, 2023 bankruptcy filing constituted an event of default pursuant to the secured convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $4,200,000 issued by us to Lind Global on April 12, 2023 and May 23, 2023 and as amended on August 25, 2023 (the "Lind Notes"). Pursuant to the terms of the January Note Amendments and the SPA Amendment, if we complete a Public Offering of our securities and make the Mandatory Prepayment no later than April 15, 2024, as provided for in the January Note Amendments, Lind Global has agreed to forbear enforcement of its rights due to the event of default. If, however, we are unable to fulfill these obligations, Lind Global may, at its option, (1) demand payment of an amount equal to 120% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes and (2) exercise all other rights and remedies available to it under the Notes and other agreements entered into among the Company and Lind in connection with the issuance of the Notes (collectively, the "Transaction Documents"), subject to the Floor Price and cash payment as discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
Our level of debt could have important consequences, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt, limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or other general corporate requirements, requiring a substantial portion of our cash flows to be dedicated to debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, increasing our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions, exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates, limiting our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in the industries in which we compete, placing us at a disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors, increasing our cost of borrowing and hampering our ability to execute on our growth strategy.
Debt & Financing - Risk 5
We are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our significant debt service obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition results of operations, and cash flows.Our ability to make principal and interest payments on and to refinance the indebtedness of our subsidiaries will depend on our ability to raise funds from debt and/or equity financing as we no longer believe we will be able to generate a sufficient amount of cash flow from operations prior to the due dates for our outstanding indebtedness in light to our discontinuance of A.L.I.'s business, the inability to achieve the projected revenues from A.L.I and its bankruptcy filing in December 2023. Consequently, we need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness and the indebtedness of our subsidiaries on or before maturity, sell assets, delay capital expenditures or seek additional equity. The terms of our existing or future debt agreements may also restrict us from affecting any of these alternatives. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. Further, changes in the credit and capital markets, including market disruptions and interest rate fluctuations, may increase the cost of financing, make it more difficult to obtain favorable terms, or restrict our access to these sources of future liquidity. In addition, any failure to make scheduled payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt service obligations, or to refinance or restructure our obligations on commercially reasonable terms or at all, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as on our ability to satisfy our obligations in respect of our indebtedness.
Debt & Financing - Risk 6
Despite our level of indebtedness, we and our operating subsidiary may still be able to incur substantially more debt, including off-balance sheet financing, contractual obligations and general and commercial liabilities. This could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.We and our subsidiary Aerwin Development, may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, including off-balance sheet financings, contractual obligations and general and commercial liabilities. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.
Corporate Activity and Growth7 | 10.0%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of any net proceeds from future offerings and you may not agree with how we use the proceeds, and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
If the benefits of any proposed acquisition do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price of our common stock may decline.If the benefits of any proposed acquisition do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of our common stock prior to the closing of the proposed acquisition may decline. The market values of our common stock at the time of the proposed acquisition may vary significantly from their prices on the date the acquisition target was identified.
In addition, broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our common stock irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general has experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be similar to us could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations. A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and our management has limited experience in operating a public company.As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not previously incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has imposed various requirements on public companies, including requiring establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls. Our management and other personnel need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations have increased and will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we will incur as a public company or the timing of such costs.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. In particular, we must perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, we will be required to have our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting the later of our second annual report on Form 10-K or the first annual report on Form 10-K following the date on which we are no longer an emerging growth company or a smaller reporting company. Our compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will require that we incur substantial expense and expend significant management efforts. We currently do not have an internal audit group, and we will need to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identify deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the value of our securities 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.
Our ability to successfully implement our business plan and comply with Section 404 requires us to be able to prepare timely and accurate financial statements. We expect that we will need to continue to improve existing, and implement new operational and financial systems, procedures and controls to manage our business effectively. Any delay in the implementation of, or disruption in the transition to, new or enhanced systems, procedures or controls, may cause our operations to suffer and we may be unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective and to obtain an unqualified report on internal controls from our auditors as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This, in turn, could have an adverse impact on value of our securities, and could adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets.
