10-K
1
form10k.htm
FORM 10-K
The Alkaline Water Company Inc. - Form 10-K - Filed by newsfilecorp.com
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: March 31, 2019
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________________ to
__________________
Commission file number: 000-55096
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY
INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
Nevada
99-0367049
State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization
Identification No.)
14646 N. Kierland Blvd, Suite 255, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (480)
656-2423
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
Title of Each Class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each Exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share
WTER
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes
[ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to
file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes [
] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted
electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to
Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit
such files).
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller
reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large
accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and
emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer [ ]
Accelerated
filer
[X]
Non-accelerated filer [ ]
Smaller reporting company [X]
Emerging growth company [ ]
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the
registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to
Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell
company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes [ ] No
[X]
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting
common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which
the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such
common equity, as of the last business day of the registrants most recently
completed second fiscal quarter.
31,150,802 shares of common stock at a price of $3.80 per share
for an aggregate market value of $118,373,047.60.
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS)
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the
registrants classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable
date:
As of June 28, 2019, there were 41,347,512 shares of common stock
outstanding .
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by
reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which
the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any
proxy or information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) or (c) of the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be
clearly described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security
holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).
Not
Applicable
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
1
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
1
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
6
ITEM
1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
16
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES
16
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
16
ITEM
4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
17
PART II
17
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
17
ITEM
6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
19
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
19
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
23
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
24
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
45
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
45
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
47
PART
III
47
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
47
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
52
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
57
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
58
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
62
PART
IV
62
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
62
ITEM
16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
62
SIGNATURES
67
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report contains forward-looking statements. All
statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements for purposes of applicable securities laws, including, but not
limited to, any projections of earnings, revenue or other financial items; any
statements of the plans, strategies and objections of management for future
operations; any statements concerning proposed new services or developments; any
statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements
or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.
Forward-looking statements may include the words may, could, estimate,
intend, continue, believe, expect or anticipate or other similar
words. These forward-looking statements present our estimates and assumptions
only as of the date of this report. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the
dates on which they are made. Except as required by applicable law, including
the securities laws of the United States and Canada, we do not intend, and
undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement.
Although we believe the expectations reflected in any of our
forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ
materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking
statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as
any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and inherent risks and
uncertainties. The factors impacting these risks and uncertainties include, but
are not limited to:
lack of working capital;
inability to raise additional financing;
the fact that our accounting policies and methods are
fundamental to how we report our financial condition and results of
operations, and they may require our management to make estimates about
matters that are inherently uncertain;
deterioration in general or regional economic conditions;
adverse state or federal legislation or regulation that
increases the costs of compliance, or adverse findings by a regulator with
respect to existing operations;
inability to efficiently manage our operations;
inability to achieve future sales levels or other
operating results; and
the unavailability of funds for capital expenditures.
Unless otherwise indicated, all reference to dollars, $,
USD or US$ are to United States dollars and all reference to CDN$ are to
Canadian dollars.
Our financial statements are stated in United States Dollars ($
or US$) unless otherwise stated and are prepared in accordance with United
States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
In this annual report, unless otherwise specified, all
references to common shares refer to the common shares in our capital stock.
As used in this annual report on Form 10-K, the terms we,
us our, the Company and Alkaline refer to The Alkaline Water Company
Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries A88 Infused
Beverage Division, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation hereinafter referred to as A88
Infused), A88 International, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation), and Alkaline 88, LLC
(an Arizona Limited Liability Company), unless otherwise specified.
Corporate Overview
We offer retail consumers bottled alkaline water in
500-milliliter, 700-milliliter, 1-liter, 1.5 -liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes
under the trade name Alkaline88 ® . Our product is produced through an
electrolysis process that uses specialized electronic cells coated with a
variety of rare earth minerals to produce our 8.8 pH drinking water without the
use of any manmade chemicals. Our product also incorporates 84 trace minerals
from Himalayan pink rock salt. Our product is designed to have a clean smooth
taste using only purified water and the Himalayan pink rock salt. We believe
consumers drink our water because of the taste profile and the preconceived
health benefits (although we do not market our products as having any potential health benefits), as well as because of our brand and
trademark, which we believe is one of the most easily identifiable in the
category. Measured by sales volume in 2018, we believe we are now one of the
largest alkaline water companies in the United States.
1
Our product is presently available in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia, although over 50% of our current sales are concentrated in
the Southwest and Texas. We distribute our product through several channels. We
sell through large national distributors, including UNFI, KeHE, C&S, and
Core-Mark. We also sell our product to retail clients, including convenience
stores, natural food products stores, large ethnic markets and national
retailers. Examples of our retail clients include Walmart, Food Lion,
Albertsons, Safeway, Kroger, Schnucks, Smart & Final, Jewel-Osco, Sprouts,
Bashas, Stater Bros. Markets, Unified Grocers, Bristol Farms, Publix, Vallarta,
Superior Foods, Ingles, HEB and Brookshires. The majority of our sales to
retail clients are through brokers and distributors, however, sales to our
larger retail clients are often direct to the clients own warehouse
distribution network.
Our operating subsidiary, Alkaline 88, LLC, operates primarily
as a marketing, distribution, and manufacturing company. It has entered into
co-packing agreements with eight different bottling companies located in
Virginia, Georgia, California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona to act as co-packers
for our product. Our current capacity at all plants exceeds approximately $8.3
million per month wholesale.
Our component materials are readily available through multiple
vendors. Our principal suppliers are Vav Plastics Inc., Amcor Inc. and Packaging
Corporation of America.
A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc.
In August 2018, we formed A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc.,
or A88 Infused, a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of our
company. A88 Infused's focus is brand extension and product innovations in the
wellness water category. We formed A88 Infused to meet what we believe is
increasing consumer demand for enhanced and functional (value-added) beverages.
We expect A88 Infused to capitalize on this and potential consumer demand with
the development and launch of new products focused on growing trends in the
beverage space.
To prepare for the launch of products by A88 Infused, we have
expanded our packaging capabilities. We announced in January, 2019 that
Nevada-based Western Group Packing has agreed to produce A88 Infused's flavored
Alkaline88 ® water products and its planned hemp extract-infused water
product at its 150,000+ square foot facility located in North Las Vegas, NV. We
have received verbal confirmation from many of our current retail clients of
their interest in purchasing our flavored Alkaline88 ® waters. The
production of A88 Infused's planned hemp extract product is contingent on U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and state laws, regulations, and
guidance. While the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp from
Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the law did not change the FDA's
authorities with respect to food or drugs. As of June 28, 2019, the FDA has not
made a determination that the use of hemp extract in food is safe.The FDA has
evaluated Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notices for three hemp
seed-derived food ingredients and determined that the agency has no questions
that those ingredients are GRAS under their intended conditions of use.
In early February 2019, at the Convenience EPPS trade show in
Chicago, Illinois and in May, 2019 at the Western Association of Food Chains
Convention, we sampled and offered up for sale "Alkaline88 ®
Flavored," which is available in four different, all natural, sugar-free
flavors. We believe "Alkaline88 ® Flavored" is the first flavored
bottled alkaline water to be sold in the United States.
A88 Infused is also developing and preparing for the initial
launch of its planned hemp extract product, which will be marketed under the
trademark Soothe . In the event the FDA issues appropriate regulations or
guidance or determines that it has no questions that hemp extract is GRAS under
intended conditions of use that would permit A88 Infused to market hemp extract
in water without food additive approval, we expect to produce and sell
Soothe as still water in bottles. We may also decide to market
Soothe in any states, districts or territories if applicable laws allow
for such sale or if a supplier meets and complies with the FDA's GRAS
regulations with respect to a self-certification regarding the safety and GRAS
status of the use of hemp extract. We expect to produce Soothe as a low
calorie or no calorie, hemp extract-infused water in three flavors. We
may change the composition of our planned hemp-extract-infused product as
necessary to comply with federal, state or local laws, regulations or
guidance.
We intend to comply in full with all federal, state, and local
laws, rules and regulations as we develop our hemp extract alkaline water and
other product lines. We will not pursue the production or sale of hemp
extract-infused products until legally permitted.
2
Plan of Operations
In order for us to implement our business plan over the next 12
months, we have identified the following milestones that we expect to
achieve:
Expansion of Broker Network We expect to continue to develop our
working relationship with our national broker network. We continually meet,
train, and go on sales call with our national broker network in order to take
advantage of the momentum currently being created by their efforts. We
anticipate a considerable amount of travel and ongoing expenses to be incurred
as part of this expansion.
Increase Manufacturing Capacity (i) Flagship Alkaline88 product:
we expect to add one to two new co-packer facilities, strategically located to
reduce freight costs and meet current volumes and future growth objectives;
and (ii) A88 Infused: we expect to add three to five new co-packer facilities
strategically located to meet anticipated volumes by product type and future
growth objectives.
Expand Retail Distribution We continue to expand our retail
presence.
Addition of Support Staff In order to support expansion efforts
and to continue the training and support of our broker network, we anticipate
that we will need to hire approximately four more people on the corporate
level for the specific purpose of supporting the broker, distributor and
retailers and their logistical and accounting requirements. We continue to
seek and interview candidates to fill our growing need for additional
staffing.
Capital Considerations Our business plan can be adjusted based on
the available capital to the business. In March, 2019, we raised net proceeds
of $10,450,900 via a public offering of our common stock. We believe the
proceeds from this offering, plus anticipated warrant exercises (we have
received $1,180,486 from warrant exercises since March 31, 2019) will
adequately fund our operations and capital needs for the next 12 months.
The milestones set forth above reflect our current judgment and
belief regarding the direction of our business. Actual events, expenditures and
results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates,
predictions, projections or assumptions suggested herein.
If our own financial resources and future cash-flows from
operations are insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may seek to
sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit
facilities. The sale of additional equity securities will result in dilution to
our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness will result in increased debt
service obligations and could require us to agree to operating and financial
covenants that could restrict our operations or modify our plans to grow the
business. Financing may not be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to
us, if at all. Any failure by us to raise additional funds on terms favorable to
us, or at all, will limit our ability to expand our business operations and
could harm our overall business prospects.
Distribution Method for Our Products
Our distribution network is a broker-distributor-retailer
network, whereby brokers represent our products to distributors and retailers.
Our target retail markets are: (a) chain and independent health food stores; (b)
grocery stores; (c) convenience stores; (d) drug stores; and (e) the mass retail
market. We have recently gained broker representation through Advantage
Solutions for the continued expansion into our target retail markets.
We have distribution agreements with large national
distributors (UNFI, KeHe, CoreMark, and C&S), representing over 150,000
retail establishments. Our current retailers include convenience stores, natural
food products stores, large ethnic markets and national retailers. Currently, we
sell all of our products to our retailers through brokers and distributors. Our
larger retail clients bring the water in through their own warehouse
distribution network. Our current retail clients are made up of a variety of the
following; convenience stores, including 7-11s; large national retailers,
including Walmart, CVS, Albertsons/Safeway, Kroger companies, and regional
grocery chains such as Schnucks, Smart & Final, Jewel-Osco, Sprouts,
Bashas, Bristol Farms, Stater Brothers, Publix, Vallarta, Superior Foods,
Brookshires, HEB and other companies throughout the United States. In total we
are now in more than half of the top 75 grocery retailers in the
United States.
We have engaged a producer of private labeled bottled water to
assist in the manufacturing, procurement and logistical aspects of our business.
Their specialized water production capabilities are expected to allow us to
support the growing demand for our products. We believe this arrangement will
enable us to further scale production and distribution as the
Alkaline88 ® brand continues to gain market share.
3
Dependence on Few Customers
We have 2 major customers that together account for 46% (28%
and 18%, respectively) of accounts receivable at March 31, 2019, and 2 customers
that together account for 43% (25% and 18%, respectively) of the total revenues
earned for the year ended March 31, 2019.
There can be no assurance that such customers will continue to
order our products in the same level or at all. A reduction or delay in orders
from such customers, including reductions or delays due to market, economic or
competitive conditions, could have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.
Marketing
We intend to continue to market our product through our broker
network and to avail ourselves to the promotional activities of other companies
and competitors regarding the benefits of alkaline water. We anticipate that our
initial marketing thrust will be to support the retailers and distribution
network with point of sales displays and other marketing materials,
strategically adding an extensive public relations program and other marketing
as the markets dictate.
We have engaged a business and marketing consulting firm and
sales broker to assist our company in all aspects of our marketing, trade
promotion, public relations and brand development. Their expertise in all
aspects of consumer goods brand development, marketing and promotional programs
is expected to help us meet the growing consumer demand for both our flagship
Alkaline88 ® product and our upcoming A88 Infused product line. We
have also engaged a sales and merchandising broker to implement a unique Van
Program (where sales representatives sell products directly from vans to the
retailers) throughout Texas and California which is intended to bring both our
flagship Alkaline88 ® products and, once launched, A88 Infuseds
products to over 13,000 independently owned convenience stores in those markets.
We expect to be able to expand the program to an additional nine US markets over
the next few years.
Competition
The commercial retail beverage industry, and in particular its
non-alcoholic beverage segment, is highly competitive. Market participants are
of various sizes, with various market shares and geographical reach, some of
whom have access to substantially more sources of capital.
We compete generally with all liquid refreshments, including
bottled water and numerous specialty beverages, such as: CORE® Hydration, SOBE®,
Snapple®, AriZona® Iced Tea, Vitaminwater®, Gatorade Perform®, and POWERADE®.
We compete indirectly with major international beverage
companies including but not limited to: The Coca-Cola Company®, PepsiCo, Inc.,
The Nestlé Group, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc, Danone S.A., The Kraft Heinz
Company, and Unilever PLC. These companies have established market presence in
the United States and globally, and offer a variety of beverages that are
competitors to our products. We face potential direct competition from such
companies, because they have the financial resources, and access to
manufacturing and distribution channels to rapidly enter the alkaline water
market.
We will compete directly with other alkaline water producers
and brands focused on the emerging alkaline beverage market including Eternal,
Essentia, Core, Icelandic, Real Water, Aqua Hydrate, Mountain Valley, Qure,
Penta, and Alka Power. Products offered by our direct competitors are sold in
various volumes and prices with prices ranging from approximately $0.99 for a
half-liter bottle to $4.99 for a one-gallon bottle, and volumes ranging from
half-liter bottles to one-gallon bottles. We currently offer our product in a
one-gallon bottle for a suggested resale price or an SRP of $4.99, three-liter
bottle for an SRP of $3.99, 1.5 liter at an SRP of $2.49, 1 liter at an SRP of
$1.99, 700 milliliter single serving at an SRP of $1.19, and a 500 milliliter at
an SRP of $0.99. Our competitors may introduce larger sizes and offer them at an
SRP that is lower than our products. We can provide no assurances that consumers
will continue to purchase our products or that they will not prefer to purchase
a competitive product.
4
Intellectual Property
Where available, we intend to obtain trademark protection in
the United States for a number of trademarks for slogans and product designs. We
intend to aggressively assert our rights under trade secret, unfair competition,
trademark and copyright laws to protect our intellectual property, including
product design, product research and concepts and recognized trademarks. These
rights are protected through the acquisition of patents and trademark
registrations, the maintenance of trade secrets, the development of trade dress,
and, where appropriate, litigation against those who are, in our opinion,
infringing these rights. The trademark for Alkaline88 ® has been
registered in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, and has been applied for in China.
While there can be no assurance that registered trademarks will
protect our proprietary information, we intend to assert our intellectual
property rights against any infringer. Although any assertion of our rights
could result in a substantial cost to, and diversion of effort by, our company,
management believes that the protection of our intellectual property rights will
be a key component of our sales and operating strategy.
The electrolysis process through which our product is produced
is proprietary to us and, while the process is not patented, we seek to protect
the process through the maintenance of trade secrets and know-how agreements.
Seasonality of Business
The sales of our products are influenced to some extent by
weather conditions in the markets in which we operate. Unusually cold or rainy
weather during the summer months may have a temporary effect on the demand for
our product and contribute to lower sales, which could have an adverse effect on
our results of operations for such periods.
Government Regulation
The advertising, distribution, labeling, production, safety,
sale, and transportation in the United States of our product will be subject to:
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Federal Trade Commission Act; the
Lanham Act; state consumer protection laws; competition laws; federal, state and
local workplace health and safety laws; various federal, state and local
environmental protection laws; and various other federal, state and local
statutes and regulations.
Legal requirements apply in many jurisdictions in the United
States requiring that deposits or certain ecotaxes or fees be charged for the
sale, marketing, and use of certain non-refillable beverage containers. The
precise requirements imposed by these measures vary and are constantly evolving.
Other types of statutes and regulations relating to beverage container deposits,
recycling, ecotaxes and/or product stewardship also apply in various
jurisdictions in the United States. We anticipate that additional, similar legal
requirements may be proposed or enacted in the future at the local, state and
federal levels in the United States.
Any third-party bottling facility that we may choose to utilize
in the future and any other such operations will be subject to various
environmental protection statutes and regulations, including those relating to
the use of water resources and the discharge of wastewater. It will be our
policy to comply with any and all such legal requirements. Compliance with these
provisions has not had, and we do not expect such compliance to have, any
material adverse effect on our capital expenditures, net income or competitive
position.
Employees
In addition to Richard Wright, who is our president, chief
executive officer and director, David Guarino, who is our chief financial
officer, secretary, treasurer and director, and Ronald DaVella, our executive
vice president of finance, we currently employ 14 full time employees and 3
part-time employee. We also work with retail brokers in the United States who
are paid on a contract basis. Our operations are overseen directly by management
that engages our employees to carry on our business. Our management oversees all
responsibilities in the areas of corporate administration, business development,
and research. We intend to expand our current management to retain skilled
directors, officers, and employees with experience relevant to our business
focus. Our managements relationships with manufacturers, distillers,
development/research companies, bottling concerns, and certain retail customers
will provide the foundation through which we expect to grow our business in the
future. We believe that the skill-set of our management team will be a primary
asset in the development of our brands and trademarks. We also plan to form an
independent network of contract sales and regional managers, a promotional support team, and several
market segment specialists who will be paid on a variable basis.
5
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a number of very
significant risks. You should carefully consider the following risks and
uncertainties in addition to other information in this report in evaluating our
company and its business before purchasing our securities. Our business,
operating results and financial condition could be seriously harmed as a result
of the occurrence of any of the following risks. You could lose all or part of
your investment due to any of these risks.
Risks Related to Our Business
Because we have a limited operating history, we may have
difficulty realizing consistent and meaningful revenues and achieving
profitability.
We were incorporated on June 6, 2011, and we only began
producing and distributing alkaline bottled water in 2013. Since we have a
limited operating history, our ability to successfully develop our products and
to realize consistent and meaningful revenues and to achieve profitability has
not been established and cannot be assured. For us to realize consistent,
meaningful revenues and to achieve profitability, our products must receive
broad market acceptance by consumers. Without this market acceptance, we will
not be able to generate sufficient revenue to continue our business operation.
If our products are not widely accepted by the market, our business may fail.
Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive
cash flow is dependent upon our ability to generate revenues, manage development
costs and expenses, and compete successfully with our direct and indirect
competitors. We anticipate operating losses in upcoming future periods. This
will occur because there are expenses associated with the development,
production, marketing, and sales of our products.
Our financial statements are prepared using generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States applicable to a going concern, which
contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the
normal course of business. We have not yet established an ongoing source of
revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs and to allow us to continue as
a going concern. As of March 31, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of
$38,694,879. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our
company obtaining adequate capital to fund operating losses until we become
profitable. If we are unable to obtain adequate capital, we could be forced to
significantly curtail or cease operations.
Our disclosure controls and procedures and internal
control over financial reporting are not effective, which may cause our
financial reporting to be unreliable and lead to misinformation being
disseminated to the public.
Our management evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures
as of March 31, 2019 and concluded that as of that date, our disclosure controls
and procedures were not effective. In addition, our management evaluated our
internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019 and concluded
that that there were material weaknesses in our internal control over financial
reporting as of that date and that our internal control over financial reporting
was not effective as of that date. Our independent registered
public accounting firm audited our internal control over financial reporting as
of March 31, 2019 and disclaimed an opinion on our internal controls over financial
reporting as of that date. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or
combination of control deficiencies, such that there is a reasonable possibility
that a material misstatement of the financial statements will not be prevented
or detected on a timely basis.
We have not yet remediated these material weaknesses and we
believe that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over
financial reporting continue to be ineffective. Until these issues are
corrected, our ability to report financial results or other information required
to be disclosed on a timely and accurate basis may be adversely affected and our
financial reporting may continue to be unreliable, which could result in
additional misinformation being disseminated to the public. Investors relying
upon this misinformation may make an uninformed investment decision.
6
We will need additional funds to continue producing,
marketing, and distributing our products.
We will have to spend additional funds to continue producing,
marketing and distributing our products. If we cannot raise sufficient capital,
we may have to cease operations. We will need
additional funds to continue to produce our products for distribution to our
target market.
We will have to continue to spend substantial funds on
distribution, marketing and sales efforts before we will know if we have
commercially viable and marketable/sellable products.
There is no guarantee that sufficient sale levels will be
achieved.
There is no guarantee that the expenditure of money on
distribution and marketing efforts will translate into sufficient sales to cover
our expenses and result in profits. Consequently, there is a risk that you may
lose all of your investment.
Our development, marketing, and sales activities are
limited by our size.
Because of our relative size, we must
limit our product development, marketing, and sales activities to the amount of capital we raise. As such, we may
not be able to complete our production and business development program in a
manner that is as thorough as we would like. We may not ever generate sufficient
revenues to cover our operating and expansion costs.
Changes in the non-alcoholic beverage business
environment and retail landscape could adversely impact our financial
results.
