LASE 10-K
Laser Photonics Corp (LASE)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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COMMON STOCK, $0.001 PAR VALUE
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As of December 31, 2024, and as of the date this Form 10-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Registrant’s common stock is trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “LASE”.
As of June 18, 2025, there were shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements, which are identified by the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions. The statements contained herein which are not based on historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect our actual results, performance or achievements in the future and, accordingly, such actual results, performance or achievements may materially differ from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with our ability to successfully develop and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital to fund future operations and compliance with applicable laws and changes in such laws and the administration of such laws. These risks are described below and in “Item 1. Business,” Item 1A “Risk Factors,” “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in this Form 10-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
We were formed under the law of Wyoming on November 8, 2019. We changed our domicile to Delaware on March 5, 2021. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company for photonics-based industrial products and solutions and, since recently acquiring the assets of Control Micro Systems, Inc., have now expanded the market for our laser products into the large, growing pharmaceutical manufacturing vertical, in what we believe is a recession-resistant sector with significant barriers to entry.
We are pioneering a new generation of laser blasting technologies focused on disrupting the sandblasting and abrasives blasting markets. We offer a full portfolio of integrated laser blasting solutions for corrosion control, rust removal, de-coating, pre-welding and post-welding, laser cleaning and surface conditioning. Our solutions span use cases throughout product lifecycles, from product fabrication to maintenance and repair, as well as aftermarket operations. Our laser blasting solutions are applicable in most industries dealing with materials processing, including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, consumer products, shipbuilding, heavy industry, machine manufacturing, nuclear maintenance and de-commissioning and surface coating.
Our vertically integrated operations allow us to reduce development and advanced laser equipment manufacturing time, offer better prices, control quality and protect our proprietary knowhow and technology compared to other laser cleaning companies and companies with competing technologies.
We initiated our sales effort in December 2019. By December 31, 2024, we had net revenues of $3.415 million. We are strategically positioned to drive growth and innovation in the laser technology market by targeting three key customer segments: government entities, Fortune 1000 companies, and medium/small businesses. Each of these segments presents unique opportunities and challenges, and our business model is designed to cater specifically to the needs and growth potential within each category.
For government agencies, we provide highly specialized laser solutions that meet stringent regulatory and performance standards. This segment benefits from our expertise in delivering reliable, durable, and effective laser systems for various applications, from defense and aerospace to public infrastructure projects. Working with government clients not only solidifies our reputation as a trusted provider of advanced laser technology but also paves the way for new contracts and collaborative projects. One of our current projects is the Laser Shield Anti-Drone System (LSAD), a joint development with our affiliate, Fonon Corporation, to create a laser defense system to serve as an immediate response defense system for addressing the threat of small-scale unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in conflict zones and expeditionary locations. We successfully completed a test of the LSAD prototype at our Orlando facility.
Fortune 1000 companies represent another critical segment, where our laser technology can significantly enhance operational efficiency, precision, and productivity. By addressing the unique challenges of large-scale industrial applications, we position ourselves as an essential partner in the innovation strategies of these corporations. Our advanced laser solutions help these clients stay competitive and maintain high-quality standards, driving repeat business and fostering long-term partnerships.
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Medium and small businesses represent the third key pillar of our customer base, and we recognize that this segment has unique operational needs, budget considerations, and purchasing behaviors compared to larger enterprises and government agencies. To better serve this growing market, we have launched a targeted initiative to expand our outside sales force and equip them with our CleanTech Professional Portable Finishing Laser 1040 (CTPF-1040)—a compact, high-performance laser system designed for versatility, mobility, and ease of use.
This initiative empowers our sales team to bring the CleanTech experience directly to the customer, allowing potential clients to see and feel the benefits of our laser technology in real-time, within their own environments. For situations involving larger, more complex components—or when customers are unable to send samples to our Customer Experience Center—we have deployed two fully equipped mobile demonstration vans. These vehicles are outfitted with a range of laser systems and come complete with onboard power generation, compressed air, and full laser safety gear, enabling us to perform live on-site demonstrations, sample processing, and customer training anywhere in the field.
By strategically addressing the distinct needs of enterprise, government, and small-to-medium business customers—and leveraging our agile, field-ready sales team to deepen engagement and showcase our technology—we are positioning ourselves for strong, sustainable growth. Our customer-first approach, combined with cutting-edge product innovation and adaptive market strategies, strengthens our reputation as a trusted, forward-thinking leader in the laser technology industry.
We market our products globally through our direct sales force which is located in the United States.
We have a perpetual, worldwide exclusive license agreement with ICT Investments, LLC (“ICT Investments”), an affiliate of the Company as discussed below, to sell the Laser Photonics™ branded equipment and licenses for laser cleaning and rust removal, in exchange for 3,000,000 shares of common stock.
On October 18, 2023, we entered into a license agreement with an affiliated company, Fonon Technologies, Inc., which is majority-owned by ICT Investments, for an exclusive, worldwide, nontransferable license for high power turbo piercing (“Cold Cutting”) laser cutting technology and any improvements to such technology to allow us to manufacture, sell, export and import products incorporating such technology in return for our paying a license fee of $350,000 in cash and a one-time grant of 1,000,000 restricted shares of our common stock to ICT Investments.
ICT Investments LLC currently owns approximately 31.13% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and Fonon Corporation currently owns approximately 21.04% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, and collectively are our majority shareholders. Dmitriy Nikitin has voting control of the Company through his ownership of all membership interests of ICT Investments, LLC which is the controlling entity of Fonon Corporation and Fonon Technologies, Inc. On May 21, 2024 we entered into a license agreement with Fonon Corporation to receive an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license to Fonon’s laser material processing equipment and technology, including all applications of laser cutting, marking, engraving, laser welding, brazing, ablation, laser drilling, semiconductor chip marking, semiconductor and flat panel display laser processing equipment, all other laser material processing equipment documented or existing in a form of knowhow and/or trade secrets in return for 3,000,000 restricted shares of Laser Photonics common stock. ICT Investments, LLC, through its control of Fonon Corporation and Fonon Technologies, Inc., in the aggregate, owns approximately _59.19_% of our common stock and will have the voting power to decide all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, including the election of our directors. Through our affiliation with ICT Investments, its portfolio companies and its customers, we have access to more than 1,500 high profile Fortune 5000 customer prospects as well as recognition as a global leader in manufacturing premium laser equipment. In addition, through the expertise and reputation of our officers, Board members and advisors, we have the foundation of our technologically advanced, disruptive laser systems specifically suited for most material processes with specific cleaning requirements and challenges.
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On October 30, 2024, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Control Micro Systems, Inc. (“CMS”), a laser company located in Orlando, Florida, that designs and builds turnkey laser material processing systems for marking, cutting, drilling and welding. CMS allows us to expand into the pharmaceutical market for controlled-release medications that are expanding rapidly, driven by the growing need for more effective and patient-friendly drug delivery systems. Controlled-release tablets, which gradually release medication over time, require precision manufacturing techniques to ensure the proper dosage and timing of active ingredient release. Laser technology plays a critical role in creating micro-drilled apertures in these tablets, ensuring accurate and consistent drug release. We believe that there is a significant opportunity to unlock CMS’s growth potential by integrating it into our existing sales and marketing infrastructure, enhancing customer engagement and expanding our market reach to maximize wallet share from current customers and bring new clients on board.
With global pharmaceutical companies focusing on enhancing drug delivery mechanisms, the demand for laser-based solutions like those provided by CMS is expected to rise. CMS’ experience in supplying laser systems to pharmaceutical companies, coupled with Laser Photonics’ sales and marketing expertise, positions LPC to take full advantage of this growing market segment. We acquired all business assets of CMS, including its intellectual property. This purchase enabled us to expand into the large and growing pharmaceutical manufacturing vertical as well as hiring CMS’ existing workforce, including engineers and customer support personnel, that we believe will add significant value to the acquired CMS assets.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1101 N. Keller Rd., Suite G, Orlando, Florida 32810, and our telephone number is (407) 804-1000. Our corporate website is https://laserphotonics.com. Information contained on our websites does not form a part of this prospectus.
Growth Strategy
Our objective is to achieve a leadership position in our industry with a focus in growth technologies including laser welding, laser cutting, laser cleaning, semiconductor, 3-D Printing, and anti-drone defense. The key elements of our growth strategy are:
Multi-market and Multi-product Approach. We intend to develop and manufacture laser systems for a variety of markets to reduce the financial impact that a downturn in any one market would have.
Accent on Developing Standard Systems for Specific Markets. We expect to increase sales through an industry-recognized expertise in clearly defined markets with substantial sales demand such as rust removal equipment for the shipbuilding industry, laser de-contamination equipment for the nuclear industry and laser blasting cabinets for the general manufacturing industry.
Broaden Customer Relationships. We expect to develop a globally diversified customer base in a variety of industries. We seek to differentiate ourselves from our competitors through superior product pricing, performance and service. We believe that a global presence and investments in application engineering and support will create competitive advantages in serving multinational and local companies.
New Product Development. We intend to target new applications early in the development cycle and drive adoption by leveraging our strong customer relationships, engineering expertise and competitive production costs.
We intend to continue to stay ahead of the technology curve by researching and developing cutting edge products and technologies for both large and small businesses. In addition to our attention to Fortune 1000 companies, we also view the small companies as an attractive market opportunity since they were previously unable to take advantage of laser processing equipment due to high prices, significant operating costs and the technical complexities of the laser equipment. As a result, we are developing a group of standardized laser cleaning equipment that we have named the CleanTech™ laser blaster family of equipment that we believe represents a new generation of high-power laser cleaning and rust removal systems that will be affordable to more than a million small and mid-size companies.
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Controlled Company Exemption
ICT Investments, LLC in the aggregate, will control approximately 59.19__% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock following this offering and will have the power to elect a majority of our directors. Pursuant to Nasdaq’s listing standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, a group or another company qualifies as a “controlled company.” As a controlled company, we may elect not to comply with certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, including the requirements to have (i) a board composed of a majority of independent directors; (ii) compensation of executive officers determined by a majority of the independent directors or a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors; and (iii) director nominees selected or recommended for our board either by a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee comprised solely of independent directors. If we cease to be a “controlled company” and our shares are listed on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with these standards and, depending on the independence determination with respect to our then-current directors, we may be required to add additional directors to our board to achieve such compliance within the applicable transition periods. We currently do, and intend to continue to comply with the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements for companies that are not controlled companies.
Our Laser Cleaning Products
The current administration’s focus on fiscal responsibility and budget constraints has led to reduced spending on new equipment, increasing the need for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of existing assets. As a result, demand for cost-effective, high-performance solutions is rising across defense and industrial sectors.
Laser Photonics is strategically positioned to meet this need with our TAA-compliant line of laser solutions offered under the DefenceTech brand. Our “Made in America” industrial laser systems align with federal procurement priorities, ensuring U.S. agencies have access to cutting-edge, domestically manufactured technology for MRO applications. As one of few industrial laser cleaning equipment manufacturer meeting “Buy American” requirements, we are well-positioned to receive preferential consideration over foreign competitors in the laser cleaning systems market.
Diversified and Proprietary Technology Platform and Knowhow
We were able to secure through our affiliation with ICT Investments a diverse portfolio of know-how, trade secrets and proprietary technologies. We believe that we possess design documentation for the largest array of laser-based systems for material processing in North America.
Core Technologies Underlying Each Product
Fiber laser cleaning technology or laser ablation which we market under the Laser Blasting™ brand, is a proven, state-of-the-art, 21st Century replacement for hazardous 19th century abrasives blasting (or sandblasting). It is a non-contact, environmentally friendly process that removes surface coatings from metals, concrete and delicate substrates such as composites—with minimal impact on the base material. Laser Blasting works by aiming brief pulses of high-power laser energy (in the µs–ms range) at a surface to be prepared or cleaned of paint, rust, or other contaminants. The energy applied to the layer being removed doesn’t dissipate. Instead, it blasts off the substrate material being cleaned. Most or all of the material being removed is vaporized, resulting in a much cleaner process than other cleaning methods. Whatever removed material has not been vaporized may be suctioned away and filtered out of the air as particle dust.
We are recognized as a pioneer and an industry leader with our CleanTech™ Laser Blasting™ technology. Laser Blasting can replace sandblasting or dry ice blasting in nearly every industry and every application where an abrasive blasting is used. It is effective on glass, ceramics, metals, concrete, plastics and much more, and provides greater control and precision than possible with the legacy technologies it is designed to replace. LP portable Laser Blasting systems incorporate proprietary autofocusing C-Optics technology that allows for greater precision on uneven or contoured surfaces, even from handheld Laser Blasting systems. This innovation expands laser cleaning from the production floor to the field. Laser Blasting is effective on small parts and sensitive materials, as well as surfaces of ships, bridges, aircraft, pipelines, large vehicles, and trains, among others.
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Our Product Platforms
Since our founding in 2019, and through IP received from ICT Investments, we have developed an extensive portfolio of products based on proprietary technologies that form the foundation of our laser blasting equipment manufacturing solutions, which are comprised of hardware, equipment design documentation, bills of materials, software, materials, and service practices.
Designed in-house by industry-recognized laser scientists and inventors, our expansive product portfolio covers a broad spectrum of applications across key industries, including maritime and shipbuilding, oil and gas, automotive manufacturing, rail transport, aerospace, defense, and space exploration. Our CleanTech™ line scales with customer needs, starting with low price-point handheld Laser Blasters™ designed to tackle simple cleaning and surface predation jobs, to high-end AI-controlled, user-programmable C-Robotics™ made for complex, precision production environments.
Our state-of-the-art, performance-based “Made in America” Laser Blasting™ products are industrial-grade laser cleaning systems developed to disrupt and displace hazardous legacy abrasives blasting (a.k.a. sandblasting) and chemical cleaning methods that have been in common usage since the 19th century. Laser Blasting is cleaner to operate, more cost effective to own and safer for the worker and the environment. We believe that Laser Blasting is right on time as industry is increasingly coming under pressure to phase out abrasive blasting and chemical cleaning methods in compliance with health, environmental and safety regulations designed to protect laborers and the environment.
Since our founding in 2019, we have developed an extensive portfolio of proprietary equipment and technologies that formed the base for our broad product offering, starting from relatively simple handheld devices to fully automatic and operated by AI robotic systems.
Our diverse lines of laser cleaning equipment are used in a variety of industries to improve and promote programs to address significant concerns about the exposure of employees to toxic airborne materials to reduce the risk of lung cancer and silicosis triggered by inhalation of crystalline silica dust released from abrasive blasting. Laser cleaning uses photons emissions, thus eliminating the need for abrasive media, including silica. The chart below provides information on several industries to indicate the need for laser cleaning equipment and how our technology meets those industries’ requirements. This chart was developed by us in the last few months to allow our salespeople to identify the specific model of our CleanTech laser blasting equipment that matches target industries and the surface integrity parameters familiar to prospective customers. We want to demonstrate our capability to address the specific cleaning applications that such customers require. The industry terminology is explained in our footnotes to the chart.
Below is the description of abbreviations and definitions used in Laser Photonics Laser Blaster products qualification chart:
| ● | Roughing-Rough surface condition for thick material | |
| ● | Mid-Range-Normal level below roughest surface condition for medium material thickness | |
| ● | Finishing-Least amount of roughness on a surface for thin materials | |
| ● | Gauge-indication of a measurement of industrial materials. | |
| ● | Grit-indication of roughness to apply to a surface for preparation prior to coating. | |
| ● | CAML-grade of abrasive media used for the sandblasting industry. | |
| ● | DPI-Dots per inch | |
| ● | LPI-Lines per inch | |
| ● | Laser Grade-Designated choice of laser for best results | |
| ● | Strip Rate in Ft Squared per hour is calculated as follows: 2X (laser power in KW) / (coating thickness in mils, where one mill= .001), X 60 minutes. Source: Robotic Laser Coating Removal System ESTCP Project WP- 0526 apps.dtic.mil |
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Our current Laser Blasting solutions are as follows:
Handheld CleanTech Line: We offer the widest range of Class IV handheld laser blasting equipment in the world, spanning from 50W to 3000W, and including the world’s most powerful production laser blaster on the market — the CleanTech Industrial Roughening Laser 3060, delivering average power levels in the 10,000-watt range.
We’re currently developing an even more powerful solution designed for seamless integration into our CleanTech Robotic Cell, complete with safety interlocks to ensure full OSHA and FDA CDRH Class 1 compliance.
The CleanTech 3060 is a high-performance cleaning and surface preparation system, engineered to efficiently remove rust, paint, and other surface contaminants from materials such as steel, aluminum, iron, and a wide range of other substrates.
Our handheld CleanTech line features five distinct pulse laser patterns, including a proprietary cleaning mode specifically designed to maximize efficiency and minimize thermal stress, offering unmatched flexibility for a variety of industrial applications across diverse surface types.
CleanTech™ Laser Blaster Cabinet The CleanTech™ Laser Blaster Cabinet is a fully enclosed, Class 1 laser workspace, engineered as a safer, cleaner, and more efficient alternative to traditional sandblasting enclosures—eliminating the noise, dust, media storage, replenishment, and cleanup associated with abrasive blasting.
Designed for companies of all sizes, this self-contained, industrial-grade laser cleaning machine replaces abrasive blasting and chemical baths, providing a high-precision, environmentally friendly solution for part cleaning and material preparation.
What sets the CleanTech™ Laser Blaster Cabinet apart is its exclusive fiber laser technology, paired with a handheld laser-blasting head, all housed within a fully enclosed 30” x 26” workspace. Built for speed, precision, safety, and flexibility, it is the only laser-blasting cabinet in the world manufactured in full compliance with CDRH, FDA, and OSHA regulations.
With this system, companies can eliminate hazardous dust, noise, and toxic chemicals, ensuring a safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective work environment while achieving superior cleaning and surface preparation results.
CleanTech™ Class I Laser Blasting Systems
Our CleanTech™ MegaCenter, Titan, and Titan Express automated Class I-ready laser blasting systems are purpose-built for mass production environments. Engineered with advanced automation controls and automated material-loading capabilities, these systems deliver maximum throughput for high-volume, high-precision manufacturing operations.
The CleanTech™ Titan Series is a high-power, large-format laser system designed for parts cleaning, rust removal, and surface conditioning, featuring an expansive 6′ x 12′ working area and Flex-Loading options for seamless, continuous operation. This industrial-grade, turn-key solution can operate as a standalone unit or be fully integrated into an existing production line.
The full CleanTech lineup includes the Titan, Titan Express, MegaCenter, and the portable CleanTech™ Handheld, ideal for use both in the field and on the factory floor. All CleanTech systems are built for industrial durability and operate in full compliance with OSHA, FDA, and CDRH safety standards, supporting true “Push-Button” laser-safe operation for unmatched ease of use and workplace safety.
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CleanTech™ Robotic Cell with AI
The CleanTech™ Robotic Cell integrates our advanced User-Programmable AI (UPAI), enabling factory line workers to easily program precision robotic operations—no coding or robotics expertise required. This breakthrough makes it simple to automate complex, repetitive tasks in high-throughput production environments, boosting both productivity and consistency.
The CleanTech™ Laser Cleaning Robot is the first commercially available, collaborative, and AI-capable laser cleaning system in the United States. Purpose-built for precise beam positioning and tight focus, it operates at significantly lower laser power levels than traditional handheld systems—dramatically reducing operational costs and making laser cleaning more accessible and affordable for a wide range of industrial applications.
Safety and efficiency are at the core of the system’s design. With optional adds on including AI, a 3D scanner and visualizer, vision system, and a Class 1 safety enclosure, the robot can perform multiple tasks simultaneously—all while minimizing operator exposure and ensuring full compliance with OSHA and FDA CDRH regulations.
The result is a next-generation laser cleaning solution that combines cutting-edge automation, intelligent control, and industry-leading safety—bringing unprecedented capability to modern manufacturing floors.
Customers
Our intent is to establish additional relationships with Fortune 1000 customers primarily within the United States and with select Fortune 1000 customers around the globe and represent a broad array of industries, including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, consumer products, heavy industry, machine design, research, and others.
Research, Development and Engineering
The principal focus of our research and development activity is the development of our proprietary laser-based cleaning equipment to replace global sand blasting and abrasive blasting applications in a large number of markets discussed below.
Marketing and Sales
For the year ending in December 31, 2024, we employed 8 direct salespeople, 10 global distributors/resellers, and signed two technology partnerships for integration of our Cleantech product line into robotic platforms for both commercial and defense applications.
2023 & 2024 was a year of investments sales and marketing activity, and we invested nearly $4M in development and scaling of sales and marketing operation. We have a marketing and sales budget equal to 10% of our gross sales, and a new product promotional budget of $0.7M for 2025.
Product Warranty and Support
We offer for sale with our equipment a two-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service conditions following delivery of our equipment to our customers.
We also warrant the owners of our custom laser systems that are designed and manufactured in accordance with agreed-upon specifications. In resolving claims under both the defects and performance warranties, we have the option of either repairing or replacing the covered laser cleaning equipment. Our warranties are automatically transferred from the original purchaser of our laser cleaning equipment and optical components to subsequent purchasers upon delivery of our finished laser systems.
In general, our products carry a warranty against defects, depending on the product type and customer negotiations. The costs associated with these warranty obligations are not expected to be significant and no such costs have been recorded in our financial statements.
Competition
The laser cleaning market is highly fragmented, with most competitors being small, privately held, or operating within limited geographic regions, specific industries, or niche applications. While our competitive landscape is diverse, it remains intensely competitive, shaped by rapid technological advancements, increasing customer demands, and downward pressure on average selling prices as newer, integrated technologies replace outdated systems.
Our most notable competitors include P-Laser and Clean-Lasersysteme GmbH (represented in the U.S. by Adapt Laser Systems), along with smaller players such as Laserax and 4JET. Some of these competitors are attempting to close the gap by increasing the output power of their fiber lasers to compete with our high-powered, industrial-grade solutions.
However, most competitors do not meet CDRH safety requirements for Class 4 laser systems, making them unlikely to be considered by many companies that prioritize workplace safety and regulatory compliance. At Laser Photonics, customer safety is our top priority. Our systems are designed and manufactured to fully comply with OSHA, FDA, and CDRH regulations, ensuring that companies receive not only cutting-edge performance but also the highest level of operational safety and reliability.
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We also compete with end-users that produce laser technology, as well as with manufacturers of non-laser methods and tools, such as traditional abrasives blasting (referred to as sandblasting), non-laser welding, cutting dies, mechanical cutters, and plasma cutters in the materials processing market. Some of our competitors are larger, with considerably more financial, managerial, and technical resources, as well as more extensive sales, distribution, and service networks, and greater marketing capacity.
Our primary focus is to provide diversified industrial-grade laser-based cleaning machinery in a variety of markets. Each market has a different group of competitors subject to rapidly changing technologies and materials, a customer base with continuously changing requirements and geographical outsourcing challenges.
We believe that our future success is dependent on our flexibility to adapt to changes in the marketplace, expanding our existing products and services targeting application specific systems for each industry we serve. We continuously introduce new products and services on a timely and cost-effective basis identifying both standard and niche laser-systems opportunities enhancing our ability to penetrate new customers and new emerging markets.
Primary competitive factors in our markets include:
| ● | Price and value | |
| ● | Ability to design, manufacture, and deliver new products on a cost-effective and timely basis. | |
| ● | Ability of our suppliers to produce and deliver components in a timely manner, in the quantity desired and at the budgeted prices | |
| ● | Product performance and reliability | |
| ● | Service support. | |
| ● | Product mix | |
| ● | Ability to meet customer specifications. | |
| ● | Ability to respond quickly to changes in market demand and technology developments. |
In the materials processing market, the competition is fragmented with a large number of competitors that are small or privately owned or compete with us on a limited geographic, industry, or application specific basis including Trumpf GmbH, Clean Laser GMBH, P-Laser. Advanced Laser Technology, Anilox Roll Cleaning Systems, General Lasertronics, IPGPhotonics, Laserax, and White Lion Dry Ice & Laser Cleaning Technology. We believe that none of our competitors compete in all the industries, applications, and geographical markets which we serve and that our products compete favorably with respect to their laser cleaning equipment.
