Tron Inc. 10-K

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS Risks Related to Our Business We expect our results of operations to fluctuate on a quarterly and annual basis, which could cause our stock price to fluctuate or decline. Our results of operations are difficult to predict and may fluctuate substantially from quarter-to-quarter or year-to-year for a variety of reasons, many of which are beyond our control. If our actual results were to fall below our estimates or the expectations of public market analysts or investors, our quarterly and annual results would be negatively impacted and the price of our stock could decline. Other factors that could affect our quarterly and annual operating results include, but are not limited to: ● changes in the pricing policies of, or the introduction of new products by, us or our competitors; ● introductions of new technologies and changes in consumer preferences that result in either unanticipated or unexpectedly rapid product category shifts; ● slow or negative growth in the toy, souvenir, theme park, and related markets; ● seasonal shifts in end-market demand for our products; ● delays in the introduction of new products by us or market acceptance of these products; ● unanticipated decreases or delays in purchases of our products by our significant retailers, distributors and other channel partners; ● supply constraints from our vendors; ● unanticipated increases in costs, including air freight, associated with shipping and delivery of our products; ● the inability to maintain stable operations by our suppliers and other parties with whom we have commercial relationships; ● discovery of security vulnerabilities in our products, services or systems, leading to negative publicity, decreased demand or potential liability; ● foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations in the jurisdictions where we transact sales and expenditures in local currency; ● excess levels of inventory and low turns; ● changes in or consolidation of our sales channels and wholesale distributor relationships or failure to manage our sales channel inventory and warehousing requirements; ● delay or failure to fulfill orders for our products on a timely basis; ● delay or failure of our retailers, distributors and other channel partners to purchase at their historic volumes or at the volumes that they or we forecast; ● changes in tax rates or adverse changes in tax laws that expose us to additional income tax liabilities; 5 Table of Contents ● changes in U.S. and international tax policy, including changes that adversely affect customs, tax or duty rates, as well as income tax legislation and regulations that affect the countries where we conduct business; ● operational disruptions, such as transportation delays or failure of our order processing system, particularly if they occur at the end of a fiscal quarter; ● disruptions or delays related to our financial and enterprise resource planning systems; ● our inability to accurately forecast product demand, resulting in increased inventory exposure; ● allowance for doubtful accounts exposure with our existing retailers, distributors and other channel partners and new retailers, distributors and other channel partners, particularly as we expand into new international markets; ● geopolitical disruption, including sudden changes in immigration policies, leading to disruption in our workforce or delay or even stoppage of our operations in manufacturing, transportation, technical support and research and development; ● terms of our contracts with channel partners or suppliers that cause us to incur additional expenses or assume additional liabilities; ● an increase in price protection claims, redemptions of marketing rebates, product warranty and stock rotation returns or allowance for doubtful accounts; ● litigation involving alleged patent infringement; ● epidemic or widespread product failure, or unanticipated safety issues, in one or more of our products; ● failure to effectively manage our third-party customer support partners, which may result in customer complaints and/or harm to the SRM brand; ● our inability to monitor and ensure compliance with our code of ethics, our anti-corruption compliance program and domestic and international anti-corruption laws and regulations, whether in relation to our employees or with our suppliers or retailers, distributors or other channel partners; ● labor unrest at facilities managed by our third-party manufacturers; ● workplace or human rights violations in certain countries in which our third-party manufacturers or suppliers operate, which may affect the SRM brand and negatively affect our products’ acceptance by consumers; ● unanticipated shifts or declines in profit by geographical region that would adversely impact our tax rate; ● failure to implement and maintain the appropriate internal controls over financial reporting, which may result in restatements of our financial statements; and ● any changes in accounting rules. As a result, period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations may not be meaningful, and you should not rely on them as an indication of our future performance. Our use of third-party manufacturers to produce our products presents risks to our business. We use third-party manufacturers to manufacture all of our products and have historically concentrated production with a small number of manufacturers and factories. As a result, the loss or unavailability of one of our manufacturers or one of the factories in which our products are produced, even on a temporary basis, could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that we do not have long-term contracts with our manufacturers. While we believe our external sources of manufacturing could be shifted, if necessary, to alternative sources of supply, we would require a significant period of time to make such a shift. We may also be required to seek out additional manufacturers in response to increased demand for our products, as our current manufacturers may not have the capacity to increase production. If we were prevented from or delayed in obtaining a material portion of the products produced by our manufacturers, or if we were required to shift manufacturers (assuming we would be able to do so), our sales and profitability could be significantly reduced. In addition, while we require that our products supplied by third-party manufacturers be produced in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and we have the right to monitor compliance by our third-party manufacturers with our manufacturing requirements and to oversee the quality control process at our manufacturers’ factories, there is always a risk that one or more of our third-party manufacturers will not comply with our requirements, and that we will not immediately discover such non-compliance. Any failure of our third-party