Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM
1A. Risk Factors
Investing
in our securities involves a high degree of risk . You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below,
together with all of the other information contained in this Report, before deciding to invest in our securities. If any of the following
risks materialize, our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects will likely be materially and adversely affected.
In that event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks
Related to Our Industry and Business
We
have incurred losses and have not generated any revenue since our inception. We anticipate that we will continue to incur losses, and
expect that we will not generate revenue, for the foreseeable future.
We have
incurred significant operating losses since inception and have an accumulated deficit of $17.4 million as of September 30, 2024 and
had negative operating cash flow for the year ended September 30, 2024. We expect that operating losses and negative cash flows will
increase in the coming years because of additional costs and expenses related to our research and development (which we refer to
herein as R&D), business development activities and our status as a publicly traded company.
To
date, we have not generated any revenue. We do not expect to generate any revenue unless and until we are able to commercialize our reactors
and/or other lines of business. As we have incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since our inception, and accordingly
we have undertaken equity financing from investors to satisfy our funding needs, and we will consider applications for government grants;
however, we may not raise adequate funding to offset our expenses and losses. Moreover, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties,
complications, delays, and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. The magnitude of our future net losses will
depend, in part, on the rate of future growth of our expenses and our ability to generate and grow revenue. We cannot predict the outcome
of the actions to generate liquidity to fund our operations, whether such actions would generate the expected liquidity to fund our operations
as currently planned or whether the costs of such actions will be available on reasonable terms or at all. Our continued solvency is
dependent upon our ability to obtain additional working capital to complete our reactor development, to successfully market our reactors
and to achieve commerciality for our reactors. Our prior losses and expected future losses have had and may continue to have adverse
effects on our stockholders’ equity (deficit) and working capital and may lead to the failure of our business.
25
We
are an early-stage company in an emerging market with an unproven business model, new and unproven technologies, and a short operating
history, which makes it difficult to evaluate our current business and prospects and may increase the risk of your investment.
We
only have a limited operating history upon which to base an evaluation of our current and future business prospects. We were founded
in February 2022 and are currently in the process of developing our nuclear microreactors and other lines of business as more fully described
in the “ Business ” section of this Report. We anticipate that it will take several years for us to commence generating
meaningful revenues. Moreover, we will be required to make significant expenditures over the near and long term just to achieve any level
of revenues.
Over
the next twelve months, we will continue to progress the development of our advanced microreactors and our vertically integrated fuel
processing business, with estimated expenditures to be approximately $40 million. This allocation comprises approximately $25 million
dedicated to the research, development, and physical test work of our microreactors and other technologies, such as our fuel transportation
system. A further allocation of approximately $10 million will be allocated to the development of our planned HALEU fuel processing facilities
alongside LIST, the related-party uranium enrichment company with whom we collaborate and in which we’ve made a strategic investment.
The remaining approximately $5 million is earmarked for miscellaneous costs essential to propelling the progress of our microreactors,
encompassing the support of current personnel engaged in executive, finance, accounting, and other administrative functions. We may also
utilize our cash resources raised in 2024 for acquisitions of complementary businesses or assets.
We
estimate that our microreactor demonstration work will be conducted between 2025 and 2027, our microreactor licensing application will
be processed between 2026 and 2029, and our microreactors will be launched between 2030 and 2031. We also plan on providing nuclear service
support and consultation services for the expanding and resurgent nuclear energy industry in 2025, both
domestically and internationally. As part of our efforts domestically, following our collaboration with Digihost Technology Inc. (“Digihost”)
in December 2024, we expect to provide consulting services to Digihost beginning in the first quarter of 2025. These services will support the planning and execution
of the Digihost project and will encompass regulatory advice, site assessment, roadmap development, and stakeholder engagement. In addition
to these rendered services, we are examining strategic acquisitions to expand our business and consultancy services. We have commenced
several material discussions with potential targets for such acquisitions, but as of the date of this Report, we have not entered into
any definitive agreements for such acquisitions. In combination with our intention to acquire existing revenue generating consultancy
businesses, we are focusing on building our own internal nuclear consultation business in coordination with certain outside academic
institutions, which we anticipate would require approximately $2 million over the next twelve months to recruit additional staff and
build corresponding infrastructure to be capable of providing these services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the outlined expenditures
and our anticipated timelines are estimations only. These estimates are inherently subject to significant risks and change due to unforeseen
circumstances, operational challenges, adjustments in the development plans for our microreactors and other technologies and uncertainties
associated with the governmental licensing approval process, and other factors beyond our control. Given that these elements may exceed
our initial expectations or lie beyond our control, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the actual expenditures and timelines.
Our
limited operating history and early stage of our business makes an evaluation of our business and prospects difficult. You must consider
our business and prospects in light of the risks and difficulties we encounter as an early-stage company in the new and rapidly evolving
market of the nuclear energy industry. These risks and difficulties include, but are not limited to, the following:
●
Obtaining
the necessary permits and licenses can be a lengthy and complex process, subject to rigorous safety and environmental regulations.
Delays or denials in obtaining these approvals can significantly impact a project’s timeline and cost.
●
Ensuring
the safety of the reactor during operation and in case of accidents is paramount. Microreactors must be designed with robust safety
features to prevent accidents, and emergency response plans must be in place to mitigate any potential incidents.
●
Security
concerns, including the risk of theft or sabotage, need to be addressed through physical security measures and cybersecurity protocols.
26
●
Microreactor
and fuel fabrication projects are very capital-intensive, and securing adequate financing can be a significant hurdle. Economic risks
related to cost overruns, construction delays, or market uncertainties must be managed effectively.
●
The
demand for microreactor-generated power may be uncertain, especially in the early stages of the business. Market fluctuations and
changing energy policies can affect the profitability of the venture.
●
Microreactors
rely on specialized components and materials, which may have limited availability or long lead times. Supply chain disruptions can
impact project timelines and costs.
●
Addressing
environmental concerns, including radioactive waste management and minimizing environmental impact, is essential for regulatory compliance
and public acceptance. Proper disposal and management of radioactive waste and decommissioning plans need to be in place from the
outset. Failing to account for these end-of-life considerations can lead to significant liabilities. Additionally, any adverse environmental
impact can lead to public opposition and regulatory penalties.
●
Public
perception of nuclear energy and technology can be a challenge. Overcoming public skepticism or opposition and gaining social acceptance
for the microreactor project is important.
We
may not be able to successfully address any of these risks or others. Failure to adequately do so could seriously harm our business and
cause our operating results to suffer.
Our
nuclear microreactors are still at the development stage and have not been put into production yet. Developing, producing, and commercializing
nuclear reactors is a complex and challenging endeavor due to various technical, regulatory, financial, and public perception obstacles,
which may adversely and materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operation. No assurances can be given that
we will be able to develop and commercialize our microreactors and other technologies on the timelines we currently anticipate, or at
all, and our failure to do so would likely lead to the loss of your investment in our company.
Our
business plans will require us to raise substantial additional amounts of capital. Future capital needs will require us to sell additional
equity or debt securities that will dilute or subordinate the rights of our common stockholders. In addition, we may be unable to secure
government grants as part of our funding strategy.
Our
business plan is very costly. To develop and implement our businesses as currently planned, we will need to raise substantial amounts
of additional capital, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. We expect that we will need to make substantial investments in research
and development of our products and technologies and other substantial investments before we can generate meaningful revenues. Moreover,
our costs and expenses may be even greater than currently anticipated, and there may be investments or expenses that are presently unforeseen.
In any case, we may be unable to raise sufficient capital to fund these costs and achieve significant revenue generation. In addition,
given the relatively early stage of our company, our future capital requirements are also difficult to predict with precision, and our
actual capital requirements may differ substantially from those we currently anticipate.
As
a result, we will need to seek equity or debt financing to finance a large portion of our future capital requirements. Such financing
might not be available to us when needed or on terms that are acceptable, or at all. We will likely issue additional equity securities
and may issue debt securities or otherwise incur debt in the future to fund our business plan. If we issue equity or convertible debt
securities to raise additional funds, our existing stockholders will experience dilution, and the new equity (including preferred equity)
or debt securities or other indebtedness may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of our existing stockholders. If
we incur additional debt, it may increase our leverage relative to our earnings or to our equity capitalization, requiring us to pay
additional interest expenses.
Our
ability to obtain the necessary capital in the form of equity or debt to carry out our business plan is subject to several risks, including
general economic and market conditions, as well as investor sentiment regarding our planned business. These factors may make the timing,
amount, terms and conditions of any such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. The prevailing macroeconomic environment may increase
our cost of financing or make it more difficult to raise additional capital on favorable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise
sufficient capital, we may have to significantly reduce our spending and/or delay or cancel our planned activities.