Intellectual Property and License Rights
We believe that our success depends, in part, on our ability to maintain and protect our proprietary technology and to conduct our business without infringing on the proprietary rights of others.
We rely primarily on a combination of trademarks and trade secrets, as well as associate and third-party confidentiality agreements, to safeguard our intellectual property.
With respect to proprietary know-how that is not patentable and processes for which patents are difficult to enforce, we rely on, among other things, trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to safeguard our interests. We believe that many elements of our laser system manufacturing process, including our unique materials sourcing, involve proprietary know-how, technology, or data that are not covered by patents or patent applications, including technical processes, equipment designs, algorithms, and procedures. We have taken security measures to protect these elements. All our research and development personnel will have to sign confidentiality and proprietary information agreements with us. These agreements address intellectual property protection issues and require our associates to assign to us all the inventions, designs, and technologies they develop during the course of employment with us. We also require our customers and business partners to enter into confidentiality agreements before we disclose any sensitive aspects of our modules, technology, or business plans.
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Employees and Human Capital
As of December 31, 2024, we employed 94 full-time team members and had no part-time employees. Our human capital strategy focuses on identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing, and effectively integrating both existing personnel and new talent, including employees, advisors, and consultants. These efforts are essential to support our continued growth and innovation across all areas of the business.
Government Regulation
Our current and contemplated activities and the products and processes that will result from such activities are subject to substantial government regulation, both in the United States and internationally.
Government Contracts and Regulations
Our U.S Government business is heavily regulated. We contract with several U.S. Government agencies and entities, principally all branches of the U.S. military. We must comply with, and are affected by, laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration, and performance of U.S. Government contracts. These laws and regulations, among other things:
| ● | require certification and disclosure of all cost or pricing data in connection with certain types of contract negotiations; | |
| ● | impose specific and unique cost accounting practices that may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); | |
| ● | impose acquisition regulations, which may change or be replaced over time, that define which costs can be charged to the U.S. Government, how and when costs can be charged, and otherwise govern our right to reimbursement under certain U.S. Government contracts; | |
| ● | require specific security controls to protect U.S. Government controlled unclassified information and restrict the use and dissemination of information classified for national security purposes and the export of certain products, services and technical data; and compliance with cyber security regulations by our supply chain; and | |
| ● | require the review and approval of contractor business systems, defined in the regulations as: (i) Accounting System; (ii) Estimating System; (iii) Earned Value Management System, for managing cost and schedule performance on certain complex programs; (iv) Purchasing System; (v) Material Management and Accounting System, for planning, controlling and accounting for the acquisition, use, issuing and disposition of material; and (vi) Property Management System. |
The U.S. Government may terminate any of our government contracts and subcontracts either at its convenience or for default based on our performance. If a contract is terminated for convenience, we generally are protected by provisions covering reimbursement for costs incurred on the contract and profit on those costs. If a contract is terminated for default, we generally are entitled to payments for our work that has been accepted by the U.S. Government or other governments; however, the U.S. Government could make claims to reduce the contract value or recover its procurement costs and could assess other special penalties. For more information regarding the U.S. Government’s right to terminate our contracts and government contracting laws and regulations, see “Risk Factors”.
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Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act
We are subject to the laser radiation safety regulations of the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act administered by the National Center for Devices and Radiological Health, a branch of the United States Food and Drug Administration. Among other things, those regulations require laser manufacturers to file new product and annual reports, to maintain quality control and sales records, to perform product testing, to distribute appropriate operating manuals, to incorporate design and operating features in lasers sold to end-users and to certify and label each laser sold to end-users as one of four classes (based on the level of radiation from the laser that is accessible to users). Various warning labels must be affixed, and certain protective devices installed depending on the class of product. The National Center for Devices and Radiological Health is empowered to seek fines and other remedies for violations of regulatory requirements.
CE Marking
We are subject to certain regulations in Europe as administered by the European Commission. CE Marking is required for products marketed within the European Economic Area (EEA) and confirms that the manufacturer meets certain safety, health and environmental protection requirements administered by the European Union. Non-compliance with these regulations could result in warnings, penalties, or fines. We believe that we are currently in compliance with these regulations.
United States Food and Drug Administration
Certain products manufactured by us are integrated into systems by our customers that are subject to certain regulations administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We must comply with certain quality control measurements for our products to be effectively used in our customers’ end products. Non-compliance with quality control measurements could result in loss of business with our customers, fines and penalties.
Facilities
On December 1, 2019, we entered a sub-lease with ICT Investments for 5,000 sf of manufacturing space on a month-to-month basis at $4,050 per month. In January 2020, we expanded the lease with ICT Investments to include the entire facility of 18,000 sf. In October of 2021, a direct lease was signed with the landlord for three years, terminating on October 31, 2024. In November we entered into a lease amendment that expires December 31, 2025. The facility is currently equipped with three of our latest advanced laser cleaning demonstration models. It includes a materials stock room, a ramp and high dock, loading and moving equipment, a machine shop, an electronics room, and an equipment assembly area. The monthly rent for this facility is currently $15,549.
In December 2022, we entered into an agreement with 2701 Maitland Building Associates to rent 8,000 sf of additional office space nearby the main facility, for our growing sales and marketing program. The monthly rent for this space is currently $14,805. On February 10, 2025, we entered into a Lease Termination Agreement with 2701 Maitland Building Associates, LLC, the Landlord of Suite 125 containing approximately 7,981 rentable square feet that Laser Photonics had leased from November 7, 2022 through December 31, 2025, at a base monthly rent of $14,818.06 (“Suite 125”). In light of our entering into a long-term lease at 250 Technology Park. Lake Mary, FL 32746 on July 1, 2024, we determined that we did not need Suite 125 for our future growth and, since we could not sublet this space, we entered into the Lease Termination Agreement to reduce our lease expense. Under the terms of the Lease Termination Agreement, we agreed to pay a monthly termination fee of $14,912.14 base rent plus operating expenses for five months, saving us approximately $80,000 in lease payments for 2025.
On July 1, 2024, we entered into a lease agreement for 48,481 square feet of office space at a base monthly rent of $ 50,354.42 with an annual increase of 3%, that has a term of 10.5 years. The location of the facility is 250 Technology Park. Lake Mary, FL.
Our facility is currently equipped with three of our latest advanced laser cleaning demonstration models.
Upon acquisition of Control Micro Systems in on October 31, 2024 at 4420 Metric Dr. Winter Park Florida. The lease expires on October 31, 2025. The facility is 52,200 total square ft at a cost of $27,700 per month.
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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and therefore we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being required to have our internal controls over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments. We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards under the JOBS Act. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with effective public company dates. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year: (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering; (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion; or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with that term in the JOBS Act.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in the section titled “Risk Factors,” alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
We are competing in a highly competitive market and to compete effectively we must be able to adapt to technology changes and to implement innovative technology applications.
ICT Investments owns a majority of our outstanding shares and exerts significant control over business decisions as well as matters subject to stockholder approval.
We depend on the U.S. Government for a portion of our business, which we expect to increase, and changes in government defense spending could have adverse consequences on our financial position, results of operations and business.
As a U.S. defense contractor, we are vulnerable to security threats and other disruptions that could negatively impact our business.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has history of net losses and accumulated deficits. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
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Our international business exposes us to geo-political and economic factors, regulatory requirements and other risks associated with doing business in foreign countries.
Our success may depend on our ability to obtain and protect the proprietary information on which we base our laser-based cleaning equipment. The patent application process is expensive and time-consuming, and we and our current or future licensors and licensees may not be able to prepare, file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we or our current licensors, or any future licensors or licensees, will fail to identify patentable aspects of inventions made during development and commercialization activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them.
If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, it will be costly and time consuming, and an unfavorable outcome in that litigation could harm our business.
Some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may deter takeover attempts, which may inhibit a takeover that stockholders consider favorable and limit the opportunity of our stockholders to sell their shares at a favorable price.
Our indemnification of our officers and directors may cause us to use corporate resources to the detriment of our stockholders.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
If our shares of common stock become subject to the penny stock rules, it would become more difficult to trade our shares. If we do not obtain or retain a listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and if the price of our common stock is less than $5.00 per share, our common stock will be deemed a penny stock.
Risks Related to our Business and Our Industry
We may need to raise additional capital.
If, in the future, we are not able to generate sufficient revenues from operations and our capital resources are insufficient to meet future requirements, we may have to raise additional funds to allow us to continue to commercialize, market and sell our products. We cannot be certain that funding will be available on acceptable terms or at all. To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Any debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants that may impact on our ability to conduct business or return capital to investors. If we are unable to raise additional capital if required or on acceptable terms, we may have to significantly scale back, delay or discontinue the development and/or commercialization of our laser-based cleaning products, restrict our operations or obtain funds by entering into agreements on unattractive terms.
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If our proposed marketing efforts are unsuccessful, we may not earn enough revenue to scale the business profitably.
Our success will depend on investment in marketing resources and the successful implementation of our marketing plan. Our marketing plan involves attendance at trade shows, conducting private demonstrations, utilizing promotional materials, and employing advertising campaigns in print and/or broadcast media. We cannot give any assurance that our marketing efforts will be successful. If they are not, revenue may be insufficient to cover our growing fixed costs and we may suffer a reduction in profitability.
We have a large amount of intangible assets, and if these assets become impaired, our earnings would be adversely affected.
We have a substantial amount of intangible assets, representing approximately 33% of our total assets as of December 31, 2024. While we amortize our intangible assets, they may be subject to impairment testing. If we experience any significant impairment to our intangible assets, it may have a material adverse effect on our reported financial results for the period in which the charge is taken and could result in a decrease in the market price of our common stock.
We may be unable to respond to rapid technological changes and innovative products.
In a constantly changing and innovative technology market with frequent new product introductions, enhancement, and modifications, we may be forced to implement and develop new technologies into our products for anticipation of changing customer requirements that may significantly impact costs in order to retain or enhance our competitive position in existing and new markets.
There is intense competition in our market.
There is intense competition amongst manufacturers of crystalline silicon laser modules, thin-film laser modules, solar thermal lasers, and concentrated fiber laser systems. Our management is aware that the failure to compete away eventual new entrants will affect overall business prospects and the product itself. Therefore, if we can innovate more quickly, we will be better able to defend our pricing power. Competitive factors in this market are all related to product performance, price, customer service, training platforms, reputation, and sales and marketing effectiveness, all of which are factors upon which we believe we can compete successfully but will need greater financial resources to do so.
Future acquisitions may be unsuccessful and may negatively affect operations and financial condition.
We plan to grow organically; however, we will opportunistically pursue potential acquisitions of complementary businesses. Should we acquire other companies, the integration of businesses, personnel, product lines, and technologies might prove to be difficult, time consuming, and risky. Any difficulties could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and employees, increase our expenses, and impair our revenue and results of operations.
If we are unable to hire additional personnel, we will have trouble growing our business.
Our future success depends on our ability to attract, retain, and motivate skilled marketing, managerial, operational, and administrative personnel. We plan to hire additional personnel in all areas of our business as we grow. Competition for qualified personnel is intense. As a result, we may be unable to attract and retain qualified personnel. We may also be unable to retain the employees that we currently employ. The failure to attract and retain highly competent personnel could seriously harm our business, financial condition, and operational results.
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Our business depends on experienced and highly skilled technicians and business development personnel, and if we are unable to attract such talent, it will be more difficult for us to manage our business and complete contracts.
The success of our business depends on the skill of our personnel. Accordingly, it is critical that we maintain, and continue to build, a highly experienced management team and specialized workforce, including designers, engineers, and sales professionals. Competition for personnel – particularly those with expertise in government consulting and who possess a security clearance – is high, and identifying candidates with the appropriate qualifications can be costly and difficult. We may not be able to hire the necessary personnel to implement our business strategy given our anticipated hiring needs, or we may need to provide higher compensation or more training to our personnel than we currently anticipate. In addition, our ability to recruit, hire, and indirectly deploy former employees of the U.S. Government is subject to complex laws and regulations, which may serve as an impediment to our ability to attract such talent.
Our business is labor intensive, and our success depends on our ability to attract, retain, train, and motivate highly skilled employees, including employees who may become part of our organization in connection with our acquisitions. The increase in demand for consulting, technology integration, and managed services has further increased the need for employees with specialized skills or significant experience in these areas. We may not be successful in attracting and retaining enough employees to achieve our desired staffing and expansion objectives. Furthermore, the industry turnover rates for these types of employees are high and we may not be successful in retaining, training, or motivating them. Any inability to attract, retain, train, and motivate skilled talent could impair our ability to adequately manage and complete existing projects, not to mention restrict our ability to accept new client engagements. Such an inability may also force us to increase our hiring of independent contractors, which may increase our costs and reduce our profitability on client engagements. We must also devote substantial managerial and financial resources to monitoring and managing our workforce. Our future success will depend on our ability to manage the levels and related costs of our workforce.
In the event we are unable to attract, hire and retain the requisite personnel and subcontractors, we may experience delays in completing contracts in accordance with project schedules and budgets, which may have an adverse effect on our financial results, harm our reputation, and cause us to curtail our pursuit of new contracts. Further, any increase in demand for personnel may result in higher costs, causing us to exceed the budget on a contract, which in turn may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results, as well as harm our customer relationships.
We face a higher risk of failure because we cannot accurately forecast our future revenues and operating results.
The rapidly changing nature of the markets in which we compete makes it difficult to accurately forecast our revenues and operating results. Moreover, we expect our future revenues and operating results to fluctuate due to a number of factors, including the following:
the timing of sales of our products.
unexpected delays in the introduction of new products.
increased expenses, whether related to sales and marketing, or administration; and
costs related to anticipated acquisitions of complementary businesses.
Our products may suffer defects.
Our products may suffer defects that may lead to substantial product liability, damage, or warranty claims. Given the complexity of the platforms and systems inside our products, the potential for errors and defects is heightened. Significant expenses arising from product liability or warranty claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and operating results.
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We need to increase the size and scale of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing such growth, which might impair our financial performance.
We need to strengthen our managerial, operational, and accounting infrastructure, in addition to integrating employees retained from other companies that we might acquire. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain, and integrate new employees. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our products will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively.
To manage our future growth, we will need to continue to effect improvements in our managerial, operational, and accounting controls. All of these measures will require significant expenditure and will demand the attention of management. If we fail to continue making enhancements to our operational and financial controls in support of the growth in our business, we could develop operating and reporting inefficiencies that could increase our costs more than we had planned, as well as impair our competitive position. If we are unable to manage growth effectively, our business, financial condition, and operating results could be adversely affected.
Insurance and contractual protections may not always cover lost revenue, increased expenses, or liquidated damages payments, which could adversely affect our financial results.
Although we maintain insurance and intend to obtain warranties from suppliers, obligate subcontractors to meet certain performance levels and attempt, where feasible, to pass risks we cannot control to our customers, the proceeds of such insurance, warranties, performance guarantees or risk sharing arrangements may not be adequate to cover lost revenue, increased expenses or liquidated damages payments that may be required in the future.
Internal system or service failures could disrupt our business and impair our ability to effectively provide our services and products to our customers, which could damage our reputation and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Any system or service disruptions, including those caused by ongoing projects to improve our information technology systems and the delivery of services, if not anticipated and appropriately mitigated, could have a material adverse effect on our business including, among other things, an adverse effect on our ability to bill our customers for work performed on our contracts, collect the amounts that have been billed and produce accurate financial statements in a timely manner. We are also subject to system failures, including network, software, or hardware failures, whether caused by us, third-party service providers, cyber security threats, natural disasters, power shortages, terrorist attacks or other events, which could cause loss of data and interruptions or delays in our business, cause us to incur remediation costs, subject us to claims and damage our reputation. In addition, the failure or disruption of our communications or utilities could cause us to interrupt or suspend our operations or otherwise adversely affect our business. Our property and business interruption insurance may be inadequate to compensate us for all losses that may occur because of any system or operational failure or disruption and, as a result, our future results could be adversely affected.
Our financial performance could be adversely affected by decreases in spending on technology products and services by our public sector customers.
Our sales to our public sector customers are impacted by government spending policies, budget priorities and revenue levels. An adverse change in government spending policies (including budget cuts at the federal level), budget priorities or revenue levels could cause our public sector customers to reduce their purchases or to terminate or not renew their contracts with us, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations or cash flows.
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Our business could be adversely affected by the loss of certain vendor partner relationships and the availability of their products.
We purchase products from vendors on a global basis as components to include in our finished laser-based cleaning equipment. In the event we were to lose one of our significant vendor partners, our business could be adversely affected.
We expect to enter joint ventures, teaming and other arrangements, and these activities involve risks and uncertainties.
We expect to enter joint ventures, teaming and other arrangements. These activities involve risks and uncertainties, including the risk of the joint venture or applicable entity failing to satisfy its obligations, which may result in certain liabilities to us for guarantees and other commitments, the challenges in achieving strategic objectives and expected benefits of the business arrangement, the risk of conflicts arising between us and our partners and the difficulty of managing and resolving such conflicts, and the difficulty of managing or otherwise monitoring such business arrangements.
Our business and operations expose us to numerous legal and regulatory requirements and any violation of these requirements could harm our business.
We are subject to numerous federal, state and foreign legal requirements on matters as diverse as data privacy and protection, employment and labor relations, immigration, taxation, anticorruption, import/export controls, trade restrictions, internal and disclosure control obligations, securities regulation and anti- competition. Compliance with diverse and changing legal requirements is costly, time-consuming and requires significant resources. We are also focused on expanding our business in certain identified growth areas, such as energy and environment, which are highly regulated and may expose us to increased compliance risk. Violations of one or more of these diverse legal requirements in the conduct of our business could result in significant fines and other damages, criminal sanctions against us or our officers, prohibitions on doing business and damage to our reputation. Violations of these regulations or contractual obligations related to regulatory compliance in connection with the performance of customer contracts could also result in liability for significant monetary damages, fines and/or criminal prosecution, unfavorable publicity and other reputational damage, restrictions on our ability to compete for certain work and allegations by our customers that we have not performed our contractual obligations.
As a manufacturer of laser cleaning equipment and laser processing systems our future success depends on our ability to effectively balance manufacturing production with market demand and reducing our manufacturing cost per watt.
Our ability to generate the profits we expect to achieve will depend, in part, on our ability to respond to market demand and add new manufacturing capacity in a cost-effective manner. In addition, we must continue to increase the efficiency of our manufacturing process to compete successfully and generate the returns to our stockholders, attract growth capital and a qualify for and maintain a listing on an exchange. Our failure to do so could threaten our long-term viability.
We expect to increase our business with the U.S. Government, and changes in government defense spending could have adverse consequences on our financial position, results of operations and business.
In 2024, less than 18% of our U.S. revenues were derived from sales and services provided directly or indirectly to the U.S. Government. However, we anticipate increasing that figure to 25% over the next 12 to 24 months as we expand our engagement with federal agencies.
Our work with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force has been primarily defense-related, and we expect future revenues to stem from contracts awarded under a variety of U.S. Government programs, particularly within the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal departments and agencies.
Under the current administration, there is a strong focus on modernizing defense capabilities while reducing redundant spending through organizational consolidation, cost-cutting measures, and more efficient procurement processes. The DoD is increasingly prioritizing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) over new equipment purchases—creating a growing opportunity for companies like ours that provide cost-effective, high-performance solutions for extending the life of existing assets.
Funding for our programs remains subject to the U.S. Government’s annual budget and appropriation process, which is influenced by a wide range of factors, including geopolitical developments, macroeconomic conditions, and the strategic priorities of the administration and Congress. While overall defense spending has risen in recent years to address emerging global threats and modernization needs, future budget levels will continue to reflect a complex balance of domestic and international priorities, as well as the broader fiscal health of the U.S. economy.
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The Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, along with subsequent budget agreements, imposed discretionary spending caps on both defense and non-defense programs from FY2012 through FY2021, ushering in a decade of relative fiscal austerity. These caps operated under a “principle of parity,” requiring proportional cuts across both categories. With the expiration of the BCA, federal budgeting has entered a new phase, where non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending has more flexibility to grow without necessarily triggering equal increases in defense funding.
Under the current administration, there is heightened emphasis on domestic investment, including infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy, which may shift federal funding priorities away from certain defense initiatives. In parallel, ongoing debates over the national debt, deficit reduction, and federal spending limits—including discussions surrounding the debt ceiling—create continued uncertainty in the budgeting process.
As a result, while we remain optimistic about opportunities in defense-related MRO and modernization programs, we acknowledge that budgetary constraints and shifting fiscal priorities could result in the reduction, delay, or cancellation of funding for some contracts—particularly those with unobligated balances. Such developments could adversely affect our operations, financial performance, and growth outlook.
Significant reduction in defense spending could have long-term consequences for our size and structure. In addition, reduction in government priorities and requirements could impact the funding, or the timing of funding, of our programs, which could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we are involved in U.S. Government programs, which are classified by the U.S. Government and our ability to discuss these programs, including any risks and disputes and claims associated with and our performance under such programs, could be limited due to applicable security restrictions.
Our financial performance is dependent on our ability to perform on our current and future expected U.S. Government contracts, which are subject to termination for convenience, which could harm our financial performance.
We believe that our financial performance will be dependent on our performance under our existing U.S. Government contracts and contracts we may enter into with the U.S. Government in the future. Government customers have the right to cancel any contract for its convenience. An unanticipated termination of, or reduced purchases under, one of our major contracts whether due to lack of funding, for convenience or otherwise, or the occurrence of delays, cost overruns and product failures could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. If one of our U.S. Government contracts were terminated for convenience, we would generally be entitled to payments for our allowable costs and would receive some allowance for profit on the work performed. If one of our contracts were terminated for default, we would generally be entitled to payments for our work that has been accepted by the government. A termination arising out of our default could expose us to liability and have a negative impact on our ability to obtain future contracts and orders. Furthermore, on contracts for which we are a subcontractor and not the prime contractor, the U.S. Government could terminate the prime contract for convenience or otherwise, irrespective of our performance as a subcontractor.
Our failure to comply with a variety of complex procurement rules and regulations could result in our being liable for penalties, including termination of our current and anticipated U.S. Government contracts, disqualification from bidding on future U.S. Government contracts and suspension or debarment from U.S. Government contracting that could adversely affect our financial condition.
We must comply with laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration and performance of our one existing and anticipated future U.S. Government contracts, which affect how we do business with our customers and may impose added costs on our business. U.S. Government contracts generally are subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which sets forth policies, procedures and requirements for the acquisition of goods and services by the U.S. Government, department-specific regulations that implement or supplement DFAR, such as the DOD’s Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and other applicable laws and regulations. We are also subject to the Truth in Negotiations Act, which requires certification and disclosure of cost and pricing data in connection with certain contract negotiations; the Procurement Integrity Act, which regulates access to competitor bid and proposal information and government source selection information, and our ability to provide compensation to certain former government officials; the Civil False Claims Act, which provides for substantial civil penalties for violations, including for submission of a false or fraudulent claim to the U.S. Government for payment or approval; the Civil False Claims Act, which provides for substantial civil penalties for violations, including for submission of a false or fraudulent claim to the U.S. Government for payment or approval; and the U.S. Government Cost Accounting Standards, which impose accounting requirements that govern our right to reimbursement under certain cost- based U.S. Government contracts. These regulations impose a broad range of requirements, many of which are unique to government contracting, including various procurement, import and export, security, contract pricing and cost, contract termination and adjustment, and audit requirements. A contractor’s failure to comply with these regulations and requirements could result in reductions to the value of contracts, contract modifications or termination, and the assessment of penalties and fines and lead to suspension or debarment, for cause, from government contracting or subcontracting for a period. In addition, government contractors are also subject to routine audits and investigations by U.S. Government agencies such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). These agencies review a contractor’s performance under its contracts, cost structure and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards. The DCAA also reviews the adequacy of and a contractor’s compliance with its internal control systems and policies, including the contractor’s purchasing, property, estimating, compensation and management information systems. During the term of any suspension or debarment by any U.S. Government agency, contractors can be prohibited from competing for or being awarded contracts by U.S. Government agencies. The termination of any of our significant Government contracts or the imposition of fines, damages, suspensions or debarment would adversely affect our business and financial condition.
