−Removed: are subject to risks and uncertainties that could potentially negatively impact our business, financial conditions, results of operations
−Removed: and cash flows.
−Removed: This section contains a description of the risk and uncertainties identified by management that could, individually or
−Removed: in combination, harm our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, as well as our financial instruments and
−Removed: our securities.
−Removed: In evaluating us and our business and making or continuing an investment in our securities, you should carefully consider
−Removed: the risks described below as well as other information contained in this Form 10-K and any risk factors and uncertainties discussed in
−Removed: our other public filings with the SEC under the caption “Risk Factors”.
−Removed: We may face other risks that are not contained in
−Removed: this Form 10-K, including additional risk that are not presently known, or that we presently deem immaterial.
−Removed: This Form 10-K and the
−Removed: risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in
−Removed: such forward-looking statements.
−Removed: Please refer to the section in this Form 10-K titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
−Removed: Statements” for additional information regarding forward-looking statements.
−Removed: RELATED TO THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS
−Removed: Substantially
−Removed: all of the Company’s CRB customers’ deposits are currently held at PCCU, which means that our growth will be restricted until
−Removed: we can enter into agreements with additional financial institutions.
−Removed: Substantially
−Removed: all of the deposits of the Company’s CRB customers are currently held at PCCU, which constitutes
−Removed: approximately 60% of PCCU’s total assets.
−Removed: Under the Second Amended and Restated Support Services Agreement, PCCU has agreed to
−Removed: maintain its ratio of CRB-related deposits to total assets to 60% or greater unless a lower ratio is required by applicable regulatory
−Removed: or policy requirements.
−Removed: There can be no assurances that PCCU will be able to maintain this ratio of CRB-related deposits to total assets,
−Removed: or that its total assets will grow so as to permit its CRB deposits to grow.
−Removed: Therefore, unless we are able to expand the number of financial
−Removed: institutions at which deposits onboarded and monitored by the Company are held, our growth will be limited to the extent that PCCU’s
−Removed: assets may grow, if at all.
−Removed: Although under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Account Servicing Agreement with PCCU, the
−Removed: Company is not restricted from onboarding and monitoring deposits at other financial institutions, there can be no assurances that we
−Removed: will be able to expand the number of financial institutions with which we will onboard and monitor deposits or, if we are able to enter
−Removed: into agreements with additional financial institutions, whether the terms of those agreements will be on comparable terms.
−Removed: if PCCU were to terminate either or both of the Second Amended and Restated Support Services Agreement or the Second Amended and Restated
−Removed: Account Servicing Agreement, our operations would be materially impaired if we were not able to obtain from third parties the services
−Removed: the Company receives from PCCU under the Second Amended and Restated Support Services Agreement or if we were not able to enter into
−Removed: arrangements with other financial institutions to host the deposits of the Company’s customers.
−Removed: Company has only recently begun its loan program, which may make it more difficult for the Company to compete with other lenders, brokers
−Removed: and servicers.
−Removed: Company, through its predecessor entity, began offering loan services through PCCU to CRBs in 2020.
−Removed: As a result, the Company’s
−Removed: loan program may be subject to factors inherent in a start-up business, such as competing with existing entities who have been
−Removed: offering loans and other lending-related services for longer than the Company has, ensuring that the Company’s systems are
−Removed: compliant with applicable laws and regulations, and ensuring that the Company’s systems and personnel are able to handle the
−Removed: anticipated pipeline of loan applications.
−Removed: The time to fully ramp-up the Company’s lending and loan servicing operations may
−Removed: be more difficult for the Company to compete against lenders and brokers that have been lending to CRBs for a longer period of
−Removed: Company’s loan program is currently substantially dependent on PCCU, currently the largest funding source for the Company’s
−Removed: loans, which may limit the types, terms and amounts of loans that we may offer.
−Removed: Company’s loan program currently depends on PCCU as the Company’s largest funding source for new loans to CRBs.
−Removed: with the exception of one $500,000 loan funded directly by the Company during April 2022, all of the Company’s loans have been funded
−Removed: Under PCCU’s loan policy for loans to CRBs, PCCU’s board has approved aggregate lending limits at the lesser of
−Removed: 1.3125 times PCCU’s net worth or 65% of total CRB deposits.
−Removed: Concentration limits for the deployment of loans are further categorized
−Removed: as (i) real estate secured, (ii) construction, (iii) unsecured and (iv) mixed collateral with each category limited to a percentage of
−Removed: PCCU’s net worth.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2022, PCCU’s net worth was $133.23 million and CRB-related deposits were $161.14 million.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2021, PCCU’s net worth was $61.9 million and CRB-related deposits were $146.3 million.
−Removed: In addition, loans to
−Removed: any one borrower or group of associated borrowers are limited by applicable NCUA regulations to the greater of $100,000 or 15% of PCCU’s
−Removed: As a result, our ability to expand our loan program will be limited by PCCU’s growth unless we are able to expand our
−Removed: capacity to make loans directly or find other financial institutions and lenders willing to make loans to CRBs.
−Removed: In addition, even if
−Removed: we are able to identify additional lenders, we may not be able to negotiate comparable terms.
−Removed: Company may face competition from traditional financial institutions and other lenders and service providers for its lending and other
−Removed: services, which may adversely affect the Company’s ability to achieve our business goals and its results of operations.
−Removed: Company operates in an increasingly competitive market for its lending, compliance, customer intake and management services.
−Removed: Our competitors
−Removed: for our compliance and customer-focused services include both traditional financial institutions and fintech companies.
−Removed: Lending competitors
−Removed: include both private investment funds and public REITs focused on the cannabis industry, as well as traditional financial institutions
−Removed: that have begun offering loans to CRBs.
−Removed: Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical
−Removed: and marketing resources than we do.
−Removed: In particular, because traditional financial institutions may have a cost of funds more comparable
−Removed: to ours, we may face greater competition in providing loans to CRBs.
−Removed: There can be no assurances that we will be able to successfully
−Removed: compete against these competitors, which may adversely affect the Company’s ability to achieve its business goals and its results
−Removed: of operations.
−Removed: soundness of our financial institution clients could adversely affect us.
−Removed: our clients are other financial institutions, our ability to grow our operations and client base could be adversely affected by the actions
−Removed: and commercial soundness of other financial institutions for whom we provide services or who might seek our services.
−Removed: Financial institutions
−Removed: are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships.
−Removed: As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions
−Removed: about, one or more financial institutions, or the banking and financial services industry generally, have led to market-wide liquidity
−Removed: problems and could lead to losses, defaults or regulatory actions against the financial institutions with which we do business or with
−Removed: whom we may seek to provide services.
−Removed: There can be no assurances that the occurrence of any such losses, defaults or regulatory actions
−Removed: would not materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
−Removed: Company intends to focus its lending to CRBs on commercial loans, which could increase the risk in the Company’s loan portfolio,
−Removed: resulting in higher provisions for loan losses and adversely affecting the Company’s results of operations.
−Removed: Company intends to focus its lending efforts on commercial loans to CRBs, including commercial real estate loans, commercial business
−Removed: secured by other assets such as equipment or accounts receivable, and unsecured loans.
−Removed: Historically, these loans have had higher risks
−Removed: than other types of loans, such as loans secured by residential real estate.
−Removed: For example, repayment of commercial real estate loans and
−Removed: commercial business loans are dependent on income being generated by the rental property or business in amounts sufficient to cover operating
−Removed: expenses and debt service.
−Removed: If the borrowers of these types of loans default, the collateral may not be liquidated as easily and may involve
−Removed: expensive workout techniques.
−Removed: Commercial lending may also involve large balances of loans to single borrowers or related groups of borrowers.
−Removed: If these loans become nonperforming, The Company may have to increase its reserves for loan losses, which would negatively affect its
−Removed: results of operations.
−Removed: addition, loans secured by commercial real estate may deteriorate in value during the time the credit is extended.
−Removed: Real estate values
−Removed: and the real estate markets are generally affected by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, changes in economic conditions,
−Removed: fluctuations in interest rates, the availability of credit, changes in tax laws and other statutes, regulations, and policies, and acts
−Removed: Weakening of the real estate market could result in an increase loan defaults and a reduction in the value of the collateral
−Removed: securing those loans, which in turn could adversely affect our profitability and asset quality.
−Removed: If the collateral securing a loan is
−Removed: liquidated to satisfy the debt during a period of reduced real estate values, our earnings and capital could be adversely affected.
−Removed: to CRBs secured by properties and assets that are, and will be, subject to extensive regulations, such that if such collateral was foreclosed
−Removed: upon those regulations may result in significant costs and materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition,
−Removed: liquidity and results of operations.
−Removed: loans presently funded by our financial institution clients, and the loans that are expected to be made in the future, may be secured
−Removed: by properties and assets that are, and will be, subject to various state and local laws and regulatory requirements, and we, our client
−Removed: financial institutions, or a third party would be subject to such requirements if such collateral was foreclosed upon.
−Removed: State and local
−Removed: property regulations may restrict the use of collateral or the ability to foreclose on the collateral.