The non-alcoholic beverage business environment is rapidly
evolving as a result of, among other things, changes in consumer preferences,
including changes based on health and nutrition considerations and obesity
concerns; shifting consumer tastes and needs; changes in consumer lifestyles;
and competitive product and pricing pressures. In addition, the non-alcoholic
beverage retail landscape is very dynamic and constantly evolving, not only in
emerging and developing markets, where modern trade is growing at a faster pace
than traditional trade outlets, but also in developed markets, where discounters
and value stores, as well as the volume of transactions through e-commerce, are
growing at a rapid pace. If we are unable to successfully adapt to the rapidly
changing environment and retail landscape, our share of sales, volume growth and
overall financial results could be negatively affected.
Intense competition and increasing competition in the
commercial beverage market could hurt our business.
The commercial retail beverage industry, and in particular its
non-alcoholic beverage segment, is highly competitive. Market participants are
of various sizes, with various market shares and geographical reach, some of
whom have access to substantially more sources of capital.
We compete generally with all liquid refreshments, including
bottled water and numerous specialty beverages, such as: CORE® Hydration, SOBE®,
Snapple®, AriZona® Iced Tea, Vitaminwater®, Gatorade Perform®, and POWERADE®.
We compete indirectly with major international beverage
companies including but not limited to: The Coca-Cola Company®, PepsiCo, Inc.,
The Nestlé Group, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc, Danone S.A., The Kraft Heinz
Company, and Unilever PLC. These companies have established market presence in
the United States and globally, and offer a variety of beverages that are
competitors to our products. We face potential direct competition from such
companies, because they have the financial resources, and access to
manufacturing and distribution channels to rapidly enter the alkaline water
market. We compete directly with other alkaline water producers and brands
focused on the emerging alkaline beverage market including: Eternal Naturally
Alkaline® Spring Water, Essentia®, CORE® Hydration, Icelandic Glacial, Real
Water®, AQUAhydrate®, Mount Valley Spring Water, QURE Water®, Penta® Water, and
Alka Power. These companies could bolster their position in the alkaline water
market through additional expenditure and promotion.
As a result of both direct and indirect competition, our
ability to successfully distribute, market and sell our products, and to gain
sufficient market share in the United States and around the world to realize
profits may be limited, greatly diminished, or totally diminished, which may
lead to partial or total loss of your investments in our company.
7
Alternative non-commercial beverages or processes could
hurt our business.
The availability of non-commercial beverages, such as tap
water, and machines capable of producing alkaline water at the consumers home
or at store-fronts could hurt our business, market share, and profitability.
Expansion of the alkaline beverage market or sufficiency
of consumer demand in that market for operations to be profitable are not
guaranteed.
The alkaline water market is an emerging market and there is no
guarantee that this market will expand or that consumer demand will be
sufficiently high enough to allow our company to successfully market, distribute
and sell our products, or to successfully compete with current or future
competition, all of which may result in total loss of your investment.
A failure to introduce new products or product extensions
into new marketplaces successfully could prevent us from achieving long-term
profitability.
We compete in an industry characterized by rapid changes in
consumer preferences, so our ability to continue developing new products to
satisfy our consumers changing preferences will determine our long-term
success. A failure to introduce new products or product extensions into new
marketplaces successfully could prevent us from achieving long-term
profitability. In addition, customer preferences are also affected by factors
other than taste, such as the publicity. If we do not adjust to respond to these
and other changes in customer preferences, our sales may be adversely affected.
In addition, a failure to obtain any required regulatory approvals for our
proposed products could have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.
Our growth and profitability depends on the performance
of third-party brokers and distributors and on our ongoing relationships with
them.
Our distribution network and its success depend on the
performance of third parties. Any non-performance or deficient performance by
such parties may undermine our operations, profitability, and result in total
loss of your investment. To distribute our products, we use a
broker-distributor-retailer network whereby brokers represent our products to
distributors and retailers who will in turn sell our products to consumers. The
success of this network will depend on the performance of the brokers,
distributors and retailers within this network. There is a risk that a broker,
distributor, or retailer may refuse to or cease to market or carry our products.
There is a risk that the mentioned entities may not adequately perform their
functions within the network by, without limitation, failing to distribute to
sufficient retailers or positioning our products in localities that may not be
receptive to our products. Furthermore, such third-parties financial position
or market share may deteriorate, which could adversely affect our distribution,
marketing and sale activities. We also need to maintain good commercial
relationships with third-party brokers, distributors and retailers so that they
will promote and carry our products. Any adverse consequences resulting from the
performance of third-parties or our relationship with them could undermine our
operations, profitability and may result in total loss of your investment.
The loss of one or more of our major customers or a
decline in demand from one or more of these customers could harm our
business.
We have 2 major customers that together account for 46% (28%
and 18%, respectively) of accounts receivable at March 31, 2019, and 2 customers
that together account for 43% (25% and 18%, respectively) of the total revenues
earned for the year ended March 31, 2019. There can be no assurance that such
customers will continue to order our products at the same level or at all. A
reduction or delay in orders from such customers, including reductions or delays
due to market, economic or competitive conditions, could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our dependence on a limited number of vendors leaves us
vulnerable to having an inadequate supply of required products, price increases,
late deliveries, and poor product quality.
We have 2 vendors that accounted for 50% (34% and 16%,
respectively) of purchases for the year ended March 31, 2019. Like other
companies in our industry, we occasionally experience shortages and are unable
to purchase our desired volume of products. Increasingly, our vendors are
combining and merging together, leaving us with fewer alternative sources. If we
are unable to maintain an adequate supply of products, our revenue and gross
profit could suffer considerably. Finally, we cannot provide any assurance that
our products will be available in quantities sufficient to meet customer demand.
Any limits to product access could materially and adversely affect our business
and results of operations.
8
Our business is sensitive to public perception. If any
product proves to be harmful to consumers or if scientific studies provide
unfavorable findings regarding their safety or effectiveness, then our image in
the marketplace would be negatively impacted.
Our results of operations may be significantly affected by the
publics perception of our company and similar companies. Our business could be
adversely affected if any of our products or similar products distributed by
other companies proves to be harmful to consumers or if scientific studies
provide unfavorable findings regarding the safety or effectiveness of our
products or any similar products. If our products suffer from negative consumer
perception, it is likely to adversely affect our business and results of
operations.
Consumers may have preconceptions about the health
benefits of alkaline water; such health benefits are not guaranteed or
proven.
Health benefits of alkaline water are not guaranteed and have
not been proven. Although we do not market our products as having any potential
health benefits, there is a consumer perception that drinking alkaline water has
beneficial health effects. Consequently, negative changes in consumers
perception of the benefits of alkaline water or negative publicity surrounding
alkaline water may result in loss of market share or potential market share and
hence, loss of your investment. We are also prohibited from touting unconfirmed
health benefits in our advertising and promotional activities for the products,
both directly and indirectly through claims made by third-party endorsers when
those endorsers have a material connection to our company.
Water scarcity and poor quality could negatively impact
our production costs and capacity.
Water is the main ingredient in our products. It is also a
limited resource, facing unprecedented challenges from overexploitation,
increasing pollution, poor management, and climate change. As demand for water
continues to increase, as water becomes scarcer, and as the quality of available
water deteriorates, we may incur increasing production costs or face capacity
constraints that could adversely affect our profitability or net operating
revenues in the long run.
Increase in the cost, disruption of supply or shortage of
ingredients, other raw materials or packaging materials could harm our
business.
We and our bottlers will use water, 84 trace minerals from
Himalayan salts and packaging materials for bottles such as plastic and paper
products. The prices for these ingredients, other raw materials and packaging
materials fluctuate depending on market conditions. Substantial increases in the
prices of our or our bottlers ingredients, other raw materials and packaging
materials, to the extent they cannot be recouped through increases in the prices
of finished beverage products, could increase our operating costs and could
reduce our profitability. Increases in the prices of our finished products
resulting from a higher cost of ingredients, other raw materials and packaging
materials could affect the affordability of our products and reduce sales.
An increase in the cost, a sustained interruption in the
supply, or a shortage of some of these ingredients, other raw materials, or
packaging materials and containers that may be caused by a deterioration of our
or our bottlers relationships with suppliers; by supplier quality and
reliability issues; or by events such as natural disasters, power outages, labor
strikes, political uncertainties or governmental instability, or the like, could
negatively impact our net revenues and profits.
Unfavorable general economic conditions in the United
States could negatively impact our financial performance.
Unfavorable general economic conditions, such as a recession or
economic slowdown, in the United States could negatively affect the
affordability of, and consumer demand for, our products in the United States.
Under difficult economic conditions, consumers may seek to reduce discretionary
spending by forgoing purchases of our products or by shifting away from our
beverages to lower-priced products offered by other companies, including
non-alkaline water. Consumers may also cease purchasing bottled water and
consume tap water. Lower consumer demand for our products in the United States
could reduce our profitability.
9
Adverse weather conditions could reduce the demand for
our products.
The sales of our products are influenced to some extent by
weather conditions in the markets in which we operate. Unusually cold or rainy
weather during the summer months may have a temporary effect on the demand for
our products and contribute to lower sales, which could have an adverse effect
on our results of operations for such periods.
We rely on third parties to produce and bottle our
products, which creates additional risk.
We do not own or operate bottling or co-packing facilities used
for the production of the various water products in our portfolio. We rely on
those third parties to ensure the quality, safety and integrity of our products.
If the third parties that we engage to produce and bottle our products fail to
meet our demands or are found by government agencies to be out of compliance
with applicable regulatory requirements, our supplies of those products and our
future profit margins could be adversely affected.
Product contamination or tampering or issues or concerns
with respect to product quality, safety and integrity could adversely affect our
business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations.
Product contamination or tampering, the failure to maintain
high standards for product quality, safety and integrity, including with respect
to raw materials and ingredients obtained from suppliers, or allegations
(whether or not valid) of product quality issues, mislabeling, misbranding,
spoilage, allergens, adulteration or contamination with respect to products in
our portfolio may reduce demand for such products, and cause production and
delivery disruptions or increase costs, each of which could adversely affect our
business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations. If any of
the products in our portfolio are mislabeled or become unfit for consumption or
cause injury, illness or death, or if appropriate resources are not devoted to
product quality and safety (particularly as we expand our portfolio into new
categories) or to comply with changing food safety requirements, we could decide
to, or be required to, recall products or withdraw from the marketplace and/or
we may be subject to liability or government action, which could result in
payment of damages or fines, cause certain products in our portfolio to be
unavailable for a period of time, result in destruction of product inventory, or
result in adverse publicity (whether or not valid), which could reduce consumer
demand and brand equity. Moreover, even if allegations of product contamination
or tampering or suggestions that our products were not fit for consumption are
meritless, the negative publicity surrounding assertions against us or products
in our portfolio or processes could adversely affect our reputation or brands.
Our business could also be adversely affected if consumers lose confidence in
product quality, safety and integrity generally, even if such loss of confidence
is unrelated to products in our portfolio. Any of the foregoing could adversely
affect our business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, if we do not have adequate insurance, if we do not have enforceable
indemnification from suppliers, bottlers, distributors or other third parties or
if indemnification is not available, the liability relating to such product
claims or disruption as a result of recall efforts could materially adversely
affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our products are considered premium beverages and are
being sold at premium prices compared to our competitors products; we cannot
provide any assurances as to consumers continued market acceptance of our
current and future products.
We will compete directly with other alkaline water producers
and brands focused on the emerging alkaline beverage market including Eternal,
Essentia, Core, Icelandic, Real Water, Aqua Hydrate, Mountain Valley, Qure,
Penta, and Alka Power. Products offered by our direct competitors are sold in
various volumes and prices with prices ranging from approximately $0.99 for a
half-liter bottle to $4.99 for a one-gallon bottle, and volumes ranging from
half-liter bottles to one-gallon bottles. We currently offer our product in a
one-gallon bottle for a suggested resale price or an SRP of $4.99, three-liter
bottle for an SRP of $3.99, 1.5 liter at an SRP of $2.49, 1 liter at an SRP of
$1.99, 700 milliliter single serving at an SRP of $1.19, and a 500 milliliter at
an SRP of $0.99. Our competitors may introduce larger sizes and offer them at an
SRP that is lower than our products. We can provide no assurances that consumers
will continue to purchase our products or that they will not prefer to purchase
a competitive product.
We are subject to periodic claims and litigation that
could result in unexpected expenses and could ultimately be resolved against
us.
From time to time, we are involved in litigation and other
proceedings, including matters related to product liability claims, stockholder
class action and derivative claims, commercial disputes and intellectual
property, as well as trade, regulatory, employment, and other claims related to
our business. Any of these proceedings could result in significant settlement
amounts, damages, fines or other penalties, divert financial and management
resources, and result in significant legal fees.
10
An unfavorable outcome of any particular proceeding could
exceed the limits of our insurance policies or the carriers may decline to fund
such final settlements and/or judgments and could have an adverse impact on our
business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, any
proceeding could negatively impact our reputation among our guests and our
brand/image.
We regularly evaluate potential expansion into
international markets, and any expansion into such international operations
could subject us to risks and expenses that could adversely impact our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
To date, we have not undertaken substantial commercial
activities outside of the United States. We have evaluated, and continue to
evaluate, potential expansion into certain other international markets. If and
when we seek to expand internationally in the future, our sales and operations
would be subject to a variety of risks, including fluctuations in currency
exchange rates, tariffs, import restrictions and other trade barriers,
unexpected changes in legal and regulatory requirements, longer accounts
receivable payment cycles, potentially adverse tax consequences, and difficulty
in complying with foreign laws and regulations, as well as U.S. laws and
regulations that govern foreign activities. Economic uncertainty in some of the
geographic regions in which we might operate could result in the disruption of
commerce and negatively impact our operations in those areas. Also, if we choose
to pursue international expansion efforts, it may be necessary or desirable to
contract with third parties, and we may not be able to enter into such
agreements on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Further, such
arrangements may not perform to our expectations, and we may be exposed to
various risks as a result of the activities of our partners.
We rely on key executive officers who have extensive
knowledge of our business and the industry in which we operate; the loss of any
of these key executive officers would be difficult to replace and may adversely
affect our business.
We are highly dependent on three executive officers, Richard
Wright, David Guarino and Ronald DaVella, who have extensive knowledge of our
business and the industry in which we operate. We do not have key person life
insurance policies for either of these officers. The loss of Richard Wright,
David Guarino and/or Ronald DaVella could result in delays in product
development, loss of any future customers and sales and diversion of management
resources, which could adversely affect our operating results.
If we are unable to protect our information systems
against service interruption, misappropriation of data or breaches of security,
our operations could be disrupted, we may suffer financial losses and our
reputation may be damaged.
We rely on networks and information systems and other
technology ( information systems ), including the Internet and
third-party hosted services, to support a variety of business processes and
activities, including procurement and supply chain, manufacturing, distribution,
invoicing and collection of payments, employee processes and consumer marketing.
We use information systems to process financial information and results of
operations for internal reporting purposes and to comply with regulatory
financial reporting and legal and tax requirements. In addition, we depend on
information systems for digital marketing activities and electronic
communications between our company and our bottlers and other customers,
suppliers and consumers. Because information systems are critical to many of our
operating activities, our business may be impacted by system shutdowns, service
disruptions or security breaches. These incidents may be caused by failures
during routine operations such as system upgrades or by user errors, as well as
network or hardware failures, malicious or disruptive software, unintentional or
malicious actions of employees or contractors, cyberattacks by common hackers,
criminal groups or nation-state organizations or social-activist (hacktivist)
organizations, geopolitical events, natural disasters, failures or impairments
of telecommunications networks, or other catastrophic events. In addition, such
incidents could result in unauthorized or accidental disclosure of material
confidential information or regulated individual personal data. If our
information systems suffer severe damage, disruption or shutdown and our
business continuity plans do not effectively resolve the issues in a timely
manner, we could experience delays in reporting our financial results, and we
may lose revenue and profits as a result of our inability to timely manufacture,
distribute, invoice and collect payments for concentrate or finished products.
Unauthorized or accidental access to, or destruction, loss, alteration,
disclosure, falsification or unavailability of, information could result in
violations of data privacy laws and regulations, damage to the reputation and
credibility of our company and, therefore, could have a negative impact on net
operating revenues. In addition, we may suffer financial and reputational damage
because of lost or misappropriated confidential information belonging to us, our
current or former employees, our bottling partners, other customers or
suppliers, or consumers or other data subjects, and may become exposed to legal
action and increased regulatory oversight. We could also be required to spend
significant financial and other resources to remedy the damage caused by a
security breach or to repair or replace networks and information systems.
11
In addition, third-party providers of data hosting or cloud
services, as well as our bottling partners, distributors, retailers or
suppliers, may experience cybersecurity incidents that may involve data we share
with them. Although we have taken steps to prevent cybersecurity incidents,
there can be no assurance that such steps will be adequate. In order to address
risks to our information systems, we continue to make investments in personnel,
technologies and training of our personnel.
Risks Related to Regulations Applicable to our Industry
Changes in laws and regulations relating to beverage
containers and packaging could increase our costs and reduce our net operating
revenues or profitability.
We and our bottlers offer our products in non-refillable,
recyclable containers in the United States. Regulations have been enacted in
various jurisdictions in the United States requiring that deposits or certain
ecotaxes or fees be charged for the sale, marketing and use of certain
non-refillable beverage containers. Other proposals relating to beverage
container deposits, recycling, ecotax and/or product stewardship have been
introduced in various jurisdictions in the United States and overseas, and we
anticipate that similar legislation or regulations may be proposed in the future
at local, state and federal levels in the United States. Consumers increased
concerns and changing attitudes about solid waste streams and environmental
responsibility and the related publicity could result in the adoption of such
legislation or regulations. Current regulations or the adoption of future
regulations in the geographical regions in which we currently operate or intend
to operate could adversely affect our costs or require changes in our
distribution model, which could reduce our net operating revenues or
profitability.
Significant additional labeling or warning requirements
or limitations on the availability of our products may inhibit sales of affected
products.
Various jurisdictions may seek to adopt significant additional
product labeling or warning requirements or limitations on the availability of
our products relating to the content or perceived adverse health consequences of
our products. Federal laws may preempt some or all of these attempts by state or
localities to impose additional labeling or warning requirements. If these types
of requirements become applicable to our products under current or future
environmental or health laws or regulations, they may inhibit sales of our
products. Moreover, if we fail to meet compliance deadlines for any such new
requirements, our products may be deemed misbranded or mislabeled and could be
subject to enforcement action, or we could be exposed to private lawsuits
alleging misleading labels or product promotion.
Changes in, or failure to comply with, the laws and
regulations applicable to our products or our business operations could increase
our costs or reduce our net operating revenues.
The advertising, distribution, labeling, production, safety,
sale, and transportation in the United States of our currently marketed products
are subject to: the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Federal Trade
Commission Act; the Lanham Act; state food and drug laws; state consumer
protection laws; competition laws; federal, state, and local workplace health
and safety laws, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act; various
federal, state and local environmental protection laws; and various other
federal, state, and local statutes and regulations. Changes to such laws and
regulations could increase our costs or reduce our net operating revenues.
In addition, failure to comply with environmental, health or
safety requirements and other applicable laws or regulations could result in the
assessment of damages, the imposition of penalties, suspension of production,
changes to equipment or processes, or a cessation of operations at our or our
bottlers facilities, as well as damage to our image and reputation, all of
which could harm our profitability.
If we fail to comply with personal data protection laws,
we could be subject to adverse publicity, government enforcement actions and/or
private litigation, which could negatively affect our business and operating
results.
In the ordinary course of our business, we receive, process,
transmit and store information relating to identifiable individuals
( personal data ), primarily employees and former employees. As a result,
we are subject to various U.S. federal and state and foreign laws and
regulations relating to personal data. These laws have been subject to frequent
changes, and new legislation in this area may be enacted in other jurisdictions
at any time. There is no assurance that our security controls over personal
data, the training of employees and vendors on data privacy and data security,
and the policies, procedures and practices we implemented or may implement in
the future will prevent the improper disclosure of personal data. Improper
disclosure of personal data in violation of applicable personal data protection
laws could harm our reputation, cause loss of consumer confidence, subject us to
government enforcement actions (including fines), or result in private
litigation against us, which could result in loss of revenue, increased costs,
liability for monetary damages, fines and/or criminal prosecution, all of which
could negatively affect our business and operating results.
12
If we produce, market and/or sell beverages infused with
hemp, as defined under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, we will be
subject to a myriad of different laws and regulations governing the use of hemp
in food and beverages and if we are unable to comply with such laws in a
cost-effective manner, our business could be adversely affected.
The production of a beverage infused with hemp, as hemp is
defined in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm
Bill, Public Law 115-334), is contingent on U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
or the FDA, and state laws, regulations, and guidance. While the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp from Schedule I of the Controlled
Substances Act, the law did not change the FDAs authorities with respect to
food or drugs. As of June 28, 2019, the FDA has not made a determination that
the use of hemp in food is safe. The FDA has evaluated Generally Recognized as
Safe or GRAS notices for three hemp seed-derived food ingredients and determined
that the agency has no questions that those ingredients are GRAS under their
intended conditions of use. We intend to comply in full with all federal, state,
and local laws, rules and regulations as we develop our hemp alkaline water and
other product lines. We will not pursue the production or sale of hemp-infused
products until legally permitted.