27
We
may also seek to raise additional funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements. These arrangements, even if we are able to
secure them, may require us to relinquish some rights to our technologies, or to grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
Finally,
we plan to apply for government funding in the form of grants or other funding from agencies such as the DOE. We may not receive such
funding for a variety of reasons, including the size of our company and the government’s assessment of our prospects. Even if we
do receive such funding, the government could condition such funding on contractual provisions such as granting the government rights
to our technology or products. Moreover, federal funding is subject to at least annual Congressional appropriations, which may not be
forthcoming. The federal budget process is complex — the budget justification and Presidential budget requests are often incomplete;
Congress may appropriate different amounts than those requested; and the DOE has varying degrees of discretion to reprogram or transfer
appropriated funds. Nonetheless, to the extent Presidential budget requests or DOE budget justifications result in a shift of Congressional
appropriations away from SMR funding generally or projects we are developing specifically, those shifts could materially and adversely
affect the amount of DOE funding available to us and our business.
As
a result of the foregoing, we might not be able to obtain any financing, and we might not have sufficient capital to conduct our business
as projected, both of which could mean that we would be forced to curtail or discontinue our operations. If we cannot raise additional
capital when we need or want to, our operations and prospects could be negatively affected, and our business could fail.
We
and our officers and directors are presently parties to securities law and fiduciary duty lawsuits relating to our public statements
made since our initial public offering. Our reputation may be damaged by these suits, and if we are unable to have them dismissed or
should we receive adverse outcomes, our business and results of operations may suffer, including as a result of our indemnification obligations
to our directors and officers.
On August
9, 2024, a putative securities class action lawsuit was filed against us and certain of our officers in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, captioned Yvette Yang v. Nano Nuclear Energy Inc., et al., No. 1:24-cv-06057 (S.D.N.Y.). The complaint
asserts claims for alleged violations of federal securities laws related to statements concerning our business and prospects, including
our progress toward microreactor development. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of certain persons who purchased or otherwise acquired
our common stock during the period from May 8, 2024 through July 18, 2024 and seeks unspecified damages and other relief. On October 28,
2024, the court entered an order appointing Hongyu Xie as lead plaintiff. On November 4, 2024, the court entered a scheduling order for
the filing of lead plaintiff’s amended complaint and a briefing schedule for our anticipated motion to dismiss, under
which lead plaintiff must file an amended complaint by January 6, 2025, and we must file a motion to dismiss by February 21, 2025.
We dispute the allegations in the complaint and intend to defend the case vigorously. The case is at an early stage and we cannot reasonably
estimate the amount of any potential financial loss or cost that could result from the lawsuit.
In addition,
on August 23, 2024, a putative shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed purportedly on behalf of our company, as nominal defendant, against
certain of our directors and officers in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, captioned William Latza, Derivatively
on Behalf of Nano Nuclear, Inc. v. James Walker, et al., No. A-24-900423-C. The complaint asserted claims for alleged breach of fiduciary
duties and corporate waste, among others, related to statements concerning our business and prospects. On November 15, 2024, we
filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 23.1 of the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure based on plaintiff’s lack of standing, and
the director and officer defendants filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(5) of the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure based on
plaintiff’s failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On December 20, 2024, plaintiff filed an amended complaint.
The amended complaint alleges claims for alleged breach of fiduciary duties, corporate waste, market manipulation, and racketeering, among
others, related to our business and prospects, including our progress toward microreactor development, the qualifications of our management,
and our investment in LIS Technologies Inc.
On behalf of our company, the plaintiff seeks damages from the director and officer defendants and an order directing
our company to take actions to reform and improve corporate governance and internal procedures. The director and officer defendants deny
all allegations of liability and intend to vigorously defend against all claims. Given the preliminary stage of the lawsuit and the inherent
uncertainties of litigation, we cannot determine with certainty the outcome of the case at this time.
Ongoing
securities law and fiduciary duty lawsuits may divert significant financial and human resources away from our core business operations,
increasing legal expenses and reducing available capital for other strategic initiatives. If the lawsuits result in adverse outcomes,
such as judgments or settlements, we could face substantial monetary damages, penalties, or fines, which could negatively impact our
financial position, cash flow, and overall business operations. These lawsuits may harm our reputation with investors, suppliers, and
business partners. Even if we successfully defend against the claims, the mere existence of these lawsuits may erode confidence in our
management, corporate governance, and financial reporting. The uncertainty surrounding the outcome of these lawsuits could create volatility
in our stock price, leading to a decrease in investor confidence and possible difficulties in raising future capital.
Our
officers and directors, who are critical to our leadership and decision-making, may be distracted by these lawsuits, which could lead
to delays or inefficiencies in executing our business strategy. If these lawsuits persist or lead to unfavorable publicity, it may become
more challenging to attract and retain qualified employees, including key executives, due to perceived instability or legal risk associated
with our company.
28
The
current lawsuits may encourage other parties to file additional claims or lawsuits, increasing our legal risks and further burdening
our resources. The case is still at an early stage and we cannot reasonably estimate the amount of any potential financial loss or cost
that could result from this lawsuit. If we are unable to have them dismissed or should we receive adverse outcomes, our business and
results of operations may suffer. The lawsuits may prompt increased scrutiny from regulatory authorities, leading to additional investigations,
fines, or compliance requirements, which could further affect our business.
Further,
under certain circumstances, we may have contractual or other legal obligations to indemnify and to incur legal expenses on behalf of
investors, directors, officers, employees, or other third parties. Our business contractual and legal obligations related to indemnification
and the coverage of legal expenses for investors, directors, officers, employees, and other third parties are critical components of
our risk management and corporate governance. These obligations are typically outlined in various agreements, contracts, and corporate
bylaws.
In
our company, the key aspects of indemnification will be included in our directors and officers (D&O) insurance, our corporate governing
documents, and investor agreements and other relevant arrangements. Nuclear companies often purchase director and officer insurance policies
to indemnify their directors and officers against personal liability for actions taken in their roles. These policies provide financial
protection for individuals in the event of lawsuits, regulatory actions, or other legal proceedings related to their corporate duties.
The corporate governing documents may include provisions that obligate our company to indemnify its directors, officers, and sometimes
employees to the extent allowed by law, with some conditions or limitations on indemnification as applicable. In cases where investors,
such as venture capitalists or private equity firms, are involved, investment agreements may include indemnification clauses that protect
the investors from certain liabilities related to their investment in our company. In our agreements with third parties, such as suppliers,
partners, or service providers, indemnification provisions may also be included to specify who is responsible for indemnifying the other
party in the event of specified breaches, disputes, or liabilities.
We
may also be required to cover the legal expenses and other costs on behalf of individuals or third parties incurred during any applicable
legal proceedings, which may divest our company’s resources and the management’s attention, thus materially and adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in our inability to establish and grow our business.
The
failure of production and commercialization of nuclear micro reactors as planned will adversely and materially affect our business, financial
condition, and result of operations.
We
are in the process of developing the next-generation advanced nuclear microreactors, ZEUS , a solid core battery
reactor, and ODIN , a low-pressure salt coolant reactor. With these products, we are advancing the development of the
next generation of portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors. Through a collaboration of our world-renowned
nuclear scientists and engineers, the national laboratories, and government support, we believe our reactors will have the potential
to impact the global energy landscape. Our goal is to commercially launch one of these products by the year 2030 or 2031. If our
plan to develop, manufacture or commercialize these products is delayed, suspended, interrupted, or cancelled for whatever reason,
our business, financial condition, and results of operations will be adversely and materially disrupted, and the value of our
securities may significantly decline or become worthless.
29
We
are in the process of developing a domestic HALEU fuel processing facility to supply the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors.
The failure of completion and operation of such facility as planned will adversely and materially affect our business, financial condition,
and result of operations.
Building
a nuclear fuel processing facility to produce commercial nuclear fuel for SMRs and microreactor companies involves a highly specialized
and regulated process. There will be specific challenges at each stage of development, including but not limited to the following:
●
Obtaining
the necessary licenses and permits from regulatory authorities can be a complex and time-consuming process. Compliance with stringent
safety, security, and environmental regulations is crucial.
●
Ensuring
the safety and security of the facility and the nuclear materials within it is of utmost importance. Robust safety measures and security
protocols must be implemented to prevent accidents, theft, or unauthorized access.
●
Fabricating
nuclear fuel assemblies and components requires specialized knowledge and expertise in nuclear materials, metallurgy, and manufacturing
processes. Recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce can be a challenge.
●
Maintaining
strict quality control and assurance processes is essential to ensure the reliability and safety of the nuclear fuel. Any defects
or substandard materials can have serious consequences.
