Item 1.
Business.
General
Twin
Vee PowerCats Co. (“Twin Vee” “we”, ‘us” or the “Company”) is a designer, manufacturer
and marketer of recreational and commercial power catamaran boats. We believe our company, founded in 1996, has been an innovator in
the recreational and commercial power catamaran industry. Our twin-hull catamaran running surface, known as a symmetrical catamaran hull
design, adds to the Twin Vee ride quality by reducing drag, increasing fuel efficiency and offering users a stable riding boat. Twin
Vee’s home base operations in Fort Pierce Florida is a 7.5-acre facility with several buildings totaling over 75,000 square feet.
We currently employ approximately 143 people.
We
have organized our business into three operating segments: (i) our gas-powered boat segment, which manufactures and distributes gas-powered
boats; (ii) our electric-powered boat segment, which is developing fully electric boats, through our wholly owned subsidiary, Forza X1,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Forza”) and (iii) our franchise segment, which is developing a standard product offering and
will be selling franchises across the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Fix My Boat, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Our
gas-powered boats allow consumers to use them for a wide range of recreational activities including fishing, diving and water skiing
and commercial activities including transportation, eco tours, fishing and diving expeditions. We believe that the performance, quality
and value of our boats position us to achieve our goal of increasing our market share and expanding the power catamaran boating market.
We currently primarily sell our boats through a current network of 19 independent boat dealers in 23 locations across North America and
the Caribbean who resell our boats to the end user Twin Vee customers. We continue recruiting efforts for high quality boat dealers and
seek to establish new dealers and distributors domestically and internationally to distribute our boats as we grow our production and
introduce new models. Our gas-powered boats are currently outfitted with gas-powered outboard combustion engines.
Due
to the growing demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly electric and alternative fuel commercial and recreational vehicles, our
wholly owned subsidiary, Forza, is designing and developing a line of electric-powered catamaran boats ranging in size from 18-feet to
28-feet. Forza’s initial two models, the FX1 Dual Console and FX1 Center Console, are being designed to be 24-foot in length, have
an 8’ beam or width and utilize a catamaran hull surface to reduce drag and increase run times. The initial launch of FX1 will
include our proprietary single electric outboard motor. Both FX1 models are being designed with advanced high-powered, liquid-cooled
battery packs that will be provided by the third-party supplier with whom we have entered into a five year supply agreement and a vehicle
control unit with proprietary control software all integrated into a 22” master control touch screen that will be used to control
most functions of the boat. We have also filed three design and four utility patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
relating to, among other things, our propulsion system being developed and boat design.
Information
about Twin Vee can be found on our website, http://www.twinvee.com/. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into
this Annual Report and you should not consider any information that is contained on or can be accessed through our website as part of
this Annual Report. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”). The Exchange Act requires us to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. These materials may be obtained electronically by accessing the SEC’s
website at http://www.sec.gov.
Business
of Our Segments
Gas-powered
Boats
Our
gas-powered boat segment, which accounted for 99% of our net revenue in the 2021 fiscal year and 100% of our net revenue in the 2020
fiscal year, is located in Fort Pierce, Florida. We believe our company has been an innovator in the recreational and commercial power
catamaran industry. We currently have 14 gas-powered models in production ranging in size from our 24-foot, dual engine, center console
to our newly designed 40-foot offshore 400 GFX. Our twin-hull catamaran running surface, known as a symmetrical catamaran hull design,
adds to the Twin Vee ride quality by reducing drag, increasing fuel efficiency and offering users a stable riding boat. Twin Vee’s
home base operations in Fort Pierce Florida is a 7.5-acre facility with several buildings totaling over 75,000 square feet. We currently
employ approximately 143 people.
During
the 2021 fiscal year, we brought our new 280 GFX and our new 340 GFX models to market. To further the development of our gas-powered
boat segment, we have also designed a new 260 GFX and a 400 GFX. With the design complete we are now developing our tooling so we can
begin production in 2022.
Twin
Vee’s Hull Shape
Twin
Vee boats are designed for a dry and smooth ride. As a Twin Vee moves through the water, the boat hull has lifting strakes on the side
of each hull. Lifting strakes are known to produce lift at the bow of a boat by displacing water, allowing
the boat to, in essence, glide above the water rather than lumber through it. Twin Vee’s lifting strakes work to not only create
lift, but also to make the ride smoother. The forward motion of a catamaran boat lifts water up towards the top of the tunnel
while pushing the water inward to form two counter-flowing vortexes. As these vortexes are being formed, the Twin Vee hull design aerates
these vortexes with small air bubbles, which are then compressed at an increasing rate as the vortexes move down the tunnel. It is the
kinetic energy stored in these compressed air bubbles, which creates a smooth and stable ride. As speed increases, the kinetic energy
increases at a non-linear rate as more and more air is induced into the increasingly faster flowing vortexes. The trailing surfaces the
Twin Vee hulls are specifically designed to facilitate propulsion efficiency by discharging the kinetic energy and air bubbles from the
counter-flowing vortexes upon exiting astern, thus providing the propellers with a steady flow of super clean and highly ordered water.
This
fact, combined with a catamaran’s soft ride, results in Twin Vee’s renowned efficiency and smooth, seaworthy safety. At speed,
the Twin Vee’s displacement hull slices through the water, traveling with the shape of the seas rather than flying over them and
experiencing reentry shock. This results in a stable and smooth ride. The following are some benefits of the catamaran, or Twin Vee’s,
hull shape.
Power
Catamaran Hull Benefits
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Catamaran
stability. Catamarans have parallel hulls on the outer edges of the boat rather than in the middle, providing superior
stability. Twin Vee hulls travel with the wave shapes because the buoyancy is to the outside, resisting the snap roll pendulum motion
of deep vee monohulls. A Twin Vee wider footprint negates the effects of rolling seas, making them less likely to capsize and reduce
seasickness. |
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Shallow
draft for travelling in “skinny” waters. The weight of the boat is distributed to two hulls for a shallower draft.
The shallow draft of the Twin Vee design provides access to areas that conventional hulls cannot reach. With a Twin Vee, you can enjoy
the beach and not have to wade in the water to get there. |
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More
usable deck space. The relatively rectangular design of the Twin Vee expanded deck area allows for more usable deck space than
monohulls. Twin Vee boats are wider in the bows providing more open area in open models and bigger berths in cabins. Lounge in the
front of a Twin Vee dual console and then jump into a similar-sized monohull. |
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Single
engine get home capability. Twin Vee catamaran hulls do not need planning speed power to travel rapidly on a single engine.
Minimum bow rise for greater visibility, a Twin Vee deck is parallel to the water at all speeds allowing you to maintain your line
of sight and giving you greater fuel efficiency. |
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Docking
and maneuverability. With the extra separation between the motors, over most mono hull boats, you can cross-clutch the motors
and turn or spin the boat up to its own length. |
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Maintains
a plane at lower speed for fuel efficiency. The catamaran hull can maintain a plane at lower speeds and catamaran boats create
less drag in turn offering better fuel efficiency and a more economical boat to maintain. |
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Fish
one side of a Twin Vee. Enjoy fishing without the extreme listing of a monohull. |
Franchise
Our
franchise segment is being developed and we plan to utilize a franchise model for marine mechanics across the country.
Electric-Powered
Boats
The
mission of Forza is to inspire the adoption of sustainable recreational boating by producing stylish electric sport boats. Forza is focused
on the creation, implementation and sale of electric boats utilizing our electric vehicle (“EV”) technology to control and
power its boats and proprietary outboard electric motor. Forza’s electric boats are being designed as fully integrated electric
boats including the hull, outboard motor and control system.
We
believe traditional marine manufacturers are at a crossroads and face significant industry-wide challenges. Much like in the automotive
industry, the reliance on the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine as the principal marine powertrain technology has raised environmental
concerns, created dependence among industrialized and developing nations on oil-primarily imported from foreign countries, exposed consumers
to volatile fuel prices, and inhibited innovation in alternative fuel powertrain technologies.
To
date, Forza has completed the design of two electric boat models and has begun tooling the molds which are required to build the physical
fiberglass boat. In addition, Forza has completed the design and prototyping of the electric outboard motor that will be used as the
initial propulsion source for its two models. Forza has completed the design and prototyping and has begun testing the boats’ integrated
control system. It has also entered into a supply agreement for the supply of the lithium battery packs that it plans to use to power
the electric boats. We expect to begin production of the two FX1 electric boats and commence selling to end user customers by the second
quarter of 2023. Forza is currently sharing our factory for its production needs and is seeking to raise money in a public offering to
invest in building a factory solely for the manufacture of Forza’s fully integrated electric boats.
We
believe that the boating industry will follow in the footsteps of the electrification of the automotive industry by creating electric
boats that meet or exceed the traditional boating consumer’s expectations of price, value and run times. In other words, electric
boats must offer a similar experience when compared to traditional gas-powered boat in terms of size, capability and price point.
Our
Strategy
Overall
Strategy
We
intend to capitalize on the thriving broader marine industry through the following strategies:
Develop
New and Innovative Products in Our Core Market. As an innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of catamaran powerboats,
we strive to design new and inventive products that appeal to a broad customer base. We intend to launch a number of new products and
features with best-in-class quality, with the goal of increasing sales and significant margin expansion. For example, we
currently have 8 gas-powered models in production ranging in size from our 24-foot, dual engine, center console to our newly designed
40-foot offshore 400 GFX. Our twin-hull catamaran running surface, known as a symmetrical catamaran hull design, adds to the Twin Vee
ride quality by reducing drag, increasing fuel efficiency, and offering users a stable riding boat. Furthermore, our unique new
product development process enables us to renew our product portfolio with innovative offerings at a rate that we believe will be difficult
for our competitors to match without significant additional capital investments. We intend to release new products and features multiple
times during the year, which we believe enhances our reputation as a cutting-edge boat manufacturer and will drive consumer interest
in our products.
Increase
the Catamaran Power Boat Category Segment. Our near-term product development strategy is to expand our product line to reach
underserved segments of the catamaran powerboat category that are distinct from our traditional customer base. With our existing supplier
relationships, material agreements, and manufacturing processes, should allow us to offer this product line at an attractive price point
for the consumer while sustaining our gross margins and the product attributes critical to the Twin Vee brand.
Capture
Additional Share from Adjacent Boating Categories. Another focus is to grow our market share is to enhance our ability to
introduce new products with increased versatility, functionality, and performance to a more expansive customer base that values boats
for both water sports and general recreational boating purposes. We intend to launch several marketing campaigns that will focus on new
product launches and help to educate the market on our value proposition to customers.
Effectively
Manage Dealer Inventory and Further Strengthen Our Dealer Network. We view our dealers as our partners and product champions.
Therefore, we will continue to devote significant time and resources to finding high quality dealers and developing and improving their
performance over time. We believe the quality and trust in our dealer relationships are more beneficial to our long-term success than
the quantity of dealers. We currently have a network of 19 independent boat dealers in 23 locations across North America, the Caribbean
and Central America.
Increase
Our Sales in International Markets. We believe we have a brand that will have natural growth in international markets. Catamaran
powerboats have already been accepted as the norm in many international markets. For example, with catamaran powerboats currently being
5% of the US market, catamaran powerboats make up over 30%, as of 2020, of the Bahamian market. Based on our brand and product offering,
as well as out potential distribution strengths, we believe we are well positioned to leverage our reputation and capture additional
international sales. We believe that we will increase our international sales by promoting our products in developed markets where we
have a dealer base and in international markets where rising consumer incomes are expected to increase demand for recreational products,
such as Australia, Europe, Israel, Dubai, and Brazil. We are also developing new product offerings that will specifically target certain
product demand from our international consumers and that we believe will drive further sales growth in international markets.
EV/Forza
Specific Strategy
Forza
plans to operate in a fundamentally different manner and structure than traditional marine manufacturers and boat dealers by adopting
a direct-to-consumer sales and delivery model. Forza has commenced the design of a dedicated web-based platform and intends to commence
the design of a web-based app for sales, deliveries, and service operations to change the personal boat buying and marine service experience
through technological innovation, ease of use, and flexibility. Forza plans to utilize the web-based and app platform to connect with
customers for an end-to-end experience encompassing everything from buying, financing, delivery, servicing, and training Forza intends
to employ an integrated, digital-first strategy that is convenient and transparent for our customers and efficient and scalable to support
its growth. Forza believed its approach will enable it to operate more cost effectively, provide a better customer experience and incorporate
customer feedback more quickly into our product development and manufacturing processes. Forza believes this strategy will allow it to
deliver uncompromised and premium experiences well beyond what is available through the standard dealership model.
Forza’s
plans for its electric boats include the following strategies:
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Successfully
Launch the FX1. Forza believes the successful launch of its first commercially available electric boat is critical to its
ability to capitalize on the marine electric vehicle market opportunity and establish itself as leaders in the industry. Forza plans
to complete the initial prototype boat by Q2 2022 and to commence commercial scale production in Q2 2023. Forza is currently executing
a detailed plan to design, component source, engineer, and manufacture the FX1 and obtain the equipment to support its production. |
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Invest
in Our Infrastructure. Forza is seeking to raise money in a public offering to invest in building a factory solely for the manufacture
of Forza’s fully integrated electric boats. |
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Use
a Common Platform to Introduce New Models. Forza intends to design the FX1 with an adaptable platform architecture and common
electric powertrain to provide the flexibility to use the FX1 platform to launch subsequent electric boat models cost-efficiently. |
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Focus
on Technological Advancements and Cost Improvement. Forza intends to constantly look for ways to improve upon and further develop
our proprietary electric powertrain system while reducing its manufacturing cost. |
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Build
Forza’s Company-Owned Sales and Service Network. Forza X1 is programming and building its expansive and vertically
integrated customer-centric web and app platform to connect with customers for an end-to-end experience encompassing everything
from buying, financing, delivery, servicing, and training. This customer-centric approach to sales and service will simplify accessing
necessary information for potential buyers and current owners in an easily accessible and streamlined online space. |
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Leverage
Industry Advancements in Battery Cells. Forza intends to leverage the substantial investments made globally by battery cell manufacturers
to improve power and capacity. |
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Build
and Leverage Strategic Relationships. Forza intends to establish and develop strategic relationships with industry leaders to
launch our planned electric boats and sell its electric boat powertrain components. Forza envisions significant inroads with boat manufacturers
to retrofit various hull configurations, replacing traditional gas outboard motors and existing boat owners who could retrofit their
boats with Forza X1’s outboard motors, controller, and battery packs. |
Our
Strengths and Competitive Advantages
We
believe that the following are the key investment attributes of our company:
Recognized
Brand. We believe the Twin Vee brand is well-known among boating enthusiasts for performance, quality, and value, and that the
market recognizes Twin Vee as a brand in the twin hull sport boat category due to the value proposition that our boats deliver.