manufacturers to comply with such requirements in manufacturing products for us could result in damage to our reputation, harm our brand image and sales of our products and potentially create liability for us. Monitoring compliance by independent manufacturers is complicated by the fact that expectations of ethical business practices continually evolve, may be substantially more demanding than applicable legal requirements and are driven in part by legal developments and by diverse groups active in publicizing and organizing public responses to perceived ethical shortcomings. Accordingly, we cannot predict how such expectations might develop in the future and cannot be certain that our manufacturing requirements, even if complied with, would satisfy all parties who are active in monitoring and publicizing perceived shortcomings in labor and other business practices worldwide. Additionally, the third-party manufacturers that produce most of our products are located in China. As a result, we are subject to various risks resulting from our international operations. Our business may be harmed by the imposition or threat of tariffs, including reciprocal or retaliatory tariffs, in markets in which we operate which could increase our product costs and other costs of doing business, impact consumer spending, or lower our revenues and earnings. The current global tariff environment is uncertain. For products manufactured outside the U.S., tariffs increase the cost of our products. Most of our products are produced in China, and tariffs may impact our sales and reduce our profitability as a result. Tariffs may also impact consumer spending if products become more expensive, or consumers have less discretionary income or consumer spending power. The current tariff environment, particularly the imposition or threat of tariffs on products manufactured in China for import into the U.S. as well the potential for retaliatory and reciprocal tariffs in other countries in which we do business, may negatively impact our business, sales and profitability. While our contracts currently require our customers to cover tariffs and other fees, further increases in tariffs may increase the costs of our products. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully implement actions to lessen the impact of tariffs imposed on our products, including any changes to our supply chain, logistics capabilities, sales policies or pricing of our products. 6 Table of Contents High levels of competition and low barriers to entry make it difficult to achieve, maintain, or build upon the success of SRM’s brands, products, and product lines. SRM faces competitors who are also constantly monitoring and attempting to anticipate consumer tastes, seeking ideas which will appeal to consumers, and introducing new products that compete with SRM’s products. In addition, competition for access to entertainment properties has and may continue to lessen SRM’s ability to secure, maintain, and renew popular licenses to entertainment products developed by other parties and licensed to SRM, or require SRM to pay licensors higher royalties and higher minimum guaranteed payments to obtain or retain these licenses. As a licensee of entertainment properties, SRM has no guarantee that a particular property or brand will translate into a successful toy, game, or other product. In addition, the barriers to entry for new participants in the toy products industry and entertainment industry are low. In a very short period of time, new market participants with a popular product idea or entertainment property can become a significant source of competition for SRM and its products. Reduced demand for SRM’s brands, products, and product lines as a result of these factors may adversely affect SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. Some of our competitors may have greater resources than the Company. In order to compete successfully, SRM may have to lower prices and increase marketing expenses which could result in reduced margins. SRM is not always able to successfully identify and/or satisfy consumer preferences, which could cause its business, financial condition, and results of operations to be adversely affected. SRM’s business and operating results depend largely upon the appeal of its products, driven by both innovation and marketing. Consumer preferences are continuously changing. SRM is not always able to identify trends in consumer preferences or identify and satisfy consumer preferences in a timely manner. Significant, sudden shifts in demand are caused by popular toys which steer trends, which are often unpredictable. SRM offers a diverse range of products for all ages and families that includes, among others, toys for toddlers and preschoolers, toys for school-aged children, toys for all ages, and media-driven products. SRM competes domestically and internationally with a wide range of large and small manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of toys, and consumer goods, as well as retailers, which means that SRM’s market position is always at risk. SRM’s ability to maintain its current product sales and increase its product sales or establish product sales with new, innovative toys, depends on SRM’s ability to satisfy play preferences, enhance existing products, develop and introduce new products, and achieve market acceptance of these products. These challenges are intensifying due to trends towards shorter life cycles for individual toy products, the phenomenon of children outgrowing traditional toys at younger ages, an increasing use of more sophisticated technology in toys, and an evolving path to purchase. General economic conditions may have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our results can be impacted by a number of macroeconomic factors, including but not limited to consumer confidence and spending levels, tax rates, unemployment, consumer credit availability, raw materials costs, pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) and natural disasters, fuel and energy costs (including oil prices), and credit market conditions. A general economic slowdown or recession resulting in a decrease in discretionary spending could adversely affect the frequency with which guests choose to visit our parks and the amount that our guests spend when they visit. Additionally, difficult economic conditions throughout the world, including global supply chain issues, could impact our ability to obtain supplies, services and credit as well as the ability of third parties to meet their obligations to us, including, for example, manufacturers’ ability to supply rides, payment of claims by our insurance carriers, funding of our lines of credit, or payment by our international agreement partner. Changes in exchange rates for foreign currencies could increase our labor and supply costs or reduce the U.S. dollar value of