Laws and regulations governing the use of hemp in food and
beverages in the United States are broad in scope; subject to evolving
interpretations; and subject to enforcement by a myriad of regulatory agencies
and law enforcement entities. Under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a
state or Indian tribe that desires to have primary regulatory authority over the
production of hemp in the state or territory of the Indian tribe must submit a
plan to monitor and regulate hemp production to the Secretary of the United
States Department of Agriculture or USDA. The Secretary must then approve the
state or tribal plan after determining if the plan complies with the
requirements set forth in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The Secretary
may also audit the state or Indian tribes compliance with the
federally-approved plan. If the Secretary does not approve the state or Indian
tribes plan, then the production of hemp in that state or territory of that
Indian tribe will be subject to a plan established by USDA. USDA has not yet
established such a plan. We anticipate that many states will seek to have
primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp. States that seek such
authority may create new laws and regulations that permit the use of hemp in
food and beverages.
Federal and state laws and regulations on hemp may address
production, monitoring, manufacturing, distribution, and laboratory testing to
ensure that that the hemp has a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of
not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. Federal laws and regulations
may also address the transportation or shipment of hemp or hemp products, as the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 prohibits states and Indian tribes from
prohibiting the transportation or shipment of hemp or hemp products produced in
accordance with that law through the state or territory of the Indian tribe, as
applicable. Because we rely on a nationwide broker-distributor-retailer network
whereby brokers represent our products to distributors and retailers in turn
sell our product to consumers in the fifty states and the District of Columbia,
we may be subject to many different state-based regulatory regimens for hemp,
all of which could require us to incur substantial costs associated with
compliance requirements. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations
of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse
effect on our operations, as well as adverse publicity and potential harm to our
reputation. We and our suppliers and vendors must take significant enterprise
risk management steps to ensure that there is no commingling of hemp and
marihuana, as marihuana is defined in the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Marihuana remains subject to the Controlled Substances Act and related
regulations.
Furthermore, if we decide to produce, market and sell beverages
infused with hemp outside of the United States, we will be subject to applicable
laws and regulations in those non-U.S. jurisdictions, which would require us to
expend significant costs associated with compliance.
In addition, it is possible that additional regulations may be
enacted in the future in the United States and globally that will be directly
applicable to our proposed product offerings infused with hemp. We cannot
predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or
applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental
regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated,
could have on our business.
FDAs current position is that the sale of food and
beverages that contain hemp-derived cannabidiol or CBD is prohibited under the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; therefore, if we decide to produce, market
and/or sell beverages infused with hemp-derived cannabidiol, we may be subject
to federal enforcement actions which could adversely affect our business and
harm our reputation and brand.
13
The FDA has jurisdiction over drugs and foods that contain CBD,
including CBD derived from hemp. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
or the FDCA, it is a prohibited act to introduce or deliver for introduction
into interstate commerce any food (which the FDCA defines to include beverages)
that is adulterated. The FDCA therefore prohibits the introduction or delivery
for introduction of a food that contains CBD, because the FDCA deems a food to
be adulterated if it bears or contains any food additive that is unsafe and CBD
is presently an unsafe food additive under the FDCA and FDA regulations. The
FDCA also states that it is a prohibited act to introduce or deliver for
introduction into interstate commerce any food to which an FDA-approved drug has
been added, unless certain exceptions are met.The FDA has approved a drug in
which CBD is an active ingredient, and the agency has stated that based on
available evidence, none of the exceptions apply to CBD. One of the exceptions
addresses whether the drug was marketed in food before the FDA approved the drug
and before the institution of any substantial clinical investigations involving
the drug. The FDA has stated that interested parties may present the agency with
evidence that has bearing on the issue of whether CBD was marketed in food
before the FDA approved the CBD drug in 2018 or before the institution of
substantial clinical investigations involving the CBD drug. FDAs current
position is that this provision of the FDCA also prohibits the introduction or
delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of a food to which CBD has
been added.
Congress may decide to amend the FDCA to permit the use of
hemp-derived CBD in food. The FDA may also decide to issue regulations or
guidance that address the use of hemp-derived CBD in food or use its enforcement
discretion with respect to hemp-derived CBD products. On May 31, 2019, the FDA
held a public hearing, as well as providing a broader opportunity for written
public comment, for stakeholders to share their experiences and challenges with
CBD products, including information and views related to product safety. Based
on this hearing, any legislative or regulatory action could take years to
implement or finalize and may not include provisions that would enable our
company to produce, market and/or sell hemp beverages that contain hemp-derived
CBD. We risk becoming subject to adverse publicity and costly federal
enforcement actions should we decide to produce, market and/or sell beverages
infused with hemp-derived CBD in the United States. We may be required to expend
significant resources in defending our company from such actions which could
adversely affect our business and results of operations and divert the attention
of management. We may also incur the risk of sustaining considerable damage to
our reputation and brand should we become party to federal enforcement actions
resulting from the production, marketing or sale of hemp-derived CBD infused
beverages.
Accordingly, if Congress amended federal laws or FDA issued
regulations or guidance permitting the use of hemp-derived CBD in food or
announcing the agencys decision to use its enforcement discretion with respect
to hemp-derived CBD products, we and our suppliers and vendors would be required
to implement significant enterprise risk management measures to ensure that
there is no commingling of CBD derived from marihuana, as marihuana is defined
in the federal Controlled Substances Act, with any future commercial supply of
hemp-derived CBD that is used to produce our products.
The FDA could force the removal of our products from the
U.S. market.
The FDA has broad authority over the regulation of our
products. The FDA could, among other things, force us to remove our products
from the U.S. market, levy fines or change their regulations on advertising. Any
adverse action by the FDA could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Government reviews, inquiries, investigations, and
actions could harm our business or reputation.
As our product portfolio evolves, the regulatory environment
with regard to our business is also evolving. Government officials often
exercise broad discretion in deciding how to interpret and apply applicable laws
or regulations. We may in the future receive formal and informal inquiries from
various governmental regulatory authorities, as well as self-regulatory
organizations or consumer protection watchdog groups, about our business and
compliance with local laws, regulations, or standards. Any determination that
our products, operations or activities, or the activities of our employees,
contractors or agents, are not in compliance with existing laws, regulations or
standards, could adversely affect our business in a number of ways. Even if such
an inquiry does not result in the imposition of fines, interruptions to our
business, loss of suppliers or other third-party relationships, terminations of
necessary licenses and permits, or similar direct results, the existence of the
inquiry alone could potentially create negative publicity that could harm our
business and/or reputation.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
It is difficult and costly to protect our intellectual
property.
Our commercial success will depend in part on obtaining and
maintaining trademark protection and trade secret/know-how protection of our
products and brands, as well as successfully defending that intellectual
property against third-party challenges. We will only be able to protect our intellectual
property related to our trademarks and brands to the extent that we have rights
under valid and enforceable trademarks, know-how or trade secrets that cover our
products and brands. Changes in either the trademark laws or in interpretations
of trademark and laws in the U.S. and other countries may diminish the value of
our intellectual property. Accordingly, we cannot predict the breadth of claims
that may be allowed or enforced in our issued trademarks. The degree of future
protection for our proprietary rights is uncertain because legal means afford
only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us
to gain or keep our competitive advantage.
14
We may face intellectual property infringement claims
that could be time-consuming and costly to defend, and could result in our loss
of significant rights and the assessment of treble damages.
From time to time we may face intellectual property claims from
third parties. Some of these claims may lead to litigation. The outcome of any
such litigation can never be guaranteed, and an adverse outcome could affect us
negatively. For example, were a third party to succeed on an infringement claim
against us, we may be required to pay substantial damages (including up to
treble damages if such infringement were found to be willful). In addition, we
could face an injunction, barring us from conducting the allegedly infringing
activity. The outcome of the litigation could require us to enter into a license
agreement which may not be under acceptable, commercially reasonable, or
practical terms or we may be precluded from obtaining a license at all. It is
also possible that an adverse finding of infringement against us may require us
to dedicate substantial resources and time in developing non-infringing
alternatives, which may or may not be possible.
Finally, we may initiate claims to assert or defend our own
intellectual property against third parties. Any intellectual property
litigation, irrespective of whether we are the plaintiff or the defendant, and
regardless of the outcome, is expensive and time-consuming, and could divert our
managements attention from our business and negatively affect our operating
results or financial condition.
We may be subject to claims by third parties asserting
that our employees or our company has misappropriated their intellectual
property, or claiming ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual
property.
Although we try to ensure that our company, our employees, and
independent contractors (suppliers/vendors/distributors) do not use the
proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be
subject to claims that our company, our employees, or independent contractors
(suppliers/vendors/distributors) have used or disclosed intellectual property in
violation of others rights. These claims may cover a range of matters, such as
challenges to our trademarks, as well as claims that our employees or
independent contractors are using trade secrets or other proprietary information
of any such employees former employer or independent contractors. As a result,
we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims they
may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our
intellectual property. If we fail in prosecuting or defending any such claims,
in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual
property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in prosecuting or
defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and
be a distraction to management.
Risks Related to Our Stock
Because we can issue additional shares of common stock,
our stockholders may experience dilution in the future.
We are authorized to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common
stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 41,347,512 shares of
common stock are issued and outstanding, 1,500,000 shares of Series C Preferred
Stock are issued and outstanding, and 3,800,000 shares of Series D Preferred
Stock are issued and outstanding as of June 28, 2019. Our board of directors has
the authority to cause us to issue additional shares of common stock and
preferred stock, and to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of
shares of our preferred stock, without consent of our stockholders.
Consequently, the stockholders may experience more dilution in their ownership
of our stock in the future.
Trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market or TSX Venture
Exchange may be volatile, which could depress the market price of our common
stock and make it difficult for our stockholders to resell their shares.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the
TSX Venture Exchange. Trading of our common stock may experience wide
fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors that may have little to do
with our operations or business prospects. This volatility could depress the
market price of our common stock for reasons unrelated to operating performance.
15
A prolonged and substantial decline in the price of our
common stock could affect our ability to raise further working capital, thereby
adversely impacting our ability to continue operations.
A prolonged and substantial decline in the price of our common
stock could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our common stock and a
reduction in our ability to raise capital. Because we plan to acquire a
significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned
operations through the sale of equity securities, a decline in the price of our
common stock could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because
the decline may cause investors not to choose to invest in our stock. If we are
unable to raise the funds we require for all our planned operations and to meet
our existing and future financial obligations, we may be forced to reallocate
funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on
our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products
and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and
we may go out of business.
Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our
shares of common stock in the near future, our stockholders will not be able to
receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the
development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash
dividends on our common stock in the near future. The declaration, payment and
amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of
directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations,
cash flows and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and
other factors as the board of directors considers relevant. There is no
assurance that future dividends will be paid, and if dividends are paid, there
is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. Unless we pay
dividends, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares
unless they sell them.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our principal offices are located at 14646 N. Kierland Blvd,
Suite 255, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 with a size of 3,352 square feet leased from a
third party through September, 2020 at the current rate of $7,751.50 per month.
We believe that the condition of our principal offices is satisfactory, suitable
and adequate for our current needs.
We do not own any real estate or other property used in the
operation of our current business.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Our company was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed on
April 6, 2017, by Douglas Horn in the Maricopa County, Arizona, Superior Court,
styled as Horn v. The Alkaline Water Company, Inc., et al., cause number
CV2017-005485. Mr. Horn sought damages arising out of the alleged breach of a
written employment agreement between our company and Mr. Horn. Mr. Horn alleged
that our company has failed to pay wages and to transfer stock allegedly owed to
him under the terms of his employment agreement. Our company denied the
allegations of the claims, and moved to dismiss pursuant to the terms of the
employment agreement which require that all disputes be resolved by arbitration.
In response, Mr. Horn filed a notice of dismissal of all claims in that court,
without prejudice. On September 21, 2017, Mr. Horn filed a Demand for
Arbitration with the American Arbitration Association, asserting the same
claims. The claim has been assigned No. 01-17-0005-6474. Our company has
responded, denying any liability to Mr. Horn. On March 19 to 21, 2019, a three
day arbitration hearing on this matter occurred in front of a panel of three
arbitrators (the Panel). On April 25, 2019, the Panel issued an Interim
Arbitration Award finding that Mr. Horn voluntarily left his employment with our
company in October, 2016 without legal justification, and ruled that the
relevant employment agreement became null and void in October, 2016. The Panel
further found our company to be the prevailing party in the arbitration and thus
entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees, costs and expenses. In late
May, 2019, we submitted an application for fees and costs. On June 17, 2019, the
Panel issued its Final Award granted us an award of $162,670 against
Mr. Horn for our attorneys fees and associated costs. We intend to vigorously
attempt to collect these awarded fees and costs from Mr. Horn.
Except as detailed above, we know of no material pending legal
proceedings to which our company or our subsidiary is a party or of which any of
our properties, or the properties of our subsidiary, is the subject. In
addition, we do not know of any such proceedings contemplated by any
governmental authorities.
16
Except as detailed above, we know of no material proceedings in
which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any owner of record or
beneficially of more than five percent of our common stock, or any associate of
any such director, officer, affiliate or stockholder is a party adverse to our
company or our subsidiary or has a material interest adverse to our company or
our subsidiary.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY, RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock has been listed for trading on the Nasdaq
Capital Market since December 10, 2018 and on the TSX Venture Exchange since
April 25, 2018 under the symbol WTER. Until the listing of our common stock on
the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 10, 2018, our common stock was quoted on
the OTC Market Groups OTCQB.
17
Transfer Agents
Our shares of common stock are issued in registered form. The
transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Transhare Corporation,
located at 15500 Roosevelt Boulevard, Suite 302, Clearwater, Florida 33760. The
co-transfer agent for our common stock is TSX Trust Company, located at 650 West
Georgia Street, Suite 2700, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 4N9, Canada.
Holders of Common Stock
As of June 28, 2019, there were approximately 48 holders of
record of our common stock. As of such date 41,347,512 shares were issued and
outstanding.
Dividends
The payment of dividends, if any, in the future, rests within
the sole discretion of our board of directors. The payment of dividends will
depend upon our earnings, our capital requirements and our financial condition,
as well as other relevant factors. We have not declared any cash dividends since
our inception and have no present intention of paying any cash dividends on our
common stock in the foreseeable future.
There are no restrictions in our articles of incorporation or
bylaws that prevent us from declaring dividends. The Nevada Revised Statutes,
however, do prohibit us from declaring dividends where, after giving effect to
the distribution of the dividend:
1.
We would not be able to pay our debts as they become due
in the usual course of business; or
2.
Our total assets would be less than the sum of our total
liabilities plus the amount that would be needed to satisfy the rights of
stockholders who have preferential rights superior to those receiving the
distribution.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation
Plans
The following table summarizes certain information regarding
our equity compensation plans as of March 31, 2019 .
Plan category
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants
and rights
(a)
Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding
options, warrants and
rights
(b)
Number of securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected
in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders
(2013 Equity Incentive
Plan) (1)(2)
2,272,900
$0.92
Nil
Equity compensation plans
not approved by security
holders (2018 Stock Option
Plan) (3)
Nil
N/A
2,737,612
Total
2,272,900
$0.92
2,737,612
(1)
Effective October 7, 2013, our board of directors adopted
and approved our 2013 equity incentive plan. The plan was approved by a
majority of our stockholders on October 7, 2013. On October 31, 2014, our
board of directors amended our 2013 equity incentive plan to, among other
things, increase the number of shares of stock of our company available
for the grant of awards under the plan from 20,000,000 shares to
35,000,000 shares. The purpose of the plan is to (a) enable our company and any of our
affiliates to attract and retain the types of employees, consultants and
directors who will contribute to our companys long range success; (b)
provide incentives that align the interests of employees, consultants and
directors with those of the stockholders of our company; and (c) promote
the success of our companys business. Effective as of December 30, 2015,
we effected a 50-for-1 reverse stock split of our authorized and issued
and outstanding shares of common stock which decreased the number of
shares of stock of our company available for the grant of awards under the
plan from 35,000,000 shares to 700,000 shares. Effective as of January 20,
2016, our board of directors amended the plan to increase the number of
shares of stock of our company available for the grant of awards under the
plan from 700,000 to 7,700,000. The plan enabled us to grant awards of a
maximum of 7,700,000 shares of our stock and awards that may be granted
under the plan included incentive stock options, non-qualified stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted awards and performance
compensation awards.
18
(2)
Our 2013 equity incentive plan has been suspended in
connection with our application to list our common stock on the TSX
Venture Exchange, but the suspension does not affect any awards, including
any stock options, already granted under the plan.
(3)
On April 25, 2018, our board of directors adopted the
2018 Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which we may grant stock options to
acquire up to a total of 5,171,612 shares of our common stock, including
any other shares of our common stock which may be issued pursuant to any
other stock options granted by our company outside the plan. We adopted
the plan in connection with our application to list our common stock on
the TSX Venture Exchange. The purpose of the plan is to retain the
services of valued key employees and consultants of our company and such
other persons as our board of directors selects, and to encourage such
persons to acquire a greater proprietary interest in our company, thereby
strengthening their incentive to achieve the objectives of our
stockholders, and to serve as an aid and inducement in the hiring of new
employees and to provide an equity incentive to consultants and other
persons selected by our board of directors.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Since the beginning of our fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, we
have not sold any equity securities that were not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 that were not previously reported in a quarterly report
on Form 10-Q or in a current report on Form 8-K.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated
Purchasers
None
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our
financial statements and the related notes that appear elsewhere in this annual
report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that
reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ
materially from those discussed in the forward looking statements. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed below and
elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
Overview
We offer retail consumers bottled alkaline water in
500-milliliter, 700-milliliter, 1-liter, 1.5 -liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes
under the trade name Alkaline88 ® . Our product is produced through an
electrolysis process that uses specialized electronic cells coated with a
variety of rare earth minerals to produce our 8.8 pH drinking water without the
use of any manmade chemicals. Our product also incorporates 84 trace minerals
from Himalayan pink rock salt. Our product is designed to have a clean smooth
taste using only purified water and the Himalayan pink rock salt. We believe
consumers drink our water because of the taste profile and the preconceived
health benefits (although we do not market our products as having any potential health benefits), as well as because of our brand and
trademark, which we believe is one of the most easily identifiable in the
category. Measured by sales volume in 2018, we believe we are now one of the
largest alkaline water companies in the United States.
19
Our product is presently available in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia, although over 50% of our current sales are concentrated in
the Southwest and Texas. We distribute our product through several channels. We
sell through large national distributors, including UNFI, KeHE, C&S, and
Core-Mark. We also sell our product to retail clients, including convenience
stores, natural food products stores, large ethnic markets and national
retailers. Examples of our retail clients include Walmart, Food Lion,
Albertsons, Safeway, Kroger, Schnucks, Smart & Final, Jewel-Osco, Sprouts,
Bashas, Stater Bros. Markets, Unified Grocers, Bristol Farms, Publix, Vallarta,
Superior Foods, Ingles, HEB and Brookshires. The majority of our sales to
retail clients are through brokers and distributors, however, sales to our
larger retail clients are often direct to the clients own warehouse
distribution network.
Our operating subsidiary, Alkaline 88, LLC, operates primarily
as a marketing, distribution, and manufacturing company. It has entered into
co-packing agreements with eight different bottling companies located in
Virginia, Georgia, California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona to act as co-packers
for our product. Our current capacity at all plants exceeds approximately $8.3
million per month wholesale.
Our component materials are readily available through multiple
vendors. Our principal suppliers are Vav Plastics Inc., Amcor Inc. and Packaging
Corporation of America.
A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc.
In August 2018, we formed A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc.,
or A88 Infused, a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of our
company. A88 Infuseds focus is brand extension and product innovations in the
wellness water category. We formed A88 Infused to meet what we believe is
increasing consumer demand for enhanced and functional (value-added) beverages.
We expect A88 Infused to capitalize on this and potential consumer demand with
the development and launch of new products focused on growing trends in the
beverage space.
To prepare for the launch of products by A88 Infused, we have
expanded our packaging capabilities. We announced in January, 2019 that
Nevada-based Western Group Packing has agreed to produce A88 Infuseds flavored
Alkaline88 ® water products and its planned hemp extract-infused water
product at its 150,000+ square foot facility located in North Las Vegas, NV. We
have received verbal confirmation from many of our current retail clients of
their interest in purchasing our flavored Alkaline88 ® waters. The
production of A88 Infuseds planned hemp extract product is contingent on U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and state laws, regulations, and
guidance. While the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp from
Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the law did not change the FDAs
authorities with respect to food or drugs. As of June 28, 2019, the FDA has not
made a determination that the use of hemp extract in food is safe. The FDA has
evaluated Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notices for three hemp
seed-derived food ingredients and determined that the agency has no questions
that those ingredients are GRAS under their intended conditions of use.
In early February 2019, at the Convenience EPPS trade show in
Chicago, Illinois and in May, 2019 at the Western Association of Food Chains
Convention, we sampled and offered up for sale Alkaline88 ®
Flavored, which is available in four different, all natural, sugar-free
flavors. We believe Alkaline88 ® Flavored is the first flavored
bottled alkaline water to be sold in the United States.
A88 Infused is also developing and preparing for the initial
launch of its planned hemp extract product, which will be marketed under the
trademark Soothe . In the event the FDA issues appropriate regulations or
guidance or determines that it has no questions that hemp extract is GRAS under
intended conditions of use that would permit A88 Infused to market hemp extract
in water without food additive approval, we expect to produce and sell
Soothe as still water in bottles. We may also decide to market
Soothe in any states, districts or territories if applicable laws allow
for such sale or if a supplier meets and complies with the FDAs GRAS
regulations with respect to a self-certification regarding the safety and GRAS
status of the use of hemp extract. We expect to produce Soothe as a low
calorie or no calorie, hemp extract-infused water in three flavors. We
may change the composition of our planned hemp-extract-infused product as
necessary to comply with federal, state or local laws, regulations or guidance.
We intend to comply in full with all federal, state, and local
laws, rules and regulations as we develop our hemp extract alkaline water and
other product lines. We will not pursue the production or sale of hemp
extract-infused products until legally permitted.