Diverse
Product Offering. We are able to attract consumers across multiple categories within the recreational powerboat industry.
We currently have eight (8) different catamaran models in production that range from 24-feet to 40-feet long offered at retail prices
that start at approximately $65,000 and go up to $860,000.
Focus
on Innovative Product Offerings. We are currently designing numerous new boat models to meet market demand and grow our business.
We are also developing a large off-shore power catamarans with traditional gas-powered engines, the largest Twin Vee to date, the 400
GFX. The 400 GFX is being designed to have a range of over 800 miles and will have the option of being powered by dual or quad engines.
In addition, our subsidiary is also designing and engineering an all-electric outboard propulsion system under the name “ELECTRA”
for other makes and models of boats.
Price
Point. Twin Vee has also made investments in infrastructure, and engineering. These investments have resulted in lower material
waste, reduced labor hours per boat, reduced re-work, and increased production efficiencies. Therefore, we are able to offer favorable
pricing while increasing margins by controlling costs through disciplined engineering and manufacturing processes.
Our
Markets
According
to the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association, or NMMA, more than 325,000 new powerboats were sold in 2021, levels the recreational
boating industry has not seen since before the Great Recession in 2008. Our core market corresponds most directly to the outboard, twin
hull, catamaran and open fisherman category, which we refer to as the sport powerboats category. We believe our addressable market also
includes similar and adjacent powerboat categories identified by the NMMA, including center console boats, outboard boats, and all open
sport fishing boats. For 2021, US sales of boats, marine products, and services are estimated to total $49 billion, up seven percent
from 2020. Retail unit sales of new powerboats specifically increased last year by an estimated 7% compared to 2020. As a result, we
believe that total annual addressable market for our products in the US alone is greater than $4.7 billion.
In
North America, 100 million people go boating every year, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, with 11.9 million recreational vessels registered
with the U.S. Coast Guard in 2019. The worldwide recreational boating market size is set to surpass $63 billion by 2026, according
to a research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Within the boating market, there is an outboard motor market and an electric boat
market. Our products, including those of our subsidiaries, fall into each of those categories.
Outboard
Motor Market
An
outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet
drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the boat. As well as providing propulsion, outboards provide steering control, as they
are designed to pivot over their mountings and thus control the direction of thrust. Outboard motors tend to be found on smaller watercraft
as it is more efficient for larger boats to have an inboard system. Although outboard engines powered by fossil fuels have traditionally
dominated this market and continue to do so, electric outboard motors are a relatively new phenomenon that have been growing in step
with the growth in the electric boat market. The boats that we sell and manufacture all have outboard motors.
According
to the NMMA, sales of outboard engines in the United States (which includes outboard motors) increased to a twenty-year high of 329,500
units representing sales market of US $3.4 billion in 2020. Consumer demand for higher-performance engines continued to trend upward
in 2020, with double digit gains in sales for engines with 200 and greater horsepower. Engines with over 200 horsepower accounted for
a rise in 17.6% compared to 2019, amounting to over 89,000 units sold. Overall, the average horsepower of all outboard engines sold in
2020 reached 126.3 hp, up 48% from the average in 2010 of 85.1 horsepower according to the NMMA.
Although
many recreational boats can be powered by outboard or inboard motors, many consumers prefer outboard motors. Among the reasons for their
preference are that, unlike inboard motors, outboard motors can be easily removed for storage or repairs, they provide more room in the
boat as they are attached to the transom outside of the boat, they tend to have a shallower draft and they can be more easily replaced
in the event the motor no longer works or a desire to upgrade to a higher horsepower.
Electric
Boat Market
Although
electric boats have been available for over 100 years, interest in them was minimal until the 1990s when the first studies were conducted
in the United States following the suspicion that motorboats contaminate aquatic environments significantly through loss of gas and lubrication
oil. According to Andre Mele, recreational boats pollute as much as cars and trucks in the United States. In the early 2000’s,
8 million speedboats in the United States released 15 times more pollutants annually into the environment than the oil spill produced
by the oil tanker Exxon Valdez in 1989. The sinking of this tanker in Alaska had released 11 million U.S. gallons of hydrocarbons into
the environment. After conversion, this means that each boat releases an average of 78 L of hydrocarbons into aquatic environments each
year. If that average is still current, we estimate that in 2019 oil losses in the environment via motorboats equaled 150,000 tons of
hydrocarbon scaly leaks in Canada (based on 2 million vessels), 750,000 tons of hydrocarbon scaly leaks in the United States (based on
10 million vessels) and 450,000 tons of hydrocarbon scaly leaks in Europe (based on 6 million vessels).
This
explains why some lakes and bodies of water have recently banned motorboats. The total elimination of gas immediately reduces a very
large source of marine pollution, with immediate results that would impact beaches, swimming and the reduction of BOD (biochemical oxygen
demand) and DCO (direct chemical oxidation) of ambient water. Specifically, hydrocarbons, similar to the dirt that clings to the walls
of a bathtub, contaminate the shores and banks of lakes, rivers and bodies of water, where the development of many living organisms takes
place. The ecosystem is then modified with the scarcity or disappearance of certain species.
In
an effort to tackle air pollution, cities around the world are beginning to ban all gas and diesel fuel powered boats from the center
of the city. One of the first cities to implement this change is Amsterdam, Netherlands. This movement to electrically powered boats
has been implemented in Venice, where the city has restricted the movement of gas and diesel fuel powered boats, while exempting electrically
powered boats.
We
expect that shifting consumer preferences will result in significant growth in the market for electric boats, especially as the demand
for recreational powerboats, in general, remains strong. We estimate many consumers are increasingly willing to consider buying electric-powered
boats due to the environmental and economic consequences of using gasoline-powered vehicles, as demonstrated by the increased sales of
hybrid and electric automobiles in recent years. In its Electric Vehicle Outlook 2021, Bloomberg NEF estimated that there are currently
12 million passenger electric vehicles on the road. The prevalence of electric-powered boats is likely to follow suit. In an August 2020
Boating Industry online article, the marine-focused magazine indicated that electric boat drives represented about 2% of the market,
but hybrid and pure electric boats sales were expected to rise rapidly in the coming years. Specifically, the article cites a report
from independent market research company IDTechEx where it examined the electric boat and ship sector. The report estimates that the
market for hybrid and pure electric boats and ships would be greater than $20 billion worldwide by 2027, finding that recreational boats
is the largest and fastest growing electric marine market in sales number.
Our
initiative into sustainable marine technologies and products is well-timed. The prevalence of batteries necessary to sustain a marine
EV model line is expected to rise and become cheaper. Bloomberg NEF’s Long-Term Electric Vehicle Outlook reports that annual lithium-battery
demand has proliferated in recent years and meeting the demand will require unprecedented but achievable increases in materials, components,
and cell production. Battery production capacity is expanding as more factories are brought online. Moreover, battery technology that
improves power and capacity is being designed, developed, and adopted regularly. According to Bloomberg NEF’s report, it found
that the volume-weighted average price of a lithium-ion battery pack fell 13% from 2019 to $137/kWh (kilowatt-hour) in 2020. The report
estimates the volume-weighted average cost of battery packs will drop below $100/kW in 2024. The Company is establishing itself in the
market at the right time to help keep production costs as low as possible and make our boats affordable for our customers.
Our
Dealer Network
We
primarily sell our gas-powered boats through a network of 19 independent dealers in 23 locations across North America, the Caribbean
(one in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Cayman Islands) and Central America (Panama City, Panama). We have dealerships in Cape Canaveral,
Crystal River, Eastpoint, Fort Myers, Islamorada, Palm Bay, Palm Harbor, Palmetto, Pompano Beach and Stuart, Florida. We also have dealerships
in Gulf Shores, Alabama, Norwalk, Connecticut, Vermillion, Ohio, Grasonville, Maryland, Tuckerton, New Jersey, Cedar Point and Goldsboro,
North Carolina, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina and Freeport, Texas. We are always seeking to recruit and establish
new dealers and distributors domestically and are striving to develop international distribution.
We
establish performance criteria that our dealers must meet in order to be part of our network to ensure our dealer network remains strong,
which include minimum annual purchase orders. As a member of our network, dealers in North America may qualify for floor plan financing
programs, rebates, seasonal discounts, promotional co-op payments and other allowances. We expect this will strengthen our dealers’
ability to sell our products.
Approximately
22% of our dealer locations have been with us, for over ten years. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our top five dealers on a consolidated
basis accounted for approximately 67% of our total units sold and each of those dealers accounted for over ten percent of the units sold.
We
consistently review our distribution network to identify opportunities to expand our geographic footprint and improve our coverage of
the market. We believe that our diverse product offering and strong market position in each region of the United States helped us capitalize
on growth opportunities as our industry recovered from the economic downturn. We have the ability to opportunistically add new dealers
and new dealer locations to previously underserved markets and use data and performance metrics to monitor dealer performance. We believe
our outstanding dealer network allows us to distribute our products more efficiently than our smaller competitors.
We
do not have written agreements with our dealers. Prior to the beginning of each year, we establish a minimum number of units that each
dealer must acquire based upon indications of interest from the dealers. Payment for the units is made by the dealer or a third-party
lender once the boat is manufactured and delivered to the dealer. Dealers are not contractually obligated to purchase any boats. Although
to date most dealers have purchased boats for which they have provided indications of interest, we could experience excess inventory
and costs if a dealer should choose not to purchase a boat for which it has provided an indication of interest.
Floor
Plan Financing
Our
North American dealers often purchase boats through floor plan financing programs with third-party floor plan financing providers. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, all of our North American shipments were made pursuant to floor plan financing programs through which
our dealers participate. These programs allow dealers across our brands to establish lines of credit with third-party lenders to purchase
inventory. Under these programs, a dealer draws on the floor plan facility upon the purchase of our boats and the lender pays the invoice
price of the boats. As is typical in our industry, we have entered into repurchase agreements with certain floor plan financing providers
to our dealers. Under the terms of these arrangements, in the event a lender repossesses a boat from a dealer that has defaulted on its
floor financing arrangement and is able to deliver the repossessed boat to us, we are obligated to repurchase the boat from the lender.
Our obligation to repurchase such repossessed products for the unpaid balance of our original invoice price for the boat is subject to
reduction or limitation based on the age and condition of the boat at the time of repurchase, and in certain cases by an aggregate cap
on repurchase obligations associated with a particular floor financing program.
Our
exposure under repurchase agreements with third-party lenders is mitigated by our ability to reposition inventory with a new dealer in
the event that a repurchase event occurs. The primary cost to us of a repurchase event is any margin loss on the resale of a repurchased
unit. To date, we have not been required to repurchase any boats under repurchase agreements.
Competition
The
powerboat industry, including the performance sport boat category, is highly competitive for consumers and dealers. Competition affects
our ability to succeed in the markets we currently serve and new markets that we may enter in the future. We compete with several large
manufacturers that may have greater financial, marketing and other resources than we do. We compete with large manufacturers who are
represented by dealers in the markets in which we now operate and into which we plan to expand. We also compete with a wide variety of
small, independent manufactures. Competition in our industry is based primarily on brand name, price and product performance.
We
also compete with other leisure activities. Our boats are not necessities and in times of economic hardship, consumers may cease purchasing
non-essential items. Luxury items may not be used for recreational and sport purposes, and demand for our boats may be adversely affected
by competition from other activities that occupy consumers’ leisure time and by changes in consumer lifestyle, usage pattern or
taste.
We
also face competition for employees. Competition for individuals with experience designing, manufacturing and servicing electric boats
is intense, and we may not be able to attract, assimilate, train or retain additional highly qualified personnel in the future. The failure
to attract, integrate, train, motivate and retain these additional employees could seriously harm our business and prospects.
Raw
Materials, Principal Suppliers, and Customers
We
purchase a number of our product parts and components from third-party suppliers, including the fiberglass we use to manufacture the
fiberglass parts of our boats, hydrocarbon feedstocks and steel, as well as product parts and components, such as engines and electronic
controls, through a sales order process. The most significant component used in manufacturing our gas-powered boats, based on cost, are
engines. We maintain a strong and long-standing relationship with our sole supplier of engines, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
We
do not maintain long-term contracts with preferred suppliers, but instead rely on informal arrangements and off-the-shelf purchases.
Other than the 150-horsepower motors we obtain from Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., which historically have been used in approximately
15% of our boats, we have not experienced any material shortages in any of our product parts, or components. However, as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic some of our third-party suppliers have experienced delays in delivering our product parts and components in a timely
manner and fluctuations in price for these supplies is a possibility if raw material pricing increases. Temporary shortages, when they
do occur, usually involve manufacturers of these products adjusting model mix, introducing new product lines, or limiting production
in response to an industry-wide reduction in boat demand or, as recently experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, in finding persons
able to deliver the parts and components in a timely manner. In addition, we have experienced price increases from suppliers resulting
from these supply chain shortages.
Semiconductor
chips are a vital input component to the electrical architecture of our electric boats, controlling wide aspects of the boats’
operations. Many of the key semiconductor chips we intend to use in our boats come from limited or single sources of supply, and therefore
a disruption with any one manufacturer or supplier in our supply chain would have an adverse effect on our ability to effectively manufacture
and timely deliver our boats. We do not have any long-term supply contracts with any suppliers and purchase chips on a purchase order
basis. Due to our reliance on these semiconductor chips, we are subject to the risk of shortages and long lead times in their supply.