revenue we earn in other markets, including, but not limited to, Beijing, Japan, and Europe. In addition, availability of our products from third-party manufacturers and our ability to distribute our products into non-U.S. jurisdictions may be impacted by factors such as an increase in duties, tariffs or other restrictions on trade; raw material shortages, work stoppages, strikes and political unrest; economic crises and international disputes or conflicts; changes in leadership and the political climate in countries from which we import products; and failure of the United States to maintain normal trade relations with China and other countries. While China currently enjoys “most favored nation” trading status with the United States, the ability of the United States to revoke that status and to impose higher tariffs on products imported from China, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Failure to successfully implement new initiatives or meet product introduction schedules can have an adverse effect on SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. SRM has in the past announced, and in the future may announce, initiatives to reduce its costs, optimize its manufacturing footprint, increase its efficiency, improve the execution of its core business, globalize and extend SRM’s brands, catch new trends, create new brands, offer new innovative products and improve existing products, enhance product safety, develop people, improve productivity, simplify processes, and maintain customer service levels, as well as initiatives designed to drive sales growth, capitalize on SRM’s scale advantage, and improve its supply chain. These initiatives involve investment of capital and complex decision-making as well as extensive and intensive execution, and the success of these initiatives is not assured. Failure to achieve any of these initiatives could harm SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. From time to time, SRM anticipates introducing new products, product lines, or brands at a certain time in the future. There is no guarantee that SRM will be able to manufacture, source, ship, and distribute new or continuing products in a timely manner and on a cost-effective basis. Unforeseen delays or difficulties in the development process or significant increases in the planned cost of development for new SRM products may cause the introduction date for products to be later than anticipated or, in some situations, may cause a product or new product introduction to be discontinued. Failure to successfully implement any of these initiatives or launches, or the failure of any of these initiatives or launches to produce the results anticipated by management, could have an adverse effect on SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. 7 Table of Contents Bad or extreme weather conditions and forecasts of bad or mixed weather conditions, which may be due to climate change, can adversely impact attendance at parks where our products are sold. Because most of our products are sold at parks, and attendance at parks may be adversely affected by bad or extreme weather conditions and forecasts that may be a result of climate change, such bad or extreme weather conditions and forecasts may negatively affect our revenues. The effects of bad weather on attendance can be more pronounced at waterparks. We believe our operating results in certain years were adversely affected by abnormally hot, cold and/or wet weather in a number of our major U.S. markets. In addition, since a number of products are featured in parks geographically concentrated in portions of the United States, a weather pattern that affects those respective areas could adversely affect a number of our parks and disproportionately impact our results of operations. Bad weather and forecasts of bad weather on weekends, holidays or other peak periods will typically have a greater negative impact on our revenues and could disproportionately impact our results of operations. SRM’s business is highly seasonal, and its operating results depend, in large part, on sales during the relatively brief traditional holiday season. Events that disrupt SRM’s business during its peak demand times can adversely and disproportionately affect SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. SRM’s business is subject to risks associated with the underproduction of popular toys and the overproduction of toys that are less popular with consumers. SRM attempts to manage their inventories tightly, which requires SRM to ship products closer to the expected date SRM sells the products to consumers. This in turn results in shorter lead times for production. These factors may decrease sales or increase the risks that SRM may not be able to meet demand for certain products at peak demand times or that SRM’s own inventory levels may be adversely impacted by the need to pre-build products before orders are placed. In addition, as a result of the seasonal nature of SRM’s business, SRM may be adversely affected, in a manner disproportionate to the impact on a company with sales spread more evenly throughout the year, by unforeseen events, such as public health crises and pandemics, terrorist attacks, economic shocks, severe weather due to climate change or otherwise, earthquakes or other catastrophic events, that harm the retail environment or consumer buying patterns during its key selling season, or by events, such as strikes, disruptions in transportation, or port delays, that interfere with the manufacture or shipment of goods during the critical months leading up to the purchasing season. We could be subject to future product liability suits or product recalls which could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. As a company that designs and sells consumer products, we may be subject to product liability suits or involuntary product recalls, or may choose to voluntarily conduct a product recall. While costs associated with product liability claims and product recalls have generally not been material to our business, the costs associated with future product liability claims or product recalls in any given fiscal year, individually or in the aggregate, could be significant. In addition, any product recall, regardless of the direct costs of the recall, could harm consumer perceptions of our products, subject us to additional government scrutiny, divert development and management resources, adversely affect our business operations and otherwise put us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other companies in our industry, any of which could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. SRM’s business depends in large part on the success of its vendors and outsourcers, and SRM’s brands and reputation are subject to harm from actions taken by third parties that are outside SRM’s control. In addition, any significant failure, inadequacy, or