20
Cash Flows
Our financial statements are prepared using generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America applicable to a going
concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of
liabilities in the normal course of business. We have not yet established an
ongoing source of revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs, however, as
a result of the net proceeds of $10,450,900 raised via a public offering of our
common stock in March, 2019, expected warrant exercises including $1,180,486
from warrant exercises received since March 31, 2019 to date, and our credit
line, we have sufficient cash to sustain operations through at least June 30,
2020. Our ability to continue as a going concern beyond June 30, 2020 is
dependent on our company obtaining additional capital to fund operating losses
until we become profitable. If we are unable to obtain additional capital, we
could be forced to significantly curtail or cease operations.
Results of Operations
Years Ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018
The following summary of our results of operations should be
read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the
years ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 which are included herein:
Year Ended
Year Ended
March 31, 2019
March 31, 2018
Revenue
$
32,199,528
$
19,812,199
Cost of goods sold
19,252,768
11,687,017
Gross profit
12,946,760
8,125,182
Net Loss (after operating expenses and other
expenses)
(8,617,565
)
(6,687,280
)
Revenue and Cost of Goods Sold
We had revenue from sales of our product for the year ended
March 31, 2019 of $32,199,528 as compared to $19,812,199 for the year ended
March 31, 2018, an increase of 63%, generated by sales of our alkaline water.
The increase in sales is due to the expanded distribution of our products to
additional retailers throughout the country. We distribute our product through
several channels. We sell through large national distributors (UNFI, KeHe,
C&S, and Core-Mark), which together represent over 150,000 retail outlets.
We also sell our product directly to retail clients, including convenience
stores, natural food products stores, large ethnic markets and national
retailers. Some examples of retail clients are: Walmart, CVS, Albertson/Safeway,
Kroger, Schnucks, Smart & Final, Jewel-Osco, Sprouts, Bashas, Stater Bros.
Markets, Unified Grocers, Bristol Farms, Vallarta, Superior Foods, Ingles, HEB
Brookshires, Publix, Shaws, Raleys, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, and Festival
Foods.
Cost of goods sold is comprised of production costs, shipping
and handling costs. For the year ended March 31, 2019, we had cost of goods sold
of $19,252,768, or 60% of net sales, as compared to cost of goods sold of
$11,687,017, or 59% of net sales, for the year ended March 31, 2018. The
increase in cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales compared to the same
period last year was due to increased raw material cost and associated freight
as a result of our east coast expansion.
Expenses
Our operating expenses for the years ended March 31, 2019 and
March 31, 2018 are as follows:
Year Ended
Year Ended
March 31, 2019
March 31, 2018
Sales and marketing expenses
$
13,009,384
$
7,211,399
General and administrative expenses
7,420,078
6,425,069
Depreciation expenses
580,669
418,777
Total operating expenses
$
21,010,131
$
14,055,245
During the year ended March 31, 2019, our total operating
expenses were $21,010,131 as compared to $14,055,245 for the year ended March
31, 2018. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $5.8 million primarily as a
result of increased outbound freight costs of $2,728,322 and increased marketing
spend of $1,885,139 due to the 63% increase in revenue. General and
administrative expenses increased by $995,009 primarily resulting from an
increase in professional fees, media fees and legal fees for new
stock exchange listings on NASDAQ and the TSX Venture Exchange of approximately
$3.9 million, offset by a decrease in stock compensation expenses of $2.9
million. In the year ended March 31, 2018 we incurred $1.7 million in stock
compensation expense due to the settlement with related parties as described in
Note 7 to the consolidated financial statement and $1.3 million in stock
compensation provided to contractors which did not occur in the year ended March
31, 2019.
21
For the year ended March 31, 2019, the total of $7,420,078 of
general and administrative expenses consisted primarily of $4,511,325 of
professional fees, media fees and legal fees, $1,423,245 in wage expense and $478,043 in stock compensation
expense, relating to stock option expense and stock expense relating to
endorsement
For the year ended March 31, 2018, the total of $6,425,069 of
general and administrative expenses consisted primarily of $1,255,183 of
professional fees and $3,385,340 in stock compensation expense, relating to an
agreement to retire Series A preferred stock in exchange for Series D preffered
stock and common stock, issuance of common stock to consultants and stock option
expense
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital
At March 31, 2019
At March 31, 2018
Current assets
$
16,537,343
$
4,886,491
Current liabilities
7,125,695
5,595,885
Working capital (deficiency)
$
9,411,648
$
(709,394
)
Current Assets
Current assets as of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018
primarily relate to $11,032,451 and $988,905 in cash, $3,068,181 and $2,599,095
in accounts receivable and $2,058,012 and $1,002,020 in inventory, respectively.
Current assets primarily increased as a result of the capital raise in March 2019 of $10,450,900 and increases in accounts receivable and inventory resulting from the 63% increase in revenues.
Current Liabilities
Current liabilities as of March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018
primarily relate to $2,898,958 and $2,052,988 in accounts payable, revolving
financing of $3,131,279 and $2,592,015, and accrued expenses of $1,095,458 and
$819,011, respectively. Current liabilities primarily increased as a result of the 63% increase in revenues.
Cash Flow
Our cash flows for the years ended March 31, 2019 and March 31,
2018 are as follows:
Year
Year
Ended
Ended
March 31,
March 31,
2019
2018
Net Cash used in operating
activities
$
(8,128,613
)
$
(2,625,849
)
Net Cash used in investing activities
(1,356,299
)
(317,855
)
Net Cash provided by
financing activities
19,528,458
3,328,804
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
$
10,043,546
$
385,100
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $8,128,613 for the
year ended March 31, 2019, as compared to $2,625,849 used in operating
activities for the year ended March 31, 2018. The increase in net cash used was
primarily due to the funding of the additional professional fees, media fees and legal fees, freight and
marketing expenses and the reduction in stock compensation discussed in the
expense section above.
22
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $1,356,299 for the
year ended March 31, 2019, as compared to $317,855 used in investing activities
for the year ended March 31, 2018. The increase net cash used by investing
activities was from increased purchases of production equipment due to the
increase in our revenue.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended
March 31, 2019 was $19,528,458, as compared to $3,328,804 for the year ended
March 31, 2018. The increase of net cash provided by financing activities was
mainly attributable to the sale of our common stock for total net proceeds to
our company of $17,238,430 and warrant exercises for net proceeds of
$1,882,348.
Cash Requirements
We believe that between the net proceeds of $10,450,900 raised
via a public offering of our common stock in March, 2019 discussed above,
expected warrant exercises including $1,180,486 from warrant exercises received
to date, and our credit line, we will have sufficient cash to sustain operations
including our cash needs for the above milestones through at least June 30,
2020. If our own financial resources and future cash-flows from operations
beyong June 30, 2020 are insufficient to sustain operations, we may seek to sell
additional equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit facilities. The
sale of additional equity securities will result in dilution to our
stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness will result in increased debt
service obligations and could require us to agree to operating and financial
covenants that could restrict our operations or modify our plans to grow the
business. Financing may not be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to
us, if at all. Any failure by us to raise additional funds on terms favorable to
us, or at all, will limit our ability to expand our business operations and
could harm our overall business prospects.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are
reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition,
changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations,
liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to our
stockholders.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
23
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2019, and the related statement of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2019, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2019, and the results of its operations, stockholder’s equity and its cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013, and our report dated July 1, 2019, expressed a disclaimer of an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
July 1, 2019
24
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
The
Alkaline Water Company Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of
The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (the Company) as of March 31, 2018 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders equity, and cash
flows for the year ended March 31, 2018, and the related notes and schedules
(collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the
financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of the Company as of March 31, 2018, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2018 in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Companys financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting
firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company
in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the
PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The company is not required to
have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over
financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks
of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or
fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures
included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well
as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note
2 to the financial statements, the Company has negative working capital at March
31, 2018, has incurred recurring losses and recurring negative cash flow from
operating activities, and has an accumulated deficit which raises substantial
doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Managements plans
concerning these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
/s/ AMC Auditing
AMC Auditing
We have served as the Companys auditor since
2013
Las Vegas, Nevada
June 29, 2018
25
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON
INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
Opinion on the Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited The Alkaline Water Company Inc’s (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Because of the significance of the matter described in the Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion paragraph, we have not been able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the balance sheet of the Company as of March 31, 2019, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2019 and the related notes to the financial statements of the Company and our report dated July 1, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion.
Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
Because material weaknesses have been identified, as described in ‘Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting’ we were unable to apply the appropriate procedures to test the controls during the year. The scope of our work was not sufficient to enable us to express, and we do not express, an opinion either on management’s assessment or on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity's financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. If one or more material weaknesses exist, an entity's internal control over financial reporting cannot be considered effective. The following material weaknesses have been included in the accompanying report ‘Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting’.
26
1) The Company did not prepare a risk assessment for internal control over financial reporting during the year ended March 31, 2019.
2) The Company did not retain certain evidence to support internal controls over financial reporting during the year ended March 31, 2019.
3) The Company did not document or test internal control over financial reporting during the year ending March 31, 2019.
4) The Company’s internal control over financial reporting lacked adequate oversight.
We considered the material weaknesses identified above in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures applied in our audit of the March 31, 2019 financial statements, and this report does not affect such report on the financial statements.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and preform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists and preforming such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. Because material weaknesses have been identified, we were not able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for an audit opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
July 1, 2019
27
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2019
March 31, 2018
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
11,032,451
$
988,905
Accounts receivable
3,068,181
2,599,095
Inventory
2,058,012
1,002,020
Prepaid expenses
378,699
296,471
Total current assets
16,537,343
4,886,491
Fixed assets - net
1,945,265
1,169,635
Total assets
$
18,482,608
$
6,056,126
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$
2,898,958
$
2,052,988
Accrued expenses
1,095,458
819,011
Revolving financing
3,131,279
2,592,015
Note payable
-
131,583
Derivative liability
-
288
Total current liabilities
7,125,695
5,595,885
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares
authorized, Series C issued and outstanding 1,500,000 and Series D issued and outstanding issued 3,800,000 at
March 31, 2019 and 2018
5,300
5,300
Common stock, Class A - $0.001 par value,
200,000,000 shares authorized 39,573,512 and 25,991,346 shares issued and
outstanding at March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively
39,573
25,990
Additional paid in capital
50,006,919
30,506,265
Accumulated deficit
(38,694,879
)
(30,077,314
)
Total stockholders' equity
11,356,913
460,241
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
18,482,608
$
6,056,126
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
28
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended
March 31, 2019
March 31, 2018
Revenue
$
32,199,528
$
19,812,199
Cost of Goods Sold
19,252,768
11,687,017
Gross Profit
12,946,760
8,125,182
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing
expenses
13,009,384
7,211,399
General
and administrative
7,420,078
6,425,069
Depreciation
580,669
418,777
Total operating expenses
21,010,131
14,055,245
Total operating loss
(8,063,371
)
(5,930,063
)
Other income (expense)
Interest
expense
(554,482
)
(465,336
)
Amortization of debt
discount
-
(295,000
)
Change in
derivative liability
288
3,119
Total
other income (expense)
(554,194
)
(757,217
)
Net loss
$
(8,617,565
)
$
(6,687,280
)
LOSS PER SHARE (Basic and Diluted)
$
(0.27
)
$
(0.32
)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (Basic
and Diluted)
31,932,168
20,643,082
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
29
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2019 AND MARCH
31, 2018
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Additional
Accumulated
Number
Par Value
Number
Par Value
Paid-in Capital
Deficit
Total
Balance, March 31, 2017
23,000,000
$
23,000
17,532,451
$
17,531
$
24,181,029
$
(23,388,534
)
833,026
Retirement of Preferred A stock
(20,000,000
)
(20,000
)
-
-
-
(20,000
)
Conversion of Preferred C stock to
common stock
(1,500,000
)
(1,500
)
1,500,000
1,500
-
(1,500
)
(1,500
)
Issuance of Preferred D stock
3,000,000
3,000
3,000
Settlement with related parties (See
Note 8)
800,000
800
1,400,000
1,400
1,718,795
1,720,995
Beneficial conversion feature on convertible note
-
-
295,000
295,000
Conversion of note payable to common
stock
514,853
515
514,068
514,583
Shares issued for services
1,023,024
1,023
1,301,792
1,302,815
Warrant exercises
3,900,000
3,900
1,946,100
1,950,000
Stock Options issued to employees
-
-
549,602
549,602
Stock Option exercises
121,018
121
(121
)
-
Net loss
(6,687,280
)
(6,687,280
)
Balance, March 31, 2018
5,300,000
$
5,300
25,991,346
$
25,990
$
30,506,265
$
(30,077,314
)
460,241
Shares issued in connection with
offerings
11,351,612
11,352
17,227,077
17,238,429
Warrant exercises
2,091,497
2,091
1,880,257
1,882,348
Stock Option expense
-
-
393,460
393,460
Stock Option exercises
139,057
140
(140
)
-
Net loss
(8,617,565
)
(8,617,565
)
Balance, March 31, 2019
5,300,000
$
5,300
39,573,512
$
39,573
$
50,006,919
$
(38,694,879
)
$
11,356,913
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
30
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Year Ended
March 31, 2019
March 31, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss
$
(8,617,565
)
$
(6,687,280
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities
Depreciation expense
580,669
418,777
Stock compensation expense
393,460
3,554,912
Amortization of debt discount and accretion
-
295,000
Interest expense converted to equity
-
14,583
Interest expense relating to amortization of capital lease discount
-
60,089
Change in derivative liabilities
(288
)
(3,119
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(469,086
)
(1,179,814
)
Inventory
(1,055,992
)
(182,032
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(82,228
)
10,776
Accounts payable
845,970
709,164
Accrued expenses
276,447
363,095
NET CASH USED IN
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
(8,128,613
)
(2,625,849
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of fixed assets
(1,356,299
)
(317,855
)
CASH USED IN
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
(1,356,299
)
(317,855
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from convertible note payable
-
500,000
Proceeds from revolving financing, net
539,264
1,155,932
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net
17,238,429
-
Proceeds for the exercise of warrants, net
1,882,348
1,950,000
Repayment of notes payable
(131,583
)
(18,826
)
Repayment of capital lease
-
(258,302
)
CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
19,528,458
3,328,804
NET CHANGE IN CASH
10,043,546
385,100
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
988,905
603,805
CASH AT END OF PERIOD
$
11,032,451
$
988,905
INTEREST PAID
$
430,614
$
324,260
TAXES PAID
$
-
$
-
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTION
Conversion of note payable to common shares
$
-
$
514,602
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
31
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 –NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Business
The company offers retail consumers bottled alkaline water in 500-milliliter, 700-milliliter, 1-liter, 1.5 -liter, 3-liter and 1-gallon sizes under the trade name Alkaline88® which is produced through an electrolysis process that uses specialized electronic cells coated with a variety of rare earth minerals to produce 8.8 pH drinking water without the use of any manmade chemicals.
Basis of presentation
The consolidated financial statements included herein,
presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles and stated in U.S. dollars, have been prepared by the Company,
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (a Nevada Corporation) and its wholly owned
subsidiaries: A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation), A88
International, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation), and Alkaline 88, LLC (an Arizona
Limited Liability Company).
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have
been eliminated. The Alkaline Water Company Inc., A88 Infused Beverage Division,
Inc., A88 International, Inc., and Alkaline 88, LLC will be collectively
referred herein to as the Company. Any reference herein to The Alkaline Water
Company Inc., the Company, we, our or us is intended to mean The
Alkaline Water Company Inc., including the subsidiaries indicated above, unless
otherwise indicated.
32
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an
original maturity of three months or less to be considered cash equivalents. The
carrying value of these investments approximates fair value. As of the balance
sheet date and periodically throughout the period, the Company has maintained
balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits.
The Company had $11,032,451 and $988,905 in cash and cash equivalents at March
31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful
Accounts
The Company generally does not require collateral, and the
majority of its trade receivables are unsecured. The carrying amount for
accounts receivable approximates fair value.
Accounts receivable consisted of the following as of March 31,
2019 and 2018:
2019
2018
Trade receivables, net
$
3,142,580
$
2,667,010
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
(40,000
)
(40,000
)
Accrual for 2% 10 days discount
(34,399)
(27,915)
Net accounts receivable
$
3,068,181
$
2,599,095
Accounts receivable are periodically evaluated for
collectability based on past credit history with clients. Provisions for losses
on accounts receivable are determined on the basis of loss experience, known and
inherent risk in the account balance and current economic conditions. The
accounts receivable balance is pledged as collateral for the Companys revolving
financing as disclosed in Note 4.
Inventory
Inventory represents raw materials and finished goods valued at
the lower of cost or market with cost determined using the weight average method
which approximates first-in first-out method, and with market defined as the
lower of replacement cost or realizable value. The inventory balance is pledged
as collateral for the Companys revolving financing as disclosed in Note 4.
33
As of March 31, 2019 and 2018, inventory consisted of the
following:
2019
2018
Raw materials
$
1,066,105
$
766,556
Finished goods
991,907
235,464
Total inventory
$
2,058,012
$
1,002,020
Property and Equipment
The Company records all property and equipment at cost less
accumulated depreciation. Improvements are capitalized while repairs and
maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is calculated using the
straight-line (half-life convention) method over the estimated useful life of
the assets or the lease term, whichever is shorter. The Company originally
estimated the useful life of water production equipment as 5 years. During the
year ended March 31, 2019, the company reevaluated the useful life of its water
production equipment as the machinery began to wear out sooner than originally
expected over a 3 year period due to an increase in revenue. The Company
recorded this change and recorded the adjusted depreciation in fiscal 2019; the
effect of which was not material.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation is in
accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718. Stock-based
compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the
award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.. The
Company estimates the fair value of stock-based payments using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model for common stock options and warrants and the closing price
of the Companys common stock for common share issuances.
Advertising
Advertising costs are charged to operations when incurred.
Advertising expenses for the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 were $374,500
and $479,524 respectively
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when our performance obligations are
satisfied. Our primary performance obligation (the distribution and sale of
beverage products) is satisfied upon the delivery of products to our customers,
which is also when control is transferred. The Company does not accept returns
due to the nature of the product. However, the Company will provide credit to
our customers for damaged goods. The Company provides credit to its customers which typically requires payment within 30 days. As an incentive to pay early the Company also typically provides a 2% discount if the customer pays within 10 days. The Company estimates the amount of the discount that the customer is likely to take and records it as reduction in revenue. The amounts are not considered material. After evaluating the revenue disclosure requirements the Company does not believe that it needs to disaggregate revenues.
Revenue consists of the gross sales price, less estimated
allowances for which provisions are made at the time of sale, and less certain
other discounts, allowances, and rebates that are accounted for as a reduction
from gross revenue. Shipping and handling charges that are billed to customers
are included as a component of revenue. Costs incurred by the Company for
shipping and handling charges are included in selling expenses and amounted to
$5,393,253 and $2,664,931 for the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
Concentration Risks
We have 2 major customers that together account for 46% (28%
and 18%, respectively) of accounts receivable at March 31, 2019, and 2 customers
that together account for 43% (25% and 18%, respectively) of the total revenues
earned for the year ended March 31, 2019.The Company has 2 vendors that
accounted for 50% (34 %, and 16% respectively) of purchases for the year ended
March 31, 2019.
Income Taxes
In accordance with ASC 740 Accounting for Income
Taxes , the provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and
liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred income tax
assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax
bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax
rates and laws. A valuation allowance is provided for the amount of deferred tax
assets that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be realized.
34
Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings or loss per share (EPS) amounts in
the consolidated financial statements are computed in accordance ASC 260 10
Earnings per Share , which establishes the requirements for presenting
EPS. Basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding. Diluted EPS is based on the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding and dilutive common stock equivalents. Basic EPS is computed
by dividing net income or loss available to common stockholders (numerator) by
the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (denominator) during
the period. Potentially dilutive securities were excluded from the calculation
of diluted loss per share, because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
The Company had 1,236,510 and no shares relating to options, 3,190,479 and 887,348 shares relating to warrants and 1.5 million convertible preferred shares at March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively that were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation because they were antidilutive.
Business Segments
The Company operates on one segment in one geographic location
- the United States of America and; therefore, segment information is not
presented.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of the companys financial instruments
including accounts payable, accrued expenses, and notes payable approximate fair
value due to the relative short period for maturity these instruments.
The company does not use derivative financial instruments to hedge exposures to cash-flow, market or foreign-currency risks.
Authoritative guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the company’s assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on reliability of the inputs as follows:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
As of March 31, 2019 and 2018, the company did not have any financial instruments that are measured on a recurring basis as Level 1, 2 or 3.
Reclassification
Certain accounts in the prior period were reclassified to
conform to the current period financial statements presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Standards. The following recently
issued accounting standards were adopted during fiscal year 2019:
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from
Contracts with Customers , which supersedes nearly all existing revenue
recognition standards under U.S. GAAP. The new standard provides a five-step
process for recognizing revenue that depicts the transfer of promised goods or
services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the
entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The
Company adopted this ASU using the full retrospective method effective April 1,
2018. The impact of adoption of this ASU was immaterial and, accordingly, there
were no changes to the previously issued financial statements for the year ended
March 31, 2018.