We are in the process of identifying alternative manufacturers for semiconductor chips. We have in the past experienced, and may in the
future experience, semiconductor chip shortages, and the availability and cost of these components would be difficult to predict. For
example, our manufacturers may experience temporary or permanent disruptions in their manufacturing operations due to equipment breakdowns,
labor strikes or shortages, natural disasters, component or material shortages, cost increases, acquisitions, insolvency, changes in
legal or regulatory requirements, or other similar problems.
Increased
demand for semiconductor chips in 2020, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand for consumer electronics that use these
chips, has resulted in a severe global shortage of chips in 2021. As a result, our ability to source semiconductor chips to be used in
our boats has been adversely affected. This shortage may result in increased chip delivery lead times, delays in the production of our
boats, and increased costs to source available semiconductor chips. To the extent this semiconductor chip shortage continues, and we
are unable to mitigate the effects of this shortage, our ability to deliver sufficient quantities of our boats to fulfill our preorders
and to support our growth through sales to new customers would be adversely affected.
While
we believe that our relationships with our current suppliers are sufficient to provide the materials necessary to meet present production
demand, we cannot assure you that these relationships will continue or that the quantity or quality of the materials available from these
suppliers will be sufficient to meet our future needs. We expect that our need for raw materials and supplies will increase. Our suppliers
must be prepared to ramp up operations and, in many cases, hire additional workers and/or expand capacity in order to fulfill those orders
placed by us and other customers. Operational and financial difficulties that our suppliers may face in the future could adversely affect
their ability to supply us with the parts and components we need, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
A
few customers have in the past, and may in the future, account for a significant portion of our revenues in any one year or over a period
of several consecutive years. For example, during the year end December 31, 2021 five dealers represented 67% of our sales. The loss
of business from a significant customer could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows.
Intellectual
Property
We
have not protected our intellectual property rights for our gas-powered motor products through patents or formal copyright registration,
and we do not currently have any patent applications pending related to our gas-powered boats.
As
development of our electric powered boats continues, we are applying for patents. We have filed applications for three design and four
utility patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office relating to, among other things, our propulsion system being developed and
boat design. Below is a list of pending patent applications that Forza X1 is seeking approval from the United States Patent and Trademark
Office. There can be no assurance that any patent will issue or if issued that the patent will protect our intellectual property. As
a result, we may not be able to protect our intellectual property and trade secrets or prevent others from independently developing substantially
equivalent proprietary information and techniques or from otherwise gaining access to our intellectual property or trade secrets. In
such an instance, our competitors could produce products that are nearly identical to ours resulting in us selling less products or generating
less revenue from our sales.
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding our current patent applications:
IDEA
/ CONCEPT NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
IP
TYPE |
App
Number and Filing Date |
360
Steering Lower Pod with Disconnect |
For
outboard, lower pod steering mechanism using slewing bearing and spur gear mechanism allowing for a full 360-degree rotation. Also features
a pass through the center method for cooling fluid, and an easy way to interchange lower drive units with the fixed upper unit. |
Utility
Patent Need to submit full application by March 2022 |
App
# 63,207,748 FILING DATE 03/18/21 |
Original
Outboard Cover Design |
Original
shape of outboard cover |
Design
Patent |
App
# 29/818,844 FILING DATE 12/10/21 |
Unibody
Frame |
Shape
of frame that allows vertical mounting of motor and transmission inside the outboard |
Design
Patent |
App
# 29/818,842 FILING DATE 12/10/21 |
Outboard
cover design - ALPHA 01 version |
Shape
of the updated prototype cover and cowling |
Design
Patent |
App
# 29/819,262 FILING DATE 12/14/21 |
Trim
and Tilt with cable routing thru pivot axis |
A
trim and tilt assembly that routes cables through the pivot axis which protects cables, keeps the bundle from excessive bending and results
in a cleaner design |
Utility
Patent |
App
# 63,287,740 FILING DATE 12/09/21 |
Jet
Drive Lower Unit for an Electric Outboard |
The
design of the lower jet drive as it is configured for the integration with the electric outboard |
Utility
Patent |
App
# 63,293,420 FILING DATE 12/23/21 |
Closed
Loop Heat Exchanger Integrated in a Lower Drive Unit |
Integrate
a cooling radiator inside of the lower drive propeller or jet drive unit itself. Simplify the cooling circuit by eliminating the need
for a raw sea water intake. |
Utility
Patent |
App
# 63,297,013 FILING DATE 1/06/22 |
Insurance
and Product Warranties
We
carry various insurance policies, including policies to cover general products liability, directors and officers, workers’ compensation
and other casualty and property risks, to protect against certain risks of loss consistent with the exposures associated with the nature
and scope of our operations. Our policies are generally based on our safety record as well as market trends in the insurance industry
and are subject to certain deductibles, limits and policy terms and conditions.
We
provide limited product warranties, generally covering periods of ten years for the hull and the motors are under warranty by their manufacturer.
In
addition, we provide a three-year limited fiberglass small parts warranty on some small fiberglass parts and components, such as consoles.
Gelcoat is covered up to one year. Additionally, fiberglass lids, plastic lids, electrical panels, bilge pumps, aerator pumps or other
electrical devices (excluding stereos, depth finders, radar, chart plotters except for installation if installed by Twin Vee PowerCats
Co.), steering systems, electrical panels, and pumps are covered under a one-year basic limited systems warranty. Some materials, components
or parts of the boat that are not covered by our limited product warranties are separately warranted by their manufacturers or suppliers.
These other warranties include warranties covering engines purchased from suppliers and other components.
Environmental,
Safety and Regulatory Matters
Certain
materials used in our manufacturing, including the resins used in production of our boats, are toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive
and are classified by the federal and state governments as “hazardous materials.” Control of these substances is regulated
by the Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) and state pollution control agencies. The United States Clean Air Act
(the “CAA”) and corresponding state and provincial rules regulate emissions of air pollutants. The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (“OSHA”) standards limit the emissions to which an employee may be exposed without the need for respiratory
protection or upgraded plant ventilation. Our facilities are regularly inspected by OSHA and by state and local inspection agencies and
departments. We believe that our facility complies in all material aspects with these regulations. Although capital expenditures related
to compliance with environmental laws are expected to increase, we do not currently anticipate any material expenditure will be required
to continue to comply with existing environmental or safety regulations in connection with our existing manufacturing facilities.
Powerboats
sold in the United States must be manufactured to meet the standards of certification required by the United States Coast Guard. In addition,
boats manufactured for sale in the European Community must be certified to meet the European Community’s imported manufactured
products standards. These certifications specify standards for the design and construction of powerboats. We believe that all of our
boats meet these standards. In addition, safety of recreational boats is subject to federal regulation under the Boat Safety Act of 1971,
which requires boat manufacturers to recall products for replacement of parts or components that have demonstrated defects affecting
safety. We have instituted recalls for defective component parts produced by certain of our third-party suppliers. None of the recalls
has had a material adverse effect on our company.
In
addition to the regulation of our manufacturing operations, the EPA has adopted regulations stipulating that many marine propulsion engines
meet certain air emission standards. The engines used in our products, all of which are manufactured by third parties, are warranted
by the manufacturers to be in compliance with the EPA’s emission standards. Furthermore, the engines used in our products must
comply with the applicable emission standards under the CEPA and corresponding provincial legislation. The additional cost of complying
with these regulations has increased our cost to purchase the engines and, accordingly, has increased the cost to manufacture our products.
If
we are not able to pass these additional costs along to our customers, it may have a negative impact on our business and financial condition.
Employees/Human
Capital
As
of December 31, 2021, we employed approximately 120 employees in our gas-powered boat segment, all of whom are full time employees. As
of the same date, we had two full time employees in our franchise segment and Forza has five full time employees working on electric-powered
boats. None of our employees are represented by a labor union and, since our founding in 1982, we have never experienced a labor-related
work stoppage.
Competitive
Pay and Benefits
Our
compensation programs are designed to align the compensation of our employees with our performance and to provide the proper incentives
to attract, retain and motivate employees to achieve superior results. The structure of our compensation programs balances incentive
earnings for both short-term and long-term performance. Specifically:
|
● |
we
provide employee wages and benefits that are competitive and consistent with employee positions, skill levels, experience, knowledge
and geographic location; |
|
● |
we
align our executives’ long-term equity compensation with our shareholders’ interests by linking realizable pay with
stock performance; and |
|
● |
all
employees are eligible for health insurance, paid and unpaid leaves, a retirement plan and life and disability/accident erage. |
Health
and Safety
The
health and safety of our employees is our highest priority, and this is consistent with our operating philosophy. Accordingly, with the
global spread of the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, we have implemented plans designed to address and mitigate the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on the safety of our employees and our business, which include:
|
● |
adding
work from home flexibility; |
|
|
|
|
● |
adjusting
attendance policies to encourage those who are sick to stay home; |
|
● |
increasing
cleaning protocols across all locations; and |
|
● |
initiating
regular communication regarding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and safety protocols and procedures. |
Impact
of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Operations
The
COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has offered challenges for all commercial enterprises. According to a Small Business Pulse Survey, 89.9% of
businesses reported a moderate to large negative effect from COVID-19 on their business in April 2020, only reducing to approximately
75% in November 2020. Imposed restrictions, such as social distancing, regular temperature checks, enhanced cleaning measures, and the
use of personal protective equipment placed on workplaces to increase the safety of employees was something many companies have never
had to face before. Some companies and even entire industries have had to shut down due to COVID-19. Moreover, the potential collapse
of demand from consumers is an ever-present concern right now with high unemployment rates and the unpredictable nature of living during
a global pandemic.
We
have adapted to these unprecedented times and believe we have successfully navigated the issues presented to our business by the global
pandemic. Although sales decreased at the beginning of the summer and we had reduced staffing, we have operated with a full-time staff
since the middle of the summer. The demand for our Classic and GFX models have been robust, our backlog is over 125 boats. Orders currently
being placed for our boats are being scheduled for delivery into Q4 of 2022. With the influx of orders, we continue to hire seasoned
and experienced production team members with years of production and scheduling experience, the team is aiding our efforts to streamline
our manufacturing process.
Corporate
Information
Our
principal executive office is located at 3101 S. US-1, Ft. Pierce, Florida 34982 and our telephone number is (772) 429-2525. We maintain
our corporate website at www.twinvee.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, the information that can
be accessed through our website is not part of this Annual Report, and investors should not rely on any such information in deciding
whether to purchase our common stock.
We
were incorporated in the State of Florida as Twin Vee Catamarans, Inc. on December 1, 2009 and reincorporated in Delaware on April 7,
2021. Our parent company was incorporated as ValueRich, Inc. (“ValueRich”) under the laws of the state of Florida on July
11, 2003 and reincorporated in Delaware on March 3, 2006. On February 17, 2015 ValueRich consummated the acquisition of Twin Vee Catamarans,
Inc. On April 26, 2016, ValueRich changed its name and began operating under the name Twin Vee PowerCats, Inc.
Forza
X1, Inc. was initially incorporated as Electra Power Sports, Inc. on October 15, 2021, which name was subsequently changed to Forza X1,
Inc. on October 29, 2021. Prior to Forza’s incorporation on October 15, 2021, the electric boat business was operated as our Electra
Power Sports™ Division. Following our initial public offering that closed on July 23, 2021 (the “IPO”), we determined
in October 2021 that for several reasons, that we would market our new independent line of electric boats under a new brand name (and
new subsidiary).
Fix
My Boat, Inc. was incorporated on September 21, 2021 in Delaware.
Implications
of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”),
and therefore we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being
required to have our internal controls over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant
to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (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 any golden parachute payments. We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging
growth company.” In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can delay adopting new or revised
accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use the extended transition period
for complying with new or revised accounting standards under the JOBS Act. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised
accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies.
As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year: (a) following the fifth
anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering; (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion;
or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates
exceeded $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible
debt during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with
that term in the JOBS Act.
Item
1A. Risk Factors.
Investors
should carefully consider the risks described below before deciding whether to invest in our securities. If any of the following risks
actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price
of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Our actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in the forward-looking statements made throughout this Annual Report a result of different factors, including the risks
we face described below.
Risks
Related to our Business
There
is limited public information on our operating history.
Our
limited public operating history makes evaluating our business and prospects difficult. Although we were formed in 2003, we did not provide
public reports on the results of operations until our 2020 fiscal year. We only have two years of audited financial statements. Any investment
decision will not be made with the same data as would be available as if we had a longer history of public reporting.
Our
ability to meet our manufacturing workforce needs is crucial to our results of operations and future sales and profitability.
We
rely on the existence of an available hourly workforce to manufacture our products. In addition, Forza X1 relies upon engineers that
are specialist in electric engineering. We cannot assure you that we or our subsidiaries, will be able to attract and retain qualified
employees to meet current or future manufacturing needs at a reasonable cost, or at all. For instance, the demand for skilled employees
has increased recently with the low unemployment rates in Florida where we have manufacturing facilities. Also, although none of our
employees are currently covered by collective bargaining agreements, we cannot assure you that our employees will not elect to be represented
by labor unions in the future. Additionally, competition for qualified employees could require us to pay higher wages to attract a sufficient
number of employees. Significant increases in manufacturing workforce costs could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition or results of operations.
We
have a large, fixed cost base that will affect our profitability if our sales decrease.
The
fixed cost levels of operating a powerboat manufacturer can put pressure on profit margins when sales and production decline. Our profitability
depends, in part, on our ability to spread fixed costs over a sufficiently large number of products sold and shipped, and if we make
a decision to reduce our rate of production, gross or net margins could be negatively affected. Consequently, decreased demand or the
need to reduce production can lower our ability to absorb fixed costs and materially impact our financial condition or results of operations.
Interest
rates and energy prices affect product sales.