Further, our executive officers have limited experience in the management of a publicly traded company. Their limited experience in dealing with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies could be a significant disadvantage in that it is likely that an increasing amount of their time may be devoted to these activities, which will result in less time being devoted to the management and growth of the post-combination company. We may not have adequate personnel with the appropriate level of knowledge, experience and training in the accounting policies, practices or internal control over financial reporting required of public companies. Our management will need to continually assess our staffing and training procedures to improve our internal control over financial reporting. For example, we did not timely file our Form 10-Qs for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 and unless the matters discussed in this risk factor and elsewhere in this Form 10-K are mitigated, the risk exists that we may not be able to file timely in the future. Further, the development, implementation, documentation and assessment of appropriate processes, in addition to the need to remediate any potential deficiencies, will require substantial time and attention from management. The development and implementation of the standards and controls necessary for us to achieve the level of accounting standards required of a public company may require costs greater than expected. It is possible that we will be required to expand our employee base and hire additional employees to support our operations as a public company which will increase our operating costs in future periods.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 4
We are subject to risks associated with strategic alliances or acquisitions. If we cannot manage the growth of our business or execute our strategies effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.We have entered into strategic alliances with various business partners, and may in the future enter into joint research and development agreements or co-branding agreements with third parties to further our business purpose from time to time. These alliances could subject us to a number of risks, including risks associated with sharing proprietary information, non-performance by the third parties and increased expenses in establishing new strategic alliances, any of which may materially and adversely affect our business. We may have limited ability to monitor or control the actions of these third parties. If any of these strategic third parties suffers negative publicity or harm to their reputation from events relating to their business, we may also suffer negative publicity or harm to our reputation by virtue of our association with any such third party.
Although we currently do not have any specific acquisition plans, if appropriate opportunities arise, we may acquire additional assets, products, technologies or businesses that are complementary to our existing business. In addition to any required shareholders' approval, we may also have to obtain approvals and licenses from relevant government authorities for the acquisitions and to comply with any applicable Japanese laws and regulations, which could result in delays and increased costs, and may derail our business strategy if we fail to do so. Furthermore, past and future acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new assets and businesses into our own require significant attention from our management and could result in a diversion of resources from our existing business, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our business operations. Acquired assets or businesses may not generate the financial results we expect. Acquisitions could result in the use of substantial amounts of cash, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the occurrence of significant goodwill impairment charges, amortization expenses for other intangible assets and exposure to potential unknown liabilities of the acquired business. Moreover, the costs of identifying and consummating acquisitions may be significant.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 5
We believe our success depends on investing in the growth of our plans to expand sales to markets outside the United States. If our investments in these markets are greater than anticipated, or if our customer growth or sales in these markets do not meet our expectations, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.We believe our success depends on expanding our business into new geographic markets and attracting customers in countries other than the United States. We anticipate continuing to expand our sales operations worldwide by establishing locally owned, independent dealers and distributors once we begin to commercialize the MAVs in 2027. This includes entering into distribution agreements with companies who have existing operations in these markets. We currently do not have any dealer or distributor agreements in place. If we are unable to enter into dealer or distributor agreements in these markets or if our customer growth or sales in these markets do not meet our expectations or justify the cost of the initial investments, our results of operations and financial condition may be adverse affected.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 6
We are a holding company and depend upon our subsidiary AERWIN Development CA LLC for our cash flows.We are a holding company. Following the discontinuance of ALI's business, all of our operations are conducted, by our operating subsidiary, Aerwin Development CA LLC, a California limited liability company. Furthermore, we don't expect to launch sales until the end of 2027. Consequently, our cash flows and our ability to meet our obligations depend upon the cash flows of our operating subsidiary and the payment of funds by this operating subsidiary to us in the form of dividends, distributions or otherwise. The ability of our subsidiary to make any payments to us depends on their earnings, the terms of their indebtedness, including the terms of any credit facilities and legal restrictions. Any failure to receive dividends or distributions from our subsidiary when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 7
We are a relatively young company with a short operating history, and we may not be able to achieve growth, effectively manage our growth or implement our business strategies.Although our subsidiary, ALI had been providing air mobility solutions since September 2016, we discontinued all of its operations as of December 27, 2023 when we filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition with the Tokyo District Court. Consequently, our historical performance will not be indicative of our future performance due to our limited operating history related to the development and commercialization of our MAV business. Furthermore, our short history of accepting orders for the MAVs developed by ALI and delivering them to customers for testing, training and demonstration purposes is no longer indicative of our future performance relative to the MAV that is being redesigned by us in the United States. There is only a limited historical basis for making judgments on the demand for our planned MAV currently under development or our ability to produce and deliver MAVs, or to become profitable in the future.