In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-15, Statement of
Cash Flows, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The
new standard is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain cash
receipts and cash payments are classified in the statements of cash flows and
must be adopted retrospectively for each prior reporting period presented upon
initial adoption. ASU 2016-15 was adopted effective April 1, 2018 and did not
have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements for
the years ended March 31, 2018 and 2019 . Accordingly, there were no
transactions that required retrospective adjustments in the consolidated
statements of cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2018.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09,
CompensationStock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting , which
provides clarification on when modification accounting should be used for
changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. This standard
does not change the accounting for modifications of share-based payment awards
but clarifies that modification accounting guidance should only be applied if
there is a change to the value, vesting conditions, or award classification and
would not be required if the changes are considered non-substantive. This
standard was adopted by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and did
not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
35
Standards Required to be Adopted in Future Years.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial
Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on
Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 amends the guidance on the impairment of
financial instruments. This update adds an impairment model (known as the
current expected credit losses model) that is based on expected losses rather
than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes, as an
allowance, its estimate of expected credit losses. In November 2018, ASU 2016-13
was amended by ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial
Instruments Credit Losses. ASU 2018-19 changes the effective date of the
credit loss standards (ASU 2016-13) to fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Further, the ASU
clarifies that operating lease receivables are not within the scope of ASC
326-20 and should instead be accounted for under the new leasing standard, ASC
842. The Company does not believe that the impact of adopting this standard will
have a material effect on its financial statements .
In February 2016, the FASB issued
ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new guidance will require
lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually
all leases, other than leases with a term of 12 months or less, and to provide
additional disclosures about leasing arrangements. The Company will adopt this
standard as of April 1, 2019, the first day of its 2020 fiscal year, using the
modified retrospective approach. The Company will elect an optional practical
expedient to retain its current classification of leases, and as a result,
anticipates that the initial impact of adopting this new standard on its
consolidated statement of operations and consolidated statement of cash flows
will result in a lease liability of approximately $140,000 and a right of use
asset of approximately $124,000. The Companys undiscounted minimum lease
commitments under its operating leases are disclosed in Note 9.
The Company has evaluated other recent accounting
pronouncements through June 2019 and believes that none of them will have a
material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 2 CASH FLOWS
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates
the recoverability and/or acquisition and sale of assets and the satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. Since its inception, the Company
has been engaged substantially in financing activities, developing its business
plan and building its initial customer and distribution base for its products.
As a result, the Company incurred accumulated net losses from Inception (June
19, 2012) through the period ended March 31, 2019 of ($38,694,879). In addition,
the Companys development activities since inception have been financially
sustained through debt and equity financing.
We have not yet established an ongoing source of revenues
sufficient to cover our operating costs, however, as a result of the $10,450,900
(net of offering costs) raised in our public offering in March 2019, expected
warrant exercises including $1,180,486 from warrant exercises received to
date, and our credit line we believe we will have sufficient cash to sustain
operations through at least June 30, 2020.
NOTE 3 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Fixed assets consisted of the following at:
March 31, 2019
March 31, 2018
Machinery and Equipment
$
3,764,533
$
2,096,074
Machinery Construction in Progress
-0-
312,160
Office Equipment
29,000
29,300
Less: Accumulated Depreciation
(1,848,568
)
(1,267,899
)
Fixed Assets, net
$
1,945,265
$
1,169,635
Depreciation expense for the years ended March 31, 2019 and
2018 was $580,669 and $418,777, respectively.
On February 1, 2018, we exercised our purchase option to
purchase four alkaline generating electrolysis system machines leased under the
master lease agreement entered into on October 22, 2014, as amended on February
25, 2015 with Veterans Capital Fund, LLC for a total of $160,000. The purchase
price bears interest of 12% per annum and is payable in eleven equal monthly
installments of $14,934.00 each and one final installment of $4,040.41, with the
first installment due on February 1, 2018 and on the remaining eleven installments due
on the first of each month thereafter with the final installment due and payable
on January 1, 2019. As of March 31, 2019, the equipment was paid for in
full.
36
NOTE 4 REVOLVING FINANCING
On February 1, 2017, the Company entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (the
Credit Agreement) with SCM Specialty Finance Opportunities Fund, L.P. (the
Lender).
The Credit Agreement provides the Company with a revolving
credit facility (the Revolving Facility), the proceeds of which are to be used
to repay existing indebtedness of the Company, transaction fees incurred in
connection with the Credit Agreement and for working capital needs of the
Company.
Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Lender has agreed
to make cash advances to the Company in an aggregate principal at any one time
outstanding not to exceed the lesser of (i) $4 million (the Revolving Loan
Commitment Amount) and (ii) the Borrowing Base (defined to mean, as of any date
of determination, 85% of net eligible billed receivables plus 65% of eligible
unbilled receivables, minus certain reserves, and is subject to certain customer
specific requirements).
The Credit Agreement has a term of three years, unless earlier
terminated by the parties in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
The principal amount of the Revolving Facility outstanding
bears interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) a fluctuating interest rate per
annum equal at all times to the rate of interest announced, from time to time,
within Wells Fargo Bank at its principal office in San Francisco as its prime
rate, plus (ii) 3.25%, payable monthly in arrears. The interest rate as of
March 31, 2019 was 8.75% .
To secure the payment and performance of the obligations under
the Credit Agreement, the Company granted to the Lender a continuing security
interest in all of the Companys assets and agreed to a lockbox account
arrangement in respect of certain eligible receivables.
In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company paid to
the Lender a $30,000 facility fee. The Company agreed to pay the Lender monthly
an unused line fee in amount equal to 0.083% per month of the difference derived
by subtracting (i) the average daily outstanding balance under the Revolving
Facility during the preceding month, from (ii) the Revolving Loan Commitment
Amount. The unused line fee will be payable monthly in arrears. The Company also
agreed to pay the Lender as additional interest a monthly collateral management
fee equal to 0.35% per month calculated on the basis of the average daily
balance under the Revolving Facility outstanding during the preceding month. The
collateral management fee will be payable monthly in arrears. Upon a termination
of the Revolving Facility, the Company agreed to pay the Lender a termination
fee in an amount equal to 2% of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount if the
termination occurs before February 1, 2020. The Company must also pay certain
fees in the event that receivables are not properly deposited in the appropriate
lockbox account.
The interest rate will be increased by 5% in the event of a
default under the Credit Agreement. Events of default under the Credit
Agreement, some of which are subject to certain cure periods, include a failure
to pay obligations when due, the making of a material misrepresentation to the
Lender, the rendering of certain judgments or decrees against the Company and
the commencement of a proceeding for the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
liquidator or conservator or filing of a petition seeking reorganization or
liquidation or similar relief.
The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and
warranties and various affirmative and negative covenants including the right of
first refusal to provide financing for the Company and the financial and loan
covenants, such as the loan turnover rate, minimum EBTDA, fixed charge coverage
ratio and minimum liquidity requirements. The Company was in compliance with
those covenants as of March 31, 2019.
On February 13, 2018, the Lender agreed to provide the Company
a $400,000 Temporary Over Advance (TOA) under the Credit Facility Agreement.
The TOA was repaid as follows: (i) the Company made five (5) weekly principal
payments on the TOA each in the amount of $20,000 commencing on April 23, 2018
and on the first Business Day of each calendar week thereafter through and
including May 21, 2018, (ii) the Company made ten (10) weekly principle payments
on the TOA, each in the amount of $30,000, commencing on May 28, 2018 and on the
first Business Day of each calendar week thereafter through and including July 30, 2018 and (iii) repaid
the remaining principal balance on the TOA, if any, in full on or prior to July
30, 2018.
37
On February 14, 2018, David Guarino, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, entered into a Guarantee
Agreement (the Guarantee) with the Lender in order for the Lender to agree to
provide the Company the $400,000 TOA under the Credit Agreement. Under the
Guarantee, Mr. Guarino personally, absolutely, and unconditionally, jointly and
severally, guaranteed the prompt, complete and full payment of the Companys
obligations to repay the TOA only, under the Credit Agreement, with the Lender.
As of March 31, 2019, the TOA has been repaid in full.
On December 31, 2018, the Lender agreed to provide the Company
a $400,000 Temporary Over Advance (TOA 2) under the Credit Facility Agreement.
The TOA2 is to be repaid as follows: (i) the Company shall make five (5) weekly
principal payments on the TOA 2 each in the amount of $20,000 commencing on
February 18, 2019 and on the first Business Day of each calendar week thereafter
through and including March 18, 2019, (ii) the Company shall make ten (10)
weekly principal payments on the TOA 2, each in the amount of $30,000,
commencing on March 25, 2018 and on the first Business Day of each calendar week
thereafter through and including May 27, 2019 and (iii) repay the remaining
principal balance on the TOA 2, if any, in full on or prior to May 27, 2019. As
of March 31, 2019, the TOA 2 was repaid in full.
On December 31, 2018, David Guarino entered into a Guarantee
Agreement (the Guarantee 2) with the Lender in order for the Lender to agree
to provide the Company the $400,000 TOA 2 under the Credit Agreement. Under the
Guarantee 2, Mr. Guarino personally, absolutely, and unconditionally, jointly
and severally, guaranteed the prompt, complete and full payment of the Companys
obligations to repay the TOA 2 only, under the Credit Agreement, with the
Lender.
On June 28, 2019, the Credit Agreement was amended to extend the expiration date to July 1, 2021, to increase the loan commitment amount to $5 million from $4 million and to change the termination fee to 1% from 2%. All other terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement remained the same.
NOTE 5 STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Preferred Shares
On October 7, 2013, the Company amended its articles of
incorporation to create 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock by filing a
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of
State of Nevada. The preferred stock may be divided into and issued in series,
with such designations, rights, qualifications, preferences, limitations and
terms as fixed and determined by our board of directors.
38
Grant of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
On March 30, 2016, the Company designated 3,000,000 shares of
the authorized and unissued preferred stock of our company as Series C
Preferred Stock by filing a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of
State of the State of Nevada. Each share of the Series C Preferred Stock will be
convertible, without the payment of any additional consideration by the holder
and at the option of the holder, into one fully paid and non-assessable share of
our common stock at any time after (i) the Company achieves consolidated revenue
equal to or greater than $15,000,000 in any 12 month period, ending on the last
day of any quarterly period of our fiscal year; or (ii) a Negotiated Trigger
Event, defined as an event upon which the Series C Preferred Stock will be
convertible as may be agreed by our company and the holder in writing from time
to time. At March 31, 2018 and 2019, 1,500,000 shares of Series C preferred stock were convertible into common stock.
Grant of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
On May 3, 2017, the Company designated 3,000,000 shares of the
authorized and unissued preferred stock of our company as Series D Preferred
Stock by filing a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the
State of Nevada. On November 2, 2017, we increased the number of authorized
shares of Series D Preferred Stock in our company to 5,000,000 shares by filing
an Amendment to the foregoing Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of
State of the State of Nevada. Each share of the Series D Preferred Stock will be
convertible, without the payment of any additional consideration by the holder
and at the option of the holder, into one fully paid and nonassessable share of
our common stock at any time after (i) we achieve the consolidated revenue of
our company and all of its subsidiaries equal to or greater than $40,000,000 in
any 12 month period, ending on the last day of any quarterly period of our
fiscal year; or (ii) a Negotiated Trigger Event, defined as an event upon which
the Series D Preferred Stock will be convertible as may be agreed by our company
and the holder in writing from time to time. In May, 2017, the Company issued a
total of 3,000,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock to our directors,
officers, consultants and employees. In November, 2017, the Company issued an
additional 800,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock as follows: (a)
300,000 shares to Steve Nickolas pursuant to the Settlement Agreement detailed
below; and (b) 500,000 shares to Richard Wright pursuant to the Exchange
Agreement and stock option forfeitures detailed below. We issued these shares
relying on the registration exemption provided for in Section 4(a)(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933.
Common Stock
Upon incorporation in 2011, the Company was authorized to issue
75,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value common stock. On May 31, 2013, the Company
effected a 15-for-1 forward stock split of our $0.001 par value common stock.
All shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect
such split. Prior to the acquisition of Alkaline Water Corp., the Company had
109,500,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. On May 31, 2013, the
Company issued 43,000,000 shares in exchange for a 100% interest in Alkaline
Water Corp. For accounting purposes, the acquisition of Alkaline Water Corp. by
The Alkaline Water Company Inc. has been recorded as a reverse acquisition of a
company and recapitalization of Alkaline Water Corp. based on the factors
demonstrating that Alkaline Water Corp. represents the accounting acquirer.
Consequently, after the closing of this agreement the Company adopted the
business of Alkaline Water Corp.s wholly-owned subsidiary, Alkaline 88, LLC. As
part of the acquisition, the former management of the Company agreed to cancel
75,000,000 shares of common stock.
On December 30, 2015, the Company effected a fifty for one
reverse stock split of its authorized and issued and outstanding shares of
common stock. As a result, the authorized common stock decreased from
1,125,000,000 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share, to
22,500,000 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share. All
shares and per share amounts were retroactively restated to reflect such split.
On January 21, 2016, stockholders of our company approved, by
written consents, an amendment to the articles of incorporation of our company
to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 22,500,000
to 200,000,000.
39
On March 12, 2019, the Company closed an underwritten public
offering of 4,600,000 shares of our common stock. The shares were issued at a
purchase price of $2.50 per share, for net proceeds of $10,450,900.
Common Stock Issued for Services
In the years ended March 31, 2019, the Company did not issue any common stock for services, however, the Company accrued $84,583 under an agreement that obligates the Company to issue 50,000 shares to a consultant for services rendered of which approximately 29,000 shares were earned as of March 31, 2019. For the year ended March 31, 2018 the company recorded $1,302,815 for common stock issued to contractors for services rendered.
NOTE 6 OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Stock Option Awards
Effective October 7, 2013, our board of directors adopted and approved our 2013 equity incentive plan. The plan was approved by a majority of our stockholders on October 7, 2013. On October 31, 2014, our board of directors amended our 2013 equity incentive plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares of stock of our company available for the grant of awards under the plan from 20,000,000 shares to 35,000,000 shares. The purpose of the plan is to (a) enable our company and any of our affiliates to attract and retain the types of employees, consultants and directors who will contribute to our company’s long range success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of employees, consultants and directors with those of the stockholders of our company; and (c) promote the success of our company’s business. Effective as of December 30, 2015, we effected a 50-for-1 reverse stock split of our authorized and issued and outstanding shares of common stock which decreased the number of shares of stock of our company available for the grant of awards under the plan from 35,000,000 shares to 700,000 shares. Effective as of January 20, 2016, our board of directors amended the plan to increase the number of shares of stock of our company available for the grant of awards under the plan from 700,000 to 7,700,000. The plan enabled us to grant awards of a maximum of 7,700,000 shares of our stock and awards that may be granted under the plan included incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted awards and performance compensation awards.
Our 2013 equity incentive plan has been suspended in connection with our application to list our common stock on the TSX Venture Exchange, but the suspension does not affect any awards, including any stock options, already granted under the plan.
On April 25, 2018, our board of directors adopted the 2018 Stock Option Plan, pursuant to which we may grant stock options to acquire up to a total of 5,171,612 shares of our common stock, including any other shares of our common stock which may be issued pursuant to any other stock options granted by our company outside the plan. We adopted the plan in connection with our application to list our common stock on the TSX Venture Exchange. The purpose of the plan is to retain the services of valued key employees and consultants of our company and such other persons as our board of directors selects, and to encourage such persons to acquire a greater proprietary interest in our company, thereby strengthening their incentive to achieve the objectives of our stockholders, and to serve as an aid and inducement in the hiring of new employees and to provide an equity incentive to consultants and other persons selected by our board of directors.
Effective April 28, 2017, we granted a total of 1,790,000 stock
options to our directors, officers, consultants employees. The stock options are
exercisable at the exercise price of $1.29 per share for a period of ten years
from the date of grant. 360,000 of the stock options vest as follows: (i)
120,000 upon the date of grant; and (ii) 120,000 on each anniversary date of
grant. 1,430,000 of the stock options vest as follows: (i) 357,500 upon the date
of grant; and (ii) 357,500 on each anniversary date of grant. We granted the
stock options to 12 U.S. Persons and 3 non U.S. Persons (as that term is defined
in Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933) and in issuing securities we
relied on the registration exemption provided for in Regulation S and/or Section
4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
For the years ended March
31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 the Company has recognized compensation expense of
$393,460 and $549,602 respectively, on the stock options granted in April 2017 that vested.
The unvested amounts will be amoritized over the next two years. The fair value
of the unvested shares is $786,920 as of March 31, 2019. The aggregate intrinsic
value of outstanding options was $4,114,439 at March 31, 2019. Stock
option activity summary covering options is presented in the table below:
40
Weighted-
Weighted-
Average
Average
Remaining
Number of
Exercise
Contractual
Shares
Price
Term (years)
Outstanding at March 31, 2017
4,145,800
$
0.92
7.7
Granted
1,790,000
1.29
9.1
Exercised
(181,000
)
0.52
9.7
Expired/Forfeited
(3,320,800
)
0.55
6.9
Outstanding at March 31, 2018
2,434,000
1.09
8.0
Granted
-
-
-
Exercised
(161,100)
1.03
4.5
Expired/Forfeited
-
-
-
Outstanding at March 31, 2019
2,272,900
1.09
4.5
Exercisable at March 31, 2019
1,477,710
0.98
4.5
Warrants
On March 1, 2018, pursuant to Warrant Amendment Agreements
dated February 22, 2018 with 16 holders (the Holders ) of our common
stock purchase warrants (the existing warrants), we issued an aggregate of
3,900,000 shares of our common stock upon exercise of the Existing Warrants at
an exercise price of $0.50 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,950,000.
The Existing Warrants were issued by us as part of an offering that closed on
March 4, 2016. In addition, pursuant to the Warrant Amendment Agreements, we
issued new common stock purchase warrants of our company (the New
Warrants ) in the form of the Existing Warrants to purchase up to a number
of shares of our common stock equal to the number of Existing Warrants exercised
by the Holders, provided that (i) the exercise price of the New Warrants is
$0.60 per share, subject to adjustment in the New Warrants, (ii) the expiry date
of the New Warrants is September 1, 2019 and (iii) the New Warrants are
non-transferable.
On May 31, 2018, the Company issued 5,131,665 Units of the
Company at a price of US$0.75 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of
US$3,848,749. Each Unit consisted of one share of common stock of the Company
(each, a Share ) and one-half of one share purchase warrant (each whole
warrant, a Warrant). One Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one
additional Share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share ) at a
price of US$0.90 per Warrant Share for a period of two years from closing.
On October 1, 2018, the Company closed a non-brokered private
placement financing (the Financing) of 1,619,947 units (each, a Unit) at a
price of CDN$2.50 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,979,596. Each Unit
consists of one share of common stock of the Company (each, a Share) and one
share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant), with each Warrant entitling the
holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at a price of CDN$2.90 per Share
for a period of two years. All securities issued in the Financing were subject
to a Canadian holding period which expired on January 28, 2019. The Company paid
finders fees of $123,572 and issued 49,428 warrants.
The following is a summary of the status of all of our warrants
as of March 31, 2019 and changes during the years ended on that date:
Weighted-
Number
Average
of Warrants
Exercise Price
Outstanding at March 31, 2017
4,192,916
$
0.79
Granted
3,900,000
0.50
Exercised
(3,900,000
)
0.50
Cancelled or Expired
(162,858
)
4.71
Outstanding at March 31, 2018
4,030,059
0.79
Granted
4,252,541
1.40
Exercised
(2,092,052
)
0.90
Cancelled or Expired
2,326
27.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2019
6,188,222
1.16
Warrants exercisable at March 31, 2019
6,188,222
1.16
The following table summarizes information about stock warrants
outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2019:
STOCK WARRANTS OUTSTANDING
Number of
Weighted-Average
Warrants
Remaining Contractual
Exercise Price
Outstanding
Life in Years
$9.375
19,066
0.08
7.50
6,667
0.08
5.00
102,000
0.90
2.17 (*)
1,686,157
1.5
0.90
474,332
1.2
0.60
3,900,000
1.4
*Note The warrant exercise price is
C$ 2.90 = U.S. $2.17 (rate 1.3352) at 03/31/19
NOTE 7 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On October 8, 2013, the Company issued a total of 20,000,000
shares of non-convertible Series A Preferred Stock to Steven Nickolas, former
Chairman and CEO as of April 7, 2017, and Richard Wright (10,000,000 shares to
each), in consideration for the past services, at a deemed value of $0.001 per
share. We valued these shares based on the cost considering the time and average
billing rate of these individuals and recorded a $20,000 stock compensation cost
for the year ended March 31, 2014. On October 30, 2018, Steven Nickolas
forfeited his 10,000,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the
Settlement Agreement detailed below. On November 8, 2018, Richard Wright
forfeited his 10,000,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the
Exchange Agreement as detailed below.
41
On May 3, 2017, the Company designated 3,000,000 shares of the
authorized and unissued preferred stock of our company as Series D Preferred
Stock by filing a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the
State of Nevada. On April 28, 2017, Mr. Wright and Mr. Guarino were each issued
1,000,000 shares each of the Series D Preferred Stock.
On October 25, 2017, Mr. Wright and the Company entered into a
stock option forfeiture and general release agreement whereby Mr. Wright
forfeited stock options to purchase 148,000 shares of the Companys common
stock.
On October 31, 2017, our company and its subsidiaries entered
into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims (the Settlement
Agreement ) with Steven P. Nickolas, the Nickolas Family Trust, Water
Engineering Solutions, LLC and Enhanced Beverages, LLC, companies and trust that
are controlled or owned by Mr. Nickolas, (collectively, the Nickolas
Parties ) and McDowell 78, LLC and Wright Investments Group, LLC, a
company controlled or owned by Richard Wright, (collectively,
Wright/McDowell). The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, the
following: a) simultaneous with the full execution of the Settlement Agreement,
we agreed to pay Mr. Nickolas $110,000 in one lump sum (paid); b) in exchange of
700,000 shares of our common stock and 300,000 shares of our Series D Preferred
Stock described above, Mr. Nickolas forfeited his 10,000,000 shares of our
Series A Preferred Stock, to be cancelled for no further consideration; c) upon
the full execution of the Settlement Agreement, Mr. Nickolas and our company
agreed to file the stipulations to dismiss the complaints and counterclaim filed
by each of them with prejudice, with each side to bear its own costs and
attorneys fees. In addition, our company and Wright/McDowell agreed that they
will effectuate the dismissal of an arbitration proceeding against the Nickolas
Parties with prejudice, with each side to bear its own attorneys fees and
costs; e) Mr. Nickolas acknowledged and agreed that the employment agreement
between Mr. Nickolas and our company was terminated as of April 7, 2017 and no
further amounts are owed to Mr. Nickolas under the employment agreement and we
agreed to waive restrictive covenants set out in the employment agreement; f) we
agreed to assume financial responsibility for certain obligations owed by Mr.