Our
gas-powered products are often financed by our dealers and retail powerboat consumers, we envision this continuing as we expand our operations
and grow our network of distributors. This may not occur if interest rates meaningfully rise because higher rates increase the borrowing
costs and, accordingly, the cost of doing business for dealers and the cost of powerboat purchases for consumers. Higher energy costs
result in increases in operating expenses at our manufacturing facility and in the expense of shipping products to our dealers. In addition,
inflation and increases in energy costs may adversely affect the pricing and availability of petroleum-based raw materials, such as resins
and foams that are used in our products. Also, higher fuel prices may have an adverse effect on demand for our gas-powered boats, as
they increase the cost of ownership and operation and the pries at which we sell the boats. Therefore, higher interest rates and fuel
costs can adversely affect consumers’ decisions relating to recreational powerboating purchases.
The
capacity of the manufacturing facility that we and our parent company utilize will not be sufficient to support our future growth and
business plans.
We
are currently operating close to full capacity at our current manufacturing facility in Fort Pierce. We currently plan to manufacture
our electric boats at a new state of the art carbon neutral factory that we plan to build in Fort Pierce Florida. Until we are able to
expand our manufacturing capacity and build the planned manufacturing facility, we will continue to share our current manufacturing facility
with our subsidiaries, which has a limited capacity and may not be able to satisfy our and their manufacturing needs. Any facility that
we build will require a significant capital investment and is expected to take at least one to two years to build and become fully operational.
Our
business may be materially affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak.
The
outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has and may continue to cause disruptions to our business and operational plans. These disruptions
may include disruptions resulting from (i) shortages of employees, (ii) unavailability of contractors and subcontractors, (iii) interruption
of, or price fluctuations in, supplies from third parties upon which we rely, (iv) restrictions that governments impose to address the
COVID-19 outbreak, and (v) restrictions that we and our contractors and subcontractors impose to ensure the safety of employees and others.
To date, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced shortages in obtaining the 150 horsepower motors that are supplied
to us by Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., which historically have been used in approximately 15% of our boats. In addition, we have also
been subject to increased prices for materials resulting generally from supply chain shortages. We also have increased our inventory
of parts and components, spending additional funds before we have purchase orders. Continued delays in our supply chain could adversely
impact our production and, in turn, our revenues. Further, it is presently not possible to predict the extent or durations of these disruptions.
These disruptions may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Such adverse effect
could be rapid and unexpected. These disruptions may severely affect our ability to carry out our business plans for 2022 and beyond.
Our
annual and quarterly financial results are subject to significant fluctuations depending on various factors, many of which are beyond
our control.
Our
sales and operating results can vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year depending on various factors, many of which
are beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to:
|
● |
Seasonal
consumer demand for our products; |
|
● |
Discretionary
spending habits; |
|
● |
Changes
in pricing in, or the availability of supply in, the powerboat market; |
|
● |
Failure
to maintain a premium brand image; |
|
● |
Disruption
in the operation of our manufacturing facilities; |
|
● |
Variations
in the timing and volume of our sales; |
|
● |
The
timing of our expenditures in anticipation of future sales; |
|
● |
Sales
promotions by us and our competitors; |
|
● |
Changes
in competitive and economic conditions generally; |
|
● |
Consumer
preferences and competition for consumers’ leisure time; |
|
● |
Impact
of unfavorable weather conditions; |
|
● |
Changes
in the cost or availability of our labor; and |
|
● |
Increased
fuel prices. |
Due
to these and other factors, our results of operations may decline quickly and significantly in response to changes in order patterns
or rapid decreases in demand for our products. We anticipate that fluctuations in operating results will continue in the future.
Unfavorable
weather conditions may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, especially during
the peak boating season.
Adverse
weather conditions in any year in any particular geographic region may adversely affect sales in that region, especially during the peak
boating season. Sales of our products are generally stronger just before and during spring and summer, which represent the peak boating
months, and favorable weather during these months generally has a positive effect on consumer demand. Conversely, unseasonably cool weather,
excessive rainfall, reduced rainfall levels, or drought conditions during these periods may close area boating locations or render boating
dangerous or inconvenient, thereby generally reducing consumer demand for our products. Our annual results would be materially and adversely
affected if our net sales were to fall below expected seasonal levels during these periods. We may also experience more pronounced seasonal
fluctuation in net sales in the future as we expand our businesses. There can be no assurance that weather conditions will not have a
material effect on the sales of any of our products.
A
natural disaster, the effects of climate change, or other disruptions at our manufacturing facility could adversely affect our business,
financial condition, and results of operations.
We
rely on the continuous operation of our only manufacturing facility in Stuart, Florida for the production of our products. Any natural
disaster or other serious disruption to our facility due to fire, flood, earthquake, or any other unforeseen circumstance would adversely
affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Changes in climate could adversely affect our operations by limiting
or increasing the costs associated with equipment or fuel supplies. In addition, adverse weather conditions, such as increased frequency
and/or severity of storms, or floods could impair our ability to operate by damaging our facilities and equipment or restricting product
delivery to customers. The occurrence of any disruption at our manufacturing facility, even for a short period of time, may have an adverse
effect on our productivity and profitability, during and after the period of the disruption. These disruptions may also cause personal
injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, and environmental damage. Although we maintain property,
casualty, and business interruption insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for the industry, we are
not fully insured against all potential natural disasters or other disruptions to our manufacturing facility.
If
we fail to manage our manufacturing levels while still addressing the seasonal retail pattern for our products, our business and margins
may suffer.
The
seasonality of retail demand for our products, together with our goal of balancing production throughout the year, requires us to manage
our manufacturing and allocate our gas-powered products to our dealer network to address anticipated retail demand. Our dealers must
manage seasonal changes in consumer demand and inventory. If our dealers reduce their inventories in response to weakness in retail demand,
we could be required to reduce our production, resulting in lower rates of absorption of fixed costs in our manufacturing and, therefore,
lower margins. As a result, we must balance the economies of level production with the seasonal retail sales pattern experienced by our
dealers. Failure to adjust manufacturing levels adequately may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results
of operations.
We
depend on our network of independent dealers for our gas-powered boats, face increasing competition for dealers, and have little control
over their activities.
A
significant portion of our sales of our gas-powered boats are derived from our network of independent dealers. We typically manufacture
our gas-powered boats based upon indications of interest received from dealers who are not contractually obligated to purchase any boats.
While our dealers typically have purchased all of the boats for which they have provided us with indications of interest, it is possible
that a dealer could choose not to purchase boats for which it has provided an indication of interest (e.g., if it were to have reached
the credit limit on its floor plan), and as a result we once experienced, and in the future could experience, excess inventory and costs.
For fiscal 2021, our top five dealers accounted for 67% of our total boats sold. The loss of a significant dealer could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. The number of dealers supporting our products and the quality of
their marketing and servicing efforts are essential to our ability to generate sales. Competition for dealers among other boat manufacturers
continues to increase based on the quality, price, value, and availability of the manufacturers’ products, the manufacturers’
attention to customer service, and the marketing support that the manufacturer provides to the dealers. We face intense competition from
other boat manufacturers in attracting and retaining dealers, affecting our ability to attract or retain relationships with qualified
and successful dealers. Although our management believes that the quality of our products in the performance sport boat industry should
permit us to maintain our relationships with our dealers and our market share position, there can be no assurance that we will be able
to maintain or improve our relationships with our dealers or our market share position. In addition, independent dealers in the boating
industry have experienced significant consolidation in recent years, which could result in the loss of one or more of our dealers in
the future if the surviving entity in any such consolidation purchases similar products from a competitor. A substantial deterioration
in the number of dealers or quality of our network of dealers would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
and results of operations.
Our
success depends, in part, upon the financial health of our dealers and their continued access to financing.
Because
we sell nearly all of our gas-powered products through dealers, their financial health is critical to our success. Our business, financial
condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected if the financial health of the dealers that sell our products suffers.
Their financial health may suffer for a variety of reasons, including a downturn in general economic conditions, rising interest rates,
higher rents, increased labor costs and taxes, compliance with regulations, and personal financial issues.
In
addition, our dealers require adequate liquidity to finance their operations, including purchases of our products. Dealers are subject
to numerous risks and uncertainties that could unfavorably affect their liquidity positions, including, among other things, continued
access to adequate financing sources on a timely basis on reasonable terms. These sources of financing are vital to our ability to sell
products through our distribution network. Access to financing generally facilitates our dealers’ ability to purchase boats from
us, and their financed purchases reduce our working capital requirements. If financing were not available to our dealers, our sales and
our working capital levels would be adversely affected.
We
may be required to repurchase inventory of certain dealers.
Many
of our dealers have floor plan financing arrangements with third-party finance companies that enable the dealers to purchase our products.
In connection with these agreements, we may have an obligation to repurchase our products from a finance company under certain circumstances,
and we may not have any control over the timing or amount of any repurchase obligation nor have access to capital on terms acceptable
to us to satisfy any repurchase obligation. This obligation is triggered if a dealer defaults on its debt obligations to a finance company,
the finance company repossesses the boat, and the boat is returned to us. Our obligation to repurchase a repossessed boat for the unpaid
balance of our original invoice price for the boat is subject to reduction or limitation based on the age and condition of the boat at
the time of repurchase, and in certain cases by an aggregate cap on repurchase obligations associated with a particular floor plan financing
program. To date, we have not been obligated to repurchase any boats under our dealers’ floor plan financing arrangements, and
we are not aware of any applicable laws regulating dealer relations which govern our relations with the dealers or would require us to
repurchase any boats. However, there is no assurance that a dealer will not default on the terms of a credit line in the future. In addition,
applicable laws regulating dealer relations may also require us to repurchase our products from our dealers under certain circumstances,
and we may not have any control over the timing or amount of any repurchase obligation nor have access to capital on terms acceptable
to us to satisfy any repurchase obligation. If we were obligated to repurchase a significant number of units under any repurchase agreement
or under applicable dealer laws, our business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We
rely on third-party suppliers in the manufacturing of our boats.
We
depend on third-party suppliers to provide components and raw materials essential to the construction of our boats. While we believe
that our relationships with our current suppliers are sufficient to provide the materials necessary to meet present production demand,
we cannot assure you that these relationships will continue or that the quantity or quality of materials available from these suppliers
will be sufficient to meet our future needs, irrespective of whether we successfully implement our growth strategy. We expect that our
need for raw materials and supplies will increase. Our suppliers must be prepared to ramp up operations and, in many cases, hire additional
workers and/or expand capacity in order to fulfill the orders placed by us and other customers. Operational and financial difficulties
that our suppliers may face in the future could adversely affect their ability to supply us with the parts and components we need, which
could significantly disrupt our operations.
Termination
or interruption of informal supply arrangements could have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations.
Although
we have long term relationships with many of our suppliers, we do not have any formal agreements with any suppliers for the purchase
of parts needed and our purchases are made on a purchase order basis. We have no binding commitment from our suppliers to supply any
specified quantity of materials needed within any specified time period. In the event that our suppliers receive a large number of orders
from other customers, there is a possibility that they will not be able to support our needs. If any of our current suppliers were to
be unable to provide needed products to us, there can be no assurance that alternate supply arrangements will be made on satisfactory
terms. If we need to enter into supply arrangements on unsatisfactory terms, or if there are any delays to our supply arrangements, it
could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We
rely on one manufacturer to supply our engines and do not have any long terms commitments from such manufacturer.
We
currently rely on one manufacturer, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. for the supply of outboard engines. We do not have any long-term commitments
from Suzuki to supply any specified number of engines and therefore cannot guarantee that there will be adequate supply of our engines.
To date, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced shortages in obtaining the 150-horsepower motors that are supplied
to us by Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., which historically have been used in approximately 15% of our boats. Although we believe we have
sufficient supply of our other engines, due to supply chain shortages, we may not be able to obtain engines in the future from other
manufacturers if Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. should be unable to satisfy our needs. Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., and other manufacturers
may not be able to provide us with engines in a timely manner due to supply chain shortages and even if other manufacturers are able
to fulfill our engine needs they may not be able to do so at the same price as we currently pay for the engines we install in our boats,
which could result in lower profit margins or us increasing the price of our boats in order to maintain profit margins which could adversely
impact demand for our boats. In addition, certain geopolitical events, such as the current military conflict between Russia and Ukraine,
may increase the likelihood of supply chain interruptions and hinder our ability to find materials we need to build our boats.
Product
liability, warranty, personal injury, property damage and recall claims may materially affect our financial condition and damage our
reputation.
We
are engaged in a business that exposes us to claims for product liability and warranty claims in the event our products actually or allegedly
fail to perform as expected or the use of our products results, or is alleged to result, in property damage, personal injury or death.
Although we maintain product and general liability insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for the industry,
we are not fully insured against all such potential claims. Our products involve kinetic energy, produce physical motion and are to be
used on the water, factors which increase the likelihood of injury or death. Our electric-boats contain lithium-ion batteries, which
have been known to catch fire or vent smoke and flame, and chemicals which are known to be, or could later be proved to be, toxic carcinogenic.
Any judgment or settlement for personal injury or wrongful death claims could be more than our assets and, even if not justified, could
prove expensive to contest.
We
may experience legal claims in excess of our insurance coverage or claims that are not covered by insurance, either of which could adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Adverse determination of material product liability and warranty
claims made against us could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and harm our reputation. In addition, if any of
our products or components in our products are, or are alleged to be, defective, we may be required to participate in a recall of that
product or component if the defect or alleged defect relates to safety. Any such recall and other claims could be costly to us and require
substantial management attention.
Significant
product repair and/or replacement due to product warranty claims or product recalls could have a material adverse impact on our results
of operations.
We
provide a hull warranty for structural damage of up to ten years for our gas-powered boats. In addition, we provide a three-year limited
fiberglass small parts warranty on all on some small fiberglass parts and components such as consoles Gelcoat is covered up to one year.
Additionally, fiberglass lids, plastic lids, electrical panels, bilge pumps, aerator pumps or other electrical devices (excluding stereos,
depth finders, radar, chart plotters except for installation if installed by Twin Vee PowerCats Co.), steering systems, electrical panels,
and pumps are covered under a one-year basic limited systems warranty. Some materials, components or parts of the boat that are not covered
by our limited product warranties are separately warranted by their manufacturers or suppliers. These other warranties include warranties
covering engines purchased from suppliers and other components.