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The U.S. Government may adopt new contract rules and regulations or revise its procurement practices in a manner adverse to us at any time.
Our industry has experienced, and we expect it will continue to experience, significant changes to business practices because of an increased focus on affordability, efficiencies, and recovery of costs, among other items. U.S. Government agencies may face restrictions or pressure regarding the type and number of services that they may obtain from private contractors. Legislation, regulations and initiatives dealing with procurement reform, mitigation of potential conflicts of interest and environmental responsibility or sustainability, as well as any resulting shifts in the buying practices of U.S. Government agencies, such as increased usage of fixed price contracts, multiple award contracts and small business set-aside contracts, could have adverse effects on government contractors, including us. Any of these changes could impair our ability to obtain new contracts or renew our existing contracts when those contracts are recompeted. Any new contracting requirements or procurement methods could be costly or administratively difficult for us to implement and could adversely affect our future revenues, profitability and prospects.
We may incur cost overruns because of fixed priced government contracts which would have a negative impact on our operations.
As we pursue additional U.S. Government contracts in addition to the one U.S. Government contract we now have for the U.S. Army, we expect to have to perform under fixed price contracts such as multi-award, multi-year IDIQ task order based contracts, which generally provide for fixed price schedules for products and services, have no pre-set delivery schedules, have very low minimum purchase requirements, are typically competed among multiple awardees and could force us to carry the burden of any cost overruns. Due to their nature, fixed-priced contracts inherently have more risk than cost reimbursable contracts. If we are unable to control costs or if our initial cost estimates are incorrect, we can lose money on these contracts. In addition, some of these fixed price contracts will likely have provisions relating to cost controls and audit rights, and if we fail to meet the terms specified in those contracts, we may not realize their full benefits. Lower earnings caused by cost overruns and cost controls would have a negative impact on our results of operations should we receive awards of such contracts. The U.S. Government has the right to enter into contracts with other suppliers, which may be competitive with our IDIQ contracts. We anticipate that it may also perform fixed priced contracts under which we agree to provide specific quantities of products and services over time for a fixed price. Since the price competition to win both IDIQ and fixed price contracts is intense and the costs of future contract performance cannot be predicted with certainty, there can be no assurance as to the profits, if any, that we will realize over the term of such contracts.
Misconduct of employees, subcontractors, agents and business partners could cause us to lose existing contracts or customers and adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts and customers and could have a significant adverse impact on our business and reputation.
Misconduct could include fraud or other improper activities such as falsifying time or other records and violations of laws, including the Anti-Kickback Act. Other examples could include the failure to comply with our policies and procedures or with federal, state or local government procurement regulations, regulations regarding the use and safeguarding of classified or other protected information, legislation regarding the pricing of labor and other costs in government contracts, laws and regulations relating to environmental, health or safety matters, bribery of foreign government officials, import-export control, lobbying or similar activities, and any other applicable laws or regulations. Any data loss or information security lapses resulting in the compromise of personal information or the improper use or disclosure of sensitive or classified information could result in claims, remediation costs, regulatory sanctions against us, loss of current and future contracts and serious harm to our reputation. Although we have implemented policies, procedures and controls to prevent and detect these activities, these precautions may not prevent all misconduct, and as a result, we could face unknown risks or losses. Our failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations or misconduct by any of our employees, subcontractors, agents or business partners could damage our reputation and subject us to fines and penalties, restitution or other damages, loss of security clearance, loss of current and future customer contracts and suspension or debarment from contracting with federal, state or local government agencies, any of which would adversely affect our business, reputation and our future results.
We may fail to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances, which may adversely affect our ability to perform on certain anticipated U.S. government contracts and depress our potential revenues.
Many U.S. Government programs require contractors to have security clearances. Depending on the level of required clearance, security clearances can be difficult and time-consuming to obtain. If we or our employees are unable to obtain or retain necessary security clearances, we may not be able to win new business, and our existing clients could terminate their contracts with us or decide not to renew them. To the extent we are not able to obtain and maintain facility security clearances or engage employees with the required security clearances for a particular contract, we may not be able to bid on or win new contracts, or effectively rebid on expiring contracts, as well as lose existing contracts, which may adversely affect our operating results and inhibit the execution of our growth strategy.
Our future revenues and growth prospects could be adversely affected by our dependence on other contractors.
If other contractors with whom we have contractual relationships either as a prime contractor or subcontractor eliminate or reduce their work with us, or if the U.S. Government terminates or reduces these other contractors’ programs, does not award them new contracts or refuses to pay under a contract our financial and business condition may be adversely affected. Companies that do not have access to U.S. Government contracts may perform services as our subcontractor and that exposure could enhance such companies’ prospect of securing a future position as a prime U.S. Government contractor which could increase competition for future contracts and impair our ability to perform on contracts.
We may have disputes with our subcontractors arising from, among other things, the quality and timeliness of work performed by the subcontractor, customer concerns about the subcontractor, our failure to extend existing task orders or issue new task orders under a subcontract, our hiring of a subcontractor’s personnel or the subcontractor’s failure to comply with applicable law. Current uncertain economic conditions heighten the risk of financial stress of our subcontractors, which could adversely impact their ability to meet their contractual requirements to us. If any of our subcontractors fail to timely meet their contractual obligations or have regulatory compliance or other problems, our ability to fulfill our obligations as a prime contractor or higher tier subcontractor may be jeopardized. Significant losses could arise in future periods and subcontractor performance deficiencies could result in our termination for default. A termination for default could eliminate a revenue source, expose us to liability and have an adverse effect on our ability to compete for future contracts and task orders, especially if the customer is an agency of the U.S. Government.
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Our international business exposes us to geo-political and economic factors, regulatory requirements and other risks associated with doing business in foreign countries.
We intend to engage in additional foreign operations which pose complex management, foreign currency, legal, tax and economic risks, which we may not adequately address. These risks differ from and potentially may be greater than those associated with our domestic business.
Our international business is sensitive to changes in the priorities and budgets of international customers and geo-political uncertainties, which may be driven by changes in threat environments and potentially volatile worldwide economic conditions, various regional and local economic and political factors, risks and uncertainties, as well as U.S. foreign policy. Our international sales are subject to U.S. laws, regulations and policies, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (see below) and other export laws and regulations. Due to the nature of our products, we must first obtain licenses and authorizations from various U.S. Government agencies before we are permitted to sell our products outside of the U.S. We can give no assurance that we will continue to be successful in obtaining the necessary licenses or authorizations or that certain sales will not be prevented or delayed. Any significant impairment of our ability to sell products outside of the U.S. could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Our international sales are also subject to local government laws, regulations and procurement policies and practices which may differ from U.S. Government regulations, including regulations relating to import-export control, investments, exchange controls and repatriation of earnings, as well as to varying currency, geo- political and economic risks. Our international contracts may include industrial cooperation agreements requiring specific in-country purchases, manufacturing agreements or financial support obligations, known as offset obligations, and provide for penalties if we fail to meet such requirements. Our international contracts may also be subject to termination at the customer’s convenience or for default based on performance and may be subject to funding risks. We also are exposed to risks associated with using foreign representatives and consultants for international sales and operations and teaming with international subcontractors, partners and suppliers in connection with international programs. As a result of these factors, we could experience award and funding delays on international programs and could incur losses on such programs, which could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition.
We are also subject to a number of other risks including:
| ● | The absence in some jurisdictions of effective laws to protect our intellectual property rights; | |
| ● | Multiple and possibly overlapping and conflicting tax laws; | |
| ● | Restrictions on movement of cash; | |
| ● | The burdens of complying with a variety of national and local laws; | |
| ● | Political instability; | |
| ● | Currency fluctuations; | |
| ● | Longer payment cycles; | |
| ● | Restrictions on the import and export of certain technologies; | |
| ● | Price controls or restrictions on exchange of foreign currencies; and | |
| ● | Trade barriers. |
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Our international operations are subject to special U.S. government laws and regulations, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and regulations and procurement policies and practices, including regulations to import-export control, which may expose us to liability or impair our ability to compete in international markets.
Our international operations are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. and other business entities for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We expect to have operations and deal with governmental customers in countries known to experience corruption, including certain countries in the Middle East and in the future, the Far East. Our activities in these countries could create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by one of our employees, consultants or contractors that could be in violation of various laws including the FCPA, even though these parties are not always subject to our control. We are also subject to import-export control regulations restricting the use and dissemination of information classified for national security purposes and the export of certain products, services, and technical data, including requirements regarding any applicable licensing of our employees involved in such work.
As a U.S. defense contractor, we are vulnerable to security threats and other disruptions that could negatively impact our business.
As a U.S. defense contractor, we face certain security threats, including threats to our information technology infrastructure, attempts to gain access to our proprietary or classified information, and threats to physical security. These types of events could disrupt our operations, require significant management attention and resources, and could negatively impact on our reputation among our customers and the public, which could have a negative impact on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. We are continuously exposed to cyber-attacks and other security threats, including physical break-ins. Any electronic or physical break-in or other security breach or compromise may jeopardize security of information stored or transmitted through our information technology systems and networks. This could lead to disruptions in mission-critical systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information and corruption of data. Although we have implemented policies, procedures and controls to protect against, detect and mitigate these threats, we face advanced and persistent attacks on our information systems and attempts by others to gain unauthorized access to our information technology systems are becoming more sophisticated. These attempts include covertly introducing malware to our computers and networks and impersonating authorized users, among others, and may be perpetrated by well- funded organized crime or state sponsored efforts. We seek to detect and investigate all security incidents and to prevent their occurrence or recurrence. We continue to invest in and improve our threat protection, detection and mitigation policies, procedures and controls. In addition, we work with other companies in the industry and government participants on increased awareness and enhanced protections against cyber security threats. However, because of the evolving nature and sophistication of these security threats, which can be difficult to detect, there can be no assurance that our policies, procedures and controls have or will detect or prevent any of these threats and we cannot predict the full impact of any such past or future incident. Although we work cooperatively with our customers and other business partners to seek to minimize the impacts of cyber and other security threats, we must rely on the safeguards put in place by those entities. Any remedial costs or other liabilities related to cyber or other security threats may not be fully insured or indemnified by other means. Occurrence of any of these security threats could expose us to claims, contract terminations and damages and could adversely affect our reputation, ability to work on sensitive U.S. Government contracts, business operations and financial results.
Difficult conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally may materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our results of operations are materially affected by conditions in the global capital markets and the economy generally, both in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. Weak economic conditions sustained uncertainty about global economic conditions, concerns about future U.S. budgetary cuts, or a prolonged or further tightening of credit markets could cause our customers and potential customers to postpone or reduce spending on technology products or services or put downward pressure on prices, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations or cash flows. In the event of extreme prolonged adverse market events, such as a global credit crisis, we could incur significant losses.
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Inflation has been on the rise and continues to destabilize the global economy. The Russia Ukraine conflict and other geopolitical tensions, as well as the related international response, have exacerbated inflationary pressures, including causing increases in the price for goods and services and exacerbated global supply chain disruptions, which have resulted in, and may continue to result in, shortages in materials and services and related uncertainties. Such shortages have resulted in and may continue to result in cost increases for labor, fuel, materials and services, and could continue to cause costs to increase, and result in the scarcity of certain materials. We cannot predict any future trends in the rate of inflation or other negative economic factors or associated increases in our operating costs and how that may impact our business. To the extent we are unable to recover higher operating costs resulting from inflation or otherwise mitigate the impact of such costs on our business, our revenues and gross profit could decrease, and our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
Our success may depend on our ability to obtain and protect the proprietary information on which we base our laser-based cleaning equipment.
In the event we acquire companies with intellectual property (“IP”) that is important to the development of our laser cleaning products, we will need to:
| ● | Obtain valid and enforceable patents; | |
| ● | Protect trade secrets; and | |
| ● | Operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others. |
We will be able to protect our proprietary technology from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that such proprietary rights are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as trade secrets. Any non-confidential disclosure or misappropriation by third parties of our confidential or proprietary information could enable competitors to quickly duplicate or surpass our technological achievements, thus eroding our competitive position in our market.
The patent application process, also known as patent prosecution, is expensive and time-consuming, and we and our current or future licensors and licensees may not be able to prepare, file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we or our current licensors, or any future licensors or licensees, will fail to identify patentable aspects of inventions made in the course of development and commercialization activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them. Therefore, these and any of our patents and applications may not be prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business. It is possible that defects of form in the preparation or filing of our patents or patent applications may exist, or may arise in the future, for example with respect to proper priority claims or inventorship. If we or our current licensors or licensees, or any future licensors or licensees, fail to establish, maintain or protect such patents and other intellectual property rights, such rights may be reduced or eliminated. If our current licensors or licensees, or any future licensors or licensees, are not fully cooperative or disagree with us as to the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement of any patent rights, such patent rights could be compromised. If there are material defects in the form or preparation of our patents or patent applications, such patents or applications may be invalid and unenforceable. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may harm our business.
The patent applications that we may own, or license may fail to result in issued patents in the United States or in other countries. Even if patents are issued on such patent applications, third parties may challenge the validity, enforceability or scope thereof, which may result in such patents being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable. For example, U.S. patents can be challenged by any person before the new USPTO Patent Trial and Appeals Board at any time within the first year of that person’s receipt of an allegation of infringement of the patents. Patents granted by the European Patent Office may be similarly opposed by any person within nine months from the publication of the grant. Similar proceedings are available in other jurisdictions, and in the United States, Europe and other jurisdictions third parties can raise questions of validity with a patent office even before a patent has granted. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property or prevent others from designing around our claims. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patents and patent applications we hold or pursue with respect to our product candidates is successfully challenged, then our ability to commercialize such product candidates could be negatively affected, and we may face unexpected competition that could harm our business. Further, if we encounter delays in our clinical trials, the period of time during which we or our collaborators could market our product candidates under patent protection would be reduced.
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The degree of future protection of our proprietary rights is uncertain. Patent protection may be unavailable or severely limited in some cases and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. For example:
| ● | we might not have been the first to invent or the first to file the inventions covered by each of our pending patent applications and issued patents; | |
| ● | others may be able to make, use, sell, offer to sell or import products that are similar to our products or product candidates but that are not covered by the claims of our patents; others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies; | |
| ● | the proprietary rights of others may have an adverse effect on our business; | |
| ● | any proprietary rights we do obtain may not encompass commercially viable products, may not provide us with any competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties; |
| ● | any patents we obtain, or our in-licensed issued patents, may not be valid or enforceable; or | |
| ● | we may not develop additional technologies or products that are patentable or suitable to maintain as trade secrets. | |
| ● | If we or our current licensors or licensees, or any future licensors or licensees, fail to prosecute, maintain and enforce patent protection for our product candidates, our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates could be harmed and we might not be able to prevent competitors from making, using and selling competing products. This failure to properly protect the intellectual property rights relating to our product candidates could harm our business, financial condition and operating results. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how. |
Even where laws provide protection, costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and the outcome of such litigation would be uncertain. If we or one of our collaborators were to initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering the product candidate, the defendant could assert an affirmative defense or counterclaim that our patent is not infringed, invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant defenses and counterclaims alleging non-infringement, invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, anticipation or obviousness, and lack of written description, definiteness or enablement. Patents may be unenforceable if someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld material information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. The outcomes of proceedings involving assertions of invalidity and unenforceability are unpredictable. It is possible that prior art of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution exists, which would render our patents invalid. Moreover, it is also possible that prior art may exist that we are aware of, but that we do not believe are relevant to our current or future patents, that could nevertheless be determined to render our patents invalid. If a defendant were to prevail over a legal assertion of invalidity and/or unenforceability of our patents covering one of our product candidates, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on such a product candidate. Such a loss of patent protection would harm our business. Moreover, our competitors could counterclaim in any suit to enforce our patents that we infringe their intellectual property. Furthermore, some of our competitors have substantially greater intellectual property portfolios, and resources, than we do.
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Our ability to stop third parties from using our technology or making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing our products is dependent upon the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable patents that cover these activities. If any patent we currently or in the future may own or license is deemed not infringed, invalid or unenforceable, it could impact our commercial success. We cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be issued from any patent applications we currently or may in the future own or license from third parties.
To the extent that consultants or key employees apply technological information independently developed by them or by others to our product candidates, disputes may arise as to who has the proprietary rights to such information and product candidates, and certain of such disputes may not be resolved in our favor. Consultants and key employees that work with our confidential and proprietary technologies are required to assign all intellectual property rights in their inventions and discoveries created during the scope of their work to our company. However, these consultants or key employees may terminate their relationship with us, and we cannot preclude them indefinitely from dealing with our competitors.
If we are unable to prevent disclosure of our trade secrets or other confidential information to third parties, our competitive position may be impaired.
We also may rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. Our ability to stop third parties from obtaining the information or know-how necessary to make, use, sell, offer to sell or import our products or practice our technology is dependent in part upon the extent to which we prevent disclosure of the trade secrets that cover these activities. Trade secret rights can be lost through disclosure to third parties. Although we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our trade secrets to third parties, resulting in loss of trade secret protection. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how, which would not constitute a violation of our trade secret rights. Enforcing a claim that a third party is engaged in the unlawful use of our trade secrets is expensive, difficult and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, recognition of rights in trade secrets and a willingness to enforce trade secrets differs in certain jurisdictions.
If we are sued for infringing intellectual property rights of third parties, it will be costly and time consuming, and an unfavorable outcome in that litigation could harm our business.
Our commercial success depends significantly on our ability to operate without infringing, violating or misappropriating the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties. Our own technologies we acquire or develop may infringe, violate or misappropriate the patents or other proprietary rights of third parties, or we may be subject to third-party claims of such infringement. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications owned by third parties, exist in the fields in which we are developing our product candidates. Because some patent applications may be maintained in secrecy until the patents are issued, because publication of patent applications is often delayed, and because publications in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we were the first to invent the technology or that others have not filed patent applications for technology covered by our pending applications. We may not be aware of patents that have already issued that a third party might assert are infringed by our product candidates. It is also possible that patents of which we are aware, but which we do not believe are relevant to our product candidates, could nevertheless be found to be infringed by our product candidates. Moreover, we may face patent infringement claims from non-practicing entities that have no relevant product revenue and against whom our own patent portfolio may thus have no deterrent effect. In the future, we may agree to indemnify our manufacturing partners against certain intellectual property claims brought by third parties.
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Intellectual property litigation involves many risks and uncertainties, and there is no assurance that we will prevail in any lawsuit brought against us. Third parties making claims against us for infringement, violation or misappropriation of their intellectual property rights may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize our product candidates. Further, if a patent infringement suit were brought against us, we could be forced to stop or delay research, development, manufacturing or sales of the product or product candidate that is the subject of the suit. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would cause us to incur substantial expenses and, would be a substantial diversion of resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of any such infringement, violation or misappropriation, we may need to obtain licenses from such third parties and we and our partners may be prevented from pursuing product development or commercialization and/or may be required to pay damages. We cannot be certain that any licenses required under such patents or proprietary rights would be made available to us, or that any offer to license would be made available to us on commercially reasonable terms. If we cannot obtain such licenses, we and our collaborators may be restricted or prevented from manufacturing and selling products employing our technology. These adverse results, if they occur, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and prospects, and the value of our shares.
We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or other intellectual property, which could be expensive, time consuming and unsuccessful.
The defense and prosecution of contractual or intellectual property lawsuits, USPTO interference or derivation proceedings, European Patent Office oppositions and related legal and administrative proceedings in the United States, Europe and other countries, involve complex legal and factual questions. As a result, such proceedings may be costly and time-consuming to pursue, and their outcome is uncertain.
| ● | Litigation may be necessary to: | |
| ● | protect and enforce our patents and any future patents issuing on our patent applications; | |
| ● | enforce or clarify the terms of the licenses we have granted or may be granted in the future; | |
| ● | protect and enforce trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary rights that we own or have licensed, or may license in the future; or | |
| ● | determine the enforceability, scope and validity of the proprietary rights of third parties and defend against alleged patent infringement. |
Competitors may infringe our intellectual property. As a result, we may be required to file infringement claims to stop third-party infringement or unauthorized use. This can be expensive, particularly for a company of our size, and time-consuming. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours is not valid or is unenforceable or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patent claims do not cover its technology or that the factors necessary to grant an injunction against an infringer are not satisfied. An adverse determination of any litigation or other proceedings could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, interpreted narrowly, or amended such that they do not cover our product candidates. Moreover, such adverse determinations could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing or issuing with limited and potentially inadequate scope to cover our product candidates or to prevent others from marketing similar products.
Interference, derivation or other proceedings brought at USPTO, may be necessary to determine the priority or patentability of inventions with respect to our patent applications or those of our licensors or potential collaborators. Litigation or USPTO proceedings brought by us may fail or may be invoked against us by third parties. Even if we are successful, domestic or foreign litigation or USPTO or foreign patent office proceedings may result in substantial costs and distraction to our management. We may not be able, alone or with our licensors or potential collaborators, to prevent misappropriation of our proprietary rights, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect such rights as fully as in the United States.
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Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation or other proceedings, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation or other proceedings. In addition, during this kind of litigation or proceedings, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments or public access to related documents. If investors perceive these results to be negative, the market price for our common stock could be significantly harmed.
Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of patent-related disputes, including patent litigation, more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations.
We may not be able to enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Filling, prosecuting and defending patents on our product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive. The requirements for patentability may differ in certain countries, particularly in developing countries. Moreover, our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights may be adversely affected by unforeseen changes in foreign intellectual property laws. Additionally, laws of some countries outside of the United States do not afford intellectual property protection to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of some countries, particularly developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property rights. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or the misappropriation of our other intellectual property rights. For example, many foreign countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, if our ability to enforce our patents to stop infringing activities is inadequate. These products may compete with our products, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and resources from other aspects of our business. Furthermore, while we intend to protect our intellectual property rights in major markets for our products, we cannot ensure that we will be able to initiate or maintain similar efforts in all jurisdictions in which we may wish to market our products. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate.
Risks Related to Investing in Our Common Stock
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including (1) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which we refer to as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (2) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any September 30 before that time or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.0 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, in which cases we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31 or, if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during any three-year period before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company immediately. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and/or warrants and our stock price and price for the warrants may be more volatile.
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Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the later of our second annual report or the first annual report required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) following the date upon which we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act.
Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies
Because the Company is a “smaller reporting company,” we may take advantage of certain scaled disclosures available to us, resulting in holders of our securities receiving less Company information than they would receive from a public company that is not a smaller reporting company.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a smaller reporting company, we may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as (i) our common shares held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our common shares held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of any reduced disclosure obligations, it may make it harder for investors to analyze the Company’s results of operations and financial prospects in comparison with other public companies.
As a smaller reporting company, we are permitted to comply with scaled-back disclosure obligations in our SEC filings compared to other issuers, including with respect to disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We have elected to adopt the accommodation available to smaller reporting companies. Until we cease to be a smaller reporting company, the scaled-back disclosure in our SEC filings will result in less information about our company being available than for other public companies.
Our largest stockholder beneficially owns a significant number of shares of our common stock. That stockholder’s interests may conflict with other stockholders, who may be unable to influence management and exercise control over our business.