You should consider our business and future prospects in light of the risks and challenges we face as a new entrant to a nascent industry, including risks and challenges associated with our ability to:
- Design, develop and manufacture a safe product; - maintain reliable, secure, high-performance and scalable infrastructure; - identify suitable facilities to commence manufacturing; - navigate the evolving and complex regulatory environment across all the markets in which we plan to operate; - anticipate and adapt to changing market conditions, including technological developments and changes in the competitive landscape, and adjust, manage and execute our marketing and sales activities to cater to local economic and demographic conditions, cultural differences and customer preferences across all markets we enter into; - successfully market our MAV business; - improve and maintain our operational efficiency; and - attract, retain and motivate talented employees.
If we fail to address any or all of these risks and challenges, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
As our business grows, we or our subsidiaries may adjust our product offerings. These adjustments may not bring about expected results and may instead have a material and adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Our revenue structure may continue to evolve in response to market demand. In particular, we expect the revenue from sales of MAVs to begin in 2027. Our growth is dependent on the development of a redesigned MAV. We may not accurately identify market needs before we invest in the development of our planned MAV. In addition, we might face difficulties or delays in the development process, which may result in continued losses.
In pursuit of our growth strategy, we or our subsidiaries may enter into new strategic relationships to further penetrate our targeted markets. Should these relationships fail to materialize and develop into demand or orders for our products, or should we fail to work effectively with these companies, we may lose opportunities to generate sales growth and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Production
Total Risks: 12/70 (17%)Above Sector Average
Manufacturing2 | 2.9%
Manufacturing - Risk 1
Our operations may be interrupted by production difficulties or delays due to mechanical failures, utility shortages or stoppages, fire, natural disaster or other calamities at or near our facilities.Manufacturing - Risk 2
We may be compelled to undertake product recalls or take other actions, which could adversely affect our brand image and results of operations.Our MAVs may not perform in line with customers' expectations. Any product defects, accidents or any other failure of our MAVs to perform as expected could harm our reputation and result in adverse publicity, revenue loss, delivery delays and product recalls, which could harm our brand and reputation. Any product recall or lawsuit seeking significant monetary damages either in excess of or outside of our insurance coverage may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. In the future, we may, voluntarily or involuntarily, initiate a recall if any of our MAVs, including any systems or components sourced from our suppliers, prove to be defective or noncompliant with applicable laws and regulations. Such recalls, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether caused by systems or components engineered or manufactured by us or our suppliers, could incur significant expenses and adversely affect our brand image in our target markets. They may also inhibit or prevent commercialization of our current and future product candidates.
Employment / Personnel2 | 2.9%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
Our success depends on the continuing efforts of our key employees, including our senior management members, directors and other key personnel. If we fail to hire, retain and motivate our key employees and directors, we could lose the innovation, collaboration and focus that contribute to our business.Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
The failure to attract and retain additional qualified personnel could prevent us from executing our business strategy.To execute our business strategy, we must attract and retain highly qualified personnel. In particular, we compete with many other companies for developers with high levels of experience in designing, developing and manufacturing MAVs, as well as for skilled information technology, marketing, sales and operations professionals, and we may not be successful in attracting and retaining the professionals we need. Also, inbound sales, marketing, services, and content management domain experts are very important to our success and are difficult to replace. We have from time to time in the past experienced, and we expect to continue to experience in the future, difficulty in hiring and difficulty in retaining highly skilled employees with appropriate qualifications. In particular, we expect to experience a competitive hiring environment in the United States, where we are headquartered. Many of the companies with which we compete for experienced personnel have greater resources than we do. In addition, in making employment decisions, particularly in the MAVs industry, job candidates often consider the value of the stock options or other equity incentives they are to receive in connection with their employment. If the price of our stock declines, or experiences significant volatility, our ability to attract or retain key employees will be adversely affected. If we fail to attract new personnel or fail to retain and motivate our current personnel, our growth prospects could be severely harmed.
