Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

Leatt disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Leatt reported the most risks in the “Macro & Political” category.

Risk Overview Q4, 2021

Risk Distribution

27% Macro & Political

23% Finance & Corporate

17% Tech & Innovation

17% Legal & Regulatory

10% Ability to Sell

7% Production

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

2020

S&P500 Average

Sector Average

Risks removed

Risks added

Risks changed

Leatt 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.

Risk Highlights Q4, 2021

Main Risk Category

Macro & Political

With 8 Risks

Macro & Political

With 8 Risks

Number of Disclosed Risks

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

From last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

Recent Changes

3Risks added

0Risks removed

0Risks changed

Since Dec 2021

3Risks added

0Risks removed

0Risks changed

Since Dec 2021

Number of Risk Changed

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 3

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 3

See the risk highlights of Leatt 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 30

Macro & Political

Total Risks: 8/30 (27%)Above Sector Average

Economy & Political Environment2 | 6.7%

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1

Our operations and assets in China are subject to significant political and economic uncertainties.

Changes in PRC laws and regulations, or their interpretation, or the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, imports and sources of supply, devaluations of currency or the nationalization or other expropriation of private enterprises could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Under its current leadership, the Chinese government has been pursuing economic reform policies that encourage private economic activity and greater economic decentralization. There is no assurance, however, that the Chinese government will continue to pursue these policies, or that it will not significantly alter these policies from time to time without notice.

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 2

Global economic turmoil could negatively affect our domestic and international sales, results of operations, and financial condition.

Prolonged turmoil in the global economy, especially in the U.S., South America and Europe, could have a negative impact on our business and our financial condition. Economic uncertainty in many parts of the world, including uncertainty caused by international trade disputes involving the European Union, China and the United States, and by global business closures designed to limit social contact and reduce spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, are situations that we are monitoring closely. Our exposure to such risks may further increase if any of these economic conditions impact levels of consumer spending. While we do not expect to see any significant material adverse impact of COVID-19 on our distribution channels (discussed elsewhere in this report), temporary business closures and social distancing around COVID-19 may have a negative impact on consumer purchasing behavior, which could cause delays in, or even cancellation of, orders from our distributors. If demand for our products fluctuates as a result of these economic conditions or otherwise, our revenue and gross margin could be harmed. Our international business is especially sensitive to economic uncertainty that may affect our ability to conduct business outside of the U.S. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, annual revenues from sales to international customers were $52,337,504 and $24,670,072, or 72% and 64% of our total revenue, respectively. Although there is more certainty regarding the outcome of BREXIT due to the withdrawal agreement that was concluded between The European Union and the United Kingdom on January 24, 2020, we continue to evaluate the potential effect of the United Kingdom's (UK) departure from the European Union (EU) (commonly referred to as "Brexit") on our business operations and financial results. We anticipate that Brexit may have adverse tax effects on movement of products or sustainment activities between the UK and EU. Additionally, Brexit may still have an impact the value of the pound sterling. If the pound sterling were to depress significantly against the U.S. dollar, this could negatively impact the ability of our UK customers to afford our products. Currently, we do not anticipate that Brexit will have a material impact on our operations or our financial results. If our customers were to experience slow growth or recession, we could see a drop-in demand for our products, difficulty in obtaining materials and supplies, difficulty in collecting accounts receivables, an increase in accounts receivable write-offs, and greater foreign exchange rate volatility affecting our profitability and cash flow. Customers may also purchase lower-cost products made by competitors and not resume purchasing our products even after economic conditions improve. While we employ comprehensive controls regarding global cash management to guard against cash or investment loss and to ensure our ability to fund our operations and commitments, a material disruption to the counterparties with whom we transact business could expose us to financial loss.

International Operations2 | 6.7%

International Operations - Risk 1

We engage in international manufacturing and sales which exposes us to trade restrictions and disruptions that could harm our business and competitive position.