−Removed: Among other things, these restrictions
−Removed: may relate to cultivation of cannabis, the use of water and the discharge of waste water, fire and safety, seismic conditions, asbestos-cleanup
−Removed: or hazardous material abatement requirements.
−Removed: Neither the Company, its financial institution clients, nor third parties engaged to assist
−Removed: with the liquidation or foreclosure process will take possession of cannabis inventory, cannabis paraphernalia or other cannabis-related
−Removed: assets, nor will they take title to real estate used in cannabis-related businesses.
−Removed: Applicable regulations under state law that govern
−Removed: CRBs generally do not permit the taking of title to real estate involved in commercial sales of cannabis, whether through foreclosure
−Removed: or otherwise, without prior regulatory approval.
−Removed: The sale of a license or other realization of the value of licenses also requires the
−Removed: approval of state and local regulatory authorities.
−Removed: While the loan agreements and related security agreements provide for foreclosure
−Removed: remedies, receivership remedies and/or other remedies that would permit the sale or other realization of real property collateral, the
−Removed: regulatory requirements and statutory prohibitions related to real property used in cannabis-related operations may cause significant
−Removed: delays or difficulties in realizing upon the expected value of such real property collateral.
−Removed: We make no assurance that existing regulatory
−Removed: policies will not materially and adversely affect the value of such collateral, or that additional regulations will not be adopted that
−Removed: would increase such potential material adverse effect.
−Removed: The negative affect on such collateral could have a material adverse effect on
−Removed: the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
−Removed: Company is obligated to indemnify PCCU for all losses resulting from defaults of the CRB loans made by PCCU to the Company’s customers.
−Removed: to the Company’s Loan Servicing Agreement with PCCU, the Company has agreed to indemnify PCCU for all losses resulting from the
−Removed: defaults of loans made by PCCU to CRB customers.
−Removed: This means that the Company will be solely responsible for all costs of negotiating
−Removed: forbearances or refinancing the defaulted loans, loss mitigation, and collection efforts, whether conducted directly or by an affiliate
−Removed: or third party, including realizing the proceeds from any collateral as a result of a sale of collateral by the borrower or through a
−Removed: third party engaged to assist the borrower n the liquidation process.
−Removed: The Company’s indemnity is subordinate to PCCU’s other
−Removed: means of collecting on the loans including repossession of collateral, recourse against personal and/or corporate guarantors and other
−Removed: default remedies available in the loan agreements.
−Removed: Since borrowers are not parties to the agreement between the Company and PCCU, any
−Removed: indemnity payments do not relieve borrowers of their obligation to PCCU nor would such payments preclude PCCU’s right to future
−Removed: recoveries from the borrowers.
−Removed: As a result, we will be required to establish loan loss reserves relating to these loans, even though
−Removed: we are not the funding lender.
−Removed: Because these loans will not be an asset on our balance sheet, the loan loss reserves are anticipated
−Removed: to be reflected as a liability in our financial statements, versus a contra-asset.
−Removed: the Company’s allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual loan losses for loans held in the Company’s portfolio
−Removed: or for which it was otherwise responsible, the Company’s results of operations and financial condition will be negatively affected.
−Removed: the event loan customers do not repay their loans according to their terms and the proceeds of liquidating the collateral securing these
−Removed: loans is insufficient to satisfy any remaining loan balance, the Company may experience significant indemnity losses associated with
−Removed: Such credit risk is inherent in the lending business, and failure to adequately assess such credit risk could have a material
−Removed: adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
−Removed: The Company will be required to establish loan loss reserves for
−Removed: all loans for which it is the lender, for all the Company originated loans made by PCCU to CRB customers, and in other instances where
−Removed: it may be contractually liable to indemnify a lender for loan losses.
−Removed: The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for
−Removed: loan losses involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment and will require the Company to make significant estimates of current
−Removed: credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes.
−Removed: Although we have agreed with PCCU in the Loan Servicing Agreement
−Removed: that we will maintain or have access to sufficient liquidity to satisfy our indemnity obligations to PCCU under the Loan Servicing Agreement,
−Removed: we cannot be certain that our loan loss reserves will be adequate over time to cover losses in PCCU-funded loans or loans funded by other
−Removed: funding sources in the Company’s portfolio because of unanticipated adverse changes in the economy, market conditions or events
−Removed: adversely affecting specific customers, industries or markets, or borrowers repaying their loans.
−Removed: If the Company’s loan loss reserves
−Removed: are not adequate, our business, financial condition, including our liquidity and capital, and results of operations could be materially
−Removed: adversely affected.
−Removed: In addition, charge-offs of defaulted loans in future periods that exceed the related reserves may require us to
−Removed: add to our loan loss reserves, which would result in a decrease in net income and capital, and could have a material adverse effect on
−Removed: our financial condition and results of operations.
−Removed: assets of CRB borrowers may not be used as collateral or transferred due to applicable state laws and regulations governing the cannabis
−Removed: industry, and such restrictions could negatively impact our profitability.
−Removed: state that has legalized cannabis in some form has adopted its own set of laws and regulations that differ from one another.
−Removed: In particular,
−Removed: laws and regulations differ among states and even localities regarding the collateralization or transferability of cannabis-related assets,
−Removed: such as cannabis licenses, cannabis inventory, and ownership interests in licensed cannabis companies.
−Removed: Some state laws and regulations
−Removed: where borrowers operate may prohibit the collateralization or transferability of certain cannabis-related assets.
−Removed: Other states may allow
−Removed: the collateralization or transferability of cannabis-related assets, but with restrictions, such as meeting certain eligibility requirements,
−Removed: utilization of state receiverships, and/or upon approval by the applicable regulatory authority.
−Removed: Prohibitions or restrictions on the
−Removed: ability to take possession of certain cannabis-related assets securing the loans of our borrowers could have a material adverse effect
−Removed: on the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
−Removed: In addition, because the sales of such assets
−Removed: may be forced upon the borrower when time may be of the essence and available to a limited number of potential purchasers, the sales
−Removed: prices may be less than the prices obtained with more time in a larger market.
−Removed: of security interests on loans to CRBs that are in default could result in losses.
−Removed: general, a foreclose procedure is required to liquidate collateral provided on loans in default.
−Removed: Alternatively, a borrower may be required
−Removed: under the terms of the loan documents to dispose of certain business assets to satisfy the loan commitments.
−Removed: Foreclosure processes and
−Removed: other liquidations of collateral are often lengthy and expensive.
−Removed: Results of foreclosure and liquidation processes may be uncertain,
−Removed: as claims may be asserted by the relevant borrower or by other creditors or investors in such borrower that interfere with the foreclosure
−Removed: or liquidation process, such as claims that challenge the validity or enforceability of the loan or the priority or perfection of the
−Removed: security interests.
−Removed: Borrowers may resist foreclosure actions or may refuse to comply with loan requirements by asserting numerous claims,
−Removed: counterclaims and defenses against our client financial institutions or us, including, without limitation, lender liability claims and
−Removed: defenses, even when the assertions may have no merit, in an effort to prolong the foreclosure action or delay the liquidation of collateral
−Removed: and seek to force us or the financial institution into a modification or buy-out of the loan for less than the amount owed.
−Removed: Additionally,
−Removed: the transfer of certain collateral to us or our financial institution clients may be limited or prohibited by applicable laws, regulations
−Removed: and/or public company listing standards.
−Removed: See “ Loans to CRBs secured by properties and assets that are, and will be, subject
−Removed: to extensive regulations, such that if such collateral was foreclosed upon those regulations may result in significant costs and materially
−Removed: and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
−Removed: ” For transferable
−Removed: collateral, foreclosure, or other remedies available may be subject to certain laws and regulations, including the need for regulatory
−Removed: disclosure and/or approval of such transfer.
−Removed: If federal law were to change to permit cannabis companies to seek federal bankruptcy protection,
−Removed: the applicable borrower could file for bankruptcy, which would have the effect of staying the foreclosure actions or liquidation processes
−Removed: and delaying the foreclosure or liquidation processes and potentially result in reductions or discharges of debt owed.
−Removed: Foreclosure or
−Removed: forced liquidation may create a negative public perception of the collateral property, resulting in a diminution of its value.
−Removed: the liquidation proceeds upon sale of the underlying real estate may not be sufficient to repay the loan in full.
−Removed: Any costs or delays
−Removed: involved in the foreclosure or a liquidation of the underlying property will reduce the net proceeds realized and, thus, increase the
−Removed: potential for loss.
−Removed: In the event a borrower defaults on any of its loan obligations and such debt obligations are equitized, neither
−Removed: the Company nor its financial institution clients will hold such equity interests, which may result in additional losses on loans to
−Removed: rate volatility could significantly reduce our profitability, business, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
−Removed: earnings will depend in part on the relationship between the yield on our earning assets, primarily loans and investment securities,
−Removed: and the cost of funds, primarily borrowings.
−Removed: This net interest margin is susceptible to significant fluctuation and is affected by economic
−Removed: and competitive factors that influence the yields and rates for, and the volume and mix of, our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing
−Removed: Interest rate risk is exposure to movement in interest rates that could have an adverse impact on our net interest income.
−Removed: Interest rate risk arises from the imbalance in the repricing, maturity and/or cash flow characteristics of assets and liabilities.