Supply Chain6 | 8.6%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
Any decline in the business of our business partners or the deterioration of our relationship with them could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.Supply Chain - Risk 2
An accident involving an MAV provided by us or another manufacturer could harm the MAV industry.An accident involving an MAV provided by us or another manufacturer could cause regulatory agencies around the world to tighten restrictions on the use of MAVs, particularly over-populated areas, and could cause the public to lose confidence in our products and MAVs generally. There are risks associated with autopilot, flight control, communications and other advanced technologies, and, from time to time, there have been accidents associated with these technologies. The safety of certain cutting-edge technologies depends in part on user interaction, and users may not be accustomed to using such technologies. We or our subsidiaries could face unfavorable and tightened regulatory control and intervention on the use of autopilot and other advanced technologies and be subject to liability and government scrutiny to the extent accidents associated with our autonomous navigation systems occur. Should a high-profile accident occur resulting in substantial casualty or damages, involving our MAVs, public confidence in and regulatory attitudes toward MAVs could deteriorate. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
Supply Chain - Risk 3
We will rely on Helicopter Technology to redesign and produce our planned MAV. Inadequate design and manufacturing services or failure to mitigate the risks of damage or disruption to our development and manufacturing process could adversely affect our business.Our ability to redesign and manufacture our MAVs is critical to our success across our operations. We expect to rely on Helicopter Technology to redesign and produce our planned MAV. Inadequate design and manufacturing services due to disputes, inadequate design or unexpected design or manufacturing defects could impair our ability to sell our MAVs. Inadequate design and manufacturing services could also potentially disrupt our sales and compromise our business reputation. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to complete the redesign of our planned MAV and its production.
Supply Chain - Risk 4
We expect to rely on third-party distributors for sales, marketing and distribution activities relating to our MAVs.Currently we do not rely on any third-party distributors for sales, marketing and distribution activities relating to our MAVs as are in the process of redesigning our MAV. However, some of our business partners may act as third-party distributors that sell, market and distribute our MAVs to their customers in the future. Accordingly, we may be subject to a number of risks associated with third-party distributors, including a lack of day-to-day control over the activities of third-party distributors selling or using our products and solutions; third-party distributors may terminate their arrangements with us on limited or no notice, or may change the terms of these arrangements in a manner that is unfavorable to us for reasons outside of our control; and any disagreements with our third-party distributors could lead to costly and time-consuming litigation or arbitration. If we fail to establish and maintain satisfactory relationships with our third-party distributors, we may not be able to sell, market and distribute our MAVs according to our internal budget and plans, our future revenues and market share may not grow at a pace that we expect, and we could be subject to increases in sales and marketing and other costs which would harm our results of operations and financial condition.
Supply Chain - Risk 5
We will rely on external suppliers for raw materials and certain key externally sourced components and parts used in the assembly of our MAVs, and have limited control over the quality of these components and parts.We plan to purchase certain key externally sourced components and raw materials, such as computers chips, batteries, motors and electronic displays, from external suppliers for use in our assembly, production and operations of MAVs. A continuous and stable supply of components and raw materials that meet our standards is crucial to our assembly, production and operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to establish or maintain relationships with suppliers and be able to stably source key components and raw materials at reasonable prices, or at all. Since our MAV is currently under development, we have not identified all of the inputs needed to manufacture it. Consequently, we have not identified the suppliers we will needed until we further along with our development work. Further, once suppliers have been identified, the supply of key components could be interrupted for any reason, or there could be significant increases in the prices of these key components. Additionally, changes in business conditions, force majeure, governmental changes and other factors beyond our control, or that we do not presently anticipate, could also affect our prospective suppliers' ability to deliver components to us on a timely basis. If any of these events occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We cannot guarantee that the quality of components and parts manufactured by prospective suppliers will be consistent and maintained at a high standard. Any defects of or quality issues with these components or any noncompliance incidents associated with these third-party suppliers could result in quality issues with our MAVs and hence compromise our brand image and results of operations. In extreme situations, we may be exposed to liabilities as a result of significant damages caused by certain components from external suppliers and we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost in the future. A successful claim brought against us in excess of our available insurance coverage may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Supply Chain - Risk 6
We expect to rely on third-party logistics providers to deliver our domestic sales orders and overseas orders. Inadequate third-party logistics services or failure to mitigate the risks of damage or disruption to our distribution logistics could adversely affect our business.Our ability to transport and sell our MAVs is critical to our success across our operations. We expect to rely on third-party logistics service providers to deliver our domestic sales orders and overseas orders. Damage or disruption to our distribution logistics due to disputes, weather, natural disasters, fire, explosions, terrorism, pandemics or labor strikes could impair our ability to distribute or sell our MAVs. Inadequate third-party logistics services could also potentially disrupt our distribution and sales and compromise our business reputation. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as require additional resources to restore our supply chain.