We derive 72% of our revenues from international sales and we develop and primarily manufacture our products outside of the U.S. As a result, we are subject to risks associated with shipping products across borders, including shipping delays, customs duties, export quotas and other trade restrictions that could have a significant impact on our revenue and profitability. If we cannot deliver our products on a competitive and timely basis, our relationships with international customers will be damaged and our financial condition could also be harmed. The future imposition of, or significant increases in, the level of tariffs, custom duties, export quotas and other barriers and restrictions by the U.S. on China or other countries could disrupt our supply chain, increase the cost of our raw materials and therefore our pricing, and impose the burdens of compliance with foreign trade laws, any of which could potentially affect our bottom line and sales. While we are in continuous discussions with our manufacturers to ensure there are contingencies in place, we cannot assure you that we will not be adversely affected by changes in the trade laws of foreign jurisdictions where we sell and seek to sell our products.

International Operations - Risk 2

We face risks associated with doing business in non-US jurisdictions.

We have affiliates, and our products are manufactured in and distributed from facilities, located in foreign countries, including countries in Asia and South Africa. International operations are subject to certain risks inherent in doing business abroad, including: exposure to political, social and economic instability; expropriation and nationalization; withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries; difficulties in enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights; exposure to foreign current exchange rates, interests rates and inflation; investment restrictions or requirements; and export and import restrictions. We continue to monitor any adverse impact that the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the subsequent institution of sanctions against Russia by the US and several European leaders may have on the global economy in general and on our business operations and that of our suppliers and customers, in particular. For example, a prolonged conflict may have unintended consequences such as increased inflation, fuel and transportation costs. We will continue to monitor this fluid situation and develop contingencies as necessary to address any disruptions to our business operations as they develop. We are highly dependent on our foreign affiliates for their production capabilities and increasing our foreign operations and business relationships are important elements of our strategy. As a result, our exposure to the risks described above may be greater in the future. The likelihood of such occurrences and their potential impact on us varies from country to country and are unpredictable.

Natural and Human Disruptions3 | 10.0%

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1

Unseasonable weather may disrupt our operations and may reduce consumer demand for our products.

Our products are primarily designed for outdoor use and unseasonable weather could lead to increased expenses and a reduction in our sales revenue. Unseasonable weather and prolonged, extreme temperatures, such as hurricanes, winter storms, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, and other natural disasters may affect consumer participation in outdoor sporting activities and adversely impact their demand for our products. In addition, severe weather could disrupt operation of our facilities and cause service outages, production delays and property damage that require us to incur additional expenses. Such weather conditions may also affect our ability to deliver our products to our customers or may require them to close certain stores temporarily, thereby reducing sales. As a result, unseasonable weather in any of our markets could negatively impact our net revenues.

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2

Natural or man-made catastrophic events may disrupt our business and negatively impact our results of operation.

We are exposed to natural or man-made catastrophic events that may disrupt our business and may reduce consumer demand for our products. A disruption or failure of our systems or operations in the event of a natural disaster, health pandemic, such as the outbreak and global spread of COVID-19 or the coronavirus, or a man-made catastrophic event could cause delays in completing sales, continuing production or performing other critical functions of our business, particularly if a catastrophic event occurred at our primary manufacturing locations or our distributor locations worldwide. Any of these events could severely affect our ability to conduct normal business operations and, as a result, our operating results could be adversely affected. There may also be secondary impacts that are unforeseeable, such as impacts on our consumers and on consumer purchasing behavior, which could cause delays in new orders, delays in completing sales or even order cancellations. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we believe the extent of the impact to our operations will be primarily driven by the severity and duration of the pandemic, the pandemic's impact on the U.S. and global economies and the timing, scope and effectiveness of federal, state and local governmental responses to the pandemic. Due to strong consumer demand for outdoor product categories, we did not see any significant material negative impact of COVID-19 on the Company's results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. We remain cautiously optimistic that ongoing efforts to increase the availability of new COVID-19 vaccines worldwide will mitigate the spread of the virus throughout Europe and the U.S. (our largest markets) and bring about an end to global quarantines. The continued mutation and spread of the virus, economic headwinds caused by global quarantines, or the occurrence of any other catastrophic events, could have a negative impact on our sales revenue for the coming periods and beyond.