interruption from such vendors or outsourcers could harm SRM’s ability to effectively operate its business. As a part of its efforts to cut costs, achieve better efficiencies, and increase productivity and service quality, SRM relies significantly on vendor and outsourcing relationships with third parties for services and systems including manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and information technology. Any shortcoming of a SRM vendor or outsourcer, particularly an issue affecting the quality of these services or systems, results in risk of damage to SRM’s reputation and brand value, and potentially adverse effects to SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, problems with transitioning these services and systems to, or operating failures with, these vendors and outsourcers cause delays in product sales and reduce the efficiency of SRM’s operations, and significant capital investments could be required to remediate the problem. SRM depends on key personnel and may not be able to hire, retain, and integrate sufficient qualified personnel to maintain and expand its business. SRM’s future success depends partly on the continued contribution of key executives, designers, and technical, sales, marketing, manufacturing, entertainment, and other personnel. The loss of services of any of SRM’s key personnel could harm SRM’s business. Recruiting and retaining skilled personnel is costly and highly competitive. In addition, changes to SRM’s current and future work environments may not meet the needs or expectations of its employees or be perceived as less favorable compared to other companies’ policies, which could negatively impact SRM’s ability to hire and retain qualified personnel. If SRM fails to retain, hire, train, and integrate qualified employees and contractors, SRM may not be able to maintain or expand its business. The loss of any member of our senior management team, or of any other key employees, or the inability to successfully complete planned management transitions, could impair our ability to execute our business plan and could therefore have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We do not currently maintain key man life insurance policies on any member of our senior management team or on our other key employees. Failure to keep pace with developments in technology could adversely affect our operations or competitive position. The theme park and waterpark industry demands the use of sophisticated technology and systems for operation of our parks, ticket, membership and season pass sales and management, and labor and inventory management. Information technology systems continue to evolve and, in order to remain competitive, we must implement new technologies and systems in a timely and efficient manner. The development and maintenance of these technologies may require significant investment by us and we may not achieve the anticipated benefits from such new developments or upgrades. 8 Table of Contents Increases in labor costs and employee health and welfare benefits could have a negative impact on our cash flows, financial condition, and results of operations. Labor is a primary component in the cost of operating our business. We devote significant resources to recruiting and training our employees in order to meet our guests’ high expectations for service. Wage and benefit increases to attract and retain employees in a tight labor market have driven-up labor costs. These increased costs pressure our margins and could have a negative impact on our financial results. Our ability to control labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including market pressures with respect to prevailing wage rates, unemployment levels, and health and other insurance costs, as well as the impact of legislation or regulations governing labor relations, minimum wage, and healthcare benefits. Further legislative changes or competitive wage rates could continue to increase these expenses in the future. Disruptions in SRM’s manufacturing operations or supply chain due to political instability, civil unrest, or disease could adversely affect SRM’s business, financial position, sales, and results of operations. SRM primarily utilizes third-party manufacturers and suppliers throughout Asia. The risk of political instability and civil unrest exists in certain of these countries, which could temporarily or permanently damage the manufacturing operations of SRM and/or its third-party manufacturers located there. Outbreaks of communicable diseases have also been known to occur in these countries. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China and has caused supply chain disruption for SRM, its suppliers, and its customers that contributed to lower net sales in the first half of 2020 and may cause lower net sales to the extent they remain issues in the future. Other disruptions from public health crises such as these result from, among other things, workers contracting diseases, restrictions on factory openings, restrictions on travel, restrictions on shipping, and the closure of critical infrastructure. The design, development, and manufacture of SRM’s products could suffer if SRM’s employees or the employees of its third-party manufacturers or their suppliers contract communicable diseases, or if SRM, SRM’s third-party manufacturers, or their suppliers are adversely affected by other impacts of such diseases. In addition, the contingency plans SRM has developed to help mitigate the impact of disruptions in its manufacturing operations and supply chain may not prevent its business, financial position, sales, and results of operations from being adversely affected by a significant disruption to its manufacturing operations or suppliers. Disruptions in our supply chain for materials and components and the resulting increase in equipment and logistics costs could adversely affect our financial performance. We are subject to risk from fluctuating manufacturing costs of our products based on surging consumer demand. Prices of these manufacturing costs, including the components and materials of our products may be affected by supply restrictions or other market factors from time to time. Political, social or economic instability in regions where these components and materials are made could cause future disruptions in trade. For example, concerns about forced labor in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (“XUAR”), where certain components and materials are manufactured, have led to legislation in countries such as the United States restricting imports from such region. Specifically, on December 23, 2021, the United States enacted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (“UFLPA”), which presumptively prohibits imports of any goods made either wholly or in part in the XUAR. The law, which went into effect on June 21, 2022, creates a rebuttable