−Removed: neither the Company nor the Company currently have any borrowings from third parties, to the extent that either incur indebtedness that
−Removed: will be subject to interest rate risk to the degree that our interest-bearing liabilities reprice or mature more slowly or more rapidly
−Removed: or on a different basis than our interest earning assets.
−Removed: In addition, increases in interest rates could reduce the pipeline of borrowers
−Removed: desiring to obtain loans from us or through our loan program if these borrowers seek alternate sources of capital.
−Removed: As a result, fluctuations
−Removed: in interest rates could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
−Removed: Company may become subject to regulation in additional states as it expands its operations.
−Removed: Company was previously considered a credit union service organization (“CUSO”) and as a result of its status as a Colorado
−Removed: limited liability company and its relationship with PCCU, a Colorado-chartered credit union, the Company is subject to various Colorado
−Removed: and federal laws, rules and regulations.
−Removed: Although the Company is no longer considered a CUSO following the closing of the Business Combination,
−Removed: the Company may become subject to the laws of additional states as it expands its operations by opening offices, maintaining employees
−Removed: or otherwise establishing a substantial footprint in additional states.
−Removed: Company is dependent on PCCU for certain administrative services.
−Removed: to the Second Amended and Restated Support Services Agreement, PCCU has been providing the Company with certain administrative services,
−Removed: including services relating to information technology and systems, accounting and financial services, human resources and marketing.
−Removed: The Company may also request that certain PCCU employees be available to the Company on a shared basis to perform duties for the Company.
−Removed: For these services, the Company paid PCCU a monthly fee equal to $30.96 per CRB account in addition to reimbursement of direct
−Removed: Under the Second Amended and Restated Support Services Agreement, PCCU is also entitled to retain 25% of all investment income
−Removed: derived from CRB cash and investments.
−Removed: We are building out our team so that these operational functions will be handled internally.
−Removed: we believe the fees due to PCCU under the Second Amended and Restated Support Services Agreement to be reasonable, these fees may result
−Removed: in higher expenses than we would otherwise incur.
−Removed: In addition, we may not be able to bring these functions in-house and, even if we are
−Removed: able to do so, we may continue to rely on third parties for all or part of these functions.
−Removed: Reliance on a third party, including PCCU,
−Removed: may result in significant expenses and operational issues over which we will not have direct control.
−Removed: or threatened public health crises, epidemics, or outbreaks, such as the outbreak of COVID-19, may have a material adverse effect on
−Removed: the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
−Removed: Company’s business operations and supply chains may be negatively impacted by regional or global public health crises, epidemics,
−Removed: or outbreaks.
−Removed: For example, in December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, now known as COVID-19.
−Removed: The COVID-19 outbreak led governments
−Removed: across the globe to impose a series of measures intended to contain its spread, including border closures, travel bans, quarantine measures,
−Removed: social distancing, and restrictions on business operations and large gatherings.
−Removed: While many of these measures have since been lifted,
−Removed: should the United States experience a new outbreak of COVID-19 or another contagious disease, governments may impose new measures or
−Removed: restrictions that may adversely impact the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
−Removed: In addition, a significant
−Removed: public health crisis, epidemic or outbreak of contagious disease in the human population may adversely affect the economies and financial
−Removed: markets of many countries, including those in which the Company operates, resulting in an economic downturn that could affect the supply
−Removed: or demand for the Company’s products and services.
−Removed: information systems interruption or breach in security of the Company’s systems could adversely affect us.
−Removed: Company relies on information technology and other computer resources to perform important operational and marketing activities as well
−Removed: as to maintain its business and employee records and financial data.
−Removed: The Company’s computer systems are currently hosted by PCCU
−Removed: and are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer attacks by hackers, viruses, catastrophes, hardware and software
−Removed: failures and breach of data security protocols by its personnel or third-party service providers.
−Removed: Although the Company has implemented
−Removed: administrative and technical controls and taken other actions to minimize the risk of cyber incidents and otherwise protect its information
−Removed: technology, computer intrusion efforts are becoming increasingly sophisticated and even the controls that the Company has installed might
−Removed: Further, many of these computer resources are provided to the Company or are maintained on the Company’s behalf by
−Removed: third-party service providers pursuant to agreements that specify certain security and service level standards, but which are ultimately
−Removed: outside of the Company’s control.
−Removed: If the Company were to experience a significant period of disruption in information technology
−Removed: systems that involve interactions with customers or suppliers, it could result in the loss of sales and customers and significant incremental
−Removed: costs, which could adversely affect its business.
−Removed: Additionally, security breaches of information technology systems could result in the
−Removed: misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of proprietary, personal and confidential information, including information related to employees,
−Removed: counter-parties, and customers, which could result in significant financial or reputational damage and liability under data privacy laws
−Removed: and regulations.
−Removed: Company may not be successful in integrating acquisitions, expanding into new markets or implementing its growth strategies.
−Removed: Company may suffer uninsured losses or suffer material losses in excess of insurance limits.
−Removed: addition to difficulties with respect to claim assessment and liability and reserve estimation, some types of claims may not be covered
−Removed: by insurance or may exceed applicable coverage limits.
−Removed: The Company may also be responsible for applicable self-insured retentions with
−Removed: respect to its insurance policies.
−Removed: Furthermore, any product liability or warranty claims made against the Company, whether or not they
−Removed: are viable, may lead to negative publicity, which could impact the Company’s reputation and future sales.
−Removed: of the uncertainties inherent in litigation, we cannot provide assurance that the Company’s insurance coverage, indemnity arrangements
−Removed: and reserves will be adequate to cover liability for any damages, the cost of litigation, or any other related expenses surrounding the
−Removed: current claims to which the Company is subject or any future claims that may arise.
−Removed: Such damages and expenses, to the extent that they
−Removed: are not covered by insurance, could materially and adversely affect our consolidated financial statements and results.
−Removed: adverse outcome in litigation to which the Company is or becomes a party could materially and adversely affect us.
−Removed: Company is not aware of any pending litigation.
−Removed: However, in the future, it may become subject to litigation, including claims relating
−Removed: to its operations, breach of contract, securities offerings, relation to the cannabis industry, or otherwise in the ordinary course of
−Removed: business or otherwise.
−Removed: Some of these claims may result in significant defense costs and potentially significant judgments against the
−Removed: Company, some of which are not, or cannot be, insured against.
−Removed: We cannot be certain of the ultimate outcomes of any claims that may arise
−Removed: in the future.
−Removed: Resolution of these types of matters against the Company may result in significant fines, judgments or settlements, which,
−Removed: if uninsured, or if the fines, judgments and settlements exceed insured levels, could adversely impact the Company’s earnings and
−Removed: cash flows, thereby materially and adversely affecting us.
−Removed: Litigation or the resolution of litigation may affect the availability or
−Removed: cost of the Company’s insurance coverage, which could materially and adversely impact us.
−Removed: Company identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2022.
−Removed: Such material
−Removed: weaknesses could adversely affect the Company’s ability to report its results of operations and financial condition accurately
−Removed: and in a timely manner.
−Removed: noted above, the Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
−Removed: reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
−Removed: statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”)..
−Removed: The Company’s management is likewise responsible for the evaluation of
−Removed: the effectiveness of its internal controls and to disclose any changes and material weaknesses identified through such evaluation of
−Removed: those internal controls.
−Removed: A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting,
−Removed: such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
−Removed: or detected on a timely basis.
−Removed: connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company has identified
−Removed: four (4) material weaknesses within its internal controls over financial reporting related to its Deferred Tax Asset, Going Concern ,
−Removed: Revenue Recognition, and Complex Financial Instruments.
−Removed: Refer to Item 9A of this document for additional details.
−Removed: The Company has implemented
−Removed: a plan to remediate these material weaknesses, through measures that include the following:
−Removed: Deferred Tax Asset:
−Removed: To alleviate this
−Removed: material weakness, the Company has implemented a quarterly control to calculate and review
−Removed: the deferred tax asset, evaluate the necessity for any valuation allowance, and reconcile
−Removed: it to the general ledger.
−Removed: To alleviate this material weakness, the Company has implemented a quarterly process with enhanced management review
−Removed: controls to perform and review a going concern analysis and the adequacy of disclosures within the consolidated financial statements,
−Removed: as applicable based on the results.
−Removed: Revenue Recognition:
−Removed: To alleviate this material
−Removed: weakness, the Company will implement a monthly process with enhanced management review controls to perform and review revenue recognition.
−Removed: Complex Financial Instruments:
−Removed: this material weakness, the Company will implement a quarterly process with enhanced management review controls to perform and review
−Removed: complex financial instruments.
−Removed: the implementation of our remediation plans for each material weakness, we believe, in subsequent periods, these material weaknesses can
−Removed: be remediated.
−Removed: Completion of remediation does not provide assurance that our remediation or other controls will continue to operate
−Removed: A failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could result in errors in its financial statements
−Removed: that could require the Company to restate past financial statements, cause the Company to fail to meet its reporting obligations and
−Removed: cause investors to lose confidence in the Company’s reported financial information, all of which could materially and adversely
−Removed: affect the Company.