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 3

Added

Economic disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed us to rising freight shipping and logistics costs that could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

The economic disruption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on the global freight shipping industry and on the cost of shipping our products to our global network of distributors, dealers and customers, or their import agents, from warehouses in China. Over the past year, the strong rise in demand for Chinese exports has outpaced the availability of containers in Asia, creating a container shortage and huge backlogs in many freight markets around the world, including the U.S., the Middle East, and East Asia. These container shortages at Asian ports have exacerbated supply bottlenecks and further increased shipping costs, by up to 400% in some regions, as companies in Asia are reported to be paying premium rates to get containers back. Further compounding matters is the shortage of dockworkers and truck drivers available to load and unload containers at ports in Europe and the U.S. and to move them to other locations, resulting in congested ports. We are working closely with our supply chain management in Asia, our logistics service providers, and our freight forwarders, to streamline our global shipping and logistics processes, to mitigate any disruption to our operations. Continued disruption and pricing volatility in the global shipping and logistics industry could have a negative impact on our results of operations for the coming periods and beyond.

Capital Markets1 | 3.3%

Capital Markets - Risk 1

Our international operations expose us to foreign exchange risk and currency fluctuations affect our operating profits.

We are exposed to foreign exchange risk as our revenues and consolidated results of operations may be affected by fluctuations in foreign currency as we translate these currencies into U.S. dollars when we consolidate our financial results. Operating outside of the United States further exposes us to foreign exchange risk, which we monitor. We are most sensitive to changes in the exchange rates of the South African Rand (or ZAR), the Renminbi, the Euro and the U.S. dollar. Because of our primary operations in South Africa, a portion of our consolidated revenues are denominated in ZAR, certain of our assets are denominated in ZAR, and our research and marketing operations in South Africa utilize South African labor sources, so we have more ZAR expenses than we do sales in South Africa. A decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to the ZAR could increase our cost of doing business in South Africa. Alternatively, if the ZAR depreciates against the U.S. dollar, the value of our ZAR revenues, earnings and assets as expressed in our U.S. dollar financial statements will decline. In China we have more Renminbi expenses than we do sales, because we manufacture our products in China that we sell globally. A decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Renminbi could increase our cost of purchasing products in China. We have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign exchange risk. In Europe we have significantly more sales than we do expenses. Since 72% of our sales is derived outside the U.S. where the U.S. dollar is not the primary currency, significant fluctuations in exchange rates such as the strengthening of the dollar versus our customers' local currency can adversely affect our ability to remain competitive in those areas.

Finance & Corporate

Total Risks: 7/30 (23%)Below Sector Average

Share Price & Shareholder Rights3 | 10.0%

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1

Added

The Company's officers, directors and affiliates collectively have the power to make all major decisions regarding the Company without the need to get consent from any stockholder or other person. This discretion could lead to decisions that are not necessarily in the best interests of minority shareholders.

Our Company's officers, directors and affiliates collectively own 47.8% of our common stock (including our preferred stock which converts on a one-for-one basis to common stock, but vote on a one-for-one hundred basis to common stock). Our officers and directors, therefore, has the power to make all major decisions regarding our affairs, including decisions regarding whether or not to issue stock and for what consideration, whether or not to sell all or substantially all of our assets and for what consideration and whether or not to authorize more stock for issuance or otherwise amend our charter or bylaws. Our officers and directors are in a position to elect all of our directors and to dictate all of our policies.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2

We are an "emerging growth company," and have availed ourselves of scaled public company reporting requirements and requirements for stockholder approval and advice applicable to emerging growth companies, which could make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an "emerging growth company," as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the independent auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We intend to take advantage of these reporting exemptions and requirements of stockholder advisory votes and approvals until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We could be an "emerging growth company" for up to five years after the first sale of our common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, which we expect will be pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 or on Form S-1. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a "large accelerated filer," our annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion or we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we would cease to be an "emerging growth company" prior to the end of such five-year period. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result of any choice we make to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3

There is not now, and there may not ever be, an active market for our common stock and we cannot assure you that the common stock will become liquid or that it will be listed on a securities exchange.