presumption against “the importation of goods made, manufactured, or mined in the XUAR (and certain other categories of persons in China)” unless the importer meets certain due diligence standards, responds to all inquiries from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) related to forced labor and the CBP determines, based on “clear and convincing evidence,” that the goods in question were not produced wholly or in part by forced labor. We do not believe that our suppliers source materials for our supply chain from the XUAR, but we cannot guarantee that our suppliers and partners will always comply with our policies. Enforcement of the UFPLA against us or our suppliers could lead to our products being held for inspection by CBP and delayed or rejected for entry into the United States, resulting in other supply chain disruptions, or cause us to be subject to penalties, fines or sanctions. Broader policy uncertainty, including actions in various countries, such as China, have created uncertainty with respect to tariff impacts on the costs of some of these components and materials. Even if we were not subject to penalties, fines or sanctions or supply chain disruption, if products we source are linked in any way to forced labor in the XUAR, our reputation could be harmed. In the future, these trade restrictions may extend beyond the United States. We cannot predict whether the countries in which the components and materials are sourced, or may be sourced in the future, will be subject to new or additional trade restrictions imposed by the governments of countries in which our projects are located, including the likelihood, type or effect of any such restrictions. Trade restrictions, including embargoes, safeguards and customs restrictions against certain components and materials, as well as labor strikes and work stoppages or boycotts, could increase the cost or reduce or delay the supply of components and materials available to us and our vendors, which could delay or adversely affect the scope of our projects under development or construction and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. We depend on large, recurring purchases from certain significant retailers, distributors and other channel partners, and a loss, cancellation or delay in purchases by these channel partners could negatively affect our revenue. The loss of recurring orders from any of our more significant retailers, distributors and other channel partners could cause our revenue and profitability to suffer. Our ability to attract new retailers, distributors and other channel partners will depend on a variety of factors, including the cost-effectiveness, reliability, scalability, breadth and depth of our products. In addition, a change in the mix of our retailers, distributors and other channel partners, or a change in the mix of direct and indirect sales, could adversely affect our revenue and gross margin. Although our financial performance may depend on large, recurring orders from certain retailers, distributors and other channel partners, we do not generally have binding commitments from them. For example: ● our channel partner agreements generally do not require minimum purchases; ● our retailers, distributors and other channel partners can stop purchasing and stop marketing our products at any time; and ● our channel partner agreements generally are not exclusive. 9 Table of Contents Because our expenses are based on our revenue forecasts, a substantial reduction or delay in sales of our products to, or unexpected returns from, channel partners, or the loss of any significant channel partners, could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Although our largest channel partners may vary from period to period, we anticipate that our results of operations for any given period will continue to depend on large orders from a small number of channel partners. SRM relies extensively on information technology in its operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption, or security breach of that technology could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations. SRM relies extensively on information technology systems across its operations, including for management of its supply chain, sale and delivery of its products and services, reporting its results and various other processes and transactions. Many of these systems are managed by third-party service providers. SRM uses third-party technology and systems for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, encryption and authentication technology, employee email, content delivery to customers, back-office support, and other functions. A small and growing volume of SRM’s consumer products and services are web-based, and some are offered in conjunction with business partners or such third-party service providers. SRM’s ability to effectively manage its business and coordinate the production, distribution, and sale of its products and services depends significantly on the reliability and capacity of these systems and third-party service providers. SRM faces risks related to protecting its proprietary intellectual property and information and is subject to third-party claims that SRM is infringing on their intellectual property rights, either of which could adversely affect SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. The value of SRM’s business depends on its ability to protect its intellectual property and information, including its trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and rights under intellectual property license agreements and other agreements with third parties, in the United States and around the world, as well as its customer, employee, and consumer data. From time to time, third parties may in the future try to challenge, SRM’s ownership of its intellectual property in the United States and around the world. Responding to any infringement claim, regardless of its validity, may be costly and time-consuming and may divert management and key personnel from business operations. Findings of infringement on the intellectual property rights of any third party by SRM, its distributors, its licensors, or its manufacturers may require obtaining a license to use those rights, which may not be obtainable on reasonable terms, if at all. In addition, SRM’s business is subject to the risk of third parties counterfeiting its products or infringing on its intellectual property rights. The steps SRM has taken may not prevent unauthorized use of its intellectual property, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect its intellectual property as fully as in the United States. SRM may resort to litigation to protect its intellectual property rights, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. SRM’s failure to protect its proprietary intellectual property and information, including with respect to any successful challenge to SRM’s ownership of its intellectual property or significant infringements of its intellectual property, could have an adverse effect on SRM’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret laws, nondisclosure agreements with employees, consultants and suppliers and other contractual provisions to establish, maintain and protect our intellectual property and technology. Despite efforts to protect our intellectual property, unauthorized third parties may attempt to design around, copy aspects of our product design or obtain and use technology or other intellectual property associated with our products. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop similar technology or design around our intellectual property. Our inability to secure and protect our intellectual property rights could materially adversely affect our brand and business, results of operations and financial condition. If disruptions in our transportation network occur or our shipping costs substantially increase, we may be unable to sell or timely deliver our products, and our operating expenses could increase. We are highly dependent upon the transportation systems we use to ship our products, including surface and air freight. Our attempts to closely match our inventory levels to our product demand intensify the need for our transportation systems to function effectively and without delay. On a quarterly basis, our shipping volume also tends to steadily increase as the quarter progresses, which means that any disruption in our transportation network in the latter half of a quarter will likely have a more material effect on our business than at the beginning of a quarter. The transportation network is subject to disruption or congestion from a variety of causes, including labor disputes or port strikes, acts of war or terrorism, natural disasters and congestion resulting from higher shipping volumes. Labor disputes among freight carriers and at ports of entry are common, particularly in Europe, and we expect labor unrest and its effects on shipping our products to be a continuing challenge for us. A port worker strike, work slow-down or other transportation disruption in Asia and the United States, where we import our products to fulfill our orders, could significantly disrupt our business. Our international freight is regularly subjected to inspection by governmental entities. If our delivery times increase unexpectedly for these or any other reasons, our ability to deliver products on time would be materially adversely affected and result in delayed or lost revenue as well as customer imposed penalties. In addition, if increases in fuel prices occur, our transportation costs would likely increase. Moreover, the cost of shipping our products by air freight is greater than other methods. From time to time in the past, we have shipped products using extensive air freight to meet unexpected spikes in demand and shifts in demand between product categories, to bring new product introductions to market quickly and to timely ship products previously ordered. If we rely more heavily upon air freight to deliver our products, our overall shipping costs will increase. A prolonged transportation disruption or a significant increase in the cost of freight could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. As part of growing our business, we may make acquisitions. If we fail to successfully select, execute or integrate our acquisitions, then our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected and our stock price could decline. From time to time, we may undertake acquisitions to add new product and service lines and technologies, acquire talent, gain new sales channels or enter into new sales territories. Acquisitions involve numerous risks and challenges, including relating to the successful integration of the acquired business, entering into new territories or markets with which we have limited or no prior experience, establishing or maintaining business relationships with new retailers, distributors or other channel partners, vendors and suppliers and potential post-closing disputes. 10 Table of Contents We cannot ensure that we will be successful in selecting, executing and integrating acquisitions. Failure to manage and successfully integrate acquisitions could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if stock market analysts or our stockholders do not support or believe in the value of the acquisitions that we choose to undertake, our stock price may decline. If we do not effectively manage our sales channel inventory and product mix, we may incur costs associated with excess inventory, or lose sales from having too few products. If we are unable to properly monitor, control and manage our sales channel inventory and maintain an appropriate level and mix of products with our distributors and within our sales channels, we may incur increased and unexpected costs associated with this inventory. If our wholesale distributors and retailers are unable to sell their inventory in a timely manner, we might lower the price of the products, or these parties may exchange the products for newer products. Also, during the transition from an existing product to a new replacement product, we must accurately predict the demand for the existing and the new product. We determine production levels based on our forecasts of demand for our products. Actual demand for our products depends on many factors, which makes it difficult to forecast. We have experienced differences between our actual and our forecasted demand in the past and expect differences to arise in the future. If we improperly forecast demand for our products, we could end up with too many products and be unable to sell the excess inventory in a timely manner, if at all, or, alternatively, we could end up with too few products and not be able to satisfy demand. This problem is exacerbated because we attempt to closely match inventory levels with product demand, leaving limited margin for error. If these events occur, we could incur increased expenses associated with writing off excessive or obsolete inventory, lose sales, incur penalties for late delivery or have to ship products by air freight to meet immediate demand, thereby incurring incremental freight costs above the sea freight costs, a preferred method, and suffering a corresponding decline in gross margin. Changes in tax laws or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could affect our future profitability. Factors that could materially affect our future effective tax rates include but are not limited to: ● changes in tax laws or the regulatory environment; ● changes in accounting and tax standards or practices; ● changes in the composition of operating income by tax jurisdiction; and ● our operating results before taxes. We are subject to income taxes in