−Removed: Risks Related to the Cannabis Industry
−Removed: Company provides services to financial institutions that provide banking services to businesses in or ancillary to the state licensed
−Removed: cannabis industry, which could expose us to additional liabilities and regulatory compliance cost and adversely impact our business,
−Removed: operations, financial condition, brand and reputation.
−Removed: Company provides deposit and lending services to financial institutions that desire to provide services to CRBs in states where cannabis
−Removed: is legal for medical or full adult use.
−Removed: Medical use cannabis, as well as recreational use businesses, are legal in numerous states and
−Removed: the District of Columbia.
−Removed: Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (the “CSA”), however,
−Removed: and the federal government has the authority to enforce the CSA regardless of whether cannabis is legal under state law.
−Removed: Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) published guidance for financial
−Removed: institutions servicing state legal cannabis businesses (the “FinCEN Guidance”).
−Removed: The Company has implemented a comprehensive
−Removed: control framework that includes written policies and procedures related to the on-boarding of such businesses and the monitoring and
−Removed: maintenance of such business accounts at PCCU or other financial institutions that comport with the FinCEN Guidance.
−Removed: Additionally, the
−Removed: Company’s policies call for due diligence review of the cannabis business before the business is on-boarded, including, as applicable,
−Removed: confirmation that the business is properly licensed and maintains the license in good standing in the applicable state.
−Removed: The Company’s
−Removed: services to PCCU or other financial institutions include the ongoing monitoring and of the business to determine if the business continues
−Removed: to meet the requirements of the depositary institution.
−Removed: we believe the Company’s policies and procedures will allow us to operate in compliance with the FinCEN Guidance, there can be
−Removed: no assurance that compliance with the FinCEN Guidance will protect us from federal or other regulatory sanctions.
−Removed: Federal prosecutors
−Removed: have significant discretion and there can be no assurance that the federal prosecutors will not choose to strictly enforce the federal
−Removed: laws governing cannabis.
−Removed: Any change in the federal government’s enforcement position could potentially subject us to criminal prosecution
−Removed: and other regulatory sanctions.
−Removed: While we also believe the Company’s BSA/AML policies and programs for the services offered by PCCU
−Removed: or other financial institutions to CRBs, the medical and recreational cannabis business is considered high-risk, thus increasing the
−Removed: risk of a regulatory action against the Company’s BSA/AML program that could expose us to liabilities and regulatory compliance
−Removed: costs that would have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, brand and reputation.
−Removed: to the extent any law enforcement actions require us to respond to subpoenas, or undergo search warrants, for client records, PCCU or
−Removed: other financial institutions providing services to CRBs could elect to cease using our services.
−Removed: Until the U.S.
−Removed: federal government changes
−Removed: the laws with respect to cannabis, which may not occur, U.S.
−Removed: federal authorities could more strictly enforce current federal prohibitions
−Removed: and restrictions.
−Removed: An increase in federal enforcement against companies licensed under state cannabis laws could negatively impact the
−Removed: state licensed cannabis industries and, in turn, our business, operating results, financial condition, brand and reputation.
−Removed: Company, its financial institution clients and their CRB customers are subject to a variety of laws regarding financial transactions
−Removed: related to cannabis, which could subject their CRB customers to legal claims or otherwise adversely affect our business.
−Removed: Company, its financial institution clients and their CRB customers are subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the United States
−Removed: regarding financial transactions, including the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the USA Patriot Act.
−Removed: The penalties for violation
−Removed: of these laws and regulations include imprisonment, substantial fines and forfeiture.
−Removed: In complying with these laws and regulations, the
−Removed: Company complies with the FinCEN Guidance.
−Removed: This compliance includes, among other things, extensive due diligence reviews of potential
−Removed: and existing CRB customers of the financial institutions.
−Removed: These reviews may be time-consuming and costly, potentially creating additional
−Removed: barriers to providing financial services and imposing additional compliance requirements on us and our CRB customers.
−Removed: In addition, the
−Removed: Company is, on behalf of its financial institution clients, required to make various filings with FinCEN and the IRS to report certain
−Removed: suspicious transactions or cash transactions of over $10,000.
−Removed: If the filings are not made accurately or promptly, substantial penalties
−Removed: may be imposed that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
−Removed: we cannot assure that the Company’s strategies and techniques for designing our services and solutions for our clients and CRB
−Removed: customers will operate effectively and efficiently and not be adversely impacted by cannabis regulations.
−Removed: Further, a change in financial
−Removed: services regulations or a change in the position of the financial services industry that permits more financial institutions to directly
−Removed: serve businesses that grow and sell cannabis products may increase competition for us, facilitate new entrants into the industry offering
−Removed: services similar to those that we offer, or otherwise adversely affect our results of operations.
−Removed: may have difficulty using bankruptcy courts due to our involvement in the regulated cannabis industry.
−Removed: currently have no need or plans to seek bankruptcy protection.
−Removed: courts have held that debtors whose income is derived from cannabis
−Removed: or cannabis assets in violation of the CSA cannot seek federal bankruptcy protections.
−Removed: Although we are not in the business of growing
−Removed: or processing cannabis or selling or even possessing cannabis or cannabis products, a U.S.
−Removed: court could determine that our revenue is
−Removed: derived from cannabis or cannabis assets and prevent us from obtaining bankruptcy protections if necessary.
−Removed: conduct of third parties may jeopardize our business and regulatory compliance.
−Removed: the post-consummation company will not be a cannabis licensee or directly involved in the cannabis industry, and as such, will not subject
−Removed: to commercial cannabis regulations that apply to cannabis operators, we cannot guarantee that our systems, protocols, and practices associated
−Removed: with our onboarding and monitoring services will prevent all unauthorized or illegal activities by the CRBs receiving banking services
−Removed: through our financial institution clients.
−Removed: Our success depends in part on our financial institution clients’ ability to operate
−Removed: consistently with the regulatory and licensing requirements of each state, local, and regional jurisdiction in which they operate.
−Removed: cannot ensure that the conduct of our financial institution clients and the CRBs that have deposits with them, who are third parties,
−Removed: will not expose them to legal sanctions and costs, which could in turn, adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial
−Removed: condition, brand and reputation.
−Removed: may be subject to constraints on marketing our services, which could adversely impact our results of operations and our growth opportunities.
−Removed: of the states in which the Company may operate have strict regulations regarding marketing and sales activities ancillary to cannabis
−Removed: products, which could affect our ability to market our services and the development of our business.
−Removed: If we are unable to effectively
−Removed: market our services and compete for market share, or if the costs of compliance with government legislation and regulation cannot be
−Removed: absorbed through increased fees for our services, this could hamper demand for our services, which could result in a loss of revenue.
−Removed: providers to cannabis businesses may be subject to unfavorable U.S.
−Removed: tax treatment.
−Removed: Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, no deduction or credit is allowed for any amount paid or incurred during the taxable year
−Removed: in carrying on business, other than costs of goods sold, if the business (or the activities which comprise the trade or business) consists
−Removed: of trafficking in controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedules I and II of the CSA).
−Removed: The IRS has applied this provision to
−Removed: cannabis operations, prohibiting them from deducting expenses associated with cannabis businesses and asserting assessments and penalties
−Removed: for additional taxes owed.
−Removed: While we do believe that Section 280E does not apply to our business, or ancillary service providers that
−Removed: work with state-licensed CRBs, if the IRS interprets the section to apply, it would significantly and materially affect our profitability
−Removed: and financial condition.
−Removed: MORE Act would remove marijuana from the CSA, which would effectively carve out state-legal cannabis businesses from Section 280E of
−Removed: The MORE Act would impose two new taxes on cannabis businesses:
−Removed: an excise tax measured by the value of certain cannabis products
−Removed: and an occupational tax assessed on the enterprises engaging in cannabis production and sales.
−Removed: Although these novel tax provisions are
−Removed: included in the current version of the MORE Act, which has been passed by the U.S.
−Removed: House of Representatives but has not yet been passed
−Removed: Senate, it is challenging to predict whether, when, and in what form the MORE Act could be enacted into law and how any such
−Removed: legislation would affect the activities of the Company.
−Removed: businesses may be subject to civil asset forfeiture .
−Removed: owned by participants in the cannabis industry used in the course of conducting such business, or that represents proceeds of such business
−Removed: or is traceable to proceeds of such business, could be subject to seizure by law enforcement and subsequent civil asset forfeiture because
−Removed: of the illegality of the cannabis industry under federal law.
−Removed: Even if the owner of the property is never charged with a crime, the property
−Removed: in question could still be seized and subject to an administrative proceeding by which, with minimal due process, it could be subject
−Removed: to forfeiture.
−Removed: Forfeiture of assets of our CRB customers, including if such assets are collateral for loans made or serviced by us, could
−Removed: adversely affect our revenues if it impedes the borrowers’ profitability or operations and our CRB customers’ ability to
−Removed: continue to use our services.
−Removed: we provide services to companies that provide services to CRBs, we may have a difficult time obtaining the various insurances that are
−Removed: desired to operate our business, which may expose us to additional risk and financial liability.