There currently is no active market for our common stock. We plan to list our common stock on a national exchange as soon as practicable, however, we cannot assure you that we will be able to meet the initial listing standards of any national exchange, or that we will be able to maintain any such listing. Until our common stock is listed on an exchange, we expect that it would be eligible to continue being quoted in the over-the-counter market maintained by the OTC Markets Group Inc. In this venue, however, an investor may find it difficult to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of the common stock and trading of our common stock may be extremely sporadic. For example, several days may pass before any shares may be traded. A more active market for the common stock may never develop. In addition, if we failed to meet the criteria set forth in SEC regulations, various requirements would be imposed by law on broker-dealers who sell our securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors. Consequently, such regulations may deter broker-dealers from recommending or selling the common stock, which may further affect its liquidity. This would also make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital.

Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 6.7%

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1

We may be exposed to potential risks relating to our internal controls over financial reporting and our ability to have those controls attested to by our independent auditors.

As directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX 404, the SEC adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management on the company's internal controls over financial reporting in their annual reports, including Form 10-K. Under current law, we became subject to the requirements of SOX 404 beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 and since becoming a U.S. public company, we have evaluated our internal control systems in order to allow our management to meet these requirements, including for this annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We can provide no assurance that we will comply with all of the requirements imposed thereby in the coming years. In the event that we ever identify significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal controls that we cannot remediate in a timely manner, investors and others may lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2

Added

Our holding company structure may limit the payment of dividends.

We have no direct business operations, other than our ownership of our subsidiaries. While we have no immediate intention of paying dividends, should we decide in the future to do so, as a holding company, our ability to pay dividends and meet other obligations depends upon the receipt of dividends or other payments from our operating subsidiaries and other holdings and investments. In addition, our operating subsidiaries, from time to time, may be subject to restrictions on their ability to make distributions to us, including as a result of restrictive covenants in loan agreements, restrictions on the conversion of local currency into U.S. dollars or other hard currency and other regulatory restrictions as discussed below. If we determine that we will pay dividends to the holders of our common stock, we cannot assure that such dividends will be paid on a timely basis. As a result, you will not receive any return on your investment prior to selling your shares in our company and, for the other reasons discussed in this "Risk Factors" section, you may not receive any return on your investment even when you sell your shares in our company and your shares may become worthless. If future dividends are paid in ZAR, fluctuations in the exchange rate for the conversion of ZAR into U.S. dollars may reduce the amount received by U.S. stockholders upon conversion of the dividend payment into U.S. dollars.

Corporate Activity and Growth2 | 6.7%

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1

In order to grow at the pace expected by management, we may require additional capital to support our long-term growth strategies. If we are unable to obtain additional capital in future years, we may be unable to proceed with our plans and we may be forced to curtail our operations.

We currently meet our working capital requirements with cash flow provided by our operating activities, and we expect to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Since November 2018, the Company has maintained a revolving line of credit agreement with a bank under which it now has access to a line of credit facility of $1,500,000 which remains available in full for advances through February 2023. However, in the future we may require additional working capital to support our long-term growth strategies, including identifying suitable targets for horizontal or vertical mergers or acquisitions so as to enhance the overall productivity and benefit from economies of scale. If the uncertainty arising out of domestic and global economic conditions and the ongoing tightening of domestic credit markets persist, we may not be able to generate adequate cash flows or obtain adequate levels of additional financing, whether through equity financing, debt financing or other sources. Even if we are able to get additional financing, it might not be on terms that are favorable to the Company. Furthermore, additional financings could result in significant dilution to our earnings per share or the issuance of securities with rights superior to our current outstanding securities, including registration rights. If we are unable to raise additional financing, we may be unable to implement our long-term growth strategies, develop or enhance our products and services, take advantage of future opportunities or respond to competitive pressures on a timely basis, if at all. In addition, a lack of additional financing could force us to substantially curtail operations.