the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Because we do not have a long history of operating as a separate company and we have significant expansion plans, our effective tax rate may fluctuate in the future. Future effective tax rates could be affected by operating losses in jurisdictions where no tax benefit can be recorded under GAAP, changes in the composition of earnings in countries with differing tax rates, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law making significant changes to the Code. In particular, sweeping changes were made to the U.S. taxation of foreign operations. Changes include, but are not limited to, a corporate tax rate decrease from 35% to 21% effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a quasi-territorial system, and a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings. Additionally, new provisions were added to mitigate the potential erosion of the U.S. tax base and to discourage use of low tax jurisdictions to own intellectual property and other valuable intangible assets. While these provisions were intended to prevent specific perceived taxpayer abuse, they may have adverse, unexpected consequences. At this time, Treasury has not yet issued Regulations on how these new rules should be applied and how the relevant calculations are to be prepared. As there exists only limited guidance at this time, significant estimates and judgment are required in assessing the consequences. The amounts for adjusting the deferred tax assets and liabilities for the new effective tax rate and the transition tax are provisional based on the guidance provided by the SEC in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides for a measurement period of one year from the enactment date to finalize the accounting for effects of the 2017 Tax Act. As a result of continued regulations and interpretations of the Tax Act, we are still quantifying the effects of the tax law change. The amounts reported as of December 31, 2024 are provisional based on the uncertainty discussed above. As we complete our analysis and prepare necessary data, and interpret any additional guidance, we will adjust our calculations and provisional amounts that we have recorded in our tax provision. Any such adjustments may materially impact our provision for income taxes in our financial statements. In addition to the impact of the Tax Act on our federal taxes, the Tax Act may impact our taxation in other jurisdictions, including with respect to state income taxes. State legislatures have not had sufficient time to respond to the Tax Act. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to how the laws will apply in the various state jurisdictions. Additionally, other foreign governing bodies may enact changes to their tax laws in reaction to the Tax Act that could result in changes to our global tax position and materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, the IRS and several foreign tax authorities have increasingly focused attention on intercompany transfer pricing with respect to sales of products and services and the use of intangibles. Tax authorities could disagree with our intercompany charges, cross-jurisdictional transfer pricing or other matters and assess additional taxes. If we do not prevail in any such disagreements, our profitability may be affected. 11 Table of Contents We must comply with indirect tax laws in multiple jurisdictions, as well as complex customs duty regimes worldwide. Audits of our compliance with these rules may result in additional liabilities for taxes, duties, interest and penalties related to our international operations which would reduce our profitability. Our operations are routinely subject to audit by tax authorities in various countries. Many countries have indirect tax systems where the sale and purchase of goods and services are subject to tax based on the transaction value. These taxes are commonly referred to as value-added tax (“VAT”) or goods and services tax (“GST”). In addition, the distribution of our products subjects us to numerous complex customs regulations, which frequently change over time. Failure to comply with these systems and regulations can result in the assessment of additional taxes, duties, interest and penalties. While we believe we are in compliance with local laws, we cannot assure that tax and customs authorities agree with our reporting positions and upon audit may assess us additional taxes, duties, interest and penalties. Additionally, some of our products are subject to U.S. export controls, including the Export Administration Regulations and economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. We also incorporate encryption technology into certain of our solutions. These encryption solutions and underlying technology may be exported outside of the United States only with the required export authorizations or exceptions, including by license, a license exception, and appropriate classification notification requirement and encryption authorization. Furthermore, our activities are subject to U.S. economic sanctions laws and regulations that prohibit the shipment of certain products and services without the required export authorizations, including to countries, governments and persons targeted by U.S. embargoes or sanctions. Obtaining the necessary export license or other authorization for a particular sale may be time consuming, and may result in delay or loss of sales opportunities even if the export license ultimately is granted. While we take precautions to prevent t our solutions from being exported in violation of these laws, including using authorizations or exceptions for our encryption products and implementing IP address blocking and screenings against U.S. government and international lists of restricted and prohibited persons and countries, we cannot guarantee that the precautions we take will prevent all violations of export control and sanctions laws. Violations of U.S. sanctions or export control laws can result in significant fines or penalties and incarceration could be imposed on employees and managers for criminal violations of these laws. Also, various countries, in addition to the United States, regulate the import and export of certain encryption and other technology, including import and export licensing requirements, and have enacted laws that could limit our ability to distribute our products and services or our end-users’ ability to utilize our solutions in their countries. Changes in our products and services or changes in import and export regulations may create delays in the introduction of our products in international markets. Adverse action by any government agencies related to indirect tax laws could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and other existing or future government regulation could harm our business or may cause us to incur additional costs associated