●
Building
and operating a nuclear fuel processing facility can be capital-intensive. Managing costs, including construction, operational, and
maintenance expenses, is essential for the facility’s financial viability.
●
Construction
delays, regulatory approvals, and unforeseen technical challenges can extend the timeline for facility development, potentially affecting
market entry and revenue generation.
●
The
demand for nuclear fuel can fluctuate based on the deployment of SMRs and Microreactors. Competition from other fuel suppliers and
alternative energy sources can also affect market share and profitability.
In
2023, we established a subsidiary, HALEU Energy, to concentrate specifically on creating a domestic HALEU fuel processing facility to
supply the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors. In February 2023, we were selected as an official founding member of the DOE’s
new HALEU Consortium to develop the U.S.’ domestic capability for the manufacture of HALEU and its processing. Currently we are
still in the process of developing such facility and target to have such facility in operation early next decade.
In
March 2023, we entered into a memorandum of understanding with Centrus Energy Corp. (or Centrus), an energy fuel company who will provide
HALEU to support HALEU Energy’s research and development and commercialization on initial test reactor cores and its commercial
variant reactors. However, such a memorandum is not binding on both parties with certain exceptions, such as confidentiality. There is
no assurance that we will enter into any purchase agreement with Centrus in the future.
In November 2024, we announced a $2 million strategic investment in and
entry into a collaboration with a laser-based uranium enrichment technology company, LIST, which is a related party. Through this investment
and related collaboration, we aim to assist in advancing LIST’s technologies to secure a reliable low enriched uranium fuel supply
for our future operations and the broader nuclear energy industry. The parties intend that LIST will provide us with enriched UF6 at no
cost to be fabricated and sold to customers, with LIST to receive compensation as part of a profit-sharing arrangement to be agreed to
between the companies in the future. Through collaboration with LIST, we intend to construct the supporting facilities alongside LIST’s
enrichment facility, including the deconversion and fuel fabrication facilities. The construction of these facilities and related activities
are subject to similar risks to those outlined above with respect to our own HALEU fuel processing facility. Further, there is a risk
that LIST’s technology will itself not advance to commercial viability or secure applicable regulatory approvals. All of the foregoing
creates the risk of loss with respect to our investment in and collaboration with LIST.
If
our plan to complete and operate any fuel processing facilities is delayed, suspended, interrupted, or cancelled for whatever reason,
our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely and materially disrupted, and the value of our securities
may significantly decline or become worthless.
30
We
plan to produce a regulatorily licensed, high-capacity HALEU transportation system, capable of moving commercial quantities of HALEU
fuel around North America and worldwide. The failure of production and commercialization of such products as planned will adversely and
materially affect our business, financial condition, and result of operations.
We
intend to produce a regulatorily licensed, high-capacity HALEU transportation system, capable of moving commercial quantities of HALEU
fuel around North America and beyond. We received an exclusive license for a high capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket design in
April 2024, which will form the basis of a complete transportation package able to move the most commonly utilized fuel. The license
grants us, as the licensee, exclusive rights for the use and development of certain transportation technology. If developed and commercialized,
we believe this product would be the only one of its kind in North America and would serve as the basis for a domestic HALEU transportation
company capable of providing commercial quantities of HALEU fuel.
In
September 2024, we signed an agreement with GNS to undertake a wide-ranging project to produce an optimized HALEU transportation
system solution based on our exclusively licensed fuel transportation basket design. The GNS agreement encompasses a study for the
transport of multiple HALEU nuclear fuel types, including uranium oxide, TRISO particles, uranium-zirconium hydride, uranium
mononitride, and salt fuel for molten salt reactors, thus optimizing the quantity of material that can be transported and developing
a conceptual package design that will accommodate the new basket design. We are targeting to have our fuel transportation business in
operation by 2028. However, there is no assurance that we can successfully produce such a product and operate such a business as
planned. If our plan to produce and commercialize such product is delayed, suspended, interrupted or cancelled for whatever reason,
our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely and materially disrupted, and the value of our
securities may significantly decline or become worthless.
We
plan to provide nuclear service support and consultation services for the expanding and resurgent nuclear energy industry, both domestically
and internationally. Failure to do so as planned will adversely and materially affect our business, financial condition, and result of
operations.
We
plan to provide nuclear service support and consultation services for the expanding and resurgent nuclear energy industry, both domestically
and internationally. This business opportunity represents our most near-term revenue generating opportunity and our goal is to begin
providing these services in 2025, both domestically and internationally. As part of our efforts domestically, following
our collaboration with Digihost in December 2024, we expect to provide consulting services to Digihost beginning in the first quarter of 2025. These services
will support the planning and execution of the Digihost project and will encompass regulatory advice, site assessment, roadmap development,
and stakeholder engagement. In addition to these rendered services, we are examining strategic acquisitions to expand our business and
consultancy services. We have commenced several material discussions with potential targets for such acquisitions, but as of the date
of this Report, we have not entered into any definitive agreements for such acquisitions. In combination with our intention to acquire
existing revenue generating consultancy businesses, we are focusing on building our own internal nuclear consultation business in coordination
with certain outside academic institutions, which we anticipate would require approximately $2 million over the next twelve months to
recruit additional staff and build corresponding infrastructure to be capable of providing these services. No assurances can be given
that we will be able to successfully acquire or establish and thereafter grow our own consultation business, and our failure to do so
would adversely affect our near-term revenue prospects. Moreover, the outlined expenditures and the timelines are estimations only. These
estimates are inherently subject to significant risks and change due to unforeseen circumstances, operational challenges, adjustments
in the microreactor development plan and uncertainties associated with the licensing approval process, and other factors beyond our control.
Given that these elements may exceed our initial expectations or lie beyond our control, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the actual
expenditures and timelines.
The
current upsurge in interest in nuclear energy, combined with the increased investment from both private and governmental sources within
the nuclear space, as well as the global push for zero carbon technologies, has created a demand for nuclear energy expertise which exceeds
supply. The increased demand in personnel and nuclear related business activity will create increased demand for personnel involved in
the licensing and regulatory aspects of the industry, which provide us with potential to root in this area. We have already identified
several nuclear services and consultancy providers, which have been assessed as potentially suitable for acquisition by our company.
However, there is no assurance that we can acquire them successfully or as planned. If our plan to start the consulting services is delayed,
suspended, interrupted or cancelled for whatever reason, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely
and materially disrupted, and the value of our securities may significantly decline or become worthless.
31
Providing
a nuclear consulting service as a business comes with a unique set of difficulties and challenges due to the complexity and sensitivity
of the nuclear industry. These challenges and difficulties include, but are not limited to:
●
Providing
valuable nuclear consulting services requires a deep understanding of nuclear science, engineering, and technology. Maintaining a
team with the necessary expertise can be difficult.
●
Consulting
on nuclear projects involves addressing safety and security issues. Ensuring that clients are compliant with safety protocols and
security measures is a critical responsibility.
●
Handling
sensitive nuclear information and data requires strict security measures and confidentiality protocols to protect classified or proprietary
information.
●
As
a consultant, we may face liability issues if our advice leads to undesirable outcomes or non-compliance with regulations. Managing
and mitigating these risks is essential.
●
The
nuclear consulting market can be competitive, with established consulting firms and experts in the field. Standing out and securing
clients can be challenging, especially for newcomers.
●
The
nuclear industry is evolving with new technologies, safety standards, and market dynamics. Staying updated and adapting to these
changes is vital to remain relevant and competitive.
●
Managing
multiple projects for different clients with varying timelines and needs can be challenging. Effective project management is essential
to meet deadlines and deliver quality results.
●
Meeting
and managing client expectations can be demanding. Clients may have high expectations for the outcomes of their nuclear projects,
and effective communication is essential to align expectations with reality.
●
Leveraging
data analytics and technological advancements can be challenging, especially when dealing with legacy system in the nuclear industry.
For
our nuclear consulting business to be viable and grow, it will be crucial for us to build a strong team with diverse expertise, stay
current with industry trends and regulations, prioritize security and confidentiality, and maintain high ethical standards.
Effective communication, networking, and relationship-building with our clients and the regulatory authorities are also essential
for establishing our credibility and trust in the industry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there is no assurance we can address
these or similar challenges and difficulties, the failure of which may adversely and materially affect our business, financial
condition and results of operation.
We
have undertaken and will continue to pursue strategic acquisitions. These acquisitions may be difficult to consummate and integrate and
may create losses for us or not provide us with the anticipated benefits. We may not be able to successfully integrate our previous and
future acquisitions or generate sufficient revenues or earnings from future acquisitions, which could cause our business to suffer.