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2

Expansion of our business may put added pressure on our management, financial resources and operational infrastructure impeding our ability to meet any increased demand for our products and possibly hurting our operating results.

Our business plan is to significantly grow our operations to meet anticipated growth in demand for existing products, and by the introduction of new product offerings. Our planned growth includes the construction of several new production lines to be put into operation over the next five years. Growth in our business may place a significant strain on our personnel, management, financial systems and other resources. We may be unable to successfully and rapidly expand sales to potential customers in response to potentially increasing demand or control costs associated with our growth. To accommodate any such growth and compete effectively, we may need to obtain additional funding to improve information systems, procedures and controls and expand, train, motivate and manage our employees, and such funding may not be available in sufficient quantities, if at all. If we are not able to manage these activities and implement these strategies successfully to expand to meet any increased demand, our operating results could suffer.

Tech & Innovation

Total Risks: 5/30 (17%)Above Sector Average

Innovation / R&D2 | 6.7%

Innovation / R&D - Risk 1

We may not be able to adequately finance the significant costs associated with the development of new protective equipment products.

The products in the protective equipment market can change dramatically with new technological advancements. We are currently conducting research and development on new products, which requires a substantial outlay of capital. To remain competitive, we must continue to incur significant costs in product development, equipment, facilities and invest in research and development of new products. These costs may increase, resulting in greater fixed costs and operating expenses. In addition to research and development costs, we could be required to expend substantial funds for and commit significant resources to the following: additional engineering and other technical personnel; advanced design, production and test equipment; manufacturing services that meet changing customer needs; technological changes in manufacturing processes; working capital and; manufacturing capacity. Our future operating results will depend, to a significant extent, on our ability to continue to provide new and competitive products that compare favorably on the basis of cost and performance with the design and manufacturing capabilities of competitive third-party technologies. We will need to sufficiently increase our net sales to offset these increased costs, the failure of which would negatively affect our operating results.

Innovation / R&D - Risk 2

If we are unable to develop competitive new products our future results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our future revenue stream depends to a large degree on our ability to utilize our technology in a way that will allow us to offer new types of safety products to a broader client base. We will be required to make investments in research and development in order to continue to develop new products, enhance our products and achieve market acceptance. We may incur problems in the future in innovating and introducing new and innovative products or, if developed, such products may not achieve significant customer acceptance. If we are unable to successfully define, develop and introduce competitive new products or improve on existing ones, our future results of operations would be adversely affected.

Trade Secrets2 | 6.7%

Trade Secrets - Risk 1

Our potential inability to adequately protect our intellectual property during the outsource manufacturing of our products in China could negatively impact our performance.

Our products are manufactured predominantly in China through third-party outsource manufacturing arrangements. We rely on our third-party manufacturers to implement customary manufacturer safeguards onsite, such as the use of confidentiality agreements with employees, to protect our proprietary information and technologies during the manufacturing process, however, these safeguards may not effectively prevent unauthorized use of such information and technical knowhow or prevent such manufacturers from retaining them. The legal regime governing intellectual property rights in China is relatively weak and it is often difficult to create and enforce intellectual property rights or protect trade secrets there. We face risks that our proprietary information may not be afforded the same protection in China as it is in countries with well-developed intellectual property laws, and local laws may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights in China, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.

Trade Secrets - Risk 2

We rely on patent and trade secret laws that are complex and difficult to enforce and we may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property. If we are not able to adequately secure and protect our patent, trademark and other proprietary rights our business may be materially affected.