ICT Investments, via common control of Fonon Corporation and Fonon Technologies combined owns 59.19% of our shares of common stock. As a result, ICT Investments is able to: place, elect, or defeat the election of our directors; amend or prevent amendment to our certificates of incorporation or bylaws; effect or prevent a merger, sale of assets or other corporate transaction; drive business decisions and control expenditures; and control the outcome of any other matter submitted to the stockholders for vote. Accordingly, other stockholders are unable to influence management or exercise control over our business.
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We do not intend to pay cash dividends to our stockholders.
We paid a one-time cash dividend for the year ending December 31, 2021, in the amount of $310,280. We currently intend to retain any future earnings for funding growth and, therefore, do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. If we determine that we will pay cash dividends to the holders of our common stock, we cannot assure that such cash dividends will be paid on a timely basis. The success of your investment in our Company will likely depend entirely upon any future appreciation.
Some provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may deter takeover attempts, which may inhibit a takeover that stockholders consider favorable and limit the opportunity of our stockholders to sell their shares at a favorable price.
Under our certificate of incorporation, our Board of Directors may issue additional shares of common or preferred stock. Our Board of Directors has the ability to authorize “blank check” preferred stock without future stockholder approval. This makes it possible for our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, including a transaction in which our stockholders would receive a premium over the market price for their shares and/or any other transaction that might otherwise be deemed to be in their best interests, and thereby protects the continuity of our management and limits an investor’s opportunity to profit by their investment in our business. Specifically, if in the due exercise of its fiduciary obligations, the Board of Directors were to determine that a takeover proposal was not in our best interest, shares could be issued by our Board of Directors without stockholder approval in one or more transactions that might prevent or render more difficult or costly the completion of the takeover by:
| ● | diluting the voting or other rights of the proposed acquirer or insurgent stockholder group, | |
| ● | putting a substantial voting bloc in institutional or other hands that might undertake to support the incumbent Board of Directors, or | |
| ● | effecting an acquisition that might complicate or preclude the takeover. |
Our indemnification of our officers and directors may cause us to use corporate resources to the detriment of our stockholders.
Our certificate of incorporation eliminates the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages arising from a breach of their fiduciary duty as directors to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. This limitation does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our certificate of incorporation requires us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including in circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise discretionary under Delaware law.
Under Delaware law, we may indemnify our directors or officers or other persons who were, are or are threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding because the person is or was our director, officer, employee or agent, if we determine that the person:
conducted himself or herself in good faith, reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity as our director or officer, that his or her conduct was in our best interests, and, in all other cases, that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to our best interests; and
in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
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These persons may be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, including excise taxes, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred, by the person in connection with the proceeding. If the person is found liable to the corporation, no indemnification will be made unless the court in which the action was brought determines that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity in an amount that the court will establish.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended – the “Securities Act” – may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the above provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Our bylaws include a forum selection clause, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us, remove current management or to be acquired by a third party.
Our bylaws require that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, either (i) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is to be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or our bylaws or (d) any action or proceeding asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine or (ii) the federal district court in the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for a cause of action arising under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. In addition, our bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us or to remove current management through provisions that preclude cumulative voting in the election of directors and that allow our bylaws to be adopted, amended or repealed by our board of directors.
This exclusive forum provision will apply to other states and federal law claims including actions arising under the Securities Act (although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder). Section 22 of the Securities Act, however, creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a forum selection provision as written in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions. This forum selection provision in our bylaws may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us. It is also possible that, notwithstanding the forum selection clause included in our bylaws, a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable or unenforceable.
The obligations associated with being a public company require significant resources and management attention, which may divert from our business operations.
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition, proxy statement, and other information. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer will need to certify that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC’s rules and forms. We may need to hire additional financial reporting, internal controls and other financial personnel to develop and implement appropriate internal controls and reporting procedures. As a result, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. Furthermore, the need to establish the corporate infrastructure demanded of a public company may divert management’s attention from implementing our growth strategy, which could prevent us from improving our business, results of operations and financial condition. We have made, and will continue to make, changes to our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and accounting systems to meet our reporting obligations as a public company. However, the measures we take may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations as a public company. In addition, we cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur to comply with these requirements. We anticipate that these costs will materially increase our sales, general and administrative expenses.
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Public company compliance may make it more difficult to attract and retain officers and directors.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules implemented by the SEC have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. As a public company, these rules and regulations increase our compliance costs and make certain activities more time-consuming and costly. As a public company, these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and expensive for us to maintain our director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our Board of Directors or as executive officers, and to maintain insurance at reasonable rates, or at all.
If we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud. Any inability to report and file our financial results accurately and timely could harm our reputation and adversely impact the trading price of our common stock.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. There exist material weaknesses in our internal controls as of December 31, 2024. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, we may not be able to manage our business as effectively as we would if an effective control environment existed, and our business and reputation with investors may be harmed. With each prospective acquisition we may make we will conduct whatever due diligence is necessary or prudent to assure us that the acquisition target can comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act. Notwithstanding our diligence, certain internal control deficiencies may not be detected at acquired entities. As a result, any internal control deficiencies may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and access to capital.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal financial controls such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. We continue to evaluate steps to remediate our material weaknesses. These remediation measures may be time-consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects.
Any failure to maintain effective internal controls could adversely impact on our ability to report our financial position and results from operations on a timely and accurate basis. If our financial statements are not accurate, investors may not have a complete understanding of our operations. Likewise, if our financial statements are not filed on a timely basis, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. In either case, there could result a material adverse effect on our business. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.
We can give no assurance that the measures we have taken and plan to take in the future will remediate the material weaknesses or that any additional material weaknesses or restatements of financial results will not arise in the future due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of these controls. In addition, even if we are successful in strengthening our controls and procedures, in the future those controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities or errors or to facilitate the fair presentation of our consolidated financial statements.
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Our stock price may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could fluctuate widely in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:
| ● | our ability to execute our business plan and complete prospective acquisitions; | |
| ● | changes in our industry; | |
| ● | competitive pricing pressures; | |
| ● | our ability to obtain working capital financing; | |
| ● | additions or departures of key personnel; | |
| ● | limited “public float” in the hands of a small number of persons whose sales or lack of sales could result in positive or negative pricing pressure on the market price for our common stock; | |
| ● | sales of our common stock (particularly following effectiveness of this Form S-1); | |
| ● | operating results that fall below expectations; | |
| ● | regulatory developments; | |
| ● | economic and other external factors; | |
| ● | period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results; | |
| ● | our inability to develop or acquire new or needed technologies; | |
| ● | the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including filings with the SEC; | |
| ● | changes in financial estimates or ratings by any securities analysts who follow our common stock, our failure to meet these estimates or failure of those analysts to initiate or maintain coverage of our common stock; | |
| ● | the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our common stock; and | |
| ● | any future sales of our common stock by our officers, directors and significant stockholders. |
In addition, the securities markets have from time-to-time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
If our shares of common stock become subject to the penny stock rules, it would become more difficult to trade our shares.
The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price per share of less than $5.00, other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or authorized for quotation on certain automated quotation systems, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system. If we do not obtain or retain a listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and if the price of our common stock is less than $5.00 per share, our common stock will be deemed a penny stock. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, before effecting a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document containing specified information. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, before effecting any such transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive (i) the purchaser’s written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for our common stock, and therefore stockholders may have difficulty selling their shares.
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FINRA sales practice requirements may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker- dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative, low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. The FINRA requirements may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in our common stock. As a result, fewer broker-dealers may be willing to make a market in our common stock, reducing a stockholder’s ability to resell shares of our common stock.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or publish negative reports about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will, to some extent, depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our shares or change their opinion of our shares, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.
Offers or availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock may cause the price of our common stock to decline.
If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market upon the expiration of any statutory holding period under Rule 144, or shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and, in anticipation of which, the market price of our common stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make more difficult our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of shares.
Any substantial sale of stock by existing stockholders could depress the market value of our stock, thereby devaluing the market price and causing investors to risk losing all or part of their investment.
ICT Investments through its ownership of Fonon Corporation, holds a large number of our outstanding shares. We can make no prediction as to the effect, if any, that sales of shares, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the prevailing market price of our shares of common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress prevailing market prices for the shares. Such sales may also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price which it deems appropriate.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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Cyber Risk Management and Strategy
Under
the oversight of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee, we have implemented and maintained a risk management program that includes
processes for systematic identification, assessment, management, and treatment of cybersecurity risks.
We
utilize
Further, we have processes in place to evaluate potential risks from cybersecurity threats associated with our use of third-party service providers that will have access to Company data, including a review process for such providers’ cybersecurity practices, risk assessments, contractual requirement, and system monitoring.
We continue to evaluate and enhance our systems, controls, and processes where possible, including in response to actual or perceived threats specific to us or experienced by other companies.
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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
On December 1, 2019, we entered a sub-lease with ICT Investments for 5,000 sf of manufacturing space on a month-to-month basis at $4,050 per month. In January 2020, we expanded the lease with ICT Investments to include the entire facility of 18,000 sf. In October 2021, we signed a direct lease with the landlord for three years, terminating on October 31, 2024. The monthly rent for this facility is currently $15,549.
In December 2022, we entered into an agreement with 2701 Maitland Building Associates to rent 8,000 sf of additional office space nearby the main facility, for our growing sales and marketing program. The monthly rent for this space is currently $14,805. On July 1, 2024, we determined that we did not need this facility for our future growth and, since we could not sublet this space, we entered into the Lease Termination Agreement to reduce our lease expense. Under the terms of the Lease Termination Agreement, we agreed to pay a monthly termination fee of $14,912.14 base rent plus operating expenses for five months, saving us approximately $80,000 in lease payments for 2025.
On July 1, 2024, we entered into a lease agreement for 48,481 square feet of office space at a base monthly rent of $ 50,354.42 with an annual increase of 3%, that has a term of 10.5 years.
Upon acquisition of Control Micro Systems in on October 31, 2024 at 4420 Metric Dr. Winter Park Florida. The lease expires on October 31, 2025. The facility is 52,200 square ft total at a cost of $27,700 per month.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we have been and will continue to be subject to legal proceedings and claims. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
| (a) | Market Information. Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ with the ticker symbol “LASE”. |
| (b) | Stockholders. As of March 14, 2025, there were nine registered holders of our common stock. |
| (c) | Dividends. We paid a one-time stock dividend on December 31, 2021, but we do not intend to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. |
| (d) | Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans. |
The following table provides information about the common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of the Company’s existing equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2024.
| Plan Category | Number of Securities Options, warrants | Weighted-
Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, warrants and rights | Number
of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in the first column) | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | — | — | 10,000,000 | |||||||||
| Total | — | — | 10,000,000 | |||||||||
(1) In December 2019 our Board of Directors and a majority of our shareholders approved a 2019 Stock Incentive Plan and authorized the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares under this plan.
Use of Proceeds
On October 4, 2022, the Company closed on an IPO in which it issued 3,000,000 additional shares of common stock at an offer price of $5.00 per share. The shares trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol, “LASE.” Including this issuance, there were 7,878,419 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
The remaining planned use of proceeds has not changed since the initial public offering.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
Set forth below is information regarding shares of common stock issued, and options granted, from January 1, 2022, to March 10, 2025:
On July 24, 2022: 25,000 Incentive Stock Options (‘ISOs’) were issued to Tim Schick, CFA. The options vest over four (4) years and are exercisable at $5.00 per share. These options were cancelled when Tim Schick was terminated as our CFO on March 27, 2023.
On December 12, 2022: 180,000 warrants were issued to the following members of Alexander Capital, the Underwriter of the IPO. The warrants are exercisable at $6.00 per share, between March 28, 2023, and September 29, 2027:
| Christopher Carlin - | 72,250 | |||
| Jonathan Gazdak - | 55,250 | |||
| Rocco Guidicipietro | 21,250 | |||
| Joseph Amato - | 21,250 | |||
| Matt Rista - | 10,000 |
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On October 4, 2022, we entered into a marketing agreement with TraDigital Marketing Group. In accordance with the contract we issued to TraDigital in 2023 350,000 shares of our common stock in full satisfaction of the balance due on our agreement, reflected in Accrued Expenses at December 31, 2022 in the amount of $829,500 ($2.37 per share, the company’s closing stock price on the contract date).
On October 18, 2023, we entered into a license agreement with an affiliated company, Fonon Technologies, Inc., which is majority-owned by ICT Investments, for an exclusive, worldwide, nontransferable license for high power turbo piercing (“Cold Cutting”) laser cutting technology and any improvements to such technology to allow us to manufacture, sell, export and import products incorporating such technology in return for our paying a license fee of $350,000 in cash and a one-time grant of 1,000,000 restricted shares of our common stock to ICT Investments.
On May 21, 2024 we entered into a license agreement with Fonon Corporation to receive an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license to Fonon’s laser material processing equipment and technology, including all applications of laser cutting, marking, engraving, laser welding, brazing, ablation, laser drilling, semiconductor chip marking, semiconductor and flat panel display laser processing equipment, all other laser material processing equipment documented or existing in a form of knowhow and/or trade secrets in return for 3,000,000 restricted shares of our common stock.
On September 6, 2024, 1,500,000 Shares of Common stock were issued under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. The overall deal raised $3,000,000 gross for the company
On September 10, 2024, 61,968 Shares of Common Stock were issued under a Cashless Exercised Warrants for Alexander Capital Specialists, related to the IPO in October 2022.
On October 21, 2024, Warrants were exercised, and 255,000 Shares of Common stock were issued under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. This resulted in funds to the company of $1,018,164.
On October 23, 2024, Warrants were exercised, and 175,000 Shares of Common stock were issued under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent This resulted in funds to the company of $698,740
On November 26, 2024, Warrants were exercised, and 20,000 Shares of Common stock were issued under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. This resulted in funds to the company of $79,856.
On January 22, 2025 as a condition of the acquisition of Control Micro Systems Laser Wind Down, Inc was issued 18,692 shares of our common stock for a value of $100,000.
On March 6, 2025 Sanjay Adhav issued 65,000 shares of common stock through affiliate company Fonon Technologies as part of Fonon Corp acquisition of Quantum Technologies.
The offer, sale and issuance of the securities described in the paragraphs above were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Rule 506 of Regulation D in that the issuance of securities to the accredited investors did not involve a public offering. Each of the recipients of the securities in this transaction acquired the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of these securities in this transaction was an accredited investor under Rule 501 of Regulation D.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to, our consolidated financial statements and related notes and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The data for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, is derived from our audited financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period.
Statement of Operations Data:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Statement of operations data: | ||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 3,415,196 | $ | 3,939,473 | ||||
| Cost of Sales | 1,934,150 | 1,041,697 | ||||||
| Gross Profit | 1,481,046 | 2,897,776 | ||||||
| Operating Expenses | 7,944,389 | 6,246,011 | ||||||
| Income (Loss) from Operations | (6,463,343 | ) | (3,348,235 | ) | ||||
| Interest Expense | - | |||||||
| Other (Income) Expense | 3,944,516 | 30,063 | ||||||
| Income Tax Provision | - | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | (2,518,827 | ) | (3,318,172 | ) | ||||
| Income (Loss) per Common Share | $ | (0.22 | ) | $ | (0.37 | ) | ||
Balance sheet data:
| December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Balance sheet data: | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 533,871 | $ | 6,201,137 | ||||
| Total Assets | 17,152,147 | 15,124,087 | ||||||
| Current Liabilities | 2,573,435 | 1,031,844 | ||||||
| Total Liabilities | $ | 6,939,854 | $ | 1,194,835 | ||||
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Cash flow data:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by Operating Activities | $ | (9,138,555 | ) | $ | (5,470,567 | ) | ||
| Net cash provided by Investing Activities | (977,821 | ) | (484,855 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by Financing Activities | 4,449,110 | (25,240 | ) | |||||
| Net cash increase for period | (5,667,266 | ) | (5,980,662 | ) | ||||
| Cash at the beginning of period | 6,201,137 | 12,181,799 | ||||||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 533,871 | $ | 6,201,137 | ||||
Other financial data (audited)
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 (Audited) | 2023 Restated | |||||||
| Other financial data (audited): | ||||||||
| EBITDA(1) | $ | 230,976 | $ | (2,794,791 | ) | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA(2) | $ | 230,976 | $ | (2,794,791 | ) | |||
In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), we provide the following additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP (non-GAAP): EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, to understand and compare operating results across accounting periods, for financial and operational decision making, for planning and forecasting purposes and to evaluate our financial performance. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures help us to identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of certain expenses that we exclude in the calculations of the non-GAAP financial measures.
Accordingly, we believe that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect our ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in the business and provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of our past performance and prospects.
These non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of our GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, our financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations in the use of non-GAAP measures, because they do not include all the expenses that must be included under GAAP and because they involve the exercise of judgment concerning exclusions of items from the comparable non-GAAP financial measure. In addition, other companies may use other non-GAAP measures to evaluate their performance, or may calculate non-GAAP measures differently, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison.
(1) EBITDA. EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management, lenders, and certain investors as a supplemental measure in the evaluation of some aspects of a corporation’s financial position and core operating performance. Investors sometimes use EBITDA, as it allows for some level of comparability of profitability trends between those businesses differing as to capital structure and capital intensity by removing the impacts of depreciation and amortization. EBITDA also does not include changes in major working capital items, such as receivables, inventory and payables, which can also indicate a significant need for, or source of, cash. Since decisions regarding capital investment and financing and changes in working capital components can have a significant impact on cash flow, EBITDA is not necessarily a good indicator of a business’s cash flow. We use EBITDA for evaluating the relative underlying performance of our core operations and for planning purposes. We calculate EBITDA by adjusting net income to exclude net interest expense, income tax expense or benefit, depreciation and amortization, thus the term “Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization” and the acronym “EBITDA.”
(2) ADJUSTED EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as comprehensive income (loss) as reported in our consolidated statements of income excluding the impact of (i) interest expense; (ii) income tax provision; (iii) depreciation and amortization; (iv) stock-based compensation expense; (v) accretion of debt discounts; (vi) other income – forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program loan; (vii) other financing costs; (viii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (ix) warrant inducement expense; (x) amortization of right-of-use assets; and (xi) change in fair value of derivative liabilities. Our Adjusted EBITDA measure eliminates potential differences in performance caused by variations in capital structures (affecting finance costs), tax positions, the cost and age of tangible assets (affecting relative depreciation expense) and the extent to which intangible assets are identifiable (affecting relative amortization expense). We also exclude certain one-time costs associated with our IPO and non-cash costs.
(3) We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are helpful for investors to better understand our underlying business operations. The following table adjusts Net Income (Loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Statement of operations data: | ||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 3,415,196 | $ | 3,939,474 | ||||
| Cost of Sales | 1,934,150 | 1,041,697 | ||||||
| Gross Profit | 1,481,046 | 2,897,777 | ||||||
| Operating Expenses | 7,944,389 | 6,246,011 | ||||||
| Income (Loss) from Operations | (6,463,343 | ) | (3,348,234 | ) | ||||
| Interest Expense | - | |||||||
| Other (Income) Expense | 3,944,516 | 30,063 | ||||||
| Income Tax Provision | - | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | (2,518,827 | ) | (3,318,171 | ) | ||||
| Income (Loss) per Common Share | $ | (0.22 | ) | $ | (0.37 | ) | ||
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
The following discussion and analysis of the results of operations and financial condition of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and the description of our business and properties included elsewhere herein.
Overview
We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company for photonics-based industrial products and solutions and, since recently acquiring the assets of Control Micro Systems, Inc., have now expanded the market for our laser products into a large, growing pharmaceutical manufacturing vertical, in what we believe is a recession-resistant sector with significant barriers to entry.
We are pioneering a new generation of laser blasting technologies focused on disrupting the sandblasting and abrasives blasting markets. We offer a full portfolio of integrated laser blasting solutions for corrosion control, rust removal, de-coating, pre-welding and post-welding, laser cleaning and surface conditioning. Our solutions span use cases throughout product lifecycles, from product fabrication to maintenance and repair, as well as aftermarket operations. Our laser blasting solutions are applicable in most industries dealing with materials processing, including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, consumer products, shipbuilding, heavy industry, machine manufacturing, nuclear maintenance and de-commissioning and surface coating.
Our vertically integrated operations allow us to reduce development and advanced laser equipment manufacturing time, offer better prices, control quality and protect our proprietary knowhow and technology compared to other laser cleaning companies and companies with competing technologies.
Description of Our Gross Sales, Costs and Expenses
Gross sales. We derive net sales primarily from the growth was driven by increasing demand for our products, partially offset by declines in average sales prices, the introduction of new products, including laser blasting systems and the development of new applications for our products.
We develop our products to standard specifications and use a common set of components within our product architecture. Our major products are based upon a common technology platform. We continually enhance these and other products by improving their components and developing new product designs. Sales of our products are generally recognized upon shipment, provided that no obligations remain, and collection of the receivable is reasonably assured.
Our sales typically are made on a purchase order basis rather than through long-term purchase commitments. We entered into laser equipment sales agreements with customers for specific equipment based on purchase orders and our standard terms and conditions of sale. All revenues are reported net of any sales discounts or taxes. Under our customer contracts or/and purchase orders, we transfer title and risk of loss to the customer and recognize revenue upon shipment. Our customers do not have extended payment terms or rights of return under these contracts.
Our sales channels
Sales Channels Overview
We generate revenue through a multi-channel sales strategy that includes a Direct Sales team—comprised of Strategic Account Managers and a regionally distributed Outside Sales force—along with a growing network of distributors and resellers. This integrated approach enables us to maximize market reach, tailor engagement by customer segment, and accelerate the sales cycle across both commercial and government markets.
Direct Sales
Our Direct Sales team consists of Strategic Account Managers based at our corporate headquarters and a rapidly expanding Outside Sales team positioned in key heavy manufacturing regions across the United States.
This dual structure allows us to deepen relationships with major strategic accounts, driving broader adoption of our laser systems within large enterprises, while our Outside Sales representatives focus on engaging small and mid-sized businesses. These field reps play a critical role in educating customers on the advantages of laser solutions over outdated, hazardous legacy methods—such as sandblasting or chemical cleaning—highlighting the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of our technology.
Distributors and Resellers
Our distribution and reseller network extends our reach to a wider audience by placing our product line within trusted sales channels that many customers already use and have contracts with. This not only increases exposure and accessibility but also streamlines the purchasing process, particularly for customers in the government and enterprise sectors where existing vendor relationships and procurement frameworks are critical.
By leveraging both direct and indirect sales strategies, we’re able to accelerate growth, build lasting customer relationships, and deliver tailored solutions that meet the evolving needs of diverse market segments.
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All orders are received on a revolving bases in accordance with the Company’s standard Terms and Conditions of Sale. Orders are not cancelable. Orders typically consist of multiple units. Payment terms are typically net 120 days from transferring the ownership of equipment to the distributor. Revenue is recognized on a “piece by piece” equipment basis after the appropriate transfer of the equipment’s ownership to the distributor. Payments are made by the distributor to the Company when the distributor collects funds from its regional customers or when they have funds available to reduce the outstanding balance. The Company allocates payments in accordance with its accounting practices. Detailed aging is accounted for in the Company’s MRP system – DBA Manufacturing keeping records of all equipment units ever manufactured with coordinating serial numbers. Higher level account-related data with payment history is recorded in the Company’s QuickBooks accounting software.
Cost of Sales. Our cost of sales includes the cost of raw materials and components for manufacturing laser systems and consists of different electronic and optical components such as optical generators, scan heads, connector assemblies and wires, edge seal and adhesives, junction boxes, and other items, such as raw aluminum and aluminum extrusions, steel for tilt brackets and frames, subassemblies, miscellaneous materials, chemicals, support and low cost common parts and components, like tie wraps, insulating tape, shrink wraps, terminals, etc. We are vertically integrated and currently manufacture all critical components for our products as well as assemble finished products. Our cost of sales also includes direct labor, manufacturing overhead (such as engineering labor), equipment maintenance, quality and production control, procurement costs, and warranty costs. Cost of sales does not include depreciation of manufacturing plant and equipment, nor does it include facility-related expenses (such as rent and utilities).