We
have undertaken (as in the case of the ALIP technology and our acquisition of the USNC Assets) and will continue to pursue strategic
acquisitions of complimentary or additive businesses or assets to both diversify and further vertically integrate our business lines and
accelerate our growth. If we buy a company, a division of a company or assets that we feel are complementary to our business, there can
be no assurance that we will be able to profitably manage such business or successfully integrate such business or assets without substantial
costs, delays or other operational or financial problems. We are also faced with the risk that the businesses or assets we acquire will
not achieve anticipated benefits, revenues and earnings. Additionally:
●
the
key personnel of the acquired business may decide not to work for us;
●
changes
in management at an acquired business may impair its relationships with employees and customers;
32
●
we
may be unable to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies among acquired businesses;
●
we
may be unable to successfully implement infrastructure, logistics and system integration;
●
we
may be held liable for legal claims (including environmental claims) arising out of activities of the acquired businesses prior to
our acquisitions, some of which we may not have discovered during our due diligence, and we may not have indemnification claims available
to us or we may not be able to realize on any indemnification claims with respect to those legal claims;
●
we
will assume risks associated with deficiencies in the internal control of acquired businesses;
●
we
may not be able to realize the cost savings or other financial benefits we anticipated; and
●
our
ongoing business may be disrupted or receive insufficient management attention.
We
face these and similar risks in connection with our June 2024 acquisition of the ALIP technology. We may not be able to successfully
integrate the ALIP technology into our microreactor designs, which could lead to a loss of our investment in this technology. Moreover,
we anticipate, pending the successful completion of the SBIR III program for the ALIP technology (which we are funding), that we will
seek to separately commercialize the ALIP technology as a means of generating revenues. We are thus faced with the risks that the SBIR
Phase III may not be completed on a timely basis or at all, and further that we may be unable to commercially sell or license the technology
(or products derived from the technology) to third parties.
Similarly,
we may face significant risks related to our acquisition of the USNC Assets. Even if the acquisition is consummated, we may encounter
significant challenges in integrating the USNC Assets into our corporate structure or our intended regulatory strategies for our ZEUS
and ODIN reactors, which could result in delays, increased costs or the inability to utilize the USNC Assets, thus
leading to a loss of our investment in the USNC Assets and adversely affecting our business operations and financial condition.
Also,
future acquisitions may require us to obtain additional, perhaps substantial, equity or debt financing, which may not be available on
attractive terms. Moreover, to the extent an acquisition transaction financed by non-equity consideration results in additional goodwill,
it will reduce our tangible net worth, which might have an adverse effect on our credit and bonding capacity.
If
we experience significant fluctuations in our operating results and rate of growth and fail to meet revenue and earnings expectations,
our stock price may fall rapidly and without advance notice.
Due
to our limited operating history, our unproven and evolving business model and the unpredictability of our emerging industry, we may
not be able to accurately forecast our rate of growth. We base our current and future expense levels and our investment plans on estimates
of future revenue and future rate of growth. Our expenses and investments are, to a large extent, not fixed and we expect that these
expenses will increase in the future. We may not be able to adjust our spending quickly enough if our revenue falls short of our expectations.
Our
results of operations depend on both the growth of demand for the products and services we are going to offer in the future and the
general economic and business conditions throughout the world. A softening of demand for our products and services for any reason
will harm our operating results. Terrorist attacks, armed hostilities and wars in the past created, and may in the future create
economic and business uncertainty that may also adversely affect our results of operations.
33
Our
revenue and operating results may also fluctuate due to other factors, including:
●
our
ability of the design, developing, manufacturing and sales of smaller, cheaper, and safer advanced portable clean energy solutions,
including nuclear reactors.
●
our
ability to develop a domestic HALEU fuel processing facility to supply the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors with fuel.
●
our
ability to produce a regulatorily licensed, high-capacity HALEU transportation system, capable of moving commercial quantities of
a variety of HALEU fuels.
●
our
ability to provide nuclear service support and consultation services for the expanding and resurgent nuclear energy industry, both
domestically and internationally.
●
assumptions
relating to the size of the market for our nuclear reactors.
●
unanticipated
regulations of nuclear energy that add barriers to our business and have a negative effect on our operations.
●
our
estimates of expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for, or ability to obtain, additional financing.
●
new
product and service introductions by our competitors.
●
technical
difficulties or interruptions in our service.
●
general
economic conditions in our geographic markets.
●
additional
investment in our service or operations.
●
regulatory
compliance costs.
As
a result of these and other factors, we expect that our operating results may fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis. We believe
that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results may not be meaningful, and you should not rely upon them as an indication
of future performance.
Federal
budget delays, federal debt ceiling limitations, or reductions in government spending could adversely impact government spending for
the products and services we provide.
Federal
government spending reductions could adversely impact U.S. government programs related to our products or services. While we believe
many of our programs do not conflict with the U.S. government’s strategic priorities, government spending on these programs can
be subject to negative publicity, political factors and public scrutiny. The risk of future budget delays or reductions is uncertain,
and it is possible that spending cuts may be applied to U.S. government programs across the board, regardless of how programs align with
those priorities. There are many variables in how budget reductions could be implemented that will determine its specific impact; however,
reductions in federal government spending could adversely impact programs in which we provide products or services. In addition, these
cuts could adversely affect the viability of the suppliers and subcontractors under our programs. These and similar risks are associated
with our participation with LIST in the DOE’s LEU Acquisition Program. Such program could be eliminated or subject to reduction,
and no assurances can be given that we will be allocated any material funding from the LEU Acquisition Program.
34
The
cost of electricity generated from nuclear sources may not be cost competitive with other electricity generation sources in some markets,
which could materially and adversely affect our business.
Some
electricity markets experience very low power prices due to a combination of subsidized renewables and low-cost fuel sources, and we
may not be able to compete in these markets unless the benefits of the carbon-free, reliable and/or resilient energy generation are sufficiently
valued in the market. Given the relatively lower electricity prices in the United States when compared to many international markets,
the risk may be greater with respect to business in the United States.
The
market for SMRs generating nuclear power is not yet established and may not achieve the growth potential we expect or may grow more slowly
than expected.
The
market for SMRs has not yet been established. Our estimates for the total addressable market are based on a number of internal and third-party
estimates, including our potential contracted revenue, the number of potential customers, assumed prices and production costs, our ability
to leverage our current logistical and operational processes, and general market conditions. However, our assumptions and the data underlying
our estimates may not be correct and the conditions supporting our assumptions or estimates may change at any time, thereby reducing
the predictive accuracy of these underlying factors. As a result, our estimates of the annual total addressable market for our services,
as well as the expected growth rate for the total addressable market for our services, may prove to be incorrect.
All
of our executive officers are presently engaged by us on an independent contractor basis, except for Jay Jiang Yu, our founder, President,
Secretary and Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board, with whom we have an employment agreement, and they each have management, advisory
or directorship positions with other companies and may allocate their time to other businesses, which may pose certain risks in fulfilling
their obligations with us.
Except
for Jay Jiang Yu, our founder, President, Secretary and Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board, with whom we have an employment agreement,
all of our other executive officers are presently engaged by us as independent contractors due to the fact that they each have management,
advisory or directorship positions with other companies and may allocate their time to other businesses. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Mr. Yu has concurrently served on the board and management team of several companies and currently allocates at least 15 hours per week
to his roles at other companies. Mr. Yu also concurrently serves as president and chairman of the board of LIST.
Mr.
James Walker, our Chief Executive Officer, currently allocates at least ten hours per week to support Ares Strategic Mining Inc. (or
Ares), a Canadian-based company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under (Ticker: ARS) engaged in junior natural resource mining,
where he is responsible for the construction of plants, purchases of land, operations, marketing, financing, safety regulation compliance,
and shareholder relations. He is also concurrently serving on the board of directors of several small-cap publicly traded companies and
a consultant to LIST. Jaisun Garcha, our Chief Financial Officer, is currently, and will continue to, work full time with us, and is
currently also working as the part time chief financial officer and a director of LIST.
Our
executive officers are not employees of our company (Mr. Yu excepted), instead, they serve as independent contractors and can be terminated
by either party at any time. They may pursue any other activities and engagements during their terms of agreements with us. The existing
external commitments and any future commitments of our officers to other companies may potentially divert their significant time and
attention away from the strategic and operational needs of our company. Their divided focus could lead to delays in decision-making,
hinder effective communication within our organization, give rise to potential conflicts of interest, and introduce a divergence in priorities,
consequently impacting the overall efficacy of leadership. Additionally, the potential for conflicting interests arising from commitments
to multiple entities may pose challenges in aligning those officers’ priorities with the long-term goals and interests of our company,
thereby introducing an element of uncertainty and potential disruption to our operations. It is essential to acknowledge and address
these complexities to ensure that our officers can effectively balance their responsibilities and fulfill their commitments to our company
while maintaining transparency and integrity in their various roles. Failure to do so may adversely affect our business, financial conditions,
and results of operations.