The continued success of our business is dependent on our intellectual property portfolio consisting of globally registered trademarks, design patents and utility patents related to the Leatt-Brace. We also rely on nondisclosure agreements and other methods to protect our intellectual property rights. However, the steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our technology. In addition, the validity and breadth of claims in protective gear technology patents involve complex legal and factual questions and, therefore, the extent of their enforceability and protection is highly uncertain. Issued patents or patents based on pending patent applications or any future patent applications may not exclude competitors or may not provide a competitive advantage to us. In addition, patents issued or licensed to us may not be held valid if subsequently challenged and others may claim rights in or ownership of such patents. Reverse engineering, unauthorized copying or other misappropriation of our technologies could enable third parties to benefit from our technologies without paying us. We cannot assure you that our competitors have not developed or will not develop similar products, will not duplicate our products, or will not design around any patents issued to or licensed by us. We believe that a loss of these rights would harm or cause a material disruption to our business and, our corporate strategy is to aggressively take legal action against any violators of our intellectual property rights, regardless of where they may be.

Cyber Security1 | 3.3%

Cyber Security - Risk 1

Our business and financial performance may be adversely affected if our information technology systems fail to perform adequately or if they are the subject of a security breach or cyberattack.

We are a multinational company and rely on a variety of information technology systems in the ordinary course of business to manage business data, communications, supply chain, order entry and fulfilment, customer support, billing and payments. Our system and processes are potentially vulnerable to cybersecurity incidents, such as terrorist or hacker attacks, the introduction of malicious computer viruses, ransomware, falsification of banking and other information, insider risk, or other security breaches, including individual or advanced persistent cyber-attacks on our information technology infrastructure and attempts by others to gain access to our proprietary or sensitive information regarding our employees, suppliers and customers. If there is a cybersecurity incident, we may suffer interruptions to our business and service, loss of assets or data, or reduced functionality, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations. Many of our systems are not redundant, and our disaster recovery planning is not sufficient for every eventuality a cybersecurity incident could cause. Security breaches of our systems which allow inappropriate access to or inadvertent transfer of information and misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information belonging to us or to our employees, customers, or suppliers could have an adverse impact on our results of operation. If a customer, supplier or employee alleges that a cyberattack caused or contributed to a loss or compromise of critical information, we could face significant harm to our reputation and financial condition. Any remedial costs or other liabilities related to information security system failures and cybersecurity incidents may not be fully insured or indemnified by other means. While we attempt to mitigate cybersecurity risks by employing a number of proactive measures, including, technical security controls, enhanced data protection, advanced intrusion detection, targeted threat protection and maintenance of backup and protective systems, our systems remain potentially vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. We believe our mitigation measures reduce, but cannot eliminate, the risk of a cybersecurity incident. Despite any precautions we may take, a cybersecurity incident could harm our reputation and financial condition and cause us to incur legal liability and increased costs to respond to such events. Our cyber liability insurance may not be sufficient to compensate us for losses that may result from interruptions in our services or asset or data loss as a result of cybersecurity incidents.

Legal & Regulatory

Total Risks: 5/30 (17%)Below Sector Average

Regulation2 | 6.7%

Regulation - Risk 1

We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption laws, and any determination that we violated these laws could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, or FCPA, and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We have operations and agreements with third parties worldwide and such activities create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by the employees, consultants, sales agents or distributors of our Company, even though they may not always be subject to our control. It is our policy to implement safeguards to discourage these practices by our employees. However, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the employees, consultants, sales agents or distributors of our Company may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA or Chinese anti-corruption laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the U.S. government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability in connection with FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.

Regulation - Risk 2

We may not be able to receive certain industry certifications and accreditation for our products.