Nickolas; g) Mr. Nickolas acknowledged and agreed that 1,500,000 stock options
with an exercise price of $0.52 issued to Mr. Nickolas on or about March 1, 2016
has expired and a total of 148,000 stock options issued to Mr. Mr. Nickolas
before 2016 will automatically expire 90 days from October 6, 2017, the date Mr.
Nickolas ceased being a director of our company; and h) the parties also agreed
to mutual release of claims.
On November 8, 2017, Richard Wright and the Company entered in
to an Exchange Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims (the Exchange
Agreement). The Exchange Agreement provided, among other things, for the
following: a) in exchange for the issuance of 700,000 shares of our common stock
and 300,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock described above, Richard
Wright forfeited his 10,000,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, to be
cancelled for no further consideration; and b) Richard Wright also agreed to a
release of claims against the Company. Also on November 8, 2017, Richard Wright
forfeited stock options to purchase 1,500,000 shares of our companys common
stock at an exercise price of $0.52 per share in exchange for the Company
agreeing to issue Richard Wright an additional 200,000 shares of Series D
Preferred Stock. The Company recognized an expense in the amount of $875,200 relating to the issuance of the 700,000 shares of common stock and $200 relating to the issuance of the 200,000 shares of Series D preferred stock.
On September 14, 2017, October 17, 2017 and November 22, 2017
Wright Investment Group LLC, an entity controlled by Richard Wright, chief
executive officer, president and director, advanced $200,000, $400,000 and
$400,000, respectively, to the Company for a total of $1,000,000 advanced. The
$1,000,000 in advancements were repaid to Wright Investment Group, LLC on March
2, 2018.
42
On February 14, 2018, David A. Guarino entered into a Guarantee
Agreement (the Guarantee 1) with CNH Specialty Finance (the Lender) in order
for the Lender to agree to provide the Company a $400,000 Temporary Over Advance
(TOA 1) under the Credit Facility Agreement (the Credit Agreement). Under
the Guarantee 1, Mr. Guarino personally, absolutely, and unconditionally,
jointly and severally, guaranteed the prompt, complete and full payment of the
Companys obligations to repay the TOA 1 only, under the Credit Agreement, with
the Lender. The TOA 1 was repaid in full as of March 31, 2019.
On December 31, 2018, David A. Guarino entered into a Guarantee
Agreement (the Guarantee 2) with the Lender in order for the Lender to agree
to provide the Company a second $400,000 TOA under the Credit Agreement (TOA
2). Under the Guarantee 2, Mr. Guarino personally, absolutely, and
unconditionally, jointly and severally, guaranteed the prompt, complete and full
payment of the Companys obligations to repay the TOA 2 only, under the Credit
Agreement, with the Lender.
Employment Agreement with Steven Nickolas
On March 30, 2016, the Company entered into an employment
agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Steven Nickolas, our former
president, chief executive officer and director, pursuant to which Mr. Nickolas
agreed to perform such duties as are regularly and customarily performed by the
president and chief executive officer of a corporation, and any other duties
consistent with Mr. Nickolass position in our company. Pursuant to the terms of
the employment agreement, the Company have agreed to (i) pay Mr. Nickolas
$15,000 per month or such other amount as may be determined by our board of
directors from time to time; and (ii) issue to Mr. Nickolas 1,500,000 shares of
our Series C Preferred Stock (issued effective as of March 31, 2016). The
Company also agreed that each of the following events constitute a Negotiated
Trigger Event as defined in the Certificate of Designation for the Series C
Preferred Stock: (i) the occurrence of a change of control event; (ii) the death
of Mr. Nickolas; and (iii) the termination of the employment agreement for any
reason.
On November 18, 2016, our company provided notice to Steven
Nickolas, our CEO and President, of our board of directors finding that there
is just cause for termination of Mr. Nickolass employment and of our
companys intent to terminate the employment of Mr. Nickolas for just cause
pursuant to the provision of the Employment Agreement with Mr. Nickolas dated
March 1, 2016. Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Nickolas had 30 days to cure
the failures and breaches creating just cause for termination. Mr. Nickolas
failed to cure such failure and breaches and, on April 7, 2017, our company
terminated the employment of Mr. Nickolas for cause. In addition, our company
removed Mr. Nickolas as the President and Chief Executive Officer of our
company.
NOTE 8 INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company
recorded the valuation allowance due to the uncertainty of future realization of
federal and state net operating loss carryforwards. The deferred income tax
assets are comprised of the following at March 31, 2019 and 2018:
2019
2018
Deferred income tax assets:
$
5,410,000
$
3,360,000
Valuation allowance
(5,410,000
)
(3,360,000
)
Net total
$
-
$
-
At March 31, 2019, the Company had net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $21,700,000 and net operating loss carryforwards
expire in 2023 through 2037. The current years net operating loss will
carryforward indefinitely.
In December 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”) was enacted into law which significantly revises the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The newly enacted federal income tax law, among other things, contains significant changes to corporate taxation, including a flat corporate tax rate of 21%, limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of adjusted taxable income, limitation of the deduction for newly generated net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income and elimination of net operating loss (“NOL”) carrybacks, future taxation of certain classes of offshore earnings regardless of whether they are repatriated, immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and modifying or repealing many business deductions and credits beginning in 2018.
The valuation allowance was decreased by $490,000 during the year ended March 31, 2018 as a result of the reduction in the U.S. tax rate to 21%. The current income tax benefit of $2,050,000 generated for the year ended March 31, 2019 was offset by an equal increase in the valuation allowance. The valuation allowance was increased due to uncertainties as to the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income to utilize the net operating loss carryforwards which is the only significant component of deferred taxes.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to
uncertain tax positions in general and administrative expense. As of March 31,
2019 and 2018 the Company has no unrecognized uncertain tax positions, including
interest and penalties.
43
The Companys federal income tax returns for tax years ended
March 31, 2016 and beyond remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue
Service. The returns for Arizona, the Companys most significant state tax
jurisdication, remain subject to examinination by the Arizona Department of
Revenue for tax years ended March 31, 2015 and beyond.
NOTE 9 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The Company has long-term leases for its office, warehouse, and
office equipment under non cancelable operating leases from April 1, 2016
through December 26, 2020. At March 31, 2019, future minimum contractual
obligations were as follows:
FACILITIES
Year ending March 31, 2020
$
117,678
Year ending March 31, 2021
71,021
Total Minimum Lease Payments:
$
188,699
Rent expense for the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was
$114,822 and $102,445, respectively.
On April 1, 2016, the Company entered into an 18-month lease
agreement for certain warehouse space requiring a monthly payment of $1,125. On
September 12, 2017, the Company extended the lease until March 31, 2020,
requiring a monthly rent payment of $1,187.50 for the period October 1, 2017 to
September 30, 2018 and a monthly rent payment of $1,250.00 for the period
October 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020.
On December 1, 2016, the Company entered into a 16-month lease
agreement for certain warehouse space requiring a monthly payment of $2,250. On
May 7, 2018, the Company extended the lease until March 30, 2019, requiring a
monthly payment of $2,375 for the period June 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. On
March 11, 2019, the Company extended the lease one additional year until March
31, 2020 at a rate of $2,450 per month.
On September 26, 2017, the Company entered into a 39-month
lease agreement for its corporate headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona requiring
a monthly payment of $7,611.83, with a monthly lease increase to $7,751.83 per
month in months 15-26 of the lease and to $7,981.17 per month in the months
27-39 of the lease.
NOTE 10 LOANS PAYABLE
On December 31, 2017, the Company exercised its purchase option
with Lessor to purchase all four pieces of equipment leased under a master lease
agreement for a total of $160,000 (the Purchase Payment). The Purchase Payment
bore interest of 12% per annum and was payable in eleven equal monthly
installments of $14,934.00 each and one final installment of $4,040.41, with the
first installment due on February 1, 2018 and on the remaining eleven
installments due on the first of each month thereafter with the final
installment due and payable on January 1, 2019. As of March 31, 2019, the
equipment has been paid for in-full.
NOTE 11 CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE
On September 20, 2016, we entered into a loan facility
agreement (the Loan Agreement) with Turnstone Capital Inc. (the Lender),
whereby the Lender agreed to make available to our company a loan in the
aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 (the Loan Amount). Pursuant to the
Loan Agreement, the Lender agreed to make one or more advances of the Loan
Amount to our company as requested from time to time by our company in an amount
to be agreed upon by our company and the Lender (each, an Advance).
44
In June, 2017, Turnstone Capital Inc. advanced an additional
$500,000 under the Loan Agreement. The Company evaluated this transaction under
ASC 470-20-30 Debt liability and equity component and determined that
a debt discount of $295,000 was provided and will be amortized over the
remaining term of the Loan Agreement.
On September 29, 2017, Turnstone Capital Inc. converted the
$500,000 plus accrued interest of $14,583 to 514,583 common shares at the conversion price of $1.00 per share. Upon conversion the remaining unamortized debt discount of $295,000 was immediately amortized.
NOTE 12 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Effective as of April 12, 2019, we issued an aggregate of
74,000 shares of our common stock upon exercise of our common stock purchase
warrants with an exercise price of CAD$2.90 per share for an aggregate gross
proceeds of $160,486
Effective as of April 26, 2019, we issued an aggregate of
1,700,000 shares of our common stock upon exercise of our common stock purchase
warrants with an exercise price of US$0.60 per share for aggregate gross
proceeds of US$1,020,000. The closing of the exercise of these warrants occurred
on May 7, 2019.
All of these shares were issued to non-U.S. persons (as the
term is defined in Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) in an
offshore transaction relying on Regulation S and/or Section 4(a)(2) of the
Securities act of 1933, as amended.
On June 28, 2019, the Credit Agreement was amended to extend the expiration date to July 1, 2021 , to increase the loan commitment amount to $5 million from $4 million and to change the termination fee to 1% from 2%. All other terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement remained the same.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as that term
is defined in Rule 13a-15(e), promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , as amended.
Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to
ensure that information required to be disclosed in our companys reports filed
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and
Exchange Commissions rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated
and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer
and our principal financial officer to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
As required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , our management, with the participation
of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer,
evaluated our companys disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the
period covered by this annual report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, our
management concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this annual
report on Form 10-K, our disclosure controls and procedures were not
effective.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over
Financial Reporting
Our management, including our principal executive officer and
our principal financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Our management, with the participation of our principal
executive officer and our principal financial officer, evaluated the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31,
2019. Our managements evaluation of our internal control over financial
reporting was based on the framework in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework,
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.
Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting
was not effective as of March 31, 2019 and that there were material weaknesses
in our internal control over financial reporting.
45
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a
reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim
financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Our
management identified the following material weaknesses:
(1)
We did not document our risk assessment accounting processes and
procedures in a timely manner.
(2)
We did not retain evidence of the internal controls
established to document the approval and reconciliation of our sales and
inventory processes.
(3)
We lacked adequate oversight related to the development
and performance of internal control over financial reporting. Due to the
limited number of personnel in our company, there were inherent
limitations to segregation of duties amongst personnel to perform adequate
oversight.
To address these material weaknesses, management performed
additional analyses and other procedures to ensure that the financial statements
included herein fairly present, in all material respects, our financial
position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Accordingly, we believe that the financial statements included in this report
fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows for the periods presented
Remediation
In response to the material weaknesses discussed above, we have
hired Ronald DaVella in April 2019 as our Executive Vice-President of Finance.
Mr. DaVella brings to our company over thirty years of experience as an audit
partner with the Big 4 accounting firm of Deloitte, and serves as the audit
committee chair of another NASDAQ listed company based in Arizona. Mr. DaVella
will be leading the effort to strengthen and improve our internal controls and
associated processes in fiscal year 2020 and beyond. In addition we have engaged
a third party to document our controls, to develop and implement a comprehensive
control framework, and to train our employees on the related control execution and evidence.
We also are working on implementing a new integrated ERP system.
We will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of
our internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis and are
committed to taking further action and implementing additional improvements as
necessary.
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our principal executive officer and our principal financial
officer do not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over
financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no
matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not
absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further,
the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource
constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their
costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation
of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances
of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent
limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be
faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake.
Additional controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons,
by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls.
The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance
that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential
future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes
in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may
deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost- effective control
system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Prager Metis CPAs, LLC, an independent registered public
accounting firm, has provided an attestation report on our internal control over
financial reporting as of March 31, 2019 (which includes a disclaimer), is included herein.
46
Changes in Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial
reporting during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 that
have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
On June 27, 2019, we entered into an amendment to the credit and security agreement with CNH Finance Fund I, L.P. (formerly known as SCM Specialty Finance Opportunities Fund, L.P.), pursuant to which the credit and security agreement was amended to extend the expiration date to July 1, 2021, to increase the loan commitment amount to $5 million from $4 million and to change the termination fee to 1% from 2%. All other terms and conditions of the credit and security agreement remains the same.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
Directors and Executive Officers
All directors of our company hold office until the next annual
meeting of our stockholders or until their successors have been elected and
qualified, or until their death, resignation or removal. The executive officers
of our company are appointed by our board of directors and hold office until
their death, resignation or removal from office.
Our directors and executive officers, their ages, positions
held, and duration of such, are as follows:
Name
Position Held with Our
Company
Age
Date First Elected or Appointed
Richard Wright
President, Chief Executive Officer,
Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director
61
May 31, 2013
David Guarino
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer
and Director
55
April 28, 2017
Aaron Keay
Chairman of the Board and Director
42
July 22, 2016
Bruce Leitch
Director
61
September 8, 2016
Brian Sudano
Director
55
September 14, 2018
Ronald DaVella
Executive Vice President of Finance
61
May 1, 2019
Business Experience
The following is a brief account of the education and business
experience of our directors and executive officers during at least the past five
years, indicating their principal occupation during the period, and the name and
principal business of the organization by which they were employed:
Richard Wright
Mr. Wright is a Certified Public Accountant. He graduated
Magnum Cum Laude in 1978 from Mount Union University in Alliance, Ohio. He has
done graduate level MBA courses at Case Western Reserve College in Cleveland,
Ohio. In 2008, Mr. Wright became the Chief Financial Officer for PCT
International. PCT is a leading worldwide developer and manufacturer of last
mile and access network solutions for broadband communication networks. PCT
focuses on innovative and cost-effective solutions that allow service providers
to improve system integrity and expand service offerings. It has manufacturing
plants in USA and China and sells their products in 42 countries. In 2010, Mr.
Wright began his own tax and accounting CPA firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wright
Tax Solutions PLC. Mr. Wright also began Wright Investment Group, LLC, a small
equity participation firm that helps provide seed capital through micro loans
and financial expertise to start-up enterprises.
Effective as of May 31, 2013, Mr. Wright was appointed as
vice-president, treasurer and a director of our company. On August 7, 2013, our
board of directors appointed Mr. Wright as secretary of our company. On August
28, 2016, our board of directors appointed Mr. Wright as chief operating officer of
our company. On April 7, 2017, our board of directors appointed Mr. Wright as
president of our company. On April 28, 2017, Mr. Wright resigned as the
secretary and treasurer of our company and our board of directors appointed Mr.
Wright as the chief executive officer of our company.
47
We believe that Mr. Wright is qualified to serve on our board
of directors because of his knowledge of our current operations in addition to
his education and business experiences described above.
David Guarino
On April 28, 2017, Mr. Guarino was appointed as the chief
financial officer, secretary and treasurer and a director of our company. Mr.
Guarino currently holds a bachelor of science in accounting and a masters of
accountancy from the University of Denver. From 2008 to 2013, Mr. Guarino was
President and a Director of Kahala Corp, a worldwide franchisor of multiple
quick service restaurant brands with locations in 49 states and over 25
countries. From 2014 to 2015, Mr. Guarino was President of HTI International
Holdings, Inc., a technology company focused on forward osmosis water filtration
technology. From 2015 until April, 2017, Mr. Guarino had been a consultant to
our company.
We believe that Mr. Guarino is qualified to serve on our board
of directors because of his knowledge of our current operations in addition to
his education and business experiences described above.
Aaron Keay
On July 22, 2016, Mr. Keay was appointed as a director of our
company and on August 17, 2017, Mr. Keay was appointed as the Chairman of the
Board.
Mr. Keay has been the President and Managing Partner of Inform
Capital Partner, a corporate finance advisory and merchant banking firm, from
2008 to present. He was the Chairman, CEO and director of Inform Resources
Corp., a mining company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV), from
August 2010 until July 10, 2014. Mr. Keay was the CEO, President and director of
IDM Mining Ltd. (formerly Revolution Resources), a mining company listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange, from 2009 until January 7, 2015. He was a director of
OrganiGram Holdings Inc., an industrial company specializing in the production
of condition specific medical marijuana under license from Health Canada listed
on the TSXV, from September 14, 2010 until July 17, 2014. Mr. Keay was a
director of Plateau Uranium Inc. (formerly Macusani Yellowcake Inc.), a uranium
exploration and development company listed on the TSXV, from April 5, 2013 until
September 4, 2014. He was a director of Aftermath Silver Inc. (formerly Full
Metal Zinc Ltd.), a mineral exploration and development company listed on the
TSXV, from February 2011 until December 12, 2013. Mr. Keay holds a Bachelor of
Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia.
We believe that Mr. Keay is qualified to serve on our board of
directors because of his knowledge of our current operations in addition to his
education and business experiences described above.
Bruce Leitch
Mr. Leitch has been a director of our company since September
8, 2016. During the past five years Mr. Leitch has been actively engaged as a
management consultant with respect to business development strategies and
overseeing the corporate governance requirements for various private companies.
The bulk of his time has been spent as the V.P. Corporate Finance and a Director
for Citadel LED Lighting Corp., a private company engaged in the importation of
innovative LED lighting products with applications in the retail, hospitality,
outdoor lighting and commercial buildings and facilities market sectors.
Mr. Leitch has extensive experience with consumer products
companies, and is well versed in all aspects of branding, marketing, cross
marketing through strategic relationships, interacting with advertising agencies
to create highly focused and effective sales campaigns, along with being very
conversant in wholesale distribution networks, logistics, managing multiple
channels of product distribution and supply chain management. Mr. Leitch has
extensive experience in the capital markets and the securities industry, having
worked for several major financial services institutions as well as having been
an officer, director and principal of several public and private companies.
We believe that Mr. Leitch is qualified to serve on our board
of directors because of his knowledge of our current operations in addition to
his business experiences described above.
48
Brian Sudano
Mr. Sudano is Managing Partner of Beverage Marketing
Corporation and BMC Strategic Associates. Mr. Sudano has been Managing Partner
of Beverage Marketing Corporation since July 2008 and Managing Director of
Beverage Marketing Corporation from September 2000 to July 2008. Mr. Sudano's
experience covers nearly the entire beverage industry, from energy drinks to
wine, with special expertise in beverage alcohol by virtue of varied industry
experience and broad range of projects. Mr. Sudano manages several major
clients, providing on-going strategic and market advice, while leading projects
in strategic planning, market entry analysis and planning, sales/distribution,
business modeling, brand repositioning and international opportunity assessment.
From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Sudano was with Constellation Brands, a
leading US beverage alcohol company, where he held the position of VP Business
Processes responsible for creating a corporate operations and consulting
function to service Constellation's wine, spirits and beer businesses. While in
this role, Mr. Sudano lead the due diligence and transition efforts for entering
the premium wine business and provided corporate oversight for the integration
and transition of the Black Velvet distillery and brands. Other activities
included oversight of business risk management and covering issues such as
promotional effectiveness to performance metrics.
Mr. Sudano received an MBA from Rutgers Graduate School of
Management, a magna cum laude and honors graduate from Delaware Valley College
receiving a BS and a New Jersey CPA.
We believe that Mr. Sudano is qualified to serve on our board
of directors because of his knowledge of our current operations in addition to
his education and business experiences described above.
Ronald DaVella
On May 1, 2019, we appointed Ronald DaVella as our Executive
Vice President of Finance. Mr. DaVella has served as a board director and
Chairman of the audit committee of the Joint Corp., a public franchisor and
operator of over 450 chiropractic clinics, since Joint Corp.s initial public
offering in November 2014. Mr. DaVella formerly served as Chief Financial
Officer for NanoFlex Power Corporation, a public company that was
commercializing two disruptive solar technologies from May 2017 to March 2019.