35
We
may be unable to manage our future growth effectively, which could make it difficult to execute our business strategy.
If
our operations grow as planned, we may need to expand our sales and marketing, research and development, supply and manufacturing functions,
and there is no guarantee that we will be able to scale our business as planned. If we are not able to achieve and maintain cost-competitiveness
in the United States or elsewhere, our business could be materially and adversely affected.
We
and our target customers operate in a politically sensitive environment, and the public perception of nuclear energy can affect our target
customers and us.
Nuclear
energy is closely tied to government policies and regulations due to its potential risks and benefits. Governments often play a central
role in the approval, regulation, and funding of nuclear projects. Changes in political leadership or shifts in public sentiment can
lead to shifts in nuclear energy policies, which can affect the viability and profitability of nuclear businesses. The regulatory framework
for nuclear energy is stringent and subject to public scrutiny. Regulatory decisions can influence the cost, timeline, and feasibility
of nuclear projects. Public concerns and political pressure can lead to tighter regulations or stricter enforcement of existing ones.
Government policies and incentives, often influenced by public opinion and political considerations, can directly impact the growth and
competitiveness of nuclear energy. Favorable policies such as subsidies, tax credits, or incentives for clean energy can attract more
customers to the nuclear energy sector.
In
addition, public perception of nuclear energy can range from positive to highly skeptical or negative, often influenced by historical
events, accidents, and media coverage. Negative public sentiment can lead to protests, legal challenges, and public resistance to new
nuclear projects, potentially delaying or preventing their development. Nuclear facilities often need to engage with local communities
where they operate. Building and maintaining trust with these communities is crucial for obtaining social acceptance. Public opposition,
fueled by concerns about safety or environmental impact, can hinder a company’s ability to establish a presence in a particular
location. Public perception of nuclear safety and viability can also influence the willingness of investors and financial institutions
to fund nuclear projects. Negative public sentiment can increase financing costs and make it more difficult to secure the necessary capital.
However, public preferences for energy sources can influence the demand for nuclear energy. A positive perception of nuclear power as
a clean and reliable energy source can boost its market appeal. Conversely, public concerns about nuclear safety and waste disposal can
lead to decreased demand, impacting a nuclear company’s customer base. Additionally, public perception of a country’s nuclear
industry can affect its ability to export nuclear technology, reactors, and fuel assemblies to international customers. International
perceptions of safety and reliability play a role in export decisions.
As
a result, the risks associated with nuclear energy materials and the public perception of those risks can affect our business. Opposition
by third parties can delay or prevent the construction of new nuclear power plants and can limit the operation of nuclear reactors. Adverse
public reaction to developments in the use of nuclear power could directly affect our customers and indirectly affect our business. In
the past, adverse public reaction, increased regulatory scrutiny and litigation have contributed to extended construction periods for
new nuclear reactors, sometimes delaying construction schedules by decades or more or even shutting down operations. In addition, anti-nuclear
groups in Germany successfully lobbied for the adoption of the Nuclear Exit Law in 2002, which lead to the shutdown of all German nuclear
power plants as of April 15, 2023. Adverse public reaction could also lead to increased regulation or limitations on the activities of
our customers, more onerous operating requirements or other conditions that could have a material adverse impact on our target customers
and our business.
Accidents
involving nuclear power facilities, including but not limited to events like the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
accidents, or terrorist acts or other high-profile events involving radioactive materials could materially and adversely affect our target
customers and the markets in which we operate and increase regulatory requirements and costs that could materially and adversely affect
our business.
Our
future prospects are dependent upon a certain level of public support for nuclear power. Nuclear power faces strong opposition from certain
competitive energy sources, individuals and organizations. The accident that occurred at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in
2011 increased public opposition to nuclear power in some countries, resulting in a slowdown in, or, in some cases, a complete halt to
new construction of nuclear power plants, an early shut down of existing power plants or a dampening of the favorable regulatory climate
needed to introduce new nuclear technologies, all of which could negatively impact our business and prospects. As a result of the Fukushima
accident, some countries that were considering launching new domestic nuclear power programs delayed or cancelled the preparatory activities
they were planning to undertake as part of such programs. If accidents similar to the Fukushima disaster or other events, such as terrorist
attacks involving nuclear facilities, occur, public opposition to nuclear power may increase, regulatory requirements and costs could
become more onerous, which could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
36
Risks
Related to Our Intellectual Property
If
we fail to develop, gain approval for, protect or enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights, our business and operating
results could be harmed.
We
currently own the rights to the significant majority of our intellectual property, including one trademark pending registration. We
received an exclusive license for a high capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket design in April 2024, which will form the basis
of a complete transportation system to move a range of fuel types. The license grants us, as the licensee, exclusive rights for use
and development of the technology. In addition, the licensor is not permitted to license the technology to any other parties within
the specified scope. We may enter into other license agreements in the future for our business development. There is no assurance
that we, as the licensee, will be able to obtain or renew, if at all or in a timely manner, any of the license agreements upon its
expiration. Failure to obtain or renew, or early termination of, any such agreement may materially and adversely affect our
business, financial conditions and results of operations.
We
regard the protection of our trade secrets, trademarks, licenses, trade dress, patents and copyrights (if any, in future), domain names
and other intellectual property or proprietary rights as critical to our success. We strive to protect our intellectual property rights
by relying on federal, state and common law rights, as well as contractual restrictions. We seek to protect our confidential proprietary
information, in part, by entering into consulting agreements, and/or services or employment agreements that contain non-disclosure and
non-use provisions with our employees, consultants, advisors and any third parties who have access to our proprietary know-how, information
or technology. However, we cannot be certain that we have executed such agreements with all parties who may have helped to develop our
intellectual property or who had access to our proprietary information, nor can we be certain that our agreements will not be breached.
Any party with whom we have executed such an agreement could potentially breach that agreement and disclose our proprietary information,
including our trade secrets, and we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for such breaches. We cannot guarantee that our trade
secrets and other confidential proprietary information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our
trade secrets or independently develop substantially equivalent information and techniques. Detecting the disclosure or misappropriation
of a trade secret and enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret is difficult, time-consuming
and could result in substantial costs and the outcome of such a claim is unpredictable. Further, the laws of certain foreign countries
do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same manner as the laws of the United States. As a result, we may encounter
significant problems in protecting and defending our intellectual property or proprietary rights both in the United States and abroad.
If we are unable to prevent the disclosure of our trade secrets to third parties, or if our competitors independently develop any of
our trade secrets, we may not be able to establish or maintain a competitive advantage in our market, which could harm our business.
We
currently have no registered patents related to our technology, but we have two patent applications with The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) which are under review. We are currently in the process of acquiring USNC’s patented MMR® Energy System,
along with all associated patents and other intellectual property rights, as well as its Pylon reactor technology and related intellectual
property, and certain demonstration project partnerships related to the MMR system, pending closing. We also believe developing technology
more comprehensively before patenting it provides our company with certain potential strategic advantages. We are balancing the advantages
of comprehensive development with the risk of potential delays in securing patent protection and continue to consult qualified intellectual
property counsel so we can make informed decisions regarding the timing of other patent filings and the overall protection strategy.
Patent laws, and scope of coverage afforded by them, have recently been subject to significant changes, such as the change to “first-to-file”
from “first-to-invent” resulting from the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. This change in the determination of inventorship
may result in inventors and companies having to file patent applications more frequently to preserve rights in their inventions, which
may favor larger competitors that have the resources to file more patent applications. Another change to the patent laws may incentivize
third parties to challenge any issued patent in the USPTO, as opposed to having to bring such an action in U.S. federal court. Any invalidation
of a patent claim could have a significant impact on our ability to protect the innovations contained within our products and could harm
our business.
37
The
USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and
other provisions to maintain patent applications and issued patents. We may fail to take the necessary actions and to pay the
applicable fees to obtain or maintain our patents in the future. Non-compliance with these requirements can result in abandonment or
lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In
such an event, competitors might be able to use our technologies and enter the market earlier than would otherwise have been the
case.
We
pursue the registration of our domain names, trademarks and service marks in the United States. We may seek to protect our trademarks,
patents and domain names in an increasing number of jurisdictions in future, a process that is expensive and time-consuming and may not
be successful or which we may not pursue in every location.