We have obtained certification and approvals for certain of our products, including approval of our new knee brace as a Class 1 medical device by both the U.S. FDA and the UK's Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Products Agency (MHRA), and approval of our shoulder brace as a Class 1 medical device by the U.S. FDA. All our products are compliant with applicable European Union directives, or CE certified, where appropriate. All Leatt Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) products are CE Certified showing compliance with European Economic Community (EEC) directive 89/686/EEC that imposes mandatory accreditation of all Personal Protective Equipment products offered for sale in the EEC. This includes the Company's Leatt-Brace and body protection products. We have also obtained certifications for our helmets depending on the market, for the U.S. market our motorcycle helmets comply with the DOT (FMVSS 218) helmet safety standard and our bicycle helmets comply with EN1078, as well as CPSC 1203. Our downhill specific bicycle helmets also comply with ASTM F1952. For our Australian Market our bicycle helmet complies with AS/NZS 2063. For the UK market our motorcycle helmets comply with ACU Gold and our Moto 3.5 helmets comply with JIS T 8133 for the Japanese Market. For the Brazilian market our Moto 7.5 and Moto 3.5 helmets complies with NBR 7471. We are currently in the process of applying to certify our Moto 3.5 helmet and latest helmet model Moto 7.5 to the CCC standard in China. We also voluntarily submitted our GPX neck brace to be tested by the in-house engineers of BMW Motorrad (Germany) and to be reviewed by KTM (Austria). We believe that such testing, while not mandatory, will provide validation for our product's performance, however, there is no guarantee that our products will receive DOT, EN1078, CPSC 1203, ASTM F1952, AS/NZS 2063, ACU Gold, CE Certification or meet BMW testing standards. Our failure to meet testing standards could cause reputational harm and have a negative effect on net sales of products.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities3 | 10.0%

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1

We may have limited legal recourse under PRC law if disputes arise under our outsourcing manufacturing arrangements with third parties.

The Chinese government has enacted some laws and regulations dealing with matters such as corporate organization and governance, foreign investment, commerce, taxation and trade. However, their experience in implementing, interpreting and enforcing these laws and regulations is limited, and our ability to enforce commercial claims or to resolve commercial disputes is unpredictable. If our outsourcing manufacturing arrangements are unsuccessful or other adverse circumstances arise from these arrangements, we face the risk that our third-party manufacturers may dishonor our purchase orders or unwritten arrangements. The resolution of these matters may be subject to the exercise of considerable discretion by agencies of the Chinese government and forces unrelated to the legal merits of a particular matter or dispute may influence their determination. Any rights we may have to specific performance, or to seek an injunction under PRC law, in either of these cases, are severely limited, and without a means of recourse by virtue of the Chinese legal system, we may be unable to prevent these situations from occurring. The occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 2

Your ability to bring an action against us, and those of our officers and directors who are based in South Africa, or to enforce a judgment against us or recover assets in our possession may be difficult since any such action or recovery of assets would be an international matter, involving South African laws and geographic and temporal disparities.

We conduct substantial operations in South Africa through our foreign registered branch and a substantial portion of our assets are located outside of the United States. In addition, all but two of our management personnel reside in South Africa. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been violated under applicable law or otherwise. Even if an action of this type is successfully brought, the laws of the United States and of South Africa may render a judgment unenforceable.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 3

We face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims that could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Because of the nature of our products, we face an inherent business risk of exposure to product liability claims arising from the claimed failure of our products to prevent the types of personal injury or death against which they are designed to protect. Plaintiffs may also advance other legal theories supporting claims that our products or actions resulted in harm to them. We maintain product liability insurance policies with a self-insured retention to attempt to manage this risk worldwide. But although we maintain product liability insurance coverage, there can be no absolute assurance that our coverage limits will be sufficient to cover any successful product liability claims made against us now or in the future. Furthermore, our insurance coverage does not include damages which may be assessed against us for willful and/or intentional injury, or for exemplary or punitive damages. Any claim or aggregation of claims substantially in excess of our insurance coverage, or any substantial claim not covered by insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. These claims also have a negative impact on the renewal our product liability insurance policy and the premiums.

Ability to Sell

Total Risks: 3/30 (10%)Below Sector Average

Competition1 | 3.3%

Competition - Risk 1

We may not be able to maintain or improve our competitive position because of strong competition in the personal protective equipment industry, and we expect this competition to continue to intensify.