Costs2 | 2.9%
Costs - Risk 1
If the landlords of our and our subsidiaries' leased properties fail to properly maintain and renovate such premises, buildings or facilities in a timely manner or at all, the operation of our offices could be materially and adversely affected.Costs - Risk 2
We and our operating subsidiary have no insurance coverage, which could subject us to significant costs and business disruption.We and our operating subsidiary have no liability insurance coverage for our products and business operations because our business is still in the early development stage. We may not be able to secure additional product liability insurance coverage on acceptable terms or at reasonable costs when needed. A successful liability claim against us, our subsidiaries or its subsidiaries due to injuries or damages suffered by our users could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and reputation. Even if unsuccessful, such a claim could cause us adverse publicity, require substantial costs to defend, and divert the time and attention of our management. In addition, we do not have any business disruption insurance. Any business disruption could result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our resources. Furthermore, Japan, the United States or any other jurisdiction relevant to our business may impose requirements for maintaining certain minimum liability or other insurance relating to the operation of MAVs. Such insurance policies could be costly, which would reduce the demand for our MAVs. Alternatively, certain insurance products that would be desirable to MAV operators may not be commercially available, which would increase the risks of operating our MAVs and also reduce the demand for them.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 8/70 (11%)Below Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment2 | 2.9%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Any financial or economic crisis or perceived threat of such a crisis may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Economy & Political Environment - Risk 2
Weakened global economic conditions may harm our industry, business and results of operations.Our overall performance depends in part on worldwide economic conditions. Global financial developments and downturns seemingly unrelated to us or the MAV industry may harm us. The United States and other key international economies have been affected from time to time by falling demand for a variety of goods and services, restricted credit, poor liquidity, reduced corporate profitability, volatility in credit, equity and foreign exchange markets, bankruptcies, and overall uncertainty with respect to the economy, including with respect to tariff and trade issues. In particular, the economies of countries in Europe have been experiencing weakness associated with high sovereign debt levels, weakness in the banking sector, uncertainty over the future of the Euro zone and volatility in the value of the pound sterling and the Euro, including instability surrounding Brexit. If economic conditions in key markets for our MAVs continue to remain uncertain or deteriorate further, it could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our MAVs and delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, all of which could harm our operating results.
International Operations2 | 2.9%
International Operations - Risk 1
Because our long-term growth strategy involves expansion of our sales to customers outside the United States, our business will be susceptible to risks associated with international operations.International Operations - Risk 2
We have no experience in managing sales to multiple countries and we are subject to a variety of costs and risks due to our continued international expansion.One of our core strategies is international expansion. We generally have less experience in marketing, selling and deploying our MAVs in markets outside the U.S. and Japan. International expansion will require us to invest significant capital and other resources, and our efforts may not be successful. International sales and operations are subject to risks such as:
- limited brand recognition;- costs associated with establishing new distribution networks; - difficulty in finding qualified partners for overseas distribution; - inability to anticipate changes in local market conditions, economic landscapes, and consumers' preferences and customs; - difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations; - lack of familiarity with and understanding of the local legal, regulatory and policy frameworks, as well as burdens of complying with a wide variety of local laws and regulations, including those governing personal data protection and safety control; - political and economic instability; - trade restrictions; - differing employment laws and practices, as well as potential labor disruptions; - the imposition of government controls; - lesser degrees of intellectual property protection; - tariffs and customs duties and the classifications of our goods by applicable governmental bodies; and - a legal system subject to undue influence or corruption.
Additionally, to export our MAVs to certain jurisdictions, we may face challenges in coordinating with the U.S., Japanese and the applicable foreign governments and regulatory authorities. If we cannot export our MAVs to such jurisdictions, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely impacted.