−Removed: that is otherwise readily available, such as general liability and directors’ and officers’ insurance, may be more difficult
−Removed: for us to find and could be more expensive or contains significant exclusions because our financial institution clients provide services
−Removed: There are no guarantees that we will be able to find such insurance coverage in the future or that the cost will be affordable
−Removed: If appropriate coverage is not available, we may be prevented from entering into certain business sectors, our growth may be inhibited,
−Removed: and we may be exposed to additional risk and financial liabilities.
−Removed: If we experience an uninsured loss, it may result in loss of anticipated
−Removed: cash flow and could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, and business.
−Removed: may be difficulty enforcing certain of our commercial agreements and contracts.
−Removed: may not enforce a contract deemed to involve a violation of law or public policy.
−Removed: Parties to contracts involving the state legal cannabis
−Removed: industry have at times argued that the agreements were void as illegal federally or against public policy.
−Removed: Some courts have accepted
−Removed: this argument in certain cases.
−Removed: While courts have enforced contracts related to activities by state-legal cannabis companies, and the
−Removed: trend is generally to enforce contracts with state-legal cannabis companies and their vendors, there remains some doubt that we will
−Removed: be able to enforce our commercial agreements with our financial institution clients or the CRBs to which they provide banking services
−Removed: in court for this reason.
−Removed: Therefore, we cannot be assured that we will have a remedy for breach of contract in all instances, which could
−Removed: have a material adverse effect on our business.
−Removed: of our directors, officers, employees and investors who are not U.S.
−Removed: citizens may face constraints on cross-border travel into the United
−Removed: citizens employed at or investing in companies doing business in the state-legal cannabis industry could face detention, denial of entry
−Removed: or lifetime bans from the United States for their business associations with cannabis businesses.
−Removed: Entry to the United States happens
−Removed: at the sole discretion of the officers on duty of the U.S.
−Removed: Customs and Border Protection, and these officers have wide latitude to ask
−Removed: questions to determine the admissibility of a foreign national.
−Removed: Business or financial involvement in the legal cannabis industry could
−Removed: be grounds for U.S.
−Removed: border guards to deny entry.
−Removed: Related to the Company’s Organization and Structure
−Removed: Concentration
−Removed: of ownership among our existing executive officers, directors and their respective affiliates may prevent new investors from influencing
−Removed: significant corporate decisions.
−Removed: the Closing of the Business Combination, our affiliates, executive officers, directors and their respective affiliates as a group beneficially
−Removed: own approximately 14.21% of our outstanding Class A Common Stock, as discussed elsewhere in this document.
−Removed: As a result, these stockholders
−Removed: are able to exercise a significant level of control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors,
−Removed: amendment of our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions.
−Removed: could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us or changes in management and will make the approval of certain
−Removed: transactions difficult or impossible without the support of these stockholders.
−Removed: Company depends on key management personnel and other experienced employees.
−Removed: Company’s success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of certain key management personnel including, but not
−Removed: limited to, those individuals listed in the “ The Company Management ” section included elsewhere in this document.
−Removed: If any of the Company’s key management personnel were to cease employment with the Company, the Company’s operating results
−Removed: could suffer.
−Removed: The Company’s ability to retain its key management personnel or to attract suitable replacements should any member(s)
−Removed: of its management team leave is dependent on the culture its leadership team fosters and on the competitive nature of the employment
−Removed: The loss of services from key management personnel or a limitation in their availability could materially and adversely impact
−Removed: the Company’s business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
−Removed: Further, such a loss could be negatively
−Removed: perceived in the capital markets.
−Removed: The Company has not obtained key management life insurance that would provide it with proceeds in the
−Removed: event of death or disability of any of its key management personnel.
−Removed: employees in the financial services and cannabis-related services industries are fundamental to the Company’s ability to generate,
−Removed: obtain and manage opportunities.
−Removed: In particular, relevant licenses and qualifications, local knowledge and relationships are critical
−Removed: to the Company’s ability to provide its services.
−Removed: Failure to attract and retain such personnel or to ensure that their experience
−Removed: and knowledge is not lost when they leave the business through retirement, redundancy or otherwise may adversely affect the standards
−Removed: of the Company’s service and may have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition
−Removed: and results of operations.
−Removed: by the Company’s directors, officers or employees to comply with applicable policies, regulations and rules could materially and
−Removed: adversely affect us.
−Removed: Company has adopted an employee handbook which includes policies and guidelines for its directors, officers and employees.
−Removed: The Company’s
−Removed: adoption of these policies and guidelines is not a representation or warranty that all persons subject to such standards are or will
−Removed: be in complete compliance.
−Removed: The failure of a director, officer or employee of the Company to comply with the applicable policies and guidelines
−Removed: may result in liability or other legal consequences, adverse publicity and termination of the relationship, which could materially adversely
−Removed: affect the Company.
−Removed: in accounting rules, assumptions or judgments could materially and adversely affect the Company.
−Removed: rules and interpretations for certain aspects of the Company’s financial reporting are highly complex and involve significant
−Removed: assumptions and judgment.
−Removed: These complexities could lead to a delay in the preparation and dissemination of the Company’s
−Removed: consolidated financial statements.
−Removed: Furthermore, changes in accounting rules and interpretations or in the Company’s accounting
−Removed: assumptions or judgments, such as asset impairments and contingencies are likely to significantly impact the Company’s
−Removed: consolidated financial statements.
−Removed: In some cases, the Company could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively,
−Removed: resulting in restating consolidated financial statements from prior period(s).
−Removed: Any of these circumstances could have a material
−Removed: adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
−Removed: For additional
−Removed: information, see the consolidated financial statements of the Company and related footnotes included elsewhere in this
−Removed: accounting for the forward purchase derivative resulting from the forward purchase agreement we entered into in connection with the Business
−Removed: Combination requires us to revalue the derivative at each balance sheet date, which could result in material changes to our balance sheet
−Removed: and statement of operations.
−Removed: The Company accounts for the forward purchase derivative assumed in the Business Combination in accordance with the guidance contained
−Removed: in ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”).
−Removed: The Company classifies the forward purchase derivatives
−Removed: as liabilities carried at their fair value and adjusts the forward purchase derivatives to fair value at each reporting period.
−Removed: This liability
−Removed: is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until the conditions under the forward purchase agreement are exercised or expire,
−Removed: and any change in fair value is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.
−Removed: As a result, changes in the fair value of this
−Removed: derivative could result in material impacts to our balance sheet and statement of operations.
−Removed: the Company fails to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, it may not be able to accurately determine its
−Removed: financial results or prevent fraud.
−Removed: As a result, investors could lose confidence in the Company’s financial results, which could
−Removed: materially and adversely affect the Company.
−Removed: internal controls are necessary for the Company to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud.
−Removed: The Company may
−Removed: in the future discover areas of its internal controls that need improvement.
−Removed: We cannot be certain that the Company will be
−Removed: successful in maintaining adequate internal control over its financial reporting and financial processes.
−Removed: Furthermore, as the
−Removed: Company grows its business, its internal controls will become more complex, and the Company will require significantly more
−Removed: resources to ensure its internal controls remain effective.
−Removed: Additionally, the existence of any material weakness or significant
−Removed: deficiency would require management to devote significant time and incur significant expense to remediate any such material weakness
−Removed: or significant deficiency and management may not be able to remediate any such material weakness or significant deficiency in a
−Removed: timely manner.
−Removed: The existence of any material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting could also
−Removed: result in errors in its consolidated financial statements that could require the Company to restate past consolidated financial
−Removed: statements, cause the Company to fail to meet its reporting obligations and cause investors to lose confidence in the
−Removed: Company’s reported financial information, all of which could materially and adversely affect the Company.
−Removed: Related to an Investment in Our Securities
−Removed: failure to continue to meet Nasdaq’s continued listing standards could have an adverse impact on our stock price.
−Removed: shares are currently listed for trading on the Nasdaq.
−Removed: On March 16, 2023, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying the Company that
−Removed: for the last 30 consecutive business days, the Company did not maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1 per share for its common stock,
−Removed: as required by Nasdaq listing rule 5550(a)(2).
−Removed: The Company has 180 calendar days, or until September 12, 2023, to regain compliance.
−Removed: The notice states that to regain compliance, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock must be at least $1 for a minimum
−Removed: of 10 consecutive business days.
−Removed: If the Company does not regain compliance by September 12, 2023, the Company may be eligible for additional
−Removed: time up to an additional 180 days.
−Removed: In connection with any extension periods, if it appears that the Company will not be able to regain
−Removed: compliance with Nasdaq listing rule 5550(a)(2), or if the Company is not otherwise eligible, the Nasdaq staff will provide notice to
−Removed: the Company that its securities will be subject to delisting.
−Removed: At that time, the Company may appeal any such delisting determination to
−Removed: a Hearings Panel.
−Removed: The Company intends to actively monitor the bid price and may evaluate other available options to resolve the deficiency
−Removed: and regain compliance with the Nasdaq listing rule.
−Removed: While the Company is exercising diligent efforts to maintain the listing of its common
−Removed: stock and warrants on Nasdaq, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain or maintain compliance with other Nasdaq
−Removed: listing standards.
−Removed: this time, the Company’s common stock and warrants continue to trade on Nasdaq under the symbols “SHFS” and “SHFSW,”
−Removed: respectively.