Our
standard warranties require us or our dealers to repair or replace defective products during such warranty periods at no cost to the
consumer. Although we employ quality control procedures, sometimes a product is distributed that needs repair or replacement. The repair
and replacement costs we could incur in connection with a recall could adversely affect our business. In addition, product recalls could
harm our reputation and cause us to lose customers, particularly if recalls cause consumers to question the safety or reliability of
our products.
The
nature of our business exposes us to workers’ compensation claims and other workplace liabilities.
Certain
materials we use require our employees to handle potentially hazardous or toxic substances. While our employees who handle these and
other potentially hazardous or toxic materials receive specialized training and wear protective clothing, there is still a risk that
they, or others, may be exposed to these substances. Exposure to these substances could result in significant injury to our employees
and damage to our property or the property of others, including natural resource damage. Our personnel are also at risk for other workplace-related
injuries, including slips and falls. We may in the future be subject to fines, penalties, and other liabilities in connection with any
such injury or damage. Although we currently maintain what we believe to be suitable and adequate insurance in excess of our self-insured
amounts, we may be unable to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms or such insurance may not provide adequate protection against
potential liabilities.
If
we are unable to comply with environmental and other regulatory requirements, our business may be exposed to material liability and/or
fines.
Our
operations are subject to extensive and frequently changing federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations, including those
concerning product safety, environmental protection, and occupational health and safety. Some of these laws and regulations require us
to obtain permits and limit our ability to discharge hazardous materials into the environment. If we fail to comply with these requirements,
we may be subject to civil or criminal enforcement actions that could result in the assessment of fines and penalties, obligations to
conduct remedial or corrective actions, or, in extreme circumstances, revocation of our permits or injunctions preventing some or all
of our operations. In addition, the components of our boats must meet certain regulatory standards, including stringent air emission
standards for boat engines. Failure to meet these standards could result in an inability to sell our boats in key markets, which would
adversely affect our business. Moreover, compliance with these regulatory requirements could increase the cost of our products, which
in turn, may reduce consumer demand.
While
we believe that we are in material compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and foreign regulatory requirements, and hold all
licenses and permits required thereunder, we cannot assure you that we will, at all times, be able to continue to comply with applicable
regulatory requirements. Compliance with increasingly stringent regulatory and permit requirements may, in the future, cause us to incur
substantial capital costs and increase our cost of operations, or may limit our operations, all of which could have a material adverse
effect on our business or financial condition.
As
with most boat construction businesses, our manufacturing processes involve the use, handling, storage, and contracting for recycling
or disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. The failure to manage or dispose of such hazardous substances and wastes properly could
expose us to material liability or fines, including liability for personal injury or property damage due to exposure to hazardous substances,
damages to natural resources, or for the investigation and remediation of environmental conditions. Under environmental laws, we may
be liable for remediation of contamination at sites where our hazardous wastes have been disposed or at our current facility, regardless
of whether our facility is owned or leased or whether the environmental conditions were created by us, a prior owner or tenant, or a
third-party. While we do not believe that we are presently subject to any such liabilities, we cannot assure you that environmental conditions
relating to our prior, existing, or future sites or operations or those of predecessor companies will not have a material adverse effect
on our business or financial condition.
Our
industry is characterized by intense competition, which affects our sales and profits.
The
performance sport boat category and the powerboat industry as a whole are highly competitive for consumers and dealers. We also compete
against consumer demand for used boats. Competition affects our ability to succeed in both the markets we currently serve and new markets
that we may enter in the future. Competition is based primarily on brand name, price, product selection, and product performance. We
compete with several large manufacturers that may have greater financial, marketing, and other resources than we do and who are represented
by dealers in the markets in which we now operate and into which we plan to expand. We also compete with a variety of small, independent
manufacturers. We cannot assure you that we will not face greater competition from existing large or small manufacturers or that we will
be able to compete successfully with new competitors. Our failure to compete effectively with our current and future competitors would
adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We
face increasing competition for dealers and have little control over their activities.
We
face intense competition from other performance sport boat manufacturers in attracting and retaining dealers and customers, affecting
our ability to attract or retain relationships with qualified and successful dealers and consumers looking to purchase boats. Although
our management believes that the quality of our products in the boat industry should permit us to maintain our relationships with our
dealers and our market share position, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or improve our relationships with our
dealers or our market share position. In addition, independent dealers in the boating industry have experienced significant consolidation
in recent years, which could result in the loss of one or more of our dealers in the future if the surviving entity in any such consolidation
purchases similar products from a competitor. A substantial deterioration in the number of dealers or quality of our network of dealers
would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our
sales may be adversely impacted by increased consumer preference for other leisure activities or used boats or the supply of new boats
by competitors in excess of demand.
Our
boats are not necessities and in times of economic hardship, and consumers may cease purchasing non-essential items. Demand for our boats
may be adversely affected by competition from other activities that occupy consumers’ leisure time and by changes in consumer lifestyle,
usage pattern or taste. Similarly, an overall decrease in consumer leisure time may reduce consumers’ willingness to purchase and
enjoy our boats.
During
the economic downturn that commenced in 2008, there was a shift in consumer demand toward purchasing more used boats, primarily because
prices for used boats are typically lower than retail prices for new boats. If this were to occur again, it could have the effect of
reducing demand among retail purchasers for our new boats. Also, while we have balanced production volumes for our boats to meet demand,
our competitors could choose to reduce the price of their products, which could have the effect of reducing demand for our new boats.
Reduced demand for new boats could lead to reduced sales by us, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and
financial condition.
Our
sales and profitability depend, in part, on the successful introduction of new products.
Market
acceptance of our products depends on our technological innovation and our ability to implement technology in our boats. Our sales and
profitability may be adversely affected by difficulties or delays in product development, such as an inability to develop viable or innovative
new products. Our failure to introduce new technologies and product offerings that consumers desire could adversely affect our business,
financial condition, and results of operations. If we fail to introduce new features or those we introduce fail to gain market acceptance,
our bottom line may suffer.
In
addition, some of our direct competitors and indirect competitors may have significantly more resources to develop and patent new technologies.
It is possible that our competitors will develop and patent equivalent or superior technologies and other products that compete with
ours. They may assert these patents against us and we may be required to license these patents on unfavorable terms or cease using the
technology covered by these patents, either of which would harm our competitive position and may materially adversely affect our business.
We
also cannot be certain that our products or features have not infringed or will not infringe the proprietary rights of others. Any such
infringement could cause third parties, including our competitors, to bring claims against us, resulting in significant costs and potential
damages.
Our
success depends upon the continued strength of our brand, the value of our brand, and sales of our products could be diminished if we,
the consumers who use our products, or the sports and activities in which our products are used are associated with negative publicity.
We
believe that our brand is a significant contributor to the success of our business and that maintaining and enhancing our brand is important
to expanding our consumer and dealer base. Failure to continue to protect our brand may adversely affect our business, financial condition,
and results of operations. We expect that our ability to develop, maintain and strengthen the Twin Vee brand will also depend heavily
on the success of our marketing efforts. To further promote our brand, we may be required to change our marketing practices, which could
result in substantially increased advertising expenses, including the need to use traditional media such as television, radio and print.
Many of our current and potential competitors have greater name recognition, broader customer relationships and substantially greater
marketing resources than we do. If we do not develop and maintain strong brands, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating
results will be materially and adversely impacted.
Negative
publicity, including that resulting from severe injuries or death occurring in the sports and activities in which our products are used,
could negatively affect our reputation and result in restrictions, recalls, or bans on the use of our products. If the popularity of
the sports and activities for which we design, manufacture, and sell products were to decrease as a result of these risks or any negative
publicity, sales of our products could decrease, which could have an adverse effect on our net sales, profitability, and operating results.
In addition, if we become exposed to additional claims and litigation relating to the use of our products, our reputation may be adversely
affected by such claims, whether or not successful, including by generating potential negative publicity about our products, which could
adversely impact our business and financial condition.
We
may not be able to execute our manufacturing strategy successfully, which could cause the profitability of our products to suffer.
Our
manufacturing strategy is designed to improve product quality and increase productivity, while reducing costs and increasing flexibility
to respond to ongoing changes in the marketplace. To implement this strategy, we must be successful in our continuous improvement efforts,
which depend on the involvement of management, production employees, and suppliers. Any inability to achieve these objectives could adversely
impact the profitability of our products and our ability to deliver desirable products to our consumers.
We
will rely on complex machinery for our operations, and production involves a significant degree of risk and uncertainty in terms of operational
performance, safety, security, and costs.
We
expect to rely heavily on complex machinery for our operations and our production will involve a significant degree of uncertainty and
risk in terms of operational performance, safety, security, and costs. Our parent company’s manufacturing plant consists of large-scale
machinery combining many components. The manufacturing plant components are likely to suffer unexpected malfunctions from time to time
and will depend on repairs and spare parts to resume operations, which may not be available when needed. Unexpected malfunctions of the
manufacturing plant components may significantly affect operational efficiency. Operational performance and costs can be difficult to
predict and are often influenced by factors outside of our control, such as, but not limited to, scarcity of natural resources, environmental
hazards and remediation, costs associated with decommissioning of machines, labor disputes and strikes, difficulty or delays in obtaining
governmental permits, damages or defects in electronic systems, industrial accidents, pandemics, fire, seismic activity, and natural
disasters. Should operational risks materialize, it may result in the personal injury to or death of workers, the loss of production
equipment, damage to manufacturing facilities, products, supplies, tools and materials, monetary losses, delays and unanticipated fluctuations
in production, environmental damage, administrative fines, increased insurance costs, and potential legal liabilities, all which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Although we generally
carry insurance to cover such operational risks, we cannot be certain that our insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover potential
costs and liabilities arising therefrom. A loss that is uninsured or exceeds policy limits may require us to pay substantial amounts,
which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
We
may need to raise additional capital that may be required to grow our business, and we may not be able to raise capital on terms acceptable
to us or at all.
Operating
our business and maintaining our growth efforts will require significant cash outlays and advance capital expenditures and commitments.
Although the proceeds of our initial public offering should be sufficient to fund our operations, if cash on hand and cash generated
from operations and from our initial public offering are not sufficient to meet our cash requirements, we will need to seek additional
capital, potentially through debt or equity financings, to fund our growth. We cannot assure you that we will be able to raise needed
cash on terms acceptable to us or at all. For example, Forza is currently seeking to raise funds to build a new state of the art carbon
neutral factory located in Fort Pierce, Florida to manufacture its electric boats. If Forza is unsuccessful in that capital raise, we
may need to raise funds for that facility. Financings may be on terms that are dilutive or potentially dilutive to our stockholders,
and the prices at which new investors would be willing to purchase our securities may be lower than the price per share of our common
stock in our initial public offering. The holders of new securities may also have rights, preferences or privileges which are senior
to those of existing holders of common stock. If new sources of financing are required, but are insufficient or unavailable, we will
be required to modify our growth and operating plans based on available funding, if any, which would harm our ability to grow our business.
If
we fail to manage future growth effectively, we may not be able to market or sell our products successfully.
Any
failure to manage our growth effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial
condition. We plan to expand our operations in the near future. Our future operating results depend to a large extent on our ability
to manage this expansion and growth successfully. Risks that we face in undertaking this expansion include:
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training
new personnel; |
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forecasting
production and revenue; |
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expanding
our marketing efforts, including the marketing of a new powertrain that we intend to develop; |
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controlling
expenses and investments in anticipation of expanded operations; |
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establishing
or expanding design, manufacturing, sales and service facilities; |
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implementing
and enhancing administrative infrastructure, systems and processes; and |
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addressing
new markets. |
We
intend to continue to hire a number of additional personnel, including design and manufacturing personnel and service technicians for
our electric boats and powertrains. Competition for individuals with experience designing, manufacturing and servicing electric boats
is intense, and we may not be able to attract, assimilate, train or retain additional highly qualified personnel in the future. The failure
to attract, integrate, train, motivate and retain these additional employees could seriously harm our business and prospects
The
loss of one or a few customers could have a material adverse effect on us.
A
few customers have in the past, and may in the future, account for a significant portion of our revenues in any one year or
over a period of several consecutive years. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2021 five dealers represented 67% of our
sales. The loss of business from a significant customer could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows.
We
depend upon our executive officers and we may not be able to retain them and their knowledge of our business and technical expertise
would be difficult to replace.
Our
future success will depend in significant part upon the continued service of our executive officers. We cannot assure you that we will
be able to continue to attract or retain such persons. We do not have an insurance policy on the life of our chief executive officer,
and we do not have “key person” life insurance policies for any of our other officers or advisors. The loss of the technical
knowledge and management and industry expertise of any of our key personnel could result in delays in product development, loss of customers
and sales and diversion of management resources, which could adversely affect our operating results.
Certain
of our shareholders have sufficient voting power to make corporate governance decisions that could have a significant influence on us
and the other stockholders.
Our
parent company currently owns approximately 57.14% of our outstanding common stock. Our Chief Executive Officer is the Chief Executive
Officer of our parent company and a member of its board of directors in addition to owning 56.14% of the outstanding common stock of
our parent company. As a result, our Chief Executive Officer does and will have significant influence over our management and affairs
and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions.
In addition, this concentration of ownership may delay or prevent a change in our control and might affect the market price of our common
stock, even when a change in control may be in the best interest of all stockholders. Furthermore, the interests of this concentration
of ownership may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders. Accordingly, our Chief Executive Officer
could cause us to enter into transactions or agreements that we would not otherwise consider.
We
may attempt to grow our business through acquisitions or strategic alliances and new partnerships, which we may not be successful in
completing or integrating.