The failure to manage any of these risks could negatively affect our international business and consequently our overall business and operating results. In addition, the concern over these risks may also prevent us from entering into, or marketing, selling or releasing our MAVs in, certain markets.
Natural and Human Disruptions3 | 4.3%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
A new health epidemic could significantly disrupt our operations and adversely affect our results of operations.Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2
We face risks related to natural disasters, which could significantly disrupt our operations.We are vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities such as typhoons, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and other adverse weather and climate conditions. Although we may have in the future servers that are hosted in an offsite location, future backup systems may not capture data on a real-time basis, and we may be unable to recover certain data in the event of a server failure. We cannot assure you that any backup systems will be adequate to protect us from the effects of fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events. Any of the foregoing events may give rise to interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to design, develop and produce the MAVs.
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 3
Weather and seasonality may have a material adverse effect on our operations.Future sales of our MAVs may be affected by weather and seasonality. Potential customers may choose alternative transportation instead of our MAVs in severe weather conditions in consideration of safety factors, even if our MAVs are able to endure such conditions. As a result, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially and adversely impacted by the weather conditions. Our operating results may vary from period to period due to many factors, including seasonal factors that may have an effect on the demand for our MAVs in the future. As a result, our quarterly results of operations and financial position at the end of a particular quarter may not necessarily be representative of the results we expect at year-end or in other quarters of a year. Our operating results would suffer if we did not achieve revenues consistent with our expectations due to seasonal demand and weather changes because many of our expenses are based on anticipated levels of annual revenues.
Capital Markets1 | 1.4%
Capital Markets - Risk 1
We are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 7/70 (10%)Below Sector Average
Regulation3 | 4.3%
Regulation - Risk 1
Failure to comply with laws and regulations could harm our business.Regulation - Risk 2
We are subject to FAA regulations and changes to FAA regulations requiring certifications for flight operations or sales could negatively impact operations.We plan to design the MAV to conform with Federal Aviation Regulation Part 103 requirements for ultralight aircraft. We do not believe we need to achieve FAA Certification for domestic MAV flight operations and sales as long as we continue to conform to FAR Part 103 in terms of aircraft specifications and flight operations. Changes in FAA regulations requiring certification for flight operations or sales might result in us incurring significantly increased costs to comply with those new regulations and in attempting to correct any issues causing such delays. Also, the impact of new or changed laws or regulations on the planned MAV compliance or the costs of complying with such laws and regulations cannot be predicted.
Further, as we sell our MAV products internationally, we face challenges in quickly and sufficiently familiarizing ourselves with foreign regulatory environments and policy frameworks. If any new regulation is put in place, or a different interpretation of existing regulation is adopted, our ability to manufacture, market, sell or operate our MAVs may be limited or otherwise affected. Failure to comply with applicable regulations or to obtain, maintain or renew the necessary permits, licenses, registrations or certificates could cause delays in, or prevent us from, manufacturing, marketing, selling and operating our MAVs products, meeting product demand and expectations, introducing new products or expanding our service coverage, and could materially and adversely affect our operation results. If we are found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations, we could be subject to administrative punishment, including fines, injunctions, recalls or asset seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Regulation - Risk 3
We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws, and noncompliance with such laws can subject us to administrative, civil and criminal fines and penalties, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws and regulations in the United States, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws and regulations. The FCPA prohibits us and our officers, directors, employees and business partners acting on our behalf, including agents, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to a "foreign official" for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records and accounts that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls. A violation of these laws or regulations could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.
We expect to have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies and state-owned affiliated entities in the ordinary course of business. We may also enter into joint ventures and/or other business partnerships with government agencies and state-owned or affiliated entities. These interactions subject us to an increased level of compliance-related concerns. We are in the process of implementing policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by us and our directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, agents and business partners with applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws and regulations. However, our policies and procedures may not be sufficient, and our directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, agents, and business partners could engage in improper conduct for which we may be held responsible.