−Removed: Remaining listed for trading on Nasdaq requires us to remain compliant with Nasdaq’s current continued listing requirements,
−Removed: which, in addition to the minimum bid price requirement described above, include maintaining minimum levels of shareholders’ equity,
−Removed: assets and revenues (depending on the compliance standard being used to demonstrate compliance), and other quantitative standards such
−Removed: as minimum market value of publicly held shares and number of market makers.
−Removed: Although we currently meet the Nasdaq continued listing
−Removed: requirements, there can be no assurances that we will continue to do so in the future.
−Removed: of our Class A Common Stock, or the perception of such sales, by us or the holders of such shares in the public market or otherwise could
−Removed: cause the market price for our Class A Common Stock to decline.
−Removed: sale of shares of our Class A Common Stock in the public market or otherwise, or the perception that such sales could occur, could increase
−Removed: the volatility of the market price of our Class A Common Stock or result in a significant decline in the public trading price of our
−Removed: Class A Common Stock.
−Removed: These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity
−Removed: securities in the future at a time and at a price that it deems appropriate.
−Removed: Resales of our Class A Common Stock may cause the market
−Removed: price of our securities to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
−Removed: may not receive any proceeds from the exercise of Warrants, and if we do we may be unable to invest the portion of the net proceeds from
−Removed: this offering on acceptable terms.
−Removed: will receive up to an aggregate of approximately $80.92 million from the exercise of the Warrants, assuming the exercise in full of all of the
−Removed: Warrants for cash.
−Removed: However, will only receive proceeds to the extent holders of Warrants elect to exercise.
−Removed: We can provide no assurances
−Removed: as to the amount of proceeds we will receive from the exercise of Warrants or whether we will receive any proceeds.
−Removed: We will have broad
−Removed: discretion in the use of any proceeds received from the exercise of Warrants.
−Removed: Delays in investing the net proceeds from the exercise
−Removed: of the Warrants may impair our performance.
−Removed: We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify uses of proceeds that meet our investment
−Removed: objectives or that any investment that we make will produce a positive return.
−Removed: We may be unable to invest the net proceeds from the exercise
−Removed: of the Warrants on acceptable terms within the time period that we anticipate or at all, which could harm our financial condition and
−Removed: operating results.
−Removed: is no guarantee that the Warrants will be in the money, and they may expire worthless.
−Removed: exercise price for the Warrants is $11.50 per share of Class A Common Stock, which exceeds the market price of the shares of Class A Common
−Removed: Stock, which was $0.47 per share based on the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on April 5, 2023.
−Removed: There is no guarantee that
−Removed: the Warrants will be in the money at any given time prior to their expiration.
−Removed: If the trading price of Class A Common Stock remains below
−Removed: the exercise price of the Warrants, the Warrants may expire worthless.
−Removed: If all of the Warrants were exercised in full for cash, we would
−Removed: receive an aggregate of approximately $80.92 million.
−Removed: We do not currently expect the holders of the Warrants to exercise their Warrants and therefore,
−Removed: we do not expect to receive cash proceeds from any such exercise, for so long as the Warrants remain out of the money.
−Removed: We can provide
−Removed: no assurances that the trading price of our Class A Common Stock will remain at levels where it would be attractive to exercise our outstanding
−Removed: Warrants until the time that such warrants become exercisable.
−Removed: market for our securities has been volatile and may continue to be volatile, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of
−Removed: our securities.
−Removed: price of our securities may fluctuate significantly due to the market’s reaction to sales of our shares Class A Common Stock issued
−Removed: to the holders of our convertible preferred stock upon the conversion thereof, and to general market and economic conditions.
−Removed: trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained.
−Removed: In addition, the price of our securities
−Removed: can vary due to general economic conditions and forecasts, our general business condition and the release of our financial reports.
−Removed: Additionally,
−Removed: if our securities become delisted from Nasdaq because we are unable to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement
−Removed: or for any reason, and are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or OTC Pink, an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities
−Removed: that is not a national securities exchange, the liquidity and price of our securities may be more limited than if we were quoted or listed
−Removed: on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange.
−Removed: You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established or sustained.
−Removed: the Business Combination’s benefits do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price
−Removed: of our securities may decline.
−Removed: the benefits of the Business Combination do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of the Company’s
−Removed: securities may decline.
−Removed: addition, fluctuations in the price of our securities could contribute to the loss of all or part of your investment.
−Removed: Prior to the Business
−Removed: Combination, there was not a public market for our stock and trading in the shares of our Class A Common Stock, public units and public
−Removed: warrants was not active.
−Removed: Accordingly, the valuation ascribed to us and our Class A Common Stock, public units and public warrants in
−Removed: connection with the Business Combination may not be indicative of the price of the post-combination company that will prevail in the
−Removed: trading market.
−Removed: If an active market for our securities develops and continues, the trading price of our securities could be volatile
−Removed: and subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control.
−Removed: Any of the factors listed below
−Removed: could have a material adverse effect on your investment in our securities and our securities may trade at prices significantly below
−Removed: the price you paid for them.
−Removed: In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further
−Removed: affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
−Removed: or anticipated fluctuations in our financial results or the financial results of companies
−Removed: perceived to be similar to us;
−Removed: in the market’s expectations about our operating results;
−Removed: public’s reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings
−Removed: with the SEC;
−Removed: ● speculation
−Removed: in the press or investment community;
−Removed: of competitors;
−Removed: operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in
−Removed: a particular period;
−Removed: ● the impact of changes in valuation of financial derivatives;
−Removed: in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning the post-combination
−Removed: company or the market in general;
−Removed: and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to the post-combination
−Removed: ability to market new and enhanced products on a timely basis;
−Removed: in laws and regulations affecting our business;
−Removed: ● commencement
−Removed: of, or involvement in, litigation involving the post-combination company;
−Removed: in the post-combination company’s capital structure, such as future issuances of securities
−Removed: or the incurrence of additional debt;
−Removed: volume of shares of the Class A Common Stock and public warrants of the post-combination
−Removed: company available for public sale;
−Removed: material change in our Board or management;
−Removed: of substantial amounts of Class A Common Stock by our directors, officers or significant
−Removed: stockholders or the perception that such sales could occur;
−Removed: realization of any of the risk factors presented in this document;
−Removed: or departures of key personnel;
−Removed: to comply with the requirements of Nasdaq;
−Removed: to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or other laws or regulations;
−Removed: potential or perceived control, accounting or reporting problems;
−Removed: in accounting principles, policies and guidelines;
−Removed: economic and political conditions such as recessions, interest rates, fuel prices, international
−Removed: currency fluctuations and acts of war or terrorism.
−Removed: market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our securities irrespective of our operating performance.
−Removed: market in general and Nasdaq have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the
−Removed: operating performance of the particular companies affected.
−Removed: The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities,
−Removed: may not be predictable.
−Removed: A loss of investor confidence in the market for the stocks of other companies which investors perceive to be
−Removed: similar to the post-combination company could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or
−Removed: results of operations.
−Removed: A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities
−Removed: and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.
−Removed: the past, securities class action litigation has often been initiated against companies following periods of volatility in their stock
−Removed: This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, and could
−Removed: also require us to make substantial payments to satisfy judgments or to settle litigation.
−Removed: Company is a “controlled company” within the meaning of the applicable rules of Nasdaq and, as a result, may qualify for
−Removed: exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
−Removed: If the Company relies on these exemptions, its stockholders will not have
−Removed: the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
−Removed: the Closing of the Business Combination, PCCU controls a majority of the voting power of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, and,
−Removed: accordingly, the Company is considered a “controlled company” within the meaning of applicable rules of Nasdaq, which provide
−Removed: that a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company
−Removed: is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements:
−Removed: a majority of the board consists of independent directors;
−Removed: an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees;
−Removed: the controlled company has a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with
−Removed: a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities;
−Removed: the controlled company has a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing
−Removed: the committee’s purpose and responsibility.
−Removed: the Company does not intend to rely on these exemptions, the Company may use these exemptions now or in the future.
−Removed: As a result, the
−Removed: Company’s stockholders may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq
−Removed: corporate governance requirements.
−Removed: may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative
−Removed: effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
−Removed: we have conducted due diligence on the Company, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues that may be
−Removed: present in the Company’s business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence,
−Removed: or that factors outside of the Company’s business and outside of our and the Company’s control will not later arise.
−Removed: result of these factors, we may be forced to later write down or write off assets, restructure operations, or incur impairment or other
−Removed: charges that could result in losses.
−Removed: Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and
−Removed: previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis.
−Removed: Even though these charges may be
−Removed: non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to
−Removed: negative market perceptions about the post-combination company or its securities.
−Removed: Accordingly, any of our stockholders who chose to remain
−Removed: stockholders following the Business Combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares.
−Removed: Such stockholders are unlikely
−Removed: to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
−Removed: significant portion of our total outstanding shares are restricted from immediate resale but may be sold into the market in the near
−Removed: This could cause the market price of our Class A Common Stock or public warrants to drop significantly, even if the Company’s
−Removed: business is doing well.