We
may in the future enter into acquisitions, such as our current search for a waterfront property and the 14.5 acre parcel for which Forza
has an option to acquire pursuant to the land purchase agreement we executed in October 2021, which option we subsequently assigned to
Forza X1, and strategic alliances that will enable us to acquire complementary skills and capabilities, offer new products, expand our
consumer base, enter new product categories or geographic markets, and obtain other competitive advantages. We cannot assure you, however,
that we will identify acquisition candidates or strategic partners that are suitable to our business, obtain financing on satisfactory
terms, complete acquisitions or strategic alliances, or successfully integrate acquired operations into our existing operations. Once
integrated, acquired operations may not achieve anticipated levels of sales or profitability, or otherwise perform as expected. Acquisitions
also involve special risks, including risks associated with unanticipated challenges, liabilities and contingencies, and diversion of
management attention and resources from our existing operations. Similarly, our partnership with leading franchises from other industries
to market our products or with third-party technology providers to introduce new technology to the market may not achieve anticipated
levels of consumer enthusiasm and acceptance, or achieve anticipated levels of sales or profitability, or otherwise perform as expected.
We
rely on network and information systems and other technologies for our business activities and certain events, such as computer hackings,
viruses or other destructive or disruptive software or activities may disrupt our operations, which could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Network
and information systems and other technologies are important to our business activities and operations. Network and information systems-related
events, such as computer hackings, cyber threats, security breaches, viruses, or other destructive or disruptive software, process breakdowns
or malicious or other activities could result in a disruption of our services and operations or improper disclosure of personal data
or confidential information, which could damage our reputation and require us to expend resources to remedy any such breaches. Moreover,
the amount and scope of insurance we maintain against losses resulting from any such events or security breaches may not be sufficient
to cover our losses or otherwise adequately compensate us for any disruptions to our businesses that may result, and the occurrence of
any such events or security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. The risk of
these systems-related events and security breaches occurring has intensified, in part because we maintain certain information necessary
to conduct our businesses in digital form stored on cloud servers. While we develop and maintain systems seeking to prevent systems-related
events and security breaches from occurring, the development and maintenance of these systems is costly and requires ongoing monitoring
and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome security measures become more sophisticated. Despite these efforts, there
can be no assurance that disruptions and security breaches will not occur in the future. Moreover, we may provide certain confidential,
proprietary and personal information to third parties in connection with our businesses, and while we obtain assurances that these third
parties will protect this information, there is a risk that this information may be compromised.
Likewise,
data privacy breaches by employees or others with permitted access to our systems may pose a risk that sensitive data may be exposed
to unauthorized persons or to the public. While we have invested in protection of data and information technology, there can be no assurance
that our efforts will prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems that could adversely affect our business. The occurrence of any of
such network or information systems-related events or security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Uninsured
losses could result in payment of substantial damages, which would decrease our cash reserves and could harm our cash flow and financial
condition.
In
the ordinary course of business, we may be subject to losses resulting from product liability, accidents, acts of God and other claims
against us, for which we may have no insurance coverage. While we currently carry commercial general liability, commercial boat liability,
excess liability, product liability, cybersecurity, crime, special crime, drone, cargo stock throughput, builder’s risk, owner
controlled insurance program, property, owners protective, workers’ compensation, employment practices, employed lawyers, production,
fiduciary liability and directors’ and officers’ insurance policies, we may not maintain as much insurance coverage as other
original equipment manufacturers do, and in some cases, we may not maintain any at all. Additionally, the policies that we have may include
significant deductibles, and we cannot be certain that our insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover all or any future claims against
us. A loss that is uninsured or exceeds policy limits may require us to pay substantial amounts, which could adversely affect our financial
condition and results of operations. Further, insurance coverage may not continue to be available to us or, if available, may be at a
significantly higher cost, especially if insurance providers perceive any increase in our risk profile in the future.
Risks
Related to our Electric-Powered Boats
Our
planned fully electric sport boat has not yet been developed, and even if developed, interest in it may not develop.
We,
through Forza, have not completed the design and engineering of the FX1 sport boat. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
complete development of the FX1 when anticipated, if at all, that we will be able to mass produce the FX1 or that the anticipated features
or services to be included in the FX1 will create substantial interest or a market, and therefore our anticipated FX1 product, its sales
and growth for our product may not develop as expected, or at all. For example, in May 2021 we experienced a small fire in connection
with the sea trial of a prototype of our electric boat which resulted in a six-month delay in our design timetable as we implemented
changes to the design for outboard electric motor system as a result of the fire. We cannot guarantee that similar events will not occur
in the future, or that we will be able to contain such events without damage or delay. Even if such a market for the FX1 sport boat develops,
there can be no assurance that we would be able to maintain that market.
Forza’s
operations to date have been primarily limited to finalizing the design and engineering of our electric sport boat as well as organizing
and staffing Forza in preparation for launching the FX1 electric boat. As such, we have not yet demonstrated, and the success of Forza
is wholly dependent upon, its ability to commercialize its products. The successful commercialization of any products will require us
to perform a variety of functions, including:
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completing
the design and testing for the FX1 sport boat and our proprietary outboard electric motor; |
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manufacturing
the FX1 sport boats; |
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developing
a vertically integrated direct-to-consumer distribution system; and |
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conducting
sales and marketing activities. |
We
cannot be certain that our business strategy for our electric-powered boats will be successful or that we will successfully address these
risks. In the event that we do not successfully address these risks, our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations
could be materially and adversely affected, and we may not have the resources to continue or expand the business operations of our electric-powered
boats business.
Forza’s
planned distribution model is different from the predominant current distribution model for boat manufacturers, which subjects us to
substantial risk and makes evaluating our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows difficult.
Forza’s
distribution model is still in the planning stages. We, through Forza, currently plan to mainly sell our electric-powered boats directly
to customers rather than through franchised dealerships (unless required to do so by certain states), primarily through the Forza X1
website and app platform, subject to obtaining applicable dealer licenses and equivalent permits in such jurisdictions. The digital customer
experience via our online platform will allow customers to research, shop, choose boat hull color, interior upholstery color, and a possible
upgrade of an additional battery to extend run times, order, track and take delivery through our web-based and app platform. We have
not yet: (i) entered into any arrangements with third parties to provide financing services through Forza X1’s web and app platform,
(ii) hired staff for our intended support and service department or (iii) partnered with any third parties to address service needs or
operate service centers. Once the customer places the order, their Forza X1 account will request several documents, including license,
insurance, etc., which can be uploaded online without ever speaking with a salesperson. If the customer has questions, concerns, or needs
support through the sales and purchase process, they will be able to contact Forza X1 through the website or app with any questions,
concerns.
Since
our planned sales and marketing platform is a newer way to shop, buy and take delivery of a new boat through a mostly virtual process,
we are unable to predict or conclude precisely what the customer will experience. We intend to follow up customer transactions with review
and quality control questionnaires to collect the data and continue to better our platform and how we interact with customers.
In
addition to the Forza website and app platform, we also intend to establish Forza X1 customer experience and service centers to be operated
as product showrooms and locations where Forza X1 boats may be taken for service and warranty repairs. They will be located in jurisdictions
where direct-to-consumer sales or manufacturer-owned dealerships are permissible and allow prospective customers to see our products
in person before purchasing. We anticipate staffing these centers with well-trained Forza X1 employees. We will initially set up a single
office, but if and as we grow, we plan to open additional customer experience and service centers to support our expansion, help bolster
sales, and introduce our electric boat product to markets across the country that are more familiar purchasing boats at a traditional
boat dealership.
This
model of boat distribution is relatively new, different from the predominant current distribution model for boat manufacturers and, with
limited exceptions, unproven, which subjects us to substantial risk. We and Forza have no experience in selling or leasing boats direct-to-consumer
and therefore this model may require significant expenditures and provide for slower expansion than the traditional dealer franchise
system. For example, Forza will not be able to utilize long established relationships developed by Twin Vee with its dealer network.
Moreover, we will be competing with companies with well established distribution channels. Our success will depend in large part on our
ability to effectively develop our own sales channels and marketing strategies.
Implementing
our direct sales model is subject to numerous significant challenges, including obtaining permits and approvals from government authorities,
and we may not be successful in addressing these challenges. If our direct sales model does not develop as expected or develops more
slowly than expected, we may be required to modify or abandon our sales model, which could materially and adversely affect our business,
prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Forza’s
ability to generate meaningful product revenue from our electric-powered boats will depend on consumer adoption of electric boats.
Forza’s
ability to generate meaningful product revenue from electric-powered boats will highly depend on sustained consumer demand for alternative
fuel vehicles in general and electric boats in particular. If the market for electric boats does not develop as we expect or develops
more slowly than we expect, or if there is a decrease in consumer demand for electric vehicles, our business, prospects, financial condition
and results of operations will be harmed. The market for electric and other alternative fuel vehicles is relatively new, rapidly evolving,
characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price competition, additional competitors, evolving government regulation (including
government incentives and subsidies) and industry standards, frequent new vehicle announcements and changing consumer demands and behaviors.
Any number of changes in the industry could negatively affect consumer demand for electric vehicles in general and our electric boats
in particular.
In
addition, demand for electric boats may be affected by factors directly impacting boat prices or the cost of purchasing and operating
boats such as sales and financing incentives including tax credits, prices of raw materials and parts and components, cost of fuel, availability
of consumer credit, and governmental regulations, including tariffs, import regulation and other taxes. Volatility in demand may lead
to lower vehicle unit sales, which may result in downward price pressure and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition
and results of operations. Further, sales of boats in the marine industry tend to be cyclical in many markets, which may expose us to
increased volatility, especially as we expand and adjust our operations and retail strategies. Specifically, it is uncertain how such
macroeconomic factors will impact us as a new entrant in an industry that has globally been experiencing a recent decline in sales.
Other
factors that may influence the adoption of electric boats include:
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perceptions
about electric vehicle quality, safety, design, performance and cost; |
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perceptions
about the limited range over which electric boats may be driven on a single battery charge; |
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perceptions
about the total cost of ownership of electric boats, including the initial purchase price and operating and maintenance costs,
both including and excluding the effect of any government and other subsidies and incentives designed to promote the purchase
of electric boats; |
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perceptions
about the sustainability and environmental impact of electric boats, including with respect to both the sourcing and disposal
of materials for electric vehicle batteries and the generation of electricity provided in the electric grid; |
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the
availability of other alternative fuel boats; |
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improvements
in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine; |
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the
quality and availability of service for electric boats; |
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volatility
in the cost of oil and gasoline; |
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government
regulations and economic incentives promoting fuel efficiency and alternate forms of energy; |
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access
to charging stations and cost to charge an electric vehicle and related infrastructure costs and standardization; |
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the
availability of tax and other governmental incentives to purchase and operate electric boats or future regulation requiring increased
use of nonpolluting boats; and |
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macroeconomic
factors. |
The
influence of any of the factors described above or any other factors may cause a general reduction in consumer demand for electric vehicles
or our electric boats in particular, either of which would materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial
condition and prospects
Forza
depends upon third parties to manufacture and to supply key semiconductor chip components necessary for our electric boats. Forza does
not have long-term agreements with all of our semiconductor chip manufacturers and suppliers, and if these manufacturers or suppliers
become unwilling or unable to provide an adequate supply of semiconductor chips, with respect to which there is a global shortage, we
would not be able to find alternative sources in a timely manner and our business would be adversely impacted.
Semiconductor
chips are a vital input component to the electrical architecture of our electric boats, controlling wide aspects of the boats’
operations. Many of the key semiconductor chips we intend to use in our electric boats come from limited or single sources of supply,
and therefore a disruption with any one manufacturer or supplier in our supply chain would have an adverse effect on our ability to effectively
manufacture and timely deliver our boats. We do not have any long- term supply contracts with any suppliers and purchase chips on a purchase
order basis. Due to our reliance on these semiconductor chips, we are subject to the risk of shortages and long lead times in their supply.
We are in the process of identifying alternative manufacturers for semiconductor chips. We have in the past experienced, and may in the
future experience, semiconductor chip shortages, and the availability and cost of these components would be difficult to predict. For
example, our manufacturers may experience temporary or permanent disruptions in their manufacturing operations due to equipment breakdowns,
labor strikes or shortages, natural disasters, component or material shortages, cost increases, acquisitions, insolvency, changes in
legal or regulatory requirements, or other similar problems.
In
particular, increased demand for semiconductor chips in 2020, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased demand for consumer
electronics that use these chips, has resulted in a severe global shortage of chips in 2021. As a result, our ability to source semiconductor
chips to be used in our electric boats has been adversely affected. This shortage may result in increased chip delivery lead times, delays
in the production of our boats, and increased costs to source available semiconductor chips. To the extent this semiconductor chip shortage
continues, and we are unable to mitigate the effects of this shortage, our ability to deliver sufficient quantities of our boats to fulfill
our preorders and to support our growth through sales to new customers would be adversely affected. In addition, we may be required to
incur additional costs and expenses in managing ongoing chip shortages, including additional research and development expenses, engineering
design and development costs in the event that new suppliers must be onboarded on an expedited basis. Further, ongoing delays in production
and shipment of electric boats due to a continuing shortage of semiconductor chips may harm our reputation and discourage additional
preorders and boat sales, and otherwise materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
The
electric boats will use lithium-ion battery cells, which, if not appropriately managed and controlled, have been observed to catch fire
or vent smoke and flame.
The
battery packs within Forza’s electric boats are being designed to use of lithium-ion cells. If not properly managed or subject
to environmental stresses, lithium-ion cells can rapidly release the energy they contain by venting smoke and flames in a manner that
can ignite nearby materials as well as other lithium-ion cells. While the battery pack is designed to contain any single cell’s
release of energy without spreading to neighboring cells, a field or testing failure of battery packs in our electric boats could occur,
which could result in bodily injury or death and could subject us to lawsuits, field actions (including product recalls), or redesign
efforts, all of which would be time consuming and expensive and could harm our brand image. Also, negative public perceptions regarding
the suitability of lithium-ion cells for boating applications, the social and environmental impacts of mineral mining or procurement
associated with the constituents of lithium-ion cells, or any future incident involving lithium-ion cells, such as a vehicle or other
fire, could materially and adversely affect our reputation and business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash
flows.