Litigation
may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and
scope of proprietary rights claimed by others. Any litigation of this nature, regardless of outcome or merit, could result in substantial
costs, adverse publicity or diversion of management and technical resources, any of which could adversely affect our business and operating
results. If we fail to maintain, protect and enhance our intellectual property or proprietary rights, our business may be harmed.
We
rely on our unpatented proprietary technology, trade secrets, designs, experiences, workflows, data, processes, software and know-how.
We
rely on proprietary information (such as trade secrets, know-how and confidential information) to protect intellectual property that
may not be patentable or subject to copyright, trademark, trade dress or service mark protection, or that we believe is best protected
by means that do not require public disclosure. We generally seek to protect this proprietary information by entering into consulting
agreements, and/or services or employment agreements that contain non-disclosure and non-use provisions with our employees, consultants,
contractors and third parties. However, we may fail to enter into the necessary agreements, and even if entered into, these agreements
may be breached or may otherwise fail to prevent disclosure, third-party infringement or misappropriation of our proprietary information,
may be limited as to their term and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure or use of proprietary
information. We have limited control over the protection of trade secrets used by our current or future partners and suppliers and could
lose future trade secret protection if any unauthorized disclosure of such information occurs. In addition, our proprietary information
may otherwise become known or be independently developed by our competitors or other third parties. To the extent that our employees,
consultants, contractors, advisors and other third parties use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may
arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce
and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain protection for our proprietary information could
adversely affect our competitive business position. Furthermore, laws regarding trade secret rights in certain markets where we operate
may afford little or no protection to its trade secrets.
We
also rely on physical and electronic security measures to protect our proprietary information, but we cannot provide assurance that these
security measures will not be breached or provide adequate protection for our property. There is a risk that third parties may obtain
and improperly utilize our proprietary information to our competitive disadvantage. We may not be able to detect or prevent the unauthorized
use of such information or take appropriate and timely steps to enforce our intellectual property rights.
We
may be accused of infringing intellectual property rights of third parties and content restrictions of relevant laws, which may materially
and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Third
parties may claim that the technology used in the operation of our business infringes upon their intellectual property rights. Although
we have not in the past faced any litigation involving direct claims of infringement by us, the possibility of intellectual property
claims against us increases as we continue to grow. Such claims, whether having merit, may result in our expenditure of significant financial
and management resources, injunctions against us or payment of damages. We may need to obtain licenses from third parties who allege
that we have infringed their rights, but such licenses may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. These risks have been
amplified by the increase in third parties whose sole or primary business is to assert such claims.
The
outcome of any claims, investigations and proceedings is inherently uncertain, and in any event defending against these claims could
be both costly and time-consuming and could significantly divert the efforts and resources of our management and other personnel. An
adverse determination in any such litigation or proceedings could cause us to pay damages, as well as legal and other costs, limit our
ability to conduct business or require us to change the manner in which we operate.
38
Risks
Related to Regulation and Compliance
Our
business is subject to a wide variety of extensive and evolving government laws and regulations. Changes in and/or failure to comply
with such laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We
are subject to new or changing international, federal, state, and local regulations, including laws relating to the design, development,
manufacturing, marketing, servicing, or sales of our nuclear-fuel related products. Such laws and regulations may require us to pause
sales and modify our products, which could result in a material adverse effect on our ability to generate revenues (or any future revenues)
and our financial condition generally. Such laws and regulations can also give rise to liability such as fines and penalties, property
damage, bodily injury, and cleanup costs. Failure to comply with such regulations could lead to the withdrawal or recall of our products
from the market, delay our projected revenues, increase cost, or make our business unviable if we are unable to modify our products to
comply. Capital and operating expenses needed to comply with laws and regulations can be significant, and violations may result in substantial
fines and penalties, third-party damages, suspension of production or a cessation of our operations. Any failure to comply with such
laws or regulations could lead to withdrawal or recall of our products from the market.
Regulatory
risk factors associated with our business also include our ability to obtain additional applicable approvals, licenses or certifications
from regulatory agencies, if required, and to maintain current approvals, licenses or certifications. Any regulatory delays, delays imposed
as a result of regulatory inspections and changing regulatory requirements, may impede our planned actions from being implemented or
completed, many of which may be out of our control. Any natural disasters, changes in governmental regulations or in the status of our
regulatory approvals or applications or other events that force us to cancel or reschedule our product development and production, could
have an adverse impact on our business and financial condition.
We
are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption and anti-money laundering laws and regulations. We can face criminal liability and other
serious consequences for violations, which can harm our business.
We
are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S.
Travel Act, the Money Laundering Control Act 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957, and other anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws
in countries in which we conduct activities. Anti-corruption laws are interpreted broadly and prohibit companies and their employees,
agents, contractors and other collaborators from authorizing, promising, offering or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments
or anything else of value to recipients in the public or private sector, and require that we keep accurate books and records and maintain
internal accounting controls designed to prevent any such actions. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities
of our employees, agents, contractors and other collaborators, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have actual knowledge of such
activities.
As
we intend to conduct international cross-border business and expand our operations abroad, we may engage business partners and third-party
intermediaries to market our products and to obtain necessary permits, licenses and other regulatory approvals overseas. In addition,
we or our third-party intermediaries may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or
state-owned or affiliated entities. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party intermediaries,
our employees, representatives, contractors, partners and agents, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities. We cannot assure
you that all of our employees and agents will not take actions in violation of our policies and applicable law, for which we may be ultimately
held responsible. As we intend to expand our international business, our risks under these laws may increase.
Detecting,
investigating and resolving actual or alleged violations of anti-corruption laws can require a significant diversion of time, resources
and attention from our management. In addition, non-compliance with anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws could subject us to whistleblower
complaints, investigations, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, enforcement actions, fines, damages, other civil or criminal penalties,
injunctions, suspension or debarment from contracting with certain persons, reputational harm, adverse media coverage and other collateral
consequences. If any subpoenas are received or investigations are launched, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if we
do not prevail in any possible civil or criminal proceeding, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially
harmed.
39
If
we fail to comply with the laws and regulations relating to the collection of sales tax and payment of income taxes in the various states
in which we do business, we could be exposed to unexpected costs, expenses, penalties and fees as a result of our non-compliance, which
could harm our business.
By
engaging in business activities in the United States, we become subject to various state laws and regulations, including requirements
to collect sales tax from our sales within those states, and the payment of income taxes on revenue generated from activities in those
states. A successful assertion by one or more states that we were required to collect sales or other taxes or to pay income taxes where
we did not could result in substantial tax liabilities, fees and expenses, including substantial interest and penalty charges, which
could harm our business.
General
Risks Associated with Our Company
We
are highly dependent on our senior management team and other highly skilled personnel. If we are unable to attract, retain and maintain
highly qualified personnel, including our senior management team, we may not be able to implement our business strategy and our business
and results of operations would be harmed.
Our
business and prospect are highly dependent on the continued services of our senior management team, particularly our Chief Executive
Officer James Walker, our President, Secretary, Treasurer, our Chairman of the Board Jay Jiang Yu, and our Chief Financial Officer Jaisun
Garcha. Our senior management team has extensive experience in the energy and finance industries, and we believe that their depth of
experience is instrumental to our continued success. See “ Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance ”
for further details. The loss of any one or more members of our senior management team, for any reason, including resignation or retirement,
could impair our ability to execute our business strategy and have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition
if we are unable to successfully attract and retain qualified and highly skilled replacement personnel.
In
addition, our ability to execute our plans and grow our company will depend in large part on our ability to attract, motivate, develop,
retain and maintain a sufficient number of other highly skilled personnel, including engineers, nuclear energy professionals, finance,
marketing and sales personnel. Maintaining a diverse team of skilled personnel who can collectively address the technical, regulatory,
financial, and operational aspects of our business, including but not limited to, nuclear engineers and scientists, regulatory and licensing
experts, safety and security experts, quality control and assurance managers, environmental and waste management experts, and financial
and legal professionals, is also essential to our business. Our goal is to build a well-rounded and experienced team with expertise in
these areas to ensure the development, operation, and commercialization of our business, while ensuring safety, regulatory compliance,
and long-term viability.
However,
if we are unable to attract, retain, and maintain our senior management team and other highly skilled personnel, we may not be able to
implement our business strategy, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely and materially affected.
If any of our senior management team members were to terminate his or her employment with us, there can be no assurance that we would
be able to find suitable replacements in a timely manner, at acceptable cost or at all. The loss of services of senior management team
members or the inability to identify, hire, train and retain other qualified and managerial personnel in the future may materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Mr.
Jay Jiang Yu, our President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board, has a significant influence over our company due to his
ownership of a material percentage of our outstanding common stock. Also, his interests may not always be aligned with the interests
of our other stockholders, which may lead to conflicts of interest that harm our company.