−Removed: of a substantial number of shares of our Class A Common Stock or public warrants in the public market could occur at any time.
−Removed: sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price
−Removed: of our Class A Common Stock or public warrants.
−Removed: Following the Business Combination, NLIT sponsor and the initial officers and directors
−Removed: (“Northern Lights Restricted Stockholders”) hold approximately 18.2% of our Class A Common Stock.
−Removed: Pursuant to the IPO Registration
−Removed: Rights Agreement, the Northern Lights Restricted Stockholders are entitled to registration of the shares of Class A Common Stock into
−Removed: which the shares of Class B Common Stock automatically converted at the time of the consummation of the Business Combination.
−Removed: holders of our Private Placement Warrants and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the Private Placement Warrants
−Removed: and the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and holders of warrants that may be issued
−Removed: upon conversion of the Working Capital Loan may demand that we register such warrants or the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise
−Removed: of such warrants.
−Removed: The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company
−Removed: register such securities.
−Removed: These holders also have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements
−Removed: filed subsequent to the consummation of the initial business combination.
−Removed: Northern Lights Restricted Stockholders entered into a letter agreement pursuant to which, they agreed that, with certain limited exceptions,
−Removed: the shares of Class B Common Stock (which were converted into shares of Class A Common Stock at the Closing of the Business Combination)
−Removed: may not be transferred until 150 days after the closing of the Business Combination.
−Removed: We also entered into the Lock-Up Agreement at the
−Removed: Closing of the Business Combination, with each of the seller and PCCU, substantially in the form attached as Annex C .
−Removed: given that the lock-up period on the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Class B Common Stock converted is potentially
−Removed: shorter than most other blank check companies, these shares may become registered and available for sale sooner than comparable shares
−Removed: in such other companies.
−Removed: terms of our PIPE financing completed in conjunction with the business Combination has had, and could continue to have an adverse impact
−Removed: of the trading prices of the Class A Common Stock.
−Removed: with entering into the Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into the Original Securities Purchase Agreement with the PIPE Investors,
−Removed: pursuant to which, among other things, the Original PIPE Investors agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and the Company agreed to issue
−Removed: and sell to the Original PIPE Investors, the PIPE Shares and the PIPE Warrants.
−Removed: On September 27, 2022, the Company and the PIPE Investors
−Removed: entered into the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, which amended the Original Securities Purchase Agreement to, among
−Removed: other matters, reduce the amount of PIPE Shares to be issued from $60 million of Class A Convertible Preferred Stock to $20.45 million
−Removed: of Class A Convertible Preferred Stock.
−Removed: The terms of the PIPE Shares provide for an initial conversion price of $10.00 per share of Class
−Removed: A Common Stock, which conversion price is subject to downward adjustment on each of the dates that are 10 days, 55 days, 100 days, 145
−Removed: days and 190 days after the effectiveness of a registration statement registering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion
−Removed: of the PIPE Shares to the lower of the Conversion Price and the greater of (i) 80% of the volume weighted average price of the Class
−Removed: A Common Stock for the prior five trading days and (ii) $1.25, which is the adjusted minimum conversion price following receipt of stockholder
−Removed: approval in January 2023 (the “Floor Price”);
−Removed: provided that, so long as a PIPE Investor continues to hold any PIPE Shares,
−Removed: such PIPE Investor will be entitled to receive the aggregate shares of Class A Common Stock that would be issuable based upon its initial
−Removed: purchase of PIPE Shares at the adjusted Conversion Price.
−Removed: However, so long as the PIPE Investor continues to hold any PIPE Shares, such
−Removed: PIPE Investor will be entitled to receive the aggregate shares of Class A Common Stock that would be issuable based upon its initial
−Removed: purchase of PIPE Shares at the adjusted conversion price.
−Removed: The conversion price is also subject to other customary adjustments for stock
−Removed: dividends, stock splits and similar corporate actions.
−Removed: PIPE Warrants have an exercise price of $11.50 per share of Class A Common Stock to be paid in cash (except if the shares underlying
−Removed: the warrants are not covered by an effective registration statement after the six-month anniversary of the closing date, in which case
−Removed: cashless exercise is permitted), subject to adjustment to a price equal to the greater of (i) 125% of the Conversion Price if at any
−Removed: time there is an adjustment to the Conversion Price and the exercise price after such adjustment is greater than 125% of the Conversion
−Removed: Price as adjusted and (ii) $5.00.
−Removed: The PIPE Warrants are also subject to adjustment for other customary adjustments for stock dividends,
−Removed: stock splits and similar corporate actions.
−Removed: The PIPE Warrants are exercisable for a period of five years following the Closing, or September
−Removed: After exercise of a PIPE Warrant, the Company may be required to pay certain penalties if it fails to deliver the Class A Common
−Removed: Stock within a specified period of time.
−Removed: adjustments to the conversion price and the exercise price of the PIPE Warrants have had, and could have in the future, an adverse effect
−Removed: on the market trading price of our Class A Common Stock.
−Removed: grant of registration rights to PCCU in connection with the Business Combination pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement,
−Removed: and to the PIPE Investors in connection with the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, may adversely affect the market
−Removed: price of our Class A Common Stock.
−Removed: connection with the closing of the Business Combination pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement, we entered into a registration rights
−Removed: agreement with PCCU and the seller in which we will agree to file a registration statement to register the resale of the Class A Common
−Removed: Stock to be issued to the seller.
−Removed: In addition, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the PIPE Investors, pursuant to which,
−Removed: among other things, we are obligated to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
−Removed: upon conversion of the PIPE Shares and the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the PIPE Warrants.
−Removed: The existence
−Removed: of these shares available for resale pursuant to one or more registration statements could also have an adverse impact on the market
−Removed: prices of our Class A Common Stock.
−Removed: Company may issue additional shares of common or preferred stock under the Equity Incentive Plan or otherwise, any one of which would
−Removed: dilute the interest of the Company’s stockholders and likely present other risks.
−Removed: Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 130,000,000 shares of Class
−Removed: A Common Stock and 1,250,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
−Removed: There are currently 111,249,088 authorized but unissued
−Removed: shares of Class A Common Stock available for issuance, which amount does not take into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise
−Removed: of outstanding warrants.
−Removed: There are currently 20,450 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
−Removed: The Company may issue additional
−Removed: shares of common or preferred stock to under the Equity Incentive Plan or as needed for working capital or other purposes.
−Removed: issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
−Removed: significantly dilute the equity interest of existing investors;
−Removed: subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded the Company’s
−Removed: common stock;
−Removed: cause a change in control if a substantial number of common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, the Company’s
−Removed: ability to use its net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of the Company’s
−Removed: present officers and directors;
−Removed: adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Company’s Class A Common Stock, Warrants, or both.
−Removed: operating results may fluctuate significantly and could fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors due to seasonality
−Removed: and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, resulting in a decline in our stock price.
−Removed: operating results may fluctuate significantly because of several factors, including:
−Removed: labor availability and
−Removed: costs for hourly and management personnel;
−Removed: profitability of our services,
−Removed: especially in new markets and due to seasonal fluctuations;
−Removed: changes in interest rates;
−Removed: impairment of long-lived
−Removed: macroeconomic conditions,
−Removed: both nationally and locally;
−Removed: negative publicity relating
−Removed: to products we serve;
−Removed: changes in consumer preferences
−Removed: and competitive conditions;
−Removed: expansion to new markets;
−Removed: fluctuations in commodity
−Removed: securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about the post-combination company, its business,
−Removed: or its market, or if they change their recommendations regarding the Class A Common Stock of the post-combination company adversely,
−Removed: then the price and trading volume of the Class A Common Stock of the post-combination company could decline.
−Removed: trading market for our Class A Common Stock or public warrants will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities
−Removed: analysts may publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors.
−Removed: Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may
−Removed: never, publish research on us.
−Removed: If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of the post-combination company, the stock price
−Removed: and trading volume of our Class A Common Stock and public warrants would likely be negatively impacted.
−Removed: If any of the analysts who may
−Removed: cover the post-combination company change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations
−Removed: about our competitors, the price of our Class A Common Stock and public warrants would likely decline.
−Removed: If any analyst who may cover the
−Removed: Company were to cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on it, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which
−Removed: could cause the stock price or trading volume of our Class A Common Stock and public warrants of the post-combination company to decline.
−Removed: may be unable to obtain additional financing to fund our operations and growth.
−Removed: may require additional financing to fund our operations or growth in future periods.
−Removed: The failure to secure
−Removed: additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the post-combination company.
−Removed: of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us.
−Removed: in laws, regulations or rules, or a failure to comply with any laws, regulations or rules, may adversely affect our business, investments
−Removed: and results of operations.
−Removed: are subject to laws, regulations and rules enacted by national, regional and local governments and Nasdaq.
−Removed: In particular, we are required
−Removed: to comply with certain SEC, Nasdaq and other legal or regulatory requirements of businesses providing financial services.
−Removed: with, and monitoring of, applicable laws, regulations and rules may be difficult, time consuming and costly.
−Removed: These laws, regulations,
−Removed: and rules include, without limitation, the following:
−Removed: As a commercial lender
−Removed: making loans to CRBs, we will be subject to various state laws relating to usury that govern or limit interest rates and other fees
−Removed: charged on loans, permitted contractual loan terms, collection practices and creditor remedies.