The
electronic vehicle (EV) industry and its technology are rapidly evolving and may be subject to unforeseen changes which could adversely
affect the demand for our boats or increase our operating costs.
Forza
may be unable to keep up with changes in EV technology or alternatives to electricity as a fuel source and, as a result, its competitiveness
may suffer. Developments in alternative technologies, such as advanced diesel, hydrogen, ethanol, fuel cells, or compressed natural gas,
or improvements in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine or the cost of gasoline, may materially and adversely affect our
business and prospects in ways we do not currently anticipate. Existing and other battery cell technologies, fuels or sources of energy
may emerge as customers’ preferred alternative to our boats. Any failure by us to develop new or enhanced technologies or processes,
or to react to changes in existing technologies, could materially delay our development and introduction of new and enhanced alternative
fuel and EVs, which could result in the loss of competitiveness of our electric boats, decreased revenue and a loss of market share to
competitors. Forza’s research and development efforts may not be sufficient to adapt to changes in alternative fuel and electric
vehicle technology. As technologies change, Forza plans to upgrade or adapt its electric boats with the latest technology. However, our
electric boats may not compete effectively with alternative systems if we are not able to source and integrate the latest technology
into our boats. Additionally, the introduction and integration of new technologies into the electric boats may increase costs and capital
expenditures required for the production and manufacture of boats and, if Forza is unable to cost efficiently implement such technologies
or adjust its manufacturing operations, its business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows would be
materially and adversely affected.
If
Forza X1’s electric boats fail to perform as expected, its ability to develop, market and sell or lease its products could be harmed.
Once
commercialization commences, Forza X1’s electric boats may contain defects in design and manufacture that may cause them not to
perform as expected or that may require repairs, recalls, and design changes, any of which would require significant financial and other
resources to successfully navigate and resolve. The boats will use a substantial amount of software code to operate, and software products
are inherently complex and may contain defects and errors when first introduced. If the boats contain defects in design and manufacture
that cause them not to perform as expected or that require repair, or certain features of the boats take longer than expected to become
available, are legally restricted or become subject to additional regulation, Forza X1’s ability to develop, market and sell its
products and services could be harmed. Although Forza X1will attempt to remedy any issues it observes in its products as effectively
and rapidly as possible, such efforts could significantly distract management’s attention from other important business objectives,
may not be timely, may hamper production or may not be to the satisfaction of its customers. Further, Forza X1’s limited operating
history and limited field data reduces its ability to evaluate and predict the long-term quality, reliability, durability and performance
characteristics of its battery packs, powertrains and boats. There can be no assurance that Forza X1 will be able to detect and fix any
defects in its products prior to their sale or lease to customers.
Any
defects, delays or legal restrictions on boat features, or other failure of Forza X1’s boats to perform as expected, could harm
its reputation and result in delivery delays, product recalls, product liability claims, breach of warranty claims and significant warranty
and other expenses, and could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition.
As a new entrant to the industry attempting to build customer relationships and earn trust, these effects could be significantly detrimental
to us. Additionally, problems and defects experienced by other electric consumer vehicles could by association have a negative impact
on perception and customer demand for Forza X1’s boats.
In
addition, even if Forza X1’s boats function as designed, we expect that the battery efficiency, and hence the range, of its electric
boats, like other electric vehicles that use current battery technology, will decline over time. Other factors, such as usage, time and
stress patterns, may also impact the battery’s ability to hold a charge, or could require us to limit boat battery charging capacity,
including via over-the-air or other software updates, for safety reasons or to protect battery capacity, which could further decrease
the boats’ range between charges. Such decreases in or limitations of battery capacity and therefore range, whether imposed by
deterioration, software limitations or otherwise, could also lead to consumer complaints or warranty claims, including claims that prior
knowledge of such decreases or limitations would have affected consumers’ purchasing decisions. Further, there can be no assurance
that Forza X1 will be able to improve the performance of its battery packs, or increase its boats range, in the future. Any such battery
deterioration or capacity limitations and related decreases in range may negatively influence potential customers’ willingness
to purchase Forza X1 boats and negatively impact its brand and reputation, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, results
of operations and financial condition.
Forza
X1’s boats will rely on software and hardware that is highly technical, and if these systems contain errors, bugs, vulnerabilities,
or design defects, or if we are unsuccessful in addressing or mitigating technical limitations in our systems, our business could be
adversely affected.
Forza
X1’s boats are expected to rely on software and hardware that is highly technical and complex and may require modification and
updates over the life of the boats. In addition, the boats will depend on the ability of such software and hardware to store, retrieve,
process and manage large amounts of data. Forza X1’s software and hardware may contain errors, bugs, vulnerabilities or design
defects, and our systems are subject to certain technical limitations that may compromise its ability to meet its objectives. Some errors,
bugs, vulnerabilities, or design defects inherently may be difficult to detect and may only be discovered after the code has been released
for external or internal use. Although Forza X1 will attempt to remedy any issues it observes in its boats effectively and rapidly, such
efforts may not be timely, may hamper production or may not be to the satisfaction of its customers.
Additionally,
if Forza X1 deploys updates to the software (whether to address issues, deliver new features or make desired modifications) and its over-the-air
update procedures fail to properly update the software or otherwise have unintended consequences to the software, the software within
its customers’ boats will be subject to vulnerabilities or unintended consequences resulting from such failure of the over-the-air
update until properly addressed.
If
Forza X1 is unable to prevent or effectively remedy errors, bugs, vulnerabilities or defects in its software and hardware, or fails to
deploy updates to its software properly, it would suffer damage to its reputation, loss of customers, loss of revenue or liability for
damages, any of which could adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Intellectual
Property Risks
Forza
X1’s patent applications may not issue as patents, which may have a material adverse effect on its ability to prevent others from
commercially exploiting products similar to its products.
Forza
cannot be certain that it is the first inventor of the subject matter to which it has filed a particular patent application, or that
it is the first party to file such a patent application. If another party has filed a patent application for the same subject matter
as it has, it may not be entitled to the protection sought by the patent application. Further, the scope of protection of issued patent
claims is often difficult to determine. As a result, we cannot be certain that the patent applications that Forza X1 files will issue,
or that our issued patents will afford protection against competitors with similar technology. In addition, its competitors may design
around Forza X1’s issued patents, which may adversely affect its and our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations,
and cash flows.
We
may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We
may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We rely on a combination of patent, trade secret (including those in our know-how), and other intellectual property laws, as
well as employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements, intellectual property licenses, and other contractual rights to establish
and protect our rights in our technology and intellectual property. Our patent or trademark applications may not be granted, any patents
or trademark registrations that may be issued to us may not sufficiently protect our intellectual property and any of our issued patents,
trademark registrations or other intellectual property rights may be challenged by third parties. Any of these scenarios may result in
limitations in the scope of our intellectual property or restrictions on our use of our intellectual property or may adversely affect
the conduct of our business. Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, third parties may attempt to copy or otherwise
obtain and use our intellectual property or seek court declarations that they do not infringe upon our intellectual property rights.
Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and the steps we have taken or will take to prevent
misappropriation may not be successful. From time to time, we may have to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights,
which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources.
Patent,
trademark, and trade secret laws vary significantly throughout the world. A number of foreign countries do not protect intellectual property
rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Therefore, our intellectual property rights may not be as strong
or as easily enforced outside of the United States. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights could result
in our competitors offering similar products, potentially resulting in the loss of some of our competitive advantage and a decrease in
our revenue which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
If
Forza X1’s patents expire or are not maintained, our patent applications are not granted or its patent rights are contested, circumvented,
invalidated or limited in scope, it may not be able to prevent others from selling, developing or exploiting competing technologies or
products, which could have a material adverse effect on its and our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations,
and cash flows.
We
cannot assure you that Forza X1’s pending applications will issue as patents. Even if its patent applications issue into patents,
these patents may be contested, circumvented or invalidated in the future. In addition, the rights granted under any issued patents may
not provide us with adequate protection or competitive advantages. The claims under any patents that issue from our patent applications
may not be broad enough to prevent others from developing technologies that are similar or that achieve results similar to Forza X1’s
technology. The intellectual property rights of others could also bar Forza X1 from licensing and exploiting any patents that issue from
its pending applications. Numerous patents and pending patent applications owned by others exist in the fields in which Forza X1 has
developed and are developing its technology. Many of these existing patents and patent applications might have priority over its patent
applications and could subject its patents to invalidation or its patent applications to rejection. Finally, in addition to patents and
patent applications that were filed before its patents and patent applications, any of its existing or future patents may also be challenged
by others on the basis that they are invalid or unenforceable.
We
may in the future become, subject to claims that we or our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of our employees’
former employers.
Many
of our employees and those of our subsidiaries were previously employed by other companies with similar or related technology, products
or services. We and our subsidiaries are, and may in the future become, subject to claims that we, they or these employees have inadvertently
or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend
against these claims. If we or our subsidiaries fail in defending such claims, we or they may be forced to pay monetary damages or be
enjoined from using certain technology, products, services or knowledge. Even if we or they are successful in defending against these
claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and demand on management resources.
Our
use of open-source software in our applications could subject our proprietary software to general release, adversely affect our ability
to sell our services and subject us to possible litigation, claims or proceedings.
We
and our subsidiaries plan to use open-source software in connection with the development and deployment of our and their products and
services. Companies that use open-source software in connection with their products have, from time to time, faced claims challenging
the use of open-source software and/or compliance with open-source license terms. As a result, we or our subsidiaries could be subject
to suits by parties claiming ownership of what we believe to be open-source software or claiming noncompliance with open- source licensing
terms. Some open-source software licenses may require users who distribute proprietary software containing or linked to open- source
software to publicly disclose all or part of the source code to such proprietary software and/or make available any derivative works
of the open-source code under the same open- source license, which could include proprietary source code. In such cases, the open- source
software license may also restrict us from charging fees to licensees for their use of our software. While we and our subsidiaries will
monitor the use of open-source software and try to ensure that open-source software is not used in a manner that would subject our or
their proprietary source code to these requirements and restrictions, such use could inadvertently occur, in part because open-source
license terms are often ambiguous and have generally not been interpreted by U.S. or foreign courts.
Further,
in addition to risks related to license requirements, use of certain open-source software carries greater technical and legal risks than
does the use of third-party commercial software. For example, open-source software is generally provided as-is without any
support or warranties or other contractual protections regarding infringement or the quality of the code, including the existence of
security vulnerabilities. To the extent that our platformer the platform of our subsidiaries depends upon the successful operation of
open-source software, any undetected errors or defects in open-source software that we use could prevent the deployment or impair the
functionality of our systems and injure our reputation. In addition, the public availability of such software may make it easier for
attackers to target and compromise our platform through cyber-attacks. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect
our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
A
significant portion of our intellectual property is not protected through patents or formal copyright registration. As a result, we do
not
have the full benefit of patent or copyright laws to prevent others from replicating our products, product candidates and brands.
We
have not protected our intellectual property rights with respect to our gas-powered boats through patents or formal copyright registration,
and we do not currently have any patent applications pending. There can be no assurance that any patent will issue or if issued that
the patent will protect our intellectual property. As a result, we may not be able to protect our intellectual property and trade secrets
or prevent others from independently developing substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or from otherwise gaining
access to our intellectual property or trade secrets. In such an instance, our competitors could produce products that are nearly identical
to ours resulting in us selling less products or generating less revenue from our sales.
Confidentiality
agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.
We
rely on trade secrets, know-how and technology, which we have applied for patents, to protect the intellectual property behind our electric
powertrain and for the construction of our boats. We have recently begun to use confidentiality agreements with our collaborators, employees,
consultants, outside collaborators and other advisors to protect our proprietary technology and processes. We intend to use such agreements
in the future, but these agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information and may not provide an adequate
remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover trade secrets
and proprietary information, and in such cases, we could not assert any trade secret rights against such party. Costly and time-consuming
litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret
protection could adversely affect our competitive business position.
We
may need to defend ourselves against patent, copyright or trademark infringement claims, which may be time-consuming and would cause
us to incur substantial costs.
The
status of the protection of our intellectual property is unsettled as we do not have any issued patents, registered trademarks or registered
copyrights for most of our intellectual property and other than one patent application, we have not applied for the same. Companies,
organizations or individuals, including our competitors, may hold or obtain patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights that would
prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use, develop, sell or market our powerboats and electric powertrains or use third-party
components, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business. From time to time, we may receive communications from
third parties that allege our products or components thereof are covered by their patents or trademarks or other intellectual property
rights. Companies holding patents or other intellectual property rights may bring suits alleging infringement of such rights or otherwise
assert their rights. If we are determined to have infringed upon a third party’s intellectual property rights, we may be required
to do one or more of the following:
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cease
making, using, selling or offering to sell processes, goods or services that incorporate or use the third-party intellectual property; |
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pay
substantial damages; |
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seek
a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which license may not be available on reasonable terms or
at all; |
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redesign
our boats or other goods or services to avoid infringing the third-party intellectual property; |
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establish
and maintain alternative branding for our products and services; or |
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find-third
providers of any part or service that is the subject of the intellectual property claim. |
In
the event of a successful claim of infringement against us and our failure or inability to obtain a license to the infringed technology
or other intellectual property right, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely
affected. In addition, any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, negative publicity and diversion
of resources and management attention.
Risks
Related to our Industry
Demand
in the powerboat industry is highly volatile.
Volatility
of demand in the powerboat industry, especially for recreational powerboats and electric powerboats, may materially and adversely affect
our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition. The markets in which we will be competing have been subject to considerable
volatility in demand in recent periods. Demand for recreational powerboat and electric powerboat sales depends to a large extent on general,
economic and social conditions in a given market. Historically, sales of recreational powerboats decrease during economic downturns.
We have fewer financial resources than more established powerboat manufacturers to withstand adverse changes in the market and disruptions
in demand.
General
economic conditions, particularly in the U.S., affect our industry, demand for our products and our business, and results of operations.