As
of December 27, 2024, Mr. Jay Jiang Yu, our President and Chairman, beneficially owns an aggregate of approximately 28.70% shares of
our common stock. Due to his ownership of a material percentage of our outstanding common stock, Mr. Yu could have significant influence
in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the stockholders for approval, including mergers,
consolidations, the appointment of directors and other significant corporate actions. Without the consent of Mr. Yu, we may be prevented
from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us or our other stockholders. Moreover, our interests and the interests of
Mr. Yu may not always be aligned, which could create conflicts of interest of Mr. Yu and may not be resolved in favor of all of our stockholders
or may otherwise harm our company. For more information regarding Mr. Yu’s ownership of our company, see “ Security Ownership
of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. ”
40
Failure
to establish and maintain effective internal control in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse
effect on our business and stock price.
Prior
to the completion of our initial public offering in May 2024, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel to adequately
execute our accounting processes and limited supervisory resources with which to address our internal control over financial reporting.
As a private company, we did not design or maintain an effective control environment as required of public companies under the rules
of the SEC implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and therefore are not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness
of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. Specifically, we lack a sufficient number of professionals with an
appropriate level of accounting knowledge, training and experience to appropriately analyze, record and disclose accounting matters timely
and accurately while maintaining appropriate segregation of duties.
Upon
becoming a publicly traded company, we became required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide
an annual management report on the effectiveness of controls over financial reporting. Though we are required to disclose changes made
in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis, we are not required to make our first annual assessment of our internal
control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the
SEC.
Proper
system of internal control over financial accounting and disclosure controls and procedures are critical to the operation of a public
company. We may be unable to effectively establish such system, especially in light of the fact that we expect to operate as a publicly
reporting company. This would leave us without the ability to reliably assimilate and compile financial information about our company
and significantly impair our ability to prevent error and detect fraud, all of which would have a negative impact on our company from
many perspectives.
Moreover,
we do not expect that disclosure control or internal control over financial reporting, even if established, will prevent all error and
all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the
control system’s objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource
constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in the control
system, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.
Failure of our control system to prevent error or fraud could materially adversely impact us.
Our
ability to effectively manage our anticipated growth and expansion of our operations will also require us to enhance our operational,
financial and management controls and infrastructure, human resources policies and reporting system. These enhancements and improvements
will require significant capital expenditures and allocation of valuable management and employee resources.
We
expect to experience significant growth in the scope and nature of our operations. Our ability to manage our operations and future growth
will require us to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, compliance programs and reporting system.
We may not be able to implement improvements in an efficient or timely manner and may discover deficiencies in existing controls, programs,
systems and procedures, which could have an adverse effect on our business, reputation and financial results. Additionally, rapid growth
in our business may place a strain on our human and capital resources. Furthermore, we expect to continue to conduct our business internationally
and anticipate increased business operations in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Asia and Europe are obvious destinations to launch
manufacturing operations given the high demand for clean technologies, developed technical workforce, and strong manufacturing bases
with nuclear experience. We will also be targeting developing countries that could benefit from the introduction of mobile, remote, power
sources able to unlock a lot of economic resources. These diversified, global operations place increased demands on our limited resources
and require us to substantially expand the capabilities of our administrative and operational resources and to attract, train, manage
and retain qualified management, technical, experts, engineering, sales and other personnel, the failure of which may adversely affect
our business, financial condition and results of operations.
41
We
are subject to cybersecurity risks.
Like
other businesses, we face cybersecurity risks. Threat sources continue to seek to exploit potential vulnerabilities. These cyberattacks
are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dynamic. We expect these cyberattacks to continue to occur in the future and we are constantly
managing efforts to infiltrate and compromise our information technology systems and data. Given the highly regulated and sensitive industry
in which we operate, cybersecurity threats pose a particular risk for our company. While we develop and maintain systems seeking to prevent
security breaches from occurring, the development and maintenance of these systems is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating
as techniques used in such attacks become more sophisticated and change frequently. We, and the third parties on which we rely, may be
unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventive measures.
A
cybersecurity breach, including physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses, malware, attacks by hackers, ransomware attacks,
phishing attacks, supply chain attacks, breaches due to employee error or misconduct and other similar breaches, of our physical assets
or information systems, or those of our vendors, business partners and interconnected entities or regulators could impact our operations
or result in the theft or inappropriate release of certain types of information, including critical infrastructure information, sensitive
customer, vendor and employee data, trading or other confidential data. The risk of these system-related events and cybersecurity breaches
occurring continues to intensify, and while we have not directly experienced a material breach or disruption to our network or information
systems or our operations to-date, such cyberattacks continue to increase in sophistication and frequency, and we may be unable to prevent
all such cyberattacks in the future.
If
a significant breach were to occur, our reputation could be negatively affected, customer confidence in us or others in the industry
could be diminished, or we could be subject to legal claims, loss of revenues, increased costs or operations shutdown. In addition, our
network and information systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from power outages, telecommunications failures, accidents,
natural disasters (including extreme weather arising from short-term or any long-term changes in weather patterns), terrorist attacks
and similar events. Our system redundancy may be ineffective or inadequate, and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient
for all eventualities. Moreover, the amount and scope of insurance maintained against losses resulting from any such events or security
breaches may not be sufficient to cover losses or otherwise adequately compensate for any disruptions to business that could result.
Furthermore, in the future, such insurance may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
In
addition, new or updated security regulations or unforeseen threat sources could require changes in current measures taken by us or our
business operations and could adversely affect our consolidated financial statements.
We
will incur significantly increased costs as a result of, and devote substantial management time to operating as, a public company.
We
only became a public company in May 2024. As such, we have incurred and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other
expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and
will be required to comply with the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, as well as rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC, including the establishment and maintenance of
effective disclosure and financial controls, changes in corporate governance practices and required filing of annual, quarterly and current
reports with respect to our business and operating results. These requirements have and will continue to increase our legal and financial
compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. In addition, our management and other personnel need to
divert attention from operational and other business matters to devote substantial time to these public company requirements. We will
also need to hire additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge
and will need to establish an internal audit function. Operating as a public company makes it more expensive for us to obtain director
and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage.
This could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified people to serve on our board of directors, our board committees
or as executive officers. In addition, after we no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined under the JOBS
Act we expect to incur additional management time and cost to comply with the more stringent reporting requirements applicable to companies
that are deemed accelerated filers or large accelerated filers, including complying with the auditor attestation requirements of Section
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We are just beginning the process of compiling the system and processing documentation needed to comply
with such requirements. We may not be able to complete our evaluation, testing and any required remediation in a timely fashion. In that
regard, we currently do not have an internal audit function, and we will need to hire or contract additional accounting and financial
staff with appropriate public company experience and technical accounting knowledge.
42
We
cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may continue to incur as a result of operating as a public company or the
timing of such costs.
We
are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable
to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from reporting
requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including the auditor
attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and
proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder
approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act, as an emerging growth company,
we have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards until those standards would
otherwise apply to private companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of issuers
who are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public companies,
which may make our common stock less attractive to investors. In addition, if we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will no longer
be able to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of
our listing; (2) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.235 billion; (3) the date on which
we have, during the previous rolling three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (4) the date
on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the rules of the SEC.
We
cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. For example, if we do
not adopt a new or revised accounting standard, our future results of operations may not be comparable to the results of operations of
certain other companies in our industry that adopted such standards. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result,
there may be a less active trading market for our common stock, and our stock price may be more volatile.
If
our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies prove to be incorrect, our results of operations could be adversely
affected.
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying notes appearing elsewhere in this Report. We base our estimates on short
duration historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, as provided
in the section titled “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates .” The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values
of assets, liabilities, and equity, and the amount of revenue and expenses. Significant estimates and judgments involve: legal contingencies;
valuation of our common stock and equity awards; and income taxes. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if our assumptions
change or if actual circumstances differ from those in our assumptions, which could cause our results of operations to fall below the
expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of our common stock.
43
Our
current insurance coverage may not be adequate, and we may not be able to obtain insurance at acceptable rates, or at all.
We
currently have director and officer liability insurance for our officers and certain directors. We do not carry any key-man life insurance,
business liability and other professional liability insurance. Neither have we purchased any property insurance or business interruption
insurance. Even if we purchase these kinds of insurance, the insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending
against product liability or professional liability claims that may occur in future. As we are still at the development stage and we
have not produced any products yet, we have determined that our current insurance coverage is sufficient for our business operations
in the U.S. However, the local government may take an opposite position against us and we may need to purchase additional insurance to
operate our business. If we fail to obtain the insurance as required by the local government, or if we were to incur substantial losses
or liabilities due to fire, explosions, floods, other natural disasters or accidents or business interruption, our business and results
of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Our
business is subject to the risks of earthquakes, fire, floods and other natural catastrophic events, global pandemics, and interruptions
by man-made problems, such as network security breaches, computer viruses or terrorism. Material disruptions of our business or information
system resulting from these events could adversely affect our operating results.