with compliance. We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to, laws and regulations relating to labor and employment, U.S. customs and consumer product safety, including the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, or the “CPSIA.” The CPSIA created more stringent safety requirements related to lead and phthalates content in children’s products. The CPSIA regulates the future manufacture of these items and existing inventories and may cause us to incur losses if we offer for sale or sell any non-compliant items. Failure to comply with the various regulations applicable to us may result in damage to our reputation, civil and criminal liability, fines and penalties and increased cost of regulatory compliance. These current and any future laws and regulations could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. We may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, economic sanctions and other similar laws and regulations, and non-compliance with such laws and regulations could subject SRM to civil, criminal and administrative penalties, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect SRM’s business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and reputation. SRM is or will be subject to laws with respect to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and other similar laws and regulations in various jurisdictions in which SRM conducts, or in the future may conduct, activities, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and other anti-corruption laws and regulations. The FCPA prohibits SRM and its officers, directors, employees and business partners acting on its behalf, including agents, from offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to a “foreign official” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records and accounts that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls. A violation of these laws or regulations could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and reputation. If one or more of our major customers were to experience difficulties in fulfilling their obligations to us, cease doing business with us, significantly reduce the amount of their purchases from us or return substantial amounts of our products, it could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. A substantial reduction in or termination of orders from any of our largest customers would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, pressure by large customers seeking price reductions, financial incentives and changes in other terms of sale or for us to bear the risks and the cost of carrying inventory could also adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. If one or more of our major customers were to experience difficulties in fulfilling their obligations to us resulting from bankruptcy or other deterioration in their financial condition or ability to meet their obligations, cease doing business with us, significantly reduce the amount of their purchases from us, or return substantial amounts of our products, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The COVID-19 pandemic has left many customers outside of our largest customers under varying degrees of financial distress, and it seems some of our largest customers are facing increases in their operating costs. Customers may request extended payment terms which may require us to take on increased credit risk or to reduce or forgo sales entirely in an attempt to mitigate financial risk associated with customer bankruptcy risk. 12 Table of Contents Customer complaints regarding our products and services could hurt our business . From time to time, we may receive complaints from customers regarding the quality of goods purchased from us. We may in the future receive correspondence from customers requesting reimbursement. Certain dissatisfied customers may threaten legal action against us if no reimbursement is made. We may become subject to product liability lawsuits from customers alleging injury because of a purported defect in our products or services, claiming substantial damages and demanding payments from us. We are in the chain of title when we supply or distribute products, and therefore are subject to the risk of being held legally responsible for them. These claims may not be covered by our insurance policies. Any resulting litigation could be costly for us, divert management attention, and could result in increased costs of doing business, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Any negative publicity generated as a result of customer frustration with our products or services, or with our websites, could damage our reputation and diminish the value of our brand name, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Risks Related to Our Securities and Other Risks We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors. We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, and, for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may choose to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies including, but (i) not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) not being required to comply with any new requirements adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report in which the auditor would be required to provide additional information about the audit and the financial statements of the issuer, (iii) not being required to comply with any new audit rules adopted by the PCAOB after April 5, 2012 unless the SEC determines otherwise, (iv) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and (v) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.24 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of our first sale of common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer. We cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of any choices to reduce future disclosure, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and our stock price may be more volatile. Further, as a result of these scaled regulatory requirements, our disclosure may be more limited than that of other public companies and you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of such companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a) (2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We have opted for taking advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the Jobs Act. ● We are required to comply with various regulatory and reporting requirements, including those required by the SEC. Complying with these reporting and other regulatory requirements is time-consuming and results in increased costs to us and could have a negative effect on our results of operations, financial condition or business. ● Certain of our stockholders hold a significant percentage of our outstanding voting securities, which could reduce the ability of minority stockholders to effect certain corporate actions.