He also formerly served as the Chief Financial Officer for Amazing Lash Studio
Franchise LLC from March 2016 to May 2017, a franchisor of eyelash extension
service studios with over 200 operating locations in the United States. From
August 2015 to February 2019, Mr. DaVella was also a franchise owner with
Amazing Lash Studio LLC. Mr. DaVella was an audit partner with Deloitte &
Touche LLP from June 1989 to July 2014.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any director or
executive officer.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
None of our directors and executive officers has been involved
in any of the following events during the past ten years:
(a)
any petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any
state insolvency laws filed by or against, or an appointment of a
receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer by a court for the business or
property of such person, or any partnership in which such person was a
general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or
any corporation or business association of which such person was an
executive officer at or within two years before the time of such
filing;
(b)
any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject
to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other
minor offences);
(c)
being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent
jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such person from, or
otherwise limiting, the following activities: (i) acting as a futures
commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor,
commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any
other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an
associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser,
underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person,
director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan
association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct
or practice in connection with such activity; engaging in any type of
business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with
the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with
any violation of federal or state securities laws or federal commodities
laws;
49
(d)
being the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state
authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days
the right of such person to engage in any activity described in paragraph
(c)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such
activity;
(e)
being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a
civil action), the Securities and Exchange Commission to have violated a
federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment in such
civil action or finding by the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
been reversed, suspended, or vacated;
(f)
being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have
violated any federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil
action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;
(g)
being the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state
judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged
violation of: (i) any federal or state securities or commodities law or
regulation; or (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial
institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a
temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution,
civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease- and-desist order, or
removal or prohibition order; or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting
mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity;
or
(h)
being the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or
order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-
regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934), any registered entity (as defined in Section
1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act), or any equivalent exchange,
association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over
its members or persons associated with a member.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires
our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our
common stock, to file reports regarding ownership of, and transactions in, our
securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to provide us with
copies of those filings. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms
received by us, or written representations from certain reporting persons we
believe that during year ended March 31, 2019 all filing requirements applicable
to our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of
our common stock were complied with, with the exception of the following:
Name
Number of
Late Reports
Number of Transactions
Not
Reported on a
Timely Basis
Failure to File
Requested
Forms
Richard Wright
1
2
Nil
David Guarino
2
2
Nil
Code of Ethics
On September 4, 2018, our board of directors adopted a code of
ethics and business conduct for directors, senior officers and employees of our
company. We adopted the code of ethics and business conduct for the purpose of
promoting:
honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or
apparent conflicts of interest;
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in all reports
and documents that we file with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange
Commission and in other public communications made by our company;
compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
the protection of our assets, including corporate opportunities and
confidential information;
fair dealing practices;
50
the prompt internal reporting of violations of the code of ethics and
business conduct; and
accountability for adherence to the code of ethics and business conduct.
Committees of Board of Directors
Audit Committee
Effective February 22, 2018, our board of directors established
an audit committee. The audit committee currently consists of three directors,
Aaron Keay, Bruce Leitch and Brian Sudano. Our audit committee assists our board
of directors in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities by reviewing
the financial reports and other financial information provided by our company to
regulatory authorities and stockholders, our systems of internal controls
regarding finance and accounting and our auditing, accounting and financial
reporting processes. Our audit committees primary duties and responsibilities
are to: serve as an independent and objective party to monitor our financial
reporting and internal control system and review our financial statements;
oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and the preparation and
auditing of our financial statements; review and appraise the performance of our
external auditor; and provide an open avenue of communication among our auditor,
financial and senior management and our board of directors.
Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our board of directors has determined that Bruce Leitch, an
independent director of our company, qualifies as an audit committee financial
expert as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Nomination of Directors
On September 4, 2018, our board of directors adopted the board
director nomination process. Our board of directors has determined that it is in
our best interests to have director nominees recommended for the boards
selection by a majority of our independent directors in a vote in which only
independent directors participate and to have the full board participate in the
consideration of the board of directors nominees.
In general, when our board of directors determines that
expansion of the board or replacement of a director is necessary or appropriate,
our independent directors will be responsible for identifying one or more
candidates to fill such directorship, investigating each candidate, evaluating
his/her suitability for service on our board of directors and recommending for
selection suitable candidates for nomination to our board of directors. Our
independent directors may engage outside search firms to identify suitable
candidates.
Stockholders desiring to suggest a candidate for consideration
must do so in accordance with our bylaws and applicable securities laws, and
should send a letter to our Chief Financial Officer at our principal office
located at 14646 N. Kierland Blvd., Suite 255, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, U.S.A.
Candidates recommended by our stockholders will be considered in the same manner
as other candidates.
Compensation Committee
Our board of directors has a compensation committee comprised
of Aaron Keay and Bruce Leitch. Our compensation committee has the following
authority and responsibilities:
to review and approve annually the corporate goals and objectives
applicable to the compensation of the chief executive officer (CEO),
evaluate at least annually the CEOs performance in light of those goals and
objectives, and determine and approve the CEOs compensation level based on
this evaluation;
to review and make recommendations to the board regarding the compensation
of all other executive officers;
to review and make recommendations to the board regarding incentive
compensation plans and equity-based plans, and where appropriate or required,
recommend for approval of such plans by the stockholders of our company;
to review and discuss with management our compensation discussion and
analysis (CD&A) and the related executive compensation information,
recommend that the CD&A and related executive compensation information be
included in our annual report on Form 10-K and proxy statement, and produce
the compensation committee report on executive officer compensation
required to be included in our proxy statement or annual report on Form 10-K;
51
to review and make recommendations to the board regarding any employment
agreements and any severance arrangements or plans, including any benefits to
be provided in connection with a change in control, for the CEO and other
executive officers, which includes the ability to adopt, amend and terminate
such agreements, arrangements or plans;
to determine stock ownership guidelines for the CEO and other executive
officers and monitor compliance with such guidelines;
to review and make recommendations to the board regarding all employee
benefit plans for our company, which includes the ability to adopt, amend and
terminate such plans;
to review our incentive compensation arrangements to determine whether they
encourage excessive risk-taking, to review and discuss at least annually the
relationship between risk management policies and practices and compensation,
and to evaluate compensation policies and practices that could mitigate any
such risk;
to review and recommend to the board for approval the frequency with which
our company will conduct say on pay votes, taking into account the results of
the most recent stockholder advisory vote on frequency of say on pay votes
required by Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and review and
approve the proposals regarding the say on pay vote and the frequency of the
say on pay vote to be included in our proxy statement; and
to review all director compensation and benefits for service on the board
and any committees of the board at least once a year and to recommend any
changes to the board as necessary.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation
The particulars of compensation paid to the following
persons:
(a)
all individuals serving as our principal executive
officer during the year ended March 31, 2019
(b)
each of our two most highly compensated executive
officers who were serving as executive officers at the end of the year
ended March 31, 2019; and
(c)
up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure
would have been provided under (b) but for the fact that the individual
was not serving as our executive officer at March 31,
2019,
who we will collectively refer to as the named executive
officers, for all services rendered in all capacities to our company and
subsidiaries for the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 are set out in the
following summary compensation table:
52
Summary Compensation Table Years ended March 31, 2019
and 201 8
Name
and
Principal
Position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensa
-tion
($)
Non-
qualified
Deferred
Compensa-
tion
Earnings
($)
All
Other
Compensa-
tion
($)
Total
($)
Richard Wright
President, Chief Executive
Officer, Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer,
Director and Former Secretary and
Treasurer (1)
2019
2018
168,000
168,000
Nil
Nil
Nil
1,500 (3)
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
24,940
24,186
192,940
193,686
David Guarino
Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary, Treasurer and
Director (2)
2019
2018
168,000
154,000
Nil
N/A
Nil
168,700 (4)
Nil
N/A
Nil
N/A
Nil
N/A
9,000
N/A
177,000
328,200
Notes:
(1)
Effective as of May 31, 2013, Mr. Wright was appointed as
vice-president, treasurer and a director of our company. On August 7,
2013, our board of directors appointed Mr. Wright as secretary of our
company. On August 28, 2016, our board of directors appointed Mr. Wright
as chief operating officer of our company. On April 7, 2017, our board of
directors appointed Mr. Wright as president of our company. On April 28,
2017, Mr. Wright resigned as the secretary and treasurer of our company
and our board of directors appointed Mr. Wright as the chief executive
officer of our company.
(2)
On April 28, 2017, our board of directors appointed Mr.
Guarino as the chief financial officer, secretary and treasurer and a
director of our company. From 2015 until April, 2017, Mr. Guarino has been
a consultant to our company.
(3)
Reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance
with FASB ASC Topic 718. Reflects the issuance of 1,500,000 shares of
Series D Preferred Stock which will be convertible, without the payment of
any additional consideration by the holder and at the option of the
holder, into one fully paid and non-assessable share of our common stock
at any time after (i) we achieve the consolidated revenue of our company
and all of its subsidiaries equal to or greater than $40,000,000 in any 12
month period, ending on the last day of any quarterly period of our fiscal
year; or (ii) a Negotiated Trigger Event, defined as an event upon which
the Series D Preferred Stock will be convertible as may be agreed by our
company and the holder in writing from time to time.
(4)
Reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance
with FASB ASC Topic 718. Reflects the issuance of 130,000 shares of common
stock effective April 28, 2017 (valued at $167,700) and the issuance of
1,000,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (valued at
$1,000).
Employment Agreement with Richard Wright
On March 30, 2016, we entered into an employment agreement
dated effective March 1, 2016 with Richard Wright, our vice-president,
secretary, treasurer and director, pursuant to which Mr. Wright agreed to
perform such duties as are regularly and customarily performed by the vice
president, secretary and treasurer of a corporation, and any other duties
consistent with Mr. Wrights position in our company. Pursuant to the terms of
the employment agreement, we have agreed to (i) pay Mr. Wright $14,000 per month
or such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors from time to
time; and (ii) issue to Mr. Wright 1,500,000 shares of our Series C Preferred
Stock (issued effective as of March 31, 2016). We also agreed that each of the
following events constitute a Negotiated Trigger Event as defined in the
Certificate of Designation for the Series C Preferred Stock: (i) the occurrence
of a change of control event; (ii) the death of Mr. Wright; and (iii) the
termination of the employment agreement for any reason.
53
In addition, we may (i) grant awards under our 2018 stock
option plan to Mr. Wright from time to time and (ii) pay to Mr. Wright an annual
discretionary performance bonus in an amount to be determined by our board of
directors in its sole discretion. Mr. Wright will also be eligible to
participate in other bonus programs offered by our company to our senior staff
from time to time.
In addition, Mr. Wright will be entitled to participate in all
of our employee benefit plans provided by our company to our senior officers. If
we do not provide such plans at any time, we agreed to reimburse Mr. Wright for
the reasonable cost of any such plans obtained privately. We also agreed to (i)
provide Mr. Wright with vehicle leased in our companys name, with lease
payments not exceeding $700/month or such other amount as may be determined by
our board of directors; (ii) pay Mr. Wright an allowance of $5,000 per month or
such other amount as may be determined by our board of directors, which may be
used by Mr. Wright as he sees fit, including without limitation, the funding of
non-qualified retirement plans; (iii) reimburse Mr. Wright for any expenses that
he incurs in connection with his duties under his employment agreement. Mr.
Wright will be entitled in each year to five weeks paid vacation, in addition
to weekends and statutory holidays, to be taken in installments of no more than
three consecutive weeks of paid time off.
The initial term of the employment agreement is three years
and, on the third anniversary of the effective date of the employment and on
each annual anniversary date thereafter, the term of the employment agreement
will automatically be extended by one additional year unless either party gives
90 days written notice to the other of its intention not to renew the
employment agreement.
Provided that Mr. Wright has acted within the scope of his
authority, we agreed to indemnify and save harmless Mr. Wright (including his
heirs and legal representatives) against any and all costs, claims and expenses
(including any amounts paid to settle any actions or satisfy any judgments)
which: he may suffer or incur by reason of any matter or thing which he may in
good faith do or have done or caused to be done as an employee, officer or
director of our company, any of its subsidiaries or of any of their respective
affiliates; or was reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal
or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of
being or having been an employee, officer or director of our company, any of its
subsidiaries or of any of their respective affiliates; provided that, the
foregoing indemnification will apply only if: he acted honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of our company, any of its subsidiaries
or any of their respective affiliates; and in the case of a criminal or
administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he
had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful.
Mr. Wright agreed to indemnify and save harmless our company
against, and agree to hold it harmless from, any and all damages, injuries,
claims, demands, actions, liability, costs and expenses (including reasonable
legal fees) incurred or made against our company arising from or connected with
the performance or non-performance of his employment by him or the beach of any
warranty, representation or covenant herein by him, other than claims by him
pursuant to his employment agreement.
If and to the extent we maintain directors and officers
liability insurance for the protection of our executives in connection with acts
and omissions occurring during their employment with our company, we agreed that
Mr. Wright will be included as an officer and director who is covered by such
policy on a basis no less favorable than made available to other executives of
our company.
On August 28, 2016, our board of directors appointed Mr. Wright
as chief operating officer of our company. On April 7, 2017, our board of
directors appointed Mr. Wright as president of our company. On April 28, 2017,
Mr. Wright resigned as the secretary and treasurer of our company and our board
of directors appointed Mr. Wright as the chief executive officer of our company.
David A. Guarino
We pay David A. Guarino $14,000 per month for his services and
a $750 monthly car allowance. Effective April 28, 2017, we issued 130,000 shares
of common stock to Mr. Guarino, who was appointed as the chief financial
officer, secretary, treasurer and a director of our company on the same
date.
Grant of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
On May 3, 2017, we designated 3,000,000 shares of the
authorized and unissued preferred stock of our company as Series D Preferred
Stock by filing a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the
State of Nevada. On November
54
2, 2017, we increased the number of authorized shares of Series
D Preferred Stock in our company to 5,000,000 shares by filing an Amendment to
the foregoing Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the
State of Nevada. Each share of the Series D Preferred Stock will be convertible,
without the payment of any additional consideration by the holder and at the
option of the holder, into one fully paid and non-assessable share of our common
stock at any time after (i) we achieve the consolidated revenue of our company
and all of its subsidiaries equal to or greater than $40,000,000 in any 12 month
period, ending on the last day of any quarterly period of our fiscal year; or
(ii) a Negotiated Trigger Event, defined as an event upon which the Series D
Preferred Stock will be convertible as may be agreed by our company and the
holder in writing from time to time.
Effective May 3, 2017, we issued 1,000,000 shares of our Series
D Preferred Stock to Richard Wright and 1,000,000 shares of our Series D
Preferred Stock to Mr. Guarino.
Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide
retirement or similar benefits for our directors or executive officers.
Resignation, Retirement, Other Termination, or Change in
Control Arrangements
Other than the provisions of the employment agreement with Mr.
Wright described below, we have no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement,
whether written or unwritten, that provides for payments to our directors or
executive officers at, following, or in connection with the resignation,
retirement or other termination of our directors or executive officers, or a
change in control of our company or a change in our directors or executive
officers responsibilities following a change in control.
If, within 90 days of the occurrence of a change of control
event, Mr. Wright resigns from his employment relationship with our company or
our company terminates his employment agreement for any reason other than for
just cause, then we agreed to pay Mr. Wright severance in an amount equal to the
following: 36 months salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one
months salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the
effective date of the employment agreement, that Mr. Wright is employed by our
company under his employment agreement.
We may terminate Mr. Wrights employment at any time for other
than just cause by delivering to Mr. Wright written notice of termination. In
such a case, we agreed to pay Mr. Wright severance in an amount equal to the
following: 36 months salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one
months salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the
effective date of the employment, that Mr. Wright is employed by our company
under his employment agreement.
Subject to applicable employment laws or similar legislation,
we may terminate Mr. Wrights employment in the event he has been unable to
perform his duties for a period of eight consecutive months or a cumulative
period of 12 months in any consecutive 24 month period, because of a physical or
mental disability. Mr. Wrights employment will automatically terminate on his
death. In the event Mr. Wrights employment with our company terminates by
reason of Mr. Wrights death or disability, then upon and immediately effective
on the date of termination we agreed to promptly pay and provide Mr. Wright (or
in the event of Mr. Wrights death, Mr. Wrights estate); any unpaid salary and
any outstanding and accrued regular and special vacation pay through the date of
termination; reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses incurred through to the
date of termination; and any outstanding amounts due under any awards which will
be dealt with in accordance with our 2013 equity incentive plan or 2018 stock
option plan and the award agreement. In the event Mr. Wrights employment is
terminated due to a disability, we agreed to pay to Mr. Wright the severance
referred to above.
We may terminate Mr. Wrights employment for just cause at any
time by delivering to Mr. Wright written notice of termination. In the event
that Mr. Wrights employment with our company is terminated by our company for
just cause, Mr. Wright will not be entitled to any additional payments or
benefits (except as otherwise provided in his employment agreement), other than
for amounts due and owing to Mr. Wright by our company as of the date of
termination, except for any awards under our 2013 equity incentive plan or 2018
stock option plan will be dealt with in accordance with the plan and award
agreement.
55
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth for each named executive officer
certain information concerning the outstanding equity awards as of March 31,
2019:
Option awar ds
Stock awa rds
Name
Number
of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
exercisable
Number
of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
(#)
unexercisable
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Number
of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options
(#)
Option
exercise
price
($)
Option
expiration
date
Number
of
shares
or units
of stock
that
have
not
vested
(#)
Market
value
of
shares
of
units of
stock
that
have
not
vested
($)
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Number
of
shares,
units or
other
rights
that
have
not
vested
(#)
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Market
or
payout
value of
unearned
shares,
units
or other
rights
that
have not
vested
($)
Richard Wright
Nil
Nil
Nil
N/A
N/A
Nil
N/A
Nil
N/A
David A. Guarino
Nil
Nil
Nil
N/A
N/A
Nil
N/A
Nil
N/A
Compensation of Directors
The particulars of compensation paid to our directors who are
not named executive officers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 are set
out in the following director compensation table:
Name
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
All
Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Aaron Keay
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Bruce Leitch
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Brian Sudano (1)
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Note:
(1)
Brian Sudano was elected as a director of our company on
September 14, 2018.
We have no formal plan for compensating our directors for their
services in their capacity as directors. Our directors are entitled to
reimbursement for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with attendance at meetings of our board of directors. Our board of
directors may award special remuneration to any director undertaking any special
services on their behalf other than services ordinarily required of a director.
56
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth, as of June 28, 2019, certain
information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by each
stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class
of our voting securities and by each of our directors, our executive officers
and by our executive officers and directors as a group.
Name of Beneficial Owner
Title of Class
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership (1)
Percentage of
Class (2)
Richard Wright
Common Stock
700,000
1.69%
Series C
Preferred Stock (3)
1,500,000
100%
Series D
Preferred Stock (4)
1,500,000
39.47%
David Guarino
Common Stock
909,300
2.20%
Series D
Preferred Stock (4)
1,000,000
26.32%
Aaron Keay
Common Stock
262,500 (5)
*
Bruce Leitch
Common Stock
75,000 (6)
*
Brian Sudano
Common Stock
Nil
*
Ronald DaVella
Common Stock
Nil
*
All executive officers and
directors as a group (6 persons)
Common Stock
1,946,800
4.67%
Series C
Preferred
Stock (3)
1,500,000
100%
Series D
Preferred
Stock (4)
2,500,000
65.79%
Notes
* Less than 1%.
(1)
Except as otherwise indicated, we believe that the
beneficial owners of the common stock listed above, based on information
furnished by such owners, have sole investment and voting power with
respect to such shares, subject to community property laws where
applicable. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes
voting or investment power with respect to securities. Common stock
subject to options or warrants currently exercisable or exercisable within
60 days, are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage
ownership of the person holding such option or warrants, but are not
deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of
any other person.
(2)
Percentage of common stock is based on 41,347,512 shares
of our common stock issued and outstanding as of June 28, 2019. Percentage
of Series C Preferred Stock is based on 1,500,000 shares of Series C
Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of June 28, 2019. Percentage of
Series D Preferred Stock is based on 3,800,000 shares of Series D
Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of June 28, 2019.
(3)
Each share of the Series C Preferred Stock will be
convertible, without the payment of any additional consideration by the
holder and at the option of the holder, into one fully paid and
non-assessable share of our common stock at any time after (i) we achieve
the consolidated revenue of our company and all of its subsidiaries equal
to or greater than $15,000,000 in any 12 month period, ending on the last
day of any quarterly period of our fiscal year; or (ii) a Negotiated
Trigger Event, defined as an event upon which the Series C Preferred Stock
will be convertible as may be agreed by our company and the holder in
writing from time to time.
(4)
Each share of the Series D Preferred Stock will be
convertible, without the payment of any additional consideration by the
holder and at the option of the holder, into one fully paid and
non-assessable share of our common stock at any time after (i) we achieve
the consolidated revenue of our company and all of its subsidiaries equal
to or greater than $40,000,000 in any 12 month period, ending on the last
day of any quarterly period of our fiscal year; or (ii) a Negotiated
Trigger Event, defined as an event upon which the Series D Preferred Stock
will be convertible as may be agreed by our company and the holder in
writing from time to time.
(5)
Consists of 262,500 stock options exercisable within 60
days.
(6)
Consists of 75,000 stock options exercisable within 60
days.
57
Changes in Control
We are unaware of any contract or other arrangement the
operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of our
company.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND
DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Other than as disclosed below, there has been no transaction,
since April 1, 2017, or currently proposed transaction, in which our company was
or is to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $80,165, being the
lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year end
for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any of the following
persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest:
(a)
Any director or executive officer of our
company;
(b)
Any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
more than 5% of any class of our voting securities;
(c)
Any person who acquired control of our company when it
was a shell company or any person that is part of a group, consisting of
two or more persons that agreed to act together for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of our common stock, that acquired
control of our company when it was a shell company; and
(d)
Any member of the immediate family (including spouse,
parents, children, siblings and in- laws) of any of the foregoing
persons.
Grant of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
On August 17, 2017, we issued 1,500,000 shares of our common
stock to Steven P. Nickolas, a former stockholder who beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, more than 5% of a class of our voting securities and a
former officer and director of our company, upon conversion of 1,500,000 shares
of our Series C Preferred Stock held by Mr. Nickolas. The shares of our Series C
Preferred Stock became convertible into shares of our common stock without the
payment of any additional consideration by Mr. Nickolas and at the option of Mr.