We
are vulnerable to damage from catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, power loss, and similar unforeseen events beyond our control.
The global pandemics or fear of spread of contagious diseases, such as COVID-19, Ebola virus disease (EVD), Middle East respiratory syndrome
(MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, and avian flu, as well the catastrophic events could disrupt our
business operations, reduce or restrict our supply of products and services, incur significant costs to protect our employees and facilities,
or result in regional or global economic distress, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results
of operations. Actual or threatened war, terrorist activities, political unrest, civil strife, and other geopolitical uncertainty could
have a similar adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any one or more of these events may adversely
affect our operation results, or even for a prolonged period of time, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition, and results of operations.
We
cannot assure you that we are adequately protected from the effects of earthquakes, fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, global pandemics,
power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, network security breaches, computer viruses, terrorist attacks, or similar
events. Any of the foregoing events may give rise to interruptions, damage to our property, delays in production, breakdowns, system
failures, technology platform failures, or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of our
internet system as well as adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If
a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters,
damaged critical infrastructure, or otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue
our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place are unlikely to provide
adequate protection in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited
nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
44
Risks
Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The
trading market for our common stock is very new, and consistently robust and liquid trading market may not develop or be sustained over
the long term.
We
only recently conducted our initial public offering in May 2024, and so the trading market for our common stock is very new and unestablished.
If a consistently robust and liquid trading market for our common stock does not develop, you may not be able to sell your shares quickly
or at the market price. Our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling our securities and our ability to acquire
other companies or technologies by using our securities as consideration may also be impaired.
The
trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be very volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Since
our initial public offering, the market for our common stock has been very volatile, including significant increases and decreases in
the price of our stock. The trading price of our common stock is likely to continue to be volatile and could continue to be subject to
fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or
part of your investment in our common stock as you might be unable to sell your shares at or above the price you paid in this offering.
Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include the following:
●
price
and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
●
volatility
in the trading prices and trading volumes of nuclear energy stocks;
●
changes
in operating performance and stock market valuations of other nuclear energy companies generally, or those in our industry in particular;
●
sales
of shares of our common stock by us or our stockholders;
●
failure
of securities analysts to maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by securities analysts who follow our company,
or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;
●
the
financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in those projections, or our failure to meet those projections;
●
announcements
by us or our competitors of new products, features, or services;
●
the
public’s reaction to our press releases, other public announcements and filings with the SEC;
●
rumors
and market speculation involving us or other companies in our industry;
●
actual
or anticipated changes in our results of operations or fluctuations in our results of operations;
●
actual
or anticipated developments in our business, our competitors’ businesses or the competitive landscape generally;
●
litigation
involving us, our industry, or both, or investigations by regulators into our operations or those of our competitors;
●
developments
or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights;
●
announced
or completed acquisitions of businesses, products, services or technologies by us or our competitors;
●
new
laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;
●
changes
in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations or principles;
●
any
significant change in our management; and
●
general
economic conditions and slow or negative growth of our markets.
45
Notwithstanding
the foregoing potential causes of volatility, you are cautioned that specific causes of volatility are never perfectly clear. Moreover,
our relatively small public float may amplify the impact the actions taken by a few stockholders have on the price of our common stock,
which may cause the price of our common stock to deviate, potentially significantly, from a price that better reflects the underlying
performance of our business.
Also,
in recent years, the stock markets generally have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or
disproportionate to the operating performance of listed companies. Broad market and industry factors may significantly affect the market
price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. These fluctuations may be even more pronounced in the trading
market for our common stock shortly after your investment. Volatility in our common stock could lead to the loss of some or all of
your investment.
In
addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a particular company’s
securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against
us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.
If
securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price
and trading volume could decline.
The
trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about
us or our business. If only a limited number of securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our company, the trading price for
our stock could be negatively impacted. If one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or
unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us
or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume
to decline.
Future
sales of our securities or warrants exercisable for our common stock may depress our stock price.
Sales
of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock in the public market, or the perception
that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could materially impair our ability to
raise capital through equity offerings in the future.
We
have issued underwriter’s warrants to purchase shares in connection with our May 2024 initial public offering, and two underwritten
follow-on offerings in July and October 2024 (“July and October Offerings”), respectively, to purchase up to an aggregate
of 364,139 shares of common stock. In connection with the July and October Offerings and our November 2024 private placement offering,
we issued warrants to investors to purchase up to an aggregate of 4,235,148 shares of common stock with a weighted-average exercise price
of $22.68 per share. If a large number of shares of our common stock are issued upon exercise of the outstanding warrants in the public
market, this could reduce the trading price of our common stock, perhaps significantly, and impede our ability to raise future capital.
46
Our
failure to meet the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq could result in a delisting of our common stock.
If
we fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, such as the corporate governance requirements or the minimum closing
bid price requirement, Nasdaq may take steps to delist our common stock. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the
price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of
a delisting, we can provide no assurance that any action taken by us to restore compliance with listing requirements would allow our
common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock
from dropping below the Nasdaq minimum bid price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements.
Our
directors, executive officers and principal stockholders have substantial control over us and could delay or prevent a change of corporate
control.
Our
directors, executive officers and holders of more than 5% of our common stock, together with their affiliates, beneficially own, in the
aggregate, approximately 33.19% of our outstanding common stock as of December 27, 2024. As a result, these stockholders, acting together,
have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of directors and
any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, these stockholders, acting together, have the
ability to control the management and affairs of our company. Accordingly, this concentration of ownership could harm the market price
of our common stock by:
●
delaying,
deferring or preventing a change of control of us;
●
impeding
a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us; or
●
discouraging
a potential acquiror from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.
See
“ Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters ” below for more information
regarding the ownership of our outstanding stock by our executive officers, directors and holders of more than 5% of our common stock,
together with their affiliates.
Unanticipated
changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect
our financial condition and results of operations.
We
will be subject to income taxes in the United States, and our domestic tax liabilities will be subject to the allocation of expenses
in differing jurisdictions. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors,
including:
●
changes
in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;
●
expected
timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances;
●
tax
effects of stock-based compensation;
●
costs
related to intercompany restructurings; or
●
changes
in tax laws, regulations or interpretations thereof.
In
addition, we may be subject to audits of our income, sales and other transaction taxes by federal, state and local authorities. Outcomes
from these audits could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Anti-takeover
provisions in Nevada law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company and may affect the trading price of our
common stock.
Some
of the provisions of Nevada law may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our
company or removing our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover
practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first
negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection against an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal
to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals.
47
We
have never paid dividends on our capital stock, and we do not anticipate paying dividends for the foreseeable future.
We
have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable
future. The payment of dividends, if any, in the future is within the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings,
capital requirements and financial condition and other relevant facts. We currently intend to retain all future earnings, if any, to
finance the development and growth of our business. Accordingly, you must rely on the sale of your common stock after price appreciation,
which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gain on your investment.
Our
bylaws designate certain courts as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings 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
bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, a state or federal court located in the State
of Nevada shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) any
action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of our company to us or our stockholders,
(iii) any actions asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the NRS, our Articles of Incorporation or our amended and restated
bylaws, in each case as amended, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject
to such court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein (the “Nevada Forum Provision”).
This, however, shall not apply to claims or causes of action brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive
jurisdiction. Our bylaws further provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district
courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Federal Forum Provision”). In addition, our bylaws provide that
any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our common stock is deemed to have notice of and consented
to the Nevada Forum Provision and the Federal Forum Provision.
Section
27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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. As a result, the Nevada Forum Provision will not apply
to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive
jurisdiction. We note, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot
waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
We
recognize that the Nevada Forum Provision and the Federal Forum Provision in our bylaws may impose additional litigation costs on stockholders
in pursuing any such claims, particularly if the stockholders do not reside in or near the State of Nevada. Additionally, the Nevada
Forum Provision and the Federal Forum Provision may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a forum that they find
favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors,
officers and employees even though an action, if successful, might benefit our stockholders. If the Federal Forum Provision is found
to be unenforceable, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters. The Federal Forum Provision may also impose
additional litigation costs on stockholders who assert that the provision is not enforceable or invalid. The competent courts of the
State of Nevada and the United States District Court may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including
courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments may
be more or less favorable to us than our stockholders.
48