Overall, we expect our cost of goods sold to continue to decrease over the next several years due to an increase in worldwide capacity in fiber laser parts and components, and availability of optical generators, an increase in unit output per production line, and more efficient absorption of fixed costs driven by economies of scale. This expected decrease in cost for laser technology would be partially offset during periods in which we underutilize manufacturing capacity.
Sales and marketing. Our sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of costs related to compensation, trade shows, professional and technical conferences, travel, facilities, depreciation of equipment used for demonstration purposes and other marketing costs.
Selling, general, and administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expense consists primarily of compensation and associated costs for executive management, sales and marketing personnel, outside legal and professional fees, insurance premiums and fees, allocated facilities costs, and other corporate expenses such as charges and benefits related to the change in allowance for doubtful debt.
Gross margin. Our total gross margin in any period can be significantly affected by total net sales in any period, by competitive factors, by product mix, and by other factors such as changes in foreign exchange rates relative to the U.S. Dollar, some of which are not under our control. Gross margin is affected by numerous factors, including our module average selling prices, foreign exchange rates, the existence and effectiveness of subsidies and other economic incentives, competitive pressures, market demand, market mix, our manufacturing costs, product development costs, the effective utilization of our production facilities, and the ramp of production on new products.
Research and development expenses. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of compensation, development expenses related to the design of our products and certain components, the cost of materials and components to build prototype devices for testing and facilities costs. Costs related to product development are recorded as research and development expenses in the period in which they are incurred. We acquire equipment for general use in further process developments and record the depreciation of this equipment as research and development expense.
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We plan to continue to invest in research and development to improve our existing products and develop new systems and applications technology. We maintain several programs and activities to improve our technology and processes in order to enhance the performance and reduce the costs of our laser cleaning modules.
Interest Expense, Net. Interest expense, net of capitalized amounts, is incurred on various debt financings. We capitalize interest expense into our property, plant and equipment, project assets, and deferred project costs when such costs qualify for interest capitalization.
Factors and Trends That Affect Our Operations and Financial Results
In reading our financial statements, you should be aware of the following factors and trends that our management believes are important in understanding our financial performance.
Net sales. Net sales generated in 2024 increased towards the second half of the year driven by the sales of recently purchased of CMS and the stable sales of traditional products. Sales were unaffected by market pricing pressures, due to our lower prices, quality control, and proprietary know-how as compared to other laser cleaning companies with competing technologies.
Gross margin. Our total gross margin in any period can be significantly affected by total net sales in any period, by competitive factors such as product mix, and by other factors, some of which are not under our control. For instance, the gross margin for certain specialty products may be higher because there are fewer or sometimes no equivalent competing products. Further, we expect that some new technologies, products and systems will have returns above our cost of capital but may have gross margins below our corporate average.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other personnel-related costs, professional fees, insurance costs, travel expenses and other selling expenses. We expect selling expenses to increase in the near term to support the planned growth of our business as we expand our sales and marketing efforts.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and personnel-related costs, the cost of products, materials, and outside services used in our process and product research and development activities. We acquire equipment for general use in further process developments and record the depreciation of this equipment as research and development expense. We maintain several programs and activities to improve our technology and processes to enhance performance and reduce the costs of our cleaning laser modules.
Goodwill and long-lived assets impairments. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment is measured by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flow expected to result from use of the assets and their ultimate disposition. In instances where impairment is determined to exist, the Company will write down the asset to its fair value based on the present value of estimated future cash flows.
Major customers. While we would expect to depend on current customers for a large percentage of our annual net sales, the composition of this group can change from year to year. Net sales derived from our current customers as a percentage of our annual net sales was 17.42% in 2024. New customers accounted for 82.58% of our net sales in 2024. We seek to add new customers and to expand our relationships with existing customers.
Relationship with distributors. All orders received on revolving bases in accordance with LPC standard Terms and Conditions of Sale. Orders are not cancelable. Orders typically consist of multiple units. Payment terms are typically Net 30 days from transferring the ownership of equipment to Distributor. Revenue recognized on a “piece by piece” equipment bases after appropriate transfer equipment ownership to Distributor. Payments are made by Distributor to The Company when Distributor collects funds from their regional customers, or then they have funds availability to reduce the outstanding balance. The company allocates payments in accordance with LPC Accounting practices. Detailed aging is accounted in MRP system – DBA Manufacturing keeping records of all equipment units ever manufactured with coordinating serial numbers. Higher level account-related data with payment history is recorded in Company’s Quick Books Accounting software.
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Distributor Discounts. Distributors and representatives earn various rebates and discounts based on purchase volume commitments and the achievement of certain performance KPIs. The company estimates the amount of discounts based on historical volumes, geographical market, end customer buying potential, and the ordered equipment amount. The company also utilizes various programs to offer volume cash discounts, first customer discounts, or reimburse distributors for certain expenses, mainly associated with warranty, transportation costs, and inventory interest costs incurred by the distributor for limited periods of time, generally up to eighteen months.
Repurchase policy. LPC Operational Management regular conducts evaluation of unsold equipment in Distributors possession and determines what particular units cannot be sold anymore because of the moral aging. However, after the manufacturing upgrade it can be added back to the finished goods inventory and sold as a current model. Repurchase records can be viewed in the Repurchase History Records folder.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) 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 net sales and expenses
Our financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates that we use to prepare our financial statements. In general, management’s estimates are based on historical experience, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the facts and circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates made by management. These estimates are based on management’s historical industry experience and not the company’s historical experience.
Revenue Recognition
Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
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Revenue is then recognized for the amount of the transaction price allocated to each respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. For our products, revenue is generally recognized on a free on board origin (FOB Origin) basis. This means that revenue is recognized when our products have been manufactured, crated, and placed in the collection warehouse for customer pick-up in accordance with the Customer Quote and Company Terms and Conditions of Sale. At this stage, the title on the manufactured equipment is transferred to the customer, and the customer is responsible for transportation expenses, insurance, and any transport-related damage to the equipment in transit. We do not hold any obligations to deliver beyond the collection warehouse, and it is the customers’ contractual responsibility to ensure their goods reach their destination.
For projects that are considered custom in nature like most of what we see at Control Micro systems, and we’ve determined the obligation will be six months to a year or more, the company will recognize revenue as a percentage of completion basis. The percentage of completion method recognizes income as work on a project progresses. The recognition of revenues and profits is generally related to costs incurred in providing the services required under the project.Refunds and returns, which are minimal, are recorded as a reduction of revenue.
Payments received from customers before satisfying the above criteria are recorded as unearned income on the combined balance sheets.
Payments received as deposits for specific purchase orders or future laser equipment sales to customers are recognized as customer deposits and included in liabilities on the balance sheet. Customer deposits are recognized as revenue when control over the ordered equipment is transferred to the customer.
All revenues are reported net of any sales discounts or taxes.
Other Revenue Recognition Matters related to Distributors
Distributors generally have no right to return unsold equipment. However, in limited circumstances, if the company determines that distributor stock is morally aging beyond the company’s new model releases, it may accept returns and provide the distributor with credit against their trading account at the company’s discretion under its warranty policy. This situation may also arise if the business climate suddenly changes in the distributor’s country of operation, and the company determines that older and aged equipment can no longer be sold in a specific geographical area, requiring equipment stock to be upgraded to modern models and capabilities. The company may also be obligated, in the event of default by a distributor, to accept returns of unsold laser equipment under its repurchase commitment to equipment financing providers or directly to the distributor. The repurchase commitment is on an individual piece of equipment basis with a term from the date it is financed by the lending institution through the payment date by the distributor, generally not exceeding 36 months.
The company has excluded sales and other taxes assessed by a governmental authority in connection with revenue-producing activities from the determination of the transaction price for all contracts. The company has not adjusted net sales for the effects of significant repurchase financing activity (e.g., customer default with a financial institution, repurchasing, or warranty replacement) because the period between the transfer of the equipment title and the customer’s payment may exceed 24 months of the equipment warranty period and occur within the maturity of the equipment financial agreement between the customer or distributor and the financial institution.
Inventory. Inventory is stated at the lower level of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market value. Inventory includes parts and components that may be specialized in nature and subject to rapid obsolescence. We maintain a reserve for excess or obsolete inventory items. Inventories are written off and charged to cost of goods sold when identified as excess or obsolete. If future sales differ from these forecasts, the valuation of excess and obsolete inventory may change, and additional inventory provisions may be required. Because of our vertical integration, a significant or sudden decrease in sales could result in a significant change in the estimates of excess or obsolete inventory valuation. As ofn December 31, 2024, we have recorded $776,638 for obsolescence.
Warranty. We maintain an accrual for warranty claims for units sold that are subject to warranty.
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Income Taxes and Deferred Taxes. Our annual tax rate is based on our income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. The net operating loss reported in 2023 will be carried forward to subsequent periods. No deferred tax asset has been recorded.
Goodwill and Long-lived assets impairments. We review our intangible assets and property, plant and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment at least annually. We perform our annual goodwill impairment review as of the first day of our fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible is less than the carrying amount.
Results of Operations
Summary of Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024, and 2023:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Statement of operations data: | ||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 3,415,196 | $ | 3,939,473 | ||||
| Cost of Sales | 1,934,150 | 1,041,697 | ||||||
| Gross Profit | 1,481,046 | 2,897,776 | ||||||
| Operating Expenses | 7,944,389 | 6,246,011 | ||||||
| Income (Loss) from Operations | (6,463,343 | ) | (3,348,235 | ) | ||||
| Interest Expense | - | |||||||
| Other (Income) Expense | 3,944,516 | 30,063 | ||||||
| Income Tax Provision | - | |||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | (2,518,827 | ) | (3,318,172 | ) | ||||
| Income (Loss) per Common Share | $ | (0.22 | ) | $ | (0.37 | ) | ||
Revenue
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| Jan - Dec 2024 | Jan - Dec 2023 | |||||||
| Sales | ||||||||
| Product Sales | $ | 3,969,798 | $ | 4,520,892 | ||||
| Sales Discounts | (554,602 | ) | (581,419 | ) | ||||
| Net Sales | $ | 3,415,196 | $ | 3,939,473 | ||||
Gross Product Sales were $3,969,798 for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to $4,520,892 for the comparable year ended December 31, 2023, representing a 12.19% decrease. Our sales typically are made on a purchase order basis rather than through long-term purchase commitments. We entered into laser equipment sales agreements with customers for specific equipment based on purchase orders and our standard terms and conditions of sale. Our largest sales were to is E.S FOX LTD for $273,518. for the year ended December 31, 2024. However, sales discounts applied in 2024 in the amount of $554,602 in comparison to $581,419 in 2023 reflects the fact of stronger completion on the market and a need for a price adjustment. The net revenue decreased accordingly by $524,278 or 13.30% in the year of 2024 in comparison to 2023.
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Sales Pipeline
Our Sales Pipeline at the end of December 31, 2024, has reached $41.1M in industrial products and $19.9M in Military and Government sales what can support the revenue for up to $10M a year.
Gross Profit
For the year ending December 31, 2024, we reported gross profit in the amount of $1,481,046 or 43.37% of net sales, as compared to $2,897,777 or 73.56% net sales, in the year ended December 31, 2023. Gross profit is affected by numerous factors, including our module average selling prices, foreign exchange rates, the existence and effectiveness of subsidies and other economic incentives, competitive pressures, market demand, market mix, our manufacturing costs, product development costs, the effective utilization of our production facilities, and the ramp-up of production on new products. Our cost of sales includes the cost of raw materials and components for manufacturing laser systems. We are vertically integrated and currently manufacture all critical components for our products as well as assemble finished products. Our cost of sales also includes direct labor for manufacturing, and manufacturing overhead such as engineering, equipment maintenance, quality and production control, and procurement costs. Cost of sales does not include depreciation of manufacturing plant and equipment and facility-related expenses.
Overall, we expect our cost of sales to continue to decrease over the next several years due to an increase in worldwide capacity in fiber laser parts and components, and availability of optical generators, an increase in unit output per production line, and more efficient absorption of fixed costs driven by economies of scale. This expected decrease in cost for laser technology would be partially offset during periods in which we underutilize manufacturing capacity.
The Company contracted with a third party to test impairment of their intangible assets. After the evaluation was completed, the company recognized an impairment of $932,669 based on the third parties report.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $ 7,944,389 as compared to $ 6,246,011 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing an increase of $ 1,698,378. The following table summarizes the significant changes in operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
| Sales & Marketing | $ | 1,561,506 | $ | 1,996,363 | ||||
| General & Administrative | 2,790,543 | 2,123,058 | ||||||
| Depreciation & Amortization | 972,135 | 523,380 | ||||||
| Payroll Expenses | 1,430,840 | 1,400,951 | ||||||
Impairment | 932,669 | |||||||
| Research and Development Cost | 261,911 | 202,259 | ||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | $ | 7,944,389 | $ | 6,246,011 | ||||
We expect recurring selling expenses to increase in the near term to support the planned growth of our business as we expand our sales and marketing efforts. In the future, we expect selling, general, and administrative expenses to decline as a percentage of net sales, as our net sales grow beyond the fixed costs of the business.
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Net Loss (Income)
Net loss for the year ending December 31, 2024, was $ 2,518,827 compared to $ 3,318,171 for the year ended December 31, 2023. We have spent much of the last two years assembling people and equipment necessary to increase sales and production levels. While our revenue levels increased, our expenses also increased. That coupled with the additional expenses associated with being a public company and our research and development efforts for our new generation of laser blasting equipment, resulted in a net loss for 2024. With these investments, we are building the foundation for our future, not only for our laser blasters, but also for the expansion of our laser equipment for material processing product offering. Basic and dilutive loss per share of common stock decreased for the year ended December 31, 2024, to ($0.22) compared to ($0.37) for the year ended December 31, 2023
Inflation did not have a material impact on our operations for the period applicable. Other than the foregoing, management knows of no trends, demands, or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our results of operations.
Net Income/Loss per Share
Basic earnings/loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that shared in our earnings (loss). Diluted earnings/(loss) per share is computed by dividing the earnings/loss available to stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period and dilutive potential shares outstanding unless such dilutive potential shares would result in anti-dilution.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net Income/(Loss) | $ | (2,518,827 | ) | $ | (3,318,171 | ) | ||
| Net Income/(Loss) per Share | $ | (0.22 | ) | $ | (0.37 | ) | ||
| Weighted Average Shares Outstanding, Basic | 11,631,999 | 8,934,035 | ||||||
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following is a summary of the Company’s cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing, and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023:
| Year ended December 31 | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by Operating Activities | $ | (9,138,555 | ) | $ | (5,470,567 | ) | ||
| Net cash provided by Investing Activities | (977,821 | ) | (484,855 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by Financing Activities | 4,449,110 | (25,240 | ) | |||||
| Net cash increase for period | (5,667,266 | ) | (5,980,662 | ) | ||||
| Cash at the beginning of period | 6,201,137 | 12,181,799 | ||||||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 533,871 | $ | 6,201,137 | ||||
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As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $ 4,664,460 in current assets, comprised of $ 533,871 in cash, $ 937,605 in accounts receivable, $ 2,338,759 in inventory, $759,658 in Contract Assets and $58,567 in Other Assets, as of December 31, 2023, the Company had $ 9,294,147 in current assets, comprised of $ 6,201,137 in cash, $ 816,364 in accounts receivable, $ 2,237,456 in inventory, and $39,190 in other assets.
As of December 31, 2024, current liabilities totaled $2,573,435 as compared to $ $ 1,031,844 as of December 31, 2023. As a result, as of December 31, 2024, the Company had $2,091,025 in total working capital as compared to $ 8,262,303 as of December 31, 2023.
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Cash And Cash Equivalents | $ | 533,871 | $ | 6,201,137 | ||||
| Working Capital (excluding cash and cash equivalents) | 1,557,154 | 2,061,166 | ||||||
| Total Working Capital | $ | 2,091,025 | $ | 8,262,303 | ||||
We anticipate spending an additional $3M over the next 2 years, to increase our sales and marketing efforts, as well as to increase our manufacturing capacity. While doing so, we expect to return to profitability in 2025. Therefore, we anticipate minimal long-term liquidity needs to support our organic growth, which we expect to achieve using the proceeds of our recent IPO, exclusively.
We must fulfill all of the financial disclosure and reporting requirements of a public reporting company. Our management must spend additional time on policies and procedures to ensure compliance with various regulatory requirements, especially that of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The additional corporate governance required of management could limit the amount of attention management can afford to our business plan, and therefore may delay our anticipated growth plans. Over the next 12 months, we anticipate the marginal cost of being a public company to exceed $750,000.
Lease Liability
On December 1, 2019, we entered a sub-lease with ICT Investments for 5,000 sf of manufacturing space on a month-to -month basis at $4,050 per month. In January 2020, we expanded the lease with ICT Investments to include the entire facility of 18,000 sf. In October of 2021, a direct lease was signed with the landlord for three years, terminating on October 31, 2024. In November we entered into a lease amendment that expires December 31, 2025.The facility is currently equipped with three of our latest advanced laser cleaning demonstration models. It includes a materials stock room, a ramp and high dock, loading and moving equipment, a machine shop, an electronics room, and an equipment assembly area. The monthly rent for this facility is currently $15,549.
In December 2022, we entered into an agreement with 2701 Maitland Building Associates to rent 8,000 sf of additional office space nearby the main facility, for our growing sales and marketing program. The monthly rent for this space is currently $14,805. On February 10, 2025, we entered into a Lease Termination Agreement with 2701 Maitland Building Associates, LLC, the Landlord of Suite 125 containing approximately 7,981 rentable square feet that Laser Photonics had leased from November 7, 2022 through December 31, 2025, at a base monthly rent of $14,818.06 (“Suite 125”). In light of our entering into a long-term lease at 250 Technology Park. Lake Mary, FL 32746 on July 1, 2024, we determined that we did not need Suite 125 for our future growth and, since we could not sublet this space, we entered into the Lease Termination Agreement to reduce our lease expense. Under the terms of the Lease Termination Agreement, we agreed to pay a monthly termination fee of $14,912.14 base rent plus operating expenses for five months, saving us approximately $80,000 in lease payments for 2025.
On July 1, 2024, we entered into a lease agreement for 48,481 square feet of office space at a base monthly rent of $ 50,354.42 with an annual increase of 3%, that has a term of 10.5 years. The location of the facility is 250 Technology Park. Lake Mary, FL
Our facility is currently equipped with three of our latest advanced laser cleaning demonstration models.
Upon acquisition of Control Micro Systems in on October 31, 2024 at 4420 Metric Dr. Winter Park Florida. The lease expires on October 31, 2025. The facility is 52,200 total square ft at a cost of $27,700 per month.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2024, we have not entered any 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 and would be considered material to investors.
Legal Proceedings
We expect from time to time to be the subject of various claims, lawsuits and other legal and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. As of the date of this report we have not subject to any legal threats, proceedings or lawsuits of any nature.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) 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 net sales and expenses.
Our financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.
We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates that we use to prepare our financial statements. In general, management’s estimates are based on historical experience, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the facts and circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates made by management. These estimates are based on management’s historical industry experience and not our historical experience.
Revenue Recognition- Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. Refunds and returns, which are minimal, are recorded as a reduction of revenue. Payments received by customers prior to our satisfying the above criteria are recorded as unearned income in the combined balance sheets. All revenues were reported net of any sales discounts or taxes.
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Inventory — Inventory is stated at the lower cost (first-in, first-out method) or market value. Inventory includes parts and components that may be specialized in nature and subject to rapid obsolescence. We maintain a reserve for excess or obsolete inventory items. Inventories are written off and charged to cost of goods sold when identified as excess or obsolete. If future sales differ from these forecasts, the valuation of excess and obsolete inventory may change, and additional inventory provisions may be required. Because of our vertical integration, a significant or sudden decrease in sales could result in a significant change in the estimates of excess or obsolete inventory valuation. On December 31, 2024, we recorded $776,638 in Inventory Obsolescence.
Warranty — We maintain an accrual for warranty claims for units sold that are subject to warranty.
Income Taxes and Deferred Taxes — Our annual tax rate is based on our income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate.
Goodwill and Long-lived assets impairment. We review our intangible assets and property, plant and equipment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment at least annually. We perform our annual goodwill impairment review as of the first day of our fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying amount.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company evaluates all Accounting Standard Updates (“ASUs”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) for consideration of their applicability. ASUs not included in our disclosures were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
On November 27, 2023, FASB issues ASU 2023-07. ASU 2023-07 is effective for public entities fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. ASU 2023-07 enhances segment reporting under Topic 280 by expanding the breadth and frequency of segment disclosures. Its amendments fall into the following categories. Topic 280 requires a public entity to disclose entity-wide and segment information in the notes to financial statements. This includes the measure of profit or loss that the CODM uses to assess segment performance and decide how to allocate resources, as well as certain specified amounts included in that measure – e.g. revenue, depreciation and amortization, interest and income tax expense. However, investors have observed that there has been limited information reported about a segment’s expenses. The analysis of the company after acquisition of CMS concluded that we have only one segment and according to this, the results will be disclosed consolidated.
ASC-280 Segment Reporting
Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” requires annual and interim reporting for an enterprise’s operating segments and related disclosures about its products, services, geographic areas and major customers. An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and expenses, and about which separate financial information is regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources.
Laser Photonics operates as one segment located in Orlando, FL. Our company develops industrial laser cleaning, cutting, welding, marking, and wire stripping across multiple industries and customer bases. The chief operating decision maker (CODM) being the Chief Executive Officer. The CODM uses net income from operations to evaluate and make key operating decisions.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We have not utilized any derivative financial instruments such as futures contracts, options and swaps, forward foreign exchange contracts or interest rate swaps and futures. We believe that adequate controls are in place to monitor any hedging activities. We do not have any borrowings and, consequently, we are not affected by changes in market interest rates. We do not currently have any sales or own assets and operate facilities in countries outside the United States and, consequently, we are not affected by foreign currency fluctuations or exchange rate changes. Overall, we believe that our exposure to interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate changes is not material to our financial condition or results of operations.
| 50 |
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| 51 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Laser Photonics Corporation
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has not earned sufficient revenue since inception and has sustained operating losses during the year ended December 31, 2024, which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding those matters are discussed in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. 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 audit 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 consolidated 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 audit, 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 Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audits matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Evaluation of Intangible Assets
As discussed in Note 2 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company acquired an entity during 2024 accounted for as business combinations, which required assets and liabilities assumed to be measured at their acquisition date fair values. Additionally, the Company has other intangible assets from previous years activities. At each reporting period, certain intangible assets are required to be assessed annually for impairment based on the facts and circumstances at that time. Auditing management’s evaluation of intangible assets can be a significant judgment given the fact that the Company uses management estimates on future revenues and expenses which are not easily able to be substantiated.
Given these factors and due to significant judgements made by management, the related audit effort in evaluating management’s judgments in evaluation of intangible assets required a high degree of auditor judgment.
The procedures performed included evaluation of the methods and assumptions used by the Company, tests of the data used and an evaluation of the findings. We evaluated and tested the Company’s significant judgments that determine the valuation of and impairment evaluation of intangible assets.
/s/
www.mkacpas.com
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.
June 24, 2025
| F-1 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Laser Photonics Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Laser Photonics Corporation (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (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 December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
As discussed in Note 7 to the financial statements, the financial statements have been revised to incorporate changes related to the correction of an error.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has history of net losses and accumulated deficits. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
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 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 Company’s 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.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Revenue Recognition – Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements
Description of the Critical Audit Matter
The Company has material revenue with a revenue recognition policy in which determining when the performance obligation has been settled and obtaining appropriate and sufficient audit evidence took significant audit effort.