Nickolas because the termination of the employment agreement between our company
and Mr. Nickolas was an event constituting a Negotiated Trigger Event as
defined in the Certificate of Designation for our Series C Preferred Stock.
During the year ended March 31, 2018, we paid Steven P.
Nickolas a salary of $3,072.
On October 31, 2017, our company and its subsidiaries entered
into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims (the Settlement
Agreement ) with Steven P. Nickolas, the Nickolas Family Trust, Water
Engineering Solutions, LLC and Enhanced Beverages, LLC, companies and trust that
are controlled or owned by Mr. Nickolas, (collectively, the Nickolas
Parties ) and McDowell 78, LLC and Wright Investments Group, LLC, a company
controlled or owned by Richard Wright, (collectively, Wright/McDowell ).
The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, the
following:
1.
Simultaneous with the full execution of the Settlement
Agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Nickolas $110,000 in one lump sum
(paid);
2.
From the date of the Settlement Agreement, we agreed to
waive the application of our Insider Trading Policy as to Mr. Nickolas,
thereby removing any black-out periods for all future sales of our common
stock by Mr. Nickolas;
3.
Within three business date of the full execution of the
Settlement Agreement, we agreed to instruct our transfer agent to issue
Mr. Nickolas 700,000 shares of our common stock (issued);
4.
Within 10 business days of the full execution of the
Settlement Agreement, we agreed to issue Mr. Nickolas 300,000 shares of
our Series D Preferred Stock (issued);
5.
In exchange of 700,000 shares of our common stock and
300,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock
described above, Mr. Nickolas forfeited his 10,000,000 shares of
our Series A Preferred Stock, to be cancelled for no further
consideration;
58
6.
Upon the full execution of the Settlement Agreement, Mr.
Nickolas and our company agreed to file the stipulations to dismiss the
complaints and counterclaim filed by each of them with prejudice, with
each side to bear its own costs and attorneys fees. In addition, our
company and Wright/McDowell agreed that they will effectuate the dismissal
of an arbitration proceeding against the Nickolas Parties with prejudice,
with each side to bear its own attorneys fees and costs;
7.
Mr. Nickolas surrendered all right, interest or claim to
the shares of our common stock owned by WIN Investments, LLC and Lifewater
Industries, LLC for no additional consideration;
8.
Mr. Nickolas acknowledged and agreed that the employment
agreement between Mr. Nickolas and our company was terminated as of April
7, 2017 and no further amounts are owed to Mr. Nickolas under the
employment agreement and we agreed to waive restrictive covenants set out
in the employment agreement;
9.
We agreed to assume financial responsibility for the
federal tax obligations in the total amount of $45,738.68 owed by Mr.
Nickolas and certain outstanding invoice in the amount of
$21,008.71;
10.
Mr. Nickolas acknowledged and agreed that 1,500,000 stock
options with an exercise price of $0.52 issued to Mr. Nickolas on or about
March 1, 2016 has expired and a total of 148,000 stock options issued to
Mr. Nickolas before 2016 will automatically expire 90 days from October 6,
2017, the date Mr. Nickolas ceased being a director of our company
(expired);
11.
We agreed that Mr. Nickolas will have access to a
reasonable amount of Alkaline88 water, not to exceed 30 cases at the time
of pickup at our facility, for his personal consumption only at no cost
while Mr. Nickolas is a direct stockholder of our company and Mr. Nickolas
will be limited to an average of 20 cases per month for his personal
consumption; and
12.
The parties also agreed to mutual release of
claims.
On November 8, 2017, we entered into an Exchange Agreement and
Mutual Release of Claims (the Exchange Agreement ) with Richard Wright,
our president, chief executive officer and director.
The Exchange Agreement provides, among other things, the
following:
1.
Within five business date of the full execution of the
Exchange Agreement, we agreed to instruct our transfer agent to issue Mr.
Wright 700,000 shares of our common stock (issued on November 9,
2017);
2.
Within 10 business days of the full execution of the
Exchange Agreement, we agreed to issue 300,000 shares of our Series D
Preferred Stock (issued on November 9, 2017);
3.
In exchange of 700,000 shares of our common stock and
300,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock described above, Mr. Wright
forfeited his 10,000,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, to be
cancelled for no further consideration; and
4.
The parties also agreed to mutual release of
claims.
On November 8, 2017, Richard Wright and Sharon Wright, Mr.
Wrights spouse, executed a Stock Option Forfeiture & General Release (the
Stock Option Forfeiture Agreement ).
The Stock Option Forfeiture Agreement provides, among other
things, the following:
1.
In exchange for, among other things, receipt of 200,000
shares of our Series D Preferred Stock (issued on November 9, 2017), Mr.
Wright agreed that Mr. Wrights stock options to purchase 1,500,000 shares
of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.52 per share were
forfeited, terminated and otherwise cancelled as of November 8, 2017;
and
2.
Mr. Wright also agreed to release of claims against our
company.
59
On September 14, 2017, Wright Investment Group LLC, an entity
controlled by Richard Wright, our president, chief executive officer and
director, advanced $200,000 to our company. On October 17, 2017, Wright
Investment Group LLC advanced $400,000 to our company. On November 22, 2017,
Wright Investment Group LLC advanced $400,000 to our company. The $1,000,000 in
advancements were repaid to Wright Investment Group, LLC on March 2, 2018.
On February 14, 2018 and December 31, 2018, David A. Guarino,
our chief financial officer, secretary, treasurer and director, entered into two
separate guarantee agreements with CNH Specialty Finance in order for CNH
Specialty Finance to agree to provide our company two separate $400,000
temporary order advance under the credit facility agreement. Under the guarantee
agreements, Mr. Guarino personally, absolutely, and unconditionally, jointly and
severally, guaranteed the prompt, complete and full payment of our obligations
to repay each of the temporary order advances only, under the credit agreement,
with CNH Specialty Finance.
On May 25, 2016, we entered into an agreement with BMC
Strategic Associates ( BMCSA ), a division of Beverage Marketing
Corporation, with regard to a possible strategic transaction relationship
involving the Alkaline88 brand and all assets related to such brand. Brian
Sudano, a director nominee, is Managing Partner of Beverage Marketing
Corporation and BMC Strategic Associates. During the term of the agreement,
BMCSA has the exclusive right to represent our company in the developing a
strategic relationship (defined as any investment, joint venture, etc. involving
the Alkaline88 brand and all assets related to such brand and a strategic party
who is more than a mere financier). The agreement provides that if our company
consummates a strategic relationship during the term of the agreement with any
party, licensor, joint venture partner, etc., or within 18 months of the date of
termination of the agreement, then we must pay BMCSA, at closing of such
strategic relationship, a commission based upon the value of the strategic
relationship as follows: 5% for the first $2 million, 4% for next $2 million, 3%
for next $2 million, 2% for next $2 million and 1% of the total amount above $8
million, provided however, in no event will the commission be less than
$500,000. We agreed to reimburse BMCSA on a monthly basis for all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by BMCSA in connection with the performance of
services provided under the agreement. The agreement continues in force until
terminated by either party in writing upon at least 30 days written notice.
Since April 1, 2017, we paid BMCSA an aggregate of $25,145 in consideration of
the consulting services provided by BMCSA under the agreement.
Effective April 28, 2017, we granted 350,000 stock options to
Aaron Keay, a director of our company. These stock options are exercisable at
the exercise price of $1.29 per share for a period of ten years from the date of
grant and vest as follows: (i) 87,500 upon the date of grant; and (ii) 87,500 on
each anniversary date of grant.
Effective April 28, 2017, we granted 100,000 stock options to
Bruce Leitch, a director of our company. These stock options are exercisable at
the exercise price of $1.29 per share for a period of ten years from the date of
grant and vest as follows: (i) 25,000 upon the date of grant; and (ii) 25,000 on
each anniversary date of grant.
On May 1, 2019, we appointed Ronald DaVella as our Executive
Vice President of Finance. On April 25, 2019, we entered into an employment
agreement with Ronald DaVella pursuant to which Mr. DaVella agreed to act as our
Executive Vice President of Finance and to perform such duties as are regularly
and customarily performed by the executive vice president of finance of a
corporation, and any other duties consistent with Mr. Da Vellas position in our
company. Pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement we have agreed to:
(i) pay Mr. DaVella $14,000 per month or such other amount as may be determined
by our board of directors from time to time, (ii) pay a monthly car allowance of
$800, and (iii) pay a monthly cell phone allowance of $150.
In addition, we agreed to grant Mr. DaVella (i) 75,000 shares
of restricted common stock, with 50,000 shares vesting on the six month
anniversary of the effective date of his employment agreement and 25,000 shares
vesting on the one year anniversary of the effective date of his employment
agreement and (ii) 200,000 stock options vesting over three years, with
one-third vesting on each yearly anniversary date of his employment agreement.
In addition, Mr. DaVella will be entitled to participate in all
of our employee benefit plans provided by our company to our senior officers. If
we do not provide such plans at any time, we agreed to reimburse Mr. DaVella for
the reasonable cost of any such plans obtained privately. We also agreed to
reimburse Mr. DaVella for any expenses that he incurs in connection with his
duties under his employment agreement. Mr. DaVella will be entitled in each year
to five weeks paid vacation, in addition to weekends and statutory holidays, to
be taken in installments of no more than three consecutive weeks of paid time
off.
The initial term of the employment agreement is three years
and, on the third anniversary of the effective date of the employment and on
each annual anniversary date thereafter, the term of the employment agreement
will automatically be extended by one additional year unless either party gives 90
days written notice to the other of its intention not to renew the employment
agreement.
60
If, within 90 days of the occurrence of a change of control
event, Mr. DaVella resigns from his employment relationship with our company or
our company terminates his employment agreement for any reason other than for
just cause, then we agreed to pay Mr. DaVella severance in an amount equal to
the following: 5 months salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following:
one months salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the
effective date of the employment agreement, that Mr. DaVella is employed by our
company under his employment agreement.
We may terminate Mr. DaVellas employment at any time for other
than just cause by delivering to Mr. DaVella written notice of termination. In
such a case, we agreed to pay Mr. DaVella severance in an amount equal to the
following: 5 months salary plus an amount, if any, equal to the following: one
months salary multiplied by the number of calendar years, starting on the
effective date of the employment, that Mr. DaVella is employed by our company
under his employment agreement.
Subject to applicable employment laws or similar legislation,
we may terminate Mr. DaVellas employment in the event he has been unable to
perform his duties for a period of eight consecutive months or a cumulative
period of 12 months in any consecutive 24 month period, because of a physical or
mental disability. Mr. DaVellas employment will automatically terminate on his
death. In the event Mr. DaVellas employment with our company terminates by
reason of Mr. DaVellas death or disability, then upon and immediately effective
on the date of termination we agreed to promptly pay and provide Mr. DaVella (or
in the event of Mr. DaVellas death, Mr. DaVellas estate); any unpaid salary
and any outstanding and accrued regular and special vacation pay through the
date of termination; reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses incurred
through to the date of termination; and any outstanding amounts due under any
awards which will be dealt with in accordance with our equity incentive plan and
the award agreement. In the event Mr. DaVellas employment is terminated due to
a disability, we agreed to pay to Mr. DaVella the severance referred to above.
We may terminate Mr. DaVellas employment for just cause at any
time by delivering to Mr. DaVella written notice of termination. In the event
that Mr. DaVellas employment with our company is terminated by our company for
just cause, Mr. DaVella will not be entitled to any additional payments or
benefits (except as otherwise provided in his employment agreement), other than
for amounts due and owing to Mr. DaVella by our company as of the date of
termination, except for any awards under our equity incentive plan will be dealt
with in accordance with the plan and award agreement.
Provided that Mr. DaVella has acted within the scope of his
authority, we agreed to indemnify and save harmless Mr. DaVella (including his
heirs and legal representatives) against any and all costs, claims and expenses
(including any amounts paid to settle any actions or satisfy any judgments)
which: he may suffer or incur by reason of any matter or thing which he may in
good faith do or have done or caused to be done as an employee, officer or
director of our company, any of its subsidiaries or of any of their respective
affiliates; or was reasonably incurred by him in respect of any civil, criminal
or administrative action or proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of
being or having been an employee, officer or director of our company, any of its
subsidiaries or of any of their respective affiliates; provided that, the
foregoing indemnification will apply only if: he acted honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of our company, any of its subsidiaries
or any of their respective affiliates; and in the case of a criminal or
administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, he
had reasonable grounds for believing that his conduct was lawful.
Mr. DaVella agreed to indemnify and save harmless our company
against, and agree to hold it harmless from, any and all damages, injuries,
claims, demands, actions, liability, costs and expenses (including reasonable
legal fees) incurred or made against our company arising from or connected with
the performance or non-performance of his employment by him or the beach of any
warranty, representation or covenant herein by him, other than claims by him
pursuant to his employment agreement.
If and to the extent we maintain directors and officers
liability insurance for the protection of our executives in connection with acts
and omissions occurring during their employment with our company, we agreed that
Mr. Da Vella will be included as an officer and director who is covered by such
policy on a basis no less favorable than made available to other executives of
our company.
Compensation for Executive Officers and Directors
For information regarding compensation for our named executive
officers and directors, see Executive Compensation.
61
Director Independence
We currently act with five directors consisting of Richard
Wright, David A. Guarino, Aaron Keay, Bruce Leitch and Brian Sudano. Our common
stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Our common stock is also listed on
the TSX Venture Exchange which imposes director independent requirements. Under
Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2), a director is not independent if he or she
is also an executive officer or employee of the corporation or was, at any time
during the past three years, employed by the corporation. Using this definition
of independent director, we have three independent directors, Aaron Keay, Bruce
Leitch, and Brian Sudano
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Audit Fees
We have been notified that AMC Auditing, LLC, our former
independent registered public accounting firm, was acquired by Prager Metis
CPAs, LLC, and that all of the employees of AMC Auditing, LLC were joining
Prager Metis CPAs, LLC. As a result, effective as of April 25, 2019, AMC
resigned as our independent registered public accounting firm. Concurrent with
such resignation, we engaged Prager Metis CPAs, LLC to serve as our independent
registered public accounting firm effective April 25, 2019. The change of our
independent registered public accounting firm from AMC Auditing, LLC to Prager
Metis CPAs, LLC was approved by our board of directors.
The following table sets forth the fees billed to our company
for the years ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 for professional services rendered
by AMC Auditing, LLC:
Fees
2019
2018
Audit Fees
$
40,000
$
40,000
Audit Related Fees
-
-
Tax Fees
-
-
Other Fees
31,000
22,500
Total Fees
$
71,000
$
62,500
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our audit committee reviews and pre-approves all audit and
audit-related services and the fees and other compensation related thereto, and
any non-audit services, provided by our independent registered public accounting
firm. All of the above services and fees were reviewed and approved by our board
of directors (prior to the establishment of our audit committee) and our audit
committee (subsequent to the establishment of our audit committee) before the
respective services were rendered.
Our board of directors has considered the nature and amount of
fees billed by AMC Auditing, LLC and believes that the provision of services for
activities unrelated to the audit is compatible with maintaining its
independence.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Exhibit Number
Description
(3)
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
3.1
Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from our Form S-1 Registration Statement, filed on October 28, 2011)
3.2
Certificate of Change (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 13, 2013)
3.3
Articles of Merger (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 13, 2013)
62
Exhibit Number
Description
3.4
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 11, 2013)
3.5
Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 11, 2013)
3.6
Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 12, 2013)
3.7
Certificate of Change (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 30, 2015)
3.8
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
3.9
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
3.10
Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 5, 2016)
3.11
Certificate of Withdrawal of Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 4, 2017)
3.12
Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 4, 2017)
3.13
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 6, 2017)
3.14
Certificate of Withdrawal of Certificate of Designation (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 20, 2017)
3.15
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 15, 2018)
(10)
Material Contracts
10.1
Contract Packer Agreement dated November 14, 2012 between Alkaline 84, LLC and AZ Bottled Water, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 5, 2013)
10.2
Contract Packer Agreement dated October 7, 2013 with White Water, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 13, 2013)
10.3
Manufacturing Agreement dated August 15, 2013 with Water Engineering Solutions, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on November 27, 2013)
10.4
Equipment Lease Agreement dated January 17, 2014 (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 27, 2014)
10.5
Revolving Accounts Receivable Funding Agreement dated February 20, 2014 (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 25, 2014)
10.6
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of April 28, 2014, between The Alkaline Water Company Inc. and the purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 6, 2014)
10.7
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 6, 2014)
10.8
Form of Placement Agent Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 6, 2014)
10.9
Amendment #1 dated February 12, 2014 to Equipment Lease Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 13, 2014)
63
Exhibit Number
Description
10.10
Equipment Sale/Lease Back Agreement dated April 2, 2014 (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on August 13, 2014)
10.11
Agreement dated August 12, 2014 with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2014)
10.12
Form of Warrant Amendment Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2014)
10.13
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2014)
10.14
Form of Warrant Amendment Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 9, 2014)
10.15
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 9, 2014)
10.16
Master Lease Agreement dated October 28, 2014 with Veterans Capital Fund, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2014)
10.17
Warrant Agreement dated October 28, 2014 with Veterans Capital Fund, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2014)
10.18
Registration Rights Agreement dated October 28, 2014 with Veterans Capital Fund, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2014)
10.19
Form of Amending Agreement to Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 4, 2014)
10.20
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015 with Assurance Funding Solutions LLC (incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on July 14, 2015)
10.21
Secured Term Note dated May 2015 issued to Assurance Funding Solutions LLC (incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on July 14, 2015)
10.22
General Security Agreement dated as of May 11, 2015 with Assurance Funding Solutions LLC (incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on July 14, 2015)
10.23
Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 20, 2015 with Assurance Funding Solutions LLC (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 23, 2015)
10.24
Secured Term Note dated August 20, 2015 issued to Assurance Funding Solutions LLC (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 23, 2015)
10.25
General Security Agreement dated as of August 20, 2015 with Assurance Funding Solutions LLC (incorporated by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on November 23, 2015)
10.26
Loan Agreement dated November 30, 2015 with Neil Rogers (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 4, 2015)
10.27
Promissory Note dated November 30, 2015 issued to Neil Rogers (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 4, 2015)
10.28
Escrow Agreement dated November 30, 2015 with Neil Rogers and Escrow Agent (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 4, 2015)
10.29
2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
10.30
Loan Agreement dated January 25, 2016 with Turnstone Capital Inc. (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
10.31
Promissory Note dated January 25, 2016 issued to Turnstone Capital Inc. (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
64
Exhibit Number
Description
10.32
Escrow Agreement dated January 25, 2016 with Turnstone Capital Inc. and Escrow Agent (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
10.33
Amendment Agreement dated January 25, 2016 with Neil Rogers (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 25, 2016)
10.34
Employment Agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Steven P. Nickolas (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 5, 2016)
10.35
Employment Agreement dated effective March 1, 2016 with Richard Wright (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 5, 2016)
10.36
Form of Promissory Note and Warrant Exchange Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 16, 2016)
10.37
Loan Facility Agreement dated September 20, 2016 with Turnstone Capital Inc. (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 22, 2016)
10.38
Credit and Security Agreement dated February 1, 2017 with CNH Finance Opportunities
Fund, L.P. (formerly SCM Specialty Finance Opportunities Fund, L.P.) (incorporated by reference
from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 7, 2017)
10.39
Payoff Agreement dated February 1, 2017 with Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 7, 2017)
10.40
Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 4, 2017)
10.41
Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims dated October 31, 2017 with Steven P. Nickolas, Nickolas Family Trust, Water Engineering Solutions, LLC, Enhanced Beverages, LLC, McDowell 78, LLC and Wright Investments Group, LLC (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 6, 2017)
10.42
Exchange Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims dated November 8, 2017 with Ricky Wright (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 14, 2017)
10.43
Stock Option Forfeiture & General Release dated November 8, 2017 by Ricky Wright and Sharon Wright (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 14, 2017)
10.44
Form of Warrant Amendment Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 22, 2018)
10.45
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 5, 2018)
10.46
2018 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 25, 2018)
10.47
Form of Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2018)
10.48
Form of Subscription Agreement (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2018)
10.49
Underwriting Agreement, dated March 8, 2019, by and between The Alkaline Water Company Inc. and Canaccord Genuity LLC, as representative of the underwriters named therein (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 11, 2019)
10.50
Employment Agreement dated April 25, 2019 with Ronald DaVella (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 3, 2019)
10.51*
Sixth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement dated June 27, 2019 with CNH Finance Fund I, L.P.
(16)
Letter re Change in Certifying Accountant
16.1
Letter from AMC Auditing, LLC dated April 29, 2019 (incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on ay 1, 2019)
(21)
Subsidiaries
65
Exhibit Number
Description
21.1*
Subsidiaries of The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
Alkaline 88, LLC, Arizona limited liability company
A88 Infused
Beverage Division, Inc., Nevada corporation
A88 International, Inc.,
Nevada corporation
(23)
Consents of Experts and Counsel
23.1*
Consent of AMC Auditing
23.2*
Consent of Prager Metis CPAs, LLC
(31)
Rule 13a-14 Certifications
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
(32)
Section 1350 Certifications
32.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
(101)
Interactive Data File
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
*Filed herewith.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
66
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
By: /s/ Richard
Wright
Richard Wright
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: July 1, 2019
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ Richard
Wright
Richard Wright
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: July 1, 2019
By: /s/ David A.
Guarino
David A. Guarino
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer)
Date: July 1, 2019
By: /s/ Aaron Keay
Aaron Keay
Director
Date: July 1, 2019
By: /s/ Bruce
Leitch
Bruce Leitch
Director
Date: July 1, 2019
By: /s/ Brian
Sudano
Brian Sudano
Director
Date: July 1, 2019
67
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.