We face competition from other global manufacturers and distributors who provide personal protective equipment to users of motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, motor racing cars and other helmeted sports. Some of our international competitors are larger than we and possess greater name recognition, assets, personnel, sales and financial resources. These entities may be able to respond more quickly to changing market conditions by developing new products and services that meet customer requirements or are otherwise superior to our products and services and may be able to more effectively market their products than we can because they have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. They may also be able to devote greater resources than we can to the development, promotion and sale of their products. Increased competition could require us to reduce our prices, result in our receiving fewer customer orders, and result in our loss of market share. We cannot assure you that we will be able to distinguish ourselves in a competitive market. To the extent that we are unable to successfully compete against existing and future competitors, our business, operating results and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

Demand1 | 3.3%

Demand - Risk 1

A substantial amount of our sales revenue is derived from sales to a limited number of customers, and our business will suffer if sales to these customers decline.

We have derived a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers, however none of our customers account for more than 10% of our consolidated revenues. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our largest customer accounted for approximately 10% and 9% of our annual U.S. revenue, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, $254,477 or 2% and $199,808 or 3% of our accounts receivable, was due from this customer. For both the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, our international revenue derived outside of the U.S. was earned from one customer that accounted for approximately 10% and 9% of our annual international revenue. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, $1,273,532 or 10% and $421,976 or 6% of our accounts receivable, respectively, was due from this international customer. We do not have long term contractual arrangements with most of these wholesale customers. The loss of one or more of these customers could damage our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Brand / Reputation1 | 3.3%

Brand / Reputation - Risk 1

The value of our brand and sales of our products could be diminished if we, the individuals who use our products or the sport and activity categories in which our products are used, are associated with negative publicity.

Our success depends on the value of our brand. Our brand could be adversely affected if our public image or reputation were to be tarnished by negative publicity. Many athletes and other public individuals use our products and actions taken by such persons that harm the reputations of activities they participate in could also harm our brand image and result in a material decrease in our revenues and net income, which could have a negative effect on our financial condition and liquidity. In addition, negative publicity resulting from severe injuries or death occurring in the sports or activities in which our products are used and negatively impacts the popularity of such sport or activity, could have a subsequent negative effect on our net sales of products used in that sport or activity.

Production

Total Risks: 2/30 (7%)Below Sector Average

Employment / Personnel1 | 3.3%

Employment / Personnel - Risk 1

We depend on key personnel, and turnover of key employees and senior management could harm our business.

Our future business and results of operations depend in significant part upon the continued contributions of our key technical and senior management personnel, including specifically, Dr. Christopher Leatt, our Chairman and Research and Development Consultant and the licensor of some of our intellectual property, Sean Macdonald, our Chief Executive Officer and President, Erik Olsson, our International General Manager and Todd Repsher, our U.S. General Manager (collectively, "Key Personnel"). Our future also depends in significant part upon our ability to attract and retain additional qualified management, technical, marketing and sales and support personnel for our operations. To address this risk, we have taken out key man insurance on our Key Personnel. However, if we lose any of our Key Personnel, if any of them fails to perform in their current position, or if we are unable to attract and retain skilled personnel as needed to support business operations from time to time, our business could suffer. In addition, significant turnover of Key Personnel in our senior management could significantly deplete our institutional knowledge held by them. We depend on the skills and abilities of these Key Personnel in managing the development, manufacturing, technical, marketing and sales aspects of our business, any part of which could be harmed by further turnover.

Costs1 | 3.3%

Costs - Risk 1

Significant fluctuations in fuel prices could have an adverse impact on our business and operations.

A significant portion of our revenue is derived from international sales and so significant fluctuations in fuel prices could adversely affect our business and operations. While fluctuations in fuel prices could lead to higher commuter costs which may encourage the increased use of motorcycles and bicycles as alternative modes of transportation and lead to an increase in the market for our protection products, significant fluctuations in world fuel prices could significantly increase the price of shipping or transporting our products which we may not be able to pass on to our customers.

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.

Become an Expert with TipRanks Premium

What am I Missing?

Make informed decisions based on Top Analysts' activity

Know what industry insiders are buying

Get actionable alerts from top Wall Street Analysts

Find out before anyone else which stock is going to shoot up

Get powerful stock screeners & detailed portfolio analysis

Subscribe Now See Plans & Pricing