How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit
| ● | Reviewed the Company’s assessment of its revenue recognition policy, independently assessing the Company’s conclusion that it is consistent with the principles of ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Traced significant considerations through to the Company’s disclosure of its related accounting policy. | |
| ● | Testing of a sample of revenue transactions, including sending confirmations, encompassing transactions near year end, to determine the product has been shipped and recorded in the appropriate period. |
Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts – Refer to Note 2 to the financial statements
Description of the Critical Audit Matter
The Company has material accounts receivable for which assessing the potential collectability of accounts may include subjective and potentially complex considerations from management, as well as requiring high degrees of auditor judgment to assess the appropriateness of the audit evidence to support the Company’s assessment.
How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit
| ● | Tested subsequent collections for a selection of accounts receivable balances, including both material and immaterial account balances at year end. | |
| ● | Confirmed a selection of accounts receivable, including immaterial balances, to determine the completeness and accuracy of accounts receivable balances. |
Fruci & Associates II, PLLC – PCAOB ID #05525
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
Spokane, Washington
April 16, 2024, except for certain items disclosed in Note 7, as to which the date is August 27, 2024.
| F-2 |
LASER PHOTONICS CORPORATION.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024, and 2023
As of December 31, 2024 (Audited) | As of December 31, 2023 (Restated) | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts Receivable, Net | ||||||||
| Contract Assets | ||||||||
| Inventory | ||||||||
| Other Assets | ||||||||
| Total Current Assets | ||||||||
| Property, Plant, & Equipment, Net | ||||||||
| Intangible Assets, Net | ||||||||
| Other Long Term Assets | ||||||||
| Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset | ||||||||
| Total Assets | ||||||||
| Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts Payable | ||||||||
| Accounts Payable related parties | ||||||||
| Deferred Revenue | ||||||||
| Contract Liabilities | ||||||||
| Current Portion of Operating Lease | ||||||||
| Accrued Expenses | ||||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
| Long Term Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Lease liability - less current | ||||||||
| Total Long Term Liabilities | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ Equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock Par value $: shares authorized. Issued: shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. | ||||||||
| Common Stock Par Value $: shares authorized; and issued and and outstanding as December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively | ||||||||
| Additional Paid in Capital | ||||||||
| Retained Earnings (Deficit) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Shares to be issued | ||||||||
| Treasury Stock | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity | $ | $ | ||||||
* See accompanying notes to financial statements.
| F-3 |
LASER PHOTONICS CORPORATION.
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023
| Year Ending December 31, | ||||||||
2024 (Audited) | 2023 (Restated) | |||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | ||||||
| Net affiliate sales | ||||||||
| Cost of Sales | ||||||||
| Gross Profit | ||||||||
| Operating Expenses: | ||||||||
| Sales & Marketing | ||||||||
| General & Administrative | ||||||||
| Depreciation & Amortization | ||||||||
| Impairment | ||||||||
| Payroll Expenses | ||||||||
| Research and Development Cost | ||||||||
| Total Operating Expenses | ||||||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other Income (Expenses): | ||||||||
| Total Other Income (Loss) | ||||||||
| Income (Loss) Before Tax | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Tax Provision | ||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Deemed Dividend from Software Acquisition | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net Comprehensive loss attributed to Common Shareholders | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Earning (Loss) per Share: | ||||||||
| Basic and Diluted | ) | ) | ||||||
| Loss per share (attributable to common shareholders) | ) | ) | ||||||
| Weighted Average of Shares Outstanding | ||||||||
* See accompanying notes to financial statements.
| F-4 |
LASER PHOTONICS CORPORATION.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023 (Restated)
| Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Shares to be issued | Treasury | Accumulated | Stockholders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Stock | APIC | Deficit | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31,2022 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Loss | - | - | - | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock Issued for services | - | $ | (350,000) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock Issued for License Agreement | - | $ | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to affiliate | - | - | - | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock issued for compensation | - | $ | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Loss | - | - | - | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distribution to affiliate | - | - | - | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock Issued for compensation | - | $ | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock issued for Software purchases | - | $ | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deemed Divident to APIC | - | - | - | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock adjustment | - | - | $ | ( | ) | - | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock Issue PIPE | - | $ | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cashless Exercise of Warrants | - | $ | - | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares to be issued for investment | - | - | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrants exercise | - | $ | - | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*See accompanying notes to financial statements.
| F-5 |
LASER PHOTONICS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Year Ended on December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 (Audited) | 2023 (Restated) | |||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Net Loss/Gain | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Bargain Purchase | ( | ) | ||||||
| Bad Debt | ||||||||
| Shares issued for compensation | ||||||||
| Distribution to affiliate | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Impairment | ||||||||
| Depreciation & Amortization | ||||||||
| Net Change, Right-of-Use Asset & Liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Change in Operating Assets & Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts Receivable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Contract Assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Inventory | ( | ) | ||||||
| Prepaids & Other Current Assets | ||||||||
| Accounts Payable | ||||||||
| Contract Liabilities | ||||||||
| Accrued Expenses | ( | ) | ||||||
| Deposits | ( | ) | ||||||
| Deferred Revenue | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Purchase of Property, Plant an Equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Purchase of Research & Development Equipment | ( | ) | ||||||
| Purchase of Operational Software & Website | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Cash Paid for Acquisition net of Cash Received | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Shares issued for PIPE Warrants Exercise | ||||||||
| Shares issued for PIPE | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net Cash provided by (used in) Financing Activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net Cash Flow for Period | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash and Cassh Equivalents - Beginning of Period | ||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents- End of Period | $ | $ | ||||||
| NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Right of use property Lease | ( | ) | ||||||
| Shares issued on conversion of debt | ||||||||
| Transfer demo inventory to PPE | ||||||||
| Share issued for purchase of license | ||||||||
| Treasury stock adjustment | ( | ) | ||||||
| Common Stock issued for cashless exercise of warrants | ||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION | ||||||||
| Cash Received / Paid During the Period for: | ||||||||
| Income Taxes | ||||||||
| Interest | ||||||||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
| F-6 |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2023, and 2024
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Laser Photonics Corporation (the “Company”) was formed under the laws of Wyoming on November 8, 2019, and changed its domicile to Delaware on March 5, 2020. The Company is a vertically integrated manufacturing company for photonics based industrial products and solutions, primarily disruptive laser cleaning technologies. Its vertically integrated operations allow us to reduce development and advanced laser equipment manufacturing time, offer better prices, control quality, and protect our proprietary knowhow and technology compared to other laser cleaning companies and companies with competing technologies.
The
recently acquired Control Micro Systems was purchased by the Company on October 31, 2024. The company is
The Company’s accounting year end is December 31.
Going Concern
The Company has not earned sufficient revenue since inception and has sustained operating losses during the year ended December 31, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2023 mainly due to investments in its sales and marketing departments. The Company had sufficient working capital as of December 31, 2023. However, the Company’s continuation as a going concern is dependent on its ability to generate additional cash flows from operations to meet its obligations and/or obtaining additional financing, as may be required. There is substantial doubt of the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
Reclassification of Prior Year Presentation
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations.
Basis of Presentation
These financial statements are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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 liabilities at dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Our significant estimates and assumptions include depreciation and the fair value of our stock, stock-based compensation, debt discount and the valuation allowance relating to the Company’s deferred tax assets.
Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash
and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase.
Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Company had $
As
of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the Company had $
We do have bank accounts with exposure $
Accounts Receivable
Trade
accounts receivable are recorded net of allowance for expected uncollectible accounts. The Company extends credit to its customers in
the normal course of business and performs on-going credit evaluations of its customers. All accounts, or portions thereof, that are
deemed uncollectible are written off to bad debt expense, as incurred. As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the Company’s
ledger had $
For the reporting periods of the year ending December 31, 2023, and for the year ending December 31, 2024, there were no customers whose Account Receivables were greater than 10% of the total amount of A/R.
Advertising Expenses
Marketing, advertising and promotion expenditures are expensed in the annual period in which the expenditure is incurred.
Research & Development Expenses
Research & Development expenditures are expensed in the annual period in which the expenditure is incurred.
| F-7 |
Stock Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based payments in accordance with the provision of ASC 718, which requires that all share-based payments issued to acquire goods or services, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in the statement of operations based on their fair values, net of estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Compensation expense related to share-based awards is recognized over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period.
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards issued to non-employees for services, as prescribed by ASC 718-10, at either the fair value of the services rendered or the instruments issued in exchange for such services, whichever is more readily determinable. The Company issues compensatory shares for services including, but not limited to, executive, management, accounting, operations, corporate communication, financial and administrative consulting services.
Lease Accounting
The Company leases office space and the production facility under operating lease agreements. The lease term begins on the date of initial possession of the leased property for purposes of recognizing lease expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Lease renewal periods are considered on a lease-by-lease basis and are generally not included in the initial lease term.
Inventory
Inventories are stated at a lower cost or net realizable value using the first-in first-out (FIFO) method. The Company has four principal categories of inventory:
Sales demonstration inventory-Sales demonstration inventory represents completed product used to support the Company’s sales force for demonstrations and held for sale. Sales demonstration inventory is held in the Company’s demo facilities or by its sales representatives for up to three years, at which time it would be refurbished and transferred to finished goods as used equipment, stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company expects these refurbished units to remain in finished goods inventory and sold within 12 months at prices that produce reduced gross margins.
Equipment parts inventory- This inventory represents components and raw materials that are currently in the process of being converted to a certifiable lot of saleable products through the manufacturing and/or equipment assembly process. Inventories include parts and components that may be specialized in nature and subject to rapid obsolescence. The Company periodically reviews the quantities and carrying values of inventories to assess whether the inventories are recoverable. Because of the Company’s vertical integration, a significant or sudden decrease in sales activity could result in a significant change in the estimates of excess or obsolete inventory valuation. The costs associated with provisions for excess quantities, technological obsolescence, or component rejections are charged to cost of sales as incurred.
Work in process inventory-Work in process inventory consists of inventory that is partially manufactured or not fully assembled as of the date of these financial statements. This equipment, machines, parts, frames, lasers and assemblies are items not ready for use or resale. Costs are accumulated as work in process until sales ready items are compete when it is moved to finished goods inventory. Amounts in this account represent items at various stages of completion at the Registration date. Types of costs allocated to WIP include only cost of materials and finished goods inventory used to manufacture specific product.
| F-8 |
Finished goods inventory- Finished goods inventory consists of purchased inventory that was fully manufactured, assembled or in salable condition. Finished goods inventory is comprised of items that are complete and ready for commercial application without further cost other than delivery and setup. Finished goods inventory includes demo and other equipment, lasers, software, machines, parts or assemblies.
On December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively, the Company’s inventory consisted of the following:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 (Audited) | 2023 (Audited) | |||||||
| Inventory | ||||||||
| Equipment Parts Inventory | $ | $ | ||||||
| Finished Goods Inventory | ||||||||
| Sales Demo Inventory | ||||||||
| Work in process Inventory | ||||||||
| Inventory Reserve | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total Inventory | $ | $ | ||||||
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market value. Inventory includes parts and components that may be specialized in nature and subject to rapid obsolescence. Company maintains a reserve for excess or obsolete inventory items. Inventories are written off and charged to the cost of goods sold when identified as excess or obsolete. If future sales differ from these forecasts, the valuation of excess and obsolete inventory may change, and additional inventory provisions may be required. Because of our vertical integration, a significant or sudden decrease in sales could result in a significant change in the estimates of excess or obsolete inventory valuation.
On
December 31, 2024, the Company recorded $
Fixed Assets- Plant Machinery and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for major additions and improvements are capitalized and minor replacements, maintenance, and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations for the respective period.
Machinery and Equipment
Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes. The Company will use other depreciation methods (generally accelerated) for tax purposes where appropriate. The estimated useful lives for significant property and equipment categories are as follows:
| Category | Economic Useful Life | |
| Office furniture and fixtures | ||
| Machinery and equipment | ||
| Leasehold Improvements | ||
| Intangible Assets |
| F-9 |
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 (Audited) | 2023 (Audited) | |||||||
| Fixed Assets | ||||||||
| Accumulated Depreciation | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Machinery & Equipment | ||||||||
| Office Furniture & Computer Equipment | ||||||||
| Vehicles | ||||||||
| R&D Equipment | ||||||||
| Software | ||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | ||||||||
| Demonstration equipment | ||||||||
| Total Fixed Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
As
of December 31, 2024, the Company recorded $
Intangible Assets
Intangible
assets consist primarily of capitalized equipment design documentation, software costs for equipment manufactured for sale, research,
and development, as well as certain patent, trademark and license costs. Capitalized software and equipment design documentation development
costs are recorded in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 985 “Software” with costs amortized
using the straight-line method over a ten-year period. Patent, trademark and license costs are amortized using the straight-line method
over their estimated useful lives of
The Company’s intangible assets are deemed to have indefinite lives and, accordingly, are not amortized, but are evaluated for impairment at least annually, but more often whenever changes in facts and circumstances occur which may indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
The Company employs various core technologies across many different product families and applications in an effort to maximize the impact of our research and development costs and increase economies of scale and to leverage its technology-specific expertise across multiple product platforms. The technologies inherent in its laser equipment products include application documentation, proprietary and custom software developed for operation of its equipment, specific knowledge of supply chain and, most important, equipment design documentation, consisting of 3D engineering drawings, bills of materials, wiring diagrams, parts AutoCad drawings, software architecture documentation, etc. Intangible assets were received from a related party, ICT Investments, and therefore transferred and booked by Laser Photonics Corp. at their historical cost.
The Company contracted with a third party to test
impairment of their intangible assets. After the evaluation was completed the company recognized an impairment of $
As
of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the Company had $
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 (Audited) | 2023 (Audited) | |||||||
| Intangible Assets | ||||||||
| Accumulated Amortization | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Customer Relationships | ||||||||
| Equipment Design Documentation | ||||||||
| Operational Software & Website | ||||||||
| Trademarks | ||||||||
| License & Patents | ||||||||
| Accumulated Impairment Loss | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total Intangible Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| F-10 |
Long- Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment is measured by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from use of the assets and their ultimate disposition. In instances where impairment is determined to exist, the Company writes down the asset to its fair value based on the present value of estimated future cash flows.
Sales Tax Liability
Sales
tax liability is created when the Company sells equipment and services to another entity located in the State of Florida.
Currently the sales tax rate in the Company’s County of Business is
Accounts Payable
Accounts
payable consist of short-term liability to our vendors and sub-contractors, who extend credit terms to the Company or deliver goods
or services with delayed payment terms. As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, our accounts payable were recorded at $
Deferred Revenue
Deferred
Revenue is primarily comprised of amounts collected from customers for product or obligation that has not been fulfilled. As of December
31, 2024, the Company had $
Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment is measured by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flow expected to result from use of the assets and their ultimate disposition. In instances where impairment is determined to exist, the Company writes down the asset to its fair value based on the present value of estimated future cash flows.
Basic earnings/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing the earnings/(loss) attributable to stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings/(loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that shared in the earnings/(loss) of the Company. Diluted earnings/(loss) per share is computed by dividing the earnings/(loss) available to stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period and dilutive potential shares outstanding unless such dilutive potential shares would result in anti-dilution. There were warrants for shares of common stock at the end of 2024 and warrants for shares available to potentially issued at the end of 2023.
| F-11 |
On December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a $ basic/diluted loss per share, as compared to a $ basic/diluted loss per share on December 31, 2023.
Relationship with distributors:
All orders received on a revolving basis in accordance with Laser Photonics Corporation standard Terms and Conditions of Sale. Orders are not able to be cancelled. Orders typically consist of multiple units. Payment terms are typically Net 120 days from transferring the ownership of equipment to Distributor. Revenue recognized on a “piece by piece” equipment bases after appropriate transfer equipment ownership to Distributor. Payments are made by Distributor to The Company when Distributor collects funds from their regional customers, or then they have funds availability to reduce the outstanding balance. Detailed aging is accounted in MRP system – DBA Manufacturing keeping records of all equipment units ever manufactured with coordinating serial numbers. Higher level account related data with payment history is recorded in the Company’s Quick Books Accounting software.
Distributor Discounts
Distributors and representatives earn various rebates and discounts based on purchase volume commitments and the achievement of certain performance KPIs. The company estimates the number of discounts based on historical volumes, geographical market, end customer buying potential, and the ordered equipment amount. The company also utilizes various programs to offer volume cash discounts, first customer discounts, or reimburse distributors for certain expenses, mainly associated with warranty, transportation costs, and inventory interest costs incurred by the distributor for limited periods of time, generally up to eighteen months.
Revenue Recognition Policy
Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determine those that are performance obligations and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
Revenue is then recognized for the transaction price allocated to each respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. For our products, revenue is generally recognized on a free on-board basis (FOB Origin) basis. This means that revenue is recognized when our products have been manufactured, crated, and placed in the company’s collection warehouse for customer pick-up in accordance with the Customer Quote and Company Terms and Conditions of Sale. Our manufacturing process is controlled by a Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) software - DBA Manufacturing, and fulfilled and closed Job order triggering the product readiness to be transferred to the customer. At that stage we fulfill all our obligations, as per our Terms and Conditions of sale, inform Customer by email or phone that his product order is ready for the scheduled pickup, and transfer the title on the manufactured equipment to the customer, and the customer is responsible for transportation expenses, insurance, and any transport-related damage to the equipment in transit. We do not hold any obligation to deliver beyond the collection warehouse, and it is the customers’ contractual responsibility to ensure their goods reach their destination.
For projects that are considered custom in nature like most of what we see at Control Micro systems, and we’ve determined the obligation will be six months to a year or more, the company will recognize revenue as a percentage of completion basis. The percentage of completion method recognizes income as work on a project progresses. The recognition of revenues and profits is generally related to costs incurred in providing the services required under the project.
For
the year ending December 31, 2024, there was one customer whose revenue was more than
| F-12 |
Payments received as deposits for specific purchase orders or future laser equipment sales to customers are recognized as customer deposits and included in liabilities on the balance sheet. Customer deposits are recognized as revenue when control over the ordered equipment is transferred to the customer.
Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities
Account receivable are recognized in the period when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional. Accounts receivable are recognized net of an allowance for credit losses. A considerable amount of judgement is required in assessing the likelihood of realization of receivables.
The timing of revenue may differ from timing of invoicing customers.
Contract assets include unbilled amounts from long-term construction services when revenue recognized under the cost-to-cost measure of progress exceeds the amounts invoiced to customers, as the amounts cannot be billed under the terms of the contracts. Such amounts are recoverable from customers based upon various measures of performance, including achievement of certain milestones, completion of specified units or completion of contract. Contracts assets are generally classified as current within the consolidated balance sheet.
Contract liabilities from construction contracts occur when amounts invoiced to customers exceed revenues recognized under the cost-to-cost measures of progress. Contract liabilities additionally include advance payments from customers on certain contracts. Contract liabilities decrease as the Company recognizes revenue from the satisfaction of the related performance obligation. Contract liabilities are generally classified as current within the consolidated balance sheet.
Although the Company believes it has established adequate procedures for estimating costs to complete on open contracts, it is at least reasonably possible that additional significant costs could occur on contracts prior to completion. The Company periodically evaluates and revises its estimates and makes adjustments when they are considered necessary.
The Company recognizes revenue by applying the following 5 step model:
1. Identifying the Contract(s) with a Customer. The Company enters into written contract with customers that create enforceable rights and obligations. Contracts are assessed to ensure they meet criteria for being considered legally binding and capable of being accounted for.
2. Identify the Performance Obligations in the Contract. Performance obligations are identified as distinct promises to transfer goods or services to a customer. The Company identifies their scope of work and creates a schedule of values (SOV) outlining each individual scope of the project.
3. Determine the Transaction Price. The transaction price is the amount of considerations the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring promised services. The transaction price may include fixed amounts or cost-plus percentage method.
4. Allocate the Transaction Priced to Performance Obligations. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation (SOV) based on its stand-alone selling price. The stand-alone selling price is the price which the Company would sell its service separately to a customer.
5. Recognize Revenue when (or as) the Company Satisfies a Performance Obligation. The Company recognizes revenue over time based on the progress towards completion of performance obligation. Revenue recognized during this reporting period is derived from the total contract value as allocated to performance obligations satisfied during that period.
Contract
assets are $
Other Distributor related Revenue Recognition Matters
Distributors generally have no right to return unsold equipment. However, in limited circumstances, if the company determines that distributor stock is morally aging beyond the company’s new model releases, it may accept returns and provide the distributor with credit against their trading account at the company’s discretion under its warranty policy. This revenue is recognized on a consignment basis and transfer of control is when item is sold to end customer at which time the company recognizes revenue.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company applies the accounting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements”, as well as certain related FASB staff positions. This guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact business and considers assumptions that marketplace participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of nonperformance.
The guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy for measurements of fair value as follows:
| ☐ | Level 1 - | quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
| ☐ | Level 2 - | inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. |
| ☐ | Level 3 - | unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. |
The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments approximates their fair value as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
| F-13 |
Income Taxes.
Under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.
Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided on differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements and on tax carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the provision for income taxes. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred income tax assets when it is not more likely than not that the deferred income tax assets will be realized.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Valuation allowances are established when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2024 there were no deferred taxes due to the uncertainty of the realization of net operating loss or carry forward prior to expiration.
The
provision for income taxes is calculated at a US corporate tax rate of approximately
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
| Expected income tax (expense) recovery from net (income) loss | ||||||||
| Tax effect of expenses not deductible for income tax: | ||||||||
| Annual effect of book/tax differences | ||||||||
| Change in the valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by FASB or other standard setting bodies that are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date.
ASC-280 Segment Reporting
Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” requires annual and interim reporting for an enterprise’s operating segments and related disclosures about its products, services, geographic areas and major customers. An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and expenses, and about which separate financial information is regularly evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources.
Laser Photonics operates as one segment located in Orlando, FL. Our company develops industrial laser cleaning, cutting, welding, marking, and wire stripping across multiple industries and customer bases. The chief operating decision maker (CODM) being the Chief Executive Officer. The CODM uses the financial statements from operations to evaluate and make key operating decisions.
ASU 2016-13 Current Expected Credit Loss (ASC326)
In December 2021, the FASB issued an update to ASU No. 2016-13 the Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) standard (ASC 326), which is designed to provide greater transparency and understanding of credit risk by incorporating estimated, forward-looking data when measuring lifetime Estimated Credit Losses (ECL) and requires enhanced financial statement disclosures. This guidance was adopted on January 1, 2023.
The Company evaluates all Accounting Standard Updates (“ASUs”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) for consideration of their applicability. ASUs not included in our disclosures were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
| F-14 |
NOTE 3 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS –
ICT
Investments owns shares of the Company’s common stock. Prior to the closing of the Company’s IPO on October 4,
2022, this represented
Since
the date of incorporation on November 8, 2019,
In
October 2020, the Company issued a promissory note 2 to ICT Investments in the principal amount of $
In
September 2022, the Company issued a promissory note to ICT Investments in the principal amount of $
In April 2023, company issued former CFO shares upon departure from the Company.
In
October 2023 were issued and transferred shares to Fonon Technologies Incorporated. In
addition, PPE including a Printer, working van, and computer and furniture of $
On May 21, 2024 of Common stock
were issued and transferred to Fonon Corporation in exchange for licenses for all commercial and noncommercial applications of Fonon Corp
for laser cutting, marking, engraving, welding, semiconductor applications and flat panel display. The stock was valued at its fair-market
value of $
During
the years ending December 31, 2024, and 2023, the Company paid $
For
the year ending December 31,2024, $
For
the year ended December 31, 2024, affiliate revenue totaled $
Related party accounts payable due to Fonon
Technologies Incorporated balance as of December 31, 2024 was $
NOTE 4 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY/DEFICIT
General
The following description of our securities and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws that will be in effect on the closing of this offering. Copies of these documents have been filed with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. The descriptions of the Shares, and preferred stock reflect changes to our capital structure that will be in effect on the closing of this offering.