−Removed: As an employer, we will
−Removed: be subject to state and federal laws relating to employment practices, health and safety of employees, employee benefits and other
−Removed: employment-related matters.
−Removed: As a company whose common
−Removed: stock is listed for trading on Nasdaq, we are subject to Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, which include requirements
−Removed: relating corporate governance matters, the size of the public float of our shares, and the minimum bid price of our shares.
−Removed: also required to notify Nasdaq of various corporate actions.
−Removed: We are an SEC reporting
−Removed: company and therefore we are required to comply with the various rules and regulations of the SEC that relate to, among other things,
−Removed: the timing and content of annual, quarterly and current reports, the process to register additional shares for sale to the public
−Removed: or for resale by existing investors, and disclosures in connection with meetings of our stockholders.
−Removed: Changes in these rules and
−Removed: regulations can have a significant impact on us, such as the rules proposed by the SEC on March 30, 2022 regarding the disclosure
−Removed: requirements in connection with business combination transactions involving SPACs.
−Removed: our business expands to additional states, we will be required to review and comply with those states’ laws that apply to our services
−Removed: and business activities.
−Removed: We will also be required to determine whether we will become subject to additional areas of regulation if we
−Removed: expand the types of activities in which we engage.
−Removed: For example, because we do not hold customer deposits or offer loans for consumer
−Removed: or personal purposes, we are not currently required have a financial institution charter or lending license in the states in which we
−Removed: currently provide services or loans.
−Removed: If we do not identify activities that would require a regulatory application, license or other approval,
−Removed: or if the interpretation and application of the laws to which we are currently subject change, those additional laws, rules, and regulations
−Removed: or changes therein could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations.
−Removed: A failure to comply with
−Removed: any applicable laws, regulations or rules, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results
−Removed: of operations.
−Removed: have not registered the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities
−Removed: laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor
−Removed: from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.
−Removed: have not registered the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state
−Removed: securities laws at this time.
−Removed: While under the terms of the warrant agreement we have agreed to use our best efforts to file a
−Removed: registration statement under the Securities Act covering such shares and maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A
−Removed: Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the
−Removed: warrant agreement, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so.
−Removed: For example, if any facts or events arise which represent a
−Removed: fundamental change in the information set forth in such registration statement or prospectus, the consolidated financial statements
−Removed: contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order, such registration will
−Removed: likely not be available.
−Removed: If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, holders
−Removed: have the right to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for unregistered shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with
−Removed: Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
−Removed: However, no such warrant will be exercisable and we will not be
−Removed: obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is
−Removed: registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder or an exemption from state registration is
−Removed: Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a
−Removed: national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the
−Removed: Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless
−Removed: basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file
−Removed: or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will be required to use our best efforts to register the shares under
−Removed: applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
−Removed: We will not be required to settle any warrant in cash or issue
−Removed: securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants if we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the
−Removed: warrants under applicable state securities laws and there is no exemption available.
−Removed: If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of
−Removed: the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be
−Removed: entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless.
−Removed: In such event, holders who acquired their
−Removed: warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A Common Stock
−Removed: included in the units.
−Removed: If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable
−Removed: to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A Common Stock for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
−Removed: are exercisable for Class A Common Stock, and the exercise of such Warrants would increase the number of shares eligible for resale in
−Removed: the public market and result in dilution to our stockholders.
−Removed: part of our business combination, there are warrants outstanding to purchase
−Removed: 5,750,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and Private Placement Warrants issued to NLIT’s sponsor to purchase 264,088 shares of Class
−Removed: A Common Stock at $11.50 per share, and we also issued the PIPE Warrants to the PIPE Investors to purchase 1,022,500 shares of Class A
−Removed: Common Stock at $11.50 per share.
−Removed: The shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon exercise of our warrants will result in dilution to the
−Removed: then existing holders of Class A Common Stock and increase the number of shares eligible for resale in the public market.
−Removed: Sales of substantial
−Removed: numbers of such shares in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our Class A Common Stock or public warrants.
−Removed: Private Placement Warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part
−Removed: of the units issued in NLIT’s IPO except that, so long as they are held by NLIT’s sponsor or its permitted transferees, (i)
−Removed: they will not be redeemable by us, (ii) they (including the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject
−Removed: to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by NLIT’s sponsor until 30 days after the completion of an initial
−Removed: business combination, (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis and (iv) are subject to registration rights.
−Removed: Anti-takeover
−Removed: provisions contained in our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law,
−Removed: could impair a takeover attempt, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock.
−Removed: Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that
−Removed: stockholders may consider to be in their best interests.
−Removed: We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could
−Removed: delay or prevent a change of control.
−Removed: Together, these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage
−Removed: transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
−Removed: These provisions include:
−Removed: prohibition on stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to
−Removed: be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;
−Removed: denial of the right of stockholders to call a special meeting;
−Removed: vote of 66 2/3% required to approve certain amendments to the Second Amended and Restated
−Removed: Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws;
−Removed: designation of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain disputes.
−Removed: Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole
−Removed: and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholder’s ability to obtain a favorable
−Removed: judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
−Removed: Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that internal corporate claims
−Removed: may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have, or declines to accept,
−Removed: jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware).
−Removed: In addition, our Second Amended and Restated
−Removed: Certificate of Incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving
−Removed: any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
−Removed: This forum selection provision does not apply to claims brought
−Removed: to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act.
−Removed: Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest
−Removed: in our stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provision in our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
−Removed: Incorporation.
−Removed: choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes
−Removed: with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims.
−Removed: Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
−Removed: to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions,
−Removed: which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
−Removed: For example, under the Securities Act, federal courts have
−Removed: concurrent jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act, and investors cannot waive
−Removed: compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
−Removed: Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether
−Removed: a court would enforce such a forum selection provision as written in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act.
−Removed: JOBS Act permits “emerging growth companies” like us to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements
−Removed: applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
−Removed: qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart
−Removed: Our Business Startups Act of 2012, which we refer to as the “JOBS Act.” As such, we take advantage of certain exemptions
−Removed: from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies for as long as we continue
−Removed: to be an emerging growth company, including (i) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control
−Removed: over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ( “SOX” ), (ii) the exemptions from say-on-pay,
−Removed: say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements and (iii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation
−Removed: in our periodic reports and proxy statements.
−Removed: As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they deem important.
−Removed: We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following July 28, 2026, the
−Removed: fifth anniversary of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which we are deemed
−Removed: to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A Common Stock, public warrants and public units that is held
−Removed: by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (ii) the date on which we
−Removed: have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
−Removed: We cannot predict if investors will find
−Removed: our common stock less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions.
−Removed: If some investors find our common stock less attractive as
−Removed: a result of any choices to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and the price of
−Removed: our common stock may be more volatile.
−Removed: The Company had total revenues during calendar year 2021 of approximately $7.0 million.
−Removed: post-combination company continues to expand its business through acquisitions and/or continues to grow revenues organically post-Business
−Removed: Combination, we may cease to be an emerging growth company prior to December 31, 2026.
−Removed: addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the exemption from
−Removed: complying with new or revised accounting standards provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act as long as we are an
−Removed: emerging growth company.
−Removed: An emerging growth company can therefore delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those
−Removed: standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
−Removed: The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended
−Removed: transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is
−Removed: We have elected to avail ourselves of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or
−Removed: revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new
−Removed: or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.
−Removed: This may make comparison of our consolidated
−Removed: financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has
−Removed: opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting
−Removed: standards used.
−Removed: some investors find our Class A Common Stock or public warrants less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market
−Removed: for our Class A Common Stock or public warrants and more stock price volatility.
−Removed: internal controls over financial reporting may not be effective and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able
−Removed: to certify as to their effectiveness, which could have a significant and adverse effect on our business and reputation.
−Removed: a public company, we are required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of SOX, which require management
−Removed: to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness
−Removed: of internal control over financial reporting.
−Removed: To comply with the requirements of being a public company, and we may need to undertake
−Removed: various actions, such as implementing additional internal controls and procedures and hiring additional accounting or internal audit
−Removed: The standards required for a public company under Section 404 of SOX are significantly more stringent than those required of the
−Removed: Company as a privately-held company.
−Removed: Further, as an emerging growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm is not
−Removed: required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the
−Removed: date we are no longer an emerging growth company.
−Removed: At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report
−Removed: that is adverse in the event that it is not satisfied with the level at which the controls of the post-combination company are documented,
−Removed: designed or operating.
−Removed: and maintaining these controls can divert our management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of
−Removed: our business.
−Removed: If we identify material weaknesses in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company or are unable to comply
−Removed: with the requirements of Section 404 or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent
−Removed: registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting
−Removed: when we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial
−Removed: reports and the market price of our common stock could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the SEC
−Removed: or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
−Removed: UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
+Added: Risk Factors.
+Added: For a complete discussion of the Company’s risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors included
+Added: under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
+Added: the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on April 14, 2023, as well as the limitation factors included in the forward-looking
+Added: statement in this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.