Non-compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering or financial and economic sanctions laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations, and severe administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation. In addition, changes in economic sanctions laws in the future could adversely impact our business and investments in our shares.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities2 | 2.9%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We are involved in litigation from time to time and, as a result, we could incur substantial judgments, fines, legal fees or other costs.Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 2
We may become subject to product liability claims or warranty claims, which could harm our financial condition and liquidity if we are not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.We may be exposed to significant product liability claims if our MAVs do not perform as expected or malfunction. Any defects, errors, or failures in our products or the misuse of our MAVs, operating systems and infrastructure could also result in injury, death or property damage. Our risks in this area are particularly pronounced given we have limited field experience in the operation or development of MAVs. A successful product liability claim against us could require us to pay a substantial monetary award. Moreover, a product liability claim could generate substantial negative publicity about our MAVs and business and inhibit or prevent commercialization of our current and future MAV models. Any insurance coverage we may obtain in the future might not be sufficient to cover all potential product liability claims. In addition, insurance coverage may not be available in the future at economical prices, or at all. Even if we are fully insured as it relates to a claim, the claim could nevertheless diminish our brand and divert management's attention and resources, which could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and result of operations.
We plan to generally provide standard warranties on our MAVs. The term of a warranty is expected to be between six months to three years, depending on the product line and the specific part or component. The occurrence of any material defects in our MAVs could make us liable for damages and warranty claims. In addition, we could incur significant costs to correct any defects or other problems, including costs related to product recalls. Warranty claims may also lead to litigation. Any negative publicity related to the perceived quality of our MAVs could affect our brand image, decrease retailer, distributor and customer demand, and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Environmental / Social2 | 2.9%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Failure to safeguard personal information could subject us to penalties, damage our reputation and brand, and harm our business and results of operations.Environmental / Social - Risk 2
If we fail to comply with environmental and work safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could harm our business.We are subject to numerous environmental and work safety laws and regulations. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties for failure to comply with such laws and regulations. Environmental and social laws and regulations have tended to become increasingly stringent. There has been increased global focus on environmental and social issues and it is possible that countries may potentially adopt more stringent standards or new regulations in these areas. To the extent regulatory changes occur in the future, they could result in, among other things, increased costs to our company. In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental and work safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 7/70 (10%)Below Sector Average
Competition1 | 1.4%
Competition - Risk 1
We may not be successful in competing in the MAV industry.Demand2 | 2.9%
Demand - Risk 1
Our business performance may be adversely affected if the growth of the Air Mobility Vehicle industry slows down.Demand - Risk 2
Our future growth depends on the demand for, and customers' willingness to adopt, our planned Manned Air Vehicle.We operate in the new and evolving Manned Air Vehicle industry. Our business and operating results depend in large part on the acceptance of and demand for our MAVs. The success of these products is and will be subject to risks, including with respect to:
- the extent of market reception and adoption of MAVs as transportation and logistics solutions; - our navigating a new and evolving regulatory environment; - our timely fulfillment of product orders; - our ability to produce safe, high-quality and cost-effective MAVs on an ongoing basis; - the performance of our MAVs relative to customer expectations and customers' interest in and demand for our MAVs; and - our building a well-recognized and respected brand.
Our failure to manage the risks described above may discourage current or potential customers from purchasing our MAVs, and there may be downward price pressure on our MAVs. If the market for MAVs does not develop as we expect or develops more slowly than we expect, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results will be materially and adversely affected.
Sales & Marketing2 | 2.9%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
We may not be able to engage customers successfully and to obtain meaningful orders in the future.Sales & Marketing - Risk 2
Our customers may fail to pay us in accordance with the terms of their agreements, at times necessitating action by us to attempt to compel payment.If our customers fail to pay us in accordance with the terms of our agreements, we may be adversely affected both from the inability to collect amounts due and the cost of enforcing the terms of our agreements, including litigation and arbitration costs. The risk of these issues increases with the term length of our customer arrangements. Furthermore, some of our customers may seek bankruptcy protection or other similar relief and fail to pay amounts due to us, or pay those amounts more slowly, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.