Preferred Stock
| ● | Par value: $ | |
| ● | Authorized: | |
| ● | Issued: There were preferred shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023, and 2024. |
Common Stock
| ● | Par value: $ | |
| ● | Authorized: | |
| ● | and issued and and outstanding as December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. |
| F-15 |
Warrants
| ● | On
September 6, 2024, | |
| ● | In October and November were exercised Warrants to Purchase for Common Stock. | |
| ● | As
of December 31, 2024, there were |
Options
As of December 31, 2024, there were Options Issued or Outstanding
Preferred Stock
Shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series as may be determined by the board of directors. The board of directors may fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof without any further vote or action by the stockholders of the Company, except that no holder of preferred stock shall have pre-emptive rights. Any shares of preferred stock so issued would typically have priority over the common stock concerning dividend or liquidation rights. The board of directors does not at present intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of currently authorized stock unless otherwise required by law.
Common Stock
Holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratable in dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors in its discretion from funds legally available, therefore.
Holders of common stock have no pre-emptive rights to purchase the Company’s common stock. There are no conversion or redemption rights or sinking fund provisions with respect to the common stock. The Company may issue additional shares of common stock which could dilute its current shareholder’s share value.
2024
| ● | On
February 2, 2024,
Shares of Common stock with a fair value $ | |
| ● | On
May 24, 2024,
Shares of Common stock with a fair value $ | |
| ● | On
September 6, 2024, Shares of Common stock were issued under PIPE Offering with
Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. With net proceeds $ | |
| ● | On September 16, 2024, | |
| ● | On
October 21, 2024, Warrants were exercised, and Shares of Common stock were issued
under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. This resulted to funds to the company of $ | |
| ● | On
October 23, 2024, Warrants were exercised, and Shares of Common stock were issued
under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. This resulted to funds to the company of $ | |
| ● | On
November 26, 2024, Warrants were exercised, and Shares of Common stock were issued
under PIPE Offering with Aegis Capital Cop. As Agent. This resulted in funds to the company of $ |
As part of the acquisition of Control Micro Systems
shares of common stock valued at $
2023
During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company issued shares of common stock were issued as compensation for services to TraDigital. These were recorded at a fair value based on the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the agreement.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the Company issued shares of common stock were issued as compensation for services to Company former Vice President of Finance Tim Schick. These were recorded at a fair value based on the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the agreement.
During the quarter ending December 31, 2023, the Company issued shares of common stock as consideration of the license agreement granted by Fonon Technologies, Inc. These were recorded at a fair value based on the market price of the Company’s stock on the date of the agreement.
| F-16 |
Treasury Stock repurchase
In
October 2023 there were shares of treasury stock repurchased totaling $
NOTE 5 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In
October 2021, a lease on
In
December 2022, we entered into an agreement with 2701 Maitland Building Associates to rent 8,000 sf of additional office space nearby
the main facility, for our growing sales and marketing program. The monthly rent for this space is currently $
As
of January 1, 2020, we adopted ASU 2016-02 employing the cumulative-effect adjustment transition method, resulting in the recognition
on our balance sheet of $
Our facility is currently equipped with three of our latest advanced laser cleaning demonstration models.
Upon
acquisition of Control Micro Systems in on October 31, 2024 we were in a month to month lease located at 4420 Metric Dr. Winter Park
Florida. The latest lease expired on June 21, 2024, prior to the acquisition of the business. The facility is 52,200 square ft total
at a cost of $
The following table provides the maturities of lease liabilities at December 31, 2024:
| Operating Lease | Remaining Term in Years | |||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| 2029 | ||||||||
| 2030 | ||||||||
| 2031 | ||||||||
| 2032 | ||||||||
| 2033 | ||||||||
| 2034 | ||||||||
| 2035 | ||||||||
| Total lease payments | ||||||||
| Less : Imputed interest | ( | ) | ||||||
| Present Value of Lease Liabiltiy | ||||||||
NOTE 6 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company’s management has evaluated subsequent events up to March 31, 2025, the date the financial statements were issued, pursuant to the requirements of ASC 855 and has the following events to report.
On January 22, 2025 as a condition of the acquisition of Control Micro Systems Laser Wind Down, Inc was issued shares of our common stock
On March 6, 2025 Sanjay Adhav issued shares of Laser Photonics common stock through affiliate company Fonon Technologies as part of Fonon Corp acquisition of Quantum Technologies.
NOTE 7 – Restatement of Financials 2023
As a result of the Company’s predecessor auditor, Fruci & Associates II, PLLC (“Fruci”), identifying an adjusting entry that Fruci had proposed and that was posted by the Company that overstated deferred revenue and needed to be corrected.
| Restatement | ||||||||||||
| Balance Sheet | As Filed | Adjustments | As Restated | |||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalent | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Inventory | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Other Assets | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total current assets | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| PP&E | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Intangible Assets Net | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Operating Lease Right of Use Asset | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Current Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Current Portion of Operating Lease | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Total Long Term liabilities | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total Liability | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Restatement | ||||||||||||
| Statement of operations | As Filed | Adjustments | As Restated | |||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of Sales | $ | $ | - | $ | ||||||||
| Gross Profit | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Operating Expenses: | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Operating Income | $ | - | - | |||||||||
| Onter income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | - | $ | $ | - | |||||||
| Income (Loss) per Share | ||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | - | $ | $ | - | |||||||
| Diluted | $ | - | $ | $ | - | |||||||
| F-17 |
| Restatement | ||||||||||||
| As Filed | Adjustments | As Restated | ||||||||||
| Cash Flows From: | ||||||||||||
| OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | |||||||||||
| Net Income (Loss) | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities: | ||||||||||||
| Shares issued on conversion of debt | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Shares to be issued as consideration for services | $ | $ | | |||||||||
| Shares issued for compensation | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Distribution to affiliate | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Depreciation & Amortization | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Net Change, Right-of-Use Asset & Liabilities | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Accounts Receivable | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Inventory | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Prepaids & Other Current Assets | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Stock Account | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Accounts Payable | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Accrued Expenses | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| 21030 Deferred Revenue | $ | $ | - | |||||||||
| Net Cash From (Used In) Operating Activities | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
| Purchase of Equipment | $ | - | $ | - | - | |||||||
| Affiliate companies | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Purchase of R&D Equipment | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Demonstration Equipment | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Purchase of Intangible Assets | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Net Cash From (Used In) Investing Activities | $ | - | $ | - | - | |||||||
| FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from (Repayment of) Notes | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from (Repayment of) PPP Loan | ||||||||||||
| Dividends Paid | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from Sale of Common Stock | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Net Cash From (Used In) Financing Activities | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Net Cash Flow for Period | $ | - | $ | - | - | |||||||
| Cash - Beginning of Period | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Cash - End of Period | $ | $ | - | |||||||||
| NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
| Share issued for purchase of license | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION | ||||||||||||
| Cash Received / Paid During the Period for: | ||||||||||||
| Income Taxes | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Interest | $ | $ | ||||||||||
NOTE 8 – ACQUISITION WITH PURCHASE PRICE ALLOCATION
On October 30, 2024, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Control Micro Systems, Inc. (“CMS”), a laser company located in Orlando, Florida, that designs and builds turnkey laser material processing systems for marking, cutting, drilling and welding. CMS allows us to expand into the pharmaceutical market for controlled-release medications that are expanding rapidly, driven by the growing need for more effective delivery systems.
The
company paid $
The
company contracted a third-party expert to evaluate the potential gain or loss from the purchase of these assets. The third party
determined the value of the assets was worth more than the purchase price. Based on the report from the third party the fair value
of the assets exceeds the purchase price resulting in a gain of $
| Year Ended on October 31, | ||||
| 2024 (Audited) | ||||
| Purchase Price : | ||||
| Cash for acquisition | $ | |||
| in common stock shares | ||||
| Total Purchase consideration | $ | |||
| Purchase Price Allocation | ||||
| Cash | ||||
| Accounts Receivable | ||||
| Inventory | ||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||
| Fixtures and Equipment | ||||
| Intangibles | ||||
| Goodwill/Bargain Purchase gain | ( | ) | ||
| Accrued expenses | ( | ) | ||
| Deferred revenue | ( | ) | ||
| Total | $ | |||
| F-18 |
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a−15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded as of December 31, 2024 that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as the information required to be disclosed in the Company’s United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Based on its evaluation under the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s management, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that some of its internal controls over financial reporting were ineffective as of December 31, 2024. The Company also continues to work on improving those controls on an active basis. There will be an emphasis on improving controls over affiliate transactions and equity transactions. Controls identified as ineffective:
| ● | System of internal controls failed to identify multiple journal entries that were identified by the external auditor |
| ● | Lack of formal control process related to the identification and approval of related party transactions |
| ● | We are not able to fully maintain segregation of duties within our financial operations due to our reliance on limited personnel in the finance function |
| ● | As a smaller company we lack sufficient resources to perform the internal audit function |
| ● | Documentation of all proper accounting procedures is not yet complete. |
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which permanently exempts non-accelerated filers from complying with Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K are certifications of Laser Photonics’ Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Principal Financial Officer (“CFO”), which are required in accordance with Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). This “Controls and Procedures” section includes information concerning the controls and controls evaluation referred to in the certifications.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
None.
| 52 |
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information for our executive officers and directors as of June 23, 2024.
| Name | Age | Position | ||
| Wayne Tupuola | 64 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | ||
| Carlos Sardinas | 43 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| John Amstrong | 64 | Vice President Executive | ||
| Gennady Korotkov | 68 | Vice President of Operations | ||
| Igor Vodopiyanov | 64 | Vice President, R&D and Product Development | ||
| Arnold Bykov | 89 | Chief Design Engineer | ||
| Tim Miller | 71 | Director | ||
| Troy Parkos | 53 | Director | ||
| Carlos M. Gonzalez | 78 | Director |
Wayne Tupuola is President, Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Tupuola joined an affiliate of ICT Investments as Vice President of Operations in January 2007 and joined us in November 2019. From January 2014 to May 2015, he was acting as an Industrial Consultant for Florida high tech companies. He brought experience based on 15 successful years of C-level management capacity in manufacturing operations, and more than 24 years hands-on experience in the semiconductor, aerospace, food & beverage and commercial industries, including: Sumitomo Corp, the world’s second-largest wafer manufacturer in the semiconductor sector; ON Semiconductor Corp, one of the world’s largest semiconductor component companies; and Thermo-Electron, one of the world’s leading analytical instruments, lab equipment, and industrial equipment manufacturers. From September 2015 to December 2015, he was a Director and Vice President of Operations to an affiliate of Laser Photonics and one of ICT Investment’s portfolio companies, Fonon Corporation. He is currently in charge of all manufacturing and day-to-day business operations of Laser Photonics. Mr. Tupuola is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a degree in Communications. We believe that his significant management experience with manufacturing operations makes him qualified to be a member of our Board of Directors.
Troy Parkos has been a member of the Board since August 15, 2023. Since June 1994, Mr. Parkos has been employed by Fastenal Company, a global distributor of wide-ranging industrial and construction products having annual sales in 2022 of approximately $7 billion. Mr. Parkos started his career at Fastenal Company as a sales representative from 1994 to 1997, becoming a Regional Sales Consultant Manager from 1997 to 2007, a District Manager from 2007 to 2018 and, since 2018, Vice President overseeing approximately 1,000 employees throughout the United States. Mr. Parkos has expertise in industrial sales, operations, and supply chain management, including partnering with Federal Government prime and DOD contractors and dealing with MRO and OEM manufacturers. Mr. Parkos graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Management in May 1994. Laser Photonics believes that the expertise that Mr. Parkos has with the procurement processes and supply chains of Fastenal Company’s customer base and experience in managing a large sales force will be valuable to it as it expands its sales.
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Carlos M. Gonzalez has been a member of the Board since February 6, 2024. Since August 2013, Mr. Gonzalez has served as Managing Director of Global Pangermex, LLC, a distributor of chemicals for the treatment of fruits and commercial seafood on a global basis, including through access to financial services such as insurance and financing. Mr. Gonzalez concurrently from October 2013 to July 2017 served as the International Trade Finance & Business Development Director for Unified Energy Solutions, Inc., a company assisting medium to large users of energy with the planning, including financing products and services, to provide economically feasible alternative green energy sources of energy using only quality U.S. or European made products. From April 2009 to September 2013, Mr. Gonzalez was the Business Development Director of Sfinkx Corporation, a manufacturer of high-tech industrial laser equipment and photovoltaic energy-generating equipment. Mr. Gonzalez previously held for over 25 years several executive officer positions with large and medium-sized banks, including Wells Fargo, SunTrust Bank, Banco Popular North America, and Fifth Third Bank. Mr. Gonzalez was an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of Central Florida, School of Business Administration, from 1988 to 1995. Mr. Gonzalez received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Portland State University with a minor in Finance and Marketing. His professional education includes the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Florida Bankers Association’s International Banking School. He is a Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm veteran, received the U.S. Army Bronze Star Medal, and retired with the rank of Major.
Arnold Bykov joined us in November 2019 as Chief Design Engineer. For the last 25 years, Mr. Bykov has been working in the photonics industry, primarily with ICT Investments and affiliated companies, including being appointed Director and Chief Design Engineer of Fonon Corporation from September 2015 to December 2015, where he developed laser systems for material processing and worked as a design and project engineer supervising design teams. Mr. Bykov is currently responsible for the industrial design and technological process of our laser cleaning technology. Mr. Bykov has devoted 20 years of his engineering career in the development of industrial equipment for high-tech industries. The majority of those developments were prepared for laser cutting technology related products through his work with a team of other ICT engineers during the last 15 years and directly for ICT Investments for the past five years. Mr. Bykov received a number of state awards and certificates of invention for the development of laser cutting technology. He graduated from Minsk Polytechnic University in 1966. We believe that the expertise that Arnold Bykov has in industrial design and engineering makes him a valuable resource of knowledge and qualifies him to be a member of the Board. Mr. Bykov will resign as a member of our Board of Directors at the time this registration statement is declared effective.
Igor Vodopiyanov, PhD, is the Senior Research & Development (R&D) Engineer at Laser Photonics. Dr. Vodopiyanov served as a Research Scientist at Florida Institute of Technology before joining the Laser Photonics R&D team in 2017 as a Subject Matter Expert in the tuning and calibration of laser systems for material processing. Dr. Vodopiyanov conducted research in Particle Physics within CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) Collaboration at the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland and managed the Hadron Calorimeter Calibration and Condition Group of the CMS Collaboration, which included the calibration and alignment of Forward Tracking Chambers of CERN’s L3 detector. Dr. Vodopiyanov also carried out research in Particle Physics within L3 Collaboration at the CERN Electron-Positron Collider at Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute. He earned a Master of Science degree from the M. I. Kalinin Leningrad Polytechnic Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and a PhD in Physics and Mathematics from the V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Dr. Vodopiyanov has over 250 publications to his credit, and he is a Professional Member of the Sigma Pi Sigma honor society within the American Institute of Physics.
Tim Miller, age 71, has since 1983 served as the founder and CEO of Control Micro Systems, Inc. (“CMS”). CMS was a pioneer in software controls development for laser machines that expanded to cover a wide range of laser-based manufacturing processes, including laser marking, cutting, drilling, and welding and designing and building complete industrial laser systems, for a global customer base. Mr. Miller had four patents granted by the USPTO in aspects of laser manufacturing. By the time of its sale for over $10 million in 2019 to 600 Group PLLC, a company that until April 2024 was listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, CMS had grown, without any third-party financing, to over 55 employees with annual revenues over $10 million operating in a 40,000 sq. ft. facility. Mr. Miller graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1978 with a BS Degree in Computer Science. Laser Photonics believes that the experience that Mr. Miller has in the laser photonics industry and the growth of CMS as well as overseeing a successful exit for CMS qualifies him to be a valuable member of the Laser Photonics Board of Directors.
Board Composition and Election of Directors
Our Board of Directors is currently authorized to have five members. In accordance with the terms of our current certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the term of office of each director expires at our annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Director Independence
We are a “controlled company” under the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, but we have not exempted ourselves from the requirement to have independent directors and independent compensation and nomination committees. Currently we have three members of our Board of Directors who are independent as defined under Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Troy Parkos and Carlos M. Gonzalez are all members of our audit committee, our corporate governance and nominating committee and compensation committee in accordance with the Nasdaq listing rules that require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and corporate governance and nominating committees be independent.
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
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Director Compensation
2024 Director Compensation
Cash Compensation
All non-employee directors are entitled to receive the following cash compensation for their services:
| ● | $30,000 per year for service as a board member; |
All cash payments to non-employee directors who served in the relevant capacity at any point during the immediately preceding prior fiscal quarter will be paid quarterly in arrears. A non-employee director who served in the relevant capacity during only a portion of the prior fiscal quarter will receive a pro-rated payment of the quarterly payment of the applicable cash retainer.
Equity Compensation
Each non-employee director who served as a director during 2021 received an initial grant of non-qualified stock options under our 2021 Plan to purchase 5,500 shares of our common stock, which options vest pro rata on a monthly basis over a period of twelve months from the grant date, subject to the grantee’s continued service through that date. Each non-employee director who served as a director during 2022 received a grant of non-qualified stock options under our 2021 Plan to purchase 5,500 shares of our common stock, which options vest pro rata on a monthly basis over a period of twelve months from the grant date, subject to the grantee’s continued service through that date.
Director Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation earned for service on our board of directors by our non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2024.
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards(1) ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shara Pathak | 31,141 | — | — | — | — | 31,141 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy Parkos | 30,000 | — | — | — | — | 30,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carlos Gonzalez | 19,780 | — | — | — | — | 19,780 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Miller | 10,109 | 10,109 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During 2024, each non-employee member of the Board of Directors received an annual cash fee of $30,000.
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Controlled Company Exemption
ICT Investments, together with the shares of FONON Corporation and FONON Technologies, owned by ICT, posses a majority (59.19%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of our common stock. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq’s corporate governance standards. Under these corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements (1) that a majority of its board of directors consist of independent directors and (2) that its board of directors have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities. If we utilized these exemptions you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. If we cease to be a “controlled company” and our shares continue to be listed on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with these standards. We have adopted corporate governance standards as though we were not a “controlled company.”
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is comprised of Carlos M. Gonzalez and Troy Parkos, each of whom our board has determined is financially literate and qualifies as an independent director under Section 5605(a)(2) and Section 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq rules. Mr. Gonzalez is the chairman of our audit committee, and he qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Our audit committee has adopted a written audit committee charter, viewable at https://laserphotonics.com/auditcommittee, that provides that the functions of our audit committee include, among other things:
| ● | selecting a qualified firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements; | |
| ● | helping to ensure the independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm; | |
| ● | discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing, with management and the independent accountants, our interim and year-end operating results; | |
| ● | developing procedures for employees to submit concerns anonymously about questionable accounting or audit matters; | |
| ● | reviewing our policies on risk assessment and risk management; | |
| ● | reviewing and approving related party transactions; | |
| ● | obtaining and reviewing a report by the independent registered public accounting firm, at least annually, that describes our internal quality-control procedures, any material issues with such procedures, and any steps taken to deal with such issues when required by applicable law; and | |
| ● | approving (or, as permitted, pre-approving) all audit and all permissible non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. |
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The Audit Committee has discussed with management and the independent auditor the Company’s annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Audit Committee has discussed with M&K CPAS, PLLC (“M&K CPAS, PLLC”), the Company’s independent auditor for the 2024 fiscal year, matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC. The Audit Committee has received written disclosures and letters from M&K CPAS, PLLC and has discussed their independence from management and the Company. Based upon the reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the previously mentioned audit financial statements should be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, for filing with the SEC.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee is comprised of Troy Parkos and Carlos M. Gonzalez. Our board has determined that each of Mr. Parkos and Mr. Gonzalez qualifies as an independent director under Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq rules and as “non-employee director” for purposes of Section 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and does not have a material relationship with us that would affect their ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, as described in Section 5605(d)(2) of the Nasdaq rules. Ms. Pathak serves as the chairman of our compensation committee.
Our compensation committee has adopted a written compensation committee charter, viewable at https://laserphotonics.com/compensationcommittee, that provides that the functions of our compensation committee include, among other things:
| ● | reviewing and approving, or recommending to our board of directors for approval, the compensation of our executive officers and any compensatory arrangement with our executive officers; | |
| ● | reviewing and recommending to our board of directors for approval the compensation of our directors and any changes to their compensation; | |
| ● | reviewing and approving, or recommending to our board of directors for approval, and administering incentive compensation and equity incentive plans; and | |
| ● | reviewing and establishing general policies relating to compensation and benefits of our employees and reviewing our overall compensation philosophy. |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee is comprised of, Mr. Parkos and Mr. Gonzalez. Our board has determined that each of Mr. Parkos and Mr. Gonzalez qualifies as an independent director under Section 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq rules. Ms. Pathak is the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee.
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We have adopted a written nominating and corporate governance committee charter, viewable at https://laserphotonics.com/nominatingandgovernance, that provides that the functions of our nominating and corporate governance committee include, among other things:
| ● | identifying, evaluating and selecting, or making recommendations to our board of directors regarding, nominees for election to our board of directors and its committees; | |
| ● | overseeing the evaluation and the performance of our board of directors and of individual directors; | |
| ● | considering and making recommendations to our board of directors regarding the composition of our board of directors and its committees; | |
| ● | overseeing our corporate governance practices; | |
| ● | contributing to succession planning; and | |
| ● | developing and making recommendations to our board of directors regarding corporate governance guidelines and matters. |
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The full text of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is published in the Investors section of our website at www.laserphotonics.com. We intend to disclose any future amendments to certain provisions of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, or waivers of such provisions granted to executive officers and directors, on this website within four business days following the date of any such amendment or waiver.
Insider Trading Policies
We
have
The foregoing description of the Insider Trading Policy does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Insider Trading Policy, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 19.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Philosophy
The following is a discussion and analysis of our underlying our policies and decisions with respect to the compensation of our executive officers and what we believe are the most important factors relevant to an analysis of these policies and decisions. We are currently considered a “smaller reporting company” for purposes of the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules. Our only “named executive officers” for 2020 and 2021 were Wayne Tupuola and Tatiana Nikitina. The compensation of our named executive officers and our other current executive officers is based on individual terms approved by our Board of Directors. This section highlights key aspects of our compensation program.
Our compensation committee will oversee these compensation policies and, together with our Board of Directors, will periodically evaluate the need for revisions to ensure our compensation program is competitive with the companies with which we compete for executive talent.
Objectives and Philosophy of Our Executive Compensation Program
The primary objectives of the Board of Directors in designing our executive compensation program are to:
| ● | attract, retain and motivate experienced and talented executives; | |
| ● | ensure executive compensation is aligned with our corporate strategies, research and development programs and business goals; |
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| ● | recognize the individual contributions of executives while fostering a shared commitment among executives by aligning their individual goals with our corporate goals; | |
| ● | promote the achievement of key strategic, development and operational performance measures by linking compensation to the achievement of measurable corporate and individual performance goals; and | |
| ● | align the interests of our executives with our stockholders by rewarding performance that leads to the creation of stockholder value. |
To achieve these objectives in the future, we expect that our Board of Directors and compensation committee will evaluate our executive compensation program with the goal of setting and maintaining compensation at levels that are justifiable based on each executive’s level of experience, performance and responsibility and that the board believes are competitive with those of other companies in our industry and our region that compete with us for executive talent. In addition, we expect that our executive compensation program will tie a substantial portion of each executive’s overall compensation to key strategic, financial and operational goals. We have provided, and expect to continue to provide, a portion of our executive compensation in the form of stock options and restricted stock that vest over time, which we believe helps to retain our executives and aligns their interests with those of our stockholders by allowing them to participate in the longer term success of our company as reflected in stock price appreciation.