Demand
for premium boat brands has been significantly influenced by weak economic conditions, low consumer confidence, high unemployment, and
increased market volatility worldwide, especially in the U.S. In times of economic uncertainty and contraction, consumers tend to have
less discretionary income and tend to defer or avoid expenditures for discretionary items, such as our products. Sales of our products
are highly sensitive to personal discretionary spending levels. Our business is cyclical in nature and its success is impacted by economic
conditions, the overall level of consumer confidence and discretionary income levels. Any substantial deterioration in general economic
conditions that diminishes consumer confidence or discretionary income may reduce our sales and materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict the duration or strength of an economic recovery, either in the U.S.
or in the specific markets where we sell our products. Corporate restructurings, layoffs, declines in the value of investments and residential
real estate, higher gas prices, higher interest rates, and increases in federal and state taxation may each materially adversely affect
our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Consumers
often finance purchases of our products. Although consumer credit markets have improved, consumer credit market conditions continue to
influence demand, especially for boats, and may continue to do so. There continue to be fewer lenders, tighter underwriting and loan
approval criteria, and greater down payment requirements than in the past. If credit conditions worsen, and adversely affect the ability
of consumers to finance potential purchases at acceptable terms and interest rates, it could result in a decrease in the sales of our
products.
Global
economic conditions could materially adversely impact demand for our products and services.
Our
operations and performance depend significantly on economic conditions. Global financial conditions continue to be subject to volatility
arising from international geopolitical developments and global economic phenomenon, as well as general financial market turbulence,
including a significant recent market reaction to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), resulting in a significant reduction in many major
market indices. Uncertainty about global economic conditions could result in material adverse effects on our business, results of operations
or financial condition. Access to public financing and credit can be negatively affected by the effect of these events on U.S. and global
credit markets. The health of the global financing and credit markets may affect our ability to obtain equity or debt financing in the
future and the terms at which financing, or credit is available to us. These instances of volatility and market turmoil could adversely
affect our operations and the trading price of our common shares resulting in:
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customers
postponing purchases of our products and services in response to tighter credit, unemployment, negative financial news and/or declines
in income or asset values and other macroeconomic factors, which could have a material negative effect on demand for our products
and services; and |
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third-party
suppliers being unable to produce parts and components for our products in the same quantity or on the same timeline or being
unable to deliver such parts and components as quickly as before or subject to price fluctuations, which could have a material
adverse effect on our production or the cost of such production. |
Risks
Relating to Ownership of our Common Stock
Terms
of subsequent financings may adversely impact your investment.
We
may have to engage in common equity, debt, or preferred stock financing in the future. Your rights and the value of your investment in
our securities could be reduced. Interest on debt securities could increase costs and negatively impacts operating results. Preferred
stock could be issued in series from time to time with such designation, rights, preferences, and limitations as needed to raise capital.
The terms of preferred stock could be more advantageous to those investors than to the holders of common shares. In addition, if we need
to raise more equity capital from the sale of common shares, institutional or other investors may negotiate terms at least as, and possibly
more, favorable than the terms of your investment. Common shares which we sell could be sold into any market which develops, which could
adversely affect the market price.
If
securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our company, or if they issue unfavorable commentary about us or our industry
or downgrade our common stock, the price of our common stock could decline.
The
trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that third-party securities analysts publish about
our company and our industry. We may be unable or slow to attract research coverage and if one or more analysts cease coverage of our
company, we could lose visibility in the market. In addition, one or more of these analysts could downgrade our common stock or issue
other negative commentary about our company or our industry. As a result of one or more of these factors, the trading price of our common
stock could decline.
The
obligations associated with being a public company will require significant resources and management attention, which may divert from
our business operations.
As
a result of our initial public offering, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures for financial
reporting. As a result, we have and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not previously
incur.
We
have identified weaknesses in our internal controls, and we cannot provide assurances that these weaknesses will be effectively remediated
or that additional material weaknesses will not occur in the future.
As
a public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We expect that the
requirements of these rules and regulations will continue to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs, make some
activities more difficult, time consuming and costly, and place significant strain on our personnel, systems and resources.
The
Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures, and internal control
over financial reporting.
We
do not yet have effective disclosure controls and procedures, or internal controls over all aspects of our financial reporting. We are
continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to
be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in SEC rules and in accordance with GAAP. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over our financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. We will be required to expend time and resources
to further improve our internal controls over financial reporting, including by expanding our staff. However, we cannot assure you that
our internal control over financial reporting, as modified, will enable us to identify or avoid material weaknesses in the future.
We
will be required to expend time and resources to further improve our internal controls over financial reporting, including by expanding
our staff. However, we cannot assure you that our internal control over financial reporting, as modified, will enable us to identify
or avoid material weaknesses in the future.
We
have not yet retained sufficient staff or engaged sufficient outside consultants with appropriate experience in GAAP presentation, especially
of complex instruments, to devise and implement effective disclosure controls and procedures, or internal controls. We will be required
to expend time and resources hiring and engaging additional staff and outside consultants with the appropriate experience to remedy these
weaknesses. We cannot assure you that management will be successful in locating and retaining appropriate candidates; that newly engaged
staff or outside consultants will be successful in remedying material weaknesses thus far identified or identifying material weaknesses
in the future; or that appropriate candidates will be located and retained prior to these deficiencies resulting in material and adverse
effects on our business.
Our
current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in conditions in our business, including
increased complexity resulting from our international expansion. Further, weaknesses in our disclosure controls or our internal control
over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls, or any difficulties
encountered in their implementation or improvement, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations
and may result in a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal
control over financial reporting could also adversely affect the results of management reports and independent registered public accounting
firm audits of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that
will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures, and internal control over financial reporting could also
cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the
market price of our common stock.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm is not required to audit the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting
until after we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. At such time, our independent registered
public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our internal control
over financial reporting is documented, designed or operating. Any failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control
over financial reporting could have a material and adverse effect on our business and operating results and cause a decline in the market
price of our common stock.
Our
failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act as a public company could have a material adverse effect on our business and share price.
Section
404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting,
starting with the second annual report that we would expect to file with the SEC. We anticipate being required to meet these standards
in the course of preparing our financial statements as of and for the year ending December 31, 2022, and our management will be required
to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for such year. Additionally, once we are no longer an
emerging growth company, as defined by the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required pursuant to Section
404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting on an annual basis.
The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex
and require significant documentation, testing, and possible remediation.
Internal
control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We are in the process of reviewing,
documenting, and testing our internal control over financial reporting, but we are not currently in compliance with, and we cannot be
certain when we will be able to implement, the requirements of Section 404(a). We may encounter problems or delays in implementing any
changes necessary to make a favorable assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, we may encounter problems
or delays in completing the implementation of any public accounting firm after we cease to be an emerging growth company. If we cannot
favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, or if our independent registered public accounting
firm is unable to provide an unqualified attestation report on our internal controls after we cease to be an emerging growth company,
investors could lose confidence in our financial information and the price of our common stock could decline.
Additionally,
the existence of any material weakness or significant deficiency requires management to devote significant time and incur significant
expense to remediate any such material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and management may not be able to remediate any such material
weaknesses or significant deficiencies in a timely manner. The existence of any material weakness in our internal control over financial
reporting could also result in errors in our financial statements that could require us to restate our financial statements, cause us
to fail to meet our reporting obligations, and cause stockholders to lose confidence in our reported financial information, all of which
could materially and adversely affect our business and share price.
For
as long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with certain reporting requirements, including those
relating to accounting standards and disclosure about our executive compensation, that apply to other public companies.
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such,
we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies
that are not “emerging growth companies,” including, but not limited to, (i) not being required to comply with the auditor
attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation
in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and (iii) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive
compensation and of stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We have elected to adopt these reduced
disclosure requirements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive as a result of our taking advantage
of these exemptions and as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
We
could remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years or until the earliest of (a) the last day of the first fiscal
year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1 billion, (b) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined
in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds
$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed fiscal quarter, and (c) the date on which we have issued more
than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the preceding three-year period.
We
are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act, and have elected to take advantage of certain of the
scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies. To the extent that we continue to qualify as a “smaller reporting
company” as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, after we cease to qualify as an emerging growth company,
certain of the exemptions available to us as an “emerging growth company” may continue to be available to us as a “smaller
reporting company,” including exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements pursuant to SOX and reduced
disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements. We will continue to be a “smaller reporting company” until we have
$250 million or more in public float (based on our common stock) measured as of the last business day of our most recently completed
second fiscal quarter or, in the event we have no public float (based on our common stock) or a public float (based on our common stock)
that is less than $700 million, annual revenues of $100 million or more during the most recently completed fiscal year.
Our
common stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance and you may not be able to resell your shares
at or above the initial public offering price.
The
price of our common stock has experienced volatility. On July 21, 2021, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq was $7.49
per share, on January 27, 2022, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq was $3.02 per share and on March 25, 2022 the closing
price of our common stock on the Nasdaq was $3.55. It is possible that an active trading market will not continue or be sustained, which
could make it difficult for investors to sell their shares of our common stock at an attractive price or at all.
Volatility
in the market price of our common stock may prevent investors from being able to sell their shares at or above the price you paid for
them. Many factors, which are outside our control, may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly, including
those described elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section and this Annual Report, as well as the following:
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Our
operating and financial performance and prospects; |
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Our
quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry compared to market expectations; |
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Conditions
that impact demand for our products; |
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Future
announcements concerning our business or our competitors’ businesses; |
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The
public’s reaction to our press releases, other public announcements, and filings with the SEC; |
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The
size of our public float; |
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Coverage
by or changes in financial estimates by securities analysts or failure to meet their expectations; |
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Market
and industry perception of our success, or lack thereof, in pursuing our growth strategy; |
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Strategic
actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings; |
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Changes
in laws or regulations that adversely affect our industry or us; |
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Changes
in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles; |
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Changes
in senior management or key personnel; |
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Issuances,
exchanges or sales, or expected issuances, exchanges or sales of our capital stock; |
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Changes
in our dividend policy; |
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Adverse
resolution of new or pending litigation against us; and |
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Changes
in general market, economic, and political conditions in the U.S. and global economies or financial markets, including those resulting
from natural disasters, terrorist attacks, acts of war, geopolitical events, including civil
or political unrest (such as the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia) and responses to such events. |
As
a result, volatility in the market price of our common stock may prevent investors from being able to sell their common stock at or above
the initial public offering price or at all. These broad market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our common
stock, regardless of our operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of
our common stock is low. As a result, investors may suffer a loss on your investment.
Additionally,
recently, securities of certain companies have experienced significant and extreme volatility in stock price due to short sellers
of shares of common stock, known as a “short squeeze.” These short squeezes have caused extreme volatility in those companies
and in the market and have led to the price per share of those companies to trade at significantly inflated rates that is disconnected
from the underlying value of the company. Many investors who have purchased shares in those companies at an inflated rate face the risk
of losing a significant portion of their original investment as the price per share has declined steadily as interest in those stocks
have abated. While we have no reason to believe our shares would be the target of a short squeeze, there can be no assurance that we
won’t be in the future, and investors may lose a significant portion or all of their investment if you purchase our shares at a
rate that is significantly disconnected from our underlying value.
We
do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.
We
presently have no intention to pay dividends on our common stock at any time in the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay
dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results
of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions, and other factors that our board of directors may deem
relevant. Furthermore, our ability to declare and pay dividends may be limited by instruments governing future outstanding indebtedness
we may incur.
FINRA
sales practice requirements may limit your ability to buy and sell our common shares, which could depress the price of our shares.
FINRA
rules require broker-dealers to have reasonable grounds for believing that an investment is suitable for a customer before recommending
that investment to the customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers
must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status and investment objectives,
among other things. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability such speculative low-priced
securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. Thus, FINRA requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to
recommend that their customers buy our common shares, which may limit an investor’s ability to buy and sell our shares, have an
adverse effect on the market for our shares and, thereby, depress their market prices.
Volatility
in our common shares price may subject us to securities litigation.
The
market for our common shares may have, when compared to seasoned issuers, significant price volatility, and we expect that our share
price may continue to be more volatile than that of a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. In the past, plaintiffs have often initiated
securities class action litigation against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of its securities. We may, in
the future, be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and liabilities and could divert
management’s attention and resources.
We
have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from our initial public offering and may not use them effectively.
Our
management has broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from our initial public offering, and investors do not have the
opportunity to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will
determine our use of the net proceeds from our initial public offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their initial
intended use. The failure by our management to apply those funds effectively could harm our business.
Provisions
in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of our company, which may be beneficial to our stockholders,
more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.
Provisions
in our corporate charter and our bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company
that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares. These
provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock, thereby depressing
the market price of our common stock. In addition, because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management
team, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making
it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Among other things included in these provisions:
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our
board of directors is divided into three classes, one class of which is elected each year by our stockholders with the directors
in each class to serve for a three-year term; |
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the
authorized number of directors can be changed only by resolution of our board of directors; |
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directors
may be removed only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty percent (60%) of our voting stock, whether for cause
or without cause; |
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our
bylaws may be amended or repealed by our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66
2/3%) of our stockholders; |
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stockholders
may not call special meetings of the stockholders or fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
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our
board of directors will be authorized to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined
at the discretion of the board of directors and that, if issued, could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock
ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our board of directors does not approve; |
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our
stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, and therefore our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock
outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors; and |
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our
stockholders must comply with advance notice provisions to bring business before or nominate directors for election at a stockholder
meeting. |
Moreover,
because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which
prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three
years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger
or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
Our
Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for certain types
of state actions that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial
forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees
Our
Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (ii) any action asserting
a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any
action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws (as either may be amended from time
to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. The exclusive forum provision does not apply
to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the
federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the
Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act
or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and
state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
These
exclusive-forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes
with us or our directors, employees, control persons, underwriters, or agents, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors,
employees, control persons, underwriters, or agents. Additionally, a court could determine that the exclusive forum provision is unenforceable,
and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations
thereunder. If a court were to find these provisions of our bylaws inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the
specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions,
which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.