Brand / Reputation2 | 2.9%
Brand / Reputation - Risk 1
Our reputation and the trading price of our common stock may be negatively affected by adverse publicity or detrimental conduct against us.Brand / Reputation - Risk 2
If our current or future business partners, contractors, suppliers, sales agents, dealers or third-party logistics services providers fail to use ethical business practices and comply with applicable laws and regulations, our brand image could be harmed due to negative publicity beyond our own control.Our reputation is sensitive to allegations of unethical business practices. We do not control the business practices of our current or future business partners, independent contractors and suppliers, sales agents, dealers or third-party logistics services providers. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee their compliance with ethical business practices, such as environmental responsibilities, fair wage practices, and compliance with child labor laws, among others. A lack of demonstrated compliance could lead us to seek alternative suppliers, sales agents or dealers, which could increase our costs and result in delayed delivery of our products, product shortages or other disruptions of our operations. Violation of labor or other laws by our suppliers, business partners, sales agent, dealers or third-party logistics services suppliers or the divergence of their labor or other practices from those generally accepted as ethical in the markets in which we do business could also attract negative publicity, diminish our brand image and reduce demand for our MAVs.
Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 6/70 (9%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D2 | 2.9%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
If we fail to successfully develop and commercialize new products, services and technologies that are well received by customers, our operating results may be materially and adversely affected.Innovation / R&D - Risk 2
We may be unable to successfully redesign, build and commercialize our planned MAV as we have not completed its design nor finalized the agreements to carry out the activities contemplated by the Letter of Intent .Commercial production of our manned MAVs requires that we complete its redesign and the timely and adequate supply of various types of raw materials and components in order to build it. In addition, while we have entered into the Letter of Intent with Helicopter Technology that contemplates both product development and manufacturing, we have not finalized the definitive agreements contemplated by the Letter of Intent nor have we obtained the working capital needed to carry out the activities contemplated by those agreements. Further, we have no experience in designing MAV's, high-volume manufacturing or sales of our MAVs. We cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the redesign of the MAV as we expect and to commence production on an efficient and cost-effective basis, or to procure sufficient raw materials and components to meet our future production requirements. While we expect to rely on Helicopter Technology to redesign and produce our MAV's as discussed in the Letter of Intent, there is no assurance that we will be able to design an MAV that satisfies consumer preferences and commence production on an efficient and cost-effective basis. While we expect to obtain components from multiple sources whenever possible, disruption in the supply of components could temporarily disrupt commercial production of our MAVs. We may experience operational difficulties with Helicopter Technology or other contract manufacturers we may utilize in the future, including reductions in the availability of production capacity, failure to comply with product specifications, insufficient quality control, failure to meet production deadlines, increases in manufacturing costs and longer lead time. Any of the foregoing could result in our failure to make timely deliveries to our customers. Such failure would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Trade Secrets2 | 2.9%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
We and our subsidiaries may need to defend ourselves against claims of intellectual property infringement, which may be time-consuming and costly.Trade Secrets - Risk 2
If we fail to protect, or incur significant costs in defending or enforcing our intellectual property and other proprietary rights, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed.Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights. We expect to rely primarily on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, design rights and unfair competition laws, as well as license agreements and other contractual provisions, to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights. However, existing U.S. legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights offer only limited protection, may not provide us with any competitive advantages, and our rights may be challenged by third parties. The laws of countries other than the United States may be even less protective of our intellectual property rights. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may be unable to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating our intellectual property or otherwise gaining access to our technology we expect to develop in the future. Unauthorized third parties may try to copy or reverse engineer our planned products or portions of our products or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property. Moreover, our employees contractors have or will have access to our trade secrets and other intellectual property. If one or more of these contractors cease working with us and work for one of our competitors, then they may disseminate this proprietary information, which may as a result damage our competitive position. If we fail to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights, then our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially harmed. From time to time, we have initiated lawsuits to protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights. Pursuing these claims is time consuming and expensive and could adversely impact our results of operations.
In addition, affirmatively defending our intellectual property rights and investigating whether any of our products or services violate the rights of others may entail significant expense. Our intellectual property rights may be challenged by others or invalidated through administrative processes or litigation. If we resort to legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the intellectual property or other proprietary rights of others, then the proceedings could result in significant expense to us and divert the attention and efforts of our management and technical employees, even if we prevail.
Cyber Security1 | 1.4%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
We face risks related to our information technology systems, and potential cyber-attacks and security and privacy breaches.Technology1 | 1.4%
Technology - Risk 1
If customers modify our MAVs or operating systems, the MAVs may not operate properly, which may cause damage, create negative publicity and harm our business.See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.