Use of Compensation Consultants and Market Benchmarking
For purposes of determining total compensation and the primary components of compensation for our executive officers in 2020 and 2021, we did not retain the services of a compensation consultant or use survey information or compensation data to engage in benchmarking. In the future, we expect that our compensation committee will consider publicly available compensation data for national and regional companies in the laser cleaning industry to help guide its executive compensation decisions at the time of hiring and for subsequent adjustments in compensation. Even if we retain the services of an independent compensation consultant to provide additional comparative data on executive compensation practices in our industry and to advise on our executive compensation program generally, our Board of Directors and future compensation committee will ultimately make their own decisions about these matters.
Beginning in 2024, we expect that our annual cash bonus program will be based upon the achievement of specified annual corporate and individual goals that will be established in advance by our Board of Directors or compensation committee. We expect that our annual cash bonus program will emphasize pay-for-performance and will be intended to closely align executive compensation with achievement of specified operating results as the amount will be calculated on the basis of percentage of corporate goals achieved. The performance goals established by our compensation committee are based on our business strategy and the objective of building stockholder value. We expect that there will be three steps to determine if and the extent to which an annual cash bonus is payable to a named executive officer. First, at the beginning of the year, our compensation committee will determine the target annual cash incentive award for the named executive officer based on a percentage of the officer’s annual base salary for that year. Second, the compensation committee will establish the specific performance goals, including both corporate and individual objectives, that must be met for the officer to receive the award. Third, shortly after the end of the year, the compensation committee will determine the extent to which these performance goals were met and the amount of the award. Our compensation committee works with our chief executive officer to develop corporate and individual goals that they believe can be reasonably achieved with hard work over the course of the year and will target total cash compensation, consisting of base salaries and target annual cash bonuses.
Stock-Based Awards
Our equity award program is the primary vehicle for offering long-term incentives to our executives. While we do not have any equity ownership guidelines for our executives, we believe that equity grants provide our executives with a strong link to our long-term performance, create an ownership culture and help to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, the vesting feature of our equity awards contributes to executive retention by providing an incentive for our executives to remain in our employment during the vesting period. Currently, our executives are eligible to participate in our 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the 2019 Plan. Following the consummation of this offering, our employees and executives will be eligible to receive stock-based awards pursuant to our 2019 Plan. Under our 2019 Plan, executives will be eligible to receive grants of stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based equity awards at the discretion of our Board of Directors.
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Our employee equity awards have typically been in the form of stock options. Because our executives profit from stock options only if our stock price increases relative to the stock option’s exercise price, we believe stock options provide meaningful incentives for our executives to achieve increases in the value of our stock over time. While we currently expect to continue to use stock options as the primary form of equity awards that we grant, we may in the future use alternative forms of equity awards, such as restricted stock and restricted stock units. To date, we have generally used equity awards to compensate our executive officers in the form of initial grants in connection with the commencement of employment. In the future, we also generally plan to grant equity awards on an annual basis to our executive officers. We may also make additional discretionary grants, typically in connection with the promotion of an employee, to reward an employee, for retention purposes or in other circumstances recommended by management.
We normally grant stock awards that will vest 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and with respect to the remaining shares in approximately equal quarterly installments through the fourth anniversary of the grant date. Vesting cease upon termination of employment and exercise rights cease shortly after termination of employment. Prior to the exercise of a stock option, the holder has no rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to such option, including voting rights or the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents.
We have granted, and going forward expect to grant, stock options with exercise prices that are set at no less than the fair value of shares of our common stock on the date of grant as determined by our Board of Directors.
Benefits and Other Compensation
We believe that establishing competitive benefit packages for our employees is an important factor in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel. We expect to maintain broad-based benefits that are provided to all employees, including health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance. All of our executives are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees.
In certain circumstances, we award cash signing bonuses or may reimburse relocation expenses when executives first join us. Whether a signing bonus is paid or relocation expenses are reimbursed, and the amount of either such benefit, is determined by our Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis based on the specific hiring circumstances and the recommendation of our chief executive officer.
Severance and Change in Control Benefits
Pursuant to agreements we expect to enter into with certain of our executives, these executives will be entitled to specified benefits in the event of the termination of their employment under specified circumstances, including termination following a change in control of our company.
We believe providing these benefits helps us compete for executive talent. Based on the substantial business experience of the members of our Board of Directors, we believe that our severance and change in control benefits are generally in line with severance packages offered to executives by companies at comparable stages of development in our industry and related industries.
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Risk Considerations in Our Compensation Program
Our Board of Directors determines with the Company’s management the philosophy and standards on which our compensation plans are implemented across our Company. It is our belief that our compensation programs do not, and in the future will not, encourage inappropriate actions or risk taking by our executive officers. We do not believe that any risks arising from our employee compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company. In addition, we do not believe that the mix and design of the components of our executive compensation program will encourage management to assume excessive risks. We believe that our current business process and planning cycle fosters the behaviors and controls that would mitigate the potential for adverse risk caused by the action of our executives. We believe that the following aspects of our executive compensation program that we plan to implement will mitigate the potential for adverse risk caused by the action of our executives:
| ● | annual establishment of corporate and individual objectives for our performance-based cash bonus programs for our executive officers, which we expect to be consistent with our annual operating and strategic plans, designed to achieve the proper risk/reward balance and not require excessive risk taking to achieve; | |
| ● | the mix between fixed and variable, annual and long-term and cash and equity compensation, which we expect to be designed to encourage strategies and actions that balance our short-term and long-term best interests; and | |
| ● | equity incentive awards that vest over a period of time, which we believe will encourage executives to take a long-term view of our business. |
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, generally disallows a tax deduction for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 per person paid to a publicly traded company’s chief executive officer and three other most highly paid officers, other than the chief financial officer.
We account for equity compensation paid to our employees in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, or ASC 718, which requires us to measure and recognize compensation expense in our financial statements for all share-based payments based on an estimate of their fair value over the service period of the award. We record cash compensation as an expense at the time the obligation is accrued.
| Name and Principal Occupation1 | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($) | Stock Awards($) | Option Awards ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total($) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wayne Tupuola, | 2024 | 200,000 | 200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer | 2023 | 200,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9,661 | 209,661 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jade Barnwell, Former Chief Financial Officer(1) | 2023 | 73,217 | 73,217 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Evans, Former President of Laser Photonics | 2023 | 40,785 | 40,785 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Amstrong, Executive Vicepresident | 2024 | 170,000 | 170,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carlos Sardinas, Chief Financial Officer (2) | 2024 | 180,000 | 180,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Jade Barnwell resigned as CFO on December 20, 2023. |
| (2) | Carlos Sardinas entered into an Offer Letter Agreement with the Company on April 8, 2024. |
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Summary Compensation Table
The following table reflects compensation paid or awarded to our named executive officers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| (1) | Carlos Sardinas entered into an Offer Letter Agreement with the Company on April 8, 2024. |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
In July 2022, Tim Schick, CFA, was granted 25,000 Incentive Stock Options with four-year vesting and an exercise price of $5.00. Those options were cancelled in connection with the termination of employment agreement with the Company dated March 27, 2023. There have not been any additional awards under out 2019 Plan.
Jade Barnell received on 02/27/2024, 17008 Common Stock Shares under a compensation agreement.
Outstanding Equity Awards
There were no outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2024.
Clawback Policy
In November 2023, our Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding the recovery of erroneously awarded compensation (“Clawback Policy”) in accordance with the applicable rules of Nasdaq and Section 10D and Rule 10D-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In the event we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements under U.S. securities laws or otherwise erroneous data or if we determine there has been a significant misconduct that causes material financial, operational or reputational harm, we shall be entitled to recover a portion or all of any incentive-based compensation, if any, provided to certain executives who, during a three-year period preceding the date on which an accounting restatement is required, received incentive compensation based on the erroneous financial data that exceeds the amount of incentive-based compensation the executive would have received based on the restatement.
Our Clawback Policy shall be administered by our Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee has the authority, in accordance with the applicable laws, rules and regulations, to interpret and make determinations necessary for the administration of the Clawback Policy, and may forego recovery in certain instances, including if it determines that recovery would be impracticable. The full text of our Clawback Policy is included as Exhibit 97.1 to this annual report.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not maintain any nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
Defined Contribution Plan
We do not currently have a defined contribution plan.
Stock Option and Other Employee Benefit Plans
The purpose of the 2019 Plan is to advance the interests of our stockholders by enhancing our ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who are expected to make important contributions and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to better align the interests of such persons with those of our stockholders.
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2019 Stock Incentive Plan
History. On December 2, 2019, the Board of Directors approved and on December 3, 2019, the stockholders approved the 2019 stock incentive plan (the “2019 Plan”) under which employees, officers, directors and consultants are eligible to receive grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SAR”), restricted or unrestricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, other stock-based awards, or any combination of the foregoing. The Plan authorizes up to 10,000,000 shares of our common stock for stock-based awards.
Administration. The 2019 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or the committee or committees as may be appointed by the Board of Directors from time to time (the “Administrator”). The Administrator determines the persons who are to receive awards, the types of awards to be granted, the number of shares subject to each such award and the terms and conditions of such awards. The Administrator also has the authority to interpret the provisions of the 2019 Plan and of any awards granted there under and to modify awards granted under the 2019 Plan. The Administrator may not, however, reduce the price of options or stock appreciation rights issued under the 2019 Plan without prior approval of the Company’s shareholders.
Eligibility. The 2019 Plan provides that awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company or of any parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company as the Administrator may determine. A person may be granted more than one award under the 2019 Plan.
Shares that are subject to issuance upon exercise of an option under the 2019 Plan but cease to be subject to such option for any reason (other than exercise of such option), and shares that are subject to an award granted under the 2019 Plan but are forfeited or repurchased by the Company at the original issue price, or that are subject to an award that terminates without shares being issued, will again be available for grant and issuance under the 2019 Plan.
Terms of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator determines many of the terms and conditions of each option and SAR granted under the 2019 Plan, including whether the option is to be an incentive stock option or a non-qualified stock option, whether the SAR is a related SAR or a freestanding SAR, the number of shares subject to each option or SAR, and the exercise price of the option and the periods during which the option or SAR may be exercised. Each option and SAR is evidenced by a grant agreement in such form as the Administrator approves and is subject to the following conditions (as described in further detail in the 2019 Plan):
Vesting and Exercisability. Options, restricted shares and SARs become vested and exercisable, as applicable, within such periods, or upon such events, as determined by the Administrator in its discretion and as set forth in the related grant agreement. The term of each option is also set by the Administrator. However, a related SAR will be exercisable at the time or times, and only to the extent, that the option is exercisable and will not be transferable except to the extent that the option is transferable. A freestanding SAR will be exercisable as determined by the Administrator but in no event after 10 years from the date of grant.
Exercise Price. Each grant agreement states the related option exercise price, which, in the case of SARs, may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s shares of common stock on the date of the grant. The exercise price of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% stockholder may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of shares of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
Method of Exercise. The option exercise price is typically payable in cash, common stock or a combination of cash of common stock, as determined by the Administrator, but may also be payable, at the discretion of the Administrator, in a number of other forms of consideration.
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Recapitalization; Change of Control. The number of shares subject to any award, and the number of shares issuable under the 2019 Plan, are subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock dividend, spin-off, split-up, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, business combination or exchange of shares and the like. Except as otherwise provided in any written agreement between the participant and the Company in effect when a change in control occurs, in the event an acquiring company does not assume plan awards (i) all outstanding options and SARs shall become fully vested and exercisable; (ii) for performance-based awards, all performance goals or performance criteria shall be deemed achieved at target levels and all other terms and conditions met, with award payout prorated for the portion of the performance period completed as of the change in control and payment to occur within 45 days of the change in control; (iii) all restrictions and conditional applicable to any restricted stock award shall lapse; (iv) all restrictions and conditions applicable to any restricted stock units shall lapse and payment shall be made within 45 days of the change in control; and (v) all other awards shall be delivered or paid within 45 days of the change in control.
Other Provisions. The option grant and exercise agreements authorized under the 2019 Plan, which may be different for each option, may contain such other provisions as the Administrator deems advisable, including without limitation, (i) restrictions upon the exercise of the option and (ii) a right of repurchase in favor of the Company to repurchase unvested shares held by an optionee upon termination of the optionee’s employment at the original purchase price.
Amendment and Termination. The Administrator, to the extent permitted by law, and with respect to any shares at the time not subject to awards, may suspend or discontinue the 2019 Plan or amend the 2019 Plan in any respect; provided that the Administrator may not, without approval of the stockholders, amend the 2019 Plan in a manner that requires stockholder approval.
Recapitalization; Change of Control. The number of shares subject to any award, and the number of shares issuable under the 2019 Plan, are subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of a stock dividend, spin-off, split-up, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, business combination or exchange of shares and the like. Except as otherwise provided in any written agreement between the participant and us in effect when a change in control occurs, in the event an acquiring company does not assume plan awards (i) all outstanding options and SARs shall become fully vested and exercisable; (ii) for performance-based awards, all performance goals or performance criteria shall be deemed achieved at target levels and all other terms and conditions met, with award payout prorated for the portion of the performance period completed as of the change in control and payment to occur within 45 days of the change in control; (iii) all restrictions and conditional applicable to any restricted stock award shall lapse; (iv) all restrictions and conditions applicable to any restricted stock units shall lapse and payment shall be made within 45 days of the change in control; and (v) all other awards shall be delivered or paid within 45 days of the change in control.
Other Provisions. The option grant and exercise agreements authorized under the 2019 Plan, which may be different for each option, may contain such other provisions as the Administrator deems advisable, including without limitation, (i) restrictions upon the exercise of the option and (ii) a right of repurchase in favor of us to repurchase unvested shares held by an optionee upon termination of the optionee’s employment at the original purchase price.
Amendment and Termination of the 2019 Plan. The Administrator, to the extent permitted by law, and with respect to any shares at the time not subject to awards, may suspend or discontinue the 2019 Plan or amend the 2019 Plan in any respect; provided that the Administrator may not, without approval of the stockholders, amend the 2019 Plan in a manner that requires stockholder approval.
Director Compensation
Under our non-employee director compensation policy adopted in November 2023, our independent directors in 2024 are paid $30,000 per year in cash compensation and will receive in 2025 a yet to be determined number shares of restricted stock. Additionally, the Company will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attending our board of directors and committee meetings. In the future, we may also grant stock options to our independent directors.
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Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
Our certificate of incorporation provides that we are authorized to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to our directors, officers and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware General Corporation Law.
In addition, our certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and provides that no director will have personal liability to us or to our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty or other duty as a director. However, these provisions do not eliminate or limit the liability of any of our directors for:
| ● | any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; | |
| ● | any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; | |
| ● | unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or | |
| ● | any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
Any amendment to or repeal of these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to such amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Our certificate of incorporation also provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers and we must advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to our directors and officers in connection with legal proceedings, subject to very limited exceptions.
We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of our Board of Directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, or has served during the last completed fiscal year, on the compensation committee or Board of Directors of any other entity that has one or more officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2024, certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of our capital stock, including our common stock, and stock options as converted into common stock, by:
| ● | each stockholder known by us to own beneficially 5% or more of any class of our outstanding stock; | |
| ● | each director; | |
| ● | each named executive officer; | |
| ● | all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and | |
| ● | each person or group of affiliated persons, who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of any class of our outstanding stock. |
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws. The applicable percentage ownership before this offering is based on 14,257,458 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
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| Name of Beneficial Owner | No. of Shares | % of Total Shares Outstanding | ||||||
| Named Executive Officers and Directors: | ||||||||
| Wayne Tupuola | 101,760 | 0.7 | % | |||||
| ICT Investments, LLC (2) | 4,438,695 | 31.13 | % | |||||
| Igor Vodopivanof | — | — | ||||||
| Arnold Bykov | 46,297 | 0.3 | % | |||||
| Carlos Gonzalez | ||||||||
| Troy Parkos | — | — | ||||||
| Carlos M. Gonzalez | — | — | ||||||
| — | — | |||||||
| All Officers and Directors as a Group | % | |||||||
| *Represents less than 1% | ||||||||
| (1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the address of such individual is c/o the Company. |
| (2) | Dmitriy Nikitin has voting control through his ownership of all membership interests of ICT Investments, LLC and Fonon Corporation. |
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Each of the related party transactions described below was negotiated on an arm’s length basis. We believe that the terms of such agreements are as favorable as those we could have obtained from parties not related to us. The following are summaries of certain provisions of our related party agreements and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such agreements. Because these descriptions are only summaries of the applicable agreements, they do not necessarily contain all of the information that you may find useful. We therefore urge you to review the agreements in their entirety. Copies of the forms of the agreements have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement and are available electronically on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov.
In addition to the compensation arrangements, including employment, termination of employment and change in control arrangements, with our directors and executive officers, including those discussed in the sections titled “Management” and “Executive Compensation,” the following is a description of each transaction since January 1, 2022 or any currently proposed transaction in which:
| ● | we have been or are to be a party to; | |
| ● | the amount involved exceeded or exceeds $120,000; and | |
| ● | any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals or entities, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
For information on our compensation arrangements, including employment, termination of employment and change in control arrangements, with our directors and executive officers, see the section titled “Executive Compensation”.
Since December 31, 2024, we have engaged in the following transactions in an amount that exceeds $120,000 with our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our voting securities, and affiliates or immediately family members of our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 5% of our voting securities, and our co-founders. We believe that all of these transactions were on terms as favorable as could have been obtained from unrelated third parties.
Indemnification
Our certificate of incorporation in effect upon the consummation of this offering provides that we may indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our certificate of incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and must advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to our directors and officers in connection with legal proceedings, subject to very limited exceptions. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Limitation of Liability and Indemnification” for additional information regarding these indemnification provisions and agreements.
Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions
Our Board of Directors has adopted written policies and procedures for the review of any transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we are a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and one of our executive officers, directors, director nominees or 5% stockholders (or their immediate family members), each of whom we refer to as a “related person,” has a direct or indirect material interest.
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If a related person proposes to enter into such a transaction, arrangement or relationship, which we refer to as a “related person transaction,” the related person must report the proposed related person transaction to our chief legal officer or, in the event we do not have a chief legal officer, to our principal financial officer. The policy calls for the proposed related person transaction to be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, approved by the audit committee of our Board of Directors. Whenever practicable, the reporting, review and approval will occur prior to entry into the transaction. If advance review and approval is not practicable, the committee will review, and, in its discretion, may ratify the related person transaction. The policy also permits the chairman of the committee to review and, if deemed appropriate, approve proposed related person transactions that arise between committee meetings, subject to ratification by the committee at its next meeting. Any related person transactions that are ongoing in nature will be reviewed annually.
A related person transaction reviewed under the policy will be considered approved or ratified if it is authorized by the committee after full disclosure of the related person’s interest in the transaction. As appropriate for the circumstances, the committee will review and consider:
| ● | the related person’s interest in the related person transaction; | |
| ● | the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the related person transaction; | |
| ● | the approximate dollar value of the amount of the related person’s interest in the transaction without regard to the amount of any profit or loss; | |
| ● | whether the transaction was undertaken in the ordinary course of our business; | |
| ● | whether the terms of the transaction are no less favorable to us than terms that could have been reached with an unrelated third party; | |
| ● | the purpose of, and the potential benefits to us of, the transaction; and any other information regarding the related person transaction or the related person in the context of the proposed transaction that would be material to investors in light of the circumstances of the particular transaction. |
The committee may approve or ratify the transaction only if the committee determines that, under all of the circumstances, the transaction is not inconsistent with our best interests. The committee may impose any conditions on the related person transaction that it deems appropriate.
In addition to the transactions that are excluded by the instructions to the SEC’s related person transaction disclosure rule, our Board of Directors has determined that the following transactions do not create a material direct or indirect interest on behalf of related persons and, therefore, are not related person transactions for purposes of this policy:
| ● | interests arising solely from the related person’s position as an executive officer of another entity (whether or not the person is also a director of such entity), that is a participant in the transaction, where (a) the related person and all other related persons own in the aggregate less than a 10% equity interest in such entity, (b) the related person and his or her immediate family members are not involved in the negotiation of the terms of the transaction and do not receive any special benefits as a result of the transaction and (c) the amount involved in the transaction equals less than the greater of $200,000 or 5% of the annual consolidated gross revenues of the other entity that is a party to the transaction; and | |
| ● | a transaction that is specifically contemplated by provisions of our charter or bylaws. |
The policy provides that transactions involving compensation of executive officers shall be reviewed and approved by the compensation committee in the manner specified in its charter.
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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Our independent registered public accounting firm is M&K CPAS PLLC and predecessor Fruci & Associates, Firm ID: 05525
The following is the breakdown of aggregate fees for the last two fiscal years.
| Year Ending December 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Audit Fees | $ | 105,076 | $ | 114,500 | ||||
| Audit Related Fees | $ | $ | ||||||
| Tax Fees | $ | $ | ||||||
| All Other Fees | $ | 105,076 | $ | 114,500 | ||||
It is our policy to engage the principal accounting firm to conduct the financial audit for our company and to confirm prior to such engagement, that such principal accounting firm is independent of our company when required by SEC rules and regulations. All services of the principal accounting firm reflected above were approved by the Board of Directors.
- “Audit Fees” are fees paid for professional services for the audit of our financial statements.
- “Audit-Related fees” are fees paid for professional services not included in the first category, specifically, SAS 100 reviews, SEC filings and consents, and accounting consultations on matters addressed during the audit or interim reviews, and review work related to quarterly filings.
- “Tax Fees” are fees primarily for tax compliance in connection with filing US income tax returns.
- “All other fees” related to the reviews of Registration Statements on Form S-1
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies
The charter of our Audit Committee provides that the duties and responsibilities of our Audit Committee include the pre-approval of all audit, audit- related, tax, and other services permitted by law or applicable SEC regulations (including fee and cost ranges) to be performed by our independent registered public accountant. Any pre-approved services that will involve fees or costs exceeding pre-approved levels will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Unless otherwise specified by the Audit Committee in pre-approving a service, the pre-approval will be effective for the 12-month period following pre-approval. The Audit Committee will not approve any non-audit services prohibited by applicable SEC regulations or any services in connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent registered public accountant, the purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported by the Code and related regulations.
To the extent deemed appropriate, the Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to the Chairman of the Audit Committee or any one or more other members of the Audit Committee provided that any member of the Audit Committee who has exercised any such delegation must report any such pre-approval decision to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee will not delegate the pre-approval of services to be performed by the independent registered public accountant to management.
Our Audit Committee requires that the independent registered public accountant, in conjunction with our Chief Financial Officer, be responsible for seeking pre-approval for providing services to us and that any request for pre-approval must inform the Audit Committee about each service to be provided and must provide detail as to the particular service to be provided.
All of the services provided above under the caption “Audit-Related Fees” were approved by our Board of Directors or by our Audit Committee pursuant to our Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial Statements filed as part of this Form 10-K:
Laser Photonics, Corporation December 31, 2024 and 2023 Audited Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm Balance Sheet
Consolidated Statement of Operations
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Notes to Financial Statements
Exhibits.
See the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page to this Annual Report on Form10-K.
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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.
| Laser Photonics Corporation | ||
| June 24, 2025 | By: | /s/ Wayne Tupuola |
| Name: | Wayne Tupuola | |
| Title: | President and CEO (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| June 24, 2025 | By: | /s/ Carlos Sardinas |
| Name: | Carlos Sardinas | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan
+ Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2020
-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not being filed as a separate disclosure document.
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